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Shadows of Deception and Carnal Chaos
Rauda felt a wave of immense satisfaction wash over her soul. She genuinely believed she had successfully humiliated Bongel and permanently reduced her worth in Dada’s eyes. She remained entirely oblivious to the reality that Bongel’s impeccable standing had not diminished in the slightest. If anything, Dada now viewed Rauda herself through a lens of absolute suspicion, recognizing the pure, unadulterated malice behind her actions. Dada did not linger in the apartment, swiftly returning to Ammi’s private wing.
"For God's sake, what have I ever done to you people to warrant kidnapping me like this?" Ihsan wept bitterly, her voice trembling with raw terror.
She was surrounded by five brutally imposing, armed men. The leader of the crew burst into a harsh, mocking laugh. "What’s your hurry, you little whore? You’ll find out soon enough."
He advanced toward her, menacingly brandishing a sharp knife. Ihsan’s entire body broke into a violent shiver.
"Where is your phone?" he barked, his voice echoing like thunder.
With trembling hands, she handed it over. "Unlock the password!" he commanded.
She quickly complied. He snatched the device, navigated directly to the photo gallery, and permanently deleted every single compromising picture and explicit video of Hisham that she claimed to possess. He thrust the phone back into her hands. "Is that all of them, or do you have copies stored somewhere else?"
"I swear to Almighty God, that is all of them!" she gasped, hyperventilating.
"I swear by Allah, if I ever hear a rumor that another copy exists, I will rip your stomach wide open," the leader threatened coldly, leaning into her face. "Furthermore, running your mouth to anyone about what happened today will only result in your own total public exposure. During your very last encounter in Hisham’s office, he secretly recorded a high-definition video of your scandalous behavior. If you push us, we will unleash that filth to the entire world."
Ihsan burst into a fresh wave of agonizing tears, consumed by absolute grief and frustration.
"Take her away and dump her," the leader ordered his subordinates.
One of the thugs violently grabbed her by the arm, dragged her toward a waiting vehicle, and securely blindfolded her.
They drove for some time before callously throwing her out onto the hard pavement of the main highway. She tumbled across the rough asphalt, scraping her skin badly. Staring at her bleeding hand, her eyes hardened with a lethal focus. "I swear to Almighty God, Hisham... I will exact a brutal vengeance upon you. I will never give up. I will destroy you if it is the last thing I do."
Back in his private quarters, Hisham burst into a gleeful laugh upon receiving the successful update from his operative. He immediately instructed the thug to text him his account details so he could transfer a massive financial bonus.
"Ihsan, Ihsan, Ihsan... you clearly have no idea who Hisham really is," he murmured with a dark, sinister smile. "I am a man who will cross any boundary and go to absolute lengths to achieve my dark desires." He exhaled a long, satisfied breath before whispering to the empty room, "Now, only Bongel remains. You are so close to becoming mine permanently."
The burning desire to lay his eyes on her completely consumed him; it had been two long days since he last saw her beautiful face. Stepping into his bathroom, he took a refreshing shower, slipped into expensive English designer clothing, neatly combed his hair, and generously applied premium cologne. Hisham was undeniably handsome—but it was the dangerous, deceptive beauty of a venomous serpent.
Standing in the main living room, Hisham debated where he could find Bongel. Just then, Rauda emerged from her bedroom. Their eyes met, and she paused in surprise. "Hisham?"
"Rauda, the ultimate matriarch of the city," he greeted smoothly.
"Oh, please, Hisham, you are the true elite here," she replied, offering a calculated smile.
He chuckled softly. "Where is Bongel?"
Rauda shrugged her shoulders with intense indifference. "Who knows?"
He smiled subtly. "You live in the exact same house, don't you?"
"And how is that my business?" she snapped. "Why should I care where she is?"
"If I’m reading the room correctly, you absolutely despise her."
"How on earth could I ever like her?" Rauda scoffed. "Have you ever seen a co-wife genuinely love her rival?"
Hisham laughed out loud. "Very true."
Deep within his calculating mind, a brilliant opportunity began to solidify. He realized he could effortlessly manipulate Rauda's bitter jealousy to achieve his long-term goal of claiming Bongel. But before executing that play, he needed to feast his eyes on the woman who possessed his soul.
Author's Note:
Gaskiya yan wattpad vote da comment d'inku na k'asa zan muku yajin aiki. (To be honest, my Wattpad readers, if your votes and comments remain this low, I am going to go on a serious writing strike!)
