Sakina and the others went diligently about their chores—cooking this, boiling that, and frying the other—until they completed everything. They swept the entire house and meticulously prepared the room of the youngest, Bily's former room, where they removed the bed, spread out a large mat, and neatly arranged the food upon it. Around 3:00 PM, Bily and her convoy made their entrance into the ancient city of Zaria (Birnin Zazzau). She felt a profound sense of lightness, as if she had received a divine revelation that she had been completely forgiven. They detoured briefly to pay respects at the Zazzau Emirate palace before finally driving to her family home. She traveled with just two maids, Atika and Asabe, while the other vehicle carried royal guards (dogarawa) and her numerous homecoming gifts. Ever since they turned into her neighborhood, she kept gazing out the window; the area was exactly as she had left it—some houses had deteriorated further, while others had been renovated. The vehicles pulled up right in front of her family's house. The building itself looked more worn down, but the front area had been swept immaculately clean. Her father, his younger brothers, and her own siblings were all gathered outside performing their ablutions. They warmly welcomed Bily and the guards, and the car door was opened for Bily to step out. Subhanallahi! When they saw her, she looked almost otherworldly due to her sheer beauty. Her complexion had grown remarkably radiant and fair, and though she hadn't gained weight, her flawless appearance radiated a life of absolute luxury and comfort. She knelt down respectfully to greet her parents, and her maids followed suit. With Asabe holding her handbag, they walked into the house. The other women of the household were gathered in their usual spots, engrossed in their endless petty gossip, whispering about the elaborate meals they had seen being carried into the youngest daughter's room. They had convinced themselves that perhaps their own husbands were visiting, which would explain the cooking. Karima muttered, "Wallahi, we should wait until the husbands arrive and are in the middle of eating. Then we'll go over to Fatima's side, stir up a massive scene, and demand our rights. That way, we'll thoroughly humiliate her in front of her in-laws." Ladiyo snorted, "In-laws are just in-laws, they aren't gods. Have our own in-laws ever even brought us a single bottle of watermelon juice?" The sudden greeting from Bily and her maids instantly cut their conversation short. Stepping into the courtyard with immense joy, Bily called out, "Good afternoon, Gwaggo." Shock and sheer bewilderment paralyzed the women, leaving them completely speechless. Bily paid them no mind; her only burning desire was to lay eyes on her mother. Even before reaching the room, she began calling out, "Mamanmu! Mamanmu!!" Sakina and the other two sisters rushed out, throwing their arms around her in an ecstatic embrace, shouting, "Welcome back, Aunty Bilki!" At that moment, tears of pure joy began to stream down Bily's face. Her mother was sitting on the edge of the bed, her face illuminated by a warm smile. Bily went over and collapsed into her embrace. Mamanmu teased gently, "What is all this emotional display?" They sat down together and exchanged warm, heartfelt greetings. Asabe and Atika also greeted the family before retiring to the prepared room, where they sat down to enjoy their meal. Meanwhile, the royal guards went to the mosque with the family men to pray. Upon their return, they were hosted in Sani's room, and Sani came inside to fetch their portion of the food. Watching all of this unfold, Ladiyo and her cohort felt a cold chill run through them; they were utterly speechless and completely deflated, unable to even find words to gossip about these prestigious visitors. Her mother called out to the youngest daughter, "Go and collect the bowls from Ladiyo and the others so we can serve them some food. Sakina and her sisters have been stubborn about it; I've been telling them to serve them since earlier, but they insisted they wouldn't give them any." The younger sister found the co-wives sitting in a sullen, despondent mood and said, "Mamanmu said you should bring your bowls so we can serve you some food." Only Salame found the nerve to point toward the basket of dishes. The girl picked it up, took it back to have it filled, and returned it to them, but the women remained frozen in their bitter silence. After Bily and her entourage had eaten, drank, and performed their prayers, Bily said, "Mamanmu, I would like to go over to Umma Mansu’s house now." Her mother replied, "That is fine, but make sure to stop by the other sections of this compound to greet everyone first. I know they are well aware of your arrival, but only the Gwaggo from that section came in here to say hello. Afterward, visit the neighbors as well." Bily winced slightly. "Oh dear! I didn't get my husband's explicit permission to visit around the neighborhood, but I will call him on the phone. Even if it's tomorrow, I'll make sure to make the rounds." Accompanied by Sakina and her maids, she headed toward the other sections of the large family house. Asabe carried her handbag while Atika held her phones. Before walking out of their immediate section, Bily stopped by the rooms of Gwaggo Ladiyo and the other co-wives to greet them. The women were completely stiff and submissive, while their children stared at Bily in absolute awe. Bily turned and said, "Asabe, give me that bag." She pulled out a pristine bundle of crisp two-hundred-naira notes and handed them to her sister. "Here, distribute this to the children so they can buy some sweets." The children instantly swarmed her, chanting, "Asma'u, you haven't given me mine yet!" Observing the scene from their doorways, the mothers' minds immediately began racing with calculations on how they would spend the money their children brought back. They started with the grand section of the compound where the extended family resided. The household was gathered in the courtyard, animatedly discussing Bily's grand arrival. The children were eagerly describing her appearance, exclaiming, "She is dressed in incredible luxury and arrived in stunning, high-end cars! You should see her security guards—they are holding massive batons!" Their chatter was abruptly cut off by Bily's entrance, just as Mairo was sneering, "Look at their mother, acting so full of herself today." Bily walked in gracefully with her entourage. She went from room to room, greeting every single person warmly, while Asma'u distributed the two-hundred-naira notes to the children. Suddenly, Mansu called her phone. Atika handed it over, saying, "Your Highness, you have a call." Bily accepted the phone, and the moment she saw Mansu’s name on the screen, she became visibly excited. "My dearest friend! Have you arrived?" Mansu replied, "We are almost there. I was just waiting for Daddy to return from Islamic school." Bily urged, "Oh no, my friend, you shouldn't be traveling late into the night. Hurry up and get here, my dear. Go straight to Umma’s house because that's exactly where I'm heading." Mansu replied, "Alright, I'll head there. But you are definitely sleeping at my house tonight!" Bily hesitated, "I haven't asked for my husband's permission for an overnight stay." Mansu laughed, "That's perfectly fine, once I arrive we'll just give him a call." Bily laughed along. "Alright, see you when you get here." She ended the call and handed the phone back to Atika. They continued their greetings, and the family members could only stare at her, captivated by her elegant demeanor, her sophisticated mannerisms, and her graceful posture. The moment she stepped out of the courtyard, they immediately began mimicking the sophisticated way she spoke. Next, they visited Gwaggo Sasa. They greeted each other warmly, and Gwaggo Sasa teased jokingly, "Where is this groom of ours? Is he not coming?" Bily smiled, "He will come. He is just overwhelmed with an enormous workload right now." From there, they went to see their elderly grandmother, who looked incredibly grumpy and sour-faced. They walked in and greeted her, but the grandmother immediately began reprimanding her: "So, you only just deemed it fit to visit this town? Did they tell you that marriage means losing your mind? Just because you got married, does that mean you should completely forget your elders? Grandparents mean nothing to you now, I suppose? So, did you come with this husband of yours?" Bily replied, "No, I came alone. He is tied down with work." Gwaggo pouted deeply and scoffed, "Hmph! Work, my foot! He probably just decided he cannot bring himself to visit the home of poor folk. In fact, you yourself probably mean absolutely nothing to him. Otherwise, how can a marriage last for years, yet the husband cannot even recognize his wife's own parents if he saw them?" Bily stood up, preparing to walk out. "Oh, so you're leaving just because I brought up the bitter truth?" Gwaggo barked. Bily calmly replied, "It's not like that at all, Grandmother. We only just returned to the country recently. He will definitely come." Gwaggo snapped, "May God ensure he never comes, for all I care!" Sakina stood up and pulled Bily away. "Come on, Aunty, let's go. As long as you are living happily with your husband, it doesn't matter if he never comes." Gwaggo yelled after them, "Look at this leader of the disrespectful brats! Did I birth your father that you think you can talk back to me?" Ignoring her, they walked out and left her to her rant. After visiting every corner of the neighborhood, they finally returned home, where her father met them in Mamanmu’s room. Only then did they exchange formal greetings. He asked, "How is your husband? How are his parents? I hope everyone is in good health?" She replied, "They are all perfectly fine." He then asked, "And how is everything at Umma’s place?" referring to her maternal grandmother. She replied, "They are doing very well."
