Sawun Giwa Book 1 by Autar Alheri

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SAWUN GIWA BOOK 1 COMPELET BY AUTAR ALHERI 

"...we inherited from our parents and ancestors."
Uncle Oussama glared at Mummy with a mounting fury, utterly devoid of a single drop of sympathy for her, unlike his other siblings. He said, "So, what are you disturbing people with all this crying for now? Whoever brings the rain upon themselves must endure the storm. I have never seen a woman like you; just because you went to the white man's land, you suddenly think you belong to the exact same race. You failed to differentiate between good and evil, abandoned the teachings of your religion, and clung to those whom Almighty Allah has explicitly told us—right here in this world—are the fuel of hellfire (the Jews and Christians).
Granted, there is nowhere a person's livelihood and life circumstances might not take them, but a Muslim must always remember who they are wherever they find themselves; they must guard the honor of their religion and its teachings. Living among them and interacting with them (Ahl al-Kitab—the People of the Book) is not forbidden in Islam, but children are a trust in the hands of parents. It is mandatory to keep a close eye on their interactions and lifestyles, and to reprimand them where reprimanding is needed.
Blind love for children is not a favor to them. Therefore, you will cry even more than Mu'azzam since you are his mother and you love his desires more than his own well-being—you utter failure! To think Balkissa even claimed the women were reformed by Aalimah, yet they walk around dressed in short tops and trousers, with no headscarves, looking just like goats!"
Thus, Uncle Oussama laid out his harsh truths to Mummy completely, while she could not even lift her head. Malam sat in total silence, his mouth and heart immobilized by intense pity for Mu'az. Only after Oussama fell silent did Aalimah's father, Dr. Mansour, clear his throat. Looking toward Uncle Edrissa, he said:
"I do not deny your point, Brother Oussama. Nor do I object to seeking our traditional home remedies for Mu'azzam. However, the idea that he should abandon his medical treatment and stop taking his doctors' prescriptions is completely out of the question. In truth, this is a distinct, recognized medical illness. I personally encountered it during research we conducted for the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding ways to reduce mental health disorders within communities. This is not a case of demonic possession (bugun aljannu), nor is it found exclusively in America. By Allah, it exists right here in Nigeria where I live; it is just that our society does not recognize it as a mental health deficiency, choosing instead to dismiss it as a mere behavioral trait (dabi'a). Therefore, my advice is to kill two birds with one stone: Mu'azzam should continue taking his hospital medications, while you also make your own traditional efforts. Let us join together in praying to Allah to remove this affliction from him entirely."
Everyone fully agreed with Dr. Mansour's advice, as he had always possessed the sharpest wisdom in the family.
"Therefore, we will set Mu'azzam's matter aside for now and return to him later once we are more settled. Right now, we are addressing those who are healthy. Ishaq, where do things stand regarding your children's marriage? And you, Mansour, what is the situation between Aalimah and Aboubacar?" asked Uncle Oussama.
Daddy Ishaq shifted in his seat and said, "It is not as if I refuse to marry them off. If it were entirely up to me, I would have married them off a long time ago. They already agreed among themselves five years ago. I simply did not want to encroach upon Mansour's domain; I wanted him and Aseeya to fulfill their ultimate aspirations for Aalimah, so he wouldn't feel I was being selfish."
Dr. Mansour opened his eyes wide, staring at his elder brother in total confusion. Edrissa asked, "How do you mean? Who exactly agreed among themselves?"
"Aboulkhair and Aalimah."
Their faces instantly lit up, revealing the joy this news brought to their hearts. Malam remarked, "Since when does marriage prevent an aspiration from being fulfilled, or does it rather help it succeed? Besides, what grand aspiration do Mansour and his wife even hold for Aalimah? Is a daughter's future vowed away in a manner that bars her from marriage?"
At that point, Daddy Ishaq unfolded the entire truth to them, explaining that he was not the one funding Aalimah's education. He related everything that had transpired.
Dr. Mansour Raazee looked at his brother, visibly moved to the brink of tears, and said, "You did not do right by me, Brother! For five years, Aboulkhair has been waiting in love for Aalimah, even though you yourself are the one authorized to solemnize her marriage. It was Aseeya who insisted on this schooling, not me; and even she, if she had known Aboulkhair was the one seeking to marry Aalimah, would never have stood in the way. Five years, Brother? I am deeply saddened by this. At the very least, you should have told me or sought my counsel. If Aboulkhair still loves Aalimah and has not changed his mind despite the long years he was forced to wait, I give her to him in marriage for this world and the hereafter. Furthermore, I demand nothing else from him besides the dowry. And if it is permitted, I will even pay that dowry on his behalf."
