On the day Hanee gave birth, Inna wept bitterly and engaged in intense, continuous prayers of repentance (Istaqfari), especially when she laid her eyes upon the newborn baby girl and recalled the forbidden manner in which she was conceived. "Without a doubt, this is entirely the result of my own past negligence," Inna wept. "If I hadn't succumbed to my carnal desires and committed immorality in my youth, the weight of this massive mistake would not be haunting my lineage today. Oh, what a tragedy I have brought upon myself, Luba!" Thus, Hanee continued to raise her daughter amidst deep resentment, social exclusion, and severe public humiliation from the neighborhood, right up until the infant clocked five months on earth. One afternoon, she secretly snuck out under the pretext of visiting her close friend. Instead, she went straight to the wealthy residence of Honourable Tasi'u. Upon her arrival, she requested the security guard to announce her presence to his boss. As fate would have it, just as she had anticipated, Alhaji Saminu was inside the house, and she was granted permission to enter. Uttering her formal greetings, she marched right into the center of the courtyard just as the two men emerged. After greeting Honourable Tasi'u, she began speaking immediately, completely ignoring Alhaji Saminu, who stood by his boss's side, his heart racing with sudden panic. "Good afternoon, Alhaji," she greeted him with mock respect. "Good afternoon, but I don't think I recognize you, young lady," he replied defensively. "That's because your right-hand man has never allowed our paths to cross, Alhaji. That is why I personally came to find you today..." Before she could finish her sentence, Alhaji Saminu looked at his boss and interjected, "Boss, let me take my leave since we have concluded our discussion..." "Are you that terrified that I will expose your dirty secrets to him?" she interrupted with a malicious smile. "If that is the case, you had better stay right where you are, because even if you walk away, that is exactly what is about to happen." The Honourable watched the unfolding drama intently. She smiled, untied the baby from her back, and said, "Your Honor, I have brought you your newborn grandchild. I noticed that ever since she was born, you haven't visited her once. It seems her father has kept her existence, and the scandalous circumstances behind it, a complete secret from you." "I don't understand, young lady. What are you trying to imply? Are you Saminu's wife?" "Not at all. Rather, I am the mother of his secret daughter." "You are keeping me in the dark, girl. Speak clearly!" At that moment, she burst into dramatic tears and began narrating the entire history of her secret illicit relationship with Alhaji Saminu, from their very first encounter right up to that day. Alhaji Saminu bowed his head in deep shame as his boss turned to him, demanding fiercely, "Is what this girl is saying the absolute truth?" Seeing him frozen in silence, unable to answer, the boss looked at him with profound fury and barked, "You have brought immense shame upon me, Saminu! The onion does not deny its roots, but its pungent nature will always expose it. You know very well that if there is one type of person I utterly loathe on this earth, it is an adulterer. Yet, you deceived me, hiding under the shadow of my wealth and status to commit the ultimate immorality. Let it be known to you today that you are officially stripped of every political position you are seeking under my influence. Furthermore, you must marry this girl immediately; otherwise, you will lose absolutely everything." With those final words, he turned around and stormed back inside the house, muttering, "You have deeply disappointed me, Saminu." Hanee raised her voice, shouting after him, "Alhaji, I am absolutely not taking this child back with me! I was told you are just like a father to him, which is why I brought her to you." Having said her piece, she fully untied the baby, looked at Alhaji Saminu, and let out a low, wicked laugh. "This is just a tiny glimpse into the traps of a young, seasoned coquette," she whispered maliciously. "Commit that to your foolish brain, because the worst is yet to come." Giving him a final, deeply disdainful look, she turned around and walked out of the compound. He looked down at the baby girl she had abandoned in the middle of the courtyard, who was now screaming and crying at the top of her lungs. Left with no choice, he bent down and picked her up. Since the day he had gone to her house to violently insult her family, today was the first time he had laid eyes on her again. In a low, menacing whisper, he hissed, "You are about to witness the true malice of the elites of the underworld, Hanifa. You dared to play games with me? I will ensure your total ruin as long as I draw breath on this earth..."
Part 2: The Tragedy of Salma and the Downfall of a Household
A CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOOD (A story about a chaotic, troubled neighborhood filled with shocking mysteries and wonders) FROM THE PEN OF RUƘAYYA IBRAHIM LAWAL (UMMU INTEESAR) AREWA WRITERS ASSOCIATION BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHIM JANUARY 13, 2021 PAGE 25 CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE In a state of absolute panic, Habibu scooped up his young daughter in his arms and rushed out of the house without casting a single glance at her mother. The moment they arrived at the hospital, the emergency medical team rushed her inside, immediately conducting a series of medical tests to diagnose the severe illness ravaging her body. After a short while, the doctor emerged from the emergency room and looked at Habibu. "Follow me to my office," he said gravely. His face visibly clouded with intense anxiety, Habibu followed him inside. Once they were seated, the doctor fixed an angry glare on him and asked bluntly, "Are you truly the biological father of this little girl?" Surprised by the hostility, Habibu nodded in confirmation. "Yes, I am." "Then is she being raised by a stepmother, or is she living under the care of extended relatives?" "No, Doctor. She is under the direct care of her biological mother, right inside my own house," Habibu answered, growing increasingly agitated by what he perceived as insulting and intrusive questions. "How shocking," the doctor muttered in disbelief. "What kind of an utterly foolish mother is that?" "Watch your words, Doctor!" Habibu snapped angrily. "I followed you into this office to get an explanation regarding my daughter's medical condition, not for you to insult my family's integrity." The doctor calmed his expression slightly and sighed. "Please forgive me, sir. The situation simply infuriated me to my core. It is incomprehensible how her mother could be so reckless and negligent, allowing this young girl's entire life and purity to be brutally ruined at such a tender age." He took a deep breath and