Before he could even say what was happening, sweat had already broken out all over his body. While he was in that state, his phone started ringing. One ring… two… he answered impatiently because the sound of the phone was drilling into his ears, and at that moment there was nothing he wanted more than to be alone, as the intense longing for Nana was gripping him harder and harder.
It was Usman—his colleague and close friend, the one he always sat with during meetings—who was calling.
When he picked up, he said, “Yes, I’m in the office.”
“Okay, I’m on my way.”
“Alright, no problem, just come,” he replied. Difffff! He ended the call, took a deep breath, pulled out a file and began flipping through it. It was an old record of patients they had operated on long ago—so old that he himself had forgotten it was still there, since he had already sent it to the archives.
He heard the sound of the door opening and quickly closed the file and put it aside. Even without being told, he knew it was him. He stretched out his hand, they greeted each other, and Usman sat on the chair reserved for visitors.
He noticed that his friend seemed troubled; his face had no brightness at all. Anyone who saw him would know something serious was weighing on him.
“Man, don’t you ever get tired of problems? There’s no day one sees you relaxed or cheerful.”
“Tsk… just leave it, my friend. My problems are too many—so many they’re starting to overwhelm my mind. I’m in deep trouble, Usman, a problem that has completely tied my head; I can’t find a way out.”
“Hmmm… may God protect us from problems, let alone many problems. But I don’t think there’s any problem worse than what you’re dealing with now.”
He sighed deeply again. “Usmaaaannn,” he dragged out his name.
“Yes?” Usman answered, fixing his eyes on him, waiting to hear what he would say.
“You know the problem I have concerning women, right? And you know yourself—because of this problem, even though I have blue films and videos, I feel absolutely nothing. You’ve offered me your ladies countless times, yet not even for a single day have I ever felt feelings. In fact, I don’t even know what it feels like. Wallahi, Usman, yesterday I slept in the same room with Nana—if I say my mind wasn’t stirred, would I be lying to you?”
“What?!” Usman exclaimed. “What do you mean by that? Stop beating around the bush.” He stared at him suspiciously.
“To cut the story short, Nana is the only female who has ever stirred something in me. I don’t know why—she’s the only one my feelings respond to.”
“That’s what amazes me—you, someone who seems possessed by spirits, and the only person you feel desire for is a little girl?”
“Damn it, there’s serious trouble here. If that’s the case, you’re in big trouble.”
“So what’s the solution now?”
“The solution is—why not follow the choice of your heart?”
“I don’t understand you.”
“Dattiiiiiiii,” he called his name in a low, heavy voice.
Without answering, Datti just stood there staring at him.
“That’s how your destiny is. If in the whole world Nana is the only one you feel desire for, then she is the key to your feelings. If you suppress your heart because of her, I assure you that you’ll never have happiness for the rest of your life.”
“I still don’t understand where you’re going. Explain more clearly.”
Usman held his head with one hand. “Oh my God… what kind of small brain do you have that you still don’t understand what I mean?”
“Ask your question.”
“I’m all ears.”
“What decision has your heart made concerning Nana?”
He went silent for a few minutes, listening to his heart. Deep inside, he had feelings—he had begun to satisfy himself thinking about her, planning in any way to turn her into a source of pleasure for himself. Meanwhile, another part of his heart warned him that if he did that, he would betray family ties, his wife, and himself.
“How could he betray a girl whose crying alone could make him lose his senses? Could he really be the cause of Nana’s life being destroyed?”
“So what option did he have? He knew he would never find satisfaction with anyone else. Would he live his whole life without tasting a woman? He kept hearing other men say that nothing is sweeter than a woman. Surely—surely—he had to satisfy himself through her.
“If he was going to get satisfaction, then her age didn’t matter to him. All he knew was that he had to find a solution for himself.”
He raised his head and looked at Usman. The whites of his eyes darkened and turned red. Just as he was about to speak, Usman said, “You don’t need to say anything—I already know the answer. Come closer, let me tell you the rest of the secret.”
He moved closer. Usman whispered to him. When he finished, they both burst into laughter, and Datti said, “You bastard—my guy! I really like you; you’re clever.”
They continued talking like that. Usman’s visit seemed to reduce more than half of Datti’s worries.
---
On Baba Babba’s side, things weighed heavily on his heart. Even though he wasn’t completely sure Fu’ad would do something terrible to Nana, his body felt cold with fear—he was afraid of the boy’s temper. So he went secretly to meet the old woman, and the two of them discussed it.
