"It was so that she could experience a complete transformation in her life—from ignorance to knowledge, from a total lack of moral upbringing to disciplined manners, and from a state of total dishonor to becoming a person of ultimate respect. Sauda, initially, I orchestrated this marriage for Mimi strictly out of malice; I wanted to severely restrict her life and scorch her soul, exactly as she had scorched mine with public humiliation. However, upon deeper reflection later on, a profound understanding settled within my mind. I closely analyzed the foundational reasons behind this union and realized it could serve as the ultimate catalyst for her life's transformation. Ismail possesses the spiritual depth to instill within her the sound Islamic knowledge that she completely failed to receive under my parental care. Furthermore, deep knowledge naturally refines a human being's character, even if it happens progressively—especially since the foundational moral upbringing was completely abandoned during her formative years. The singular reason I placed a strict embargo on any of you visiting her, and explicitly commanded that they must never attempt to seek me out, is because I know with absolute certainty that if she is completely insulated from our family's enabling luxury, she will far better internalize moral discipline. Ismail will never harbor any intimidation toward our wealth, nor will he fear our immense social standing whenever he needs to execute a necessary disciplinary measure over her behavior. From what I have observed of his character, he is an unyielding, straightforward young man; thus, you can be rest assured he will remain totally unmoved by any of her toxic tantrums or threats. Furthermore, we will absolutely not extend a single cent of financial assistance to them. I refuse to destroy the young man's internal drive or paralyze his independent work ethic, which would leave him perpetually lazy and dependent on our wealth. Similarly, withholding financial aid will systematically force Mimi to adapt to a baseline lifestyle of absolute lack—a harsh economic reality she was completely oblivious to in the past. Severing all communication lines with them is the ultimate strategy that will compel both of them to roll up their sleeves and do exactly what is necessary to survive." Hajiya Sauda released a heavy, emotional sigh of relief. "I fully comprehend your strategic vision now, Alhaji. However, I must confess that I have already committed a single error in this matter." He locked his eyes onto her. "What did you do?" "I secretly sent a money transfer of one hundred thousand naira to them." "Do not distress your mind over what has already occurred," he replied calmly. "However, ensure you never send another single cent to them under any circumstances. In fact, if it is within your power, completely desist from ever dialing their telephone numbers again." She fell into an intense silence, carefully analyzing his directives. He gently interrupted her train of thought, saying, "Do not burden your heart with unnecessary worry. I give you my sacred patriarchal promise that I will personally, discreetly track the comprehensive details of their daily welfare and situation." She stared directly into the depths of his eyes, and within his gaze, she confirmed the absolute sincerity of his words. She nodded submissively, saying, "Very well then, Alhaji. May Almighty Allah grant us absolute success in this endeavor." He smiled warmly, "Amen, my excellent and virtuous wife." He reached forward, taking her hand affectionately. "I am fully aware that your motherly heart has finally found deep peace regarding that young man, and I too have recognized that he is an exceptionally intelligent, well-mannered gentleman." They both shared a light, soft laugh. He paused, his tone shifting into deep vulnerability. "Do you know something, Sauda?" "No, tell me," she replied. "I myself am currently suffering from an absolute, agonizing state of missing Mimi. I am fully aware that the perpetual, heavy thoughts of her are the singular obstacle preventing this severe illness of mine from lifting completely." She looked at him with immense empathy. "I knew deep down that was the case, Alhaji. However, since you possess this noble, long-term vision for her ultimate reformation, it is your absolute duty to remain resilient, endure the emotional pain, look away from her temporary hardship, and let us continually saturate the situation with fervent prayers. May Allah assist us." He nodded solemnly, "Amen, O Lord of the Worlds. My mind has finally attained absolute tranquility now that Allah has blessed me with your profound understanding." Throughout the remainder of that beautiful day, the couple dedicated their entire time to actively displaying profound mutual love and kindness toward one another.
Chapter 4 — Part 2
Meanwhile, Mimi continued her grueling path to physical recovery, with Yaya Amina and Ismail deploying absolute, round-the-clock dedication to ensure her medical welfare. Their maternal relatives traveling all the way from Daura arrived on a solidarity visit; they closely examined Mimi's physical progress and presented the family with their share of cash proceeds generated from the official liquidation of their ancestral farmland. Consequently, the comprehensive logistical arrangements for Ismail's impending international travel were finalized with high intensity. On Mimi's end, Ismail had successfully crossed an immense milestone: through pure, uncompromising enforcement, he had systematically compelled Mimi to initiate her five daily obligatory prayers—forcing her compliance regardless of her intense initial resistance. His continuous, deeply moving moral counseling and unyielding persistence eventually wore down her defenses, compelling her to actively listen to his guidance. He personally demonstrated the comprehensive ritual protocols of the prayers and took absolute responsibility for physically performing her ritual ablutions (Alwala). On the historic day he first intensified the disciplinary pressure on her, she literally performed her prayers while weeping tears of sheer frustration. Initially, she flatly refused to cooperate, but Ismail stood his ground, delivering a harsh ultimatum: he stated with absolute finality that he would completely abandon her medical care and wash his hands of her welfare if she chose to live as a person who refuses to pray. He made it crystal clear that he would simply pack his bags and proceed with his international travel. Yaya Amina immediately chimed in, strategically reinforcing the psychological terror to shock the girl. She added fiercely, "If you dare pack your bags and abandon this house, what business do I have remaining here myself? In that scenario, Mimi, you will be left entirely isolated in this room with absolutely no one to nurse your wounds or manage your daily existence!" Weeping hysterically through her tears, Mimi finally surrendered, whispering, "Fine, please perform the ritual ablutions for me." From that pivotal day forward, the very moment the sacred call to prayer echoed, she would immediately prepare herself and perform it without a single second of delay. An extraordinary phenomenon that filled Mimi with absolute amazement was that from the moment she began her consistent prayers, she discovered her soul enveloped in a strange, unprecedented state of deep tranquility; her heart developed a profound spiritual conviction that ritual prayer serves as the ultimate bridge drawing a servant close to their Creator. Consequently, when Ismail offered to systematically instruct her in the memorization of short Quranic chapters, she willingly accepted without a single shred of resistance, purely to perfect her prayers. As the days blended seamlessly into weeks, she successfully completed a duration of one month and one week under medical confinement at the orthopedic hospital. The precise time had finally arrived for the traditional bonesetter doctor, who had meticulously applied her traditional cast (Dori), to conduct his final scheduled evaluation to confirm if the bone fusion had digitized perfectly before permanently removing the cast. On a bright Monday morning at exactly ten o'clock, the specialist strode into the ward, accompanied by Doctor Salis. He closely examined the external state of her legs, a confident smile spreading across his face. "I have the highest expectations that the bone fusion has solidified perfectly. I am going to permanently unwrap the cast right now, after which you must immediately transport her to the radiology department for a final X-ray scan, then bring the imagery back to my office for conclusive evaluation." Ismail erupted into pure, ecstatic joy, exclaiming, "Alhamdulillah! To be completely honest, I am absolutely exhausted by this prolonged hospital confinement, and I am certain Khadija herself is equally exhausted, aren't you?" he added, casting a warm glance toward her. Mimi looked directly at the physician, her voice filled with anticipation. "Does this imply that the moment the X-ray imagery confirms a perfect bone fusion, I will be officially discharged from the hospital permanently?" The doctor smiled gently, "Yes, absolutely. Go ahead and secure the X-ray scan first so we can verify the internal structure." Throughout the delicate process of unwrapping the cast, Mimi put on a grand display of extreme childish vulnerability (Shagwaba), burying her face and wrapping her arms tightly around Yaya Amina. The physician chuckled, directing, "Transport her to radiology right this moment." Ismail immediately took charge, carefully positioning her inside a standard patient wheelchair and pushing her through the corridors toward the imaging wing. Yaya Amina walked closely by his side, their voices dropping into a hushed, anxious conversation. Ismail whispered, "Yaya, may Almighty Allah grant that the cost of this X-ray scan isn't excessively expensive, because to be completely honest before God, our financial reserves are completely depleted. Furthermore, the specialized medical accommodation fees I just settled have completely wiped out our liquid cash. Tell me honestly, what is the exact balance remaining from the capital we set aside exclusively for our international travel logistics?" Yaya Amina sighed deeply, "Oh, it is a catastrophic situation! There is barely a fraction of ten thousand naira left out of the fifty thousand naira cash reserve I handed over to Mahmud to insulate it from impulsive spending—everything has been completely swallowed by hospital bills." She shook her head, quoting a wise old proverb, "Well, the wild wind never leaves the harvest stack untouched."
Chapter 4 — Part 3
Mimi, who was being rolled forward in the wheelchair, heard every single syllable of their desperate financial calculations; despite the physical rattling of the chair, their voices carried clearly, and she understood the gravity of the situation completely. Throughout her entire life, she had lived under the absolute delusion that her personal multi-million naira wealth was funding her entire medical care, and that it was only upon its total depletion that Ismail had begun spending his own modest earnings. She looked up, her voice softened by guilt. "Yaya Amina, in that case, please request the medical team to officially discharge us right now since we are completely out of funds." Yaya Amina turned her gaze toward Ismail. "Honestly, that is the exact line of thought running through my mind as well. What are your thoughts on the matter, Ismail?" Ismail replied decisively, "Let us prioritize completing the X-ray scan first so we can see the internal reality. May Allah grant that the imagery cost is within our reach. Right now, I am contemplating leaving both of you right here briefly so I can rush into town and retrieve the remaining financial balance currently held in Mahmud's custody." Yaya Amina nodded, "Let us proceed to the registry first; the moment you receive the official billing for the scan, you can depart immediately." The official fee for the X-ray scan was accurately pegged at six thousand six hundred naira; consequently, it became an absolute necessity for Ismail to journey out to retrieve the emergency funds. Before stepping onto the main road, he dialed Mahmud's telephone line to ensure his availability. He chartered a commercial motorcycle (Achaba) on a round-trip contract, ensuring the driver brought him right back to the hospital gates with absolute speed. They promptly settled the financial bill, the medical technicians executed the imaging scan, and within a short duration, they received the official X-ray film and retraced their steps to the main ward. At exactly twelve o'clock noon, the specialist returned to evaluate the radiology imagery. A wide smile broke across his face, and he announced, "Alhamdulillah! She possesses an incredibly resilient, healthy biological system. The bone has fused beautifully. Consequently, she can officially initiate her light physical therapy and learn to walk progressively." Ismail turned his joyful gaze toward Doctor Salis, asking, "Can we officially secure our permanent hospital discharge documentation today? Because to be completely upfront, absolutely every single resource at our disposal has been entirely exhausted." Doctor Salis smiled reassuringly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Do not distress your mind for a single second, Mallam Ismail. You have executed an absolutely stellar, heroic effort throughout this crisis. It is an exceedingly rare phenomenon to find a young man who stands by his wife with such unwavering, absolute dedication throughout a grueling medical emergency." Mimi’s head snapped up instantly, her eyes locking onto Ismail, filled with a massive cascade of intense question marks and confusion. Ismail quickly flashed a strategic, subtle smile, turning back to face the physician to cover up the slip. "Of course, doctor, an elder brother would never, under any circumstances, fail to shoulder the absolute burden of his biological younger sister's care." In that instant, the doctor’s eyes widened as he suddenly recalled the initial administrative mix-up regarding their true relationship. He chuckled awkwardly, saying, "Oh! Forgive me, I completely forgot the true dynamics! That's right, you are her elder brother after all."
