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Heart and Stamina (Zuciya da Kwanji)
Part 10: Setting the Boundaries at Courtship
"If someone loses a man like him, it will be incredibly difficult to find another," she thought, as she abruptly turned her attention back to the television screen.
Abdullahi stood up, keeping his voice intentionally calm and soft. "Just as I told you earlier, I do not tolerate constant arguments and hostility, nor do I tolerate hissing. In fact, I completely despise games and pretense. If you find this unbearable, I can simply stop coming to your house. I will take my leave, and my time won’t be wasted in vain. If that is what you want, let the elders handle the rest of the marriage arrangements on their own."
He fell silent, watching her response.
Fatima sat for a long time, taking deep breaths and maintaining a cold, stern expression. Finally, she exhaled sharply and said, "Fine. I will mind my boundaries. I also dislike excessive chatter. Whenever you come to visit, you must sit in your designated area and I will sit in mine... I do not want any form of intimacy or close interaction between us. I don't want any real bond to form."
She added coldly, "Furthermore, do not call my phone unless it is an absolute emergency."
Abdullahi began walking out, dismissing her attitude with a casual remark. "I will keep that in mind."
Determined to break his composed exterior and avenge the emotional slight he had given her, Fatima reached into her bag. Staring at him defiantly, she said, "No, wait. Come and collect your financial token for the courtship (kudin zance)."
He stopped dead in his tracks without turning around. He swallowed the laughter that threatened to burst out, then turned back with an intensely serious expression. "Thank you. I actually forgot to mention that a friend of mine is getting married next week. You should give me the money for the uniform fabric (anko). The shadda fabric costs seven thousand Naira, and the tailoring fee is three three thousand Naira."
Fatima was caught entirely off guard, at a complete loss for words. To avoid losing face, she swiftly pulled out a five thousand Naira note, extended it toward him, and said, "They say gifts are the reward of love, right? Well, between us, it isn't like that. I am giving you this courtship allowance because it is custom, and to clearly demonstrate to you that I am the one in command here. So, do not dare attend that wedding..."
He quickly cut her off. "If that's the case, then you have failed your own standard. Since ten thousand Naira is clearly beyond your financial capacity, do not complain about a lack of obedience from me whenever you issue an order next time."
He took the five thousand Naira note, slid it into his pocket, and turned to leave before giving her a chance to utter another syllable. Left with no choice, she stood up and quickly followed him out, almost breaking into a run to keep pace so it would look to outsiders as though she was politely seeing him off.
Once outside, Abdullahi greeted the household children cheerfully, distributing money among them. He handed out over twenty thousand Naira in cash. Fatima walked alongside him to his car, and they kept up a superficial stream of small talk for the eyes of onlookers, though beneath the surface, they were trading verbal jabs.
She remarked snidely, "You certainly tried your best. You made it look like a grand gesture."
He replied with equal sarcasm, "You know very well I didn't borrow that money from anyone. Therefore, such comments shouldn't be coming from your mouth—unless you want to reopen a conversation you claim you don't want to have?"
She countered, "My lack of affection for you will never stop me from commenting on something I see as fundamentally flawed..."
He hit back, "You certainly haven't disappointed anyone, because from the very beginning, I pinned you as someone entirely lacking direction."
He was just about to start his car, leaving her with a lingering sting in her heart, when Fatima’s uncle, the Professor, drove into the compound.
Seizing the opportunity, she snapped, "Well, Mr. Disrespectful, here comes Kawu. You had better stay and greet him properly."
Without waiting for his reply, she turned on her heel and walked away. However, she hid nearby to spy on them. She watched as Abdullahi bowed low, greeting her uncle with such profound humility that anyone would swear he was the son of the town’s chief Imam.
She watched the Professor raise him up, gently resting a hand on his shoulder. "Abdullahi, correct?"
