"I'll be right back... Though you won't even be able to go out anyway, seeing as you walk like someone who just underwent circumcision," Fahad teased playfully. Bilkisu pouted at him, aggressively kicking her legs against the bed in mock protest. He quickly changed from his loungewear into a polo T-shirt and jeans, grabbed his baseball cap, gave her a brief kiss, and headed out. She got up and followed him to the courtyard, watching as he started his motorcycle and rode away before she finally retreated back inside. When Fahad arrived at Hindu’s house, Bilkisu was completely buried in cooking for an ongoing naming ceremony, busy wrapping alale (steamed bean puddings) and managing various boiling pots. Dressed simply in a T-shirt and a black skirt, she had thrown on a veil before stepping outside. Fahad sat quietly on a plastic chair, keeping his distance. As she approached, he looked at her from afar, suddenly struck by how incredibly young and small she looked—almost like a little girl. When she finally reached him, he found himself unable to lock eyes with her, gripped by a sudden anxiety that she might read exactly what had transpired between him and Husnah by looking into his eyes. Keeping his gaze fixed firmly downward, he handed over his message and quickly departed without making proper eye contact. It was only after he had left that he realized he had completely forgotten to ask Bilkisu the name of the newborn baby girl. He tried calling her phone repeatedly, but she never answered, as she was completely absorbed in the ceremony's hectic kitchen duties. In truth, she looked exceptionally beautiful to him that day; he simply lacked the courage to articulate it to her. Upon returning home, Fahad and Husnah picked up exactly where they had left off, thoroughly enjoying their newlywed bliss long before Bilkisu returned. Bilkisu only came back the following day, after all the frying, cooking, and rigorous house cleaning for the ceremony had completely concluded. From the exact moment Bilkisu returned to the house, Fahad completely altered his demeanor toward Husnah. He became distant, strictly refusing to engage in any form of affection, playfulness, or lighthearted banter in the parlor, confining their interactions entirely to the privacy of their bedroom. The two wives continued their scheduled rotation, each getting two days, and each managing her own separate cooking. They rarely ever crossed paths. Before Husnah even woke up in the morning, Bilkisu would have already left the house for work. By the time Bilkisu returned, Husnah would remain locked away in her room; the only time anyone ever saw Husnah outside was if she was accompanied by Fahad. Time marched on, and almost imperceptibly, Husnah and Fahad reached their sixth week of marriage. Fahad had officially resumed his studies, returning home only on weekends. On a bright Saturday morning, Nusaiba (Ya Abba’s wife) paid a surprise visit—marking her very first time stepping into the house. Bilkisu was seated in the parlor, dressed in a comfortable soft blue top and trousers, working diligently on her laptop while listening to Malam Aminu Daurawa’s educational Islamic program, Tambaya Mabudin Ilmi (Questions are the Key to Knowledge). Technically, today marked the day Fahad was supposed to transition from Husnah’s room to Bilkisu’s, but he had been out since morning attending to his tailoring shop, having brought a massive backlog of sewing orders with him from Kaduna. Bilkisu gave Nusaiba a warm, hospitable welcome. Soon after, Husnah emerged from her room and joined them, engaging in small talk. Bilkisu mostly remained quiet, listening passively; she was naturally reserved, a woman who could sit with someone for an hour and speak only three or four times. However, around her close friends Hindu and Khulsum, she completely let her guard down and was incredibly lively. After a while, Bilkisu stood up, took a refreshing shower, changed into a long atamfa gown, and returned to the parlor. She asked Nusaiba what she would like to eat, and Nusaiba politely replied that anything would be fine. Bilkisu entered the kitchen and prepared a meal of yam and vegetable sauce, serving it neatly to her guest. When she returned to the parlor, she found Nusaiba and Husnah deep in a conversation centered entirely around co-wife jealousy. Taking a direct jab, Husnah remarked loudly: "I swear, if a woman doesn't secure her husband properly, another woman will step right in and take absolute control of him... Some women are incredibly careless. Some don't even know how to properly clean and preserve their husband's bedding, leaving it entirely up to the co-wife to handle it for him..." "Well, that's just how we women are. We just have to practice patience; jealousy is simply hardwired into us," Nusaiba replied smoothly. Bilkisu knew with absolute certainty that Husnah’s derogatory remarks were targeted directly at her. However, she possessed too much class and dignity to lower herself to a petty parlor argument. I will deal directly with the man who brought her into this house, not her, she thought. She spent the rest of the day in a foul, irritated mood. She completely ignored Husnah until Nusaiba finally took her leave. Late in the afternoon, Fahad returned, but Bilkisu completely iced him out. Unbothered, he changed his clothes and left to play football. Later that evening, as she was preparing for bed, Fahad quietly walked into her room. Bilkisu instantly snapped out of bed, standing up in a fit of pure rage. "Hey! I absolutely do not want this blanket or this bedsheet in my room! Get them out of here right now! And you better warn your stupid, uneducated wife that if she ever attempts to throw passive-aggressive insults or insults regarding my bedding at me again, I swear by Allah, I will ruin her day! I am absolutely not her mate!" Hearing this, Fahad immediately understood that an incident had occurred or that Husnah had targeted her with malicious words. Without a word, he picked up the bedding, walked out, and returned them to Husnah’s room, where she was already fast asleep. He then returned to Bilkisu’s room, only to find that she had already brought out a fresh set of sheets and blankets for him. He sat down quietly on the mattress, holding a pair of tailoring scissors to trim some fabrics. "What did Husnah do to you?" he asked quietly, measuring the atamfa cloth he had set aside. "Why didn't you ask her instead?" she shot back sharply, pulling the covers over herself to sleep. "She’s already fast asleep..." "Then you can wait until she wakes up tomorrow and ask her yourself!" "I am deeply sorry. Please forgive me, I will address it with her, Insha Allah." Bilkisu offered no further response, turning her back to him and leaving him to his late-night fabric cutting. The following morning, Fahad reprimanded Husnah severely, warning her in no uncertain terms that whatever she had done to Bilkisu must never happen again, reminding her that Bilkisu was fundamentally her senior, not her equal. He demanded that she apologize. Grudgingly, and solely to obey his command, Husnah accompanied him to offer Bilkisu a half-hearted apology. From that day forward, the domestic atmosphere soured completely. Husnah became deeply insecure, convinced that Fahad harbored a profound preference for Bilkisu, or worse, that he was actually afraid of her. Whenever Fahad and Husnah were laughing and being affectionate in the parlor—with Fahad playfully carrying her on his back—the moment Bilkisu walked in from work, Fahad would abruptly stop everything. When Husnah complained about it, he simply replied that out of respect for her senior co-wife, it was inappropriate to flaunt their affection openly, as it would look like an intentional insult to Bilkisu’s face. This response burned Husnah to her core. Her suspicions grew deeper. She began noticing a pattern: every single time it was Bilkisu’s scheduled nights, Fahad would carry his massive bags of tailoring orders into Bilkisu’s room, spending half the night cutting fabrics right there. Yet, on her own scheduled nights, he never