Uncle Oussama interjected, "Well, we do not permit you to do that. He will pay it himself out of his own pocket. Now, what about Aboubacar and Basma? Where do they stand? Is the rumor Inna Bintou is spreading—that they have agreed to marry—actually true?"
Dr. Mansour fell silent for a moment before replying somberly, "I am aware of the matter, but I never gave it any serious weight, based on my own solid reasons."
"Which Aboubacar and which Basma?" Daddy Ishaq asked in absolute surprise, eager to be pulled out of the dark.
Malam then informed him that he had known about the matter for a long time through their mothers. He had assumed Ishaq knew as well, which was why he had been waiting silently for them to bring the topic forward. Seeing that they seemed intent on waiting until after his death, he wanted the matter completely settled today. Even if he did not live to see their future children, he wanted to witness their marriage union and thank Allah.
Daddy looked at his younger brother, his heart swimming in a profound happiness that he could not conceal on his face.
"You didn't give the matter any weight based on what reasons? Between you and me, who is truly failing his brother more?"
Dr. Mansour smiled and lowered his head, "Please understand me, all of you. Neither of them can reside in the country where the other lives. Each has a highly structured life where they currently are. Furthermore, it would be extremely difficult for Basma to leave her parents and siblings behind to come live with us in Nigeria. I also believe his financial earning capacity is not yet sufficient to sustain her, considering the privileged lifestyle in which she was raised."
Daddy Ishaq smiled, his affection for his younger brother deepening. Whenever Mansour did anything, he analyzed it thoroughly from every sphere, leaving no stone unturned:
"Well, I myself am on the verge of leaving America."
Not only Mummy Zulaiha, but everyone in the living room spun around to look at him. He nodded to confirm his statement, then continued his explanation while looking directly at his wife.
"I only stayed in America this long because of Mu'azzam, so he could receive proper medical treatment. I did not want us to relocate entirely and leave him all alone, considering his job and the condition he is in, stranded without any family in the country he inhabits. But truth be told, ever since his problems began, I lost all affection for America. I have been carrying the silent weight of Mu'azzam's burdens. Today, by laying it all bare to you, I feel as though a massive boulder has been lifted from my chest. At least now I know I am not charting this distressing course alone; I have people sharing my burden, if only through prayers. My current target is for Aboulkhair to secure employment, get married, and live close to him, while I seek a job here in Niamey and relocate permanently."
"May Allah bless you," said Malam Raazee. "And may Allah grant him full health," added Uncle Oussama and Uncle Edrissa.
They did not conclude the meeting until they had firmly fixed the wedding dates for their four children. Daddy shared that he held great aspirations for Khaleesat; he had long noticed the mutual understanding between her and Hamoud before he departed for Japan, where he was undergoing a naval military course that he would complete the following year. Uncle Oussama was left completely speechless. He had been quietly reserving her for his own son, yet he had spoken such harsh, hurtful words to Ishaq moments earlier. Wiping away a stray tear, he began to say, *"Pardonne-moi, mon frère"*—which translates to 'Forgive me, my brother' in French.
"You have done nothing wrong to me, Brother. It was purely out of deep love and care that you became so heavily invested in Mu'azzam's situation."
Their father raised his hands and offered prayers for all of them. He bestowed his blessings upon them, praying that they live fulfilled lives, finish well in this world, and that Allah multiply their mutual love for one another.
The wedding of Aboulkhair to Aalimah, and Aboubacar to Basma, was set for three months' time. During this period, Aboulkhair successfully passed his medical specialty examinations—the ones they call 'primaries' in Psychiatry—thereby becoming a junior registrar. Two years later, he cleared his Part 1 examinations with flying colors, advancing to the rank of senior registrar in Psychiatry. He forwarded his employment applications directly to Desert Parkway Hospital in Las Vegas, solely so he could live close to his brother and closely monitor his well-being; this was why he deliberately avoided seeking employment in the city where his parents resided.
In his estimation, Mu'azzam needed his presence far more than anyone else, even though he knew Mu'az would never agree to them sharing a house due to his intense aversion to noise and intrusion. But at the very least, being in the same city meant he could visit whenever he wished, transferring the entirety of Mu'azzam's care onto his own shoulders—after all, it was precisely because of his brother that he had specialized in this medical field in the first place.
