AL'WALED gently offered his Islamic greetings. He answered with care, saying softly, "Welcome, father of the deaf. How did you find your mother?" AL'WALED let out a soft sigh and said, "Alhamdulillah, Baba." Baba Hamza asked, "How is it that I hear your voice sounding a bit unusual?" AL'WALED straightened up slightly to leave, but she quickly stood up and took his hand, following him closely. This caused him to pause. Looking at her, he said softly, "Alhamdulillah, it's nothing." Baba Hamza said, "Masha Allah. Alright, as you already know, yesterday the marriage of the one who was crying was solemnized, and today we will solemnize the second one. That is why I said once you all come out, you should head over to our family house so we can gather together. I am also on my way out now to join in the preparations at the front of the house." AL'WALED smiled slightly and asked, "Are you included in the preparations too?" Baba Hamza replied, "Yes, you know I have to show my presence. Besides, the guests are for two weddings, so you see, the gathering will be quite large." AL'WALED nodded and said softly, "Ok, but I think I will only be able to check in later." Baba Hamza countered, "Oh no, you are a son-in-law of the household. It isn't proper for things to be happening right now without you there." AL'WALED looked again at his mother, who was holding his hand tightly and staring at his face. He said slowly, "Baba..." Baba Hamza fell silent for a moment, sensing his demeanor. He asked softly, "Is everything alright? What is happening?" AL'WALED looked at his mother again, his chest feeling somewhat heavy. He said slowly, "I am thinking... about how she will agree to let us leave... and she absolutely must see a doctor first... a doctor... a doctor... hummmmmmmmmmm, she absolutely must see a psychologist." He said this in a very low whisper, turning his face away slightly because he didn't want her to overhear. Baba Hamza felt a wave of profound sorrow and coldness wash over him. He said softly, "Bring her here... then we shall see what is best to do for her." AL'WALED opened his eyes wide, feeling an intense emotion pierce his heart. He gently squeezed his mother's hand and asked softly, "Are you sure?" Baba Hamza replied, "Yes... bring her here to me. If it's possible, you can all come to the wedding venue. If not, when I return, we shall sit down together. But as for Hajia Karama, make sure she is brought over." AL'WALED closed his eyes after letting out a deep sigh and said, "Thank you, thank you, father." Baba Hamza felt his heart completely break, to the point that his eyes filled with tears. He said softly, "See you when you arrive," and ended the call, letting out a deep sigh. He then looked over at Alhaji Ya'u, who was watching him closely. Aba said, "Are you about to cry? What is it?" Baba Hamza looked to the side slightly and replied, "It seems his mother is unwell. I told him to bring her here so she can be looked after." Aba said, "Oh, may Allah grant her health. Yes, he should definitely bring her. If it's a case of jinn possession, we can arrange for ruqyah (spiritual healing) for her. May Allah grant full recovery. Let's get up and go." Baba Hamza stood up, saying, "Let me quickly say goodbye to my hosts, and then we can leave." As for Mallam Abdullahi, the interaction between these servants of Allah deeply impressed him. He simply smiled while they conversed until they finished and departed. Meanwhile, on AL'WALED's side, even observing the prayers required Khadija and the others to hold his mother and comfort her before he could manage to go to the mosque. The moment the prayers concluded, he returned immediately to sit with her so they could resume their conversation from where they left off. She would explain something perfectly, only to completely lose her train of thought and pivot to an entirely unrelated topic. Whenever she did this, he would find himself gently holding her hands, looking at her as his heart shattered into pieces. He would gently try to steer her back to what she was saying; sometimes she would return to the topic, and other times she would forget it completely. He would patiently close his eyes, invoking the names of Allah, seeking His intervention, praying for her health, and repeatedly asking for her forgiveness in his heart. He gently asked her if she would accompany him to Baba Hamza's house. She replied in a somewhat erratic manner, "To Baba's place? Baba will just have me locked up again, and that will be it—I'll stop seeing you. You see, Baba said I was the one who killed your father! How could I kill your father? Little is a witness to that, and so is my namesake; they were both present at the time, right, Khadija?" Anmy offered a gentle smile and said, "Mama, you wouldn't do such a thing. Besides, Baba himself requested that his daughter be brought to him so he can see you. He won't have you locked away from us; we love you, Mama." Like a little child, she smiled radiantly and asked, "Really, Khadija? Are you sure? Baba absolutely detests me, you know." Anmy shook her head with deep care and immense pity for her husband and his mother, saying, "No, Mama. Baba loves you; you are his daughter, after all, he said so himself." Mama kept nodding her head. Aunty Shareefa stood up and led Mama's maids to her room to pick out everything she would need, packing it all up for her. She then instructed her own maids to prepare to leave by nightfall to continue caring for Mama at the other house since she was most accustomed to them. With everything organized, they packed up and headed to the main family house. Upon their arrival, they found that the section where Hajia and the others stayed had been fully prepared. The apartment was divided into distinct wings; there were five wings in total, including Baba's. Hajia and the others occupied three wings, as Baba had not taken a fourth wife, so Mama was placed in the remaining vacant wing. Hajiya Binta and the others welcomed her warmly, and Hajiya Inna joined the welcoming party as well. They were filled with deep pity for the state she had returned in. Initially, Mama tried to hide behind AL'WALED, gripping his shirt tightly and peeking out from behind him, repeatedly pleading for him to tell them that she did not kill her husband and would never do it again, adding that even if he returned, she wouldn't kill him. Gradually, she agreed to step out, and she slowly relaxed until she was comfortably seated among them. Now that they were at the house, AL'WALED did his best until she understood that he was right there with her and was only going to take a bath and rest before returning. She even agreed to wave goodbye to him herself while holding the deaf child's hand until he left. Afterward, she sat quietly again, watching