— OUM MUHRIZ / Zee Yabour
Hisham cleared his throat smoothly. "Could you do me a favor and call her out here for me?"
Rauda stared at him in absolute bewilderment. "You want me to go fetch her for you?"
He nodded confidently. "Yes."
"What exactly did she do for you?"
He flashed a mysterious, knowing grin. "Let’s just say it’s a private matter of mutual benefit."
Rauda rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Uhmm, absolutely not. I am not going to humiliate myself by acting as her personal errand girl. She’ll think she has authority over me."
"Oh, come on, Rauda. Don't be like that. You haven't changed a bit."
"A person's character is etched in stone; it never changes," she retorted, adjusting her posture on the sofa.
"Please, sexy lady," Hisham pleaded, using a sultry tone.
Rauda let out a delighted laugh, the old nickname instantly triggering nostalgic memories of their wild, uninhibited past. She stood up smoothly, smoothing down her outfit. "Fine. You win this round, but only because of our history."
He winked at her playfully. "Much appreciated, my brother's beautiful wife."
She smiled warmly, thoroughly enjoying the flattering title as she walked away.
"Get up, you have a male visitor," Rauda announced bluntly, throwing the door open. She immediately turned on her heel and walked away without waiting for Bongel’s response.
"A visitor?" Bongel repeated in utter bewilderment. She knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that she did not have a single male acquaintance or relative in this city who would ever pay her a casual visit. Slipping on a modest, knee-length hijab, she cautiously stepped out into the living room.
The moment she appeared, Hisham’s eyes locked onto her form, drinking in her appearance as if she were a vision. He internally noted that her beauty seemed to multiply with each passing day.
Rauda stood in the background, her brow furrowing in deep suspicion as she observed the raw, naked adoration written across Hisham's face. It was a look of profound, unmistakable longing that any rational person could decipher in an instant.
Bongel, desperately anxious to break his intense, uncomfortable gaze, spoke up firmly. "Hisham? You are the visitor?"
He exhaled a heavy, dramatic breath. "Yes, it's me."
"I hope everything is alright?"
"You know deep down that only your well-being could ever draw me to this house, Bongel."
She took a sharp breath, instantly averting her gaze to the side. A profound sense of suffocating discomfort washed over her; she absolutely detested his presence and felt deeply compromised by his visit.
Hisham turned a sharp gaze toward Rauda. "My brother’s wife, would you mind giving us a few moments of absolute privacy?"
Rauda shrugged her shoulders with an exaggerated, 'I don't care' attitude and sauntered off into her private quarters. However, her mind was racing with absolute certainty that a massive, dark secret was brewing beneath the surface between the two of them.
"I am absolutely certain that your life under the same roof as Rauda is a living hell," Hisham stated aggressively, pinning Bongel with his intense gaze.
"Listen to me, Hisham," Bongel countered, her voice tight with restraint. "Whether my life with her is joyful or miserable is completely irrelevant right now. Tell me exactly what brought you to my home."
"Your ultimate happiness is my only obsession, Bongel," Hisham pleaded, taking a step closer. "I want nothing but the absolute best for you. You do not deserve to live a degraded life like this. You need to move on. You deserve a man who will shower you with genuine love, relentless care, and a man who understands your true value and dignity—things you will never, ever experience in a marriage to Haidar."
"Hisham, for the sake of Almighty God, I am ordering you to permanently remove yourself from my marital life starting this very day!" Bongel snapped, her voice trembling with rising fury. "I appreciate your concern, but you need to understand that any perceived closeness between you and me does nothing but pour high-octane fuel onto the fires of Haidar’s lethal hatred toward me."
"Oh, so now you are desperately trying to avoid his hatred, right?!" the words slipped out of Hisham’s mouth in a sudden, violent outburst of bitter jealousy.
Bongel reeled back, staring at him in utter shock as she witnessed the raw, unbridled malice and possessiveness distorting his handsome face. "I don't understand what you mean by that."
Realizing he had dangerously exposed his hand, Hisham quickly softened his tone. "I simply mean that I want this toxic hatred to end, just as much as you do."
She nodded curtly, her eyes cold. "Yes. Exactly."
A raging fire of intense jealousy consumed Hisham's heart. Aloud, he forced a deceptive, comforting tone. "In this entire world, nobody wants to see you and Haidar reconcile more than I do. But knowing his rigid, unyielding nature, he will never change his wretched opinion of you. Therefore, you should..."
Bongel sharply raised her hand, cutting him off mid-sentence. "Please, Hisham, let us maintain an absolute, permanent distance from one another. I see absolutely zero benefit or purpose in these private conversations."