She was very surprised and initially doubted the story, but knowing that Baba Babba was an honest man made her believe him.
“Wallahi, old mother, I’m afraid that boy might try to harm her. You didn’t see how furious he was—I’m sure if she had been in front of him at that moment, he could have stabbed her to death.”
Her eyes widened. “Death? God forbid! If that’s the case, we must act quickly. It’s better we find a solution early, before things get out of hand.”
“Exactly.”
After their discussion, he took his leave and returned to his side of the house. He met Umma coming out of the kitchen. When he tried to pass by, she noticed something was wrong and asked if everything was okay. Without giving her a satisfying answer, he shook his head and said it was nothing, then walked away. She watched him go, shook her head, and said, “May God protect us.”
She returned inside and finished her chores, not pressing him further.
As for Fu’ad, he didn’t care at all about his father’s warning. Instead of backing down, he hardened his resolve and planned even more wickedly how to deal with Nana. He didn’t care about her being a child—after all, she didn’t respect him either; she treated him with shamelessness.
That morning, he hurried to go to a café. There was a document he wanted to send to someone via the internet. He was wearing a white shirt and blue jeans, holding a side bag. As he stepped out, he found their sister Mardiya alone in the dining area having breakfast. He walked up quickly, slipping his phone into his pocket, and asked her where Umma was.
She replied that they hadn’t come out yet. “Okay, when they do, tell them I’ve gone to the café.”
“Alright, brother,” she said, and he left.
About half an hour later, Umma came out. By then Mardiya had finished breakfast and was in the parlour, pressing her phone—apparently playing a game—with the TV volume high, though her attention wasn’t on the TV at all.
Umma called her several times without response, until she came closer and said, “Mardiya, haven’t I been calling you? Have you turned the volume up too much?”
Mardiya jumped up. “Um… Umma, sorry, I didn’t hear,” she said sheepishly.
“Go and call Fu’ad. Tell him to come quickly—I’m sending him to your elder brother’s house.”
“Okay, Umma.” She turned to leave, then suddenly remembered. She quickly turned back. “Ah! I forgot—he just went out. He even told me to inform you that he’s gone to the café.”
“Oh no! That means he’s already on his way. Hurry, go to my room and bring my phone—I’ll call him.”
She rushed into Umma’s room and soon came out holding her phone. Umma took it, dialed Fu’ad’s number, and lowered the TV volume. Luckily, after two rings he answered. After she passed the message to him, she ended the call.
At the café, around noon, after making sure he had finished everything he needed to do, he headed to Datti’s house to deliver Umma’s message—not because he wanted to.
When he arrived, he found Aina and Nana in the parlour eating. Aina pushed a chair for him to sit. After greetings, she asked about the family; he said they were all fine and sent their greetings.
Nana didn’t even lift her head or respond, let alone greet him—and he didn’t care; he didn’t want her greeting anyway.
Aina wanted to send Nana to the kitchen to bring a plate and serve Fu’ad food, but knowing Nana’s attitude, she stood up herself, saying she’d be right back. She returned with a plate and served him.
Without complaint, he accepted it and started eating, saying, “It’s like you knew I was hungry. I haven’t eaten since last night.” He poured sauce generously and praised the food. Nana did nothing but glare at him.
Then Aina’s phone rang from her room. She turned toward the sound and quickly stood up. As soon as Nana saw this, she flashed a killer smile and spat—right into his food. He heard it, turned, and stared at her with his mouth open.
She smirked and said, “Animal! You don’t deserve to eat my food. So you can even eat guinea fowl and enjoy it? Hmm… if you don’t know, I’m the one who cooked it. You didn’t eat it last time and you paid for that. I swore you’d eat guinea fowl one day and taste my cooking. How is it? Do you need to thank me?” She finished, raising her eyebrow like a grown woman.
His anger exploded. How could a mere child insult him so badly? She humiliated him in a way even a dog wouldn’t tolerate—spitting into the food he was eating!
By God, if he had known she was the one who cooked it, nothing would have made him eat it—let alone give her the chance to humiliate him.
Before he could finish his inner rant, he felt water splash onto him. He looked up—it was Nana, holding a cup of juice, pouring it over him while laughing loudly.
That was it. Rage took over. He grabbed her with one hand and reached for his belt with the other.
“Hey!” Her eyes widened in fear; she began blinking rapidly, on the verge of tears. Only then did she regret what she had done. She knew she was in trouble—Datti wasn’t at home today.