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"After we returned and I phoned Uncle Aminu, they came over. When I go back, I will visit them," her father said. He then added, "Splendid. And how is that elderly man?" Bily asked, "Modibbo?" He replied, "Yes." She sighed, "He hasn't been feeling well at all, and I haven't even had the chance to visit him yet, but I will do so as soon as we return." Her father nodded. "Very well. May God bless you all." She replied, "Amen." Turning to Asabe and Atika, she instructed, "Go and tell them to open the vehicles and bring the items inside." They replied, "Right away, Your Highness," and went out. They began bringing in a massive assortment of goods, stacking them neatly right outside Mamanmu's room. Inside the room, Bily privately broke the magnificent news to her parents that she was sponsoring them to perform the Holy Pilgrimage (Hajji) this very year, by God's grace. Her parents were overcome with ecstatic joy, and Sakina and her sisters erupted into loud cheers. The sheer volume of wealth and gifts being carried into the compound had already thoroughly deflated the envious co-wives, but hearing the loud celebration inside truly broke their spirits. "This is the supreme power of God! Oh Lord, we are infinitely grateful!" her father proclaimed joyfully as he stepped out into the courtyard. Ladiyo confronted him, "What is going on, Malam?" He beamed, "Fatima and I are going to Hajji this year! Can you see the wondrous work of God? In the past, I never dreamt I would ever set foot near an airport, let alone board a plane, but it has happened all because of Bilki. May God bless that girl abundantly." Ladiyo sneered, "And as for our own children, I suppose you'll just continue to curse them." He snapped back, "Look here, woman, today is a day of pure joy for me and I have absolutely no time for your misery. You absolute paragons of envy! You grudge every single blessing, and that is precisely why you never progress in life. You are nothing but fools." He walked out to share the joyous news with his brothers before heading over to see his mother, Gwaggo Amarya. Inside, Bily suggested to Sakina and her sisters that they should head back to their respective rooms, but they protested, "Wallahi, Aunty, we already resolved that we are spending the night here with you!" From there, they all headed over to Umma Mansu’s house. The moment they stepped outside, her driver stepped forward, but she waved him off. "No, go back and rest. We are going to walk there." They strolled through the center of their street, with Bily occasionally spotting familiar faces and exchanging warm pleasantries until they reached Umma's house. Umma pulled her into a warm embrace, exclaiming, "Hajiya Bily, the owner of the golden throne! When did you arrive?" Bily replied, "Just a moment ago." Umma said, "You must be exhausted from the journey." They sat down and dove into a lively conversation. Barely fifteen minutes later, Mansu arrived with a pleasant greeting. She had noticeably filled out. Bily exclaimed, "My goodness, my dear friend! Look at how beautifully plump you've become! Where is my boy?" She picked up little Daddy, praising, "My boy has grown so big!" Setting him down, she took Sa'adatu's hand and turned to Mansu. "Mansu, look at how beautiful the namesake of the Prince's mother has become!" Mansu, however, was staring intently at Bily. "I fully expected to see you with a pregnancy by now," she remarked. Bily blushed, "Oh, let's go inside first." Once inside, the conversation became so animated that they completely lost track of time; they didn't even notice when Sakina and the others departed. The two friends performed their night prayers (Isha) and then went to see Mamanmu. Only then did Mansu formally greet Bily's mother. Afterward, Mansu insisted that Bily come to spend the night at her house. Bily herself truly wanted to go, but she hesitated. "But I haven't sought permission from him." Mansu scoffed, "Just pick up your phone and call him!" Bily confessed, "To be honest, I don't even think I have his number saved. I have never once called him on the phone." Mansu hissed in frustration, stood up, and commanded, "Get up and let's go right now. For heaven's sake, I can see that you desperately need a thorough lecture." Bily stood up, laughing, "A lecture for what exactly?" Mansu simply walked ahead, calling out, "Goodnight, Mamanmu!" Bily followed her out, while Asabe and Atika stayed back to spend the night in the youngest sister's room with Sakira and the others. Once they finally coaxed little Daddy and the other children to sleep, the two friends relaxed on the carpet and began to talk deeply. Mansu asked point-blank, "My friend, what kind of marriage are you and the Prince even practicing? It's been years now without a single pregnancy or even a miscarriage. Are you two secretly taking contraceptives?" Bily answered bitterly, "Not at all. He spends all his time in the company of worthless street women. When does he ever even come to me for me to get pregnant? The only time you ever see him in my quarters is when his precious girlfriends humiliate him, and his immense pride prevents him from apologizing to them. That is when he crawls to my room to sulk. I simply ignore him, let him play his games, and then he packs up and leaves again." Mansu countered, "But that is entirely your fault! How can you tolerate him bringing other women right into your matrimonial home?" Bily defended herself, "Wallahi, he even brings two women at a time and spends the night with them! You say it's my fault, but what exactly do you expect me to do with a man like him?" Mansu insisted, "By God, if you firmly firmly made it clear that you will not tolerate him bringing women into your home, he would be forced to stop." Bily sighed, "Mansu, if you truly understood the Prince's character, you wouldn't say that. He is an incredibly self-willed and stubborn man. Once he sets his mind on something, absolutely no one can stop him. Besides, he is still driven by youthful recklessness, which is why I completely stay out of his business." Mansu corrected her firmly, "But you must involve yourself in his business! That is precisely why I say the fault lies with you. In my view, if you had drawn him close to you, shown him genuine love, and truly pampered him, I swear to you that even if he chose to pursue other women, he would be forced to do it in secret." She continued, "Remember, you are a woman and an exceptionally beautiful one at that, and he happens to be a man who loves women. Wallahi, you have everything it takes to completely win him over." Bily muttered, "I absolutely despise being humiliated, and he is always walking around exuding an unbearable aura of arrogance." Mansu groaned, "Look at you, acting like someone who never went to school! Earlier you literally told me you don't even have his phone number!" Bily corrected quickly, "No, I swear I do have his number, I have just never once called it."