Without waiting for another word, she turned her back on him and swept out of the room, leaving him standing entirely alone in the center of the parlor. Hisham bit his lower lip in raw, boiling fury, his chest heaving with frustration at his total failure to sow seeds of doubt in her heart or manipulate her into abandoning Haidar.
As for Bongel, Hisham’s manipulative words did nothing but ignite a deep sense of anger and resentment within her. The encounter only solidified her resolve to cut him off entirely to prevent Haidar from ever suspecting her of infidelity—even though she rationally knew that no amount of caution would ever truly cleanse her character in her husband's distorted view.
"Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum (O Living, O Sustaining King)," she whispered to the empty room, collapsing onto the edge of her mattress in complete emotional exhaustion.
One Week Later...
Over the course of the following week, Rauda escalated her dramatic antics to an unbearable degree, entirely weaponizing her alleged pregnancy. She acted as though she were the only pregnant woman on earth, completely abandoning every single household chore.
Consequently, the entire burden of running the massive estate fell squarely onto Bongel’s shoulders. Bongel cooked every meal, meticulously cleaned the entire villa, and took full, continuous care of toddler Irfan, while Rauda kept her legs elegantly crossed on the sofa, claiming severe morning sickness. In reality, she was simply lazy and had been actively searching for an excuse to permanently escape domestic work.
When a concerned Haidar attempted to take her to a premium hospital for a professional medical evaluation, Rauda fiercely declined, lying smoothly, "No, it's fine, My Dear. Mummy already brought me some highly effective, traditional Hausa herbal remedies." Trusting her word, Haidar relented and dropped the matter entirely.
Returning home from an incredibly stressful day at the corporate office, Haidar walked into his master bedroom, only to find it in a state of absolute, chaotic disarray. He stared in disbelief at the messy room; Rauda’s dirty nightgowns and intimate wear were carelessly strewn across the unmade bed. The room had not seen a vacuum cleaner or a duster in three solid days.
Ever since she claimed to be pregnant, he had been the one forced to clean up after her, but over the last seventy-two hours, his overwhelming corporate workload had left him with zero time. He hadn't experienced a single moment of mental peace.
Letting out a sharp, irritated hiss, he muttered to himself that beneath her alleged morning sickness lay a profound, unadulterated layer of pure laziness. Unable to endure the suffocating filth of his own room, he stepped back out into the corridor. He marched directly toward Bongel’s bedroom, fully intending to command her to clean up the mess.
Inside her room, Bongel was standing by her bed, completely absorbed in gathering her long, luxurious hair after just finishing detangling it. She was dressed in a casual, short-sleeved crop top that left her midriff exposed and perfectly accentuated the breathtaking curves of her full chest. Her fitted skirt sat flawlessly against her waist, tracing the exquisite, striking contours of her hips.
Haidar pushed the door open and froze. His breath caught in his throat as his eyes raked over her stunning, exposed silhouette. An intense, intoxicating wave of raw, primitive desire surged through his veins, traveling from the crown of his head straight to the soles of his feet, causing his skin to tingle with electric heat.
Bongel suddenly turned around, and their eyes locked in a searing, unbroken gaze. The intense, dark hunger burning in his eyes sent a shiver down her spine. Before she could process what was happening, Haidar found himself moving entirely on autopilot. He closed the distance between them in two powerful strides.
Terrified by the sudden intensity radiating from him, Bongel desperately tried to take a step backward. In one swift, dominant movement, Haidar wrapped his powerful arm around her waist and violently pulled her flush against his broad, solid chest. His large hand slid into her thick, cascading hair, stroking it from the roots to the very tips. The absolute silkiness and intoxicating softness of her tresses overwhelmed his senses, while the clean, heavenly fragrance of her body completely invaded his nostrils.
Bongel’s entire body went completely limp in his arms; she lost all capacity to resist or execute a rational thought. Her mind spun in absolute bewilderment—could this passionately desperate man truly be the icy, hateful Haidar she knew? He appeared to be completely operating outside of his own conscious sanity.
Haidar was not acting out of conscious affection; he was utterly powerless against the explosive chemistry threatening to tear his composure apart. He was completely enslaved by his carnal desires, his sole focus centered on consuming her. His hand moved down to cup the soft fullness of her chest.
Bongel instantly squeezed her eyes shut, a sharp sensation of electric pleasure rippling through her entire being. With overwhelming, dominant power, he completely dominated her, seamlessly moving them from a standing position onto the plush mattress.