continued, "Medical examination reveals that someone has been actively violating your daughter. The continuous abuse has completely destroyed her virginity at this early stage of her growth." The doctor fell silent, closely observing Habibu's reaction. Habibu jumped up from his seat in absolute horror. "Are you telling me my daughter Salma was raped?!" "Not exactly through intercourse, but yes, it amounts to the same trauma. A hand or finger was violently used to defile her," the doctor explained in a subdued, sorrowful voice. "Inalillahi wa Inna ilaihir raji'un! (To Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return!)" This was the only phrase Habibu could utter, repeating it like a chant. It took a massive effort from the doctor to comfort and console him until he regained some semblance of composure. Only then did the doctor outline the medical way forward. "For now, you must admit her here so she can remain under our constant medical supervision. We will put her on the appropriate medication, and by God's grace, she will recover fully as if nothing ever happened." "Thank you, Doctor. I understand. Can I see her now?" "Yes, you may, but I have put her to sleep under sedation." All the way back home, Habibu rode his motorcycle in a state of explosive, blind rage. One look at him would tell you he was completely out of his mind; it was nothing short of a miracle that he managed to reach his house safely. He slammed his brakes at the entrance, hopped off, and stormed into the compound in a terrifying fury. The violent, booming crash of the door being kicked open startled Biba out of the light slumber she was falling into. She rushed out into the parlor, trembling with fear to see what was happening. "Hello to you, you worthless excuse of a woman! May Allah curse your character, Biba!" he roared at the top of his lungs. "You sat back, fully alive and healthy, and let your utter negligence allow someone to completely destroy your daughter's life! What a profound tragedy; I deeply regret marrying such an irresponsible, loose woman!" "That is quite enough, Habibu!" she barked back, refusing to back down. "Just because you are married to me doesn't give you the right to insult me or strip away my dignity. I will never tolerate this from you. I am not a loose woman, so don't you dare—" "If I don't call you a loose woman, what should I call you? A holy religious leader? Even a wild beast protects and watches over its offspring, unlike you, a human being who exhibits the traits of an animal!" "Habibu! I swear to God, I will match your toxicity and completely shred your reputation to pieces—" She never got the chance to finish her threat. A vicious, earth-shattering slap landed squarely across her cheek, silencing her instantly. "Go back to your parents' house, I divorce you with a single pronouncement (saki ɗaya)!" he bellowed, panting heavily. Clutching her throbbing cheek, she lifted her face, eyes wide with absolute terror and shock. "You divorced me again, Habibu? This... this makes it the second time now!" "And that is the most lenient punishment I can give you out of respect for my older brother! Pack your bags and get out of my house before I lose control and sever the final remaining string of our marriage!" The moment he finished speaking, he stormed out of the house, leaving her standing there in a state of absolute devastation and profound grief. "Am I truly supposed to return to my father's house as a divorcee now?" she thought to herself frantically. "I know my father will quite literally skin me alive. And besides that, what is the true condition of my daughter? What actually happened to her?" She stood frozen, trapped in her agonizing thoughts. For a brief moment, she contemplated refusing to leave, but whatever dark reality crossed her mind, she suddenly turned around, walked into the room, and began frantically packing her belongings along with those of her infant child...
Part 3: A Deadly Climax in the Compound
A CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOOD (A story about a chaotic, troubled neighborhood filled with shocking mysteries and wonders) FROM THE PEN OF RUƘAYYA IBRAHIM LAWAL (UMMU INTEESAR) AREWA WRITERS ASSOCIATION BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHIM JANUARY 19, 2021 PAGE 26 CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX In a swift blur of motion, Sorfina rushed forward and forcefully pulled Mahee away from the spot without uttering a single word. The Alhaji followed them deeper into the shopping mall, complaining loudly, "Oh come on, for God's sake! Why are you pulling her away while we are in the middle of a conversation?" Her face hardened into a cold, stern scowl, Sorfina spun around to confront him directly. "Look here, Alhaji, she is completely out of your league. Do yourself a favor, accept it, and stop stalking us." He let out a smooth smile and countered, "You need to relax, young lady. I am approaching her with nothing but pure, wealthy intentions. It would be a tragedy for you to stand in the way of the massive financial fortune that is charging toward both of you." Sorfina’s demeanor softened instantly; she batted her eyelashes seductively and lowered her voice. "Fine then. We are currently in a massive rush to finish our shopping, but let me give you my phone number so we can talk business later." Throughout this entire exchange, Mahee remained dead silent, her eyes darting back and forth between them in total bewilderment. The Alhaji quickly took down the phone number and asked, "What name should I save this under?" "Save it as London Girl," she whispered softly, flashing him a highly suggestive, alluring look. He smiled to himself, thinking, "This one wants to hijack my original plan, but I'll play along with her little game for now." By the time he looked up, the two girls had already moved further down the aisle, piling up items into their shopping cart. After some time, they concluded their shopping and pushed the heavy basket to the payment counter. The wealthy elites present at the checkout counter couldn't stop staring at Mahee, swallowing hard at her striking beauty. At that exact moment, they crossed paths with the same Alhaji from earlier. He looked at the cashier ring up the items and asked, "What is the total bill for everything they bought?" "Two hundred and fifty thousand naira (250,000)," the cashier responded. He nodded smoothly, reached into his pocket, pulled out his ATM card, and handed it over. Without hesitation, the cashier swiped it and deducted the balance. "My name is Alhaji Rabi'u, I am a member of the Federal House of Representatives representing this state. I completely forgot to introduce myself earlier. And what is your name?" he asked, fixing his gaze intently on Maheerah as they walked toward the exit of the mall. She hesitated, initially planning to remain silent, before finally murmuring, "Mahee." "Go ahead and tell her whatever lies you want since