She pulled back sharply and hid her face again until she heard the sound of the door closing. Stricken with fear, she jumped up, frozen in confusion, and began to mutter, “Innalillahi, I am in deep trouble! What kind of trick is this? What does he mean? Oh my God!”
She remained crouched there, her entire body shaking violently, until the Isha prayer was called. Then, rising as if all the strength had been drained from her bones, she headed to the bathroom to bathe and perform another ablution—not because she was certain it was a religious obligation, but simply to clear any lingering doubt!
Meanwhile, at Aba's house, it didn't take long before he entered. His face was bright and glowing with joy like a cotton field as he offered his Islamic greetings, which the women answered.
Kaka B said, “Welcome, grandfather of the deaf. Welcome back.”
Aba smiled and replied, “Thank you, Hajia of the old man. How are you coping with that old man over there? And by the way, Hajia, she is not deaf, she is 'BB'.”
Aunty Shareefat chimed in, “Kai, Yaya, is it your father that she needs to cope with? No, our father is a monitor lizard—the absolute king of patience!”
Aba laughed and said, “I disagree with you. I am very, very patient with that man. Anyway, my blessed sister, let me see the princess. Where is she? The princess.”
He quickly walked inside. Aunty Amarya (the newest wife), who had been unable to sit still in her room since the wedding suitcases were brought in, rushed out the moment she heard his voice. Hurriedly wiping away the water she had quickly fetched in a cup to splash on her face, she looked at him and said, “Welcome back, Alhaji. I actually went inside to perform my Isha prayer. We have guests around, Masha Allah.”
Aba smiled subtly and said, "By God, look at this blessing! A truly fortunate person always shines, and his blessings always follow him. Well, it's all thanks to her mother. In all my life, I have never given a woman more than one million naira for wedding clothing and dowry except her. And now Khadeejan Larabawa is next in line. Where is she anyway? What are you even doing in that room, princess?" He asked as he headed toward Mama’s room, opened the door, and walked in.
Amarya closed her eyes tightly as a wave of bitterness choked her chest. To this day, she could not get used to their husband's behavior; he could never utter two sentences without praising that woman, nor could he speak without bringing her into the conversation. She couldn't understand what made that woman superior to her or his other wives. In the past, she had gone to her mother to complain about this humiliation. Her mother explained that some men simply lack the self-control to hold back their tongues when it comes to praising their favorite wives, which often leads to domestic friction because other co-wives can never tolerate it. At the beginning of her own marriage, she had tried to rebel when he would follow her around, trying to convince her that it wasn't what she thought and asking who this "princess" even was. Gradually, he stopped hiding it and began openly declaring that an expert must be praised, causing her tight-lipped resentment. This was why she always believed that Usaina's spiritual healer (herbalist) possessed absolutely no mercy or compassion; he had taken all the blessings and bestowed them solely on Usaina. And despite all malicious efforts, no one could break their bond; just when they thought they had succeeded because the couple had been quarreling for a couple of days, they would see them reconciled again!
She slowly crept toward the door to eavesdrop, but just as she leaned in with her ear pressed forward, the door swung open, and Lubna and the others came rushing out, crashing directly into Amarya who was bent over listening.
Aba, standing inside, had just been complaining about what on earth they were doing crowding around her, questioning if they didn't know the stress she was under or if they were deliberately trying to ruin his joy. He pointed to the door and told them that before he counted to three, he didn't want to see anyone's foot in the room. This sent them sprinting out, leading to the collision with Amarya, who stood exposed in her bent-over eavesdropping posture, straightening up in sheer panic.
Aba clapped his hands, his eyes widening in shock, and exclaimed, “Aha! You hypocrite! Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un! You hypocrite! So you've learned to eavesdrop? Since when did you start spying? Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un! So you actually spy on us? La ilaha illallah Muhammadu rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wa salam! Do you even spy and peek on my side of the house when it concerns the princess? Could it be that people like you are the ones who secretly record videos of their co-wives to leak them and destroy their marriages? Or do you secretly desire the princess yourself? Oh, Wala haula wala quwata illa billah, I am in deep trouble today!”