After practicing for two or three years, his plan was to return to Johns Hopkins to take the final evaluation, known as the Part 2 examination. Once he passed, he would officially become a fully certified Consultant Neuro-Psychiatrist. All of this grueling academic labor and unwavering dedication was not for Aboulkhair's own sake, nor was it for personal ambition or building his own future; it was entirely driven by his devotion to managing the health of his older brother, Mu'azzam.
6/29/21, 9:00 AM - Buhainat: 6
When he walked into the house, Aalimah was lying on the three-seater couch, her eyes gently closed as if asleep, holding a prayer rosary (carbi) in her hand. She did not hear his entry at all until he sat down, gently lifting her feet out of the way and placing them across his lap. He began gazing at her toes as though he were seeing them for the very first time. Softly, and without uttering a single word, he began pulling her toes one by one. The soles of her exceptionally soft feet, beautifully adorned with rich red henna patterns, were entirely cupped within his hands. Aalimah squeezed her eyes shut even tighter. This was an entirely unprecedented experience for her since reaching maturity—having her body in such intimate proximity to a man, and not just any man, but the very person her heart and soul had spent years dreaming of possessing: Aboulkhair, her cousin, who now rightfully answered to the title of her husband, the anchor of her life.
He began slowly unwrapping her massive veil while whispering her name. Gathering her completely into his arms, he lifted her against his body. Once he succeeded in removing the outer veil, Aalimah was left wearing only the nightgown Gumsu had selected for her—a garment Gumsu insisted was the most appropriate attire for her on this monumental day, having selected an identical one for Basma. He did nothing but call her name, desperately wanting her to open her eyes so he could look into the pupils he had been denied the privilege of seeing for so long, while his arms enveloped her tightly against his entire being.
Deep, rhythmic sighs escaped both Aboulkhair and Aalimah at regular intervals, their hearts vividly reminding them of the sheer length of time they had spent waiting for the arrival of this specific day—five solid years! It proved that with patience, adherence to divine laws, and obedience to parents, no matter how distant a goal seems, it will one day be reached through a pure, honorable path.
On this deeply historic night of her life, Aboulkhair Ishaq Raazee proved to her that he had suffered immensely while harboring his love for her and waiting for this momentous day—days that had dragged by so painfully slow it felt as though this night would never arrive. He demonstrated his love explicitly through a tender, captivating manner that leaves a permanent mark on a woman's heart. Aalimah fully recognized and accepted it; tonight, the depth of Aboulkhair's love completely overwhelmed her own, despite how fiercely she used to believe her own heart was uniquely consumed by him. Though she had initially resolved to maintain her inner composure, believing his advances would be gentle and measured given his usual compassionate and protective nature toward her, she ultimately realized that tonight was a night of unyielding, relentless passion in Aboulkhair's life. She found herself completely powerless to resist or break free, entirely surrendered to whatever Aboulkhair desired with her life.
Throughout the entire night, Aboulkhair did not return to his usual, gentle self until he realized that despite all of Aalimah's compliance and the endurance she displayed just to ensure his absolute fulfillment—and to prove that he was not alone in enduring the trials of those five long years—he had actually pushed her physical limits and caused her no small amount of bodily soreness.
He was a physician and she was a pharmacist; thus, they combined their professional knowledge to manage their situation entirely on their own, without seeking outside help and without anyone knowing or seeing. Even when Gumsu came to bid them farewell the following morning and unleashed an onslaught of playful teasing, Aalimah remained utterly silent, doing nothing but smiling and covering her face in bashfulness. As for Aboulkhair, the moment they arrived, he slipped away from the house without even exchanging formal morning greetings. It was the first time in his entire life that he felt an overwhelming wave of shyness in front of Mummy. He thanked Allah that Mu'az was not present; looking into Mu'az's eyes today while being asked how the bride fared overnight would have been an absolute crisis for him. This was because Mu'az read him perfectly like the palm of his hand, whether he voiced his thoughts aloud or not.
Their farewell was brief, and they departed; Mu'azzam's personal driver was assigned to transport them all the way to Massachusetts, as Mu'az strictly forbade them from using public commercial transport. He had also explicitly ordered that Aboulkhair should not drive, so he wouldn't leave his new wife sitting isolated in a vehicle through territories she was entirely unfamiliar with.
"Have they left?" Aboulkhair asked Aalimah from the doorway, poking his head into the room with a sheepish, guilty expression.
She simply smiled without turning around, continuing to apply lotion to her smooth skin. It was obvious she had just stepped out of the shower.