Abdullahi nodded respectfully, expressing his gratitude. The Professor continued, "Excellent! My wife spoke to me about you over the phone earlier. I put all my engagements on hold just to come home for this. Please, lend me some of your time after the Maghrib prayer."
Abdullahi lowered his gaze even further. "Certainly, sir. It's no trouble at all." With his hand still on Abdullahi’s shoulder, the Professor led him into the house.
Part 11: The Secret Marriage Solemnization
After the Isha prayer, the Professor held a private meeting with Abdullahi. There was no need for a lengthy background check, as he already knew Abdullahi’s father intimately.
Without any hesitation, the Professor said to him, "I have given Fatima to you in marriage starting from today. Send your representatives with the dowry to witness the formalization. I truly hope you will protect and cherish her, especially given her status as an orphan... Furthermore, I advise you: do not let your love for Fatima blind you to the point where you allow her to become rebellious, just as she did with her first husband. He completely ruined her upbringing, and now he is trying to plunge them into the grave sin of an unlawful union (zaman haram)."
Hearing this, Abdullahi’s heart began to hammer violently against his ribs. He sat speechless, staring at the Professor until he finished speaking.
Then, masking his inner turmoil, Abdullahi feigned immense joy. "Fatima is now my wife, Kawu? How can I possibly express my gratitude to you?"
The Professor replied calmly, "It is not your gratitude I require most; it is your commitment to this trust that I expect you to uphold. I urge you to exercise immense patience when dealing with her. She possesses a complex, rigid personality, but she is quite easy to manage once you understand her. Therefore, interacting with her requires tact and high emotional intelligence. Please, do not disappoint me. The reason I emphasize this trust so heavily is because her biological father gave me the exact same charge the week before he passed away, almost as if he foresaw his own death. That is why I pray every single day that Almighty Allah does not test me through her affairs. I am urging you to join me in this prayer, for I will not hide the truth from you: Fatima is an extraordinarily beautiful woman, and it takes a strong, resilient man to navigate her unpredictable nature. Surely you know that an exceptionally beautiful woman carries her own set of dangers?"
Abdullahi nodded solemnly. "I understand, Kawu. I understand completely. I take your words to heart and will reflect deeply on them."
By 10:30 PM the following evening, Abdullahi found himself kneeling before his own father. He had requested an audience earlier that morning, but due to his father’s packed schedule and the constant stream of visitors, this late hour was the only slot available.
"I hope all is well, Abu Turab?" (which was Abdullahi's honorary title).
Abdullahi bowed lower. "May Allah forgive you, Malam. All is well." He then fell silent, nervously scratching his head.
His father observed him keenly, keeping his eyes fixed on him. A long silence stretched between them before the scholar pointed to the wall clock. "Haven't you noticed how late it is? Time is slipping away, and as a family man, it is unseemly for you to go home late and knock on your wives' doors at this hour."
Abdullahi shifted his posture, keeping his head bowed low as he finally spoke. "May Allah forgive you, Malam. A gift of sorts was presented to me, and I felt it necessary to come and inform you."
Malam simply stared at him without saying a word, prompting Abdullahi to continue. "A certain servant of Allah contacted me and offered his daughter to me in marriage."
Malam narrowed his eyes, studying his son closely. "Did he offer her because he assumed you had no wives?"
Abdullahi shook his head while keeping it lowered.
Malam continued, "Aha. Open your mouth and tell me the whole story. Did you initiate this by showing interest in the girl, or did he simply offer her to you out of the blue, making you feel a sudden desire to take another wife at this specific time?"
Abdullahi shook his head again but found himself unable to articulate an answer. Losing patience, Malam pressed on. "Who is this man, and what is your relationship with him?"
Abdullahi’s breathing grew shallow and erratic as he forced himself to answer. "He is a Professor here at Bayero University. He teaches Economics. His name is Professor Alkasim Najib. I have no prior personal relationship with him. I simply visited the house on an errand, and he called me in to offer his daughter's hand in marriage."