Chapter 4 — Part 4
During the late hours of that beautiful afternoon, Ismail deployed every single strategy of gentle persuasion to compel Mimi to take her first tentative steps, but she flatly refused to cooperate—dissolving into a fit of dramatic weeping, screaming hysterically that her body was physically incapable of enduring the pain. Ultimately, a wave of profound frustration and exhaustion filled Ismail's mind; he abruptly walked out of the tense ward and sat heavily on a wooden bench in the open courtyard. A massive avalanche of fragmented, heavy thoughts began attacking his mind. He was completely bewildered by the fact that despite repeatedly dialing Hajiya Sauda’s telephone line over the past weeks, the line remained permanently unreachable, and she had completely ceased initiating any calls to him. Furthermore, it had been exactly three consecutive weeks since the wealthy matriarch had abruptly and permanently terminated Mahmud’s highly lucrative employment as a private home tutor for Hasana and Usaina. Whenever Ismail voiced these intense anxieties to his friend, Mahmud would always offer a relaxed perspective, saying, "Do not stress your mind for a single second over my job loss, my friend. To be completely honest, even if they hadn't abruptly terminated my contract, I would have been legally forced to resign within days regardless, considering our impending international travel for advanced studies is right around the corner. As for their absolute lack of communication or parental concern toward their biological daughter, I highly advise you to simply exercise an extra measure of absolute patience." Beyond those worries, Ismail was deeply consumed by the pressing problem of where on earth he would secure sustainable capital—not just to finalize her ongoing medical recovery, but to fund his own upcoming international travel logistics. Furthermore, the moment the hospital officially discharged them, where on earth was he supposed to house her? To be completely honest before God, it would be an absolute moral failure and an insult to her dignity to force a girl of her elite stature to reside permanently inside a cramped, exterior entrance gatehouse (Soro). While his mind was drowning in these heavy calculations, her voice suddenly drifted clearly from the open window of the ward, calling out in a highly exaggerated tone of childish dependency (Shagwaba): "Hey! Get back in here right now! Come over here and support my body; I need to lie down to sleep, do you hear me?!" Ismail deliberately maintained absolute silence, refusing to answer her summons. However, his subconscious began fiercely interrogating him: Why on earth does Mimi completely avoid calling me by my actual name nowadays? She never addresses me as 'Ismail,' nor does she ever call me 'Mallam.' Is she experiencing a profound sense of psychological weight and intimidation toward my presence, or what exactly is happening? Only God knew the absolute truth. She continued her loud summons until she finally exhausted her energy and fell into absolute silence. The very instant the sacred call for the late afternoon (Asr) prayer echoed across the sky, Ismail finally stepped back inside the ward. He found her eyes still glistening with fresh tears. He looked down at her, and a sudden wave of profound, protective empathy washed over his heart. He softy said, "Khadija!" She deliberately averted her gaze, refusing to look him in the eye. He immediately recognized the classic biological signs that she was throwing a full silent tantrum. He continued gently, "I need to assist you with your ritual ablutions right now because I must depart for the mosque immediately." She puffed out her cheeks in defiance, snapping, "Go fetch Nurse Ramatu for me instead! I need to use the restroom immediately to urinate." "I am absolutely not fetching any nurse for you," Ismail countered firmly. "Let me personally support your body and assist you. Do you honestly believe that the exceptional care and attention Nurse Ramatu has been showering upon you is free? I have been quietly paying her a premium under the table. Over these past few days when my pockets ran completely dry and I couldn't provide her tip, have you noticed her stepping foot inside this room even a single time?" Mimi’s eyes widened in horror. "Oh my god... but wait, you are a full-grown man! How on earth can you be the one to physically assist me with such intimate bathroom needs?!" "I have absolutely zero time to waste arguing over this, Khadija; the congregational prayer is commencing. What on earth could you possibly be trying to hide from my eyes that I haven't already witnessed throughout this grueling medical crisis? Furthermore, considering I am currently operating under the legal status of your husband, there is absolutely zero reason for this anxiety." Her eyes widened to their absolute limits. "What on earth have you witnessed?! Yaya Amina has been the one executing every single intimate care routine for me! If you dare imply..." Before she could even finalize her sentence, Ismail lunged forward, swept her limp body completely into his arms in a single swift motion, and carried her straight into the private bathroom. He carefully seated her on the specialized medical chair that Yaya Amina traditionally used to bathe her. He looked down at her, asking, "Now, what else do you require my physical assistance with?" "Just get out! Leave this bathroom immediately!" she screamed. "Are you completely certain you can manage your needs and return to the bed entirely on your own?" "I said get out right now!" she fiercely commanded. A soft, knowing smile crossed his face as he stepped back, closing the door. "Fine, just ensure you do not linger in there too long." Approximately four minutes later, her voice echoed from behind the door, drenched in intense irritation: "Fine! Come inside and pull me out of here!" He stepped back into the bathroom. "Shall I perform your ritual ablutions for you now?" She thrust her bottom lip out in a heavy pout. "I have already taken care of my own purification." Ismail meticulously laid out her traditional prayer mat directly on the smooth floor of the ward. "Perform your prayers right here on the floor, especially since the heavy cast has officially been unwrapped from your legs." He carefully assisted her in draping her long prayer veil (Hijab) over her head and stepped out of the room.
Chapter 4 — Part 5
He executed his laundry chores right at the front entrance of their family compound, but his heart was weighed down by a profound sense of self-consciousness and embarrassment regarding hanging Mimi's personal garments on the exposed outdoor clotheslines, primarily because her modern wardrobe consisted entirely of highly revealing, body-hugging clothes. Furthermore, he was literally washing her personal undergarments and panties; consequently, he meticulously rigged a private clothesline deep within the interior entrance corridor (Zaure), mere inches away from his private bedroom door, explicitly to air-dry her garments completely shielded from public eyes. On several occasions, the moment the clothes became slightly dry, he would hastily harvest them, because the neighborhood children living within the compound were notoriously undisciplined and would frequently yank garments off lines, sending them crashing onto the dusty ground. On this particular afternoon, the moment he finalized his own bath and dressed in crisp clothing to head out into town, he gathered her air-dried panties and vests, neatly laid them on top of her traveling suitcases, turned on the electric fan to maximize airflow, firmly locked the bedroom door, and headed straight to Mahmud's residence. Their daily conversations never deviated from the singular, overarching topic of their impending international travel logistics. Mahmud sighed, saying, "Ismail, are you aware that Rabia has completely lost her emotional peace over the reality of this upcoming journey?" "For what exact reason?" Ismail inquired curiously. Mahmud let out a short laugh. "She is consumed by an absolute terror that the moment I arrive over there, I will cross paths with an elite foreign woman and permanently erase her from my memory. I explicitly instructed her to permanently cease harboring such foolish thoughts, because she is merely torturing her own mind unnecessarily—especially since our families have already officially finalized our traditional betrothal (Baiko). She then demanded to know the exact date of my permanent return, and when I honestly replied that I possessed absolutely zero knowledge regarding the timeline, she threw a massive tantrum and is currently giving me the silent treatment." Ismail chuckled, shaking his head. "Ah, women... they are the absolute undisputed champions of creating unnecessary drama. If you think you have it rough, you should see the hyper-pampered, dramatic girl currently occupying my life. The very moment I prepared to leave the hospital room this afternoon, she dissolved into a fit of tears, fiercely demanding that I must not step foot out of her presence." Mahmud laughed out loud. "Well, isn't Yaya Amina currently on-site to manage her?" "No, she isn't there; she had to return to her husband's house. She reported early this morning, but was forced to leave because her physical health has been declining severely. I swear to you by Allah, Mahmud, I am completely suffocated and exhausted by this prolonged hospital environment. Furthermore, that girl possesses an absolutely infuriating, deeply ingrained culture of extreme physical laziness and self-pity (Son jikin tsiya). The medical team explicitly directed her to consistently practice taking independent steps to stimulate her muscles, but she flatly refuses to even try. That is precisely why I deliberately abandoned her alone this afternoon—I wanted to spark a sense of independent pride within her heart so she would be forced to move her own body." Mahmud nodded, offering a balanced perspective. "Listen, Ismail, you have no choice but to continuously deploy an extra measure of absolute patience, because that girl was raised within an environment of unparalleled luxury and indulgence; it has literally become a permanent part of her biological makeup. Honestly, you have already secured an immense, historic victory simply by getting her to willingly consume whatever basic traditional meals are cooked and presented to her, alongside her absolute agreement to reside permanently under your family's care." Ismail sighed, his expression growing deeply serious. "My single greatest source of intense anxiety right now is the question of where on earth I am supposed to safely transition her the moment our international departure date arrives." Mahmud suggested, "If her physical health were at one hundred percent, we could have simply processed her travel documentation and journeyed with her." Ismail recoiled, exclaiming, "I swear to you by the living God, even if she possessed absolute, flawless physical health, I would never, under any circumstances, embark on an international journey with her! Why on earth would I invite such an absolute magnet of chaos to come along and drive me insane over there? My current plan is to officially transition her custody into the hands of Yaya Amina and her husband. Their property features a dedicated children's wing, alongside the spacious private room that belonged to his late mother before her demise."