she is a complete stranger to this city," Sorfina thought to herself, stealing a sideways glance at him. "But the truth is, I know exactly who you are, and I already have a massive plan mapped out for you." The moment they stepped out of the exit doors, Sorfina looked at him and said, "Thank you so much for the favor, Alhaji. We must part ways here." She grabbed Mahee's hand and pulled her away in a hurry. The loaded shopping bags were transferred into the trunk of Fu'ad's car. They climbed inside, and Fu'ad violently slammed his foot on the gas, speeding off aggressively without uttering a single word to either of them. Upon returning home, Sorfina began pacing frantically up and down her bedroom, her mind racing. "No way! It will never happen. I will absolutely not allow you to ruin my ultimate financial ambitions just because you stumbled into my life, Mahee. I will find a way to completely erase that Alhaji from your mind." She sat on the edge of her bed, panting with pure frustration. "Fu'ad is the only obstacle standing between me and my golden ambitions. I must find a way to manipulate and push him far away out of the picture, so I can fully execute my plans without him ruining my strategy." She stood up, marched into the bathroom, and let a stream of hot water wash over her body to steady her frayed nerves. After dressing up in a set of tight-fitting casual clothes, she walked across the hall to Maheerah's room. She knocked on the door. "Come in," Mahee called out from inside. Sorfina walked in with a fake smile and sat close to Maheerah on the edge of the bed. "So, what do you think of our great city?" "Ah! The city is incredibly beautiful," Mahee replied. "I used to only hear stories about the big capital city, but today I am finally seeing it with my own eyes." "Wonderful! Now, bring over those shopping bags so we can review the clothes." Mahee stood up, grabbed the bags, and they began spreading the outfits across the bed. Sorfina picked up an incredibly short, sleeveless crop top that was heavily adorned with glittering stones. She showed it to Mahee. "Wow! Sis, look at this top. It will look absolutely stunning on you if you wear it." Mahee stared at the tiny top, then looked down at her own body, instinctively folding her arms to cover herself. "What's wrong?" Sorfina asked in surprise. "To be completely honest, Sister, I don't think I can ever bring myself to wear something like this," Mahee admitted uncomfortably. "Even these clothes I am currently wearing were an absolute struggle for me to wear outside. I feel incredibly exposed and weird." Sorfina's expression hardened into a cold, deadpan scowl. She aggressively folded the top and began throwing the rest of the clothes back into the bags. "Fine then. You might as well give up on achieving your ultimate goals, because at this rate, your dreams will never see the light of day." Mahee’s voice trembled in sudden panic. "W-what do you mean give up on my dreams? Do you even realize what you are saying?" Sorfina fixed her with a stern, dead-serious glare. "I know exactly what I am saying. If you cannot even bring yourself to wear these clothes, then I see absolutely no reason why you chose the wild street life (rayuwar bariki) as the vehicle to achieve your goals." Mahee could only stare at her in stunned silence. "There is absolutely no room for shame or modesty in this line of work," Sorfina lectured sharply. "If you truly want us to embark on this lucrative journey together, you must completely shed your garment of modesty and wrap yourself in absolute shamelessness. You must build connections with the most corrupt, wealthy elites of society—only then will you reap a double reward." She paused briefly, letting her words sink in, before continuing, "The first reward is that you will accumulate endless amounts of wealth to fulfill every single desire of your heart. The second reward is that you will finally achieve the ultimate vengeance that drove you out into this world in the first place." Maheerah nodded her head in absolute conviction. "I believe you, Sis. Guide me and set me on the path. I will never back down from my goals, no matter how dangerous it gets. I don't believe there is a single soul left on this earth who can stop me." "Excellent. Now you are finally speaking like someone ready for success," Sorfina replied, a triumphant smile returning to her face. Meanwhile, after leaving Maheerah's family house, Irfan drove straight to his office. The moment he sat down at his desk, he pulled out his phone and called one of his field operatives. Within three minutes, the office door pushed open and the man entered with a respectful greeting. "You called for me, Sir," he said, standing at attention in front of Irfan. Irfan pulled out a small piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over. "Salis, take this note. Go straight to this address and investigate a guy named Ja'afar, popularly known as Jafsee. I want a comprehensive report on absolutely everything regarding his life, habits, and background. Do you understand me?" The operative nodded firmly. "Yes, Sir. I understand completely." "Hurry up." "Understood, Sir." Salis turned around, slipped the paper into his front shirt pocket, and exited the office. Irfan exhaled a heavy, frustrated breath, burying his face in both hands. He leaned his head back against his office chair, completely overwhelmed. "I should have gone down to that neighborhood myself," he muttered to himself in anguish. "But I know the sheer passion of my heart would have driven me to do something incredibly reckless, which would only make a terrible situation worse." He stood up and began pacing the floor of his office aggressively. "That worthless boy has ruined me. He has separated me from the very apple of my eye—the only woman who brings peace to my soul. If it is legally proven that he maliciously deceived her, I swear I don't even know what brutal punishment I will unleash upon him." He panted heavily, shaking his head in fury. "But he isn't my primary concern right now. Finding my woman is the absolute first step I must take." Having reached a decision, he snatched his car keys and phone, shoved them into his pocket, and hurriedly left the office. Just as he reached the exit door, he collided head-on with Ma'eesh. Ma'eesh stared at him in utter shock. "What on earth is the rush, Irfan? You look like a man about to launch himself into space!" "I am heading straight to the media houses and broadcasting stations. Are you coming with me or what?" "What on earth are you going to do there?" Ma'eesh demanded. Irfan continued marching forward on his heels, shouting back, "Save your endless questions until I return, my friend! I am leaving!" He quickened his pace. Ma'eesh scrambled to sprint after him, terrified of what his friend might do in this volatile state. Leaving Irfan to handle this alone would be an absolute recipe for an uncontrollable disaster.