Malam continued to glare at him, his face darkening with disapproval. "What took you to his house in the first place?"
Abdullahi shifted uncomfortably, completely paralyzed into silence.
Malam adjusted his seating posture, focusing entirely on his son. "Abu Turab, listen to me very carefully. I require direct answers to every single question I have asked you, because I do not want to pass an unfair judgment on you. Do you understand? Did you take yourself to the Professor's house under the pretense of courting his daughter?"
With his head still bowed, Abdullahi nodded.
Without his stern expression softening, Malam said, "So, Abu Turab, in your current financial and social standing, you took it upon yourself to go to the home of Western-educated elites to seek a wife? Do you truly believe your paths align, Abu Turab? I highly doubt it. Your erratic behavior is becoming too much for me to tolerate. How old are you to be burdening yourself with this level of stress? Three wives at the exact same time? You are already struggling to maintain equity with two! What do you think women are, that you want to constantly thrust yourself into their complications?"
Abdullahi lowered his head even further and began to stammer an apology, but Malam cut him off angrily. "Why on earth are you apologizing to me? Open your mouth so we can discuss this rationally! I want to understand your exact vision for this marriage. Three marriages within four years? If I see that you have a sound, legitimate justification, I might consider it..."
Abdullahi answered directly and calmly, "I am seeking wisdom and spiritual growth through this endeavor, Malam. I desire to attain the blessings of a righteous union and seek refuge in Allah from the trials associated with women. I have never harbored any intention of injustice toward them. In fact, I am actively looking to close any door that could lead me to wrong them, even by mistake. If you recall, my first marriage was entirely my own choice, but I was unfortunate because she lacked proper upbringing. The second wife was chosen for me by you, Malam, and while Allah knows I do not wish to dismiss a woman of her character, I still find myself in a state of emotional confusion. I pursued this third marriage because she aligns perfectly with the type of wife I have always envisioned for myself. Furthermore, she comes from an exceptionally reputable family. I genuinely believe she will heal the fractures within my soul."
"And what provisions have you made to ensure absolute justice between them?" Malam questioned immediately after he finished speaking.
Abdullahi gave a concise answer: "Righteous intent and sincere hope."
Malam sat in deep thought for a long moment, nodding slowly. Finally, he sighed and said, "Abu Turab, I sincerely hope your actions live up to the eloquence of your words. However, understand this: I will personally investigate the background of this woman to know exactly what kind of household she comes from. If I see that you can walk this path righteously, I will allow the marriage to stand. But my conditions are as follows: I do not want to hear a single whisper of you seeking another wife anytime soon. Furthermore, every major decision you execute within your household must be brought to my knowledge before you carry it out. I never want to hear that you have sent someone's daughter packing back to her family home. Do you understand me?"
Abdullahi nodded quickly, expressing immense gratitude. His father then added, "May Allah bless you. May He guide you and grant you the ability to maintain absolute justice among your wives."
Filled with overwhelming relief and joy, Abdullahi repeatedly replied, "Amen, amen."
Part 12: The Complications of Sudden Ties
For over a week, Abdullahi completely avoided going near Fatima’s house. He was utterly terrified that his father's ongoing investigation would uncover the secret arrangement with Alhaji and shatter the entire plan. His peace of mind completely vanished, to the point where he began to wonder if his father's harsh criticisms of his reckless decision-making were entirely accurate.
His sudden absence deeply troubled Fatima. She began to suspect that he was backing out of the deal. Unable to contain her anxiety, she called Alhaji over the phone to inform him.
Alhaji immediately contacted Abdullahi to demand an explanation. Abdullahi countered, "It's nothing serious. I have just been completely overwhelmed with work and personal matters. However, I will make an effort to find time to visit, even if I don't meet her directly. Thank God the members of the household have already seen me."
