Stammering, she looked at him and said, “That is why I have been calling you; I wanted to explain things to you, but you wouldn’t listen to me.”
He retorted, "Explain what?" He continued, raising his voice, “Don't you dare tell me you are pregnant!”
Her eyes widened as her heart skipped a beat. He asked, "Is that what it is?" She nodded her head. He quickly sprang to his feet. "Where on earth did you get it from?" Hearing his words made her stomach churn in distress. What did Uncle mean? Before she could comprehend what was happening, she felt him fiercely grab her by the collar.
"Is this what you are going to do to me, Aisha?" He slightly softened his voice, adding, "You know very well that during my last visit to your place, you were menstruating, right?" With a trembling voice, she replied, "Yes, but..." Before she could finish, he caught her off guard with a devastating slap across the face. "But what?" He shoved her violently onto the bed. “You have ruined me! Just because I am desperately seeking to have children, your eyes are blinded enough to bring a bastard into my house? Aisha, you have made a terrible mistake. Now, I want you to tell me exactly who the father of this pregnancy is!”
She wept bitterly as if her soul were about to depart, wishing she would just die to find relief from this agonizing misery. He threatened, "Are you going to tell me, or do you want me to completely lose my temper with you?" He felt a burning urge to choke the life out of her just to be at peace. He glared at her furiously. "Listen to me carefully: before tomorrow morning, make sure you figure out a way to inform me exactly who responsible for this pregnancy." He turned around sharply and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
She cried out, *"Innalillahi wa'inna ilaihir'raji'un* (To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return). What kind of terrible suspicion is Uncle harboring against me?" She continued to weep. He had completely refused to listen to her, and today, he had gone as far as hitting her. Could it be that he had stopped loving her? Is this truly how men behave? If so, why did her father never treat her mother this way? She was utterly terrified of Uncle's volatile demeanor and had no idea what he might do to her the next day in front of her co-wives. She resolved that it was better to find a way out right now.
The moment Uncle stepped out, Tabawa emerged from between the cars. She had been lurking in the shadows, eavesdropping on everything that transpired. Hearing that Uncle was about to exit, she had scampered into hiding. She ran straight to Hadiza, panting, "My sister, come and hear the news!" She began rattling off everything she had overheard, adding, “The favorite wife just received a sound beating and a slap! You know I was hiding right by their window. She got pregnant out there at school and came back trying to deceive him, but thank God he figured it out.”
Hadiza asked in disbelief, "Are you serious, Tabawa?" Tabawa replied, "Have I ever brought you gossip that turned out to be false?" Hadiza tapped her shoulder. "Not even once. Tabawa, this definitely means the time for this wretched woman to leave has arrived. Honestly, I was more furious with her than that old hag who can no longer see but still tries to manipulate things. I'll leave her for now; let me finish with this young one first. Wow, I am so thrilled by this news, Tabawa! I will reward you with a choice kola nut in the morning. But for now, let me go to her room under the pretense of welcoming her back." Tabawa agreed, “That's a great idea; let her know that we already know her secret.”
When Hadiza entered, she found her weeping. She rushed closer and asked, "What is wrong, Aisha?" Aisha hadn't noticed Hadiza's entry until she heard her voice. She quickly covered up, saying, "My stomach hurts." Hadiza said, "Oh dear, let me call Alhaji on the phone." Aisha replied, "He already knows; he left to fetch a doctor for me." Hadiza shot her a glaring look. "He went to get a doctor himself?" Aisha nodded. Hadiza mumbled, "May Allah grant healing," and walked out.
She went straight back to Tabawa and asked, "Tabawa, is the story you gave me actually true?" Tabawa countered, "What did you see?" Hadiza narrated how their conversation went. Tabawa scoffed, "Did you expect her to sit down and confess it to you? Or did you think everyone is as blunt as you are? Hadiza said, “That cheap girl thinks she can play smart with me? We are right here in this house, and we will see how this whole drama unfolds.”
As for Uncle, the moment he stormed out, he headed straight to Jummai's quarters. She was sitting down, anxious that she might have pushed him too far and that they might reconcile. She reassured herself, *No, that's impossible,* because she trusted her spiritual medicine man (*Malam*) 100%. Just then, Alhaji walked in looking as fierce as a raging lion. She quickly stood up. "My Alhaji, is everything alright?" He sat down, panting heavily.