Part 4: The Escalating Feud and the Final Catastrophe
A CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOOD (A story about a chaotic, troubled neighborhood filled with shocking mysteries and wonders) FROM THE PEN OF RUƘAYYA IBRAHIM LAWAL (UMMU INTEESAR) AREWA WRITERS ASSOCIATION BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHIM JANUARY 29, 2022 PAGE 27 CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN Thus, Malam Audu unleashed a massive basket of verbal abuse and fury upon Inna Halima, but she didn't care in the slightest. Seeing that his explosive tantrum was nowhere near ending, she simply stood up, preparing to leave the room with a mocking laugh. "Whenever you are completely done with your shouting, you can find your way out of the room," she jeered. "So all this explosive fury I am venting doesn't phase her at all?" Audu muttered to himself in deep shock. "I completely fail to comprehend what kind of a woman I married. Her heart is as hard as a rock; absolutely nothing moves or shakes her." With these bitter thoughts, he stormed out of her room. A few days later, Malam Audu went out to formally appease Rakiya, begging her to return to her matrimonial home on the strength of the single remaining marriage string they had left. Malam Audu had brought her back with the desperate hope that things would finally change for the better, assuming she had gained wisdom and learned a bitter lesson from their past conflicts. Little did he know that a leopard never changes its spots; the meat might be cooked, but the broth remains raw. True to her toxic nature, the moment she stepped back into the house, she and Halima picked up their violent feud exactly where they had left off. In fact, during her brief exile at her parents' house, Rakiya had seemingly taken a masterclass in instigating chaos. Upon her return, her malice extended beyond Inna Halima; she began picking fights with Lantai as well. It was a fatal disaster that no one could have ever predicted. One afternoon, while Rakiya was lounging in her room, Sale—Lantai’s youngest son—was chasing a chicken around the courtyard. Unluckily, the chicken dashed straight into Rakiya’s room and defecated right on the floor. Infuriated, Rakiya sprang up from her resting position and unleashed an earth-shattering slap across the little boy's face, sending him flying across the room. The boy burst into a frantic, agonized wail, screaming, "Oh, Mommy! Help me!" This entire assault unfolded right before Lantai’s eyes. If there was one thing Lantai utterly loathed in this world, it was anyone laying a hand on her children. The sight filled her with a raging fury, and she lunged forward aggressively. "Listen to me, Rakiya! If you are looking for trouble, you had better watch your step around me! You know very well I mind my own business, but I will never tolerate anyone laying a finger on my children. I am not weak like Sister Halima!" Rakiya looked at her with pure, mocking arrogance. "Oh, really? So you are the ultimate protector of children now? What are you going to do about it? You know very well that I am a force to be reckoned with, and I match the waistline of anyone in this household!" Lantai marched right up to her and delivered a stinging slap across Rakiya's cheek. She then scooped up her crying child and walked away. Rakiya stood frozen in utter shock, clutching her burning cheek. "What?! You actually dared to slap me? It is officially going down in this house today!" Shouting in a blind rage, she bent down, snatched the chicken, and violently threw it down the deep open well located in the middle of the courtyard. She acted under the assumption that it was one of the chickens Lantai was commercializing to make a living. Inna Halima witnessed this act and rushed out of her room in a panicked fury. "Good grief! Did you just throw my chicken down the well out of pure malice, Rakiya?! I swear to God, you are about to witness a level of insanity that far surpasses yours!" Before the words could fully leave her mouth, Haidar—Rakiya’s second-to-last son—walked into the compound, just returning from school holding his writing slate. Inna Halima was standing right by the entrance path. Without a single microsecond of thought or rationality, she snatched the young boy by his waist and hurled him directly into the well. A loud, horrific splash echoed through the courtyard as the boy hit the water. "Innalillahi wa Inna ilaihir raji'un!" Rakiya and Lantai screamed in unison, their voices trembling with absolute horror. Both women slapped their hands over their heads, their eyes bulging out of their sockets. "Sister Halima, have you completely lost your mind?! You just threw Haidar into the well instead of a chicken!" Lantai screamed in absolute horror. "Is Haidar’s life somehow superior to others? Did the chicken not breathe the same air?!" Inna Halima fired back in a blind, unhinged fury. Rakiya let out a feral roar and lunged forward. She grabbed Kausar—Inna Halima’s seven-year-old daughter—and hurled her violently into the well. Another terrifying splash echoed through the compound as the little girl went under. At this point, Lantai completely lost her ability to speak; she broke down into uncontrollable, hysterical weeping. Only the three women were present in the house; the other children were still at school, and the fourth co-wife had gone out. Inna Halima let out a piercing, blood-curdling shriek. Clasping her hands over her head, she wailed, "It is over, Rakiya! You have destroyed me! You have murdered my beautiful young daughter?!" Rakiya let out a bitter, psychotic smile that looked worse than any tears. "An eye for an eye! Just as you snuffed out the breath of my son, I have cut off your daughter's nose from breathing the air of this world!" From that point on, they engaged in a brutal, bloody, no-holds-barred fistfight. Seeing the horrific state of affairs, Lantai offered a quick silent prayer of gratitude to God for her own safety. She dashed into her room, grabbed her keys and hijab, snuck out to the front door, and securely locked the entire house from the outside with a heavy padlock. She did this out of pure terror that the school children might return and walk into the compound, only to be slaughtered by the insane co-wives. She sprinted through the neighborhood streets, screaming at the top of her lungs for emergency assistance. By the time she returned with help and unlocked the house, separating the two women proved to be an absolute nightmare. Rakiya had quite literally bitten off half of Inna Halima’s ear with teeth as sharp as a handsaw. Inna Halima, on the other hand, had successfully gouged out Rakiya’s right eye, causing it to bleed out completely. In short, by the time the neighbors managed to pull them apart, the scene was a bloodbath of unimaginable proportions. When Malam Audu returned from work and was hit with this catastrophic news, his body simply shut down, and he collapsed heavily onto the floor. He spent an entire week admitted to the hospital, hovering between life and death before he was finally stabilized. Upon his return, he officially divorced Rakiya for the third and final time. He also divorced Halima for the countless time, and when she stubbornly refused to vacate the premises, he beat her violently until his relatives stepped in and dragged her away. Following their chaotic departure, Malam Audu was struck with severe, chronic high blood pressure. He languished in sickness at home, completely lacking the funds to afford hospital admission. It was Lantai alone who supported him, providing for the household's basic survival needs out of the meager profits from her small business.
A Gruesome Destiny...
One Wednesday night, at around 3:00 AM, a violent, freezing winter wind was blowing fiercely outside. As is common during such harsh harmattan seasons, electrical faults and the threat of sudden fire outbreaks were at an all-time high. Under these exact conditions, Lantai completely forgot an electric water heater plugged directly into the wall socket when she went to sleep. The water boiled continuously until it completely evaporated, causing the heating element to burn out. In a stroke of fatal misfortune, the electrical socket suddenly exploded with a loud pop (ɓat). Before anyone could cry out for help, the entire house was aggressively consumed by a roaring, raging inferno (bababah). The intense, suffocating heat woke the entire household in a state of absolute, blind panic, only to find themselves completely surrounded by a wall of fire. Lantai, the remaining co-wife, and Malam Audu—who was bedridden and helpless in her room due to his illness—could do nothing but scream at the top of their lungs, desperately crying out for a rescue that seemed impossible...
The Trap of a Cunning Coquette
On the day Hanee gave birth, Inna wept bitterly and engaged in intense, continuous prayers of repentance (Istaqfari), especially when she laid her eyes upon the newborn baby girl and recalled the forbidden manner in which she was conceived.