Mama quickly looked at him and then fearfully turned her gaze toward where the young girls stood. She saw they had already taken to their heels, because life is all about treading carefully. When someone openly shows you the path to preserve your dignity, if you stay behind and look for trouble, you have only yourself to blame for the impending disaster.
Mama let out a heavy sigh, sat down, burst into tears, and sobbed, “Wallahi, he is going to ruin my children's upbringing with his foul language and wicked words! Oh my God, I am ruined!”
He fell silent, looking down at her, and asked subtly, “Are those real tears or fake ones?”
Mama looked up at him, tears streaming down her face, and cried, "They are fake tears! I said they are fake, father of Ishaq! Can't you protect your own dignity and mine so we can collectively nurture these young children until Allah separates us from them in peace? Instead, you open your mouth to utter such vulgar words in front of these impressionable kids! How do you expect to react tomorrow if you hear them repeating the same things? We are raising human beings here, not wild beasts! For goodness' sake! And as for you..." She pointed directly at Amarya, who stood frozen in embarrassment, and continued, “Can't you preach to yourself so we can live in peace? Do you have no regard for human rights, let alone the laws of Allah? For goodness' sake! You are always doing things that stir up chaos and cause unrest in this house, tearing both me and you to shreds, and then you turn around and accuse me of causing your problems! Have you no fear of Allah? Know that this world is temporary. Even doing good deeds requires careful treading, let alone persistently dedicating yourself to making my life miserable!”
She paused because she felt like she was about to faint, then added, "What are you eavesdropping to hear? What do you want to know? And why did you leave her at the door and lock it? It's all your fault! You are the one bringing drama upon me. You are the source of all my problems. You are the one causing me distress and making people insult me. You insult me, your wife insults me, and outsiders insult me! All because I am married to you? I am tired... I am tired... I am tired!" She collapsed, bursting into another fit of intense weeping.
Slowly, Mama Fateema walked into the room after pulling Amarya inside and shutting the door behind them. She approached where Mama was crouching, gently took her hand, and said, “Aunty, haba Aunty. Please look at me. Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un, what is so terrible that it has come to this? What exactly is happening?”
Like a little child, Mama threw herself into Mama Fateema's arms, weeping silently without offering an answer.
Mama Fateema slowly looked up at Alhaji, whose spirit seemed entirely broken, as if he had been severely beaten. In a very subdued tone, she said, “Father of Anmy, please go out and check on the guests at the entrance. Some have already left. Only Hajia Binta and Aunty Shareefat are left, let them not grow tired of waiting.”
He let out a deep, heavy sigh and looked down at a checkbook he had brought inside. In a very low whisper, he said, "I actually came in to ask her how much we should give as a token of appreciation to the people who delivered the wedding goods. I had no idea what happened before I walked in to provoke her to this extent... I am sorry, Princess." He concluded, looking at her intently. His gaze softened her heart completely, and she stared back at him secretly, feeling an urge to stand up and apologize to him, though she resisted the impulse. Mama Fateema's voice broke the silence, saying, “Please have patience, Yaya. Insha Allah, whatever it is will pass. Please be patient. Let us contribute what Allah has provided. May Allah increase your blessings.”
He nodded and turned to leave, only to see Amarya standing there, trembling.
A surge of anger gripped his throat. He raised his hand as if to slap her, causing her to scurry toward Mama and Fateema for protection. Furious, he pointed his finger at her and barked, “As for you, what on earth is your purpose in this house other than causing conflicts? I don't understand how you are still here. Did you perform some witchcraft on me so that I can never divorce you regardless of the provocation? Are you trying to turn me against my wife? You spy on me to drag me into a fight with the Princess when I am entirely innocent? May Allah strip away his blessings from anyone who falsely accuses the Princess of using witchcraft against me, so the world can know peace! Even if she did use witchcraft on me, so what? I have forgiven her in this world and the hereafter! In my current state, if I didn't have someone like her to pull me back, I would have become a roasted dweller of hellfire! You, on the other hand, will definitely not sleep in this house tonight. Just pack your bags and go back to your house...”
"Do you see? Wallahi, if you divorce this woman, I will demand a divorce too!" Mama interrupted loudly, standing up abruptly.