He walked fully into the room and approached her, wrapping his arms around her from behind and deeply inhaling the scent of the bathrobe she wore. Pressing her firmly against his body, he closed his eyes in bliss. Finally, he turned her around completely so they faced one another. He gazed at her as if he wanted to swallow her whole out of sheer love, his hands resting on her shoulders, his forehead pressed against hers, their noses gently brushing.
He whispered, "Lie down, Gumsu's daughter, let me inspect the stitches."
She immediately placed both hands over her face and recoiled, attempting to bolt from the room. He swiftly caught her in his grasp.
"We are well past that stage, Aalimah. Lie down so I can check."
The absolute seriousness in his tone compelled her to comply with his instruction.
He pulled her into a tight embrace, whispering, "I'm sorry Aal, really sorry. It wasn't the old Aboulkhair who committed this offense; it was Aalimah's brand-new husband. You know the old Aboulkhair is naturally compassionate, right?"
He began showering her with kisses in every nook and cranny, pleading for her forgiveness. She gently sealed his lips with her soft fingers.
"Aalimah is nothing but his wife, whom Allah has permitted him to approach whenever he wishes, in whatever manner he commands; she is a harvest field for him. Even if it is Aboulkhair repeating this exact offense tenfold right now, Aalimah stands entirely ready to receive him under any circumstance, Monsieur Aboulkhair. I know it is not a lack of tenderness; it is deep love. A love from Aboulkhair to Aalimah that is pure, deeply rooted, and possesses a long history—one thoroughly worthy of being published in a book, if only I knew how to write."
A radiant smile spread across Aboulkhair's face, emanating directly from his heart. Simultaneously, intertwining his fingers through her soft hair, he said:
"It is a good thing you don't know how. Just imagine! The readers would be saying... they'd say..."
Aalimah burst into laughter and asked, "They'd say what?"
He playfully pinched her nose with some force and said, "I refuse to tell you, lest you actually begin writing a book about me. You should rather begin writing about that mother of yours, Gumsu, the one with the forever-youthful heart."
They both laughed out loud, missing her dearly.
He added, "In this world, I love Aunt Gumsu, but lately she has really been getting on my nerves—she's annoying."
Aalimah replied, "You haven't even seen what she did to Basma; ours was a mere luxury compared to theirs. She went as far as inspecting her bedsheets, carrying them room to room, insisting that those who hadn't seen them must come and look."
He shook his head and said, "That is precisely why I took the initiative to personally wash and scrub my own sheets immediately, so she wouldn't take a photo and send it to Niger."
The subsequent three days ushered in a beautiful life saturated with deep romantic love for Aboulkhair and Aalimah within their home. They cooked together, ate together, played, laughed, and continuously kept each other in high spirits. He nurtured and nursed her attentively until she fully recovered from her physical soreness. Unless it was absolutely necessary to buy essential provisions, he never stepped foot outside. As for their prayers, they performed them in congregation together, just the two of them, five times a day. They locked up her room entirely and made exclusive use of his. They developed a magnificent, breathtaking bond that far surpassed the connection of the previous five years.
Today, they were seated at their small dining table, which had only two chairs and was located directly inside their kitchen, enjoying their afternoon lunch. His phone rang. He glanced at it from the corner of his eye with no initial intention of answering. Lately, answering calls had become quite a chore for him, and his phone remained turned off most of the time as he tried to exhaust the remainder of his leave days. However, upon seeing the identity of the caller, he answered instantly.
Aalimah watched as his entire focus shifted completely to the phone call, and he stood up. Even his voice altered drastically, speaking with the utmost reverence.
"I didn't realize you had arrived in town, otherwise I would have come immediately to unpack your bags. Please grant me permission to bring Aalimah over to pay her respects to my elder brother; she has never met you before."
She could not hear the response Mu'azzam gave on the other end, but she saw Aboulkhair grow even more deferential, pleading with him to allow them to come. He went so far as to tell him to explicitly state the exact number of minutes he could spare them out of his own mouth, so that if they exceeded them tomorrow, he would never expect them to visit again. An intense wave of irritation washed over Aalimah as she sat there. Who on earth is this king of pride? Is it absolutely mandatory to visit him? What exactly is he distributing that requires begging just to enter his presence?
Before she could finish her line of thought, she saw Aboulkhair toss his phone aside, grab her, and pull her to her feet. With immense excitement, he urged, "Prepare a dish—the absolute most delicious meal you can make with a rich aroma—so we can take it to Mu'azzam. Hurry, he has only granted us exactly thirty minutes when we get there. He has a seminar tomorrow with ConocoPhillips Oil & Gas and is currently preparing; do not waste time!"