Before she could react, he lashed her with the belt with all his strength, striking randomly. She screamed and cried.
Aina was in the room on a call when she heard Nana’s scream echo through the house. She dropped her phone immediately and ran out without even ending the call. What she saw terrified her. Even without being told, she knew Nana had provoked him to this point.
She didn’t manage to stop him until he had whipped Nana several times, bruising her badly. Then he stormed out of the house.
He went straight home, locked himself in his room, and headed to the bathroom. He turned on the shower immediately. Water poured over his body, soaking his hair. He ran his hand through it, pushing it back, anger steaming inside him.
“Why? Why does that girl humiliate me so terribly? Why does she treat me like an object of contempt? I hate you! I hate you, Nana! I despise you!” he shouted, bursting into tears.
It took more than half an hour before he came out—not because he felt relief, but because he was exhausted from staying in the bathroom.
---
On Nana’s side, after Fu’ad left, Aina helped her up and said, “This is your problem, Nana—you don’t listen. You don’t regard Fu’ad as your blood. If you reject Fu’ad and favor Datti, it’s pointless, because they are brothers—one blood flows in them.
“And if you ruin their family bond, God will not spare you.”
Nana did nothing but cry. She had been beaten so badly that her voice was hoarse. Her body was sore all over; she could barely move until Aina helped her sit.
Suddenly, a severe fever engulfed her, followed by chills. In that condition, Datti arrived and found her like that. His anger flared intensely.
He asked Aina what had happened. Nana stared at him silently, and Aina told him the truth plainly.
He grabbed Nana and rushed out like a madman, taking her to the hospital. They admitted her, treated her wounds, gave her injections, and gradually the fever subsided.
After everything was done, they returned home. He didn’t even look at Aina—he went straight to his room with Nana.
From that moment, Datti found the easiest path to achieving his aim with Nana—his room became Nana’s refuge.
She spent four days under treatment before starting to recover.
On the fifth day, strange, almost unbelievable things began to happen…
That was the day Datti became like a monster to her…
The day she became like a mad person in people’s eyes…
The day Datti’s face darkened for her and she stopped seeing its light…
One of the darkest, most painful days she would never forget.
From that day on, I, Eedatou, say: what seems like play can end in fire.
Before he could even say what was happening, sweat had already broken out all over his body. While he was in that state, his phone started ringing. One ring… two… he answered impatiently because the sound of the phone was drilling into his ears, and at that moment there was nothing he wanted more than to be alone, as the intense longing for Nana was gripping him harder and harder.
It was Usman—his colleague and close friend, the one he always sat with during meetings—who was calling.
When he picked up, he said, “Yes, I’m in the office.”
“Okay, I’m on my way.”
“Alright, no problem, just come,” he replied. Difffff! He ended the call, took a deep breath, pulled out a file and began flipping through it. It was an old record of patients they had operated on long ago—so old that he himself had forgotten it was still there, since he had already sent it to the archives.
He heard the sound of the door opening and quickly closed the file and put it aside. Even without being told, he knew it was him. He stretched out his hand, they greeted each other, and Usman sat on the chair reserved for visitors.
He noticed that his friend seemed troubled; his face had no brightness at all. Anyone who saw him would know something serious was weighing on him.
“Man, don’t you ever get tired of problems? There’s no day one sees you relaxed or cheerful.”
“Tsk… just leave it, my friend. My problems are too many—so many they’re starting to overwhelm my mind. I’m in deep trouble, Usman, a problem that has completely tied my head; I can’t find a way out.”
“Hmmm… may God protect us from problems, let alone many problems. But I don’t think there’s any problem worse than what you’re dealing with now.”
He sighed deeply again. “Usmaaaannn,” he dragged out his name.
“Yes?” Usman answered, fixing his eyes on him, waiting to hear what he would say.
“You know the problem I have concerning women, right? And you know yourself—because of this problem, even though I have blue films and videos, I feel absolutely nothing. You’ve offered me your ladies countless times, yet not even for a single day have I ever felt feelings. In fact, I don’t even know what it feels like. Wallahi, Usman, yesterday I slept in the same room with Nana—if I say my mind wasn’t stirred, would I be lying to you?”
“What?!” Usman exclaimed. “What do you mean by that? Stop beating around the bush.” He stared at him suspiciously.
“To cut the story short, Nana is the only female who has ever stirred something in me. I don’t know why—she’s the only one my feelings respond to.”