Chapter 4 — Part 6
Mahmud nodded in total agreement. "That is an absolutely brilliant strategy, Ismail. After all, Yaya Amina possesses an extraordinarily deep sense of family responsibility and loyalty (Zumunci). I know with absolute certainty that she would never reject your request." "She will absolutely not reject it, Insha Allah," Ismail stated with deep conviction. "Yaya Amina has systematically operated as a true, flawless mother figure throughout my entire existence; my single prayer is that Almighty Allah grants me the lifelong financial capability to continuously reward her and maintain absolute obedience to her guidance." Mahmud checked his calendar. "Amen. To be completely honest, our departure window is closing rapidly. I just received official confirmation that the university expects us by the end of this current month—meaning we have a duration of exactly three short weeks remaining." Ismail’s expression sharpened. "The journey is indeed right upon us. May Allah grant that the medical team officially discharges us from this hospital before that critical date arrives. Honestly, tomorrow morning I intend to directly confront the physician and explicitly state that I demand our permanent discharge papers immediately." Mahmud counseled, "Before they can legally clear you for discharge, the medical team will absolutely insist on witnessing her take independent steps under their own eyes. You must exert maximum discipline and pressure over her to force her compliance." They continued their conversation until the very brink of the dusk (Magrib) prayer before parting ways. Ismail returned to his compound, gathered his dried laundry from the interior lines, packed a fresh selection of garments for her, and headed straight back to the hospital. The precise moment his feet touched the hospital driveway, the congregational call to prayer was echoing through the air. He promptly deposited his laundry parcel inside a secure commercial kiosk at the gates and joined the congregational prayers. He initially contemplated delaying his personal prayers until the night (Isha) cycle, but a sudden memory hit him—he remembered that Mimi required his physical presence to perform her own prayers. He stepped into the ward and found her sitting quietly on the edge of her mattress; she had clearly cried her heart out until she simply surrendered her emotions to God. A wave of profound, protective empathy hit his heart, but he structurally hardened his expression, acting as though he was completely oblivious to her tear-stained face. He commanded flatly, "Let's move to the bathroom immediately so you can perform your ritual ablutions!" She completely ignored his presence, giving him the absolute silent treatment. Just as he stepped forward to physically lift her into his arms to carry her to the bathroom, she snapped, "Leave me completely alone! Just turn around and go wherever you please! I knew deep down that it was only a matter of time before you grew completely exhausted and disgusted by my presence. Even the very biological parents who brought me into this world became thoroughly exhausted by my existence and cast me out like garbage—so why on earth would a random stranger like you, whom they forcefully anchored to my life, be any different? I harbor absolutely zero blame toward your attitude. However, why on earth did you systematically manipulate me into delivering a sacred promise to reside permanently with your family, under the strict condition that you would personally protect and care for me, only for you to display absolute exhaustion before we have even cleared the hospital gates? I am fully aware that you and your sister are enduring an immense financial and physical burden on my behalf, but given the way you initially treated me like your own flesh and blood, I foolishly assumed it would take a bit longer before I completely repulsed you." Ismail immediately softened his vocal tone, shifting his energy into a highly tender, soothing cadence. "Tell me honestly, who on earth filled your head with such toxic nonsense that we are repulsed by your presence? The singular reason I harbored deep anger toward you this afternoon is your absolute refusal to practice taking independent steps, even a single time. Furthermore, Khadija, the sole reason I journeyed back to the compound was to personally execute your comprehensive laundry chores." He stepped even closer, sitting directly on the edge of the bed next to her. He extended his hand, gently cupping her chin and lifting her face to look into his. Dropping his voice into an incredibly soft, intimate cadence, he called her name: "Khadija!" She lifted her heavily bloodshot eyes, locking her gaze directly into his. He whispered with absolute sincerity, "I swear to you by the Almighty Allah, you have not repulsed us in the slightest, nor can we ever grow exhausted of your presence. You are truly and permanently our own sister." She sniffled, looking down. "If that is the absolute truth, then I highly prefer that you simply grant me an official divorce right now, so you can walk away and live your life in absolute freedom." He quickly placed his index finger squarely over her soft lips, silencing her. "Shhh... permanently cease uttering such heavy words, my beautiful little sister. Please, have patience with this process. Let me carry you to the bathroom to perform your ritual ablutions now, alright?" She remained silent, refusing to verbalize a response, but her resistance had completely melted. It took immense, tender coaxing before he successfully managed to assist her through her purification routine. Following the completion of the night (Isha) prayers, she sat comfortably on the bed, quietly consuming some fresh cake and sipping a bottle of Fanta. Ismail looked at her gently, breaking the news: "You are fully aware that our international departure date is officially locked for the end of this current month, correct?" Her face immediately contorted into an expression of absolute distress and panic. "In that case, where on earth do you intend to abandon me?!" Ismail structurally mimicked her dramatic vocal cadence with a soft chuckle. "That is the exact reason I want us to engage in a mature, collaborative family discussion right now."
Chapter 4 — Part 7
She set the remaining piece of cake down on the mattress, her eyes wide with desperation. "I insist that you must simply process my logistics and travel with me!" "Calm your heart completely," he replied soothingly. "This is absolutely not a crisis that warrants panic. Yaya Amina is fully available; the plan is for you to officially move into her household. The moment your physical recovery hits one hundred percent and I return for winter break, we will seamlessly depart together." She looked at him skeptically. "Have you officially communicated this arrangement to Yaya Amina herself?" "I haven't explicitly finalized the discussion with her yet, but I know her heart with absolute certainty—there will be zero problems on her end." She nodded slowly. "Very well then. But wait, what is the current state of her physical health?" "She is experiencing a fair amount of recovery, though I didn't explicitly pass by her residence on my way back." Ismail reached into his pocket and retrieved his smartphone. "Let me swiftly dial Saddam's father's line so he can hand her the receiver and we can check on her welfare." Following an exchange of respectful greetings with Saddam's father, Ismail inquired about his sister's state. Saddam's father sighed over the line, "She is currently right here shivering violently from a severe chill, completely wrapped in heavy blankets. However, she has successfully consumed her prescribed medication." Ismail replied, "Please extend my profound family greetings to her. Khadija sends her deepest wishes for her swift recovery as well." "She will certainly appreciate that," Saddam's father responded before disconnecting. Ismail turned his gaze to Mimi. "You heard the update; she is still battling the illness." "May Almighty Allah grant her absolute divine healing! May Allah restore her health swiftly," Mimi uttered with deep, genuine sincerity. On the following morning, Yaya Amina’s physical condition made it absolutely impossible for her to report to the hospital. Ismail stepped into the ward, scratching his head awkwardly. "Well, Khadija, how on earth are we going to manage your bath routine today? Should I personally execute the bath for you?" Her eyes widened in absolute, panicked modesty, staring at him in utter shock. Internally, her mind raced with frantic, defensive thoughts: Is this man intentionally engineering situations purely to gaze upon my raw, absolute nudity?! Aloud, she stammered defensively, "I have completely resolved to skip the bath until Yaya Amina recovers! The moment she reports back, she will execute the routine for me. My hair has accumulated an immense amount of dirt and grease, and it is driving me absolutely insane." Ismail sighed, chuckling at her modesty. "Why on earth do you continuously harbor such deep suspicion and lack of trust toward me, as if I am secretly plotting to violate your dignity? Just cooperate and stand firm; I can easily wash your hair for you without looking at anything else. I meticulously observed the exact technique Yaya Amina deployed the other day." "Absolutely not!" she shrieked. "Do not dare pour water near my ears! I strictly prefer to visit a professional hair salon the moment we leave this place." "In that case, Khadija, you must actively practice taking independent steps this very day," Ismail urged, his tone shifting into deep seriousness. "The medical team is highly reluctant to clear us for discharge if they notice any lingering mobility issues. The moment they witness you walking independently, they will instantly sign our permanent discharge documentation—and I will personally transport you to absolutely any luxury salon your heart desires." Throughout the duration of that challenging day, it took an immense, grueling measure of relentless physical encouragement before he successfully compelled her to take a few independent steps. One... two... she staggered forward, her balance completely failing, and she crashed directly against his chest. A highly unusual, electric sensation rippled across Ismail's entire body, causing his skin to erupt into goosebumps. He was hit by a wave of profound bewilderment; throughout the entire duration of this medical crisis, despite physically lifting and carrying her body countless times, he had never once experienced a single micro-fraction of such raw, intense biological attraction toward her. In a state of sudden panic, he quickly disentangled her from his frame, his voice dropping into a heavily choked, strained register. "You... you possess far too much physical weakness. Fine, sit right down and rest your body immediately."
Chapter 4 — Part 8
Within the span of one single week, Mimi began executing consistent outdoor physical therapy with the continuous support of Yaya Amina—who had successfully recovered from her illness—alongside the unyielding, driving force of the mastermind himself, Ismail. Their singular, burning ambition at this point was to secure an immediate, permanent hospital discharge, primarily because their liquid cash reserves had hit absolute rock bottom. On a historic Monday morning, Doctor Salis and Doctor Lukman—the specialist orthopedist who had structural oversight of her bone fusion—conclusively confirmed Mimi's absolute, permanent fitness for discharge. Ismail experienced a wave of ecstatic joy that could only be compared to a political prisoner stepping out of a dark dungeon into absolute freedom on amnesty day. The entire family was enveloped in pure celebration. Ismail turned to Yaya Amina, directing, "Please begin systematically packing every single item in this ward, while I swiftly sprint back to the compound to clean and dust my private bedroom." Yaya Amina interrupted, "Clean your bedroom for what exact reason? We are transitioning directly to my household, tunda we have already officially notified Saddam's father regarding the arrangement." Ismail countered, "My intention was to swiftly clean and renovate the private room within your household that is designated for her, alongside setting up a comfortable mattress and premium bedding before we make our official entrance." "That is an exceptionally wise, orderly idea," Yaya Amina agreed. Accompanied by Mahmud, the young men swept and scrubbed every single square inch of the room until it sparkled, after which they chartered a commercial taxi on a private drop contract and returned to the hospital to fetch the women. The entire medical team of doctors and nurses gathered around them, offering cheerful congratulations and best wishes upon their exit. It was during this departure window that Doctor Salis stepped forward, slipping his premium corporate card into Ismail's palm. "Whenever any medical or logistical need arises in the future, Mallam Ismail, ensure you understand that my doors remain permanently wide open to support your family." Ismail, refusing to display a stingy or secretive spirit, openly shared his upcoming reality. "I am profoundly grateful, Doctor. I am actually on the absolute verge of departing for the holy city of Medina for advanced Islamic studies, but throughout my absence, Yaya Amina remains on-site to handle any situation." Doctor Salis smiled warmly, wishing him absolute divine blessings and tremendous academic success. Meanwhile, in a completely separate geographical reality, Zainabu sat quietly on the edge of her mattress, firmly clutching a small transistor radio in her hands, completely absorbed in a broadcast. The radio originally belonged to her father; she had discreetly secured it from his house upon her return to Alhaji Lawal’s mansion following her discharge from the medical facility. The small device had systematically become her singular anchor against profound isolation, keeping her thoroughly entertained with its diverse programming—most notably the highly popular dramatic readings of Hausa literature novels. On a recent occasion, completely desperate to gain access to the physical novels being read over the airwaves, she had approached Bushira, eagerly inquiring where on earth she could purchase such books. Bushira had informed her that physical books could only be obtained through local commercial rental libraries. That singular interaction marked the official genesis of her intense addiction to literature reading. The novels successfully insulated her mind from depression, primarily because within the pages of those stories, she constantly encountered characters battling structural horrors and life crises that infinitely surpassed her own domestic suffering. Her mind internalized a profound sense of patience, resignation to fate, and she continuously channeled her emotional pain into fervent, midnight prayers to Almighty Allah. As for her husband, Alhaji Lawal, his toxic, abusive character had experienced zero positive transformation; if anything, his cruelty had amplified significantly. Furthermore, a highly troubling, terrifying anomaly had been heavily weighing on Zainabu's mind—since her return to the mansion, her biological menstrual cycle had completely failed to return. Yet, strangely enough, she hadn't detected a single micro-symptom of morning sickness or physical transformation within her body. Her single, ultimate terror was the horrifying possibility that she had accidentally conceived another child for Alhaji Lawal. To be completely honest before God, she possessed absolutely zero desire to permanently anchor her lineage or genetics to a monster like Alhaji Lawal; her heart belonged exclusively to her true soulmate, Ismail. Her mind was permanently consumed by thoughts of him every single second of the day, despite a rational voice in her subconscious repeatedly whispering that Ismail was now light-years beyond her reach. Yet, she flatly refused to abandon divine hope, anchoring her entire existence to her prayers.