Aalimah tilted her head skeptically and said, "What should I cook? I don't even know what he likes?"
He sat back down and began listing requirements.
"The most delicious meal possible, packed with aroma and Maggi seasoning."
She couldn't help but burst into laughter; she was now utterly certain that Aboulkhair held a profound, almost desperate love for his older brother, as she had never seen him take anyone's matters this seriously before.
"Every meal requires aroma and Maggi seasoning; I mean, what specific type of food does he actually prefer?"
"That is a massive crisis," Aboulkhair admitted. "To be honest, a menu is usually sent to him directly from the Waldorf Astoria (the most famous restaurant in Las Vegas) for him to select what he wants, so even I don't truly know. But what do you think is appropriate?"
Aalimah felt like crying. In her mind, she thought, Just out of nowhere, you are inviting a storm upon my head; this arrogant prince of yours is a burden only you can carry. Aloud, she suggested, "How about Burabisko (steamed cracked millet) with Miyar Taushe (pumpkin stew)?"
His eyes widened in shock. "You cannot be serious. You want to cook millet for him so he chokes on it? Do you even understand the caliber of person I am talking about right now?"
"You said his name is Mu'azzam."
He countered, "Don't you know who our elder brother is?"
Seeing that he was beginning to lose his temper, she forced herself to become completely cooperative. Truth be told, she had harbored a strong dislike for this Mu'azzam character from the moment she understood his lifestyle, coupled with the complaints his younger siblings always made regarding his extreme unpleasantness and rigid nature. Furthermore, she had spent five whole years living in Ishaq Raazee's household, and not once had this Mu'azzam ever set foot in the house under the guise of visiting his parents. Instead, it was always Mummy who was constantly on the road to his house—what a backwards life! Now, she realized something even deeper: Aboulkhair did not prioritize anyone's affairs over Mu'azzam's; she herself meant absolutely nothing the moment Mu'azzam was involved. She had to be extremely careful to preserve her dignity in the eyes of her loving husband.
In a beautiful, soothing tone, she said, "I think we should make him Tuwo. Understand me, Mon Amour (my love); we shouldn't bring him the kind of western food he is already accustomed to eating, as we won't impress him. Authentic African cuisine is what is required. If Mu'azzam fails to eat my Tuwo, you have my full permission to slap me three times."
He couldn't help but smile, though she had genuinely annoyed him initially by treating the matter of Mu'azzam like a simple game of wits. However, he excused her behavior; after all, she didn't know him, had never seen him, and knew absolutely nothing about his true nature.
He went to take a shower while she set to work, dedicating herself to preparing a beautiful, snow-white Tuwon Shinkafa (pounded rice cake) along with a fresh Miyar Danyar Kubewa (okra soup) that she processed smoothly using a blender. She kneaded the Tuwo perfectly, dishing it out into neat, small individual portions wrapped in clean plastic film, and arranged them inside a medium-sized food warmer. Before adding the chicken to the soup, she deep-fried it thoroughly, then allowed them to simmer together to absorb the flavors. Before finishing, the Zobo leaves she had steeped in boiling water were fully infused; she strained the liquid and infused it with a fresh blend of crushed pineapple and raw ginger, adding sugar and pineapple flavoring. She transferred the beverage into a picnic-style cooler flask. She arranged everything beautifully into a food basket, even packing the plates and spoons they would need. Then, she rushed into the shower.
Both of them emerged looking immaculate in elegant, traditional Hausa attire, radiating beautiful fragrances. As they drove along the highway, Aboulkhair put on a beautiful Quranic recitation by Sheikh Abdur-Rahman As-Sudais reciting Surah Al-Ma'idah, which brought an immense sense of peace and tranquility to their hearts. Within her mind, Aalimah kept thinking to herself: today, she would finally behold this legendary Mu'azzam. She would see exactly what monumental achievements he had attained in his life. What kind of man was he? What sort of life was he living all by himself in a massive house without a family? No doubt he was hosting questionable women in his home, a man who couldn't even visit his own parents; she did not envision any blessings in his lifestyle. She felt a deep-seated aversion toward him in her heart. She recalled his younger siblings and how much they detested him, and how whenever his name came up in their conversations, they always labeled him the "ANNOYING son of Mum." A phrase packed with a mountain of meanings depending on their perspective. In her vocabulary, she knew "annoying" meant irritating, infuriating, tiresome, and troublesome. When she synthesized the definitions of all these words together, in a nutshell, they meant their elder brother Mu'azzam was a hot-tempered man, prone to provoking...