engaged in such tedious work. As for Bilkisu, she remained in the house purely out of obligation, finding absolutely no joy in the living arrangement, especially now that Husnah was actively seeking avenues to disrespect her. However, she consciously chose to ignore Husnah's existence entirely. On the Friday Fahad was scheduled to return for the weekend, it coincided with the naming ceremony of Ya Fauziyya (their older sister), who had just given birth to a baby boy. Husnah and her circle had left early in the morning to help with the heavy domestic chores. Bilkisu, however, waited until she finished her shift at work before dressing up elegantly and heading over, carrying the baby gifts she had already purchased. When Bilkisu arrived, she found Husnah lounging comfortably in the new mother's room alongside her toxic confidante, Anty Juwairiyya. Juwairiyya was actively fueling Husnah’s ego, whispering maliciously: "It’s only now that Fahad has entered a real marriage, marrying his true match. I don't know why he ever bothered marrying an older woman in the first place. Even if he becomes a governor, you are the rightful First Lady because you're the young girl he will grow old with." Bilkisu quietly took a seat beside the new mother, who welcomed her warmly along with Anty Asabe and Nusaiba. As Bilkisu held the newborn baby, she was constantly served refreshments and food. Barely twenty minutes into her visit, Husnah whined loudly: "Ugh, this alale just wasn't enough for me, Anty Juwaira..." "Oh, the young bride! This sudden craving definitely has a hidden cause... You are in perfect health!" Juwairiyya smirked loudly. "Oh please, Anty Juwaira! Even on my scheduled nights, Ya Fahad spends the entire night cutting fabrics..." Husnah complained passively. "Well, that’s clearly because of your utter uselessness in bed!" Juwairiyya cackled. The entire room burst into collective laughter, save for Bilkisu. Bilkisu knew with absolute certainty that Husnah had staged that loud complaint with a double meaning—it was a direct, calculated insult aimed at mocking Bilkisu's childlessness and insinuating that Fahad ignored her. Why is it that a co-wife never tires of finding petty things to mock? Bilkisu asked herself bitterly. Overwhelmed by the toxic atmosphere, she formally said her goodbyes and left the house early. This time, she resolved not to say a single word to Fahad. But she swore to herself that she was very close to showing Husnah her true, unyielding colors. She would show her that she was not her mate—not just in terms of age, but in the eyes of their husband. To this day, Bilkisu still held the true banner of Fahad's deepest affection; just because he had temporarily neglected her did not mean his love had died. After all, whenever her mood soured in that house, everyone's peace was disrupted. Fahad returned later that evening in a tense, irritable mood. He and Bilkisu exchanged a brief, strained conversation before he stepped back out. After the Ishah prayer, he returned, bringing Husnah back from the ceremony since it was technically her night. Two days later, his rotation shifted back to Bilkisu’s room. Bilkisu was still privately fuming over Husnah’s public mockery at the ceremony regarding Fahad cutting clothes in her room due to her "uselessness." The moment Fahad walked in carrying a bundle of atamfa fabric, Bilkisu sat up straight, her face locked in a hard, icy expression. "Hey! You are absolutely not cutting any fabrics in my room tonight! If you have sewing to do, take it right out to the parlor! May Allah grant us peace!" He stared at her in utter astonishment. "It's literally just a single piece of cloth..." "I don't care if it's one piece! I swear by Allah, you will not cut it inside this room! Go back to where you just came from and cut it there! Do you do this type of work in her room too? Or am I just the easy target you've chosen to disrespect? I swear to God, it won't happen tonight!..." Fahad found himself entirely unable to comprehend Bilkisu's sudden, volatile behavior lately. She seemed to be constantly on edge, actively searching for a reason to spark a massive confrontation. Her outbursts stressed him deeply, yet he consciously avoided fighting back because he knew Husnah was constantly lurking. True to his instincts, Husnah was currently hiding in the shadows outside the door, eavesdropping on every word. "Alright, please forgive me. Let me just drop it here," Fahad said gently. "Drop it where? I swear by Allah, I have taken an oath that this fabric will not spend a single night inside this bedroom! Take it back exactly where you brought it from!..." Defeated, Fahad turned and walked out. Hearing his approaching footsteps, Husnah scrambled away from the corridor, sprinting back to her room and diving into bed to pretend she was asleep. Fahad entered her room, tossed the fabric carelessly on top of her suitcases, turned on his heel, and walked right back out.
Part 2: The Malicious Slur and The Violent Aftermath
The domestic environment became entirely unbearable. Bilkisu lost a drastic amount of weight, looking completely drained and frail. She thought bitterly that if her father would only give his consent, she would instantly rent her own apartment and abandon the house completely. But she knew that if she brought it up, Ammah and Abba would flatly reject the idea, not to mention the relentless harassment she would face from Iyallo, who visited every two weeks without fail. To make matters worse, Husnah had pioneered a petty new tactic: on her scheduled nights, she would actively hide Fahad away. If Bilkisu desperately needed to see him for an important matter while he was resting, Husnah would aggressively bar her, loudly complaining that people lacked basic empathy and refused to let a hard-working man rest after coming back from his shop. Sensing the sheer absurdity of the disrespect, Bilkisu withdrew entirely, refusing to even sit in the shared parlor. Since television was her only escape, she went out and purchased a brand-new, massive plasma TV, a satellite receiver, and all necessary equipment, having it professionally installed directly inside her bedroom. Despite having her own private space, one look at her physical frame revealed she was battling deep, silent depression. The only saving grace was that both women were rarely home during the day now, as Husnah had officially resumed her studies. However, almost daily, Husnah would bring her friends—including Fa'iza—back to the house, intentionally standing in the shared areas throwing loud, malicious insults aimed at Bilkisu. Bilkisu rarely heard the worst of it because she kept herself locked in her room with her TV volume up. She also noticed that whenever Fahad was physically in town, Husnah completely halted her toxic behavior, never bringing anyone over. But the moment he traveled, her friends would pack into the house, staying until Maghrib. One particular day, Bilkisu stayed home from work, struck by severe, agonizing menstrual cramps. Since her very first cycle, she had never experienced pain this excruciating. She couldn't even take a step outside. The moment the sharp pains subsided slightly, she put on a lightweight long gown and a black head-tie, heading into the kitchen to boil some water for tea. While she was in the kitchen, Husnah walked through the front door accompanied by two of her friends. Husnah loudly instructed them to go into the kitchen and cook whatever they desired. Upon spotting Bilkisu standing there, the trio immediately launched into a calculated, deeply disrespectful conversation. "My friend, how is our baby doing? What is the little one craving today?" Fa'iza asked loudly. "Wait, our friend is already pregnant? We're going to be aunties?" Ruky chimed in. "Oh, absolutely! For a long time now! I am definitely not a barren, useless woman (juya). I am a wife married out of pure love, which is why I got pregnant in no time at all. I think it’s about two months and a few days along now..." Husnah boasted loudly. "Well, some women aren't actually barren; it's just their past reckless, promiscuous