Chapter 4 — Part 9
Such is the absolute, unpredictable nature of human existence—indeed, whenever you arrogantly declare that another person's cooking pot will never boil, your own pot suddenly loses even the capacity to remain warm. I present this philosophical truth explicitly due to the current, catastrophic domestic reality enveloping Naima. She lay completely paralyzed on a sofa, suffering from an exceptionally severe, grueling wave of early pregnancy morning sickness, yet her husband, Abbas, acted as though she was completely invisible to his eyes. Furthermore, her pregnancy happened to be the notoriously volatile, medical variety characterized by continuous, violent projectile vomiting. Ultimately, the very moment Abbas realized her physical state rendered her completely useless for his personal amusement or domestic service, he systematically abandoned residing within the property altogether. The moment he exited the mansion early in the morning, he would vanish until the dead of the night. He never acknowledged her presence upon his return, and a single word of basic greeting or concern never passed between them. Recognizing that the domestic situation was rapidly escalating into a dangerous crisis, Naima reached for her smartphone, dialed Momi Nafisa's line, and wept, "Momi, please call Abbas right now and inform him that you are coming to permanently evacuate me back to your house under your personal care! Especially since Daddy is currently permanently stationed in Katsina managing his businesses, he will have absolutely zero knowledge that I am residing back at my parental home." On the following morning at the absolute crack of dawn before his scheduled departure, Naima managed to summon the absolute last reserves of her physical strength. Dragging her body along the walls for support, she made her way up to Abbas's private penthouse suite. Just as he stepped out of his bedroom dressed in a premium designer suit ready for town, he caught sight of her pale body collapsed on the floor of his private lounge, surrounded by the physical mess of her illness. He unleashed a terrifying, booming roar: "You! Get your disgusting body out of my private lounge this instant! I strictly forbid such absolute filth in my personal quarters! Do not dare ever inflict your vile vomiting routines inside my space again!" Gasping heavily for air, she whimpered, "For the absolute sake of God, please... just transport me back to my mother's house, or drive me to a hospital." He sneered down at her coldly. "You will absolutely not set foot inside any of my luxury vehicles in that disgusting state! If you are so desperate for a hospital, use your phone to dial your family; let those peasants bring their own cars to evacuate you—they are the ones who fathered you, after all." He stepped forward, nudging her body with his shoe. "Get up right now and move down to your quarters; I am locking up my entire wing." She wept, "Please, I beg of you, just use your own phone to dial them on my behalf." "I possess absolutely zero contact numbers for any human being in your family," he stated flatly. With absolute, unyielding coldness, he flatly refused to render a single shred of assistance, forcefully marching her down the corridor to her bedroom, slamming the door, and leaving the estate. Left with no choice, she dialed Momi Nafisa a second time, breaking down completely as she detailed the horrific abuse. Momi Nafisa’s blood ran cold, and she barked through the receiver, "Stay right there! I am heading to that mansion this very hour!" Momi Nafisa navigated her vehicle directly to the residence of her elite high-society confidante, Nana, exposing every single detail of the crisis. Nana swiftly grabbed her designer veil, her eyes flashing with anger. "Let us drive directly to his biological mother's mansion! She must be made fully aware of the absolute toxicity her son is executing, so she can pull his ears and force him into compliance!" Momi Nafisa smirked, "That is the exact reason I prioritized coming to your house first, Nana; I knew with absolute certainty that your sharp mind would always deliver an incredibly brilliant, actionable strategy." Together, they piled into Momi Nafisa’s luxury car and drove at high speed toward the Minister’s estate. The estate security details were forced to place an internal intercom call into the main palace to verify their identities before granting them official clearance to enter the compound. They were ushered into a grand reception lounge. They were left waiting for over fifteen consecutive minutes before the domestic staff finally brought them basic refreshments. Finally, exuding an aura of absolute corporate dominance and elitism, Hajiya Bilkisu descended the grand staircase, casting an incredibly cold, measuring look directly at them. Her body language instantly caused Momi Nafisa and Nana to feel a profound sense of intimidation and hesitation.
Chapter 4 — Part 10
It was Hajiya Nana who forcefully summoned the courage to break the heavy silence, clearing her throat. "Good afternoon, Hajiya. To be completely upfront, the urgent matter that brought us to your palace today is an official family complaint regarding the behavior of your son, Abbas." They watched as a sharp, highly calculated smile spread across Hajiya Bilkisu's face—a smile whose dark, underlying meaning they completely failed to comprehend. Hajiya Nana continued confidently, "Ever since we officially handed our daughter over to his household, she has faced absolutely nothing except continuous humiliation, structural neglect, and psychological abuse from his hands. As we speak right now, she is heavily battling the severe physical complications of early pregnancy morning sickness, yet he flatly refuses to transport her to a medical facility for basic care." Momi Nafisa chimed in fiercely, unable to restrain her anger, "Furthermore, beyond his absolute neglect, he spends his entire existence gathering loose, low-class women of the night into his life, and absolutely nothing has..." The single, silent gesture of Hajiya Bilkisu slowly raising her hand instantly froze the words inside Momi Nafisa’s throat. In a state of absolute, towering rage, Hajiya Bilkisu stood up, her voice dropping into a razor-sharp register. "I strongly suspect that both of you have completely suffered from a severe case of amnesia regarding the exact biological relationship that exists between that young man and myself, for you to possess the absolute audacity to enter my own palace and attempt to defame his character right before my eyes! Let me swiftly revive your memories: Abbas happens to be my absolute firstborn son—and I am highly confident that both of you are fully aware of the unmatched, boundless intensity of a mother's love toward her firstborn son, correct?" She stepped closer, looking down at them with absolute contempt. "Look at you, acting as though you are the only individuals blessed with daughters in this world! Tell me, are both of you fully aware of the absolute public humiliation and structural insult your so-called daughter executed against my person and my elite high-society friends just the other day? She went as far as..."
Part 2: Structural & Stylistic Description
This segment of the manuscript represents a masterfully executed pivotal transition phase, where the narrative successfully moves away from the immediate chaos of the elopement into a grounded, deeply psychological character study.
1. The Domestic Architecture of Isolation
The author brilliant uses space to define the emotional states of the characters. We see a structural shift from the sterile, exposed environment of the orthopedic hospital ward to two heavily contrasted domestic spaces:
The Space of Refinement (Yaya Amina's House): Mimi's transition into Yaya Amina's household is framed as an architectural baseline of traditional discipline. The setting up of her room, stripped of billionaire luxury, symbolizes her forced assimilation into normalcy.
The Space of Toxic Elite Isolation (Abbas's Mansion): Naima’s confinement within the locked wings of Abbas’s mansion illustrates her psychological abandonment. The physical presence of her illness highlights her vulnerability within a transactional marriage built on absolute spite.
2. Lexical Cadence and Dual Narratives
The narrative geometry employs a bifurcated pacing structure. The first half of the text utilizes a slow, deliberate, and emotionally resonant vocabulary to chart Mimi's spiritual awakening through prayer and Ismail's underlying internal conflict. The second half shifts into a high-velocity, sharp, and biting vocabulary to detail the rapid disintegration of Naima's marriage and the volatile corporate friction between Momi Nafisa and the Minister's wife, Hajiya Bilkisu.
Part 3: Analytical Breakdown
1. The Pedagogical Vision of Alhaji Bashir
Alhaji Bashir’s dialogue with Hajiya Sauda reveals the deeper psychological architecture behind his seemingly tyrannical actions:
The Structural Catharsis: Bashir explicitly admits that his initial motivation was pure vengeance ("don in quntata mata"). However, his character undergoes a profound evolution into strategic parental engineering. He recognizes that his own overindulgence had structurally crippled Mimi's moral development, and views Ismail not as a son-in-law, but as a severe, unyielding pedagogical institution capable of instilling the discipline he failed to provide.
The Economic Embargo: By enforces a total financial blockade, Bashir is intentionally breaking Mimi's psychological dependency on material entitlement. He recognizes that true character transformation can only be achieved through the raw, unvarnished experience of economic lack ("Rayuwar babu"), forcing her to build genuine human resilience.
2. The Spiritual Shift and Biological Realignment
The hospital sequences capture a profound turning point in the internal configuration of both Mimi and Ismail:
The Mechanics of Compulsion: Mimi's transition into consistent prayer highlights a classic behavioral realignment. Initially forced into compliance through pure administrative dominance, the physical and psychological vulnerability of her recovery causes her to experience a genuine spiritual awakening, discovering an internal tranquility ("natsuwa") that her billionaire lifestyle never provided.
The Awakening of Attraction: Ismail's sudden, overwhelming physical reaction to Mimi crashing against his chest ("tsigar jikinsa ta motsa") represents a major shift in their dynamic. Throughout her illness, he viewed her strictly as a multi-millionaire liability and an administrative burden. This involuntary surge of biological attraction terrifies him, as it shatters his self-perceived status as a detached, protective older brother and forces him to confront her reality as his legal wife.
3. The Reversal of Familial Fortunes
The stark contrast between Mimi's recovery and Naima's marital collapse serves as the ultimate thematic anchor of the novel:
The Spite Alliance: Naima and Momi Nafisa's celebration of usurping the billionaire marriage proposal is completely exposed as a catastrophic miscalculation. Abbas’s absolute physical and emotional abandonment of Naima proves that a union constructed out of social engineering and spite possesses zero stability.
The Maternal Shield: Hajiya Bilkisu’s terrifying defense of her firstborn son Abbas ("zaqin soyayyar dan fari") highlights the absolute wall of elite matriarchal protection that Naima has crashed into. By weaponizing Naima’s past public arrogance against her mother, Bilkisu signals that within the ruthless hierarchy of the northern elite, Naima is viewed merely as an easily replaceable transaction, setting up an explosive domestic warfare.