"Without a doubt, this is entirely the result of my own past negligence," Inna wept. "If I hadn't succumbed to my carnal desires and committed immorality in my youth, the weight of this massive mistake would not be haunting my lineage today. Oh, what a tragedy I have brought upon myself, Luba!"
Thus, Hanee continued to raise her daughter amidst deep resentment, social exclusion, and severe public humiliation from the neighborhood, right up until the infant clocked five months on earth.
One afternoon, she secretly snuck out under the pretext of visiting her close friend. Instead, she went straight to the wealthy residence of Honourable Tasi'u. Upon her arrival, she requested the security guard to announce her presence to his boss. As fate would have it, just as she had anticipated, Alhaji Saminu was inside the house, and she was granted permission to enter.
Uttering her formal greetings, she marched right into the center of the courtyard just as the two men emerged. After greeting Honourable Tasi'u, she began speaking immediately, completely ignoring Alhaji Saminu, who stood by his boss's side, his heart racing with sudden panic.
"Good afternoon, Alhaji," she greeted him with mock respect.
"Good afternoon, but I don't think I recognize you, young lady," he replied defensively.
"That's because your right-hand man has never allowed our paths to cross, Alhaji. That is why I personally came to find you today..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Alhaji Saminu looked at his boss and interjected, "Boss, let me take my leave since we have concluded our discussion..."
"Are you that terrified that I will expose your dirty secrets to him?" she interrupted with a malicious smile. "If that is the case, you had better stay right where you are, because even if you walk away, that is exactly what is about to happen."
The Honourable watched the unfolding drama intently. She smiled, untied the baby from her back, and said, "Your Honor, I have brought you your newborn grandchild. I noticed that ever since she was born, you haven't visited her once. It seems her father has kept her existence, and the scandalous circumstances behind it, a complete secret from you."
"I don't understand, young lady. What are you trying to imply? Are you Saminu's wife?"
"Not at all. Rather, I am the mother of his secret daughter."
"You are keeping me in the dark, girl. Speak clearly!"
At that moment, she burst into dramatic tears and began narrating the entire history of her secret illicit relationship with Alhaji Saminu, from their very first encounter right up to that day.
Alhaji Saminu bowed his head in deep shame as his boss turned to him, demanding fiercely, "Is what this girl is saying the absolute truth?"
Seeing him frozen in silence, unable to answer, the boss looked at him with profound fury and barked, "You have brought immense shame upon me, Saminu! The onion does not deny its roots, but its pungent nature will always expose it. You know very well that if there is one type of person I utterly loathe on this earth, it is an adulterer. Yet, you deceived me, hiding under the shadow of my wealth and status to commit the ultimate immorality. Let it be known to you today that you are officially stripped of every political position you are seeking under my influence. Furthermore, you must marry this girl immediately; otherwise, you will lose absolutely everything."
With those final words, he turned around and stormed back inside the house, muttering, "You have deeply disappointed me, Saminu."
Hanee raised her voice, shouting after him, "Alhaji, I am absolutely not taking this child back with me! I was told you are just like a father to him, which is why I brought her to you."
Having said her piece, she fully untied the baby, looked at Alhaji Saminu, and let out a low, wicked laugh. "This is just a tiny glimpse into the traps of a young, seasoned coquette," she whispered maliciously. "Commit that to your foolish brain, because the worst is yet to come." Giving him a final, deeply disdainful look, she turned around and walked out of the compound.
He looked down at the baby girl she had abandoned in the middle of the courtyard, who was now screaming and crying at the top of her lungs. Left with no choice, he bent down and picked her up. Since the day he had gone to her house to violently insult her family, today was the first time he had laid eyes on her again.
In a low, menacing whisper, he hissed, "You are about to witness the true malice of the elites of the underworld, Hanifa. You dared to play games with me? I will ensure your total ruin as long as I draw breath on this earth..."
Part 2: The Tragedy of Salma and the Downfall of a Household
A CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOOD
(A story about a chaotic, troubled neighborhood filled with shocking mysteries and wonders)
FROM THE PEN OF RUƘAYYA IBRAHIM LAWAL (UMMU INTEESAR)
AREWA WRITERS ASSOCIATION
BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHIM
JANUARY 13, 2021
PAGE 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
In a state of absolute panic, Habibu scooped up his young daughter in his arms and rushed out of the house without casting a single glance at her mother.
The moment they arrived at the hospital, the emergency medical team rushed her inside, immediately conducting a series of medical tests to diagnose the severe illness ravaging her body.
After a short while, the doctor emerged from the emergency room and looked at Habibu. "Follow me to my office," he said gravely.
His face visibly clouded with intense anxiety, Habibu followed him inside.
Once they were seated, the doctor fixed an angry glare on him and asked bluntly, "Are you truly the biological father of this little girl?"
Surprised by the hostility, Habibu nodded in confirmation. "Yes, I am."
"Then is she being raised by a stepmother, or is she living under the care of extended relatives?"
"No, Doctor. She is under the direct care of her biological mother, right inside my own house," Habibu answered, growing increasingly agitated by what he perceived as insulting and intrusive questions.
"How shocking," the doctor muttered in disbelief. "What kind of an utterly foolish mother is that?"
"Watch your words, Doctor!" Habibu snapped angrily. "I followed you into this office to get an explanation regarding my daughter's medical condition, not for you to insult my family's integrity."
The doctor calmed his expression slightly and sighed. "Please forgive me, sir. The situation simply infuriated me to my core. It is incomprehensible how her mother could be so reckless and negligent, allowing this young girl's entire life and purity to be brutally ruined at such a tender age."
He took a deep breath and continued, "Medical examination reveals that someone has been actively violating your daughter. The continuous abuse has completely destroyed her virginity at this early stage of her growth."
The doctor fell silent, closely observing Habibu's reaction. Habibu jumped up from his seat in absolute horror. "Are you telling me my daughter Salma was raped?!"
"Not exactly through intercourse, but yes, it amounts to the same trauma. A hand or finger was violently used to defile her," the doctor explained in a subdued, sorrowful voice.