In a voice thick with anxiety, Alhaji pleaded, "Yes, please make an effort, for God's sake. Do not ruin our plans. You know her uncle is an extremely unpredictable and rigid man. If we are not incredibly careful, he will uncover the truth. I have sent nearly four other men before you for this exact job, and he caught every single one of them. I am certain the only reason he accepted you so readily is because of your father's high reputation."
Abdullahi replied curtly, "I am well aware." With that, they ended the call.
Three days after that conversation, Abdullahi's father called him and requested Professor Alkasim's phone number. This request sent a wave of sheer panic straight to Abdullahi's stomach. The following two days were spent in a state of intense anxiety and dread.
In reality, Malam had used that number to formally request permission to visit and officially ask for Fatima’s hand on behalf of his son. The Professor was overjoyed by the call, as he too had been secretly panicking that Abdullahi was getting cold feet. In fact, just the day before, he had harshly scolded Fatima, accusing her of driving the young man away with her arrogant attitude.
Elated, the Professor immediately phoned his relatives and close associates, inviting them to join him in receiving these highly esteemed guests. On the appointed day, everyone gathered at the house.
To put it briefly, during this single visit, Abdullahi’s elders presented a dowry of fifty thousand Naira. Before the gathering even dispersed, the marriage between Fatima and Abdullahi was legally and Islamically solemnized in the presence of fewer than twelve witnesses. Blessings were invoked, and prayers were offered for a righteous lineage.
What a dramatic turn of events! Neither Fatima nor Abdullahi had any prior warning. They had suddenly become husband and wife under circumstances that defied all expectations—and the shock would be even greater for Alhaji.
The Professor and his relatives escorted the guests back to their vehicles with immense mutual respect and gratitude, parting ways on excellent terms.
After the Isha prayer, the Professor returned inside. His wife (Momi) came to meet him, but before she could even sit down, he instructed her to call Fatima. Without asking questions, she left and returned shortly with Fatima.
Fatima knelt down to greet her uncle, then moved to the side and sat down.
Looking at them both with a bright, cheerful smile, the Professor said, "Should I give you the wonderful news now?" Without waiting for them to speak, he announced, "Abdullahi’s elders came today. By the grace of Allah, the marriage has already been solemnized. Here is her dowry; hand it over to her." He extended the money to Momi.
Momi let out a loud, joyous ululation of celebration. Fatima, however, felt the world freeze around her. She sat completely paralyzed, as if all life had suddenly drained from her body.
Fatima found it impossible to secure a moment of privacy due to the spontaneous, mini-celebration the household members were throwing for her. The moment she finally managed to slip away, she frantically dialed Alhaji’s number.
Hearing her bursting into frantic tears over the line, Alhaji’s heart skipped a beat. Panic-stricken, he began to question her frantically.
In a weak, trembling voice, she asked him, "What on earth gave you the confidence to entangle me in a marriage with Abdullahi? What made you assume he would safely fulfill our objectives?"
In a state of total confusion, he replied, "He is my close friend's younger brother! He is a serious man who doesn't play games, and he is deeply compassionate. He showed immense empathy toward our situation and expressed genuine concern over our dilemma. That is why I entrusted our secret plan to him, knowing full well that your uncle's sharp intellect would never accept a blatant interim marriage helper (dan kisan wuta)... Wait, what has happened?"
Fatima stopped her crying and wiped her tears, her voice hardening. "May Allah protect us from the worst."
Feeling as though someone had struck him over the head with a heavy object, Alhaji demanded, "Tell me exactly what he did to you!"
She cut off his frantic breathing with a devastating revelation: "He hasn't done anything to me. The marriage was officially solemnized this evening after the Maghrib prayer."
Alhaji received the news like a physical blow, his mind spinning. With a trembling voice, he stammered, "I don't understand... He didn't say a single word to me about this, even though we spoke over the phone earlier today!"
Fatima swallowed a bitter lump of pure frustration and said, "Who knows? Perhaps he didn't even know it would happen today himself, because I was completely left in the dark until after the wedding was finalized. That is precisely why I am starting to fear this entire situation. Alhaji, you made a reckless gamble by choosing a scholar’s son to bind me to. I am deeply terrified that Abdullahi is going to become a permanent suffocation in my life."
