HIGHNESSES

Chapter 3

** Men of Understanding...**

    
           As the soft scent danced around them,only the breezing sound of air conditioner could be heard.

Ma Manga's soft gaze was on her son whose head was bent with his legs crossed on the expensive carpet which added beauty and glow to the neatly set room. She took a very long breath and started softly;
  " my darling son,today you will be crowned king to the kingdom your father built with love and honesty. You know how he dedicated his time,effort , strength, resources and everything he could for the betterment of his people. He was a true king ,a role model to all, he was what words can't tell of now..." She paused,with tears threatening to spill out of her eyes.
  Surprised by the change in her voice ,he looked up to her and stared. She was so strong after the demise of his beloved father,not until that moment had she ever shown her emotion about his death. She had to stay strong for the people and the kingdom. If she breaks,they break.
   She raised a finger to stop him from talking and he knew immediately to keep quiet. Putting herself together ,she continued;
"He was a just leader ,brave ,loving and understanding. I'm not asking you to be like him but am urging you to follow his footsteps, be a king loved by all, feared by all. Always be just,kind and humble and remember with every hardship comes ease and in everything there must be good and bad times. Ruling is not easy and so is responsibility. You must always be patient and easy going with people,trust few and be good to all.
Always remember, whatever you do you  do for yourself..( Duk abunda mutum yayi yayiwa kanshi ne). Thousands if not millions will be under your care, you will have to cater for all, listen to their needs through their representatives and device means to solve them taking priorities into consideration, you have to consult, always consult because consultation leads to good decision which is the best method of ruling.
     Today is your coronation day! And from today everything in your life changes.
   There are certain things which are important for me to tell you, it is part of the culture and tradition, I know you know but I'm reminding you.
That your beautiful pent house(he smiled at that) that is yet to be opened will be occupied by you and your wives.
  For you to marry more wives (Kwarkwara) will be for a reason of importance, either to solve a problem or conflict for peace to reign or in search of an heir if none of your wives can bear which we don't wish for such to happen.
  Immediately after your coronation, your marriage processes will begin, proposals will be sent and in no less than four weeks from your coronation you will get married in sha Allah. I hope you understand?
  'Yes Ya umma'..
  
   'Dakyau (Good)' ,so I think its better you get going now. May Allah bless you and see you through. May HE continue to protect you and guide you through. My prayers are always with you and I will not get tired of doing it In sha Allah.

'Aameen Ya umma.. Aameen thumma Aameen.' He answered calmly.
 
'You may go' she said in a calm voice. He looked at her for a brief second before leaving the room, his eyes red, full of tears.
  She watched him leave the room and let out a heavy  breath with a lot  going through her mind.

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Gimbiya Noora ,sarauniyar masu sarauta,takawarki lafiyah yar waziri jikar Sarki...
    She smiled and turned the counter on her index finger, 'what brings you here' she asked the Dogari showering her with praises
'Ana nemanki ranki shi dade, ana gab da farawa...' (They are looking for you,its about to start...)

' Gani nan zuwa(am coming) ' she interrupted, 'ina nan tafe(am on my way) ' she added still struggling with her alkyabba.
   'Toh ranki shi dade(okay,may you live long)', he said before turning to leave in a hurry.
  
As soon as she entered the hall ,she sighted her brother busy looking around the ladies side, she knew he was looking for her to make sure she was around,he promised her she would faint in her sit when she sees the prince, he went further telling her he hasn't seen any handsome man like him around. That sparked her interest because she was someone that liked everything beautiful but most importantly handsome men, not that she would stare or gaze at them when they cross paths ,no. It was just her wish to fall in love and marry a handsome man.

Oh God! Not that thought again,she shook her head.

She took a seat in the middle row facing the high table. By the left was a chair beautifully designed and decorate. Beside it layed a Rawani veil, an alkyabba and a sandan girma neatly kept  by the right. Her eyes couldn't seem to shift from those items. They were just beautiful. The alkyabba was  silver in colour with a shade of ash adorned with golden embroidery from the neckline down to the bellybutton with numerous shining stones all over giving it an amazing glow. What beauty! She couldn't believe an alkyabba could look that beautiful and majestic. Its part of those expensive stuffs....Haaa! She signed and continued with her dhikir . No need to waste time looking around, she reasoned. A yawn escaped her lips. What was that? Could it be she's hungry? This soon? The ceremony hadn't even started yet.....
   The huge doors gave a cracking sound and opened revealing a number of high ranking members for the coronation. They came in well dressed in their royal expensive alkyabbas with rawani of different colours. They entered in a long straight line, everyone taking his seat on the high table ushered by the  dogarai. By the door were some dogarai waiting for the Man-of-the-Occasion to arrive.
The head dogaris voice could be heard from afar showering praises and prayers while escorting the heir to the coronation hall. Everywhere was silent as the voice come closer and closer. The ladies, though with a white veil in between them and the coronation hall strained their eyes to catch a glimpse of the heir whose face they had never seen while some members of the household want to see how grown up he had become. Are the rumors true?

Walking majestically in his simple yet expensive attire, with his head held high and eyes sharp and focused, he muttered 'Bismillahi' under his breath before stepping into the coronation hall with all possible duas being said in his mind.

A sharp intake of breath followed by the sound of something plastic hit the ground was what was heard before the dogarai came around the heir to shield him from people's gaze...

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Authors Note:

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah..
  I am soooo sorry for taking a lot of time before updating,abubuwa sai ahankali. But, in sha Allah I will improve on that.
Well,we have come to the end of chapter 3,please do comment and feel free to point out mistakes if any and tell me what you think,no one is perfect and it all helps in shaping the story,although, it has been set ,just the readers input means a lot .

Remember: its not edited yet.

Jazakumullahu khairan for your time. I appreciate.