lifestyles that prevent them from carrying a child," Ruky laughed maliciously. Bilkisu stood frozen, listening carefully as she quietly poured her hot water. "Exactly! Some of them haven't even crossed childbearing age yet. It's just the sheer amount of immorality they practiced outside, constantly popping contraceptive pills and committing abortions until they permanently destroyed their own wombs!..." Husnah added, clapping her hands and bursting into loud, mocking laughter. Bilkisu quietly switched off the gas, lifted her tea flask, and walked directly out of the kitchen. In her mind, she knew it would show a complete lack of class and dignity to lower herself to argue with girls who were barely older than her youngest sister, Meenah. Entering her bedroom, she collapsed onto her bed, completely overwhelmed. She burst into uncontrollable tears. The deep psychological pain quickly manifested into a severe, burning fever. She was utterly exhausted by the relentless, calculated disrespect. She resolved right then and there that she was leaving Fahad's house permanently—he could live with his precious Husnah alone. She typed a direct text message to Fahad, stating simply that she was leaving and returning to her family home. The moment Fahad received the text, panic set in. Despite the ongoing tension between them, they had parted on perfectly peaceful terms that morning. He knew instantly that Husnah must have pushed her over the edge. Consumed with rage, he abruptly abandoned his work in Kaduna and drove straight back, arriving just after Maghrib. Both wives were confined to their respective bedrooms. Fahad stormed directly into Bilkisu’s room, finding her fully packed and dressed up, simply waiting for his arrival. One look at her swollen, bloodshot eyes told him everything he needed to know. "Bilkisu, what on earth happened?" "You want to know what happened? I am completely done living under the same roof as your wife! Just grant me my divorce (sawwake min) so I can leave this house for her permanently! Am I her equal that she feels entitled to bring her friends into this house to collectively insult and degrade me? Have I ever disrespected her? Today, that girl and her friends openly called me a barren woman. And worse, they said..." Bilkisu choked on her words, bursting into a violent, heartbreaking sob. For the very first time, Fahad quickly sat beside her, pulling her tightly against his chest in a protective embrace. "I am so incredibly sorry... Please, stop crying... Tell me exactly what they said. What happened?" Bilkisu was completely unable to speak, her violent sobs echoing through the quiet room as she clung to his body. Fahad gently stroked her back, waiting patiently until her crying gradually subsided into soft whimpers before he spoke again. "What else did she say to you?" "They literally declared... that I spent my entire youth living a loose, promiscuous life, constantly taking pills and committing abortions before I married you... and that is the exact reason why I am barren and unable to give you a child..." A wave of absolute, blinding fury washed over Fahad. He had never, in his wildest imagination, expected Husnah to sink to such a vile, malicious level. He gently released Bilkisu from his embrace, stood up, and stormed out of the room...
Part 3: The Confrontation, Retribution, and Crisis
Fahad entered Husnah's bedroom in a state of absolute, terrifying rage. If his anger could be quantified, it had reached its absolute breaking point. Husnah was lying face down on her bed, phone in hand, casually writing an assignment. Without warning, Fahad reached down, grabbed her aggressively by her arm, and violently yanked her off the bed. Terrified by his raw anger, she stumbled blindly as he dragged her forcefully down the corridor and slammed her into Bilkisu’s room. Bilkisu, who was still sitting on the bed trying to process her grief, immediately choked back her tears and wiped her face at the sound of the door being violently kicked open. Fahad shoved Husnah forward, his chest heaving with dangerous breaths. "Husnah... Repeat exactly what you and your worthless friends said to her today!..." Husnah’s eyes widened in sheer panic, and she instantly slapped her hands over her head, screaming dramatically: "Oh my God! I am ruined! Anty, what on earth did we say to you?! Me and who?! I haven't even stepped foot outside this house today, and yet you stand there weaving outright lies and framing me falsely!..." Before the final words could even leave her mouth, a deafening, violent slap echoed through the room. Fahad’s hand connected squarely with her face with such immense force that Husnah spun around in absolute shock. His eyes had completely transformed from white to a dangerous, bloodshot crimson. "Who do you think is lying to me here?! Is she your equal?! Tell me exactly what transpired right now, or I swear to God I will kick you like a football!..." "I swear by Allah she is lying against me! It's an absolute lie!... I never said a single thing to her! She is doing this out of pure malice and hypocrisy, intentionally trying to destroy our marriage because she is deeply bitter that you and I live in perfect peace! I swear it's a l—" "If you dare utter the word 'lie' one more time, I swear by Allah I will break your mouth! Do you think I am blind to your complete lack of morals?! How dare you target my wife and subject her to vile insults?! Is she your mate?! Have you ever once seen me lift my voice to insult her?! You will confess exactly what happened right now, or I will unleash pure terror on you!...... Tell me exactly where you saw her committing abortions or popping pills like you and your pathetic friends claimed!..." Fahad made a sudden, aggressive advance directly toward Husnah. Sensing that the situation was about to turn dangerously violent, Bilkisu quickly bolted off the bed and threw her body directly in front of him, blocking his path. Fahad tried to gently push her aside, growling: "Asma'u, do you think you can avoid explaining your actions to me?! I will beat you raw! Let me get my hands on you!" Bilkisu locked her arms around him with all her might, staring directly into his bloodshot eyes before turning her gaze onto a trembling Husnah. "Get out of here right now... Get out of my room!" Bilkisu commanded sharply. Terrified and completely humbled, Husnah quietly slunk out of the room, casting bitter, resentful glares over her shoulder. Fahad watched her exit, his mind spinning. This girl is nothing but a calculated snake, he thought. The fact that she had the audacity to play the victim and claim she was being framed disgusted him to his core; he utterly loathed hypocrites who actively sabotaged peace. Even after Husnah had completely exited, Bilkisu maintained her firm grip on Fahad. She reached down, took both of his trembling hands, and locked them securely inside her own. "As for you, this is absolutely not how a mature man handles things... Why on earth would you drag her into my presence and violently slap her, threatening to beat her right in front of me? That is entirely wrong. If you need to discipline her, you do it privately, between just the two of you. Bringing her in front of me to humiliate and beat her is a direct insult to her dignity..." Fahad looked down at her, his eyes still burning with anger, but his heart softened. He reminded himself that his profound love for Bilkisu was never in vain; she possessed an incredibly gentle, pure nature, entirely void of malice or ill intent toward anyone. "Please forgive me... I swear, Insha Allah, I will handle this permanently," he murmured. "I have forgiven the incident, but in all honesty, I am still leaving for my family home... This house is far too small for the two of us. Your wife cannot stand the sight of me; she harbors deep hatred for me, and in all honesty, I harbor the exact same resentment toward her. Coexisting in this space is an absolute impossibility. The day you are financially capable of providing a separate house for me, I will gladly return. But for now, I am going home." A soft smile broke