He quickly adjusted his large traditional robe (*babban riga*), glared at her, and snapped, "What a useless, foolish intervention! Of all people to defend, you choose the very co-wife who hates you with a passion? Just follow her and let me see! Let me tell you, that pregnancy making you humiliate me will face shame itself! Right now, it must be a baby boy inside, already showing his jealousy from the womb! You will eventually come around and leave my wife and me in peace. Anyone who opposes peace in my household might as well be locked up or eradicated. See you later!" He walked out, slamming the door behind him so violently that they all jumped in shock.
Silence enveloped the room. Mama looked at Amarya, and Amarya looked back at her before turning around and storming out to her room as if she were about to fly.
Mama Fateema watched Mama as she sat on the edge of her bed. She calmly approached her and spoke in a gentle, reassuring tone, “Do you realize you are on the verge of crossing the line? Or are your pregnancy hormones truly driving you out of your mind?”
Mama looked at her and asked, “What do you mean?”
Mama Fateema replied, “Are you trying to destroy your own marriage?”
Mama pouted and said, “If the marriage ends, so be it. Won't everyone find peace then?”
Mama Fateema smiled and countered, “Uhum. Even your manner of speaking has completely transformed into your husband's. With this fiery attitude you've developed, which other man do you think you can live with in peace besides him? Besides, do you really think you can just turn your back and leave a man with whom you routinely quarrel, yet you still meticulously prepare his meals, ensuring the perfect balance of seasoning and spices so it doesn't harm his health? You spend your days caring for his children who have completely won your heart, yet you pick fights using them. Aunty, do you honestly think you can just pack up these children and relocate to Hajia Larabawa's house while she is alive? What would you even do there? Aunty, remember when it was rumored he was in the hospital, your entire body was shaking with fear... Wallahi, let me tell you, whatever delusion or negative thoughts are whispering that you can live without him, wake up! He has already woven your lives together like thread in a garment; you have become the vital component of his life. You had better adjust your steps and live with him while respecting the rights of his other wives, because if you keep indulging Anmy's father, you both will blindly cross boundaries into dangerous territory, because he simply doesn't care—he speaks whatever crosses his mind!”
She paused, looked at her again, and continued, “Aunty, amidst all this joyous celebration, are you really going to let this ruin your mood? In my opinion, even if he is the one trying to upset you, just ignore him, secure your blessings, and be done with it. You just married off Aunty Anmy! She is in her own room, in her own matrimonial home, Aunty. It's over! Why drag up conflicts now that you never initiated in the past? You used to be the one preaching that patience is the remedy for everything. You used to tell me there is nothing patience cannot resolve. Was it not the same case during your past pregnancies, or were you dying and resurrecting just because he noticed your anger?”
She paused briefly, looking closely at Mama, and said softly, “You know very well that he doesn't just avoid upsetting you because he provided a wealthy husband for Anmy. You know better than anyone that your wealth isn't what makes Alhaji Ya'u look your way. You know that your prayers, your patience, and your endurance are what brought you to this moment where your husband now actively dreads upsetting you. Are you really going to throw all of that away now? Aunty, you are living within Allah's boundless blessings. Allah has instructed these children to obey you, he has placed your love deeply in their hearts, and he has united you with them—both the boys and the girls. In your household, you lack nothing in terms of food, drink, or clothing. Therefore, it is only natural that when one experiences great comfort, their faith is tested, right? Haba, Aunty.”
Mama closed her eyes and uttered softly, “Ya Salam. Fateema, wallahi, I lose all sense of reasoning whenever my anger peaks at this particular threshold. Fateema, that woman was literally eavesdropping on me! And as for him, he openly babbled those vulgar words in front of the children—matters that should have been kept private even among us adults, just to ensure they don't learn such terrible behaviors.”
Mama Fateema faced her fully and said, “But you already know your husband's character. He shouldn't be the one giving you a hard time; you know him inside out.”
A sudden knock on the door interrupted them, and Mama gave permission to enter.
Aba walked in, paused briefly, smiled, and said, “Sannu, Fateema. Sannu. I actually asked Abubakar to fetch some cold milk for her, because I know she won't be able to eat any solid food right now.”