She said, "Please calm down, whatever the matter is." He barked, "How can I calm down? By Allah, I will never accept a pregnancy that isn't mine!" Jummai’s eyes widened as she clutched her chest. "I don’t understand. A pregnancy?" He explained, “It's Aisha! During my last visit to her place, I found her menstruating and unable to pray. Now, she shows up at my door heavily pregnant. Just because I am looking for an heir, she thinks she can dump a bastard on me?”
Sweat began to break out on Jummai, terror-stricken that the spiritual work might backfire and the pregnancy might actually turn out to be his—which would spell absolute doom for her. She turned around, intending to fuel his anger further. However, the Malam had strictly instructed her that this specific spiritual work required subtle manipulation (*kissa*), not blunt instigation.
Bracing herself, she said, "But Alhaji, could it be that she conceived during that very last visit of yours?" He glared at her. "Can a woman conceive while she is actively menstruating?" Jummai took a deep breath. "Please handle this with care." He snapped, "There is no room for carefulness in this matter!" She said, "Well, I just don't want you to divorce her hastily." To her utter surprise, he replied, "There is no question of divorce yet. First, I must find out who the hell responsible for this pregnancy." Hajiya Jummai fell silent, her entire body trembling with fear. She managed to say, "Once you find out who did it, since we are Muslims, you should consult Islamic scholars." He looked at her coldly. "Do you think you know how to handle my affairs better than I do?" She retreated, "No." He said, "Then leave me alone." He stood up and headed to his private room. She watched him walk away, often finding him impossible to read. She immediately went to her bedroom and called her close confidante, Karima, to seek advice on what steps to take, as this unexpected pregnancy had deeply terrified her.
Aisha stood up resolutely. She didn't even pick up her handbag, knowing it didn't hold a single coin. She resolved to flee the house before daybreak to avoid being publicly humiliated by him. She decided to head to Anty Nafisa's house since it was still dark.
In the morning, she borrowed transport fare from Nafisa and set off toward her hometown. Before she even reached the main road, she flagged down a commercial motorcycle, and within minutes, they arrived at Nafisa's residence. The motorcyclist waited outside while she went in to get his payment. Nafisa was so stunned to see Aisha that she couldn't even sit still until Aisha returned from paying the rider. They went into the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed.
Nafisa stared into Aisha's eyes. "Is everything alright?" Aisha sighed as tears streamed down her face. She began rattling off the entire ordeal she had been enduring and what had just transpired. Nafisa sat with her mouth agape. The situation felt like a surreal fable. She asked, "Brother explicitly stated that the pregnancy isn't his?" Aisha replied, “By Allah, he completely refused to even stand still and listen to me, let alone understand how Almighty Allah miraculously transformed the state of this pregnancy.”
Nafisa said, "This is incredibly shocking. But here is what we will do: let me call Anty Fatima. You are not going back home to your parents just yet." She immediately dialed Anty Fatima's number and, skipping any formal pleasantries, explained the crisis. Deeply shocked, Anty Fatima instructed, “Do not let her leave. I will be there first thing in the morning.”
That entire night, Aisha could not sleep. She spent the night on her prayer mat weeping and laying her burdens before Almighty Allah. Down in her heart, she couldn't bring herself to hate Uncle, which was why she constantly found excuses for his behavior. Her heart reassured her that once he learned the medical truth of how things stood, he would believe her and perhaps even apologize.
At exactly 6:00 AM, Anty Fatima arrived. She felt immense pity for Aisha, seeing how visibly exhausted, drained, and out of character the young girl looked. Fatima burst out in anger, saying, "So this is the petty cruelty Brother has resorted to now?" Nafisa defended him slightly, saying, "You know he isn't usually like this. I believe there is more to this story." Fatima replied, "Whatever the case, he knows best. For now, get up and let’s go to Hajiyarmu’s (our mother's) house. Nafisa, since your husband isn't around, you can come along, and you'll hear how it unfolds." Nafisa agreed, "Let's go, there's no problem. He is out of town anyway, but I'll call him later." They departed in Anty Fatima’s car.
Hajiyarmu hadn't even risen from her prayer mat when she heard their Islamic greetings. She raised her eyes to look at them. They sat on the carpet and waited until she finished her supplications. She looked at them and asked, "Is everything alright?" Nafisa replied, "Barely." Hajiyarmu kept her gaze fixed solely on Aisha.