"Inalillahi wa Inna ilaihir raji'un! (To Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return!)" This was the only phrase Habibu could utter, repeating it like a chant. It took a massive effort from the doctor to comfort and console him until he regained some semblance of composure. Only then did the doctor outline the medical way forward.
"For now, you must admit her here so she can remain under our constant medical supervision. We will put her on the appropriate medication, and by God's grace, she will recover fully as if nothing ever happened."
"Thank you, Doctor. I understand. Can I see her now?"
"Yes, you may, but I have put her to sleep under sedation."
All the way back home, Habibu rode his motorcycle in a state of explosive, blind rage. One look at him would tell you he was completely out of his mind; it was nothing short of a miracle that he managed to reach his house safely. He slammed his brakes at the entrance, hopped off, and stormed into the compound in a terrifying fury.
The violent, booming crash of the door being kicked open startled Biba out of the light slumber she was falling into. She rushed out into the parlor, trembling with fear to see what was happening.
"Hello to you, you worthless excuse of a woman! May Allah curse your character, Biba!" he roared at the top of his lungs. "You sat back, fully alive and healthy, and let your utter negligence allow someone to completely destroy your daughter's life! What a profound tragedy; I deeply regret marrying such an irresponsible, loose woman!"
"That is quite enough, Habibu!" she barked back, refusing to back down. "Just because you are married to me doesn't give you the right to insult me or strip away my dignity. I will never tolerate this from you. I am not a loose woman, so don't you dare—"
"If I don't call you a loose woman, what should I call you? A holy religious leader? Even a wild beast protects and watches over its offspring, unlike you, a human being who exhibits the traits of an animal!"
"Habibu! I swear to God, I will match your toxicity and completely shred your reputation to pieces—"
She never got the chance to finish her threat. A vicious, earth-shattering slap landed squarely across her cheek, silencing her instantly.
"Go back to your parents' house, I divorce you with a single pronouncement (saki ɗaya)!" he bellowed, panting heavily.
Clutching her throbbing cheek, she lifted her face, eyes wide with absolute terror and shock. "You divorced me again, Habibu? This... this makes it the second time now!"
"And that is the most lenient punishment I can give you out of respect for my older brother! Pack your bags and get out of my house before I lose control and sever the final remaining string of our marriage!"
The moment he finished speaking, he stormed out of the house, leaving her standing there in a state of absolute devastation and profound grief.
"Am I truly supposed to return to my father's house as a divorcee now?" she thought to herself frantically. "I know my father will quite literally skin me alive. And besides that, what is the true condition of my daughter? What actually happened to her?"
She stood frozen, trapped in her agonizing thoughts. For a brief moment, she contemplated refusing to leave, but whatever dark reality crossed her mind, she suddenly turned around, walked into the room, and began frantically packing her belongings along with those of her infant child...
Part 3: A Deadly Climax in the Compound
A CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOOD
(A story about a chaotic, troubled neighborhood filled with shocking mysteries and wonders)
FROM THE PEN OF RUƘAYYA IBRAHIM LAWAL (UMMU INTEESAR)
AREWA WRITERS ASSOCIATION
BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHIM
JANUARY 19, 2021
PAGE 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
In a swift blur of motion, Sorfina rushed forward and forcefully pulled Mahee away from the spot without uttering a single word.
The Alhaji followed them deeper into the shopping mall, complaining loudly, "Oh come on, for God's sake! Why are you pulling her away while we are in the middle of a conversation?"
Her face hardened into a cold, stern scowl, Sorfina spun around to confront him directly.
"Look here, Alhaji, she is completely out of your league. Do yourself a favor, accept it, and stop stalking us."
He let out a smooth smile and countered, "You need to relax, young lady. I am approaching her with nothing but pure, wealthy intentions. It would be a tragedy for you to stand in the way of the massive financial fortune that is charging toward both of you."
Sorfina’s demeanor softened instantly; she batted her eyelashes seductively and lowered her voice. "Fine then. We are currently in a massive rush to finish our shopping, but let me give you my phone number so we can talk business later."
Throughout this entire exchange, Mahee remained dead silent, her eyes darting back and forth between them in total bewilderment.
The Alhaji quickly took down the phone number and asked, "What name should I save this under?"
"Save it as London Girl," she whispered softly, flashing him a highly suggestive, alluring look.
He smiled to himself, thinking, "This one wants to hijack my original plan, but I'll play along with her little game for now."
By the time he looked up, the two girls had already moved further down the aisle, piling up items into their shopping cart. After some time, they concluded their shopping and pushed the heavy basket to the payment counter.
The wealthy elites present at the checkout counter couldn't stop staring at Mahee, swallowing hard at her striking beauty. At that exact moment, they crossed paths with the same Alhaji from earlier. He looked at the cashier ring up the items and asked, "What is the total bill for everything they bought?"
"Two hundred and fifty thousand naira (250,000)," the cashier responded.
He nodded smoothly, reached into his pocket, pulled out his ATM card, and handed it over. Without hesitation, the cashier swiped it and deducted the balance.
"My name is Alhaji Rabi'u, I am a member of the Federal House of Representatives representing this state. I completely forgot to introduce myself earlier. And what is your name?" he asked, fixing his gaze intently on Maheerah as they walked toward the exit of the mall.
She hesitated, initially planning to remain silent, before finally murmuring, "Mahee."
"Go ahead and tell her whatever lies you want since she is a complete stranger to this city," Sorfina thought to herself, stealing a sideways glance at him. "But the truth is, I know exactly who you are, and I already have a massive plan mapped out for you."
The moment they stepped out of the exit doors, Sorfina looked at him and said, "Thank you so much for the favor, Alhaji. We must part ways here." She grabbed Mahee's hand and pulled her away in a hurry.
The loaded shopping bags were transferred into the trunk of Fu'ad's car. They climbed inside, and Fu'ad violently slammed his foot on the gas, speeding off aggressively without uttering a single word to either of them.
Upon returning home, Sorfina began pacing frantically up and down her bedroom, her mind racing. "No way! It will never happen. I will absolutely not allow you to ruin my ultimate financial ambitions just because you stumbled into my life, Mahee. I will find a way to completely erase that Alhaji from your mind."
She sat on the edge of her bed, panting with pure frustration. "Fu'ad is the only obstacle standing between me and my golden ambitions. I must find a way to manipulate and push him far away out of the picture, so I can fully execute my plans without him ruining my strategy."