Mama Fateema stood up, saying, “Masha Allah, father of Anmy. I should be heading home as well since it is getting late. Insha Allah, we will return tomorrow to sort out the clothing to be delivered to her. We will send her what she immediately needs, since we only packed about six sets of cosmetics and jewelry for her departure; the rest are just casual home wears.”
Aba nodded and said, “That's true. Splendid. May Allah bless your efforts, Fateema. Thank you for this rewarding service. Here is your own envelope too; may Allah reward your sense of family bond.”
Mama Fateema declined politely, saying, “Haba, Yaya. Being part of this celebration alone is more than enough reward. Masha Allah, you've done exceptionally well, and we have already received surprising amounts of gifts in various stages. No, truly, it's fine.”
Aba frowned playfully and said, “Will you accept it or do you want to upset me? If the Princess gives you a gift, are you really going to stand here and argue?”
Mama, feeling embarrassed about her earlier explosive anger, chimed in softly, “Thank you for your kindness, Alhaji. Just accept it, Fateema. May Allah increase his provisions. Please extend my greetings to Malam. Insha Allah, I will stop by your place the day after tomorrow once I am discharged from the hospital.”
Aba smiled, sat down, and handed the envelope to Fateema, who accepted it. He then placed the cold milk down for Mama and said, “Splendid, Princess. You are vindicated. May Allah calm this anger of ours and grant a safe delivery.”
She simply smiled and accepted the milk. They then proceeded to discuss where to store the wedding goods and how to transport her belongings, as he insisted everything meant for her should be delivered, leaving out only the fabrics that needed to be taken to the tailor.
Ever since they finished their prayers, Anmy felt like she was about to lose her mind. Her entire body felt completely numb, and a profound sense of fear gripped her because the serious demeanor he displayed toward her made it clear that this was no game.
He calmly opened the large food container filled with roasted chicken, pulled out the cartoon of milk, set it down, and looked at her again. In his heart, he prayed to God that she was at least 18 years old. Her physical development indicated maturity, but he anxiously kept the thought to himself because he desperately hoped she wasn't underage.
He slowly looked at how she sat completely unable to touch the food and said softly, “Eat.”
She stared at the food, and memories of the traditional counsel regarding the first night suddenly flashed through her mind, intensifying her terror. Bowing her head calmly again, she whispered, “I am not hungry.”
He smiled, broke off a chicken thigh, held it out to her, and said, “Hajia Karamah... come on, open your mouth.”
Pouting shyly, she hid her face again in embarrassment and whispered softly, “I will just drink the milk. I don't eat heavy meals at night because I don't want to develop a big belly.”
He gently held her hand, which she was nervously fidgeting with, lifted her chin, and fed her the meat. Only after she accepted it and began chewing did he smile and continue feeding her until she indicated she was full. He then opened the milk for her and said, "Right here..." He placed his hand gently on her flat stomach and added softly, “...a big belly will definitely form here, because the precious deposit I am about to leave inside will be the sole reason for its growth.”
"Ya Salam!" she whispered softly. Shyly, she jumped up quickly, rushed to her bed, climbed in, and wrapped herself completely in the blanket. Her heart pounded furiously as she silently prayed, watching him finish his meal until sleep slowly began to overtake her.
He calmly finished eating, cleared everything away, stood up to brush his teeth, and changed from his traditional tunic (*jalabiya*) into a matching sleeping robe and trousers. After bathing and applying perfume, he paused to pray silently, “Oh Lord, protect me with the blessings that reside within her. Place your blessing upon our union, and grant me the ability to fulfill her marital rights completely... May I never overwhelm her.”
He calmly walked out to double-check the entire upper floor, having already secured the ground floor before coming up. Returning to her room, he locked the door quietly, approached where she lay sleeping, and uncovered her face, knowing she wasn't accustomed to sleeping with her face buried under heavy covers.