Anty Fatima spoke up, "By Allah, Hajiyarmu, it's Brother who has driven Aisha to this state. She had to spend the night at Nafisa's house. Just yesterday upon her return from school, he started this toxic drama." She began explaining the details to Hajiyarmu while Nafisa chimed in with more context. Hajiyarmu remained dead silent. The room fell completely quiet as they waited for her verdict. Though she was furious, rarely could anyone read her anger except her own children.
She looked at Nafisa and Fatima and ordered, "Both of you stand up and return to your respective homes. Leave Aisha here with me." They complied, saying, "Alright," stood up, bade them farewell, and left.
Aisha remained huddled in a corner. Uwani entered carrying Hajiyarmu's breakfast and placed it before her. Hajiyarmu turned and asked, "Aisha, what would you like to eat?" Aisha replied, "Maybe later, I am not hungry right now." Hajiyarmu simply responded, “Alright.”
Once Uwani left the room, Hajiyarmu looked at her and said, “Aisha, you must be resilient. You haven't seen anything yet regarding the true nature of men. If you investigate all the women in this world, regardless of their status, wealth, or power, each one will tell you she has wept because of a man. Some weep openly, while others cry in secret, wipe their tears, and stay composed in their rooms. I want you to get used to this. I know you are naturally patient, but you must increase your patience. Dedicate yourself to prayers; one day, you will reap the rewards of your endurance and supplications. I don't want you harboring thoughts that he has been bewitched or under a spell. Accept in your heart that this is a trial from Allah. Furthermore, I do not want your biological parents to know anything about the distress you are facing. Learn to guard your marital secrets. If you inform them, it will only cause them severe panic, yet you and your husband might end up reconciling later anyway. Do you understand everything I've said?”
With her head lowered, Aisha replied, "Yes, Insha Allah, I will abide by it." Hajiyarmu said, "Thank you. Now, I want you to eat something—remember, you are not eating for yourself alone. Afterward, take a bath. Come closer and serve whatever your heart desires." She stood up, adding, "When you're done, take your bath. Let me go upstairs to see Alhajinmu (our father)." Aisha nodded, “Alright.”
With a calm demeanor, Hajiyarmu explained the entire situation to Alhajinmu. He remained silent for a long time. Finally, he exhaled deeply and said, "Very well. Let her stay here, and do not contact him." Hajiyarmu observed, "His behavior deeply baffles me lately. For no justifiable reason, he is completely derailing himself and denying himself peace of mind." Alhajinmu replied, "Leave him to me this time. I will put a definitive stop to his behavior." Hajiyarmu said, "Let me prepare your breakfast." He noted, "If there is *tuwo*, I would prefer that." She replied, "Yes, there is. Let me go warm it up for you." She left the room, while he continued to analyze their son's problem. Even his business affairs weren't running as smoothly as before. It was absolutely necessary to sit the boy down and discover if he was battling an underlying crisis.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Saddiq (Uncle) had a completely sleepless night. He thoroughly analyzed the situation, and his heart fiercely refused to believe that Aisha could ever commit such a grave immorality (*alfasha*). He questioned himself: *Could it be a cryptic medical phenomenon?* Because he was absolutely certain she was menstruating during his last visit. Hajiya Jummai had tried to soothe him, but he shut her down, warning her to leave him alone as he wanted no disturbances.
Upon returning from the Fajr (dawn) prayer, he headed straight toward her quarters. She absolutely had to explain where she harvested this pregnancy from! Did she think going to the university meant her eyes were now wide enough to play games with him? With these questions running through his mind, he pushed her door open. He searched everywhere but couldn't find her. Assuming she was in the bathroom, he waited, but the prolonged silence prompted him to check. She was nowhere to be found, and there was no trace of her.
Stunned, he walked out to the security post and approached Baba, the security guard. Ignoring the guard's warm morning greetings, he bluntly demanded, "Baba, did you see Baby (Aisha) leave?" The guard replied, “To be honest, no one has left the house today. However, late last night, the Madam who returned yesterday went out and hasn't come back.”
Uncle asked, "Is she the one you mean? She left since last night?" Baba confirmed, “Yes, exactly.”
Uncle turned back toward Jummai's quarters, his heart pounding wildly. Where on earth could the girl have gone? What was she trying to prove? He sat on the edge of his bed and fumbled for his phone. He couldn't even remember the last time he had called her number. He dialed her line, but it rang repeatedly until it timed out without being answered. He didn't even realize she had left her phone behind.