“That’s what amazes me—you, someone who seems possessed by spirits, and the only person you feel desire for is a little girl?”
“Damn it, there’s serious trouble here. If that’s the case, you’re in big trouble.”
“So what’s the solution now?”
“The solution is—why not follow the choice of your heart?”
“I don’t understand you.”
“Dattiiiiiiii,” he called his name in a low, heavy voice.
Without answering, Datti just stood there staring at him.
“That’s how your destiny is. If in the whole world Nana is the only one you feel desire for, then she is the key to your feelings. If you suppress your heart because of her, I assure you that you’ll never have happiness for the rest of your life.”
“I still don’t understand where you’re going. Explain more clearly.”
Usman held his head with one hand. “Oh my God… what kind of small brain do you have that you still don’t understand what I mean?”
“Ask your question.”
“I’m all ears.”
“What decision has your heart made concerning Nana?”
He went silent for a few minutes, listening to his heart. Deep inside, he had feelings—he had begun to satisfy himself thinking about her, planning in any way to turn her into a source of pleasure for himself. Meanwhile, another part of his heart warned him that if he did that, he would betray family ties, his wife, and himself.
“How could he betray a girl whose crying alone could make him lose his senses? Could he really be the cause of Nana’s life being destroyed?”
“So what option did he have? He knew he would never find satisfaction with anyone else. Would he live his whole life without tasting a woman? He kept hearing other men say that nothing is sweeter than a woman. Surely—surely—he had to satisfy himself through her.
“If he was going to get satisfaction, then her age didn’t matter to him. All he knew was that he had to find a solution for himself.”
He raised his head and looked at Usman. The whites of his eyes darkened and turned red. Just as he was about to speak, Usman said, “You don’t need to say anything—I already know the answer. Come closer, let me tell you the rest of the secret.”
He moved closer. Usman whispered to him. When he finished, they both burst into laughter, and Datti said, “You bastard—my guy! I really like you; you’re clever.”
They continued talking like that. Usman’s visit seemed to reduce more than half of Datti’s worries.
---
On Baba Babba’s side, things weighed heavily on his heart. Even though he wasn’t completely sure Fu’ad would do something terrible to Nana, his body felt cold with fear—he was afraid of the boy’s temper. So he went secretly to meet the old woman, and the two of them discussed it.
She was very surprised and initially doubted the story, but knowing that Baba Babba was an honest man made her believe him.
“Wallahi, old mother, I’m afraid that boy might try to harm her. You didn’t see how furious he was—I’m sure if she had been in front of him at that moment, he could have stabbed her to death.”
Her eyes widened. “Death? God forbid! If that’s the case, we must act quickly. It’s better we find a solution early, before things get out of hand.”
“Exactly.”
After their discussion, he took his leave and returned to his side of the house. He met Umma coming out of the kitchen. When he tried to pass by, she noticed something was wrong and asked if everything was okay. Without giving her a satisfying answer, he shook his head and said it was nothing, then walked away. She watched him go, shook her head, and said, “May God protect us.”
She returned inside and finished her chores, not pressing him further.
As for Fu’ad, he didn’t care at all about his father’s warning. Instead of backing down, he hardened his resolve and planned even more wickedly how to deal with Nana. He didn’t care about her being a child—after all, she didn’t respect him either; she treated him with shamelessness.
That morning, he hurried to go to a café. There was a document he wanted to send to someone via the internet. He was wearing a white shirt and blue jeans, holding a side bag. As he stepped out, he found their sister Mardiya alone in the dining area having breakfast. He walked up quickly, slipping his phone into his pocket, and asked her where Umma was.
She replied that they hadn’t come out yet. “Okay, when they do, tell them I’ve gone to the café.”
“Alright, brother,” she said, and he left.
About half an hour later, Umma came out. By then Mardiya had finished breakfast and was in the parlour, pressing her phone—apparently playing a game—with the TV volume high, though her attention wasn’t on the TV at all.
Umma called her several times without response, until she came closer and said, “Mardiya, haven’t I been calling you? Have you turned the volume up too much?”
Mardiya jumped up. “Um… Umma, sorry, I didn’t hear,” she said sheepishly.
“Go and call Fu’ad. Tell him to come quickly—I’m sending him to your elder brother’s house.”
“Okay, Umma.” She turned to leave, then suddenly remembered. She quickly turned back. “Ah! I forgot—he just went out. He even told me to inform you that he’s gone to the café.”
“Oh no! That means he’s already on his way. Hurry, go to my room and bring my phone—I’ll call him.”
