In gently he entered a large living room called Shakallo. Which was only special people were allowed to enter. The room was designed like a museum, very spacious and beautifully decorated. There were golden ornaments, a large carpet covering the entire floor, and thick pillows arranged neatly, decorated in a royal style.
Five men and one elderly woman were sitting in the room. The woman, known as Mai Babban Daki, was around 76 years old. Her eyes were red, and she was wearing a black robe (Alkaybba). She held a tissue in one hand and prayer beads in the other. The men were important figures: Waziri, Wambai, Makama, and Sarkin Dawaki. Soon, two more elderly men, who looked like Mai Babban Daki, entered and sat down.
Anatse felt nervous because these were the most powerful people in the palace, just below the king. He walked to the center of the room, found a place to sit, and looked at Mai Babban Daki. He asked, “Gwaggo, are you the one who sent for me?”
She shook her head, wiped her tears with the tissue, and said, “Your father’s close friends asked for you because you are the eldest son of King Kabeer.”
Anatse quickly looked at the people in the room and asked, “Oh, I see. What is it?”
The oldest among them, Makama, said, “Have all your younger brothers arrived? Because at exactly four o’clock, we will bury the king.”
With a calm and respectful voice, Anatse replied, "Prince Halilu and Ibrahim are already here. Munir just called me—his flight has landed in Abuja. As for Umaru, his flight has just left Lagos. And..." He paused for a moment.
Everyone in the room asked together, “What about Prince Riyad?”
In a gently sighed and said, “I called him several times, but he didn’t answer.”
Mai Babban Daki sighed deeply and said, “I have never seen a boy as restless as Riyad. Today he is in Egypt, tomorrow in Cyprus, the next day in Oman, and then he will be in Zanzibar. One moment he is in China, the next he is in Iceland. Oh, my goodness! Now, he is in France. Have you tried calling his number from that country? If you don’t have it, go to Fulani and collect it.”
With a soft voice, Kabeer (Anatse) said, “Gwaggo, you know that Riyad never stays in one place for a full month before traveling again. Even his mother, Fulani, doesn’t know where he is right now. I spoke to her, and she said she has been calling him too, but he isn’t answering. I don’t understand what his problem is. Why does he prefer to keep traveling the world instead of staying in his homeland, the place where he was born? He has grown up, but he still doesn’t...”
Sarkin Wambai raised his hand to stop him and said, “Enough.”
He then took a deep breath and continued, “Because of him, we won’t delay the burial of the king. No matter where he is in this world, he will see the news of his father’s passing, so he will come. Now, you may go.”
At a slowly stood up, left the room, and sighed in frustration.
One of the men in the room angrily said, “Gwaggo, I have said this so many times to Mai Martaba (the King). He should have controlled Riyad. Out of all the king’s children, none is as reckless as him. He refuses to learn our culture and traditions. Now, what will people say when they see that he is the only one missing?”
Everyone in the room was silent, looking at him. Then, another man named Usmanu spoke up, “No, Yaya, Riyad is a very responsible boy. We all know that he travels for business, and Mai Martaba (the late king) approved of it because he saw that Riyad had a passion for business. Riyad is a kind-hearted young man who always helps people, and we all know that.”
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