He stormed out, got into his car, and hit the main road before even figuring out where he was driving to. He called Nafisa, knowing how close they were. "Sister, did Aisha come to your place?" Nafisa fibbed, "No, is she back?" Without giving her an answer, he abruptly hung up.
He drove straight to Hajiyarmu’s house. Finding the living room empty, he headed directly to Hajiyarmu’s bedroom. He walked in right at the moment Aisha was sipping some peanut gruel (*kunun gyaɗa*) from a cup, having forced herself to drink it just so Hajiyarmu wouldn't say she disobeyed her. The moment he caught sight of her, a fresh wave of fury surged through him.
"What brought you to this house? Do you assume my parents will force me to accept a pregnancy whose origin I know nothing about?" She stared at him, her voice trembling as she pleaded, “Uncle, if only you would listen to me, you would discover how Almighty Allah brought about this miraculous event.”
He snapped, “I will not listen to any nonsense! And I want you to pack your things and get out of this house immediately!”
Hajiyarmu's voice sharply cut him off: "I don't recall this house belonging to you, does it?" He turned around swiftly. He blurted out, "Mother, do not believe a single word this girl tells you." Hajiyarmu replied dryly, "Whatever you say, my lord." Hearing this tone made him fall silent and step out of her path. She pointed toward the door. "I'll see you later, okay?" He wanted to argue, but seeing her stern face, he simply walked out. There was a mutual boundary of deep respect and formal distance between them.
He went upstairs to Alhajinmu’s quarters. The elder was eating his *tuwo*. Uncle walked in with an Islamic greeting and knelt on the carpet. To his utter shock, Alhajinmu’s face looked as ominous and dark as a severe storm cloud. In all his life, he had never seen his father look this menacing. Instant trepidation and fear gripped him. In a subdued demeanor, he greeted his father again. Without even looking at him, Alhajinmu coldly acknowledged the greeting. As Uncle made a move to stand up, Alhajinmu firmly signaled him to stay put with his hand.
He sat back down, consumed by anxiety over what would happen next. He knew Alhaji intimately; he was a gentle patriarch but could be incredibly fierce toward anyone who crossed a line. Only after Alhajinmu had fully finished his breakfast did he look at him and command, "Go and pick up your wife. Take her to the doctor. I am on my way there as well." Uncle opened his mouth to speak, but Alhajinmu cut him off sharply: “Do not say a single word to me; I want to hear nothing.”
Uncle stood up without uttering a sound. He walked out wondering what lies the girl had fed his parents to provoke such an intense fury. In his own mind, she was entirely the guilty party—and a gravely guilty one at that.
He returned to Hajiyarmu’s room with a hardened expression and snapped at Aisha, "Get up, let's go." Hajiyarmu remained completely silent. Seeing this, Aisha stood up without knowing their destination. Throughout the car ride, he didn't say a single word to her, and she didn't speak to him either, until she noticed they had pulled up at the hospital.
Before their arrival, the doctor had already been briefed via a phone call from Alhajinmu. The moment they walked in, the doctor began questioning Aisha. "When was your last menstrual period?" Uncle fixed his eyes on her while the doctor took notes. She replied, “It has been six days now.”
The doctor dropped his pen, placed his hands on the desk, and gave her his undivided attention. "Do you mean you still experience your monthly period?" She replied, “Yes. This pregnancy occurred right after the miscarriage I had seven months ago.”
No one had heard Alhajinmu's footsteps until his voice suddenly echoed through the room: "Exactly, because the pregnancy never actually miscarried." They all turned around to look at him as he walked in. He addressed the doctor, “That is why I instructed you to pull her medical file, review it, and examine her thoroughly.”
The doctor offered him a seat and continued his work. Uncle listened to them in utter bewilderment, assuming this was a grand narrative she had manufactured to deceive the elders. After exhaustive questioning, physical examinations, and diagnostic tests, the doctor called a radiologist to perform an ultrasound scan. Once the results were printed and handed over, the doctor compiled the data and delivered the verdict: the previous pregnancy had never been lost, it was completely intact, and the fetus was in perfect health.