Instantly, a cold dread gripped Alhaji as well. "Why do you foresee such an outcome?"
She shouted in exasperation, "For heaven's sake! Look at how this marriage was forced upon me, exactly like the customs of the ancient companions! The very day Kawu met him for the first time, by the next morning, Kawu called me and said: 'I saw Abdullahi yesterday, and I have already given you to him in marriage. Therefore, behave yourself; as of right now, you are essentially a married woman, the dowry is the only thing remaining. We are just waiting for the witnesses.' And today, they brought the dowry and finalized the marriage right then and there! I was only informed after the fact."
She continued forcefully, "Stop! Stop talking about his supposed righteousness, for God's sake! You know very well that no matter how just he claims to be, his sense of justice toward himself will always outweigh any justice he shows to you. How do you plan to challenge his righteousness if he ultimately refuses to grant me a divorce?"
"Listen, I will call his phone right now..." Alhaji interrupted her, completely losing his composure, while she cut him off through heavy, breathless sobs.
"Do not call him! You know he has a family at home, and they might overhear whatever you try to discuss with him... We have no choice but to leave this entirely in the hands of Almighty Allah. My life is currently in absolute turmoil..."
Both of them were completely frantic—she was weeping bitterly on one end, and Alhaji was crying on the other. Such is the intoxicating, agonizing nature of desperate love.
In truth, Abdullahi had absolutely no idea the marriage would be finalized that day. He only found out the following morning when he rushed out early to answer an urgent summons from his father, who had told him to stop by before heading to the office.
The moment he stepped into the family compound, his heart began to pound erratically because of the strange, knowing looks the household members were giving him. He was quickly ushered into his father’s private living room. After exchanging brief morning pleasantries, Malam delivered the unexpected news.
Abdullahi’s breathing grew heavy as he tried to process the shock, but he quickly masked it. Back on the phone with Fatima later, he said, "Up until this moment, I still fail to see the basis for the disaster you are predicting for us."
She answered him sharply and without hesitation, "Think about it logically: what justifiable reason will Abdullahi present to his highly strict father to explain divorcing me in just two weeks? The information I gathered from Momi reveals that every single child in Abdullahi's household operates strictly under the rigid guidance and supervision of their father. Furthermore, even if he does agree to divorce me, I am absolutely certain that as a scholar's son, he will only grant me a standard Islamic divorce (saki na sunnah)—meaning a single revocable divorce. He could divorce me today, and tomorrow his father could legally compel him to take me back. What happens to us then, Alhaji? And even if that doesn't happen, I will return to my uncle's house only to face an absolute storm of suspicion. That alone could become the very reason our permanent remarriage becomes strictly forbidden! Why didn't you stop to think about any of this, Alhaji? Why didn't you pair me with someone who has no family reputation or moral lineage to protect?"
Alhaji's breathing became shallow and erratic. "I honestly never foresaw any of these complications... I placed all my trust in his integrity..."
Before the words could fully leave his mouth, she interrupted him. "Malam told me, 'I am only telling you this to inform you that yesterday, your parents and I visited the Professor's house regarding your marital affairs. Speak to them with a soft, respectful tongue. Make every effort to fulfill your duties toward them, do you hear? I personally admire the household you chose to marry into; families like the Professor's are exceedingly rare in this modern age.'"
Abdullahi remained entirely silent on his end, his mind racing. He alone knew the complex web of calculations running through his mind regarding his family.
Malam had concluded, "Go and begin your preparations immediately. I do not want any unnecessary delays before she moves into your house, so we do not appear disorganized or disrespectful to her family."
Abdullahi had stood in silence for a long time before finally saying, with visible embarrassment, "Give me one week, father..."
The story continues as the forced cohabitation begins...