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"Just look at the situation," Bily continued. "I undertook this long journey, and it should have been his responsibility to call me and find out if we arrived safely." Mansu countered, "Listen to me carefully. Whatever the Prince does to you, you allowed it. Men nowadays carry themselves with immense pride because they are constantly being chased by the women they see on the streets. Every single woman out there has her own agenda to hook him. You need to make a conscious effort to secure what is yours; if you refuse to hold onto your husband, women on the outside will gladly take over. My advice to you is that the time has come to completely cast aside this petty debate over whether you love him or not. Draw your husband close to you, back it up with intense prayers, and you will see how God will reform him for you. Stop dismissing him as an immature boy." Bily interrupted her, "But it is precisely because of these youthful headaches that I originally wanted to marry an older, mature man—someone who would have the patience to cherish and pamper me. But look at me now; I am the one who has to pamper a boy!" Mansu countered, "Are you kidding me? A young man is vastly better than an older man! These older men with youthful desires are far more complicated. I swear to you, you need to take absolute control of your husband, especially now that his girlfriends are completely out of the picture. He has a insatiable craving for women, and right now, none of his usual girls are anywhere near him. Are you not a woman yourself?" Mansu sat up for hours, carefully scripting out a complete strategy for Bily on exactly how to conquer the Prince. Finally, she demanded, "Give me your phone right now. Let's call him, and you are going to show him that you genuinely care about him." Bily hesitated, "I swear, Mansu, if you call him, he might just thoroughly humiliate me." Mansu scrolled through the contacts until she found the entry. She saw that Bily had saved the Prince's number under the single letter 'Y'. She exclaimed, "For heaven's sake, look at this! This is your own husband's number and you saved it as just 'Y'? What on earth does that even mean?" Bily replied, "The 'Y' stands for Yarima (Prince). It's the first letter of his title, so I just slapped it there." Mansu immediately deleted it and typed in 'Sweetheart'. Bily teased, "Oh, look at Miss 'Sweetheart' over here, pushing boundaries." Mansu dialed the line. It rang continuously until it timed out without being answered. Bily gloated, "See? What did I tell you?" Mansu replied, "Give him the benefit of the doubt." She dialed again, and this time, he answered immediately, barking, "Hello, who is this?" Mansu quickly shoved the phone into Bily's hands. Bily became entirely flustered as his voice demanded again, "Who is this?" She stammered, "It's me. You don't even recognize the number, do you?" He countered, "Who exactly is 'me'?" Flaring up in irritation, she snapped, "Of course, Yarima! It's me, Bily, your wife! I suppose out of your absolute lack of affection, you don't even have my number saved." He adjusted his posture on his end and countered, "Well, think about it rationally—what use is your number to me when I have never once seen you call me? Do you expect me to keep it stored in my phone when it serves absolutely no purpose to me?" He continued coldly, "I don't operate that way. Every single number stored in my phone is there because it is useful to me." At that moment, Bily recognized her own failure. She softened her tone and said, "Alright, fine. I will start calling you regularly from now on so you can save it, okay?" He asked, "Is everything alright? Why are you calling me?" She replied, "Everything is perfectly fine. I only called because I noticed you didn't bother to call and find out how our journey went." He paused, then asked, "So, did you arrive safely? I honestly didn't think you would care for a call from me. I hope everyone is well?" She replied, "Yes, everyone is perfectly fine. Right now, I am actually at Mansu's house. I just thought I should inform you so I don't get into trouble for going out without your knowledge." He replied smoothly, "No, there's no trouble at all. You have full freedom to go wherever you please; I am a man who deeply respects human rights." She said, "Thank you. Goodnight." He disconnected the call before she could. Bily looked at Mansu, who had overheard the entire conversation since the phone was on speakerphone. Mansu smiled triumphantly. "Are you beginning to see your mistakes now? The guy clearly knows exactly what he's doing. You need to fix your approach. Tomorrow morning, call him again first thing just to greet him." Bily sighed, "To me, this entire approach feels so incredibly awkward and unnatural. Do you really think I can pull this off?" Mansu assured her, "You absolutely can. In fact, you are going to undergo a complete makeover before you leave this town. The moment you return home, cast away all shyness. Fully let your guard down, draw him in, and make him completely forget about those worthless women. Ensure that by the time he returns, you have deeply anchored yourself in his heart." Bily murmured, "I pray to God I can do it. I just feel so intensely embarrassed whenever I remember that we are the exact same age; I worry that down the line, he will claim he wants a younger girl." Mansu chided her, "So let him! Is your marriage somehow forbidden? In case you didn't know, let me inform you: the Holy Prophet’s (S.A.W) very first wife was significantly older than him, and she was a widow. If such a dynamic were forbidden, would that have been the case?" Bily conceded, "No." Mansu pressed, "Therefore, let your guard down and claim your husband. Only Allah knows the profound reason He chose him for you. This is a supreme blessing from your Creator, and you will only realize its true value down the line. Think of the immense spiritual reward you will earn if you become the instrument of his reformation." Bily finally began to wholeheartedly embrace Mansu's counsel. Over the course of her three-day visit, they meticulously planned her entire strategy for her return, and she underwent a thorough bridal beauty and wellness regimen. She prepared herself fully, vowing never to be complacent again. During those days, they distributed the gifts they had brought; Sakina and the others returned to their homes laden with a massive abundance of presents for themselves, their children, and even their co-wives. On the day of departure, Bily pulled herself together elegantly, resolving to handle all future communications via phone. Mansu also headed back to Kaduna, completely satisfied and packed with gifts that her dear friend Bily had showered upon her. Throughout the car ride back, as Bily lay across the back seat, her mind raced with thoughts on exactly how she would ensnare Yarima. On an impulse, she pulled out her phone and dialed his number. When he answered, she forced her voice into a soft, deliberately seductive tone. "Hello..." He answered, "Hello." She whispered, "My husband, I am currently on my way back." He paused for a long moment, visibly struck by the sudden shift in her voice, before replying quietly, "Alright, travel safely." She purred, "Are you not even happy that I'm returning?" He countered, "Well, what exactly is there to be happy about? What do you ever do for me when you are home anyway?" She gasped playfully, "Oh my! So you actually want me to do things for you, and you've been keeping it a secret all this time?" He replied, "Oh, so I have to explicitly command you? I assumed that long before you were brought to my house, you were thoroughly educated on the duties of marriage." She let out a soft, enchanting laugh. "Oh yes, I suppose I completely forgot." He replied, "Very well. Now that you've visited home, I trust your memory has been thoroughly refreshed." He added, "See you when you arrive. I am driving right now," and ended the call. They arrived just as the evening maghrib prayer was approaching. She stopped by Umma’s quarters to greet her and inform her that her parents extended their profound gratitude. Before their arrival, the traditional gifts from Zaria—including locust beans (kuka), dried okra (kubewa), and various other foodstuffs—had