For the first time in their volatile history, she heard whispered, raw words of intense adoration slip from his lips—words she knew with absolute spiritual certainty he would never have uttered had he been in his normal, cold state of mind. Haidar relentlessly pleasured himself with Bongel for an extended, passionate period, only releasing her from his grip once he had achieved absolute satisfaction and physical release. He rolled over to the far side of the bed, his chest heaving as he drew in long, ragged breaths.
Bongel violently pulled the heavy duvet over her head, burying her face in shame. She felt an overwhelming wave of intense embarrassment, wishing the ground would literally open up and swallow her whole.
Haidar slowly turned his head, his gaze landing on her covered form. A sudden, violent wave of self-loathing hit him. He let out a sharp, bitter hiss, his inner voice screaming in disgust: What the hell is wrong with you, Haidar?! Do you even realize what you just did? You just shared an intimate bed with Bongel—the exact same girl your younger brother explicitly claimed to have defiled!
He pressed his palms against his throbbing temples in a state of absolute fury, humiliation, and deep frustration. He couldn't comprehend the terrifying hold her body possessed over his senses. Why did her curves effortlessly reduce his iron will to ash? Without a shadow of a doubt, she was using her physical attributes to ensnare men. He violently threw himself off the bed and stormed out of her room, his heart burning with a toxic mix of resentment and shame, deeply relieved that he hadn't exposed Hisham's scandal aloud during his moment of weakness.
The moment she heard the heavy thud of her door closing, Bongel emerged from beneath the blanket and thoroughly cleansed her body. This time, she wasn't as physically battered or exhausted as she had been during their brutal first encounter. Slipping into a elegant long gown, she performed her ablutions and observed the Maghrib prayer. In deep prostration, she wept silently, begging Almighty Allah to bring an honorable resolution to her chaotic life.
After completing her prayers, the vivid memory of the intense passion they had just shared flashed across her mind. She instantly buried her face in her palms, blushing furiously with intense embarrassment, feeling as though he were still standing right in front of her.
Back in his master bedroom, Haidar took a long, cold shower, performed his prayers, and returned to the main living room. Rauda was still entirely dead to the world inside her bedroom.
Toddler Irfan ran up to his father, and Haidar gently instructed him, "Go into Bongel’s room and tell her to come and clean up my master bedroom."
The little boy nodded cheerfully. "Okay!" and sprinted down the hall.
When Irfan delivered the message, Bongel complied without a single word of protest, quietly following the boy out. Emerging into the living room, she saw Haidar seated on the sofa. She instantly lowered her head in acute, crimson embarrassment and swiftly bypassed him. Haidar deliberately looked away, acting as if she were completely invisible to him.
Just then, Rauda emerged from her room, yawning widely and stretching her limbs, clearly just waking up from her deep slumber. "Oh, My Dear, you're back?"
Haidar remained stony-faced, completely ignoring her as if he hadn't heard a word.
She slinked over and sat close to him on the sofa, pouting playfully. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart. You know how exhausting pregnancy sleep can be."
"There is a very fine line between pregnancy symptoms and pure, unadulterated laziness, Rauda," Haidar delivered coldly, his voice dripping with intense frustration. In his mind, he blamed her entirely for his recent lapse in control; if she had simply kept his room clean, he would have never stepped foot into Bongel’s dangerous domain.
Rauda’s face instantly twisted into a deep scowl. "For heaven's sake, My Dear, what kind of talk is that? I am literally enduring intense physical suffering for your sake, and the only reason I am surviving is because of my high pain tolerance!"
Too thoroughly annoyed to trade words with her, Haidar ignored her completely and focused his gaze strictly on the television screen. Undeterred, Rauda rested her head heavily on his shoulder, attempting to initiate a flirtatious, sultry vibe. Haidar found her desperate display completely unappealing, but too emotionally drained to push her away, he simply tolerated her weight in cold silence.
Chapter 43: Corporate Ultimata and Tribal Extortion
"May the absolute curse of God be upon your wretched soul! Your own biological daughter is married to a multi-billionaire tycoon, yet you lack the dignity to stop eating cheap guinea corn millet food!" Hamma Siddiku roared, violently lifting the lid of the food flask that Dije had placed before him.
Dije smirked maliciously, rolling her eyes. "Uhmm, well... water always finds its own level. When was the last time you saw Nene eating guinea corn in this neighborhood?"