Hajiya and the others as they continued their efforts to make her feel at ease. When they moved to Khadija's room, AL'WALED was undressing. He had informed her to get ready so they could head to the family house for her sisters' wedding solemnization. Despite how incredibly thrilled she was, she quietly hid her excitement, hugged him from behind, and remained completely silent. Feeling the rhythmic beating of her heart, he slowly turned her around to face him and pulled her into a tight embrace against his chest, letting out a soft sigh. In a gentle voice, she said, "In sha Allah, Mama will get better. Please don't let it weigh heavily on your heart." AL'WALED let out a deep sigh and said slowly, "It's as if Mama has suffered... as if she has suffered a mental breakdown... Hajiya Karama, is it my father's blood that is..." "She didn't kill him. The person who killed him is still in prison to this day. Every woman manages her jealousy differently. Do not be surprised; there are women who can even grow jealous of a man's own mother. Her only mistake was against someone who has already completely forgiven her. Who are we to judge her for it? Mama didn't kill Aba; she isn't the one who killed Little's father," she said tenderly, pressing herself closer to him. He let out a deep, relieved sigh, like someone who had been desperately waiting to hear those exact words—as if hearing them was the cure to an affliction he carried. He gently raised her chin, gazing into her eyes, and then let out a soft sigh accompanied by a low smile, saying, "I love you..." Khadija closed her eyes as goosebumps covered her skin. He murmured again softly, "I love you, my soul (Rohi)." This time, she gripped his clothes with a bit of strength. He added gently, "If you keep doing this... we won't be able to make it to the wedding venue anytime soon... because I will be tempted to try again and see if we can get you pregnant." At that, she playfully swatted him and dashed into the bathroom, letting out a small shriek of embarrassment. This brought a smile to his face as he watched her go. He let out a deep breath, feeling his heart grow incredibly light, before heading to his own room to get dressed. They left the house close to the Maghrib prayer and hit the road. They had to make a brief stop so he could observe his prayers at a mosque. To keep her company while he was away, he opened TikTok for her, turned on his mobile data, and left the phone with her before stepping out with the driver. She began scrolling through the app, completely relaxed. Suddenly, a barrage of WhatsApp messages began flooding his phone from a specific number. The messages kept coming, accompanied by an incoming call, as if someone had been waiting for the exact moment the mobile data was turned on. She ignored the first call, which eventually rang out. At that moment, she was adjusting herself to take a photo with the phone, looking stunning in her expensive gold-colored lace fabric. She decided to open the messages to type a quick reply indicating he would respond when he returned. Instead, she was greeted by a massive stack of voice notes, a photo, several missed calls, and text messages. Since the phone was not configured to auto-download media, the photo downloaded and opened automatically the moment she clicked into the chat. What she saw in that picture instantly robbed her of her sight and senses. She stared at it blankly, completely frozen, unaware that the men had already returned from the mosque until the driver opened the door and climbed in. When AL'WALED opened his door to enter and saw her squeezed into the corner behind the driver's seat, he said in a low tone, "Madame, please move over. You shouldn't sit directly behind him. Or should he hand over the keys so I can drive?" Khadija snapped out of it quickly, only just realizing someone was there and hearing his voice. The sheer shock in the look she gave him made him observe her closely and ask, "Are you ok?" But Khadija couldn't utter a single syllable. She simply moved over and switched off the phone screen, her heart pounding so violently against her ribs it felt as though it would burst out of her chest. Her entire body was trembling, and sweat began pouring down her face. Despite the cool air conditioning inside the car, she felt suffocated, as if she were trapped in an unbearable, stifling heat. No matter how many times he asked if she was alright, Khadija couldn't bring herself to answer. Instead, she placed the fingernail of her pinky finger in her mouth, biting it nervously until she began gnawing at the skin. Since they were very close to the house, the Isha call to prayer began just as they arrived. The moment the car stopped, she didn't even wait for him to grab her hand; she bolted out of the vehicle, tossing his phone onto the seat, and dashed inside looking as though she might trip over herself. She didn't even acknowledge Aba, who was carefully carrying a large platter of freshly prepared kunu (local gruel) for Baba. AL'WALED quickly opened the car door to pursue her, but paused to pick up the phone, completely bewildered. He thought to himself: What is the meaning of this? Just moments ago I was speaking with my wife completely fine... what is happening? What went wrong? What threw her into such a panic? Is she physically unwell? Aba, who was on the verge of letting out a massive curse, stopped when he realized who she was. A wide smile spread across his face and he called out, "Hey, Anmy! How can you just pass by your father on the road like that? Come back here and let's greet each other properly. When was the last time I saw you, my blessed child? Not since yesterday, right? I actually want us to have a proper father-daughter talk to make sure everything is going well. Let me quickly drop off this old man's kunu and I'll be right back before the wedding guests arrive, because I ordered that the solemnization take place immediately after the Isha prayer." Khadija, panting heavily, couldn't utter a word and simply nodded. She felt incredibly dizzy, and the strong aroma of Aba's kunu seemed to trigger an intense wave of nausea in her chest and mind. After nodding at Aba, she ran past, covering her face quickly, and took the backyard route to enter the house from the rear. The moment she got inside, she burst into Mama's room, slammed the door shut, tore off her veil and headwrap, and threw them to the floor. She stood there panting heavily like someone suffering an asthma attack, clutching her head as if she were about to let out a deafening scream. Mama, who was standing there about to tie her headwrap, stopped in absolute shock at Khadija's sudden entrance. Observing her closely, she asked quickly, "Subhanallah! You? What is wrong with you???" Khadija turned around sharply, genuinely not expecting to find anyone in the room. She slowly shook her head, collapsed onto the floor right there, and burst into a torrential flood of tears, sensing that the anguish would literally kill her if she held it in. Terrified, Mama gasped, "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un! Anmy, what is it? What is happening? Did something happen to your husband? Where is your father? Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un, what on earth is going on?!" In her panic, Mama bolted toward the door, thoroughly frightened. Khadija choked out through her tears, "Mama, they are outside. Inna lillahi, Mama, wallahi it's a photo of him and that woman they said is his girlfriend! Mama, he is holding her chin... wallahi he is holding her chin! Inna lillahi, oh my God, I am going to die, I am completely ruined!" Mama froze in her tracks and turned around slowly, staring at her. Just then, Lubna walked into the room after knocking and offering her greetings. She was about to speak but stopped dead in her tracks at the sight. She quickly pulled the door shut, stepped fully into the room, and exclaimed, "Subhanallah! Mama, what is wrong? What did she do that made you hit her?" Mama shook her head in deep frustration, clicked her tongue, and pointed a finger at them, snapping, "Oh please! Hit her? I should have sliced her to pieces, Lubna! I swear to God, if she plays around with me, I will give her a thorough beating in this house. Are you trying to kill me with stress while I have my own problems to worry about? You are making a foolish, dramatic scene out of mere marital jealousy! Is it because you saw a picture of your husband with a girlfriend that you are throwing this massive fit? You better stop right now because men were not created for you alone. If you bring that attitude to Tanko, you will only torture yourself. For goodness' sake, how many wives did your own father marry? Are you ever going to grow up? I genuinely thought you had matured, Anmy. I thought you were wiser, but clearly, you still have a long way to go! Keep trying to stress me out, and I will give you something real to cry about in this house!" The moment Mama finished speaking, she adjusted her headwrap, threw on her hijab, and stormed out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her. Lubna rushed over, helped Khadija to her feet, and said gently, "Anmy, what is the meaning of this dramatic entrance? Who upset you like this?" Khadija, sobbing heavily, replied, "How can anyone expect me not to cry? Have you even seen the picture? Do you have any idea who that woman is in his life? There has been so much drama and intense attachment between them because of her! How can I not be devastated? Do you know how I saw the picture? Their bodies were pressed tightly together—the body of Little's honorable father was pressed against hers! That's it, I've been deceived and completely taken advantage of. I have been thoroughly humiliated. Oh God, I am going to die. Touch my chest and feel my heart; I think my time has come..." Lubna stared at her completely unimpressed before pointing a finger at her and saying, "Will you shut up! Didn't I warn you never to shed tears over a man?" Filled with immense frustration, Khadija retorted, "Fine, why don't you all just kill me so you can have some peace! Who told you Little's father is just any ordinary man?" Lubna looked at her in absolute astonishment and said, "Goodness gracious, meaning what exactly?!" Khadija cried, "I mean, wallahi, he is not some worthless man that isn't worth crying over! If I don't cry over him, what else am I supposed to do? Wallahi, my husband is absolutely worth crying for, and I am going to track that worthless woman down and beat her senseless! Oh, my poor head!" "Well, in that case, we better hurry up and get our own marriages solemnized, because wallahi, if this situation has completely unhinged Anmy to this extent, it must be massive. It's best they marry us off so we can leave too," Lubna muttered, turning her head away and shaking it slightly. Khadija stared at her blankly and said, "But surely you know I am the youngest daughter, don't completely dismiss my feelings!" Lubna pouted, stood up, and walked over to Mama's belongings, picking up the perfumes and body care products Mama had prepared for Khadija. She said, "Let's not hear another word about it. Anmy, you are officially a fully married woman now. Here are the traditional marriage enhancement and maintenance products. Wallahi, Mama spent a massive fortune purchasing these things for you, and we formulated some of them ourselves. Wallahi, you must take good care of yourself and use them properly. When they run out, you and your husband can bring your own money so we can make you more, because we aren't going to keep spending our own funds on you." Khadija reached out, pulled Lubna's hand, and pleaded, "Lubna, for God's sake, sit down and help calm my nerves. Wallahi, I didn't show him any reaction at all. I only ran in here to cry so I could vent my anger." Lubna looked at her intently and asked, "Are you absolutely certain you didn't throw a fit in his presence?" Khadija nodded, staring back at her. Lubna let out a soft, relieved sigh and said, "Haba, Anmy! Think about it—how many times have we watched our own mother handle things whenever Aba started looking for a new wife? She always managed to keep her composure. So why are you losing your mind over something that isn't even an actual marriage proposal yet? What is the point of all the effort our mother makes to endure, bite her tongue, and disregard everything if you are just going to throw it away? You see it yourself—whenever Aba marries a new wife, Mama's respect and status always remain entirely unique and elevated. Right before your eyes, the way he treats and caters to Mama is completely different. You are a witness to the strict lectures he gives his new wives whenever he brings them together with Mama, emphasizing that Mama's position is untouchable. In your estimation, if Mama had resorted to screaming, shouting, and throwing tantrums every time he took a new wife, do you think she would still be in her right mind today? Wallahi, Aba would have completely broken her spirit and driven her mad if she had played those games... and he isn't the only one; let me tell you, all men are exactly the same. When it comes to things you know you have no power to stop them from doing, it is far better to compose yourself, ignore the noise, and focus entirely on your own life. I guarantee you that you will hold far more value and dignity in their eyes than the new woman they chased after and married. And if a woman is unfortunate enough to enter a marriage throwing tantrums and reacting wildly, wallahi, she turns herself