He was sitting in front of Fulani, whining and crying like a little baby.
Fulani said, “Oh please, isn’t crying tiring for you? From the way you talk, once something happens, you just sit down and start crying.”
He moved closer, placed his head on her lap, and said, “Momy, that’s not what I mean… I’m afraid something might happen to me again. Anytime I take the road to a village, it feels like I’m going to meet my death. Every time I travel, I have an accident. Even if no one dies, someone gets seriously injured. Look at the last time—we even hit that girl and she got a fracture. All the other cars stopped, except mine. Didn’t you notice I didn’t return in my own car? When I asked the driver, he said the brakes failed. But the car was checked the day before the trip and everything was normal. Even in the previous accidents, it was brake failure. I suspect someone wants me gone.”
Quickly she covered his mouth and said, “Suspicion is not good. Don’t say such things without proof. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: ‘Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false speech.’ (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim).”
He said, “Okay Momy, may Allah protect us.”
“Ameen,” she replied. “When you travel, go in your father’s car. That settles it, okay?”
“Yes,” he answered. Then he asked, “Momy, who is that girl anyway?”
She stroked his head and said, “The girl you hit that day… she’s the one you’re going to marry.”
“What?! That village girl? That dirty one? Momy, honestly you’ve finished me!”
She only smiled and said, “Children are children—even if one is the child of an elephant.”
---
The next day was Saturday—the wedding day. By 6 a.m. they had already set out. Murad entered his father’s car. The Waziri was upset seeing that his plan had failed, but he comforted himself by saying they would return with the bride in another car—and that would be when the accident would happen, killing both of them.
By 8 a.m., they arrived at the village and received a grand welcome. By 9 a.m., thousands witnessed the wedding of Maysam, daughter of Malam Musa, to Murad, son of Alhaji Mustapha.
Some were happy; others were not. Murad himself had no joy on his face—Mahmud kept trying to cheer him up. He felt forced into marrying a village girl and wished he were back in England at his job.
Murza locked herself in a room crying bitterly in jealousy.
---
After the wedding, the king and his entourage returned home, leaving the prince to travel later with his bride. Murad was filled with fear of another accident on the way back.
The Waziri pretended to stay behind to “take care of the prince,” though the guards had insisted otherwise. Secretly, he sabotaged the brakes of the black Prado Murad said he would ride in—cutting them partially so it wouldn’t be obvious.
Meanwhile, inside, Malam Musa advised Maysam about marriage—obedience, patience, and marital responsibilities. She cried throughout.
When it was time to leave, all the cars were lined up. Mahmud pointed to a car for the bride, but Maysam refused to enter it. Everyone was surprised. Instead, she walked calmly to another white Prado and sat there crying quietly.
Murad was furious. That was the same type of car involved in their earlier accident. Mahmud convinced him to follow his mother’s instruction and ride with her.
Murza, pretending to cry from separation, secretly joined the convoy in another car.
The Waziri was furious—his plan had failed. But he muttered, “The game has just begun.”
---
On the way, Murad angrily struck Maysam and insulted her for looking at him. Her lip bled, but she cried silently. Soon after, he felt guilty and handed her a handkerchief, telling her to wipe her tears so people wouldn’t think he hurt her.
They arrived safely at the palace.
Queen Madina, who had been waiting to hear of their deaths, was enraged seeing them alive. She swore she would not rest until Murad was dead.
---
At the palace, Maysam was warmly welcomed by Fulani. Murza pretended happiness, eating and smiling.
Later that evening was the party. Maysam refused to attend at first, saying she was afraid of Murad. Fulani reassured her.
She was beautifully dressed in a white gown with red accessories. She looked stunning—so much that Murad was shocked when he saw her. For a moment, he couldn’t look away.
Mahmud teased him, saying he had chosen well despite pretending not to like her.
They left for the party in a car together. A sweet fragrance filled the air. She tried to greet him softly, but he shouted at her again, calling her names.
When their eyes locked, something stirred in both their hearts. She admired his beauty. He saw a resemblance between her and his late sister who died in a past accident—and anger rose in him again.
He slapped her once more, warning her never to look at him that way.
She cried silently. Soon, he regretted it but said nothing. He gave her a tissue and ordered her to stop crying before they arrived.
Mahmud told him, “How can you hit her and then forbid her from crying?”
Murad silenced him with a glare.
They arrived at the venue, where a red carpet decorated with flowers stretched from the car to the hall
He was sitting in front of Fulani, whining and crying like a little baby.