"You are absolutely right!" Siddiku sneered, his eyes narrowing with deep resentment. "But I will personally deal with them. I am the sole architect who engineered that lucrative marriage in the first place. I swear by Allah, they will not enjoy that massive wealth while leaving me behind!" He stood up aggressively, violently dusting off his traditional malun-malun attire.
Dije watched his retreating figure, her heart bursting with absolute, venomous satisfaction. Her wicked plot had worked flawlessly. She had intentionally cooked him the cheap millet food to manipulate his explosive temper, despite the reality that whenever massive crates of premium food items arrived from Dada's estate, Nene always generously shared half of the bounty with them. Dije and Fatsuma were so thoroughly consumed by intense jealousy over Bongel’s sudden elevation to absolute luxury that they had secretly sold off their share of the premium food supplies, pocketing the cash for their personal savings pools, all to create a false narrative of neglect.
Out in the dusty courtyard, Nene was bent over the traditional mud stove, fanning the firewood sparks into life, while Ramla was energetically grinding fresh spices on the mortar stone.
Suddenly, Hamma Siddiku stormed into the compound like an unguided missile. Ramla quickly and respectfully greeted him, but he merely javelined a look of pure disgust in her direction before turning his full, aggressive wrath upon Nene.
"You absolute, hypocritical piece of trash!" Siddiku screamed, pointing a shaking finger at her face. "So I wasn't malicious enough to block your pathway to immense wealth, but you have the audacity to inflict absolute poverty on me? You hoard every single luxury item that comes into this house, leaving my family to eat peasant food, while you sit here comfortably cooking premium white rice?!" He aggressively gestured toward the boiling pot on her stove.
Nene sat entirely frozen, her jaw dropping in utter shock. Not even a week had passed since she literally handed his family half of the massive food supply sent down by Dada. What on earth was the source of this sudden, unprovoked hostility if not deep-seated malice and pure hatred?
Siddiku sharply interrupted her thoughts, leaning in with a dangerous, low growl. "I swear by Almighty God, you better start treating me with immense financial respect, or I will ensure absolutely everyone loses everything in this game!" He violently whipped his long robe over his shoulder and marched out of the compound.
The terrifying gravity of his final threat left Nene shivering with deep dread. What exactly did he mean by ensuring everyone loses everything? She quickly closed her eyes, fervently whispering the sacred names of Allah, begging for absolute protection against the profound wickedness of her own relatives.
"This is officially the final semester you will spend lecturing at the university," Abba stated authoritatively, looking across his executive desk at his son. "It is high time we finalize our strategy regarding Alhaji Sani Maigoro, so he clearly understands that we are not going to push aside his corporate shares or his family alliance."
Haidar nodded respectfully. "I completely agree, Abba. I have already begun processing the transition. I have exactly one month left before I formally hand over my academic duties to the department."
Abba smiled warmly. "Excellent. Then we will deploy the most strategic corporate maneuver to ensure a smooth transition."
"I will personally exert my absolute best efforts to ensure this corporate merger does not cause a single rift or misunderstanding between our families," Haidar reassured him.
"May Allah grant you absolute success," Abba prayed.
"Amin," Haidar replied, smoothly transitioning the conversation into their multi-million naira borehole construction project.
"Is Rauda's pregnancy not advanced enough to determine the gender of the child yet?" Alhaji Sani Maigoro inquired, directing a sharp look toward his wife, Hajiya Mariya.
Hajiya Mariya let out a soft, amused laugh. "For heaven's sake, Alhaji, the pregnancy isn't even two months along yet!"
"Well, I am simply incredibly impatient to know," Alhaji Sani replied, his voice heavy with dynastic ambition. "You know as well as I do that this unborn child is our ultimate financial anchor inside the Maishanu empire right now."
Hajiya Mariya nodded in absolute agreement. "That is undeniable. But you can rest completely assured, In Shaa Allah, it will be a bouncing baby boy. Just as my late daughter Hafsah delivered a male heir to secure our bloodline, Rauda will flawlessly duplicate that feat."
Alhaji Sani’s face relaxed. "May Almighty Allah bring it to pass."
"Amin," she replied. "Let me go fetch your lunch." She stood up and glided toward the kitchen.
Hamma Siddiku returned to his home, his face dark with unresolved fury. Dije immediately rushed forward to intercept him. "What is the situation, Sa'ade's father?"
He let out a heavy, frustrated sigh. "There is absolute chaos on the horizon! A delegation from Sa'ade's fiancé's family just sent a formal notice—they are arriving tomorrow to officially present the traditional pre-wedding henna cosmetic gifts (kayan saka lalle)."