already been delivered. Since everyone in that household held considerable authority, they managed the distribution efficiently. When Bily returned to her own private section of the estate, she found that the servants had swept and polished every single corner to perfection. She took a long, refreshing bath and dressed in an exquisite blue and red material outfit. Looking exceptionally stunning, she left her head uncovered, opting instead to tie her long hair neatly back with a scarf. With her heart pounding rapidly against her chest, she walked over to Yarima’s section of the house. She found him actively on the phone with his girlfriend, Ashly. Suppressing her jealousy, she waited patiently until they finished their call. He looked up at her, his face locked in his usual cold, unreadable expression. Stepping closer, she sat right next to him on the sofa, took his hand firmly in hers, and smiled warmly. "We're back." He looked deeply into her eyes. "Did you travel safely?" She answered entirely with her eyes, playfully arching her eyebrow. A strange, electrifying sensation surged through his entire body, making him instantly tense up. She playfully extended her tongue, lightly licking her own lips. "Everyone back home sends their warmest regards to you." His voice caught slightly in his throat. "I accept their greetings." She stood up as if to walk out, and his eyes instinctively followed her body, as if desperately wanting to command her to come back, but his immense pride held him back. She suddenly spun around, catching him off guard, and he quickly averted his gaze. She walked back to him. "Have you eaten?" He muttered proudly, "Do you suddenly care whether I eat or not?" She extended her index finger, placing it gently against his forehead, then traced it slowly down the bridge of his nose, all the way to his lips. "I care immensely," she whispered seductively. "What exactly would you like?" By this point, his carefully constructed defenses had completely shattered; his entire body was intensely aroused. He looked at her in amazement—was this truly the same Bily he knew, the village girl who always hid away from him? Maintaining his composure with great effort, he muttered, "I am full." She walked over to the fridge, fetched his absolute favorite juice, poured it into a glass, and handed it to him. "Here, drink this."
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He accepted the glass without a single word of protest. Seeing that Yarima hadn't rejected or scolded her gave Bily an immense surge of confidence to press her advantage. For his part, he found it absolutely impossible to push her away because he was in a state of intense physical desire, having been starved of intimacy for days. She said softly, "I am actually quite hungry myself, let me go eat some food." He opened his mouth as if to ask, 'Are you coming back?' but checked himself and remained silent as she walked out. Once she finished her meal, she ate some watermelon and sugarcane, drank her specially prepared herbal honey blend, and applied exquisite perfume over her entire body. She wore absolutely nothing under a revealing, provocative red nightgown. By this time, he had already showered and changed into his own sleepwear, but he was completely restless. He paced anxiously between his bedroom and the living room, feeling an overwhelming urge to pull out his phone and call her. He found himself silently praying for her to just walk through the door. Suddenly, as if from nowhere, her intoxicating fragrance filled the air. He inhaled deeply before slowly turning around. There she stood in the striking red nightgown, which left absolutely nothing of her stunning physique to the imagination. He was instantly thrown into utter confusion, his eyes completely locked onto her body. Seeing his breathless reaction, Bily knew her trap had been perfectly sprung. She stepped intimately close to him, lowered her voice to a soft, breathless whisper, and said, "I only came to wish you a good night." He let out a deep, heavy sigh. "Goodnight." She turned around as if to walk away, but his breath caught in his throat. His heart could no longer endure the restraint. In two swift strides, he closed the distance, grabbed her hand, and pulled her forcefully against his chest. He reached down and lifted her face, and she instantly parted her lips, offering her tongue to him. He embraced her with frantic passion. In that moment, Bily recalled Mansu’s explicit advice: 'Whatever he does to you, match his energy. Show him you are fully capable, and that your past distance was simply a choice.' She threw herself entirely into pleasing him. Yarima completely lost all stability, and they collapsed onto the floor together. If it were possible to describe the intricate details of that night, it would leave you utterly astonished, for Yarima found himself transported to a distant, uncharted world of pure ecstasy. Bily herself realized that night just how foolish she had been in the past, despite their mutual claims of mutual dislike. When they finally settled into a peaceful calm, Bily made a move to return to her own bedroom. He looked at her, his heart overflowing with an unfamiliar warmth. Delicately inhaling her scent, he murmured, "Please spend the night right here with me, okay, my Beauty?" He spoke while gazing intently into her face. She merely arched an eyebrow in response, privately marveling at the fact that Yarima had actually coined a sweet nickname for her tonight. He gently pulled her back into his embrace. The following morning, it was well past 10:00 AM before she finally stepped out of his quarters, reflecting on how incredibly attentive and attached Yarima had been to her. She realized Mansu was entirely right—the fault in their marriage had been partly hers. Later, while she was relaxing in Umma’s section of the house, he walked in, exuding his usual air of supreme confidence. The maids greeted him respectfully, while Bily simply offered him a knowing smile. He stole a quick, private glance at her before sitting down to greet Umma. He spoke with an exaggerated air of masculine authority. Umma asked, "Have you two gone to pay your respects to Modibbo yet?" He replied, "No, we will go tonight." Bily added, "I also really want to go and greet my grandmother; she has been struggling with severe pain in her leg." Umma nodded, "Very well, then you two should go together." He stood up and walked out. Throughout that entire day, he felt exactly like a brand-new groom. For the longest time, he had yearned for the day Bily would wholeheartedly accept his advances—to have her engage with him passionately rather than laying there like a lifeless statue. Furthermore, a profound realization settled deep into his soul: he felt a far deeper connection to her than to any of the foreign, fair-skinned women he had pursued in the past. He couldn't even find the words to accurately describe her. The issue wasn't necessarily that he was deeply in love with her, but rather that in every conceivable way, she had far exceeded his wildest expectations. He realized he could happily live with her, especially since "love" had never been a requirement for him anyway. In his personal view, aside from the supreme love for Allah and His Prophet, any other form of "love" was merely akin to seeing a fine garment or a good meal and deciding to purchase it; he simply did not believe in the concept of romantic love. He maintained that the bond between a man and a woman was driven purely by mutual physical desire to satisfy their needs, and nothing more. That evening, she dressed elegantly in a premium super-wax fabric (atamfa) paired with an after-dress, and headed to his room. He was dressed in a polished, cement-colored brocade (shadda) that gleamed beautifully, looking exceptionally handsome. She remarked, "You look vastly more handsome in traditional long robes." He replied smoothly, "They usually just make me feel restricted." He then evaluated her outfit critically. "To be honest, these kinds of traditional clothes don't appeal to me at all. I vastly prefer outfits that highlight your true beauty. We should go to the market so I can buy some proper clothes for you." She smiled, glancing down at herself. "Are you implying that I don't look beautiful right now?" He smiled back, "Not at all..."