into a complete joke in his eyes." Khadija let out a slow sigh and muttered, "Personally, if I had my way, I wish he wouldn't even look at other women." Lubna smiled, gently holding her hands, and said, "I wouldn't advise you to start your marriage with that mindset, because you will only torture yourself, stress our parents out, and torture us as well. You see, anything that people chase after with intense excitement day and night is merely a novelty. Once it becomes a routine, everyday occurrence, it simply turns into a basic necessity of life... Take food as an example, Anmy. The day you try a brand new dish, how do you feel about it? But what happens when you eat that exact same food consecutively for days? Eventually, you get tired of it and change it for a few days before you ever feel a craving for it again... Think of marriage the exact same way. No matter how beautiful or proud a woman is, the day will come when her husband might suddenly take an interest in another woman who doesn't even match her standard in any way. Sometimes you see a man take a new wife and people exclaim in shock, 'Goodness, have you seen the new bride?' because her appearance pales in comparison to the first wife. There is absolutely nothing surprising about that, Anmy; that is simply the nature of men. What you see as a downgrade, he sees as a new frontier—a new home, an unfamiliar environment, a fresh experience. But give it a few days, and once the novelty wears off and everything settles back to normal, you become one again. Then, it all boils down to who possesses the most patience, who knows how to manage him best, and who wins his heart through cooking, care, and total submission... So you see, when dealing with men whom Allah has given such intense natural inclinations, why on earth would you make their actions your personal torment? Truly, you will only destroy yourself for nothing, because this isn't their personal crisis. If they see you maintaining your dignity and turning to prayer, that is far better for you. Do not throw away your self-respect or let him completely figure you out, only to try and draw a hard line later... What line? One that you've already completely broken in front of him! You would have already exposed your absolute vulnerability, showing him that you cannot survive without him and would literally die if another woman comes near him. What is left to impress him with? Personally, I would never let a man see an ounce of my jealousy, swear to God." Khadija began to feel a surge of confidence and reassurance. She resolved to give him the benefit of the doubt and quietly find out the true context behind the photo whenever he brought it up... because she had noticed that Little's father was inherently a very caring and gentle man. She asked softly, "By the way, how is it that I noticed the princess's stomach has grown a bit? She never used to have a tummy." Lubna's eyes widened in surprise. She stood up, saying, "Let me quickly go call Karima and the others to get over here so we can gather, because I cannot handle your drama alone! You've completely set things off now, and after moving past the crisis you initially came in with, are you trying to stir up a storm that is entirely beyond our control? You know very well that Alhaji's wife is completely out of our league—both her and her husband... it serves you right!" Khadija clapped her hands in realization, turning over the words their father always used to say. Was it finally confirmed? Laila ha ilallahu, so she truly wasn't the last-born child after all? Wow, what a crazy world...
At the Front of the House
After exchanging greetings with the people gathered outside, AL'WALED found a spot to sit down, a short distance away from Baba Hamza and his son. He immediately pulled out his phone. His intuition was telling him that the sudden shift in Khadija's mood was directly connected to his device. Although his deep analysis failed to uncover the exact link, he ultimately concluded that she must have unfortunately stumbled upon something on his phone or perhaps received a strange call. With that, he dove deep into checking the device. He opened WhatsApp and immediately accessed the active chat. His heart skipped a violent beat the moment he saw the image inside, accompanied by a voice note from his assistant, text messages, and a massive pile of missed calls. He slowly raised his head, casting a glance toward Baba, who was happily sipping his kunu and chatting away... and Alhaji Ya'u, who was busy answering phone calls, loudly reassuring people that the wedding solemnization would proceed smoothly by God's grace. AL'WALED’s mind began to race in absolute panic: 'Oh my God... this photo... when was it even taken? When did this happen? Ya Salam... is this what she saw? She saw it exactly like this?! Ya Rabb, please let her not think that I am the one who took this photo with the malicious intent implied by the image...' Calming his nerves, he pressed play on the voice note and began listening to the recording... The details contained within the voice note prompted him to immediately place a call to his assistant. He waited in tense silence as the line rang. On the other end, the phone barely rang once before his assistant picked up, offering Islamic greetings and addressing AL'WALED respectfully. AL'WALED answered in a calm, controlled voice before demanding, "What action have you taken so far? Because I haven't even finished listening to the full brief." The assistant replied smoothly, "We moved quickly and had her account completely shut down. We have also tracked down her phone line. Right now, I am waiting for your direct orders to know whether we should send a team to pick her up, or leave her be." AL'WALED cast a brief, subtle glance toward where Aba and the others were seated, speaking softly...
Executive Summary
Medical Intervention for Mama: AL'WALED consults with Baba Hamza regarding his mother's highly erratic mental state. Recognizing that she is experiencing a severe psychological breakdown—fearing imprisonment and hallucinating about a past murder—they arrange to move her into a vacant wing of the family house where she can be quietly monitored by a psychologist and familiar maids.
The Incriminating Photo: While driving to her sisters' wedding, AL'WALED leaves his phone with Khadija (Anmy) during a prayer stop. Upon opening his WhatsApp, Khadija discovers a flood of messages and an automatic download of a highly compromising photo showing AL'WALED intimately embracing his rumored girlfriend.
Khadija's Breakdown: Shattered and humiliated by the image, Khadija falls into a state of severe physical panic and flees into the house upon arrival, weeping uncontrollably in her mother's room and proclaiming that she is completely ruined.