Dije frowned. "Then why on earth are you wearing such a miserable expression? That is supposed to be a milestone of absolute joy."
"You completely lack long-term vision, woman!" Siddiku snapped. "You know damn well that we haven't prepared a single item for this wedding. We haven't purchased as much as a single plastic spoon for her bridal trousseau!"
Dije took a deep, calculating breath. "That is true. So what is our immediate line of defense?"
"I am going straight to Katsina to confront Bongel," Siddiku declared, his jaw tightening. "I am going to place the entire financial burden of providing Sa'ade's complete bridal room furniture (kayan d'aki) squarely onto her shoulders."
Dije twisted her mouth in deep skepticism. "Oh, please, Sa'ade's father, you are chasing a mirage. A girl who couldn't even secure simple food items for us is suddenly going to conjure up millions for luxury room furniture?"
Siddiku aggressively raised his hand, silencing her. "Leave that entirely to me. I will handle her and her mother. This is now her absolute, mandatory obligation. I will not be the stepping stone that lifted them into a life of absolute luxury only for them to enjoy it alone while I starve. It is an absolute impossibility!" He violently shook his head. "Bring me my traditional cap, I am leaving for her mansion this very instant."
Bongel returned home exceptionally early that afternoon, having had only a single lecture on her university schedule. The moment she arrived, she immediately stepped into the kitchen to prepare a fresh dinner, having cooked only a light breakfast that morning.
Rauda was sprawled out across the long leather sofa in the living room, her legs casually crossed as she engrossed herself in her phone, actively chatting with her elite friends. She was boastfully painting a picture of absolute luxury, detailing the relentless care she allegedly received from Haidar and bragging about her complete exemption from household chores due to her pregnancy. Her friends enthusiastically cheered her on, inflating her ego until she genuinely believed she was superior to every woman alive.
The private security guards at the main gates allowed Hamma Siddiku to pass without resistance after he loudly proclaimed himself to be Bongel’s biological father. He marched directly into the main living room without waiting for a servant to formally announce his presence.
Rauda took one single, disdainful look at his dusty, impoverished appearance and instantly contorted her face in absolute disgust, as if she were staring at a pile of waste.
Observing her presence and the revealing nature of her western clothing, Siddiku uncomfortably took a step backward. Rauda slowly stood up, her voice dripping with sheer venom as she sneered, "A village girl secures a wealthy marriage, and suddenly her impoverished relatives are running a continuous marathon to her house just to taste the crumbs of our wealth."
The cruel words traveled straight into the kitchen, hitting Bongel's ears just as she was walking out. She stared at the entryway, her heart instantly dropping as she recognized the target of Rauda's insult. Seeing Hamma Siddiku standing there with his back turned, a sudden, explosive wave of raw fury consumed her.
Bongel bypassed her uncle and locked her eyes tightly onto Rauda, her voice shaking with dangerous intensity. "You will watch your wretched mouth around me, Rauda! I can tolerate your insults directed at my person, but I swear by Allah, I will never tolerate you disrespecting my parents!"
Seeing the raw, unbridled fury blazing in Bongel’s eyes, Rauda’s bravado instantly vanished. She let out a nervous, defensive hiss and quickly retreated into her bedroom, sensing that if she uttered another word, Bongel would physically assault her without hesitation.
"Hamma, you are very welcome," Bongel greeted in fluent Fulatanci, masking her internal turmoil.
"Thank you," he replied, confidently stepping further into the luxurious room. He sank heavily into an executive armchair. "Wow! These chairs are incredibly soft. A man who sits in luxury like this will never experience a single day of back pain."
"Let me bring you some cold water," Bongel offered politely.
"If it's just plain water, I left plenty of that back in the village," Siddiku countered dismissively. "Bring me premium juice and some real food to stimulate my appetite."
"Right away," she replied, her heart sinking. She had naturally intended to bring him a full hospitality tray anyway, but his demanding, entitled tone deeply wounded her pride.
Five minutes later, she emerged from the kitchen carrying a massive tray loaded with premium delicacies. Hamma Siddiku aggressively rolled up his sleeves and began tearing into a roasted chicken thigh with greedy ferocity. "This girl has become completely wicked," he mumbled around a mouthful of meat. "You are living in absolute paradise here, entirely forgetting about the parents who raised you." He opened a carton of expensive juice and gulped it down.
Bongel sat silently on a nearby stool, her heart racing as she silently prayed to God that neither Rauda nor Haidar would return to witness this deeply embarrassing spectacle. She was desperate to protect her remaining shred of dignity.