He smiled, highly pleased by how she gracefully shared the bed space without crowding him, unlike Mufeeda. Mufeeda was always overly clingy, and if he hadn't strictly disciplined her against it, she would have long turned that boun
She pulled back sharply and hid her face again until she heard the sound of the door closing. Stricken with fear, she jumped up, frozen in confusion, and began to mutter, “Innalillahi, I am in deep trouble! What kind of trick is this? What does he mean? Oh my God!”
She remained crouched there, her entire body shaking violently, until the Isha prayer was called. Then, rising as if all the strength had been drained from her bones, she headed to the bathroom to bathe and perform another ablution—not because she was certain it was a religious obligation, but simply to clear any lingering doubt!
Meanwhile, at Aba's house, it didn't take long before he entered. His face was bright and glowing with joy like a cotton field as he offered his Islamic greetings, which the women answered.
Kaka B said, “Welcome, grandfather of the deaf. Welcome back.”
Aba smiled and replied, “Thank you, Hajia of the old man. How are you coping with that old man over there? And by the way, Hajia, she is not deaf, she is 'BB'.”
Aunty Shareefat chimed in, “Kai, Yaya, is it your father that she needs to cope with? No, our father is a monitor lizard—the absolute king of patience!”
Aba laughed and said, “I disagree with you. I am very, very patient with that man. Anyway, my blessed sister, let me see the princess. Where is she? The princess.”
He quickly walked inside. Aunty Amarya (the newest wife), who had been unable to sit still in her room since the wedding suitcases were brought in, rushed out the moment she heard his voice. Hurriedly wiping away the water she had quickly fetched in a cup to splash on her face, she looked at him and said, “Welcome back, Alhaji. I actually went inside to perform my Isha prayer. We have guests around, Masha Allah.”
Aba smiled subtly and said, "By God, look at this blessing! A truly fortunate person always shines, and his blessings always follow him. Well, it's all thanks to her mother. In all my life, I have never given a woman more than one million naira for wedding clothing and dowry except her. And now Khadeejan Larabawa is next in line. Where is she anyway? What are you even doing in that room, princess?" He asked as he headed toward Mama’s room, opened the door, and walked in.
Amarya closed her eyes tightly as a wave of bitterness choked her chest. To this day, she could not get used to their husband's behavior; he could never utter two sentences without praising that woman, nor could he speak without bringing her into the conversation. She couldn't understand what made that woman superior to her or his other wives. In the past, she had gone to her mother to complain about this humiliation. Her mother explained that some men simply lack the self-control to hold back their tongues when it comes to praising their favorite wives, which often leads to domestic friction because other co-wives can never tolerate it. At the beginning of her own marriage, she had tried to rebel when he would follow her around, trying to convince her that it wasn't what she thought and asking who this "princess" even was. Gradually, he stopped hiding it and began openly declaring that an expert must be praised, causing her tight-lipped resentment. This was why she always believed that Usaina's spiritual healer (herbalist) possessed absolutely no mercy or compassion; he had taken all the blessings and bestowed them solely on Usaina. And despite all malicious efforts, no one could break their bond; just when they thought they had succeeded because the couple had been quarreling for a couple of days, they would see them reconciled again!
She slowly crept toward the door to eavesdrop, but just as she leaned in with her ear pressed forward, the door swung open, and Lubna and the others came rushing out, crashing directly into Amarya who was bent over listening.
Aba, standing inside, had just been complaining about what on earth they were doing crowding around her, questioning if they didn't know the stress she was under or if they were deliberately trying to ruin his joy. He pointed to the door and told them that before he counted to three, he didn't want to see anyone's foot in the room. This sent them sprinting out, leading to the collision with Amarya, who stood exposed in her bent-over eavesdropping posture, straightening up in sheer panic.
Aba clapped his hands, his eyes widening in shock, and exclaimed, “Aha! You hypocrite! Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un! You hypocrite! So you've learned to eavesdrop? Since when did you start spying? Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un! So you actually spy on us? La ilaha illallah Muhammadu rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wa salam! Do you even spy and peek on my side of the house when it concerns the princess? Could it be that people like you are the ones who secretly record videos of their co-wives to leak them and destroy their marriages? Or do you secretly desire the princess yourself? Oh, Wala haula wala quwata illa billah, I am in deep trouble today!”