Matriarchal and Sororal Counsel: Khadija's mother harshly reprimands her for throwing a dramatic tantrum over standard male infidelity, warning her that jealousy will only destroy her. Conversely, her sister Lubna delivers a calculated lecture on marital stoicism, advising Khadija to conceal her jealousy, maintain her dignity, and utilize traditional marital enhancements to retain her supreme value in AL'WALED's life.
AL'WALED's Crisis Management: Realizing the photo is the source of his wife's sudden trauma, a panicked AL'WALED reviews his notifications outside the house. Recognizing a coordinated blackmail or smear attempt, he contacts his assistant, who confirms they have successfully terminated the perpetrator's social media account and tracked her phone line, awaiting AL'WALED's final command to detain her.
AL'WALED gently offered his Islamic greetings.
He answered with care, saying softly, "Welcome, father of the deaf. How did you find your mother?"
AL'WALED let out a soft sigh and said, "Alhamdulillah, Baba."
Baba Hamza asked, "How is it that I hear your voice sounding a bit unusual?"
AL'WALED straightened up slightly to leave, but she quickly stood up and took his hand, following him closely. This caused him to pause. Looking at her, he said softly, "Alhamdulillah, it's nothing."
Baba Hamza said, "Masha Allah. Alright, as you already know, yesterday the marriage of the one who was crying was solemnized, and today we will solemnize the second one. That is why I said once you all come out, you should head over to our family house so we can gather together. I am also on my way out now to join in the preparations at the front of the house."
AL'WALED smiled slightly and asked, "Are you included in the preparations too?"
Baba Hamza replied, "Yes, you know I have to show my presence. Besides, the guests are for two weddings, so you see, the gathering will be quite large."
AL'WALED nodded and said softly, "Ok, but I think I will only be able to check in later."
Baba Hamza countered, "Oh no, you are a son-in-law of the household. It isn't proper for things to be happening right now without you there."
AL'WALED looked again at his mother, who was holding his hand tightly and staring at his face. He said slowly, "Baba..."
Baba Hamza fell silent for a moment, sensing his demeanor. He asked softly, "Is everything alright? What is happening?"
AL'WALED looked at his mother again, his chest feeling somewhat heavy. He said slowly, "I am thinking... about how she will agree to let us leave... and she absolutely must see a doctor first... a doctor... a doctor... hummmmmmmmmmm, she absolutely must see a psychologist."
He said this in a very low whisper, turning his face away slightly because he didn't want her to overhear.
Baba Hamza felt a wave of profound sorrow and coldness wash over him.
He said softly, "Bring her here... then we shall see what is best to do for her."
AL'WALED opened his eyes wide, feeling an intense emotion pierce his heart. He gently squeezed his mother's hand and asked softly, "Are you sure?"
Baba Hamza replied, "Yes... bring her here to me. If it's possible, you can all come to the wedding venue. If not, when I return, we shall sit down together. But as for Hajia Karama, make sure she is brought over."
AL'WALED closed his eyes after letting out a deep sigh and said, "Thank you, thank you, father."
Baba Hamza felt his heart completely break, to the point that his eyes filled with tears. He said softly, "See you when you arrive," and ended the call, letting out a deep sigh. He then looked over at Alhaji Ya'u, who was watching him closely.
Aba said, "Are you about to cry? What is it?"
Baba Hamza looked to the side slightly and replied, "It seems his mother is unwell. I told him to bring her here so she can be looked after."
Aba said, "Oh, may Allah grant her health. Yes, he should definitely bring her. If it's a case of jinn possession, we can arrange for ruqyah (spiritual healing) for her. May Allah grant full recovery. Let's get up and go."
Baba Hamza stood up, saying, "Let me quickly say goodbye to my hosts, and then we can leave."
As for Mallam Abdullahi, the interaction between these servants of Allah deeply impressed him. He simply smiled while they conversed until they finished and departed.
Meanwhile, on AL'WALED's side, even observing the prayers required Khadija and the others to hold his mother and comfort her before he could manage to go to the mosque. The moment the prayers concluded, he returned immediately to sit with her so they could resume their conversation from where they left off. She would explain something perfectly, only to completely lose her train of thought and pivot to an entirely unrelated topic. Whenever she did this, he would find himself gently holding her hands, looking at her as his heart shattered into pieces. He would gently try to steer her back to what she was saying; sometimes she would return to the topic, and other times she would forget it completely. He would patiently close his eyes, invoking the names of Allah, seeking His intervention, praying for her health, and repeatedly asking for her forgiveness in his heart.
He gently asked her if she would accompany him to Baba Hamza's house.
She replied in a somewhat erratic manner, "To Baba's place? Baba will just have me locked up again, and that will be it—I'll stop seeing you. You see, Baba said I was the one who killed your father! How could I kill your father? Little is a witness to that, and so is my namesake; they were both present at the time, right, Khadija?"
Anmy offered a gentle smile and said, "Mama, you wouldn't do such a thing. Besides, Baba himself requested that his daughter be brought to him so he can see you. He won't have you locked away from us; we love you, Mama."
Like a little child, she smiled radiantly and asked, "Really, Khadija? Are you sure? Baba absolutely detests me, you know."
Anmy shook her head with deep care and immense pity for her husband and his mother, saying, "No, Mama. Baba loves you; you are his daughter, after all, he said so himself."
Mama kept nodding her head. Aunty Shareefa stood up and led Mama's maids to her room to pick out everything she would need, packing it all up for her. She then instructed her own maids to prepare to leave by nightfall to continue caring for Mama at the other house since she was most accustomed to them. With everything organized, they packed up and headed to the main family house.