across Fahad's face. He gently pulled her toward the edge of the bed, guiding her to sit down while he knelt on the floor directly in front of her, looking up into her eyes. "Oh, so you're just going to pack your bags, run home, and tell everyone that you were entirely incapable of handling co-wife jealousy against a girl who is practically your youngest sister, so you fled?" "This has absolutely nothing to do with her! I am simply protecting my peace; I refuse to live in constant chaos... Did you not hear the vile slurs they hurled at me? Calling me a loose woman..." "Please, let the matter drop... Look at me, I am the one who married you, right? I have never, not for a single second, harbored such foul suspicions against you. Therefore, it shouldn't matter what the rest of the world says, because your own husband knows the truth. I know with absolute certainty that you are perfectly pure and untouched. Do not waste your tears over their ignorance..." Bilkisu fell silent, though tears continued to stream down her face. She had never been subjected to such a disgusting, malicious character assassination in her entire life. "I'll be right back..." Fahad said, standing up. Bilkisu quickly grabbed his hand to hold him back. "Fahad, please do not go back there to beat that girl... Domestic violence is entirely wrong." "I am not going to beat her, I promise. I'll be right back." Fahad walked back into Husnah's bedroom. Husnah had only just crawled back into her bed, having eavesdropped on every single word of his conversation with Bilkisu. Fahad sat quietly on the edge of her bed. Husnah stood up, cowering in a corner, paralyzed with fear. She had never known that Fahad possessed such a terrifying, volatile temper. "Husnah, do you honestly believe that what you did today was right? Why on earth would you hurl such disgusting words at her? Are you even aware of the massive sin attached to such an accusation under Islamic law? If she took you to an Islamic court, you would be sentenced to public flogging for committing defamation (kazafi)..." "Well, it's glaringly obvious that she is the one you love more! That's why you constantly take her side and refuse to see any fault in her!" Husnah yelled back, weeping. "Husnah, this has absolutely nothing to do with favoritism... This is about basic truth and justice... Bilkisu is your senior co-wife, and it is entirely unacceptable for you to talk to her in such a vile manner." "In all honesty, Ya Fahad, that woman has completely brainwashed you! How else can you explain the fact that the moment she drops a complaint, you instantly fly into a violent rage and attack me without launching a proper investigation?! Do you even know what she said to me?!" Fahad bolted upright, his fury returning. "You are an outright liar! She never said a single word to you! Let me tell you something, Husnah: I swear by Allah, I will make your life a living hell over this incident. If you want us to ever have peace in this marriage, you better learn how to guard your tongue. I loathe disrespect, and I will absolutely never tolerate you looking down on my wife. Even if she isn't older than you by birth, she arrived in this house long before you; you met her here! She never restricted your freedom or disrupted your peace, so why are you actively destroying hers? When I wanted to marry you, if she had thrown a tantrum and refused to grant her consent, do you honestly believe I would have married you? You better check yourself before it's too late!..." "But, Ya Fahad, surely—" "Will you shut up before I hit you again?! I am only realizing the true extent of your shamelessness today... We are very close to breaking this marriage apart, Asma'u." Fahad turned to storm out, but suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his chest. He froze, gasping, and sank heavily onto the edge of the bed. His legs gave out completely, and he collapsed backward onto the mattress, his hands clutching his chest tightly. He closed his eyes, feeling his heart hammering erratically against his ribs, completely out of rhythm. Terrified by the sudden medical crisis, Husnah dropped to her knees beside him, touching his shoulder. "I am so sorry, Ya Fahad... Please, calm down... Did you take your medication today?" He offered a weak nod, prompting her to press closer to him in a panic. "Should I give you another dose? Please..." "I left my main prescription in Kaduna..." he gasped out. "No, there is a backup supply right here... Let me grab it for you." "I don't want to risk an overdose, Husnah... I already took a dose earlier today..." "No, it won't cause an overdose, I promise! For God's sake, please take the medicine!" She bolted upright, fetched the pills along with a glass of water, and helped him swallow them. Fahad lay back down, and within minutes, the heavy sedatives completely knocked him out into a deep sleep. In truth, Husnah loved Fahad with every fiber of her being, but she harbored an absolute, uncompromising hatred for Bilkisu, fueled further by her perception that Fahad preferred her. Meanwhile, Bilkisu remained in her room, entirely oblivious to Fahad's medical emergency. Seeing that he hadn't returned, she began reflecting deeply on his words. He's right, she thought. If I run back to my family home, what logical explanation will I give Ammah and Abba? Since her grievance was entirely with Husnah and not Fahad, she knew her parents would never allow her to just abandon her matrimonial home. Furthermore, the thought of Iyallo’s relentless harassment was enough to deter her, as the woman disrupted their family house every two weeks without fail. Resigning herself to her reality, Bilkisu stood up, unpacked her bags, and neatly returned her clothes to the wardrobe. She poured herself the cup of tea she had intended to enjoy hours ago before those girls had completely ruined her day. She realized she hadn't put a single morsel of food into her body since morning. She sat down, drank her tea, and went to take a long, hot bath. In the other room, Fahad remained entirely unresponsive, deep in a chemically induced sleep. He completely missed the Ishah prayer, sleeping straight through the night. By 11:00 PM, Husnah was still sitting on the floor, her head resting exhausted against the edge of the bed, where sleep had eventually overtaken her as well. Fahad finally awoke, his entire body feeling weak, heavy, and completely drained. He gently shook Husnah awake. She bolted upright, staring at him anxiously. "Get up and sleep properly on the bed..." he murmured weakly. She climbed onto the mattress. Fahad forced himself to stand up; he still needed to perform his missed Ishah prayer, and a sharp hunger was gnawing at his stomach. "Did you pray?" he asked. She nodded silently. Fahad turned and walked out of the room, pulling his phone from his pocket. He quietly stepped into Bilkisu’s room, and to his utter surprise, he found her wide awake...
2. Summary
The narrative explores the rapidly escalating domestic and psychological warfare between Fahad's two wives, Bilkisu and Husnah, culminating in a vicious confrontation and a severe health crisis.
Co-Wife Friction and Insecurities: While Bilkisu focuses on her career and retreats to her room to avoid conflict (even purchasing her own TV to avoid the shared parlor), Husnah grows deeply insecure. Husnah notices that Fahad restricts his affection to their private bedroom to avoid offending Bilkisu, and that he only works on his tailoring orders on Bilkisu's nights. Egged on by her toxic relative, Anty Juwairiyya, Husnah begins launching passive-aggressive attacks against Bilkisu regarding her housekeeping and childlessness.
The Malicious Accusation: The tension reaches a breaking point when Bilkisu stays home with severe menstrual cramps. Husnah and her friends corner Bilkisu in the kitchen, loudly boasting about Husnah's alleged pregnancy while orchestrating a vile character assassination—falsely claiming Bilkisu is barren because of a loose past filled with contraceptives and abortions. Devastated and feverish, Bilkisu texts Fahad that she is leaving him.