Sakina and the others went diligently about their chores—cooking this, boiling that, and frying the other—until they completed everything. They swept the entire house and meticulously prepared the room of the youngest, Bily's former room, where they removed the bed, spread out a large mat, and neatly arranged the food upon it. Around 3:00 PM, Bily and her convoy made their entrance into the ancient city of Zaria (Birnin Zazzau). She felt a profound sense of lightness, as if she had received a divine revelation that she had been completely forgiven.
They detoured briefly to pay respects at the Zazzau Emirate palace before finally driving to her family home. She traveled with just two maids, Atika and Asabe, while the other vehicle carried royal guards (dogarawa) and her numerous homecoming gifts. Ever since they turned into her neighborhood, she kept gazing out the window; the area was exactly as she had left it—some houses had deteriorated further, while others had been renovated. The vehicles pulled up right in front of her family's house. The building itself looked more worn down, but the front area had been swept immaculately clean. Her father, his younger brothers, and her own siblings were all gathered outside performing their ablutions. They warmly welcomed Bily and the guards, and the car door was opened for Bily to step out.
Subhanallahi! When they saw her, she looked almost otherworldly due to her sheer beauty. Her complexion had grown remarkably radiant and fair, and though she hadn't gained weight, her flawless appearance radiated a life of absolute luxury and comfort. She knelt down respectfully to greet her parents, and her maids followed suit. With Asabe holding her handbag, they walked into the house. The other women of the household were gathered in their usual spots, engrossed in their endless petty gossip, whispering about the elaborate meals they had seen being carried into the youngest daughter's room. They had convinced themselves that perhaps their own husbands were visiting, which would explain the cooking. Karima muttered, "Wallahi, we should wait until the husbands arrive and are in the middle of eating. Then we'll go over to Fatima's side, stir up a massive scene, and demand our rights. That way, we'll thoroughly humiliate her in front of her in-laws." Ladiyo snorted, "In-laws are just in-laws, they aren't gods. Have our own in-laws ever even brought us a single bottle of watermelon juice?"
The sudden greeting from Bily and her maids instantly cut their conversation short. Stepping into the courtyard with immense joy, Bily called out, "Good afternoon, Gwaggo." Shock and sheer bewilderment paralyzed the women, leaving them completely speechless. Bily paid them no mind; her only burning desire was to lay eyes on her mother. Even before reaching the room, she began calling out, "Mamanmu! Mamanmu!!" Sakina and the other two sisters rushed out, throwing their arms around her in an ecstatic embrace, shouting, "Welcome back, Aunty Bilki!" At that moment, tears of pure joy began to stream down Bily's face.
Her mother was sitting on the edge of the bed, her face illuminated by a warm smile. Bily went over and collapsed into her embrace. Mamanmu teased gently, "What is all this emotional display?" They sat down together and exchanged warm, heartfelt greetings. Asabe and Atika also greeted the family before retiring to the prepared room, where they sat down to enjoy their meal. Meanwhile, the royal guards went to the mosque with the family men to pray. Upon their return, they were hosted in Sani's room, and Sani came inside to fetch their portion of the food. Watching all of this unfold, Ladiyo and her cohort felt a cold chill run through them; they were utterly speechless and completely deflated, unable to even find words to gossip about these prestigious visitors.
Her mother called out to the youngest daughter, "Go and collect the bowls from Ladiyo and the others so we can serve them some food. Sakina and her sisters have been stubborn about it; I've been telling them to serve them since earlier, but they insisted they wouldn't give them any." The younger sister found the co-wives sitting in a sullen, despondent mood and said, "Mamanmu said you should bring your bowls so we can serve you some food." Only Salame found the nerve to point toward the basket of dishes. The girl picked it up, took it back to have it filled, and returned it to them, but the women remained frozen in their bitter silence.
After Bily and her entourage had eaten, drank, and performed their prayers, Bily said, "Mamanmu, I would like to go over to Umma Mansu’s house now." Her mother replied, "That is fine, but make sure to stop by the other sections of this compound to greet everyone first. I know they are well aware of your arrival, but only the Gwaggo from that section came in here to say hello. Afterward, visit the neighbors as well." Bily winced slightly. "Oh dear! I didn't get my husband's explicit permission to visit around the neighborhood, but I will call him on the phone. Even if it's tomorrow, I'll make sure to make the rounds." Accompanied by Sakina and her maids, she headed toward the other sections of the large family house. Asabe carried her handbag while Atika held her phones. Before walking out of their immediate section, Bily stopped by the rooms of Gwaggo Ladiyo and the other co-wives to greet them. The women were completely stiff and submissive, while their children stared at Bily in absolute awe. Bily turned and said, "Asabe, give me that bag." She pulled out a pristine bundle of crisp two-hundred-naira notes and handed them to her sister. "Here, distribute this to the children so they can buy some sweets." The children instantly swarmed her, chanting, "Asma'u, you haven't given me mine yet!" Observing the scene from their doorways, the mothers' minds immediately began racing with calculations on how they would spend the money their children brought back.
They started with the grand section of the compound where the extended family resided. The household was gathered in the courtyard, animatedly discussing Bily's grand arrival. The children were eagerly describing her appearance, exclaiming, "She is dressed in incredible luxury and arrived in stunning, high-end cars! You should see her security guards—they are holding massive batons!" Their chatter was abruptly cut off by Bily's entrance, just as Mairo was sneering, "Look at their mother, acting so full of herself today." Bily walked in gracefully with her entourage. She went from room to room, greeting every single person warmly, while Asma'u distributed the two-hundred-naira notes to the children.
Suddenly, Mansu called her phone. Atika handed it over, saying, "Your Highness, you have a call." Bily accepted the phone, and the moment she saw Mansu’s name on the screen, she became visibly excited. "My dearest friend! Have you arrived?" Mansu replied, "We are almost there. I was just waiting for Daddy to return from Islamic school." Bily urged, "Oh no, my friend, you shouldn't be traveling late into the night. Hurry up and get here, my dear. Go straight to Umma’s house because that's exactly where I'm heading." Mansu replied, "Alright, I'll head there. But you are definitely sleeping at my house tonight!" Bily hesitated, "I haven't asked for my husband's permission for an overnight stay." Mansu laughed, "That's perfectly fine, once I arrive we'll just give him a call." Bily laughed along. "Alright, see you when you get here." She ended the call and handed the phone back to Atika. They continued their greetings, and the family members could only stare at her, captivated by her elegant demeanor, her sophisticated mannerisms, and her graceful posture. The moment she stepped out of the courtyard, they immediately began mimicking the sophisticated way she spoke.