Clarifying Continuation Question
The narrative has reached an incredible structural turning point, with Ismail facing a critical three-week countdown before his departure to Medina, while Momi Nafisa has just walked into a geopolitical trap inside the Minister's mansion. Would you like to proceed with the translation of the next segment to see the explosive conclusion of Nafisa's confrontation with Hajiya Bilkisu, or should we explore the unfolding crisis of Zainabu's missed menstrual cycle and her hidden hope regarding Ismail?
JEJI GIRL BOOK COMPELET BY AUTAR ALHERI
"It was so that she could experience a complete transformation in her life—from ignorance to knowledge, from a total lack of moral upbringing to disciplined manners, and from a state of total dishonor to becoming a person of ultimate respect. Sauda, initially, I orchestrated this marriage for Mimi strictly out of malice; I wanted to severely restrict her life and scorch her soul, exactly as she had scorched mine with public humiliation.
However, upon deeper reflection later on, a profound understanding settled within my mind. I closely analyzed the foundational reasons behind this union and realized it could serve as the ultimate catalyst for her life's transformation. Ismail possesses the spiritual depth to instill within her the sound Islamic knowledge that she completely failed to receive under my parental care. Furthermore, deep knowledge naturally refines a human being's character, even if it happens progressively—especially since the foundational moral upbringing was completely abandoned during her formative years.
The singular reason I placed a strict embargo on any of you visiting her, and explicitly commanded that they must never attempt to seek me out, is because I know with absolute certainty that if she is completely insulated from our family's enabling luxury, she will far better internalize moral discipline. Ismail will never harbor any intimidation toward our wealth, nor will he fear our immense social standing whenever he needs to execute a necessary disciplinary measure over her behavior. From what I have observed of his character, he is an unyielding, straightforward young man; thus, you can be rest assured he will remain totally unmoved by any of her toxic tantrums or threats.
Furthermore, we will absolutely not extend a single cent of financial assistance to them. I refuse to destroy the young man's internal drive or paralyze his independent work ethic, which would leave him perpetually lazy and dependent on our wealth. Similarly, withholding financial aid will systematically force Mimi to adapt to a baseline lifestyle of absolute lack—a harsh economic reality she was completely oblivious to in the past. Severing all communication lines with them is the ultimate strategy that will compel both of them to roll up their sleeves and do exactly what is necessary to survive."
Hajiya Sauda released a heavy, emotional sigh of relief. "I fully comprehend your strategic vision now, Alhaji. However, I must confess that I have already committed a single error in this matter."
He locked his eyes onto her. "What did you do?"
"I secretly sent a money transfer of one hundred thousand naira to them."
"Do not distress your mind over what has already occurred," he replied calmly. "However, ensure you never send another single cent to them under any circumstances. In fact, if it is within your power, completely desist from ever dialing their telephone numbers again."
She fell into an intense silence, carefully analyzing his directives.
He gently interrupted her train of thought, saying, "Do not burden your heart with unnecessary worry. I give you my sacred patriarchal promise that I will personally, discreetly track the comprehensive details of their daily welfare and situation."
She stared directly into the depths of his eyes, and within his gaze, she confirmed the absolute sincerity of his words. She nodded submissively, saying, "Very well then, Alhaji. May Almighty Allah grant us absolute success in this endeavor."
He smiled warmly, "Amen, my excellent and virtuous wife." He reached forward, taking her hand affectionately. "I am fully aware that your motherly heart has finally found deep peace regarding that young man, and I too have recognized that he is an exceptionally intelligent, well-mannered gentleman." They both shared a light, soft laugh.
He paused, his tone shifting into deep vulnerability. "Do you know something, Sauda?"
"No, tell me," she replied.
"I myself am currently suffering from an absolute, agonizing state of missing Mimi. I am fully aware that the perpetual, heavy thoughts of her are the singular obstacle preventing this severe illness of mine from lifting completely."
She looked at him with immense empathy. "I knew deep down that was the case, Alhaji. However, since you possess this noble, long-term vision for her ultimate reformation, it is your absolute duty to remain resilient, endure the emotional pain, look away from her temporary hardship, and let us continually saturate the situation with fervent prayers. May Allah assist us."
He nodded solemnly, "Amen, O Lord of the Worlds. My mind has finally attained absolute tranquility now that Allah has blessed me with your profound understanding." Throughout the remainder of that beautiful day, the couple dedicated their entire time to actively displaying profound mutual love and kindness toward one another.
Chapter 4 — Part 2
Meanwhile, Mimi continued her grueling path to physical recovery, with Yaya Amina and Ismail deploying absolute, round-the-clock dedication to ensure her medical welfare. Their maternal relatives traveling all the way from Daura arrived on a solidarity visit; they closely examined Mimi's physical progress and presented the family with their share of cash proceeds generated from the official liquidation of their ancestral farmland. Consequently, the comprehensive logistical arrangements for Ismail's impending international travel were finalized with high intensity.
On Mimi's end, Ismail had successfully crossed an immense milestone: through pure, uncompromising enforcement, he had systematically compelled Mimi to initiate her five daily obligatory prayers—forcing her compliance regardless of her intense initial resistance. His continuous, deeply moving moral counseling and unyielding persistence eventually wore down her defenses, compelling her to actively listen to his guidance. He personally demonstrated the comprehensive ritual protocols of the prayers and took absolute responsibility for physically performing her ritual ablutions (Alwala).
On the historic day he first intensified the disciplinary pressure on her, she literally performed her prayers while weeping tears of sheer frustration. Initially, she flatly refused to cooperate, but Ismail stood his ground, delivering a harsh ultimatum: he stated with absolute finality that he would completely abandon her medical care and wash his hands of her welfare if she chose to live as a person who refuses to pray. He made it crystal clear that he would simply pack his bags and proceed with his international travel.
Yaya Amina immediately chimed in, strategically reinforcing the psychological terror to shock the girl. She added fiercely, "If you dare pack your bags and abandon this house, what business do I have remaining here myself? In that scenario, Mimi, you will be left entirely isolated in this room with absolutely no one to nurse your wounds or manage your daily existence!"
Weeping hysterically through her tears, Mimi finally surrendered, whispering, "Fine, please perform the ritual ablutions for me."
From that pivotal day forward, the very moment the sacred call to prayer echoed, she would immediately prepare herself and perform it without a single second of delay. An extraordinary phenomenon that filled Mimi with absolute amazement was that from the moment she began her consistent prayers, she discovered her soul enveloped in a strange, unprecedented state of deep tranquility; her heart developed a profound spiritual conviction that ritual prayer serves as the ultimate bridge drawing a servant close to their Creator. Consequently, when Ismail offered to systematically instruct her in the memorization of short Quranic chapters, she willingly accepted without a single shred of resistance, purely to perfect her prayers.
As the days blended seamlessly into weeks, she successfully completed a duration of one month and one week under medical confinement at the orthopedic hospital. The precise time had finally arrived for the traditional bonesetter doctor, who had meticulously applied her traditional cast (Dori), to conduct his final scheduled evaluation to confirm if the bone fusion had digitized perfectly before permanently removing the cast.
On a bright Monday morning at exactly ten o'clock, the specialist strode into the ward, accompanied by Doctor Salis. He closely examined the external state of her legs, a confident smile spreading across his face. "I have the highest expectations that the bone fusion has solidified perfectly. I am going to permanently unwrap the cast right now, after which you must immediately transport her to the radiology department for a final X-ray scan, then bring the imagery back to my office for conclusive evaluation."
Ismail erupted into pure, ecstatic joy, exclaiming, "Alhamdulillah! To be completely honest, I am absolutely exhausted by this prolonged hospital confinement, and I am certain Khadija herself is equally exhausted, aren't you?" he added, casting a warm glance toward her.
Mimi looked directly at the physician, her voice filled with anticipation. "Does this imply that the moment the X-ray imagery confirms a perfect bone fusion, I will be officially discharged from the hospital permanently?"
The doctor smiled gently, "Yes, absolutely. Go ahead and secure the X-ray scan first so we can verify the internal structure."
Throughout the delicate process of unwrapping the cast, Mimi put on a grand display of extreme childish vulnerability (Shagwaba), burying her face and wrapping her arms tightly around Yaya Amina. The physician chuckled, directing, "Transport her to radiology right this moment."
Ismail immediately took charge, carefully positioning her inside a standard patient wheelchair and pushing her through the corridors toward the imaging wing. Yaya Amina walked closely by his side, their voices dropping into a hushed, anxious conversation.
Ismail whispered, "Yaya, may Almighty Allah grant that the cost of this X-ray scan isn't excessively expensive, because to be completely honest before God, our financial reserves are completely depleted. Furthermore, the specialized medical accommodation fees I just settled have completely wiped out our liquid cash. Tell me honestly, what is the exact balance remaining from the capital we set aside exclusively for our international travel logistics?"
Yaya Amina sighed deeply, "Oh, it is a catastrophic situation! There is barely a fraction of ten thousand naira left out of the fifty thousand naira cash reserve I handed over to Mahmud to insulate it from impulsive spending—everything has been completely swallowed by hospital bills."
She shook her head, quoting a wise old proverb, "Well, the wild wind never leaves the harvest stack untouched."
Chapter 4 — Part 3
Mimi, who was being rolled forward in the wheelchair, heard every single syllable of their desperate financial calculations; despite the physical rattling of the chair, their voices carried clearly, and she understood the gravity of the situation completely. Throughout her entire life, she had lived under the absolute delusion that her personal multi-million naira wealth was funding her entire medical care, and that it was only upon its total depletion that Ismail had begun spending his own modest earnings.
She looked up, her voice softened by guilt. "Yaya Amina, in that case, please request the medical team to officially discharge us right now since we are completely out of funds."
Yaya Amina turned her gaze toward Ismail. "Honestly, that is the exact line of thought running through my mind as well. What are your thoughts on the matter, Ismail?"
Ismail replied decisively, "Let us prioritize completing the X-ray scan first so we can see the internal reality. May Allah grant that the imagery cost is within our reach. Right now, I am contemplating leaving both of you right here briefly so I can rush into town and retrieve the remaining financial balance currently held in Mahmud's custody."
Yaya Amina nodded, "Let us proceed to the registry first; the moment you receive the official billing for the scan, you can depart immediately."
The official fee for the X-ray scan was accurately pegged at six thousand six hundred naira; consequently, it became an absolute necessity for Ismail to journey out to retrieve the emergency funds. Before stepping onto the main road, he dialed Mahmud's telephone line to ensure his availability. He chartered a commercial motorcycle (Achaba) on a round-trip contract, ensuring the driver brought him right back to the hospital gates with absolute speed. They promptly settled the financial bill, the medical technicians executed the imaging scan, and within a short duration, they received the official X-ray film and retraced their steps to the main ward.