Fulani said, “Oh please, isn’t crying tiring for you? From the way you talk, once something happens, you just sit down and start crying.”
He moved closer, placed his head on her lap, and said, “Momy, that’s not what I mean… I’m afraid something might happen to me again. Anytime I take the road to a village, it feels like I’m going to meet my death. Every time I travel, I have an accident. Even if no one dies, someone gets seriously injured. Look at the last time—we even hit that girl and she got a fracture. All the other cars stopped, except mine. Didn’t you notice I didn’t return in my own car? When I asked the driver, he said the brakes failed. But the car was checked the day before the trip and everything was normal. Even in the previous accidents, it was brake failure. I suspect someone wants me gone.”
Quickly she covered his mouth and said, “Suspicion is not good. Don’t say such things without proof. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: ‘Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false speech.’ (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim).”
He said, “Okay Momy, may Allah protect us.”
“Ameen,” she replied. “When you travel, go in your father’s car. That settles it, okay?”
“Yes,” he answered. Then he asked, “Momy, who is that girl anyway?”
She stroked his head and said, “The girl you hit that day… she’s the one you’re going to marry.”
“What?! That village girl? That dirty one? Momy, honestly you’ve finished me!”
She only smiled and said, “Children are children—even if one is the child of an elephant.”
---
The next day was Saturday—the wedding day. By 6 a.m. they had already set out. Murad entered his father’s car. The Waziri was upset seeing that his plan had failed, but he comforted himself by saying they would return with the bride in another car—and that would be when the accident would happen, killing both of them.
By 8 a.m., they arrived at the village and received a grand welcome. By 9 a.m., thousands witnessed the wedding of Maysam, daughter of Malam Musa, to Murad, son of Alhaji Mustapha.
Some were happy; others were not. Murad himself had no joy on his face—Mahmud kept trying to cheer him up. He felt forced into marrying a village girl and wished he were back in England at his job.
Murza locked herself in a room crying bitterly in jealousy.
---
After the wedding, the king and his entourage returned home, leaving the prince to travel later with his bride. Murad was filled with fear of another accident on the way back.
The Waziri pretended to stay behind to “take care of the prince,” though the guards had insisted otherwise. Secretly, he sabotaged the brakes of the black Prado Murad said he would ride in—cutting them partially so it wouldn’t be obvious.
Meanwhile, inside, Malam Musa advised Maysam about marriage—obedience, patience, and marital responsibilities. She cried throughout.
When it was time to leave, all the cars were lined up. Mahmud pointed to a car for the bride, but Maysam refused to enter it. Everyone was surprised. Instead, she walked calmly to another white Prado and sat there crying quietly.
Murad was furious. That was the same type of car involved in their earlier accident. Mahmud convinced him to follow his mother’s instruction and ride with her.
Murza, pretending to cry from separation, secretly joined the convoy in another car.
The Waziri was furious—his plan had failed. But he muttered, “The game has just begun.”
---
On the way, Murad angrily struck Maysam and insulted her for looking at him. Her lip bled, but she cried silently. Soon after, he felt guilty and handed her a handkerchief, telling her to wipe her tears so people wouldn’t think he hurt her.
They arrived safely at the palace.
Queen Madina, who had been waiting to hear of their deaths, was enraged seeing them alive. She swore she would not rest until Murad was dead.
---
At the palace, Maysam was warmly welcomed by Fulani. Murza pretended happiness, eating and smiling.
Later that evening was the party. Maysam refused to attend at first, saying she was afraid of Murad. Fulani reassured her.
She was beautifully dressed in a white gown with red accessories. She looked stunning—so much that Murad was shocked when he saw her. For a moment, he couldn’t look away.
Mahmud teased him, saying he had chosen well despite pretending not to like her.
They left for the party in a car together. A sweet fragrance filled the air. She tried to greet him softly, but he shouted at her again, calling her names.
When their eyes locked, something stirred in both their hearts. She admired his beauty. He saw a resemblance between her and his late sister who died in a past accident—and anger rose in him again.
He slapped her once more, warning her never to look at him that way.
She cried silently. Soon, he regretted it but said nothing. He gave her a tissue and ordered her to stop crying before they arrived.
Mahmud told him, “How can you hit her and then forbid her from crying?”
Murad silenced him with a glare.
They arrived at the venue, where a red carpet decorated with flowers stretched from the car to the hall