Uncle quickly interjected, "Doctor, is it biologically possible for women to menstruate while pregnant?" The doctor sat him down and g
Stammering, she looked at him and said, “That is why I have been calling you; I wanted to explain things to you, but you wouldn’t listen to me.”
He retorted, "Explain what?" He continued, raising his voice, “Don't you dare tell me you are pregnant!”
Her eyes widened as her heart skipped a beat. He asked, "Is that what it is?" She nodded her head. He quickly sprang to his feet. "Where on earth did you get it from?" Hearing his words made her stomach churn in distress. What did Uncle mean? Before she could comprehend what was happening, she felt him fiercely grab her by the collar.
"Is this what you are going to do to me, Aisha?" He slightly softened his voice, adding, "You know very well that during my last visit to your place, you were menstruating, right?" With a trembling voice, she replied, "Yes, but..." Before she could finish, he caught her off guard with a devastating slap across the face. "But what?" He shoved her violently onto the bed. “You have ruined me! Just because I am desperately seeking to have children, your eyes are blinded enough to bring a bastard into my house? Aisha, you have made a terrible mistake. Now, I want you to tell me exactly who the father of this pregnancy is!”
She wept bitterly as if her soul were about to depart, wishing she would just die to find relief from this agonizing misery. He threatened, "Are you going to tell me, or do you want me to completely lose my temper with you?" He felt a burning urge to choke the life out of her just to be at peace. He glared at her furiously. "Listen to me carefully: before tomorrow morning, make sure you figure out a way to inform me exactly who responsible for this pregnancy." He turned around sharply and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
She cried out, *"Innalillahi wa'inna ilaihir'raji'un* (To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return). What kind of terrible suspicion is Uncle harboring against me?" She continued to weep. He had completely refused to listen to her, and today, he had gone as far as hitting her. Could it be that he had stopped loving her? Is this truly how men behave? If so, why did her father never treat her mother this way? She was utterly terrified of Uncle's volatile demeanor and had no idea what he might do to her the next day in front of her co-wives. She resolved that it was better to find a way out right now.
The moment Uncle stepped out, Tabawa emerged from between the cars. She had been lurking in the shadows, eavesdropping on everything that transpired. Hearing that Uncle was about to exit, she had scampered into hiding. She ran straight to Hadiza, panting, "My sister, come and hear the news!" She began rattling off everything she had overheard, adding, “The favorite wife just received a sound beating and a slap! You know I was hiding right by their window. She got pregnant out there at school and came back trying to deceive him, but thank God he figured it out.”
Hadiza asked in disbelief, "Are you serious, Tabawa?" Tabawa replied, "Have I ever brought you gossip that turned out to be false?" Hadiza tapped her shoulder. "Not even once. Tabawa, this definitely means the time for this wretched woman to leave has arrived. Honestly, I was more furious with her than that old hag who can no longer see but still tries to manipulate things. I'll leave her for now; let me finish with this young one first. Wow, I am so thrilled by this news, Tabawa! I will reward you with a choice kola nut in the morning. But for now, let me go to her room under the pretense of welcoming her back." Tabawa agreed, “That's a great idea; let her know that we already know her secret.”
When Hadiza entered, she found her weeping. She rushed closer and asked, "What is wrong, Aisha?" Aisha hadn't noticed Hadiza's entry until she heard her voice. She quickly covered up, saying, "My stomach hurts." Hadiza said, "Oh dear, let me call Alhaji on the phone." Aisha replied, "He already knows; he left to fetch a doctor for me." Hadiza shot her a glaring look. "He went to get a doctor himself?" Aisha nodded. Hadiza mumbled, "May Allah grant healing," and walked out.
She went straight back to Tabawa and asked, "Tabawa, is the story you gave me actually true?" Tabawa countered, "What did you see?" Hadiza narrated how their conversation went. Tabawa scoffed, "Did you expect her to sit down and confess it to you? Or did you think everyone is as blunt as you are? Hadiza said, “That cheap girl thinks she can play smart with me? We are right here in this house, and we will see how this whole drama unfolds.”
As for Uncle, the moment he stormed out, he headed straight to Jummai's quarters. She was sitting down, anxious that she might have pushed him too far and that they might reconcile. She reassured herself, *No, that's impossible,* because she trusted her spiritual medicine man (*Malam*) 100%. Just then, Alhaji walked in looking as fierce as a raging lion. She quickly stood up. "My Alhaji, is everything alright?" He sat down, panting heavily.