Next, they visited Gwaggo Sasa. They greeted each other warmly, and Gwaggo Sasa teased jokingly, "Where is this groom of ours? Is he not coming?" Bily smiled, "He will come. He is just overwhelmed with an enormous workload right now." From there, they went to see their elderly grandmother, who looked incredibly grumpy and sour-faced. They walked in and greeted her, but the grandmother immediately began reprimanding her: "So, you only just deemed it fit to visit this town? Did they tell you that marriage means losing your mind? Just because you got married, does that mean you should completely forget your elders? Grandparents mean nothing to you now, I suppose? So, did you come with this husband of yours?" Bily replied, "No, I came alone. He is tied down with work." Gwaggo pouted deeply and scoffed, "Hmph! Work, my foot! He probably just decided he cannot bring himself to visit the home of poor folk. In fact, you yourself probably mean absolutely nothing to him. Otherwise, how can a marriage last for years, yet the husband cannot even recognize his wife's own parents if he saw them?" Bily stood up, preparing to walk out. "Oh, so you're leaving just because I brought up the bitter truth?" Gwaggo barked. Bily calmly replied, "It's not like that at all, Grandmother. We only just returned to the country recently. He will definitely come." Gwaggo snapped, "May God ensure he never comes, for all I care!" Sakina stood up and pulled Bily away. "Come on, Aunty, let's go. As long as you are living happily with your husband, it doesn't matter if he never comes." Gwaggo yelled after them, "Look at this leader of the disrespectful brats! Did I birth your father that you think you can talk back to me?" Ignoring her, they walked out and left her to her rant. After visiting every corner of the neighborhood, they finally returned home, where her father met them in Mamanmu’s room. Only then did they exchange formal greetings. He asked, "How is your husband? How are his parents? I hope everyone is in good health?" She replied, "They are all perfectly fine." He then asked, "And how is everything at Umma’s place?" referring to her maternal grandmother. She replied, "They are doing very well."
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"After we returned and I phoned Uncle Aminu, they came over. When I go back, I will visit them," her father said. He then added, "Splendid. And how is that elderly man?" Bily asked, "Modibbo?" He replied, "Yes." She sighed, "He hasn't been feeling well at all, and I haven't even had the chance to visit him yet, but I will do so as soon as we return." Her father nodded. "Very well. May God bless you all." She replied, "Amen." Turning to Asabe and Atika, she instructed, "Go and tell them to open the vehicles and bring the items inside." They replied, "Right away, Your Highness," and went out. They began bringing in a massive assortment of goods, stacking them neatly right outside Mamanmu's room. Inside the room, Bily privately broke the magnificent news to her parents that she was sponsoring them to perform the Holy Pilgrimage (Hajji) this very year, by God's grace. Her parents were overcome with ecstatic joy, and Sakina and her sisters erupted into loud cheers. The sheer volume of wealth and gifts being carried into the compound had already thoroughly deflated the envious co-wives, but hearing the loud celebration inside truly broke their spirits. "This is the supreme power of God! Oh Lord, we are infinitely grateful!" her father proclaimed joyfully as he stepped out into the courtyard. Ladiyo confronted him, "What is going on, Malam?" He beamed, "Fatima and I are going to Hajji this year! Can you see the wondrous work of God? In the past, I never dreamt I would ever set foot near an airport, let alone board a plane, but it has happened all because of Bilki. May God bless that girl abundantly." Ladiyo sneered, "And as for our own children, I suppose you'll just continue to curse them." He snapped back, "Look here, woman, today is a day of pure joy for me and I have absolutely no time for your misery. You absolute paragons of envy! You grudge every single blessing, and that is precisely why you never progress in life. You are nothing but fools." He walked out to share the joyous news with his brothers before heading over to see his mother, Gwaggo Amarya.
Inside, Bily suggested to Sakina and her sisters that they should head back to their respective rooms, but they protested, "Wallahi, Aunty, we already resolved that we are spending the night here with you!" From there, they all headed over to Umma Mansu’s house. The moment they stepped outside, her driver stepped forward, but she waved him off. "No, go back and rest. We are going to walk there." They strolled through the center of their street, with Bily occasionally spotting familiar faces and exchanging warm pleasantries until they reached Umma's house. Umma pulled her into a warm embrace, exclaiming, "Hajiya Bily, the owner of the golden throne! When did you arrive?" Bily replied, "Just a moment ago." Umma said, "You must be exhausted from the journey." They sat down and dove into a lively conversation. Barely fifteen minutes later, Mansu arrived with a pleasant greeting. She had noticeably filled out. Bily exclaimed, "My goodness, my dear friend! Look at how beautifully plump you've become! Where is my boy?" She picked up little Daddy, praising, "My boy has grown so big!" Setting him down, she took Sa'adatu's hand and turned to Mansu. "Mansu, look at how beautiful the namesake of the Prince's mother has become!" Mansu, however, was staring intently at Bily. "I fully expected to see you with a pregnancy by now," she remarked. Bily blushed, "Oh, let's go inside first." Once inside, the conversation became so animated that they completely lost track of time; they didn't even notice when Sakina and the others departed. The two friends performed their night prayers (Isha) and then went to see Mamanmu. Only then did Mansu formally greet Bily's mother. Afterward, Mansu insisted that Bily come to spend the night at her house. Bily herself truly wanted to go, but she hesitated. "But I haven't sought permission from him." Mansu scoffed, "Just pick up your phone and call him!" Bily confessed, "To be honest, I don't even think I have his number saved. I have never once called him on the phone." Mansu hissed in frustration, stood up, and commanded, "Get up and let's go right now. For heaven's sake, I can see that you desperately need a thorough lecture." Bily stood up, laughing, "A lecture for what exactly?" Mansu simply walked ahead, calling out, "Goodnight, Mamanmu!" Bily followed her out, while Asabe and Atika stayed back to spend the night in the youngest sister's room with Sakira and the others.
Once they finally coaxed little Daddy and the other children to sleep, the two friends relaxed on the carpet and began to talk deeply. Mansu asked point-blank, "My friend, what kind of marriage are you and the Prince even practicing? It's been years now without a single pregnancy or even a miscarriage. Are you two secretly taking contraceptives?" Bily answered bitterly, "Not at all. He spends all his time in the company of worthless street women. When does he ever even come to me for me to get pregnant? The only time you ever see him in my quarters is when his precious girlfriends humiliate him, and his immense pride prevents him from apologizing to them. That is when he crawls to my room to sulk. I simply ignore him, let him play his games, and then he packs up and leaves again." Mansu countered, "But that is entirely your fault! How can you tolerate him bringing other women right into your matrimonial home?" Bily defended herself, "Wallahi, he even brings two women at a time and spends the night with them! You say it's my fault, but what exactly do you expect me to do with a man like him?" Mansu insisted, "By God, if you firmly firmly made it clear that you will not tolerate him bringing women into your home, he would be forced to stop." Bily sighed, "Mansu, if you truly understood the Prince's character, you wouldn't say that. He is an incredibly self-willed and stubborn man. Once he sets his mind on something, absolutely no one can stop him. Besides, he is still driven by youthful recklessness, which is why I completely stay out of his business." Mansu corrected her firmly, "But you must involve yourself in his business! That is precisely why I say the fault lies with you. In my view, if you had drawn him close to you, shown him genuine love, and truly pampered him, I swear to you that even if he chose to pursue other women, he would be forced to do it in secret." She continued, "Remember, you are a woman and an exceptionally beautiful one at that, and he happens to be a man who loves women. Wallahi, you have everything it takes to completely win him over." Bily muttered, "I absolutely despise being humiliated, and he is always walking around exuding an unbearable aura of arrogance." Mansu groaned, "Look at you, acting like someone who never went to school! Earlier you literally told me you don't even have his phone number!" Bily corrected quickly, "No, I swear I do have his number, I have just never once called it."