Violent Retribution and Medical Emergency: Fahad rushes back from Kaduna in a fury. Upon hearing the disgusting slur hurled at Bilkisu, he drags Husnah into Bilkisu's room, violently slaps her, and threatens further physical violence until Bilkisu steps in to protect her co-wife and de-escalate the situation. After a harsh lecture on the gravity of defamation (kazafi) in Islam, the sheer rage triggers Fahad's latent heart condition. He suffers an erratic heart rate and collapses on Husnah's bed, forcing her to panickingly administer a heavy dose of sedatives that leaves him unconscious for hours, while a resilient Bilkisu chooses to unpack her bags to safeguard her dignity.
GIDAN UNCLE BOOK COMPELET BY OUM HAIRAN
Domestic Realities and Latent Tensions
"I'll be right back... Though you won't even be able to go out anyway, seeing as you walk like someone who just underwent circumcision," Fahad teased playfully.
Bilkisu pouted at him, aggressively kicking her legs against the bed in mock protest. He quickly changed from his loungewear into a polo T-shirt and jeans, grabbed his baseball cap, gave her a brief kiss, and headed out. She got up and followed him to the courtyard, watching as he started his motorcycle and rode away before she finally retreated back inside.
When Fahad arrived at Hindu’s house, Bilkisu was completely buried in cooking for an ongoing naming ceremony, busy wrapping alale (steamed bean puddings) and managing various boiling pots. Dressed simply in a T-shirt and a black skirt, she had thrown on a veil before stepping outside. Fahad sat quietly on a plastic chair, keeping his distance. As she approached, he looked at her from afar, suddenly struck by how incredibly young and small she looked—almost like a little girl.
When she finally reached him, he found himself unable to lock eyes with her, gripped by a sudden anxiety that she might read exactly what had transpired between him and Husnah by looking into his eyes. Keeping his gaze fixed firmly downward, he handed over his message and quickly departed without making proper eye contact. It was only after he had left that he realized he had completely forgotten to ask Bilkisu the name of the newborn baby girl. He tried calling her phone repeatedly, but she never answered, as she was completely absorbed in the ceremony's hectic kitchen duties. In truth, she looked exceptionally beautiful to him that day; he simply lacked the courage to articulate it to her.
Upon returning home, Fahad and Husnah picked up exactly where they had left off, thoroughly enjoying their newlywed bliss long before Bilkisu returned. Bilkisu only came back the following day, after all the frying, cooking, and rigorous house cleaning for the ceremony had completely concluded.
From the exact moment Bilkisu returned to the house, Fahad completely altered his demeanor toward Husnah. He became distant, strictly refusing to engage in any form of affection, playfulness, or lighthearted banter in the parlor, confining their interactions entirely to the privacy of their bedroom. The two wives continued their scheduled rotation, each getting two days, and each managing her own separate cooking. They rarely ever crossed paths. Before Husnah even woke up in the morning, Bilkisu would have already left the house for work. By the time Bilkisu returned, Husnah would remain locked away in her room; the only time anyone ever saw Husnah outside was if she was accompanied by Fahad.
Time marched on, and almost imperceptibly, Husnah and Fahad reached their sixth week of marriage. Fahad had officially resumed his studies, returning home only on weekends. On a bright Saturday morning, Nusaiba (Ya Abba’s wife) paid a surprise visit—marking her very first time stepping into the house.
Bilkisu was seated in the parlor, dressed in a comfortable soft blue top and trousers, working diligently on her laptop while listening to Malam Aminu Daurawa’s educational Islamic program, Tambaya Mabudin Ilmi (Questions are the Key to Knowledge). Technically, today marked the day Fahad was supposed to transition from Husnah’s room to Bilkisu’s, but he had been out since morning attending to his tailoring shop, having brought a massive backlog of sewing orders with him from Kaduna.
Bilkisu gave Nusaiba a warm, hospitable welcome. Soon after, Husnah emerged from her room and joined them, engaging in small talk. Bilkisu mostly remained quiet, listening passively; she was naturally reserved, a woman who could sit with someone for an hour and speak only three or four times. However, around her close friends Hindu and Khulsum, she completely let her guard down and was incredibly lively. After a while, Bilkisu stood up, took a refreshing shower, changed into a long atamfa gown, and returned to the parlor. She asked Nusaiba what she would like to eat, and Nusaiba politely replied that anything would be fine. Bilkisu entered the kitchen and prepared a meal of yam and vegetable sauce, serving it neatly to her guest.
When she returned to the parlor, she found Nusaiba and Husnah deep in a conversation centered entirely around co-wife jealousy. Taking a direct jab, Husnah remarked loudly:
"I swear, if a woman doesn't secure her husband properly, another woman will step right in and take absolute control of him... Some women are incredibly careless. Some don't even know how to properly clean and preserve their husband's bedding, leaving it entirely up to the co-wife to handle it for him..."
"Well, that's just how we women are. We just have to practice patience; jealousy is simply hardwired into us," Nusaiba replied smoothly.
Bilkisu knew with absolute certainty that Husnah’s derogatory remarks were targeted directly at her. However, she possessed too much class and dignity to lower herself to a petty parlor argument. I will deal directly with the man who brought her into this house, not her, she thought. She spent the rest of the day in a foul, irritated mood. She completely ignored Husnah until Nusaiba finally took her leave. Late in the afternoon, Fahad returned, but Bilkisu completely iced him out. Unbothered, he changed his clothes and left to play football.
Later that evening, as she was preparing for bed, Fahad quietly walked into her room. Bilkisu instantly snapped out of bed, standing up in a fit of pure rage.
"Hey! I absolutely do not want this blanket or this bedsheet in my room! Get them out of here right now! And you better warn your stupid, uneducated wife that if she ever attempts to throw passive-aggressive insults or insults regarding my bedding at me again, I swear by Allah, I will ruin her day! I am absolutely not her mate!"
Hearing this, Fahad immediately understood that an incident had occurred or that Husnah had targeted her with malicious words. Without a word, he picked up the bedding, walked out, and returned them to Husnah’s room, where she was already fast asleep. He then returned to Bilkisu’s room, only to find that she had already brought out a fresh set of sheets and blankets for him. He sat down quietly on the mattress, holding a pair of tailoring scissors to trim some fabrics.
"What did Husnah do to you?" he asked quietly, measuring the atamfa cloth he had set aside.
"Why didn't you ask her instead?" she shot back sharply, pulling the covers over herself to sleep.
"She’s already fast asleep..."
"Then you can wait until she wakes up tomorrow and ask her yourself!"
"I am deeply sorry. Please forgive me, I will address it with her, Insha Allah."
Bilkisu offered no further response, turning her back to him and leaving him to his late-night fabric cutting. The following morning, Fahad reprimanded Husnah severely, warning her in no uncertain terms that whatever she had done to Bilkisu must never happen again, reminding her that Bilkisu was fundamentally her senior, not her equal. He demanded that she apologize. Grudgingly, and solely to obey his command, Husnah accompanied him to offer Bilkisu a half-hearted apology.