She stood up, marched into the bathroom, and let a stream of hot water wash over her body to steady her frayed nerves. After dressing up in a set of tight-fitting casual clothes, she walked across the hall to Maheerah's room.
She knocked on the door. "Come in," Mahee called out from inside. Sorfina walked in with a fake smile and sat close to Maheerah on the edge of the bed.
"So, what do you think of our great city?"
"Ah! The city is incredibly beautiful," Mahee replied. "I used to only hear stories about the big capital city, but today I am finally seeing it with my own eyes."
"Wonderful! Now, bring over those shopping bags so we can review the clothes."
Mahee stood up, grabbed the bags, and they began spreading the outfits across the bed.
Sorfina picked up an incredibly short, sleeveless crop top that was heavily adorned with glittering stones. She showed it to Mahee. "Wow! Sis, look at this top. It will look absolutely stunning on you if you wear it."
Mahee stared at the tiny top, then looked down at her own body, instinctively folding her arms to cover herself.
"What's wrong?" Sorfina asked in surprise.
"To be completely honest, Sister, I don't think I can ever bring myself to wear something like this," Mahee admitted uncomfortably. "Even these clothes I am currently wearing were an absolute struggle for me to wear outside. I feel incredibly exposed and weird."
Sorfina's expression hardened into a cold, deadpan scowl. She aggressively folded the top and began throwing the rest of the clothes back into the bags. "Fine then. You might as well give up on achieving your ultimate goals, because at this rate, your dreams will never see the light of day."
Mahee’s voice trembled in sudden panic. "W-what do you mean give up on my dreams? Do you even realize what you are saying?"
Sorfina fixed her with a stern, dead-serious glare. "I know exactly what I am saying. If you cannot even bring yourself to wear these clothes, then I see absolutely no reason why you chose the wild street life (rayuwar bariki) as the vehicle to achieve your goals."
Mahee could only stare at her in stunned silence.
"There is absolutely no room for shame or modesty in this line of work," Sorfina lectured sharply. "If you truly want us to embark on this lucrative journey together, you must completely shed your garment of modesty and wrap yourself in absolute shamelessness. You must build connections with the most corrupt, wealthy elites of society—only then will you reap a double reward."
She paused briefly, letting her words sink in, before continuing, "The first reward is that you will accumulate endless amounts of wealth to fulfill every single desire of your heart. The second reward is that you will finally achieve the ultimate vengeance that drove you out into this world in the first place."
Maheerah nodded her head in absolute conviction. "I believe you, Sis. Guide me and set me on the path. I will never back down from my goals, no matter how dangerous it gets. I don't believe there is a single soul left on this earth who can stop me."
"Excellent. Now you are finally speaking like someone ready for success," Sorfina replied, a triumphant smile returning to her face.
Meanwhile, after leaving Maheerah's family house, Irfan drove straight to his office. The moment he sat down at his desk, he pulled out his phone and called one of his field operatives. Within three minutes, the office door pushed open and the man entered with a respectful greeting.
"You called for me, Sir," he said, standing at attention in front of Irfan.
Irfan pulled out a small piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over. "Salis, take this note. Go straight to this address and investigate a guy named Ja'afar, popularly known as Jafsee. I want a comprehensive report on absolutely everything regarding his life, habits, and background. Do you understand me?"
The operative nodded firmly. "Yes, Sir. I understand completely."
"Hurry up."
"Understood, Sir." Salis turned around, slipped the paper into his front shirt pocket, and exited the office.
Irfan exhaled a heavy, frustrated breath, burying his face in both hands. He leaned his head back against his office chair, completely overwhelmed.
"I should have gone down to that neighborhood myself," he muttered to himself in anguish. "But I know the sheer passion of my heart would have driven me to do something incredibly reckless, which would only make a terrible situation worse."
He stood up and began pacing the floor of his office aggressively. "That worthless boy has ruined me. He has separated me from the very apple of my eye—the only woman who brings peace to my soul. If it is legally proven that he maliciously deceived her, I swear I don't even know what brutal punishment I will unleash upon him."
He panted heavily, shaking his head in fury. "But he isn't my primary concern right now. Finding my woman is the absolute first step I must take."
Having reached a decision, he snatched his car keys and phone, shoved them into his pocket, and hurriedly left the office. Just as he reached the exit door, he collided head-on with Ma'eesh.
Ma'eesh stared at him in utter shock. "What on earth is the rush, Irfan? You look like a man about to launch himself into space!"
"I am heading straight to the media houses and broadcasting stations. Are you coming with me or what?"
"What on earth are you going to do there?" Ma'eesh demanded.
Irfan continued marching forward on his heels, shouting back, "Save your endless questions until I return, my friend! I am leaving!"
He quickened his pace. Ma'eesh scrambled to sprint after him, terrified of what his friend might do in this volatile state. Leaving Irfan to handle this alone would be an absolute recipe for an uncontrollable disaster.
Part 4: The Escalating Feud and the Final Catastrophe
A CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOOD
(A story about a chaotic, troubled neighborhood filled with shocking mysteries and wonders)
FROM THE PEN OF RUƘAYYA IBRAHIM LAWAL (UMMU INTEESAR)
AREWA WRITERS ASSOCIATION
BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHIM
JANUARY 29, 2022
PAGE 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Thus, Malam Audu unleashed a massive basket of verbal abuse and fury upon Inna Halima, but she didn't care in the slightest. Seeing that his explosive tantrum was nowhere near ending, she simply stood up, preparing to leave the room with a mocking laugh. "Whenever you are completely done with your shouting, you can find your way out of the room," she jeered.
"So all this explosive fury I am venting doesn't phase her at all?" Audu muttered to himself in deep shock. "I completely fail to comprehend what kind of a woman I married. Her heart is as hard as a rock; absolutely nothing moves or shakes her." With these bitter thoughts, he stormed out of her room.
A few days later, Malam Audu went out to formally appease Rakiya, begging her to return to her matrimonial home on the strength of the single remaining marriage string they had left.