She said, "Please calm down, whatever the matter is." He barked, "How can I calm down? By Allah, I will never accept a pregnancy that isn't mine!" Jummai’s eyes widened as she clutched her chest. "I don’t understand. A pregnancy?" He explained, “It's Aisha! During my last visit to her place, I found her menstruating and unable to pray. Now, she shows up at my door heavily pregnant. Just because I am looking for an heir, she thinks she can dump a bastard on me?”
Sweat began to break out on Jummai, terror-stricken that the spiritual work might backfire and the pregnancy might actually turn out to be his—which would spell absolute doom for her. She turned around, intending to fuel his anger further. However, the Malam had strictly instructed her that this specific spiritual work required subtle manipulation (*kissa*), not blunt instigation.
Bracing herself, she said, "But Alhaji, could it be that she conceived during that very last visit of yours?" He glared at her. "Can a woman conceive while she is actively menstruating?" Jummai took a deep breath. "Please handle this with care." He snapped, "There is no room for carefulness in this matter!" She said, "Well, I just don't want you to divorce her hastily." To her utter surprise, he replied, "There is no question of divorce yet. First, I must find out who the hell responsible for this pregnancy." Hajiya Jummai fell silent, her entire body trembling with fear. She managed to say, "Once you find out who did it, since we are Muslims, you should consult Islamic scholars." He looked at her coldly. "Do you think you know how to handle my affairs better than I do?" She retreated, "No." He said, "Then leave me alone." He stood up and headed to his private room. She watched him walk away, often finding him impossible to read. She immediately went to her bedroom and called her close confidante, Karima, to seek advice on what steps to take, as this unexpected pregnancy had deeply terrified her.
Aisha stood up resolutely. She didn't even pick up her handbag, knowing it didn't hold a single coin. She resolved to flee the house before daybreak to avoid being publicly humiliated by him. She decided to head to Anty Nafisa's house since it was still dark.
In the morning, she borrowed transport fare from Nafisa and set off toward her hometown. Before she even reached the main road, she flagged down a commercial motorcycle, and within minutes, they arrived at Nafisa's residence. The motorcyclist waited outside while she went in to get his payment. Nafisa was so stunned to see Aisha that she couldn't even sit still until Aisha returned from paying the rider. They went into the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed.
Nafisa stared into Aisha's eyes. "Is everything alright?" Aisha sighed as tears streamed down her face. She began rattling off the entire ordeal she had been enduring and what had just transpired. Nafisa sat with her mouth agape. The situation felt like a surreal fable. She asked, "Brother explicitly stated that the pregnancy isn't his?" Aisha replied, “By Allah, he completely refused to even stand still and listen to me, let alone understand how Almighty Allah miraculously transformed the state of this pregnancy.”
Nafisa said, "This is incredibly shocking. But here is what we will do: let me call Anty Fatima. You are not going back home to your parents just yet." She immediately dialed Anty Fatima's number and, skipping any formal pleasantries, explained the crisis. Deeply shocked, Anty Fatima instructed, “Do not let her leave. I will be there first thing in the morning.”
That entire night, Aisha could not sleep. She spent the night on her prayer mat weeping and laying her burdens before Almighty Allah. Down in her heart, she couldn't bring herself to hate Uncle, which was why she constantly found excuses for his behavior. Her heart reassured her that once he learned the medical truth of how things stood, he would believe her and perhaps even apologize.
At exactly 6:00 AM, Anty Fatima arrived. She felt immense pity for Aisha, seeing how visibly exhausted, drained, and out of character the young girl looked. Fatima burst out in anger, saying, "So this is the petty cruelty Brother has resorted to now?" Nafisa defended him slightly, saying, "You know he isn't usually like this. I believe there is more to this story." Fatima replied, "Whatever the case, he knows best. For now, get up and let’s go to Hajiyarmu’s (our mother's) house. Nafisa, since your husband isn't around, you can come along, and you'll hear how it unfolds." Nafisa agreed, "Let's go, there's no problem. He is out of town anyway, but I'll call him later." They departed in Anty Fatima’s car.
Hajiyarmu hadn't even risen from her prayer mat when she heard their Islamic greetings. She raised her eyes to look at them. They sat on the carpet and waited until she finished her supplications. She looked at them and asked, "Is everything alright?" Nafisa replied, "Barely." Hajiyarmu kept her gaze fixed solely on Aisha.