At exactly twelve o'clock noon, the specialist returned to evaluate the radiology imagery. A wide smile broke across his face, and he announced, "Alhamdulillah! She possesses an incredibly resilient, healthy biological system. The bone has fused beautifully. Consequently, she can officially initiate her light physical therapy and learn to walk progressively."
Ismail turned his joyful gaze toward Doctor Salis, asking, "Can we officially secure our permanent hospital discharge documentation today? Because to be completely upfront, absolutely every single resource at our disposal has been entirely exhausted."
Doctor Salis smiled reassuringly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Do not distress your mind for a single second, Mallam Ismail. You have executed an absolutely stellar, heroic effort throughout this crisis. It is an exceedingly rare phenomenon to find a young man who stands by his wife with such unwavering, absolute dedication throughout a grueling medical emergency."
Mimi’s head snapped up instantly, her eyes locking onto Ismail, filled with a massive cascade of intense question marks and confusion. Ismail quickly flashed a strategic, subtle smile, turning back to face the physician to cover up the slip. "Of course, doctor, an elder brother would never, under any circumstances, fail to shoulder the absolute burden of his biological younger sister's care."
In that instant, the doctor’s eyes widened as he suddenly recalled the initial administrative mix-up regarding their true relationship. He chuckled awkwardly, saying, "Oh! Forgive me, I completely forgot the true dynamics! That's right, you are her elder brother after all."
Chapter 4 — Part 4
During the late hours of that beautiful afternoon, Ismail deployed every single strategy of gentle persuasion to compel Mimi to take her first tentative steps, but she flatly refused to cooperate—dissolving into a fit of dramatic weeping, screaming hysterically that her body was physically incapable of enduring the pain. Ultimately, a wave of profound frustration and exhaustion filled Ismail's mind; he abruptly walked out of the tense ward and sat heavily on a wooden bench in the open courtyard.
A massive avalanche of fragmented, heavy thoughts began attacking his mind. He was completely bewildered by the fact that despite repeatedly dialing Hajiya Sauda’s telephone line over the past weeks, the line remained permanently unreachable, and she had completely ceased initiating any calls to him. Furthermore, it had been exactly three consecutive weeks since the wealthy matriarch had abruptly and permanently terminated Mahmud’s highly lucrative employment as a private home tutor for Hasana and Usaina.
Whenever Ismail voiced these intense anxieties to his friend, Mahmud would always offer a relaxed perspective, saying, "Do not stress your mind for a single second over my job loss, my friend. To be completely honest, even if they hadn't abruptly terminated my contract, I would have been legally forced to resign within days regardless, considering our impending international travel for advanced studies is right around the corner. As for their absolute lack of communication or parental concern toward their biological daughter, I highly advise you to simply exercise an extra measure of absolute patience."
Beyond those worries, Ismail was deeply consumed by the pressing problem of where on earth he would secure sustainable capital—not just to finalize her ongoing medical recovery, but to fund his own upcoming international travel logistics. Furthermore, the moment the hospital officially discharged them, where on earth was he supposed to house her? To be completely honest before God, it would be an absolute moral failure and an insult to her dignity to force a girl of her elite stature to reside permanently inside a cramped, exterior entrance gatehouse (Soro).
While his mind was drowning in these heavy calculations, her voice suddenly drifted clearly from the open window of the ward, calling out in a highly exaggerated tone of childish dependency (Shagwaba): "Hey! Get back in here right now! Come over here and support my body; I need to lie down to sleep, do you hear me?!"
Ismail deliberately maintained absolute silence, refusing to answer her summons. However, his subconscious began fiercely interrogating him: Why on earth does Mimi completely avoid calling me by my actual name nowadays? She never addresses me as 'Ismail,' nor does she ever call me 'Mallam.' Is she experiencing a profound sense of psychological weight and intimidation toward my presence, or what exactly is happening? Only God knew the absolute truth. She continued her loud summons until she finally exhausted her energy and fell into absolute silence.
The very instant the sacred call for the late afternoon (Asr) prayer echoed across the sky, Ismail finally stepped back inside the ward. He found her eyes still glistening with fresh tears. He looked down at her, and a sudden wave of profound, protective empathy washed over his heart. He softy said, "Khadija!"
She deliberately averted her gaze, refusing to look him in the eye. He immediately recognized the classic biological signs that she was throwing a full silent tantrum.
He continued gently, "I need to assist you with your ritual ablutions right now because I must depart for the mosque immediately."
She puffed out her cheeks in defiance, snapping, "Go fetch Nurse Ramatu for me instead! I need to use the restroom immediately to urinate."
"I am absolutely not fetching any nurse for you," Ismail countered firmly. "Let me personally support your body and assist you. Do you honestly believe that the exceptional care and attention Nurse Ramatu has been showering upon you is free? I have been quietly paying her a premium under the table. Over these past few days when my pockets ran completely dry and I couldn't provide her tip, have you noticed her stepping foot inside this room even a single time?"
Mimi’s eyes widened in horror. "Oh my god... but wait, you are a full-grown man! How on earth can you be the one to physically assist me with such intimate bathroom needs?!"
"I have absolutely zero time to waste arguing over this, Khadija; the congregational prayer is commencing. What on earth could you possibly be trying to hide from my eyes that I haven't already witnessed throughout this grueling medical crisis? Furthermore, considering I am currently operating under the legal status of your husband, there is absolutely zero reason for this anxiety."
Her eyes widened to their absolute limits. "What on earth have you witnessed?! Yaya Amina has been the one executing every single intimate care routine for me! If you dare imply..."
Before she could even finalize her sentence, Ismail lunged forward, swept her limp body completely into his arms in a single swift motion, and carried her straight into the private bathroom. He carefully seated her on the specialized medical chair that Yaya Amina traditionally used to bathe her.
He looked down at her, asking, "Now, what else do you require my physical assistance with?"
"Just get out! Leave this bathroom immediately!" she screamed.
"Are you completely certain you can manage your needs and return to the bed entirely on your own?"
"I said get out right now!" she fiercely commanded.
A soft, knowing smile crossed his face as he stepped back, closing the door. "Fine, just ensure you do not linger in there too long."
Approximately four minutes later, her voice echoed from behind the door, drenched in intense irritation: "Fine! Come inside and pull me out of here!"
He stepped back into the bathroom. "Shall I perform your ritual ablutions for you now?"
She thrust her bottom lip out in a heavy pout. "I have already taken care of my own purification."
Ismail meticulously laid out her traditional prayer mat directly on the smooth floor of the ward. "Perform your prayers right here on the floor, especially since the heavy cast has officially been unwrapped from your legs." He carefully assisted her in draping her long prayer veil (Hijab) over her head and stepped out of the room.
Chapter 4 — Part 5
He executed his laundry chores right at the front entrance of their family compound, but his heart was weighed down by a profound sense of self-consciousness and embarrassment regarding hanging Mimi's personal garments on the exposed outdoor clotheslines, primarily because her modern wardrobe consisted entirely of highly revealing, body-hugging clothes. Furthermore, he was literally washing her personal undergarments and panties; consequently, he meticulously rigged a private clothesline deep within the interior entrance corridor (Zaure), mere inches away from his private bedroom door, explicitly to air-dry her garments completely shielded from public eyes.
On several occasions, the moment the clothes became slightly dry, he would hastily harvest them, because the neighborhood children living within the compound were notoriously undisciplined and would frequently yank garments off lines, sending them crashing onto the dusty ground.
On this particular afternoon, the moment he finalized his own bath and dressed in crisp clothing to head out into town, he gathered her air-dried panties and vests, neatly laid them on top of her traveling suitcases, turned on the electric fan to maximize airflow, firmly locked the bedroom door, and headed straight to Mahmud's residence.
Their daily conversations never deviated from the singular, overarching topic of their impending international travel logistics.
Mahmud sighed, saying, "Ismail, are you aware that Rabia has completely lost her emotional peace over the reality of this upcoming journey?"
"For what exact reason?" Ismail inquired curiously.
Mahmud let out a short laugh. "She is consumed by an absolute terror that the moment I arrive over there, I will cross paths with an elite foreign woman and permanently erase her from my memory. I explicitly instructed her to permanently cease harboring such foolish thoughts, because she is merely torturing her own mind unnecessarily—especially since our families have already officially finalized our traditional betrothal (Baiko). She then demanded to know the exact date of my permanent return, and when I honestly replied that I possessed absolutely zero knowledge regarding the timeline, she threw a massive tantrum and is currently giving me the silent treatment."
Ismail chuckled, shaking his head. "Ah, women... they are the absolute undisputed champions of creating unnecessary drama. If you think you have it rough, you should see the hyper-pampered, dramatic girl currently occupying my life. The very moment I prepared to leave the hospital room this afternoon, she dissolved into a fit of tears, fiercely demanding that I must not step foot out of her presence."
Mahmud laughed out loud. "Well, isn't Yaya Amina currently on-site to manage her?"
"No, she isn't there; she had to return to her husband's house. She reported early this morning, but was forced to leave because her physical health has been declining severely. I swear to you by Allah, Mahmud, I am completely suffocated and exhausted by this prolonged hospital environment. Furthermore, that girl possesses an absolutely infuriating, deeply ingrained culture of extreme physical laziness and self-pity (Son jikin tsiya). The medical team explicitly directed her to consistently practice taking independent steps to stimulate her muscles, but she flatly refuses to even try. That is precisely why I deliberately abandoned her alone this afternoon—I wanted to spark a sense of independent pride within her heart so she would be forced to move her own body."
Mahmud nodded, offering a balanced perspective. "Listen, Ismail, you have no choice but to continuously deploy an extra measure of absolute patience, because that girl was raised within an environment of unparalleled luxury and indulgence; it has literally become a permanent part of her biological makeup. Honestly, you have already secured an immense, historic victory simply by getting her to willingly consume whatever basic traditional meals are cooked and presented to her, alongside her absolute agreement to reside permanently under your family's care."
Ismail sighed, his expression growing deeply serious. "My single greatest source of intense anxiety right now is the question of where on earth I am supposed to safely transition her the moment our international departure date arrives."
Mahmud suggested, "If her physical health were at one hundred percent, we could have simply processed her travel documentation and journeyed with her."
Ismail recoiled, exclaiming, "I swear to you by the living God, even if she possessed absolute, flawless physical health, I would never, under any circumstances, embark on an international journey with her! Why on earth would I invite such an absolute magnet of chaos to come along and drive me insane over there? My current plan is to officially transition her custody into the hands of Yaya Amina and her husband. Their property features a dedicated children's wing, alongside the spacious private room that belonged to his late mother before her demise."
Chapter 4 — Part 6
Mahmud nodded in total agreement. "That is an absolutely brilliant strategy, Ismail. After all, Yaya Amina possesses an extraordinarily deep sense of family responsibility and loyalty (Zumunci). I know with absolute certainty that she would never reject your request."