Upon their arrival, they found that the section where Hajia and the others stayed had been fully prepared. The apartment was divided into distinct wings; there were five wings in total, including Baba's. Hajia and the others occupied three wings, as Baba had not taken a fourth wife, so Mama was placed in the remaining vacant wing. Hajiya Binta and the others welcomed her warmly, and Hajiya Inna joined the welcoming party as well. They were filled with deep pity for the state she had returned in.
Initially, Mama tried to hide behind AL'WALED, gripping his shirt tightly and peeking out from behind him, repeatedly pleading for him to tell them that she did not kill her husband and would never do it again, adding that even if he returned, she wouldn't kill him. Gradually, she agreed to step out, and she slowly relaxed until she was comfortably seated among them. Now that they were at the house, AL'WALED did his best until she understood that he was right there with her and was only going to take a bath and rest before returning. She even agreed to wave goodbye to him herself while holding the deaf child's hand until he left. Afterward, she sat quietly again, watching Hajiya and the others as they continued their efforts to make her feel at ease.
When they moved to Khadija's room, AL'WALED was undressing. He had informed her to get ready so they could head to the family house for her sisters' wedding solemnization. Despite how incredibly thrilled she was, she quietly hid her excitement, hugged him from behind, and remained completely silent.
Feeling the rhythmic beating of her heart, he slowly turned her around to face him and pulled her into a tight embrace against his chest, letting out a soft sigh.
In a gentle voice, she said, "In sha Allah, Mama will get better. Please don't let it weigh heavily on your heart."
AL'WALED let out a deep sigh and said slowly, "It's as if Mama has suffered... as if she has suffered a mental breakdown... Hajiya Karama, is it my father's blood that is..."
"She didn't kill him. The person who killed him is still in prison to this day. Every woman manages her jealousy differently. Do not be surprised; there are women who can even grow jealous of a man's own mother. Her only mistake was against someone who has already completely forgiven her. Who are we to judge her for it? Mama didn't kill Aba; she isn't the one who killed Little's father," she said tenderly, pressing herself closer to him.
He let out a deep, relieved sigh, like someone who had been desperately waiting to hear those exact words—as if hearing them was the cure to an affliction he carried.
He gently raised her chin, gazing into her eyes, and then let out a soft sigh accompanied by a low smile, saying, "I love you..."
Khadija closed her eyes as goosebumps covered her skin.
He murmured again softly, "I love you, my soul (Rohi)."
This time, she gripped his clothes with a bit of strength.
He added gently, "If you keep doing this... we won't be able to make it to the wedding venue anytime soon... because I will be tempted to try again and see if we can get you pregnant."
At that, she playfully swatted him and dashed into the bathroom, letting out a small shriek of embarrassment. This brought a smile to his face as he watched her go. He let out a deep breath, feeling his heart grow incredibly light, before heading to his own room to get dressed.
They left the house close to the Maghrib prayer and hit the road. They had to make a brief stop so he could observe his prayers at a mosque. To keep her company while he was away, he opened TikTok for her, turned on his mobile data, and left the phone with her before stepping out with the driver.
She began scrolling through the app, completely relaxed. Suddenly, a barrage of WhatsApp messages began flooding his phone from a specific number. The messages kept coming, accompanied by an incoming call, as if someone had been waiting for the exact moment the mobile data was turned on.
She ignored the first call, which eventually rang out. At that moment, she was adjusting herself to take a photo with the phone, looking stunning in her expensive gold-colored lace fabric. She decided to open the messages to type a quick reply indicating he would respond when he returned. Instead, she was greeted by a massive stack of voice notes, a photo, several missed calls, and text messages.
Since the phone was not configured to auto-download media, the photo downloaded and opened automatically the moment she clicked into the chat. What she saw in that picture instantly robbed her of her sight and senses. She stared at it blankly, completely frozen, unaware that the men had already returned from the mosque until the driver opened the door and climbed in. When AL'WALED opened his door to enter and saw her squeezed into the corner behind the driver's seat, he said in a low tone, "Madame, please move over. You shouldn't sit directly behind him. Or should he hand over the keys so I can drive?"
Khadija snapped out of it quickly, only just realizing someone was there and hearing his voice.
The sheer shock in the look she gave him made him observe her closely and ask, "Are you ok?"
But Khadija couldn't utter a single syllable. She simply moved over and switched off the phone screen, her heart pounding so violently against her ribs it felt as though it would burst out of her chest. Her entire body was trembling, and sweat began pouring down her face. Despite the cool air conditioning inside the car, she felt suffocated, as if she were trapped in an unbearable, stifling heat.
No matter how many times he asked if she was alright, Khadija couldn't bring herself to answer. Instead, she placed the fingernail of her pinky finger in her mouth, biting it nervously until she began gnawing at the skin.
Since they were very close to the house, the Isha call to prayer began just as they arrived. The moment the car stopped, she didn't even wait for him to grab her hand; she bolted out of the vehicle, tossing his phone onto the seat, and dashed inside looking as though she might trip over herself. She didn't even acknowledge Aba, who was carefully carrying a large platter of freshly prepared kunu (local gruel) for Baba.
AL'WALED quickly opened the car door to pursue her, but paused to pick up the phone, completely bewildered. He thought to himself: What is the meaning of this? Just moments ago I was speaking with my wife completely fine... what is happening? What went wrong? What threw her into such a panic? Is she physically unwell?
Aba, who was on the verge of letting out a massive curse, stopped when he realized who she was. A wide smile spread across his face and he called out, "Hey, Anmy! How can you just pass by your father on the road like that? Come back here and let's greet each other properly. When was the last time I saw you, my blessed child? Not since yesterday, right? I actually want us to have a proper father-daughter talk to make sure everything is going well. Let me quickly drop off this old man's kunu and I'll be right back before the wedding guests arrive, because I ordered that the solemnization take place immediately after the Isha prayer."