From that day forward, the domestic atmosphere soured completely. Husnah became deeply insecure, convinced that Fahad harbored a profound preference for Bilkisu, or worse, that he was actually afraid of her. Whenever Fahad and Husnah were laughing and being affectionate in the parlor—with Fahad playfully carrying her on his back—the moment Bilkisu walked in from work, Fahad would abruptly stop everything. When Husnah complained about it, he simply replied that out of respect for her senior co-wife, it was inappropriate to flaunt their affection openly, as it would look like an intentional insult to Bilkisu’s face.
This response burned Husnah to her core. Her suspicions grew deeper. She began noticing a pattern: every single time it was Bilkisu’s scheduled nights, Fahad would carry his massive bags of tailoring orders into Bilkisu’s room, spending half the night cutting fabrics right there. Yet, on her own scheduled nights, he never engaged in such tedious work.
As for Bilkisu, she remained in the house purely out of obligation, finding absolutely no joy in the living arrangement, especially now that Husnah was actively seeking avenues to disrespect her. However, she consciously chose to ignore Husnah's existence entirely.
On the Friday Fahad was scheduled to return for the weekend, it coincided with the naming ceremony of Ya Fauziyya (their older sister), who had just given birth to a baby boy. Husnah and her circle had left early in the morning to help with the heavy domestic chores. Bilkisu, however, waited until she finished her shift at work before dressing up elegantly and heading over, carrying the baby gifts she had already purchased.
When Bilkisu arrived, she found Husnah lounging comfortably in the new mother's room alongside her toxic confidante, Anty Juwairiyya. Juwairiyya was actively fueling Husnah’s ego, whispering maliciously: "It’s only now that Fahad has entered a real marriage, marrying his true match. I don't know why he ever bothered marrying an older woman in the first place. Even if he becomes a governor, you are the rightful First Lady because you're the young girl he will grow old with."
Bilkisu quietly took a seat beside the new mother, who welcomed her warmly along with Anty Asabe and Nusaiba. As Bilkisu held the newborn baby, she was constantly served refreshments and food. Barely twenty minutes into her visit, Husnah whined loudly:
"Ugh, this alale just wasn't enough for me, Anty Juwaira..."
"Oh, the young bride! This sudden craving definitely has a hidden cause... You are in perfect health!" Juwairiyya smirked loudly.
"Oh please, Anty Juwaira! Even on my scheduled nights, Ya Fahad spends the entire night cutting fabrics..." Husnah complained passively.
"Well, that’s clearly because of your utter uselessness in bed!" Juwairiyya cackled.
The entire room burst into collective laughter, save for Bilkisu. Bilkisu knew with absolute certainty that Husnah had staged that loud complaint with a double meaning—it was a direct, calculated insult aimed at mocking Bilkisu's childlessness and insinuating that Fahad ignored her. Why is it that a co-wife never tires of finding petty things to mock? Bilkisu asked herself bitterly. Overwhelmed by the toxic atmosphere, she formally said her goodbyes and left the house early.
This time, she resolved not to say a single word to Fahad. But she swore to herself that she was very close to showing Husnah her true, unyielding colors. She would show her that she was not her mate—not just in terms of age, but in the eyes of their husband. To this day, Bilkisu still held the true banner of Fahad's deepest affection; just because he had temporarily neglected her did not mean his love had died. After all, whenever her mood soured in that house, everyone's peace was disrupted.
Fahad returned later that evening in a tense, irritable mood. He and Bilkisu exchanged a brief, strained conversation before he stepped back out. After the Ishah prayer, he returned, bringing Husnah back from the ceremony since it was technically her night. Two days later, his rotation shifted back to Bilkisu’s room. Bilkisu was still privately fuming over Husnah’s public mockery at the ceremony regarding Fahad cutting clothes in her room due to her "uselessness."
The moment Fahad walked in carrying a bundle of atamfa fabric, Bilkisu sat up straight, her face locked in a hard, icy expression.
"Hey! You are absolutely not cutting any fabrics in my room tonight! If you have sewing to do, take it right out to the parlor! May Allah grant us peace!"
He stared at her in utter astonishment. "It's literally just a single piece of cloth..."
"I don't care if it's one piece! I swear by Allah, you will not cut it inside this room! Go back to where you just came from and cut it there! Do you do this type of work in her room too? Or am I just the easy target you've chosen to disrespect? I swear to God, it won't happen tonight!..."
Fahad found himself entirely unable to comprehend Bilkisu's sudden, volatile behavior lately. She seemed to be constantly on edge, actively searching for a reason to spark a massive confrontation. Her outbursts stressed him deeply, yet he consciously avoided fighting back because he knew Husnah was constantly lurking. True to his instincts, Husnah was currently hiding in the shadows outside the door, eavesdropping on every word.
"Alright, please forgive me. Let me just drop it here," Fahad said gently.
"Drop it where? I swear by Allah, I have taken an oath that this fabric will not spend a single night inside this bedroom! Take it back exactly where you brought it from!..."
Defeated, Fahad turned and walked out. Hearing his approaching footsteps, Husnah scrambled away from the corridor, sprinting back to her room and diving into bed to pretend she was asleep. Fahad entered her room, tossed the fabric carelessly on top of her suitcases, turned on his heel, and walked right back out.
Part 2: The Malicious Slur and The Violent Aftermath
The domestic environment became entirely unbearable. Bilkisu lost a drastic amount of weight, looking completely drained and frail. She thought bitterly that if her father would only give his consent, she would instantly rent her own apartment and abandon the house completely. But she knew that if she brought it up, Ammah and Abba would flatly reject the idea, not to mention the relentless harassment she would face from Iyallo, who visited every two weeks without fail.
To make matters worse, Husnah had pioneered a petty new tactic: on her scheduled nights, she would actively hide Fahad away. If Bilkisu desperately needed to see him for an important matter while he was resting, Husnah would aggressively bar her, loudly complaining that people lacked basic empathy and refused to let a hard-working man rest after coming back from his shop.
Sensing the sheer absurdity of the disrespect, Bilkisu withdrew entirely, refusing to even sit in the shared parlor. Since television was her only escape, she went out and purchased a brand-new, massive plasma TV, a satellite receiver, and all necessary equipment, having it professionally installed directly inside her bedroom. Despite having her own private space, one look at her physical frame revealed she was battling deep, silent depression.
The only saving grace was that both women were rarely home during the day now, as Husnah had officially resumed her studies. However, almost daily, Husnah would bring her friends—including Fa'iza—back to the house, intentionally standing in the shared areas throwing loud, malicious insults aimed at Bilkisu. Bilkisu rarely heard the worst of it because she kept herself locked in her room with her TV volume up. She also noticed that whenever Fahad was physically in town, Husnah completely halted her toxic behavior, never bringing anyone over. But the moment he traveled, her friends would pack into the house, staying until Maghrib.