"She will absolutely not reject it, Insha Allah," Ismail stated with deep conviction. "Yaya Amina has systematically operated as a true, flawless mother figure throughout my entire existence; my single prayer is that Almighty Allah grants me the lifelong financial capability to continuously reward her and maintain absolute obedience to her guidance."
Mahmud checked his calendar. "Amen. To be completely honest, our departure window is closing rapidly. I just received official confirmation that the university expects us by the end of this current month—meaning we have a duration of exactly three short weeks remaining."
Ismail’s expression sharpened. "The journey is indeed right upon us. May Allah grant that the medical team officially discharges us from this hospital before that critical date arrives. Honestly, tomorrow morning I intend to directly confront the physician and explicitly state that I demand our permanent discharge papers immediately."
Mahmud counseled, "Before they can legally clear you for discharge, the medical team will absolutely insist on witnessing her take independent steps under their own eyes. You must exert maximum discipline and pressure over her to force her compliance." They continued their conversation until the very brink of the dusk (Magrib) prayer before parting ways.
Ismail returned to his compound, gathered his dried laundry from the interior lines, packed a fresh selection of garments for her, and headed straight back to the hospital. The precise moment his feet touched the hospital driveway, the congregational call to prayer was echoing through the air. He promptly deposited his laundry parcel inside a secure commercial kiosk at the gates and joined the congregational prayers. He initially contemplated delaying his personal prayers until the night (Isha) cycle, but a sudden memory hit him—he remembered that Mimi required his physical presence to perform her own prayers.
He stepped into the ward and found her sitting quietly on the edge of her mattress; she had clearly cried her heart out until she simply surrendered her emotions to God. A wave of profound, protective empathy hit his heart, but he structurally hardened his expression, acting as though he was completely oblivious to her tear-stained face.
He commanded flatly, "Let's move to the bathroom immediately so you can perform your ritual ablutions!"
She completely ignored his presence, giving him the absolute silent treatment.
Just as he stepped forward to physically lift her into his arms to carry her to the bathroom, she snapped, "Leave me completely alone! Just turn around and go wherever you please! I knew deep down that it was only a matter of time before you grew completely exhausted and disgusted by my presence. Even the very biological parents who brought me into this world became thoroughly exhausted by my existence and cast me out like garbage—so why on earth would a random stranger like you, whom they forcefully anchored to my life, be any different? I harbor absolutely zero blame toward your attitude. However, why on earth did you systematically manipulate me into delivering a sacred promise to reside permanently with your family, under the strict condition that you would personally protect and care for me, only for you to display absolute exhaustion before we have even cleared the hospital gates? I am fully aware that you and your sister are enduring an immense financial and physical burden on my behalf, but given the way you initially treated me like your own flesh and blood, I foolishly assumed it would take a bit longer before I completely repulsed you."
Ismail immediately softened his vocal tone, shifting his energy into a highly tender, soothing cadence. "Tell me honestly, who on earth filled your head with such toxic nonsense that we are repulsed by your presence? The singular reason I harbored deep anger toward you this afternoon is your absolute refusal to practice taking independent steps, even a single time. Furthermore, Khadija, the sole reason I journeyed back to the compound was to personally execute your comprehensive laundry chores."
He stepped even closer, sitting directly on the edge of the bed next to her. He extended his hand, gently cupping her chin and lifting her face to look into his. Dropping his voice into an incredibly soft, intimate cadence, he called her name: "Khadija!"
She lifted her heavily bloodshot eyes, locking her gaze directly into his.
He whispered with absolute sincerity, "I swear to you by the Almighty Allah, you have not repulsed us in the slightest, nor can we ever grow exhausted of your presence. You are truly and permanently our own sister."
She sniffled, looking down. "If that is the absolute truth, then I highly prefer that you simply grant me an official divorce right now, so you can walk away and live your life in absolute freedom."
He quickly placed his index finger squarely over her soft lips, silencing her. "Shhh... permanently cease uttering such heavy words, my beautiful little sister. Please, have patience with this process. Let me carry you to the bathroom to perform your ritual ablutions now, alright?"
She remained silent, refusing to verbalize a response, but her resistance had completely melted. It took immense, tender coaxing before he successfully managed to assist her through her purification routine. Following the completion of the night (Isha) prayers, she sat comfortably on the bed, quietly consuming some fresh cake and sipping a bottle of Fanta.
Ismail looked at her gently, breaking the news: "You are fully aware that our international departure date is officially locked for the end of this current month, correct?"
Her face immediately contorted into an expression of absolute distress and panic. "In that case, where on earth do you intend to abandon me?!"
Ismail structurally mimicked her dramatic vocal cadence with a soft chuckle. "That is the exact reason I want us to engage in a mature, collaborative family discussion right now."
Chapter 4 — Part 7
She set the remaining piece of cake down on the mattress, her eyes wide with desperation. "I insist that you must simply process my logistics and travel with me!"
"Calm your heart completely," he replied soothingly. "This is absolutely not a crisis that warrants panic. Yaya Amina is fully available; the plan is for you to officially move into her household. The moment your physical recovery hits one hundred percent and I return for winter break, we will seamlessly depart together."
She looked at him skeptically. "Have you officially communicated this arrangement to Yaya Amina herself?"
"I haven't explicitly finalized the discussion with her yet, but I know her heart with absolute certainty—there will be zero problems on her end."
She nodded slowly. "Very well then. But wait, what is the current state of her physical health?"
"She is experiencing a fair amount of recovery, though I didn't explicitly pass by her residence on my way back."
Ismail reached into his pocket and retrieved his smartphone. "Let me swiftly dial Saddam's father's line so he can hand her the receiver and we can check on her welfare." Following an exchange of respectful greetings with Saddam's father, Ismail inquired about his sister's state.
Saddam's father sighed over the line, "She is currently right here shivering violently from a severe chill, completely wrapped in heavy blankets. However, she has successfully consumed her prescribed medication."
Ismail replied, "Please extend my profound family greetings to her. Khadija sends her deepest wishes for her swift recovery as well."
"She will certainly appreciate that," Saddam's father responded before disconnecting.
Ismail turned his gaze to Mimi. "You heard the update; she is still battling the illness."
"May Almighty Allah grant her absolute divine healing! May Allah restore her health swiftly," Mimi uttered with deep, genuine sincerity.
On the following morning, Yaya Amina’s physical condition made it absolutely impossible for her to report to the hospital. Ismail stepped into the ward, scratching his head awkwardly. "Well, Khadija, how on earth are we going to manage your bath routine today? Should I personally execute the bath for you?"
Her eyes widened in absolute, panicked modesty, staring at him in utter shock. Internally, her mind raced with frantic, defensive thoughts: Is this man intentionally engineering situations purely to gaze upon my raw, absolute nudity?! Aloud, she stammered defensively, "I have completely resolved to skip the bath until Yaya Amina recovers! The moment she reports back, she will execute the routine for me. My hair has accumulated an immense amount of dirt and grease, and it is driving me absolutely insane."
Ismail sighed, chuckling at her modesty. "Why on earth do you continuously harbor such deep suspicion and lack of trust toward me, as if I am secretly plotting to violate your dignity? Just cooperate and stand firm; I can easily wash your hair for you without looking at anything else. I meticulously observed the exact technique Yaya Amina deployed the other day."
"Absolutely not!" she shrieked. "Do not dare pour water near my ears! I strictly prefer to visit a professional hair salon the moment we leave this place."
"In that case, Khadija, you must actively practice taking independent steps this very day," Ismail urged, his tone shifting into deep seriousness. "The medical team is highly reluctant to clear us for discharge if they notice any lingering mobility issues. The moment they witness you walking independently, they will instantly sign our permanent discharge documentation—and I will personally transport you to absolutely any luxury salon your heart desires."
Throughout the duration of that challenging day, it took an immense, grueling measure of relentless physical encouragement before he successfully compelled her to take a few independent steps. One... two... she staggered forward, her balance completely failing, and she crashed directly against his chest.
A highly unusual, electric sensation rippled across Ismail's entire body, causing his skin to erupt into goosebumps. He was hit by a wave of profound bewilderment; throughout the entire duration of this medical crisis, despite physically lifting and carrying her body countless times, he had never once experienced a single micro-fraction of such raw, intense biological attraction toward her. In a state of sudden panic, he quickly disentangled her from his frame, his voice dropping into a heavily choked, strained register. "You... you possess far too much physical weakness. Fine, sit right down and rest your body immediately."
Chapter 4 — Part 8
Within the span of one single week, Mimi began executing consistent outdoor physical therapy with the continuous support of Yaya Amina—who had successfully recovered from her illness—alongside the unyielding, driving force of the mastermind himself, Ismail. Their singular, burning ambition at this point was to secure an immediate, permanent hospital discharge, primarily because their liquid cash reserves had hit absolute rock bottom.
On a historic Monday morning, Doctor Salis and Doctor Lukman—the specialist orthopedist who had structural oversight of her bone fusion—conclusively confirmed Mimi's absolute, permanent fitness for discharge. Ismail experienced a wave of ecstatic joy that could only be compared to a political prisoner stepping out of a dark dungeon into absolute freedom on amnesty day. The entire family was enveloped in pure celebration.
Ismail turned to Yaya Amina, directing, "Please begin systematically packing every single item in this ward, while I swiftly sprint back to the compound to clean and dust my private bedroom."
Yaya Amina interrupted, "Clean your bedroom for what exact reason? We are transitioning directly to my household, tunda we have already officially notified Saddam's father regarding the arrangement."
Ismail countered, "My intention was to swiftly clean and renovate the private room within your household that is designated for her, alongside setting up a comfortable mattress and premium bedding before we make our official entrance."
"That is an exceptionally wise, orderly idea," Yaya Amina agreed.
Accompanied by Mahmud, the young men swept and scrubbed every single square inch of the room until it sparkled, after which they chartered a commercial taxi on a private drop contract and returned to the hospital to fetch the women. The entire medical team of doctors and nurses gathered around them, offering cheerful congratulations and best wishes upon their exit.
It was during this departure window that Doctor Salis stepped forward, slipping his premium corporate card into Ismail's palm. "Whenever any medical or logistical need arises in the future, Mallam Ismail, ensure you understand that my doors remain permanently wide open to support your family."
Ismail, refusing to display a stingy or secretive spirit, openly shared his upcoming reality. "I am profoundly grateful, Doctor. I am actually on the absolute verge of departing for the holy city of Medina for advanced Islamic studies, but throughout my absence, Yaya Amina remains on-site to handle any situation." Doctor Salis smiled warmly, wishing him absolute divine blessings and tremendous academic success.
Meanwhile, in a completely separate geographical reality, Zainabu sat quietly on the edge of her mattress, firmly clutching a small transistor radio in her hands, completely absorbed in a broadcast. The radio originally belonged to her father; she had discreetly secured it from his house upon her return to Alhaji Lawal’s mansion following her discharge from the medical facility. The small device had systematically become her singular anchor against profound isolation, keeping her thoroughly entertained with its diverse programming—most notably the highly popular dramatic readings of Hausa literature novels.