Once Siddiku had eaten to total satisfaction, he let out a loud, unrefined belch. "Ah! A man could easily get used to living like this every single day."
Bongel maintained her absolute silence, her anxiety spiking. He cleared his throat loudly. "Now, to the primary reason for my visit: I came to formally inform you that Sa'ade's wedding fatiha is officially scheduled for next month."
A genuine smile of relief flashed across Bongel’s face; she naively assumed her uncle had experienced a change of heart and had traveled all this way just to share joyous family news. Her illusion was violently shattered by his next words.
"You know better than anyone else that we are completely broke," Siddiku stated bluntly, leaning in. "We have absolutely no financial backing, and you are the only wealthy anchor we possess. Therefore, it is your absolute, mandatory duty to fully purchase and provide her entire bridal room furniture and trousseau."
Bongel recoiled in absolute horror, staring at him as if he had lost his mind.
Siddiku’s face hardened into a vicious scowl. "What the hell are you staring at me like that for, you ungrateful brat? I swear by the ultimate truth of God, you will provide it! What was the point of me facilitating your marriage to a billionaire if we weren't going to profit from it? Let me make this crystal clear: either you provide that complete furniture set, or I swear by the Holy Qur'an, you will face a catastrophic nightmare from my wrath!" Without waiting for a response, he stood up aggressively and stormed out of the villa, muttering curses under his breath.
Bongel collapsed back against the sofa, entirely paralyzed. She buried her face in her hands, her soul trembling as she cried out to the heavens. "Ya Allah... please bring immediate relief to my suffocating life!" She felt an immovable boulder crushing her chest.
How could her uncle be so profoundly blinded by greed? To demand a complete luxury bridal furniture set from a girl who didn't possess a single naira of her own wealth! They didn't care about her well-being, they never inquired about the volatile nature of her marriage to Haidar, nor did they care if she was surviving. Yet, he had slammed a financially impossible demand onto her shoulders. Even if her marriage to Haidar was filled with absolute love and peace, asking a husband for such an exorbitant sum would be an immense strain—let alone in a marriage defined by cold hatred and zero communication.
From her hiding spot by the corridor, Rauda took in the entire encounter. She smirked maliciously, shaking her head. "Hmm... these primitive village idiots are completely insane." Letting out a disgusted hiss, she slipped back into her room to celebrate Bongel's impending doom.
At the main security gates, Hamma Siddiku crossed paths with Haidar, who was just driving into the compound. Haidar quickly parked, stepped out, and greeted his uncle-in-law with deep, traditional respect.
Siddiku responded with an overly subservient, almost bowing posture that made Haidar feel incredibly uncomfortable. Desperate to ease the awkwardness, Haidar reached into his briefcase—which was packed with a massive amount of cash he had intended to deposit at the bank earlier—and pulled out a thick, bound brick of pristine 500-naira notes, handing it directly to the old man.
Siddiku’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. He erupted into a torrent of dramatic blessings and gratitude, practically dancing out of the gates with a wide, toothy grin. “What an incredibly generous young man!” Siddiku muttered to himself, stashing the cash away safely. “But that useless, wicked niece of mine was actively trying to block me from enjoying this wealth! I will personally deal with that absolute brat!”
By the time Haidar walked into the living room, Bongel was so deeply lost in her grief that she didn't even hear his footsteps. He paused, staring at her slumped, trembling form. He immediately deduced that her profound distress was directly linked to the sudden departure of Hamma Siddiku. For a fleeting second, he felt a powerful impulse to step forward and ask her what was wrong, but his rigid ego sharply intervened: Why the hell do you care about her problems? He turned on his heel and marched into his master bedroom. He tossed his briefcase onto the bed, walked into his bathroom, and let the cool water wash away his tension.
Taking advantage of his arrival, Rauda slipped out of her room and waited anxiously by his bed, eager to whisper her latest poison the moment he emerged.
Meanwhile, Bongel finally gathered the strength to stand up and retreat into her sanctuary. Desperate to relieve the agonizing pressure building in her chest, she debated who to turn to. She couldn't possibly tell Nene; her mother's weak heart would completely fail from the stress. Asiya’s face instantly flashed across her mind. She grabbed her phone and dialed her best friend's number.
Asiya picked up on the second ring, her warm voice filling the line. The moment she heard her friend's voice, Bongel burst into a torrent of raw, agonizing tears, detailing every single detail of Hamma Siddiku’s extortion and threats.