Mama quickly looked at him and then fearfully turned her gaze toward where the young girls stood. She saw they had already taken to their heels, because life is all about treading carefully. When someone openly shows you the path to preserve your dignity, if you stay behind and look for trouble, you have only yourself to blame for the impending disaster.
Mama let out a heavy sigh, sat down, burst into tears, and sobbed, “Wallahi, he is going to ruin my children's upbringing with his foul language and wicked words! Oh my God, I am ruined!”
He fell silent, looking down at her, and asked subtly, “Are those real tears or fake ones?”
Mama looked up at him, tears streaming down her face, and cried, "They are fake tears! I said they are fake, father of Ishaq! Can't you protect your own dignity and mine so we can collectively nurture these young children until Allah separates us from them in peace? Instead, you open your mouth to utter such vulgar words in front of these impressionable kids! How do you expect to react tomorrow if you hear them repeating the same things? We are raising human beings here, not wild beasts! For goodness' sake! And as for you..." She pointed directly at Amarya, who stood frozen in embarrassment, and continued, “Can't you preach to yourself so we can live in peace? Do you have no regard for human rights, let alone the laws of Allah? For goodness' sake! You are always doing things that stir up chaos and cause unrest in this house, tearing both me and you to shreds, and then you turn around and accuse me of causing your problems! Have you no fear of Allah? Know that this world is temporary. Even doing good deeds requires careful treading, let alone persistently dedicating yourself to making my life miserable!”
She paused because she felt like she was about to faint, then added, "What are you eavesdropping to hear? What do you want to know? And why did you leave her at the door and lock it? It's all your fault! You are the one bringing drama upon me. You are the source of all my problems. You are the one causing me distress and making people insult me. You insult me, your wife insults me, and outsiders insult me! All because I am married to you? I am tired... I am tired... I am tired!" She collapsed, bursting into another fit of intense weeping.
Slowly, Mama Fateema walked into the room after pulling Amarya inside and shutting the door behind them. She approached where Mama was crouching, gently took her hand, and said, “Aunty, haba Aunty. Please look at me. Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un, what is so terrible that it has come to this? What exactly is happening?”
Like a little child, Mama threw herself into Mama Fateema's arms, weeping silently without offering an answer.
Mama Fateema slowly looked up at Alhaji, whose spirit seemed entirely broken, as if he had been severely beaten. In a very subdued tone, she said, “Father of Anmy, please go out and check on the guests at the entrance. Some have already left. Only Hajia Binta and Aunty Shareefat are left, let them not grow tired of waiting.”
He let out a deep, heavy sigh and looked down at a checkbook he had brought inside. In a very low whisper, he said, "I actually came in to ask her how much we should give as a token of appreciation to the people who delivered the wedding goods. I had no idea what happened before I walked in to provoke her to this extent... I am sorry, Princess." He concluded, looking at her intently. His gaze softened her heart completely, and she stared back at him secretly, feeling an urge to stand up and apologize to him, though she resisted the impulse. Mama Fateema's voice broke the silence, saying, “Please have patience, Yaya. Insha Allah, whatever it is will pass. Please be patient. Let us contribute what Allah has provided. May Allah increase your blessings.”
He nodded and turned to leave, only to see Amarya standing there, trembling.
A surge of anger gripped his throat. He raised his hand as if to slap her, causing her to scurry toward Mama and Fateema for protection. Furious, he pointed his finger at her and barked, “As for you, what on earth is your purpose in this house other than causing conflicts? I don't understand how you are still here. Did you perform some witchcraft on me so that I can never divorce you regardless of the provocation? Are you trying to turn me against my wife? You spy on me to drag me into a fight with the Princess when I am entirely innocent? May Allah strip away his blessings from anyone who falsely accuses the Princess of using witchcraft against me, so the world can know peace! Even if she did use witchcraft on me, so what? I have forgiven her in this world and the hereafter! In my current state, if I didn't have someone like her to pull me back, I would have become a roasted dweller of hellfire! You, on the other hand, will definitely not sleep in this house tonight. Just pack your bags and go back to your house...”
"Do you see? Wallahi, if you divorce this woman, I will demand a divorce too!" Mama interrupted loudly, standing up abruptly.