Anty Fatima spoke up, "By Allah, Hajiyarmu, it's Brother who has driven Aisha to this state. She had to spend the night at Nafisa's house. Just yesterday upon her return from school, he started this toxic drama." She began explaining the details to Hajiyarmu while Nafisa chimed in with more context. Hajiyarmu remained dead silent. The room fell completely quiet as they waited for her verdict. Though she was furious, rarely could anyone read her anger except her own children.
She looked at Nafisa and Fatima and ordered, "Both of you stand up and return to your respective homes. Leave Aisha here with me." They complied, saying, "Alright," stood up, bade them farewell, and left.
Aisha remained huddled in a corner. Uwani entered carrying Hajiyarmu's breakfast and placed it before her. Hajiyarmu turned and asked, "Aisha, what would you like to eat?" Aisha replied, "Maybe later, I am not hungry right now." Hajiyarmu simply responded, “Alright.”
Once Uwani left the room, Hajiyarmu looked at her and said, “Aisha, you must be resilient. You haven't seen anything yet regarding the true nature of men. If you investigate all the women in this world, regardless of their status, wealth, or power, each one will tell you she has wept because of a man. Some weep openly, while others cry in secret, wipe their tears, and stay composed in their rooms. I want you to get used to this. I know you are naturally patient, but you must increase your patience. Dedicate yourself to prayers; one day, you will reap the rewards of your endurance and supplications. I don't want you harboring thoughts that he has been bewitched or under a spell. Accept in your heart that this is a trial from Allah. Furthermore, I do not want your biological parents to know anything about the distress you are facing. Learn to guard your marital secrets. If you inform them, it will only cause them severe panic, yet you and your husband might end up reconciling later anyway. Do you understand everything I've said?”
With her head lowered, Aisha replied, "Yes, Insha Allah, I will abide by it." Hajiyarmu said, "Thank you. Now, I want you to eat something—remember, you are not eating for yourself alone. Afterward, take a bath. Come closer and serve whatever your heart desires." She stood up, adding, "When you're done, take your bath. Let me go upstairs to see Alhajinmu (our father)." Aisha nodded, “Alright.”
With a calm demeanor, Hajiyarmu explained the entire situation to Alhajinmu. He remained silent for a long time. Finally, he exhaled deeply and said, "Very well. Let her stay here, and do not contact him." Hajiyarmu observed, "His behavior deeply baffles me lately. For no justifiable reason, he is completely derailing himself and denying himself peace of mind." Alhajinmu replied, "Leave him to me this time. I will put a definitive stop to his behavior." Hajiyarmu said, "Let me prepare your breakfast." He noted, "If there is *tuwo*, I would prefer that." She replied, "Yes, there is. Let me go warm it up for you." She left the room, while he continued to analyze their son's problem. Even his business affairs weren't running as smoothly as before. It was absolutely necessary to sit the boy down and discover if he was battling an underlying crisis.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Saddiq (Uncle) had a completely sleepless night. He thoroughly analyzed the situation, and his heart fiercely refused to believe that Aisha could ever commit such a grave immorality (*alfasha*). He questioned himself: *Could it be a cryptic medical phenomenon?* Because he was absolutely certain she was menstruating during his last visit. Hajiya Jummai had tried to soothe him, but he shut her down, warning her to leave him alone as he wanted no disturbances.
Upon returning from the Fajr (dawn) prayer, he headed straight toward her quarters. She absolutely had to explain where she harvested this pregnancy from! Did she think going to the university meant her eyes were now wide enough to play games with him? With these questions running through his mind, he pushed her door open. He searched everywhere but couldn't find her. Assuming she was in the bathroom, he waited, but the prolonged silence prompted him to check. She was nowhere to be found, and there was no trace of her.
Stunned, he walked out to the security post and approached Baba, the security guard. Ignoring the guard's warm morning greetings, he bluntly demanded, "Baba, did you see Baby (Aisha) leave?" The guard replied, “To be honest, no one has left the house today. However, late last night, the Madam who returned yesterday went out and hasn't come back.”
Uncle asked, "Is she the one you mean? She left since last night?" Baba confirmed, “Yes, exactly.”
Uncle turned back toward Jummai's quarters, his heart pounding wildly. Where on earth could the girl have gone? What was she trying to prove? He sat on the edge of his bed and fumbled for his phone. He couldn't even remember the last time he had called her number. He dialed her line, but it rang repeatedly until it timed out without being answered. He didn't even realize she had left her phone behind.