One particular day, Bilkisu stayed home from work, struck by severe, agonizing menstrual cramps. Since her very first cycle, she had never experienced pain this excruciating. She couldn't even take a step outside. The moment the sharp pains subsided slightly, she put on a lightweight long gown and a black head-tie, heading into the kitchen to boil some water for tea.
While she was in the kitchen, Husnah walked through the front door accompanied by two of her friends. Husnah loudly instructed them to go into the kitchen and cook whatever they desired. Upon spotting Bilkisu standing there, the trio immediately launched into a calculated, deeply disrespectful conversation.
"My friend, how is our baby doing? What is the little one craving today?" Fa'iza asked loudly.
"Wait, our friend is already pregnant? We're going to be aunties?" Ruky chimed in.
"Oh, absolutely! For a long time now! I am definitely not a barren, useless woman (juya). I am a wife married out of pure love, which is why I got pregnant in no time at all. I think it’s about two months and a few days along now..." Husnah boasted loudly.
"Well, some women aren't actually barren; it's just their past reckless, promiscuous lifestyles that prevent them from carrying a child," Ruky laughed maliciously.
Bilkisu stood frozen, listening carefully as she quietly poured her hot water.
"Exactly! Some of them haven't even crossed childbearing age yet. It's just the sheer amount of immorality they practiced outside, constantly popping contraceptive pills and committing abortions until they permanently destroyed their own wombs!..." Husnah added, clapping her hands and bursting into loud, mocking laughter.
Bilkisu quietly switched off the gas, lifted her tea flask, and walked directly out of the kitchen. In her mind, she knew it would show a complete lack of class and dignity to lower herself to argue with girls who were barely older than her youngest sister, Meenah. Entering her bedroom, she collapsed onto her bed, completely overwhelmed.
She burst into uncontrollable tears. The deep psychological pain quickly manifested into a severe, burning fever. She was utterly exhausted by the relentless, calculated disrespect. She resolved right then and there that she was leaving Fahad's house permanently—he could live with his precious Husnah alone.
She typed a direct text message to Fahad, stating simply that she was leaving and returning to her family home. The moment Fahad received the text, panic set in. Despite the ongoing tension between them, they had parted on perfectly peaceful terms that morning. He knew instantly that Husnah must have pushed her over the edge. Consumed with rage, he abruptly abandoned his work in Kaduna and drove straight back, arriving just after Maghrib.
Both wives were confined to their respective bedrooms. Fahad stormed directly into Bilkisu’s room, finding her fully packed and dressed up, simply waiting for his arrival. One look at her swollen, bloodshot eyes told him everything he needed to know.
"Bilkisu, what on earth happened?"
"You want to know what happened? I am completely done living under the same roof as your wife! Just grant me my divorce (sawwake min) so I can leave this house for her permanently! Am I her equal that she feels entitled to bring her friends into this house to collectively insult and degrade me? Have I ever disrespected her? Today, that girl and her friends openly called me a barren woman. And worse, they said..."
Bilkisu choked on her words, bursting into a violent, heartbreaking sob. For the very first time, Fahad quickly sat beside her, pulling her tightly against his chest in a protective embrace.
"I am so incredibly sorry... Please, stop crying... Tell me exactly what they said. What happened?"
Bilkisu was completely unable to speak, her violent sobs echoing through the quiet room as she clung to his body. Fahad gently stroked her back, waiting patiently until her crying gradually subsided into soft whimpers before he spoke again.
"What else did she say to you?"
"They literally declared... that I spent my entire youth living a loose, promiscuous life, constantly taking pills and committing abortions before I married you... and that is the exact reason why I am barren and unable to give you a child..."
A wave of absolute, blinding fury washed over Fahad. He had never, in his wildest imagination, expected Husnah to sink to such a vile, malicious level. He gently released Bilkisu from his embrace, stood up, and stormed out of the room...
Part 3: The Confrontation, Retribution, and Crisis
Fahad entered Husnah's bedroom in a state of absolute, terrifying rage. If his anger could be quantified, it had reached its absolute breaking point. Husnah was lying face down on her bed, phone in hand, casually writing an assignment. Without warning, Fahad reached down, grabbed her aggressively by her arm, and violently yanked her off the bed. Terrified by his raw anger, she stumbled blindly as he dragged her forcefully down the corridor and slammed her into Bilkisu’s room.
Bilkisu, who was still sitting on the bed trying to process her grief, immediately choked back her tears and wiped her face at the sound of the door being violently kicked open. Fahad shoved Husnah forward, his chest heaving with dangerous breaths.
"Husnah... Repeat exactly what you and your worthless friends said to her today!..."
Husnah’s eyes widened in sheer panic, and she instantly slapped her hands over her head, screaming dramatically:
"Oh my God! I am ruined! Anty, what on earth did we say to you?! Me and who?! I haven't even stepped foot outside this house today, and yet you stand there weaving outright lies and framing me falsely!..."
Before the final words could even leave her mouth, a deafening, violent slap echoed through the room. Fahad’s hand connected squarely with her face with such immense force that Husnah spun around in absolute shock. His eyes had completely transformed from white to a dangerous, bloodshot crimson.
"Who do you think is lying to me here?! Is she your equal?! Tell me exactly what transpired right now, or I swear to God I will kick you like a football!..."
"I swear by Allah she is lying against me! It's an absolute lie!... I never said a single thing to her! She is doing this out of pure malice and hypocrisy, intentionally trying to destroy our marriage because she is deeply bitter that you and I live in perfect peace! I swear it's a l—"
"If you dare utter the word 'lie' one more time, I swear by Allah I will break your mouth! Do you think I am blind to your complete lack of morals?! How dare you target my wife and subject her to vile insults?! Is she your mate?! Have you ever once seen me lift my voice to insult her?! You will confess exactly what happened right now, or I will unleash pure terror on you!...... Tell me exactly where you saw her committing abortions or popping pills like you and your pathetic friends claimed!..."
Fahad made a sudden, aggressive advance directly toward Husnah. Sensing that the situation was about to turn dangerously violent, Bilkisu quickly bolted off the bed and threw her body directly in front of him, blocking his path. Fahad tried to gently push her aside, growling:
"Asma'u, do you think you can avoid explaining your actions to me?! I will beat you raw! Let me get my hands on you!"
Bilkisu locked her arms around him with all her might, staring directly into his bloodshot eyes before turning her gaze onto a trembling Husnah.
"Get out of here right now... Get out of my room!" Bilkisu commanded sharply.
Terrified and completely humbled, Husnah quietly slunk out of the room, casting bitter, resentful glares over her shoulder. Fahad watched her exit, his mind spinning. This girl is nothing but a calculated snake, he thought. The fact that she had the audacity to play the victim and claim she was being framed disgusted him to his core; he utterly loathed hypocrites who actively sabotaged peace.
Even after Husnah had completely exited, Bilkisu maintained her firm grip on Fahad. She reached down, took both of his trembling hands, and locked them securely inside her own.