He quickly adjusted his large traditional robe (*babban riga*), glared at her, and snapped, "What a useless, foolish intervention! Of all people to defend, you choose the very co-wife who hates you with a passion? Just follow her and let me see! Let me tell you, that pregnancy making you humiliate me will face shame itself! Right now, it must be a baby boy inside, already showing his jealousy from the womb! You will eventually come around and leave my wife and me in peace. Anyone who opposes peace in my household might as well be locked up or eradicated. See you later!" He walked out, slamming the door behind him so violently that they all jumped in shock.
Silence enveloped the room. Mama looked at Amarya, and Amarya looked back at her before turning around and storming out to her room as if she were about to fly.
Mama Fateema watched Mama as she sat on the edge of her bed. She calmly approached her and spoke in a gentle, reassuring tone, “Do you realize you are on the verge of crossing the line? Or are your pregnancy hormones truly driving you out of your mind?”
Mama looked at her and asked, “What do you mean?”
Mama Fateema replied, “Are you trying to destroy your own marriage?”
Mama pouted and said, “If the marriage ends, so be it. Won't everyone find peace then?”
Mama Fateema smiled and countered, “Uhum. Even your manner of speaking has completely transformed into your husband's. With this fiery attitude you've developed, which other man do you think you can live with in peace besides him? Besides, do you really think you can just turn your back and leave a man with whom you routinely quarrel, yet you still meticulously prepare his meals, ensuring the perfect balance of seasoning and spices so it doesn't harm his health? You spend your days caring for his children who have completely won your heart, yet you pick fights using them. Aunty, do you honestly think you can just pack up these children and relocate to Hajia Larabawa's house while she is alive? What would you even do there? Aunty, remember when it was rumored he was in the hospital, your entire body was shaking with fear... Wallahi, let me tell you, whatever delusion or negative thoughts are whispering that you can live without him, wake up! He has already woven your lives together like thread in a garment; you have become the vital component of his life. You had better adjust your steps and live with him while respecting the rights of his other wives, because if you keep indulging Anmy's father, you both will blindly cross boundaries into dangerous territory, because he simply doesn't care—he speaks whatever crosses his mind!”
She paused, looked at her again, and continued, “Aunty, amidst all this joyous celebration, are you really going to let this ruin your mood? In my opinion, even if he is the one trying to upset you, just ignore him, secure your blessings, and be done with it. You just married off Aunty Anmy! She is in her own room, in her own matrimonial home, Aunty. It's over! Why drag up conflicts now that you never initiated in the past? You used to be the one preaching that patience is the remedy for everything. You used to tell me there is nothing patience cannot resolve. Was it not the same case during your past pregnancies, or were you dying and resurrecting just because he noticed your anger?”
She paused briefly, looking closely at Mama, and said softly, “You know very well that he doesn't just avoid upsetting you because he provided a wealthy husband for Anmy. You know better than anyone that your wealth isn't what makes Alhaji Ya'u look your way. You know that your prayers, your patience, and your endurance are what brought you to this moment where your husband now actively dreads upsetting you. Are you really going to throw all of that away now? Aunty, you are living within Allah's boundless blessings. Allah has instructed these children to obey you, he has placed your love deeply in their hearts, and he has united you with them—both the boys and the girls. In your household, you lack nothing in terms of food, drink, or clothing. Therefore, it is only natural that when one experiences great comfort, their faith is tested, right? Haba, Aunty.”
Mama closed her eyes and uttered softly, “Ya Salam. Fateema, wallahi, I lose all sense of reasoning whenever my anger peaks at this particular threshold. Fateema, that woman was literally eavesdropping on me! And as for him, he openly babbled those vulgar words in front of the children—matters that should have been kept private even among us adults, just to ensure they don't learn such terrible behaviors.”
Mama Fateema faced her fully and said, “But you already know your husband's character. He shouldn't be the one giving you a hard time; you know him inside out.”
A sudden knock on the door interrupted them, and Mama gave permission to enter.
Aba walked in, paused briefly, smiled, and said, “Sannu, Fateema. Sannu. I actually asked Abubakar to fetch some cold milk for her, because I know she won't be able to eat any solid food right now.”