He stormed out, got into his car, and hit the main road before even figuring out where he was driving to. He called Nafisa, knowing how close they were. "Sister, did Aisha come to your place?" Nafisa fibbed, "No, is she back?" Without giving her an answer, he abruptly hung up.
He drove straight to Hajiyarmu’s house. Finding the living room empty, he headed directly to Hajiyarmu’s bedroom. He walked in right at the moment Aisha was sipping some peanut gruel (*kunun gyaɗa*) from a cup, having forced herself to drink it just so Hajiyarmu wouldn't say she disobeyed her. The moment he caught sight of her, a fresh wave of fury surged through him.
"What brought you to this house? Do you assume my parents will force me to accept a pregnancy whose origin I know nothing about?" She stared at him, her voice trembling as she pleaded, “Uncle, if only you would listen to me, you would discover how Almighty Allah brought about this miraculous event.”
He snapped, “I will not listen to any nonsense! And I want you to pack your things and get out of this house immediately!”
Hajiyarmu's voice sharply cut him off: "I don't recall this house belonging to you, does it?" He turned around swiftly. He blurted out, "Mother, do not believe a single word this girl tells you." Hajiyarmu replied dryly, "Whatever you say, my lord." Hearing this tone made him fall silent and step out of her path. She pointed toward the door. "I'll see you later, okay?" He wanted to argue, but seeing her stern face, he simply walked out. There was a mutual boundary of deep respect and formal distance between them.
He went upstairs to Alhajinmu’s quarters. The elder was eating his *tuwo*. Uncle walked in with an Islamic greeting and knelt on the carpet. To his utter shock, Alhajinmu’s face looked as ominous and dark as a severe storm cloud. In all his life, he had never seen his father look this menacing. Instant trepidation and fear gripped him. In a subdued demeanor, he greeted his father again. Without even looking at him, Alhajinmu coldly acknowledged the greeting. As Uncle made a move to stand up, Alhajinmu firmly signaled him to stay put with his hand.
He sat back down, consumed by anxiety over what would happen next. He knew Alhaji intimately; he was a gentle patriarch but could be incredibly fierce toward anyone who crossed a line. Only after Alhajinmu had fully finished his breakfast did he look at him and command, "Go and pick up your wife. Take her to the doctor. I am on my way there as well." Uncle opened his mouth to speak, but Alhajinmu cut him off sharply: “Do not say a single word to me; I want to hear nothing.”
Uncle stood up without uttering a sound. He walked out wondering what lies the girl had fed his parents to provoke such an intense fury. In his own mind, she was entirely the guilty party—and a gravely guilty one at that.
He returned to Hajiyarmu’s room with a hardened expression and snapped at Aisha, "Get up, let's go." Hajiyarmu remained completely silent. Seeing this, Aisha stood up without knowing their destination. Throughout the car ride, he didn't say a single word to her, and she didn't speak to him either, until she noticed they had pulled up at the hospital.
Before their arrival, the doctor had already been briefed via a phone call from Alhajinmu. The moment they walked in, the doctor began questioning Aisha. "When was your last menstrual period?" Uncle fixed his eyes on her while the doctor took notes. She replied, “It has been six days now.”
The doctor dropped his pen, placed his hands on the desk, and gave her his undivided attention. "Do you mean you still experience your monthly period?" She replied, “Yes. This pregnancy occurred right after the miscarriage I had seven months ago.”
No one had heard Alhajinmu's footsteps until his voice suddenly echoed through the room: "Exactly, because the pregnancy never actually miscarried." They all turned around to look at him as he walked in. He addressed the doctor, “That is why I instructed you to pull her medical file, review it, and examine her thoroughly.”
The doctor offered him a seat and continued his work. Uncle listened to them in utter bewilderment, assuming this was a grand narrative she had manufactured to deceive the elders. After exhaustive questioning, physical examinations, and diagnostic tests, the doctor called a radiologist to perform an ultrasound scan. Once the results were printed and handed over, the doctor compiled the data and delivered the verdict: the previous pregnancy had never been lost, it was completely intact, and the fetus was in perfect health.
Uncle quickly interjected, "Doctor, is it biologically possible for women to menstruate while pregnant?" The doctor sat him down and g