Deeply shaken and alarmed, Asiya sighed heavily. "My mind is completely blank, Bongel... this is an incredibly heavy and dangerous situation. But we must double our spiritual resolve and intensity in our prayers. There is absolutely nothing that Allah cannot dismantle."
"In Shaa Allah," Bongel whispered, wiping her tears before they hung up.
A moment later, toddler Irfan bounded into her room, holding his school notebook. "Auntie Bongel, please help me with my homework!"
His innocent, cheerful voice acted as an immediate balm to her wounded soul. She pulled him close and completely immersed herself in teaching him his school assignments. The little boy happily began chatting about his school day, and for a few beautiful moments, the suffocating terror of her reality faded away entirely. Even though a deep, lingering dread remained in her heart that Haidar might walk in at any second and violently separate them, she simply couldn't bring herself to send the sweet child away.
The next morning, Haidar completed his meticulous corporate dressing routine, standing tall in front of his full-length mirror. Rauda sat on the edge of the mattress, her eyes completely locked onto his breathtakingly handsome frame. A fresh, toxic wave of intense jealousy washed over her; she resolved that she would ruthlessly block any woman from ever accessing him, and she needed to accelerate her plans to permanently evict Bongel from his life.
2. Comprehensive Literary Analysis
A. The Structural Contrast: Violent Blackmail vs. Carnal Chaos
This segment marks a profound structural escalation in the novel. Zee Yabour masterfully runs two parallel storylines of exploitation: the literal, violent extortion of Ihsan by Hisham’s mercenaries, and the emotional, financial extortion of Bongel by her own uncle, Hamma Siddiku. Both female characters are hunted by predatory male figures using distinct leverage—Ihsan is silenced via technological blackmail (the secret video), while Bongel is cornered via tribal-patriarchal manipulation.
B. Analytical Breakdown of Character Motifs
- Haidar's Psychological Surrender (The Bedroom Scene): The unexpected, explosive intimacy between Haidar and Bongel is a critical turning point. Haidar’s behavior is written as a trance-like state where his sub-conscious physical craving completely overrides his conscious, prejudiced mind. The raw words of adoration he utters—which he instantly regrets upon returning to sanity—prove that he is fundamentally in love with her form, but his ego relies on Hisham’s lie to maintain his shield of hatred.
- The Irony of Rauda’s Laziness: Rauda’s weaponization of her pregnancy completely backfires. By faking severe illness to avoid cleaning Haidar’s room, she inadvertently forces a stressed, hyper-fastidious Haidar to seek out Bongel. Her laziness directly bridges the physical gap between her husband and her rival.
Hamma Siddiku as the Vulture Archetype: Siddiku represents the ultimate parasite within the traditional family structure. He views Bongel not as a human being or a daughter, but as a corporate asset to be liquidated for his own family's social advancement (Sa'ade's wedding). His subservient behavior toward Haidar contrasted with his domestic tyranny over Bongel highlights his cowardice.
3. Concise Plot Summary (Chapters 42 & 43)
Chapter 42: Rauda falsely believes she has degraded Bongel in Dada's eyes, while Dada actually suspects Rauda of malice. Meanwhile, Ihsan is kidnapped by five armed thugs working for Hisham; they violently delete all compromising media from her phone, threaten her with a secret counter-video recorded in Hisham's office, and dump her on the highway, where she vows blood vengeance. Hisham celebrates his victory, grooms himself, and visits Haidar's villa. He uses past flirtations to manipulate Rauda into giving him private access to Bongel. He tries to manipulate Bongel into abandoning Haidar, but she fiercely orders him out of her life. A week later, Haidar—frustrated by Rauda’s laziness and uncleaned bedroom—enters Bongel’s room. Overwhelmed by her beauty, he loses total control and passionately possesses her, only to storm out afterward in a fit of toxic self-loathing over Hisham's alleged past with her.
Chapter 43: Hamma Siddiku and Dije secretly sell food sent by Dada and plot to extort Bongel for their daughter Sa'ade's upcoming wedding furniture. Siddiku violently storms Nene's kitchen, leveling false accusations of selfishness before departing for Katsina. At the villa, Siddiku pushes past security and aggressively demands that Bongel fully fund Sa'ade's complete bridal trousseau under threat of severe spiritual and physical ruin, a conversation Rauda secretly overhears with glee. On his way out, Siddiku receives a thick stack of cash from a respectful Haidar, causing him to praise the groom while cursing his niece. Bongel breaks down in tears and confides in Asiya before finding temporary emotional refuge in helping toddler Irfan with his homework.