Khadija, panting heavily, couldn't utter a word and simply nodded. She felt incredibly dizzy, and the strong aroma of Aba's kunu seemed to trigger an intense wave of nausea in her chest and mind. After nodding at Aba, she ran past, covering her face quickly, and took the backyard route to enter the house from the rear. The moment she got inside, she burst into Mama's room, slammed the door shut, tore off her veil and headwrap, and threw them to the floor. She stood there panting heavily like someone suffering an asthma attack, clutching her head as if she were about to let out a deafening scream.
Mama, who was standing there about to tie her headwrap, stopped in absolute shock at Khadija's sudden entrance. Observing her closely, she asked quickly, "Subhanallah! You? What is wrong with you???"
Khadija turned around sharply, genuinely not expecting to find anyone in the room. She slowly shook her head, collapsed onto the floor right there, and burst into a torrential flood of tears, sensing that the anguish would literally kill her if she held it in.
Terrified, Mama gasped, "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un! Anmy, what is it? What is happening? Did something happen to your husband? Where is your father? Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un, what on earth is going on?!"
In her panic, Mama bolted toward the door, thoroughly frightened. Khadija choked out through her tears, "Mama, they are outside. Inna lillahi, Mama, wallahi it's a photo of him and that woman they said is his girlfriend! Mama, he is holding her chin... wallahi he is holding her chin! Inna lillahi, oh my God, I am going to die, I am completely ruined!"
Mama froze in her tracks and turned around slowly, staring at her. Just then, Lubna walked into the room after knocking and offering her greetings. She was about to speak but stopped dead in her tracks at the sight. She quickly pulled the door shut, stepped fully into the room, and exclaimed, "Subhanallah! Mama, what is wrong? What did she do that made you hit her?"
Mama shook her head in deep frustration, clicked her tongue, and pointed a finger at them, snapping, "Oh please! Hit her? I should have sliced her to pieces, Lubna! I swear to God, if she plays around with me, I will give her a thorough beating in this house. Are you trying to kill me with stress while I have my own problems to worry about? You are making a foolish, dramatic scene out of mere marital jealousy! Is it because you saw a picture of your husband with a girlfriend that you are throwing this massive fit? You better stop right now because men were not created for you alone. If you bring that attitude to Tanko, you will only torture yourself. For goodness' sake, how many wives did your own father marry? Are you ever going to grow up? I genuinely thought you had matured, Anmy. I thought you were wiser, but clearly, you still have a long way to go! Keep trying to stress me out, and I will give you something real to cry about in this house!"
The moment Mama finished speaking, she adjusted her headwrap, threw on her hijab, and stormed out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her.
Lubna rushed over, helped Khadija to her feet, and said gently, "Anmy, what is the meaning of this dramatic entrance? Who upset you like this?"
Khadija, sobbing heavily, replied, "How can anyone expect me not to cry? Have you even seen the picture? Do you have any idea who that woman is in his life? There has been so much drama and intense attachment between them because of her! How can I not be devastated? Do you know how I saw the picture? Their bodies were pressed tightly together—the body of Little's honorable father was pressed against hers! That's it, I've been deceived and completely taken advantage of. I have been thoroughly humiliated. Oh God, I am going to die. Touch my chest and feel my heart; I think my time has come..."
Lubna stared at her completely unimpressed before pointing a finger at her and saying, "Will you shut up! Didn't I warn you never to shed tears over a man?"
Filled with immense frustration, Khadija retorted, "Fine, why don't you all just kill me so you can have some peace! Who told you Little's father is just any ordinary man?"
Lubna looked at her in absolute astonishment and said, "Goodness gracious, meaning what exactly?!"
Khadija cried, "I mean, wallahi, he is not some worthless man that isn't worth crying over! If I don't cry over him, what else am I supposed to do? Wallahi, my husband is absolutely worth crying for, and I am going to track that worthless woman down and beat her senseless! Oh, my poor head!"
"Well, in that case, we better hurry up and get our own marriages solemnized, because wallahi, if this situation has completely unhinged Anmy to this extent, it must be massive. It's best they marry us off so we can leave too," Lubna muttered, turning her head away and shaking it slightly.
Khadija stared at her blankly and said, "But surely you know I am the youngest daughter, don't completely dismiss my feelings!"
Lubna pouted, stood up, and walked over to Mama's belongings, picking up the perfumes and body care products Mama had prepared for Khadija. She said, "Let's not hear another word about it. Anmy, you are officially a fully married woman now. Here are the traditional marriage enhancement and maintenance products. Wallahi, Mama spent a massive fortune purchasing these things for you, and we formulated some of them ourselves. Wallahi, you must take good care of yourself and use them properly. When they run out, you and your husband can bring your own money so we can make you more, because we aren't going to keep spending our own funds on you."
Khadija reached out, pulled Lubna's hand, and pleaded, "Lubna, for God's sake, sit down and help calm my nerves. Wallahi, I didn't show him any reaction at all. I only ran in here to cry so I could vent my anger."
Lubna looked at her intently and asked, "Are you absolutely certain you didn't throw a fit in his presence?"
Khadija nodded, staring back at her.