Malam Audu had brought her back with the desperate hope that things would finally change for the better, assuming she had gained wisdom and learned a bitter lesson from their past conflicts. Little did he know that a leopard never changes its spots; the meat might be cooked, but the broth remains raw. True to her toxic nature, the moment she stepped back into the house, she and Halima picked up their violent feud exactly where they had left off.
In fact, during her brief exile at her parents' house, Rakiya had seemingly taken a masterclass in instigating chaos. Upon her return, her malice extended beyond Inna Halima; she began picking fights with Lantai as well.
It was a fatal disaster that no one could have ever predicted.
One afternoon, while Rakiya was lounging in her room, Sale—Lantai’s youngest son—was chasing a chicken around the courtyard. Unluckily, the chicken dashed straight into Rakiya’s room and defecated right on the floor.
Infuriated, Rakiya sprang up from her resting position and unleashed an earth-shattering slap across the little boy's face, sending him flying across the room.
The boy burst into a frantic, agonized wail, screaming, "Oh, Mommy! Help me!"
This entire assault unfolded right before Lantai’s eyes. If there was one thing Lantai utterly loathed in this world, it was anyone laying a hand on her children. The sight filled her with a raging fury, and she lunged forward aggressively.
"Listen to me, Rakiya! If you are looking for trouble, you had better watch your step around me! You know very well I mind my own business, but I will never tolerate anyone laying a finger on my children. I am not weak like Sister Halima!"
Rakiya looked at her with pure, mocking arrogance. "Oh, really? So you are the ultimate protector of children now? What are you going to do about it? You know very well that I am a force to be reckoned with, and I match the waistline of anyone in this household!"
Lantai marched right up to her and delivered a stinging slap across Rakiya's cheek. She then scooped up her crying child and walked away.
Rakiya stood frozen in utter shock, clutching her burning cheek. "What?! You actually dared to slap me? It is officially going down in this house today!" Shouting in a blind rage, she bent down, snatched the chicken, and violently threw it down the deep open well located in the middle of the courtyard. She acted under the assumption that it was one of the chickens Lantai was commercializing to make a living.
Inna Halima witnessed this act and rushed out of her room in a panicked fury. "Good grief! Did you just throw my chicken down the well out of pure malice, Rakiya?! I swear to God, you are about to witness a level of insanity that far surpasses yours!"
Before the words could fully leave her mouth, Haidar—Rakiya’s second-to-last son—walked into the compound, just returning from school holding his writing slate. Inna Halima was standing right by the entrance path. Without a single microsecond of thought or rationality, she snatched the young boy by his waist and hurled him directly into the well. A loud, horrific splash echoed through the courtyard as the boy hit the water.
"Innalillahi wa Inna ilaihir raji'un!" Rakiya and Lantai screamed in unison, their voices trembling with absolute horror. Both women slapped their hands over their heads, their eyes bulging out of their sockets.
"Sister Halima, have you completely lost your mind?! You just threw Haidar into the well instead of a chicken!" Lantai screamed in absolute horror.
"Is Haidar’s life somehow superior to others? Did the chicken not breathe the same air?!" Inna Halima fired back in a blind, unhinged fury.
Rakiya let out a feral roar and lunged forward. She grabbed Kausar—Inna Halima’s seven-year-old daughter—and hurled her violently into the well. Another terrifying splash echoed through the compound as the little girl went under.
At this point, Lantai completely lost her ability to speak; she broke down into uncontrollable, hysterical weeping. Only the three women were present in the house; the other children were still at school, and the fourth co-wife had gone out.
Inna Halima let out a piercing, blood-curdling shriek. Clasping her hands over her head, she wailed, "It is over, Rakiya! You have destroyed me! You have murdered my beautiful young daughter?!"
Rakiya let out a bitter, psychotic smile that looked worse than any tears. "An eye for an eye! Just as you snuffed out the breath of my son, I have cut off your daughter's nose from breathing the air of this world!"
From that point on, they engaged in a brutal, bloody, no-holds-barred fistfight. Seeing the horrific state of affairs, Lantai offered a quick silent prayer of gratitude to God for her own safety. She dashed into her room, grabbed her keys and hijab, snuck out to the front door, and securely locked the entire house from the outside with a heavy padlock. She did this out of pure terror that the school children might return and walk into the compound, only to be slaughtered by the insane co-wives.
She sprinted through the neighborhood streets, screaming at the top of her lungs for emergency assistance. By the time she returned with help and unlocked the house, separating the two women proved to be an absolute nightmare. Rakiya had quite literally bitten off half of Inna Halima’s ear with teeth as sharp as a handsaw.
Inna Halima, on the other hand, had successfully gouged out Rakiya’s right eye, causing it to bleed out completely. In short, by the time the neighbors managed to pull them apart, the scene was a bloodbath of unimaginable proportions.
When Malam Audu returned from work and was hit with this catastrophic news, his body simply shut down, and he collapsed heavily onto the floor.
He spent an entire week admitted to the hospital, hovering between life and death before he was finally stabilized.
Upon his return, he officially divorced Rakiya for the third and final time. He also divorced Halima for the countless time, and when she stubbornly refused to vacate the premises, he beat her violently until his relatives stepped in and dragged her away.
Following their chaotic departure, Malam Audu was struck with severe, chronic high blood pressure. He languished in sickness at home, completely lacking the funds to afford hospital admission. It was Lantai alone who supported him, providing for the household's basic survival needs out of the meager profits from her small business.
A Gruesome Destiny...
One Wednesday night, at around 3:00 AM, a violent, freezing winter wind was blowing fiercely outside. As is common during such harsh harmattan seasons, electrical faults and the threat of sudden fire outbreaks were at an all-time high.
Under these exact conditions, Lantai completely forgot an electric water heater plugged directly into the wall socket when she went to sleep. The water boiled continuously until it completely evaporated, causing the heating element to burn out. In a stroke of fatal misfortune, the electrical socket suddenly exploded with a loud pop (ɓat).
Before anyone could cry out for help, the entire house was aggressively consumed by a roaring, raging inferno (bababah).
The intense, suffocating heat woke the entire household in a state of absolute, blind panic, only to find themselves completely surrounded by a wall of fire. Lantai, the remaining co-wife, and Malam Audu—who was bedridden and helpless in her room due to his illness—could do nothing but scream at the top of their lungs, desperately crying out for a rescue that seemed impossible...