She rushed into Umma’s room and soon came out holding her phone. Umma took it, dialed Fu’ad’s number, and lowered the TV volume. Luckily, after two rings he answered. After she passed the message to him, she ended the call.
At the café, around noon, after making sure he had finished everything he needed to do, he headed to Datti’s house to deliver Umma’s message—not because he wanted to.
When he arrived, he found Aina and Nana in the parlour eating. Aina pushed a chair for him to sit. After greetings, she asked about the family; he said they were all fine and sent their greetings.
Nana didn’t even lift her head or respond, let alone greet him—and he didn’t care; he didn’t want her greeting anyway.
Aina wanted to send Nana to the kitchen to bring a plate and serve Fu’ad food, but knowing Nana’s attitude, she stood up herself, saying she’d be right back. She returned with a plate and served him.
Without complaint, he accepted it and started eating, saying, “It’s like you knew I was hungry. I haven’t eaten since last night.” He poured sauce generously and praised the food. Nana did nothing but glare at him.
Then Aina’s phone rang from her room. She turned toward the sound and quickly stood up. As soon as Nana saw this, she flashed a killer smile and spat—right into his food. He heard it, turned, and stared at her with his mouth open.
She smirked and said, “Animal! You don’t deserve to eat my food. So you can even eat guinea fowl and enjoy it? Hmm… if you don’t know, I’m the one who cooked it. You didn’t eat it last time and you paid for that. I swore you’d eat guinea fowl one day and taste my cooking. How is it? Do you need to thank me?” She finished, raising her eyebrow like a grown woman.
His anger exploded. How could a mere child insult him so badly? She humiliated him in a way even a dog wouldn’t tolerate—spitting into the food he was eating!
By God, if he had known she was the one who cooked it, nothing would have made him eat it—let alone give her the chance to humiliate him.
Before he could finish his inner rant, he felt water splash onto him. He looked up—it was Nana, holding a cup of juice, pouring it over him while laughing loudly.
That was it. Rage took over. He grabbed her with one hand and reached for his belt with the other.
“Hey!” Her eyes widened in fear; she began blinking rapidly, on the verge of tears. Only then did she regret what she had done. She knew she was in trouble—Datti wasn’t at home today.
Before she could react, he lashed her with the belt with all his strength, striking randomly. She screamed and cried.
Aina was in the room on a call when she heard Nana’s scream echo through the house. She dropped her phone immediately and ran out without even ending the call. What she saw terrified her. Even without being told, she knew Nana had provoked him to this point.
She didn’t manage to stop him until he had whipped Nana several times, bruising her badly. Then he stormed out of the house.
He went straight home, locked himself in his room, and headed to the bathroom. He turned on the shower immediately. Water poured over his body, soaking his hair. He ran his hand through it, pushing it back, anger steaming inside him.
“Why? Why does that girl humiliate me so terribly? Why does she treat me like an object of contempt? I hate you! I hate you, Nana! I despise you!” he shouted, bursting into tears.
It took more than half an hour before he came out—not because he felt relief, but because he was exhausted from staying in the bathroom.
---
On Nana’s side, after Fu’ad left, Aina helped her up and said, “This is your problem, Nana—you don’t listen. You don’t regard Fu’ad as your blood. If you reject Fu’ad and favor Datti, it’s pointless, because they are brothers—one blood flows in them.
“And if you ruin their family bond, God will not spare you.”
Nana did nothing but cry. She had been beaten so badly that her voice was hoarse. Her body was sore all over; she could barely move until Aina helped her sit.
Suddenly, a severe fever engulfed her, followed by chills. In that condition, Datti arrived and found her like that. His anger flared intensely.
He asked Aina what had happened. Nana stared at him silently, and Aina told him the truth plainly.
He grabbed Nana and rushed out like a madman, taking her to the hospital. They admitted her, treated her wounds, gave her injections, and gradually the fever subsided.
After everything was done, they returned home. He didn’t even look at Aina—he went straight to his room with Nana.
From that moment, Datti found the easiest path to achieving his aim with Nana—his room became Nana’s refuge.
She spent four days under treatment before starting to recover.
On the fifth day, strange, almost unbelievable things began to happen…
That was the day Datti became like a monster to her…
The day she became like a mad person in people’s eyes…
The day Datti’s face darkened for her and she stopped seeing its light…
One of the darkest, most painful days she would never forget.
From that day on, I, Eedatou, say: what seems like play can end in fire.