Lubna let out a soft, relieved sigh and said, "Haba, Anmy! Think about it—how many times have we watched our own mother handle things whenever Aba started looking for a new wife? She always managed to keep her composure. So why are you losing your mind over something that isn't even an actual marriage proposal yet? What is the point of all the effort our mother makes to endure, bite her tongue, and disregard everything if you are just going to throw it away? You see it yourself—whenever Aba marries a new wife, Mama's respect and status always remain entirely unique and elevated. Right before your eyes, the way he treats and caters to Mama is completely different. You are a witness to the strict lectures he gives his new wives whenever he brings them together with Mama, emphasizing that Mama's position is untouchable. In your estimation, if Mama had resorted to screaming, shouting, and throwing tantrums every time he took a new wife, do you think she would still be in her right mind today? Wallahi, Aba would have completely broken her spirit and driven her mad if she had played those games... and he isn't the only one; let me tell you, all men are exactly the same. When it comes to things you know you have no power to stop them from doing, it is far better to compose yourself, ignore the noise, and focus entirely on your own life. I guarantee you that you will hold far more value and dignity in their eyes than the new woman they chased after and married. And if a woman is unfortunate enough to enter a marriage throwing tantrums and reacting wildly, wallahi, she turns herself into a complete joke in his eyes."
Khadija let out a slow sigh and muttered, "Personally, if I had my way, I wish he wouldn't even look at other women."
Lubna smiled, gently holding her hands, and said, "I wouldn't advise you to start your marriage with that mindset, because you will only torture yourself, stress our parents out, and torture us as well. You see, anything that people chase after with intense excitement day and night is merely a novelty. Once it becomes a routine, everyday occurrence, it simply turns into a basic necessity of life... Take food as an example, Anmy. The day you try a brand new dish, how do you feel about it? But what happens when you eat that exact same food consecutively for days? Eventually, you get tired of it and change it for a few days before you ever feel a craving for it again... Think of marriage the exact same way. No matter how beautiful or proud a woman is, the day will come when her husband might suddenly take an interest in another woman who doesn't even match her standard in any way. Sometimes you see a man take a new wife and people exclaim in shock, 'Goodness, have you seen the new bride?' because her appearance pales in comparison to the first wife. There is absolutely nothing surprising about that, Anmy; that is simply the nature of men. What you see as a downgrade, he sees as a new frontier—a new home, an unfamiliar environment, a fresh experience. But give it a few days, and once the novelty wears off and everything settles back to normal, you become one again. Then, it all boils down to who possesses the most patience, who knows how to manage him best, and who wins his heart through cooking, care, and total submission... So you see, when dealing with men whom Allah has given such intense natural inclinations, why on earth would you make their actions your personal torment? Truly, you will only destroy yourself for nothing, because this isn't their personal crisis. If they see you maintaining your dignity and turning to prayer, that is far better for you. Do not throw away your self-respect or let him completely figure you out, only to try and draw a hard line later... What line? One that you've already completely broken in front of him! You would have already exposed your absolute vulnerability, showing him that you cannot survive without him and would literally die if another woman comes near him. What is left to impress him with? Personally, I would never let a man see an ounce of my jealousy, swear to God."
Khadija began to feel a surge of confidence and reassurance. She resolved to give him the benefit of the doubt and quietly find out the true context behind the photo whenever he brought it up... because she had noticed that Little's father was inherently a very caring and gentle man.
She asked softly, "By the way, how is it that I noticed the princess's stomach has grown a bit? She never used to have a tummy."
Lubna's eyes widened in surprise. She stood up, saying, "Let me quickly go call Karima and the others to get over here so we can gather, because I cannot handle your drama alone! You've completely set things off now, and after moving past the crisis you initially came in with, are you trying to stir up a storm that is entirely beyond our control? You know very well that Alhaji's wife is completely out of our league—both her and her husband... it serves you right!"
Khadija clapped her hands in realization, turning over the words their father always used to say. Was it finally confirmed? Laila ha ilallahu, so she truly wasn't the last-born child after all? Wow, what a crazy world...
At the Front of the House
After exchanging greetings with the people gathered outside, AL'WALED found a spot to sit down, a short distance away from Baba Hamza and his son. He immediately pulled out his phone. His intuition was telling him that the sudden shift in Khadija's mood was directly connected to his device. Although his deep analysis failed to uncover the exact link, he ultimately concluded that she must have unfortunately stumbled upon something on his phone or perhaps received a strange call. With that, he dove deep into checking the device.
He opened WhatsApp and immediately accessed the active chat.
His heart skipped a violent beat the moment he saw the image inside, accompanied by a voice note from his assistant, text messages, and a massive pile of missed calls.
He slowly raised his head, casting a glance toward Baba, who was happily sipping his kunu and chatting away... and Alhaji Ya'u, who was busy answering phone calls, loudly reassuring people that the wedding solemnization would proceed smoothly by God's grace. AL'WALED’s mind began to race in absolute panic: 'Oh my God... this photo... when was it even taken? When did this happen? Ya Salam... is this what she saw? She saw it exactly like this?! Ya Rabb, please let her not think that I am the one who took this photo with the malicious intent implied by the image...'
Calming his nerves, he pressed play on the voice note and began listening to the recording...
The details contained within the voice note prompted him to immediately place a call to his assistant. He waited in tense silence as the line rang.
On the other end, the phone barely rang once before his assistant picked up, offering Islamic greetings and addressing AL'WALED respectfully.
AL'WALED answered in a calm, controlled voice before demanding, "What action have you taken so far? Because I haven't even finished listening to the full brief."
The assistant replied smoothly, "We moved quickly and had her account completely shut down. We have also tracked down her phone line. Right now, I am waiting for your direct orders to know whether we should send a team to pick her up, or leave her be."
AL'WALED cast a brief, subtle glance toward where Aba and the others were seated, speaking softly...
Executive Summary