"As for you, this is absolutely not how a mature man handles things... Why on earth would you drag her into my presence and violently slap her, threatening to beat her right in front of me? That is entirely wrong. If you need to discipline her, you do it privately, between just the two of you. Bringing her in front of me to humiliate and beat her is a direct insult to her dignity..."
Fahad looked down at her, his eyes still burning with anger, but his heart softened. He reminded himself that his profound love for Bilkisu was never in vain; she possessed an incredibly gentle, pure nature, entirely void of malice or ill intent toward anyone.
"Please forgive me... I swear, Insha Allah, I will handle this permanently," he murmured.
"I have forgiven the incident, but in all honesty, I am still leaving for my family home... This house is far too small for the two of us. Your wife cannot stand the sight of me; she harbors deep hatred for me, and in all honesty, I harbor the exact same resentment toward her. Coexisting in this space is an absolute impossibility. The day you are financially capable of providing a separate house for me, I will gladly return. But for now, I am going home."
A soft smile broke across Fahad's face. He gently pulled her toward the edge of the bed, guiding her to sit down while he knelt on the floor directly in front of her, looking up into her eyes.
"Oh, so you're just going to pack your bags, run home, and tell everyone that you were entirely incapable of handling co-wife jealousy against a girl who is practically your youngest sister, so you fled?"
"This has absolutely nothing to do with her! I am simply protecting my peace; I refuse to live in constant chaos... Did you not hear the vile slurs they hurled at me? Calling me a loose woman..."
"Please, let the matter drop... Look at me, I am the one who married you, right? I have never, not for a single second, harbored such foul suspicions against you. Therefore, it shouldn't matter what the rest of the world says, because your own husband knows the truth. I know with absolute certainty that you are perfectly pure and untouched. Do not waste your tears over their ignorance..."
Bilkisu fell silent, though tears continued to stream down her face. She had never been subjected to such a disgusting, malicious character assassination in her entire life.
"I'll be right back..." Fahad said, standing up. Bilkisu quickly grabbed his hand to hold him back.
"Fahad, please do not go back there to beat that girl... Domestic violence is entirely wrong."
"I am not going to beat her, I promise. I'll be right back."
Fahad walked back into Husnah's bedroom. Husnah had only just crawled back into her bed, having eavesdropped on every single word of his conversation with Bilkisu. Fahad sat quietly on the edge of her bed. Husnah stood up, cowering in a corner, paralyzed with fear. She had never known that Fahad possessed such a terrifying, volatile temper.
"Husnah, do you honestly believe that what you did today was right? Why on earth would you hurl such disgusting words at her? Are you even aware of the massive sin attached to such an accusation under Islamic law? If she took you to an Islamic court, you would be sentenced to public flogging for committing defamation (kazafi)..."
"Well, it's glaringly obvious that she is the one you love more! That's why you constantly take her side and refuse to see any fault in her!" Husnah yelled back, weeping.
"Husnah, this has absolutely nothing to do with favoritism... This is about basic truth and justice... Bilkisu is your senior co-wife, and it is entirely unacceptable for you to talk to her in such a vile manner."
"In all honesty, Ya Fahad, that woman has completely brainwashed you! How else can you explain the fact that the moment she drops a complaint, you instantly fly into a violent rage and attack me without launching a proper investigation?! Do you even know what she said to me?!"
Fahad bolted upright, his fury returning.
"You are an outright liar! She never said a single word to you! Let me tell you something, Husnah: I swear by Allah, I will make your life a living hell over this incident. If you want us to ever have peace in this marriage, you better learn how to guard your tongue. I loathe disrespect, and I will absolutely never tolerate you looking down on my wife. Even if she isn't older than you by birth, she arrived in this house long before you; you met her here! She never restricted your freedom or disrupted your peace, so why are you actively destroying hers? When I wanted to marry you, if she had thrown a tantrum and refused to grant her consent, do you honestly believe I would have married you? You better check yourself before it's too late!..."
"But, Ya Fahad, surely—"
"Will you shut up before I hit you again?! I am only realizing the true extent of your shamelessness today... We are very close to breaking this marriage apart, Asma'u."
Fahad turned to storm out, but suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his chest. He froze, gasping, and sank heavily onto the edge of the bed. His legs gave out completely, and he collapsed backward onto the mattress, his hands clutching his chest tightly. He closed his eyes, feeling his heart hammering erratically against his ribs, completely out of rhythm.
Terrified by the sudden medical crisis, Husnah dropped to her knees beside him, touching his shoulder.
"I am so sorry, Ya Fahad... Please, calm down... Did you take your medication today?"
He offered a weak nod, prompting her to press closer to him in a panic.
"Should I give you another dose? Please..."
"I left my main prescription in Kaduna..." he gasped out.
"No, there is a backup supply right here... Let me grab it for you."
"I don't want to risk an overdose, Husnah... I already took a dose earlier today..."
"No, it won't cause an overdose, I promise! For God's sake, please take the medicine!"
She bolted upright, fetched the pills along with a glass of water, and helped him swallow them. Fahad lay back down, and within minutes, the heavy sedatives completely knocked him out into a deep sleep. In truth, Husnah loved Fahad with every fiber of her being, but she harbored an absolute, uncompromising hatred for Bilkisu, fueled further by her perception that Fahad preferred her.
Meanwhile, Bilkisu remained in her room, entirely oblivious to Fahad's medical emergency. Seeing that he hadn't returned, she began reflecting deeply on his words. He's right, she thought. If I run back to my family home, what logical explanation will I give Ammah and Abba? Since her grievance was entirely with Husnah and not Fahad, she knew her parents would never allow her to just abandon her matrimonial home. Furthermore, the thought of Iyallo’s relentless harassment was enough to deter her, as the woman disrupted their family house every two weeks without fail.
Resigning herself to her reality, Bilkisu stood up, unpacked her bags, and neatly returned her clothes to the wardrobe. She poured herself the cup of tea she had intended to enjoy hours ago before those girls had completely ruined her day. She realized she hadn't put a single morsel of food into her body since morning. She sat down, drank her tea, and went to take a long, hot bath.
In the other room, Fahad remained entirely unresponsive, deep in a chemically induced sleep. He completely missed the Ishah prayer, sleeping straight through the night. By 11:00 PM, Husnah was still sitting on the floor, her head resting exhausted against the edge of the bed, where sleep had eventually overtaken her as well.
Fahad finally awoke, his entire body feeling weak, heavy, and completely drained. He gently shook Husnah awake. She bolted upright, staring at him anxiously.
"Get up and sleep properly on the bed..." he murmured weakly.
She climbed onto the mattress. Fahad forced himself to stand up; he still needed to perform his missed Ishah prayer, and a sharp hunger was gnawing at his stomach.
"Did you pray?" he asked.
She nodded silently. Fahad turned and walked out of the room, pulling his phone from his pocket. He quietly stepped into Bilkisu’s room, and to his utter surprise, he found her wide awake...
2. Summary
The narrative explores the rapidly escalating domestic and psychological warfare between Fahad's two wives, Bilkisu and Husnah, culminating in a vicious confrontation and a severe health crisis.