On a recent occasion, completely desperate to gain access to the physical novels being read over the airwaves, she had approached Bushira, eagerly inquiring where on earth she could purchase such books. Bushira had informed her that physical books could only be obtained through local commercial rental libraries. That singular interaction marked the official genesis of her intense addiction to literature reading.
The novels successfully insulated her mind from depression, primarily because within the pages of those stories, she constantly encountered characters battling structural horrors and life crises that infinitely surpassed her own domestic suffering. Her mind internalized a profound sense of patience, resignation to fate, and she continuously channeled her emotional pain into fervent, midnight prayers to Almighty Allah.
As for her husband, Alhaji Lawal, his toxic, abusive character had experienced zero positive transformation; if anything, his cruelty had amplified significantly. Furthermore, a highly troubling, terrifying anomaly had been heavily weighing on Zainabu's mind—since her return to the mansion, her biological menstrual cycle had completely failed to return. Yet, strangely enough, she hadn't detected a single micro-symptom of morning sickness or physical transformation within her body.
Her single, ultimate terror was the horrifying possibility that she had accidentally conceived another child for Alhaji Lawal. To be completely honest before God, she possessed absolutely zero desire to permanently anchor her lineage or genetics to a monster like Alhaji Lawal; her heart belonged exclusively to her true soulmate, Ismail. Her mind was permanently consumed by thoughts of him every single second of the day, despite a rational voice in her subconscious repeatedly whispering that Ismail was now light-years beyond her reach. Yet, she flatly refused to abandon divine hope, anchoring her entire existence to her prayers.
Chapter 4 — Part 9
Such is the absolute, unpredictable nature of human existence—indeed, whenever you arrogantly declare that another person's cooking pot will never boil, your own pot suddenly loses even the capacity to remain warm. I present this philosophical truth explicitly due to the current, catastrophic domestic reality enveloping Naima. She lay completely paralyzed on a sofa, suffering from an exceptionally severe, grueling wave of early pregnancy morning sickness, yet her husband, Abbas, acted as though she was completely invisible to his eyes.
Furthermore, her pregnancy happened to be the notoriously volatile, medical variety characterized by continuous, violent projectile vomiting. Ultimately, the very moment Abbas realized her physical state rendered her completely useless for his personal amusement or domestic service, he systematically abandoned residing within the property altogether. The moment he exited the mansion early in the morning, he would vanish until the dead of the night. He never acknowledged her presence upon his return, and a single word of basic greeting or concern never passed between them.
Recognizing that the domestic situation was rapidly escalating into a dangerous crisis, Naima reached for her smartphone, dialed Momi Nafisa's line, and wept, "Momi, please call Abbas right now and inform him that you are coming to permanently evacuate me back to your house under your personal care! Especially since Daddy is currently permanently stationed in Katsina managing his businesses, he will have absolutely zero knowledge that I am residing back at my parental home."
On the following morning at the absolute crack of dawn before his scheduled departure, Naima managed to summon the absolute last reserves of her physical strength. Dragging her body along the walls for support, she made her way up to Abbas's private penthouse suite. Just as he stepped out of his bedroom dressed in a premium designer suit ready for town, he caught sight of her pale body collapsed on the floor of his private lounge, surrounded by the physical mess of her illness.
He unleashed a terrifying, booming roar: "You! Get your disgusting body out of my private lounge this instant! I strictly forbid such absolute filth in my personal quarters! Do not dare ever inflict your vile vomiting routines inside my space again!"
Gasping heavily for air, she whimpered, "For the absolute sake of God, please... just transport me back to my mother's house, or drive me to a hospital."
He sneered down at her coldly. "You will absolutely not set foot inside any of my luxury vehicles in that disgusting state! If you are so desperate for a hospital, use your phone to dial your family; let those peasants bring their own cars to evacuate you—they are the ones who fathered you, after all." He stepped forward, nudging her body with his shoe. "Get up right now and move down to your quarters; I am locking up my entire wing."
She wept, "Please, I beg of you, just use your own phone to dial them on my behalf."
"I possess absolutely zero contact numbers for any human being in your family," he stated flatly. With absolute, unyielding coldness, he flatly refused to render a single shred of assistance, forcefully marching her down the corridor to her bedroom, slamming the door, and leaving the estate.
Left with no choice, she dialed Momi Nafisa a second time, breaking down completely as she detailed the horrific abuse. Momi Nafisa’s blood ran cold, and she barked through the receiver, "Stay right there! I am heading to that mansion this very hour!"
Momi Nafisa navigated her vehicle directly to the residence of her elite high-society confidante, Nana, exposing every single detail of the crisis. Nana swiftly grabbed her designer veil, her eyes flashing with anger. "Let us drive directly to his biological mother's mansion! She must be made fully aware of the absolute toxicity her son is executing, so she can pull his ears and force him into compliance!"
Momi Nafisa smirked, "That is the exact reason I prioritized coming to your house first, Nana; I knew with absolute certainty that your sharp mind would always deliver an incredibly brilliant, actionable strategy." Together, they piled into Momi Nafisa’s luxury car and drove at high speed toward the Minister’s estate.
The estate security details were forced to place an internal intercom call into the main palace to verify their identities before granting them official clearance to enter the compound. They were ushered into a grand reception lounge. They were left waiting for over fifteen consecutive minutes before the domestic staff finally brought them basic refreshments. Finally, exuding an aura of absolute corporate dominance and elitism, Hajiya Bilkisu descended the grand staircase, casting an incredibly cold, measuring look directly at them. Her body language instantly caused Momi Nafisa and Nana to feel a profound sense of intimidation and hesitation.
Chapter 4 — Part 10
It was Hajiya Nana who forcefully summoned the courage to break the heavy silence, clearing her throat. "Good afternoon, Hajiya. To be completely upfront, the urgent matter that brought us to your palace today is an official family complaint regarding the behavior of your son, Abbas."
They watched as a sharp, highly calculated smile spread across Hajiya Bilkisu's face—a smile whose dark, underlying meaning they completely failed to comprehend.
Hajiya Nana continued confidently, "Ever since we officially handed our daughter over to his household, she has faced absolutely nothing except continuous humiliation, structural neglect, and psychological abuse from his hands. As we speak right now, she is heavily battling the severe physical complications of early pregnancy morning sickness, yet he flatly refuses to transport her to a medical facility for basic care."
Momi Nafisa chimed in fiercely, unable to restrain her anger, "Furthermore, beyond his absolute neglect, he spends his entire existence gathering loose, low-class women of the night into his life, and absolutely nothing has..."
The single, silent gesture of Hajiya Bilkisu slowly raising her hand instantly froze the words inside Momi Nafisa’s throat.
In a state of absolute, towering rage, Hajiya Bilkisu stood up, her voice dropping into a razor-sharp register. "I strongly suspect that both of you have completely suffered from a severe case of amnesia regarding the exact biological relationship that exists between that young man and myself, for you to possess the absolute audacity to enter my own palace and attempt to defame his character right before my eyes! Let me swiftly revive your memories: Abbas happens to be my absolute firstborn son—and I am highly confident that both of you are fully aware of the unmatched, boundless intensity of a mother's love toward her firstborn son, correct?"
She stepped closer, looking down at them with absolute contempt. "Look at you, acting as though you are the only individuals blessed with daughters in this world! Tell me, are both of you fully aware of the absolute public humiliation and structural insult your so-called daughter executed against my person and my elite high-society friends just the other day? She went as far as..."
Part 2: Structural & Stylistic Description
This segment of the manuscript represents a masterfully executed pivotal transition phase, where the narrative successfully moves away from the immediate chaos of the elopement into a grounded, deeply psychological character study.
1. The Domestic Architecture of Isolation
The author brilliant uses space to define the emotional states of the characters. We see a structural shift from the sterile, exposed environment of the orthopedic hospital ward to two heavily contrasted domestic spaces:
The Space of Toxic Elite Isolation (Abbas's Mansion): Naima’s confinement within the locked wings of Abbas’s mansion illustrates her psychological abandonment. The physical presence of her illness highlights her vulnerability within a transactional marriage built on absolute spite.
2. Lexical Cadence and Dual Narratives
The narrative geometry employs a bifurcated pacing structure. The first half of the text utilizes a slow, deliberate, and emotionally resonant vocabulary to chart Mimi's spiritual awakening through prayer and Ismail's underlying internal conflict. The second half shifts into a high-velocity, sharp, and biting vocabulary to detail the rapid disintegration of Naima's marriage and the volatile corporate friction between Momi Nafisa and the Minister's wife, Hajiya Bilkisu.
Part 3: Analytical Breakdown
1. The Pedagogical Vision of Alhaji Bashir
Alhaji Bashir’s dialogue with Hajiya Sauda reveals the deeper psychological architecture behind his seemingly tyrannical actions:
The Economic Embargo: By enforces a total financial blockade, Bashir is intentionally breaking Mimi's psychological dependency on material entitlement. He recognizes that true character transformation can only be achieved through the raw, unvarnished experience of economic lack ("Rayuwar babu"), forcing her to build genuine human resilience.
2. The Spiritual Shift and Biological Realignment
The hospital sequences capture a profound turning point in the internal configuration of both Mimi and Ismail:
The Awakening of Attraction: Ismail's sudden, overwhelming physical reaction to Mimi crashing against his chest ("tsigar jikinsa ta motsa") represents a major shift in their dynamic. Throughout her illness, he viewed her strictly as a multi-millionaire liability and an administrative burden. This involuntary surge of biological attraction terrifies him, as it shatters his self-perceived status as a detached, protective older brother and forces him to confront her reality as his legal wife.
3. The Reversal of Familial Fortunes
The stark contrast between Mimi's recovery and Naima's marital collapse serves as the ultimate thematic anchor of the novel:
The Maternal Shield: Hajiya Bilkisu’s terrifying defense of her firstborn son Abbas ("zaqin soyayyar dan fari") highlights the absolute wall of elite matriarchal protection that Naima has crashed into. By weaponizing Naima’s past public arrogance against her mother, Bilkisu signals that within the ruthless hierarchy of the northern elite, Naima is viewed merely as an easily replaceable transaction, setting up an explosive domestic warfare.
Clarifying Continuation Question
The narrative has reached an incredible structural turning point, with Ismail facing a critical three-week countdown before his departure to Medina, while Momi Nafisa has just walked into a geopolitical trap inside the Minister's mansion. Would you like to proceed with the translation of the next segment to see the explosive conclusion of Nafisa's confrontation with Hajiya Bilkisu, or should we explore the unfolding crisis of Zainabu's missed menstrual cycle and her hidden hope regarding Ismail?