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"Just look at the situation," Bily continued. "I undertook this long journey, and it should have been his responsibility to call me and find out if we arrived safely." Mansu countered, "Listen to me carefully. Whatever the Prince does to you, you allowed it. Men nowadays carry themselves with immense pride because they are constantly being chased by the women they see on the streets. Every single woman out there has her own agenda to hook him. You need to make a conscious effort to secure what is yours; if you refuse to hold onto your husband, women on the outside will gladly take over. My advice to you is that the time has come to completely cast aside this petty debate over whether you love him or not. Draw your husband close to you, back it up with intense prayers, and you will see how God will reform him for you. Stop dismissing him as an immature boy." Bily interrupted her, "But it is precisely because of these youthful headaches that I originally wanted to marry an older, mature man—someone who would have the patience to cherish and pamper me. But look at me now; I am the one who has to pamper a boy!" Mansu countered, "Are you kidding me? A young man is vastly better than an older man! These older men with youthful desires are far more complicated. I swear to you, you need to take absolute control of your husband, especially now that his girlfriends are completely out of the picture. He has a insatiable craving for women, and right now, none of his usual girls are anywhere near him. Are you not a woman yourself?" Mansu sat up for hours, carefully scripting out a complete strategy for Bily on exactly how to conquer the Prince. Finally, she demanded, "Give me your phone right now. Let's call him, and you are going to show him that you genuinely care about him." Bily hesitated, "I swear, Mansu, if you call him, he might just thoroughly humiliate me." Mansu scrolled through the contacts until she found the entry. She saw that Bily had saved the Prince's number under the single letter 'Y'. She exclaimed, "For heaven's sake, look at this! This is your own husband's number and you saved it as just 'Y'? What on earth does that even mean?" Bily replied, "The 'Y' stands for Yarima (Prince). It's the first letter of his title, so I just slapped it there." Mansu immediately deleted it and typed in 'Sweetheart'. Bily teased, "Oh, look at Miss 'Sweetheart' over here, pushing boundaries." Mansu dialed the line. It rang continuously until it timed out without being answered. Bily gloated, "See? What did I tell you?" Mansu replied, "Give him the benefit of the doubt." She dialed again, and this time, he answered immediately, barking, "Hello, who is this?" Mansu quickly shoved the phone into Bily's hands. Bily became entirely flustered as his voice demanded again, "Who is this?" She stammered, "It's me. You don't even recognize the number, do you?" He countered, "Who exactly is 'me'?" Flaring up in irritation, she snapped, "Of course, Yarima! It's me, Bily, your wife! I suppose out of your absolute lack of affection, you don't even have my number saved." He adjusted his posture on his end and countered, "Well, think about it rationally—what use is your number to me when I have never once seen you call me? Do you expect me to keep it stored in my phone when it serves absolutely no purpose to me?" He continued coldly, "I don't operate that way. Every single number stored in my phone is there because it is useful to me." At that moment, Bily recognized her own failure. She softened her tone and said, "Alright, fine. I will start calling you regularly from now on so you can save it, okay?" He asked, "Is everything alright? Why are you calling me?" She replied, "Everything is perfectly fine. I only called because I noticed you didn't bother to call and find out how our journey went." He paused, then asked, "So, did you arrive safely? I honestly didn't think you would care for a call from me. I hope everyone is well?" She replied, "Yes, everyone is perfectly fine. Right now, I am actually at Mansu's house. I just thought I should inform you so I don't get into trouble for going out without your knowledge." He replied smoothly, "No, there's no trouble at all. You have full freedom to go wherever you please; I am a man who deeply respects human rights." She said, "Thank you. Goodnight." He disconnected the call before she could. Bily looked at Mansu, who had overheard the entire conversation since the phone was on speakerphone. Mansu smiled triumphantly. "Are you beginning to see your mistakes now? The guy clearly knows exactly what he's doing. You need to fix your approach. Tomorrow morning, call him again first thing just to greet him." Bily sighed, "To me, this entire approach feels so incredibly awkward and unnatural. Do you really think I can pull this off?" Mansu assured her, "You absolutely can. In fact, you are going to undergo a complete makeover before you leave this town. The moment you return home, cast away all shyness. Fully let your guard down, draw him in, and make him completely forget about those worthless women. Ensure that by the time he returns, you have deeply anchored yourself in his heart." Bily murmured, "I pray to God I can do it. I just feel so intensely embarrassed whenever I remember that we are the exact same age; I worry that down the line, he will claim he wants a younger girl." Mansu chided her, "So let him! Is your marriage somehow forbidden? In case you didn't know, let me inform you: the Holy Prophet’s (S.A.W) very first wife was significantly older than him, and she was a widow. If such a dynamic were forbidden, would that have been the case?" Bily conceded, "No." Mansu pressed, "Therefore, let your guard down and claim your husband. Only Allah knows the profound reason He chose him for you. This is a supreme blessing from your Creator, and you will only realize its true value down the line. Think of the immense spiritual reward you will earn if you become the instrument of his reformation." Bily finally began to wholeheartedly embrace Mansu's counsel. Over the course of her three-day visit, they meticulously planned her entire strategy for her return, and she underwent a thorough bridal beauty and wellness regimen. She prepared herself fully, vowing never to be complacent again. During those days, they distributed the gifts they had brought; Sakina and the others returned to their homes laden with a massive abundance of presents for themselves, their children, and even their co-wives. On the day of departure, Bily pulled herself together elegantly, resolving to handle all future communications via phone. Mansu also headed back to Kaduna, completely satisfied and packed with gifts that her dear friend Bily had showered upon her.
Throughout the car ride back, as Bily lay across the back seat, her mind raced with thoughts on exactly how she would ensnare Yarima. On an impulse, she pulled out her phone and dialed his number. When he answered, she forced her voice into a soft, deliberately seductive tone. "Hello..." He answered, "Hello." She whispered, "My husband, I am currently on my way back." He paused for a long moment, visibly struck by the sudden shift in her voice, before replying quietly, "Alright, travel safely." She purred, "Are you not even happy that I'm returning?" He countered, "Well, what exactly is there to be happy about? What do you ever do for me when you are home anyway?" She gasped playfully, "Oh my! So you actually want me to do things for you, and you've been keeping it a secret all this time?" He replied, "Oh, so I have to explicitly command you? I assumed that long before you were brought to my house, you were thoroughly educated on the duties of marriage." She let out a soft, enchanting laugh. "Oh yes, I suppose I completely forgot." He replied, "Very well. Now that you've visited home, I trust your memory has been thoroughly refreshed." He added, "See you when you arrive. I am driving right now," and ended the call.
