Just as Husanna and the others spent the night in the cell without sleep, she too spent the night awake. The difference was that they were in terrible conditions—mosquitoes biting them, hunger, no bath—everything was miserable for those poor souls.
Her heart was beating intensely, confirming to her that her siblings were in serious trouble. Whenever something bad happened to them, she always felt it in her body.
Her heart pounded hard, sweat covered her body as if there was heat, even though the weather was cold.
Her entire body trembled. She couldn’t stay on the bed, so she came down and leaned her back against it. She felt deep pity for their lives. Their suffering had begun even before they were born. They had endured severe hardship. Sometimes they even wondered if God didn’t love them. Astaghfirullah 😥
But that never stopped Sehrish from her voluntary prayers. Only her current impurity prevented her from praying now. She kept repeating supplications continuously.
That night, she cried like never before. Anyone in their situation would cry no matter how patient they were.
She feared for Husanna and her siblings—afraid of losing them. She also feared for their mother—was she alive or dead?
But what disturbed her most was the coming of SGR, the Eldest Brother.
She didn’t know why he occupied her heart. Why did she feel drawn to him? Why did she fear seeing him?
Her heart longed to see him. Her eyes desired him.
But in the end, she prayed that his coming would bring good.
At dawn, after changing her pad in the toilet, she finally fell asleep.
---
Meanwhile, inside the house, preparations were ongoing for their father’s arrival.
Junaid was extremely happy. He had already planned how he would behave when his father arrived and had something important to tell him.
By morning, Sehrish was still asleep.
Aunty Azmi entered and saw her trembling with fever. She touched her and realized she was sick.
She didn’t wake her. She covered her properly and left.
She informed Colonel Yusuf, who told her chefs would come to help.
At 7 a.m., two professional chefs arrived: Chef Ummu and Momina.
Soon, delicious smells filled the entire house.
---
At 9 a.m., Hajiya Azeema arrived from Lagos.
She was their father’s younger sister and extremely wealthy.
With her were Captain Najeeb and Talal, whom she raised because she couldn’t have children.
Colonel Yusuf picked them up from the airport.
Soon, other family members arrived:
General Ishaq (the eldest son)
His Arab wife, called Aunty Babba
Their daughter Hafsat, a military nurse
Colonel General Abbas and his wife Amani
Brigadier General Abuhaisam
They all gathered in the grand main living room.
---
Hajiya Azeema was dressed in expensive clothes, covered in diamonds worth millions.
Everyone chatted happily.
Azmi and the chefs served drinks.
They joked about Azmi’s delicious cooking.
---
Then Captain Najeeb asked:
“Is it true that Eldest Brother will return tomorrow?”
Hafsat choked on her drink when she heard his name. She had once been slapped by him.
Colonel Yusuf said:
“We’re not sure yet.”
Captain Najeeb said:
“I can’t sleep. I want to see him.”
Hajiya Azeema said jokingly:
“So the lion and tiger are returning. Only God knows what blood will be shed this time.”
The twins became afraid.
Many of them feared the eldest brother’s arrival—not because they hated him, but because of what might happen.
---
They began talking about Rafayet.
Hajiya Azeema said:
“You don’t know Rafayet. His heart is like stone. Women mean nothing to him.”
She explained that his mother, Fatima, was a European and not Muslim.
She refused Islam and raised her children in her religion.
Rafayet only accepted Islam at age 20.
Everyone listened in shock.
---
Then Hajiya Azeema began telling their family history:
Their father, Hussain, was Hausa-Fulani from Zaria.
The Father of Soldiers
Just as Husanna and the others spent the night in the cell without sleep, she too spent the night awake. The difference was that they were in terrible conditions—mosquitoes biting them, hunger, no bath—everything was miserable for those poor souls.
Her heart was beating intensely, confirming to her that her siblings were in serious trouble. Whenever something bad happened to them, she always felt it in her body.
Her heart pounded hard, sweat covered her body as if there was heat, even though the weather was cold.
Her entire body trembled. She couldn’t stay on the bed, so she came down and leaned her back against it. She felt deep pity for their lives. Their suffering had begun even before they were born. They had endured severe hardship. Sometimes they even wondered if God didn’t love them. Astaghfirullah 😥
But that never stopped Sehrish from her voluntary prayers. Only her current impurity prevented her from praying now. She kept repeating supplications continuously.
That night, she cried like never before. Anyone in their situation would cry no matter how patient they were.
She feared for Husanna and her siblings—afraid of losing them. She also feared for their mother—was she alive or dead?
But what disturbed her most was the coming of SGR, the Eldest Brother.
She didn’t know why he occupied her heart. Why did she feel drawn to him? Why did she fear seeing him?
Her heart longed to see him. Her eyes desired him.
But in the end, she prayed that his coming would bring good.
At dawn, after changing her pad in the toilet, she finally fell asleep.
---
Meanwhile, inside the house, preparations were ongoing for their father’s arrival.
Junaid was extremely happy. He had already planned how he would behave when his father arrived and had something important to tell him.
By morning, Sehrish was still asleep.
Aunty Azmi entered and saw her trembling with fever. She touched her and realized she was sick.
She didn’t wake her. She covered her properly and left.
She informed Colonel Yusuf, who told her chefs would come to help.
At 7 a.m., two professional chefs arrived: Chef Ummu and Momina.
Soon, delicious smells filled the entire house.
---
At 9 a.m., Hajiya Azeema arrived from Lagos.
She was their father’s younger sister and extremely wealthy.
With her were Captain Najeeb and Talal, whom she raised because she couldn’t have children.
Colonel Yusuf picked them up from the airport.
Soon, other family members arrived:
General Ishaq (the eldest son)
His Arab wife, called Aunty Babba
Their daughter Hafsat, a military nurse
Colonel General Abbas and his wife Amani
Brigadier General Abuhaisam
They all gathered in the grand main living room.
---
Hajiya Azeema was dressed in expensive clothes, covered in diamonds worth millions.
Everyone chatted happily.
Azmi and the chefs served drinks.
They joked about Azmi’s delicious cooking.
---
Then Captain Najeeb asked:
“Is it true that Eldest Brother will return tomorrow?”
Hafsat choked on her drink when she heard his name. She had once been slapped by him.
Colonel Yusuf said:
“We’re not sure yet.”
Captain Najeeb said:
“I can’t sleep. I want to see him.”
Hajiya Azeema said jokingly:
“So the lion and tiger are returning. Only God knows what blood will be shed this time.”
The twins became afraid.
Many of them feared the eldest brother’s arrival—not because they hated him, but because of what might happen.
---
They began talking about Rafayet.
Hajiya Azeema said:
“You don’t know Rafayet. His heart is like stone. Women mean nothing to him.”
She explained that his mother, Fatima, was a European and not Muslim.
She refused Islam and raised her children in her religion.
Rafayet only accepted Islam at age 20.
Everyone listened in shock.
---
Then Hajiya Azeema began telling their family history:
Their father, Hussain, was Hausa-Fulani from Zaria.
He married Maryam, a religious and gentle woman.
They loved each other deeply.
Maryam gave birth to:
Ishaq
Abbas
Abuhaisam
Osman
Each two years apart.