Mama Fateema stood up, saying, “Masha Allah, father of Anmy. I should be heading home as well since it is getting late. Insha Allah, we will return tomorrow to sort out the clothing to be delivered to her. We will send her what she immediately needs, since we only packed about six sets of cosmetics and jewelry for her departure; the rest are just casual home wears.”
Aba nodded and said, “That's true. Splendid. May Allah bless your efforts, Fateema. Thank you for this rewarding service. Here is your own envelope too; may Allah reward your sense of family bond.”
Mama Fateema declined politely, saying, “Haba, Yaya. Being part of this celebration alone is more than enough reward. Masha Allah, you've done exceptionally well, and we have already received surprising amounts of gifts in various stages. No, truly, it's fine.”
Aba frowned playfully and said, “Will you accept it or do you want to upset me? If the Princess gives you a gift, are you really going to stand here and argue?”
Mama, feeling embarrassed about her earlier explosive anger, chimed in softly, “Thank you for your kindness, Alhaji. Just accept it, Fateema. May Allah increase his provisions. Please extend my greetings to Malam. Insha Allah, I will stop by your place the day after tomorrow once I am discharged from the hospital.”
Aba smiled, sat down, and handed the envelope to Fateema, who accepted it. He then placed the cold milk down for Mama and said, “Splendid, Princess. You are vindicated. May Allah calm this anger of ours and grant a safe delivery.”
She simply smiled and accepted the milk. They then proceeded to discuss where to store the wedding goods and how to transport her belongings, as he insisted everything meant for her should be delivered, leaving out only the fabrics that needed to be taken to the tailor.
.......................................................…
Ever since they finished their prayers, Anmy felt like she was about to lose her mind. Her entire body felt completely numb, and a profound sense of fear gripped her because the serious demeanor he displayed toward her made it clear that this was no game.
He calmly opened the large food container filled with roasted chicken, pulled out the cartoon of milk, set it down, and looked at her again. In his heart, he prayed to God that she was at least 18 years old. Her physical development indicated maturity, but he anxiously kept the thought to himself because he desperately hoped she wasn't underage.
He slowly looked at how she sat completely unable to touch the food and said softly, “Eat.”
She stared at the food, and memories of the traditional counsel regarding the first night suddenly flashed through her mind, intensifying her terror. Bowing her head calmly again, she whispered, “I am not hungry.”
He smiled, broke off a chicken thigh, held it out to her, and said, “Hajia Karamah... come on, open your mouth.”
Pouting shyly, she hid her face again in embarrassment and whispered softly, “I will just drink the milk. I don't eat heavy meals at night because I don't want to develop a big belly.”
He gently held her hand, which she was nervously fidgeting with, lifted her chin, and fed her the meat. Only after she accepted it and began chewing did he smile and continue feeding her until she indicated she was full. He then opened the milk for her and said, "Right here..." He placed his hand gently on her flat stomach and added softly, “...a big belly will definitely form here, because the precious deposit I am about to leave inside will be the sole reason for its growth.”
"Ya Salam!" she whispered softly. Shyly, she jumped up quickly, rushed to her bed, climbed in, and wrapped herself completely in the blanket. Her heart pounded furiously as she silently prayed, watching him finish his meal until sleep slowly began to overtake her.
He calmly finished eating, cleared everything away, stood up to brush his teeth, and changed from his traditional tunic (*jalabiya*) into a matching sleeping robe and trousers. After bathing and applying perfume, he paused to pray silently, “Oh Lord, protect me with the blessings that reside within her. Place your blessing upon our union, and grant me the ability to fulfill her marital rights completely... May I never overwhelm her.”
He calmly walked out to double-check the entire upper floor, having already secured the ground floor before coming up. Returning to her room, he locked the door quietly, approached where she lay sleeping, and uncovered her face, knowing she wasn't accustomed to sleeping with her face buried under heavy covers.
He smiled, highly pleased by how she gracefully shared the bed space without crowding him, unlike Mufeeda. Mufeeda was always overly clingy, and if he hadn't strictly disciplined her against it, she would have long turned that boun