They arrived just as the evening maghrib prayer was approaching. She stopped by Umma’s quarters to greet her and inform her that her parents extended their profound gratitude. Before their arrival, the traditional gifts from Zaria—including locust beans (kuka), dried okra (kubewa), and various other foodstuffs—had already been delivered. Since everyone in that household held considerable authority, they managed the distribution efficiently. When Bily returned to her own private section of the estate, she found that the servants had swept and polished every single corner to perfection. She took a long, refreshing bath and dressed in an exquisite blue and red material outfit. Looking exceptionally stunning, she left her head uncovered, opting instead to tie her long hair neatly back with a scarf.
With her heart pounding rapidly against her chest, she walked over to Yarima’s section of the house. She found him actively on the phone with his girlfriend, Ashly. Suppressing her jealousy, she waited patiently until they finished their call. He looked up at her, his face locked in his usual cold, unreadable expression. Stepping closer, she sat right next to him on the sofa, took his hand firmly in hers, and smiled warmly. "We're back." He looked deeply into her eyes. "Did you travel safely?" She answered entirely with her eyes, playfully arching her eyebrow. A strange, electrifying sensation surged through his entire body, making him instantly tense up. She playfully extended her tongue, lightly licking her own lips. "Everyone back home sends their warmest regards to you." His voice caught slightly in his throat. "I accept their greetings." She stood up as if to walk out, and his eyes instinctively followed her body, as if desperately wanting to command her to come back, but his immense pride held him back. She suddenly spun around, catching him off guard, and he quickly averted his gaze. She walked back to him. "Have you eaten?" He muttered proudly, "Do you suddenly care whether I eat or not?" She extended her index finger, placing it gently against his forehead, then traced it slowly down the bridge of his nose, all the way to his lips. "I care immensely," she whispered seductively. "What exactly would you like?" By this point, his carefully constructed defenses had completely shattered; his entire body was intensely aroused. He looked at her in amazement—was this truly the same Bily he knew, the village girl who always hid away from him? Maintaining his composure with great effort, he muttered, "I am full." She walked over to the fridge, fetched his absolute favorite juice, poured it into a glass, and handed it to him. "Here, drink this."
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He accepted the glass without a single word of protest. Seeing that Yarima hadn't rejected or scolded her gave Bily an immense surge of confidence to press her advantage. For his part, he found it absolutely impossible to push her away because he was in a state of intense physical desire, having been starved of intimacy for days. She said softly, "I am actually quite hungry myself, let me go eat some food." He opened his mouth as if to ask, 'Are you coming back?' but checked himself and remained silent as she walked out. Once she finished her meal, she ate some watermelon and sugarcane, drank her specially prepared herbal honey blend, and applied exquisite perfume over her entire body. She wore absolutely nothing under a revealing, provocative red nightgown.
By this time, he had already showered and changed into his own sleepwear, but he was completely restless. He paced anxiously between his bedroom and the living room, feeling an overwhelming urge to pull out his phone and call her. He found himself silently praying for her to just walk through the door. Suddenly, as if from nowhere, her intoxicating fragrance filled the air. He inhaled deeply before slowly turning around. There she stood in the striking red nightgown, which left absolutely nothing of her stunning physique to the imagination. He was instantly thrown into utter confusion, his eyes completely locked onto her body. Seeing his breathless reaction, Bily knew her trap had been perfectly sprung. She stepped intimately close to him, lowered her voice to a soft, breathless whisper, and said, "I only came to wish you a good night." He let out a deep, heavy sigh. "Goodnight."
She turned around as if to walk away, but his breath caught in his throat. His heart could no longer endure the restraint. In two swift strides, he closed the distance, grabbed her hand, and pulled her forcefully against his chest. He reached down and lifted her face, and she instantly parted her lips, offering her tongue to him. He embraced her with frantic passion. In that moment, Bily recalled Mansu’s explicit advice: 'Whatever he does to you, match his energy. Show him you are fully capable, and that your past distance was simply a choice.' She threw herself entirely into pleasing him. Yarima completely lost all stability, and they collapsed onto the floor together. If it were possible to describe the intricate details of that night, it would leave you utterly astonished, for Yarima found himself transported to a distant, uncharted world of pure ecstasy. Bily herself realized that night just how foolish she had been in the past, despite their mutual claims of mutual dislike.
When they finally settled into a peaceful calm, Bily made a move to return to her own bedroom. He looked at her, his heart overflowing with an unfamiliar warmth. Delicately inhaling her scent, he murmured, "Please spend the night right here with me, okay, my Beauty?" He spoke while gazing intently into her face. She merely arched an eyebrow in response, privately marveling at the fact that Yarima had actually coined a sweet nickname for her tonight. He gently pulled her back into his embrace.
The following morning, it was well past 10:00 AM before she finally stepped out of his quarters, reflecting on how incredibly attentive and attached Yarima had been to her. She realized Mansu was entirely right—the fault in their marriage had been partly hers. Later, while she was relaxing in Umma’s section of the house, he walked in, exuding his usual air of supreme confidence. The maids greeted him respectfully, while Bily simply offered him a knowing smile. He stole a quick, private glance at her before sitting down to greet Umma. He spoke with an exaggerated air of masculine authority. Umma asked, "Have you two gone to pay your respects to Modibbo yet?" He replied, "No, we will go tonight." Bily added, "I also really want to go and greet my grandmother; she has been struggling with severe pain in her leg." Umma nodded, "Very well, then you two should go together." He stood up and walked out.
Throughout that entire day, he felt exactly like a brand-new groom. For the longest time, he had yearned for the day Bily would wholeheartedly accept his advances—to have her engage with him passionately rather than laying there like a lifeless statue. Furthermore, a profound realization settled deep into his soul: he felt a far deeper connection to her than to any of the foreign, fair-skinned women he had pursued in the past. He couldn't even find the words to accurately describe her. The issue wasn't necessarily that he was deeply in love with her, but rather that in every conceivable way, she had far exceeded his wildest expectations. He realized he could happily live with her, especially since "love" had never been a requirement for him anyway. In his personal view, aside from the supreme love for Allah and His Prophet, any other form of "love" was merely akin to seeing a fine garment or a good meal and deciding to purchase it; he simply did not believe in the concept of romantic love. He maintained that the bond between a man and a woman was driven purely by mutual physical desire to satisfy their needs, and nothing more.
That evening, she dressed elegantly in a premium super-wax fabric (atamfa) paired with an after-dress, and headed to his room. He was dressed in a polished, cement-colored brocade (shadda) that gleamed beautifully, looking exceptionally handsome. She remarked, "You look vastly more handsome in traditional long robes." He replied smoothly, "They usually just make me feel restricted." He then evaluated her outfit critically. "To be honest, these kinds of traditional clothes don't appeal to me at all. I vastly prefer outfits that highlight your true beauty. We should go to the market so I can buy some proper clothes for you." She smiled, glancing down at herself. "Are you implying that I don't look beautiful right now?" He smiled back, "Not at all..."