Description
Arrival and Setup
Jeren and her friends were walking into a massive, luxurious house. I stood by watching until they all went inside, and the gateman locked the gate.
As I turned to leave, I spotted about eight to ten young women, all heavily glammed up with full makeup. At a glance, you could tell they were the bride’s friends; they wore matching martial sky blue anka fabrics.
They headed straight for the grand house that I had been dying to enter and see what was happening inside. Without wasting a second, I quickly unzipped my bag, pulled out a pen and notebook, and practically sprinted after them. We entered together!
When they reached where I was standing, I realized they were Fadila and her crew—the kind of girls who are always present wherever there's a wedding or naming ceremony. Even if they don’t know anyone in the house, as long as there is free food and entertainment to enjoy, they will put on their best outfits and show up. That’s how they are known around Minna town.
Oh, who should I turn to and ask for the story I wanted to capture? I looked at Hassana and saw her head shaking nervously. I turned to Aisha, and saw they were all acting the same way.
I turned to the youngest of them all, Shamsiya. It took a lot of effort for me to hold her hand because of how cold it was. Walking alongside her, I asked, "Shamsiya, is there really a wedding in this house?" "Yes, it's a wedding. We came for the wedding too," she replied. "Ah, I see. So is she your friend?" "No, not really. It's just that she lives in the same neighborhood as Aisha, which is why we came." "Alright!"
Right at that moment, we finished entering the house. Some people were seated outside, but Fadila and her group went straight into the parlor. I quietly followed behind them.
We found the bride and her friends eating and chatting. We sat down, exchanged brief greetings, and food was instantly laid out for us, complete with cold bottled drinks and water. I noticed Hassana and the others adjusting themselves properly to eat more comfortably.
The Arrival of the Groom
After eating and drinking, the bride's friends began to disperse. Even Fadila and her group left, leaving only us and the bride. I watched as the bride got up, went into the room, and returned shortly after holding a cup. She poured a drink inside, filled it almost to the brim before setting the bottle down, and sprayed more perfume on herself.
Just as she sat down, she heard the gateman opening the gate. The groom arrived with his friends. When I saw the groom, my jaw dropped—it was Alhaji Usman, the famous billionaire gold dealer!
Goodness! I knew this house was grand, fit only for a governor or a lawmaker, but it belonged to a famous billionaire businessman!
They offered words of advice and prayers to the bride and groom before leaving them alone in the room. The groom stepped closer to the bride and said, "Amariya, you smell so wonderful." She hid her face, shyly asking, "So, you're going to make me feel shy today?" She jumped up and ran into the room. He followed her inside. "Jamila, get up and go make ablution, then meet me in my room." "Okay."
She did as he instructed, placed her prayer mat over his, and he led them in prayer. When they finished, he turned to her, held her head, prayed for her, and tested her knowledge of Islam. She answered correctly, and he was very pleased.
He went downstairs to the parlor, grabbed the grilled chicken, ice cream, and drinks, brought them back up, and then went to the kitchen to fetch a tray and cups. He entered the room, took off his big agbada robe, and chopped the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
I saw Jamila quickly reach out, grab a chicken thigh, and start eating. I thought to myself, Hmm, is this how it's done? I heard Alhaji Usman say, "Won't you let me feed you with my own hands?" She replied, "Let me eat by myself. You know when it comes to chicken, I don't play!" I already knew that because she always bought it whenever she visited their house. "There you go, look at that," she said, picking up the chicken breast now that she was done with the thigh.
She pulled the ice cream toward her and ate until she was satisfied, then praised Allah and pushed it aside. "Are you full already?" he asked. "Yes." "Okay." He ate a little bit, drank some water, stood up, took off his clothes, wrapped a towel around his waist, and told her, "Jamila, go take off your clothes, put on your nightwear, and come back here so we can sleep." "Okay."
Instead of going straight to her room, she took a bath, brushed her teeth, and slipped into a nightgown that hugged her body tightly, accentuating every curve. She massaged her body with humra and sweet-scented perfumes, threw a hijab over her shoulders, and headed to the groom's room.
The Wedding Night
She walked in with a greeting just as he was climbing into the bed. He opened his arms and said, "Come to me, baby J."
She stood there watching him. Seeing that she wasn't moving, he stepped down, removed her hijab, picked her up effortlessly, and placed her on the bed. "Baby J, am I someone to run away from today?"
As he spoke, he undressed her. She muttered, "I don't want to." He answered, "Well, I do!"
He reached for her breasts, massaging them, taking a nipple into his mouth to suck while rolling the other with his hand. Jamila actually enjoyed what he was doing and pushed her chest further toward him. Amidst all this, Alhaji Usman took off his own clothes, hovered over Jamila with his heavy chest, and began reciting the traditional prayer for marital intimacy.
Jamila opened her eyes wide: Waiyo Allah! "What is it?" he asked. "I'm scared." "Don't worry, it won't take long, I'll be done right now."
He began entering her. Jamila braced herself, waiting to feel agonizing pain... but instead, she felt the exact opposite—just a tiny bit of discomfort. Before she even fully realized it, her groom lifted himself up, collapsed onto his side, and started breathing heavily, snoring softly.
Jamila thought to herself: Hmm, what is the meaning of this? Is this really how marriage is? Is he done already? While lost in her thoughts, he murmured, "Baby J, didn't you feel any pain? Get up, let's take a bath, or can you not stand up?" She shot him a glare, though he had no idea because the room was dark since the lights had been turned off.
"Should I carry you?" She ignored him, but the next thing she knew, he scooped her up into the air as she squirmed, carrying her straight to the bathroom. She took her bath with a straight face, finished, and came out. He came out too after finishing his own. He went back to bed and immediately started snoring loudly. Jamila was left alone, deep in thoughts of the world...
To be continued! Yours truly, the girl from Kagara 😎 AUREN KISAN WUTA
The Morning After and Reality
Jamila drifted into deep thoughts: So, is this really how wealthy men's marriages are? I remember Hadiza Aminu’s wedding wasn’t like this at all; on her first night, she couldn't even stand up. Her husband had to carry her to the bathroom and bathe her because she was crying in intense pain from physical exhaustion. He even had to wash her bedsheets the next morning because they were stained with blood!
When morning came, he called me and Maryam Yahya. That day, we did all the chores while she lay on the bed, acting all pampered while he catered to her every whim...
As sleep stole Jamila away, early in the morning Alhaji Usman left for dawn prayers and went right back to sleep upon returning. Jamila, who was on her prayer mat reading the Quran, watched him for a while. She continued reading until 6:0, and after her closing prayers, she went downstairs and met the domestic staff doing their chores. They greeted her, she responded, and she headed straight to the kitchen to start preparing breakfast.
By 7:30, she was done. She arranged everything nicely on the dining table, went back to her room to shower, and when she stepped out, she moisturized her skin and put on stunning makeup. She wore a white shadda outfit adorned with intricate red needlework that fit her body perfectly, tied her headgear neatly, sprayed herself with rich perfume, and sat majestically on a three-seater sofa in the parlor. She turned on the TV and crossed her legs, watching a program on African TV.
Around 9:00 AM, Alhaji Usman came downstairs, stared at Jamila, and said, "Wow, Amariya! With this kind of beauty, you'll make me stop going out!" Knowing that going out was a necessity for him anyway, she smiled and greeted him. He responded, and she said, "Your breakfast is ready." "Thanks, my dear wife! Have you already learned how to make breakfast? Good job!"
They walked together to the dining area, eating and chatting until they finished. He said, "Baby J, I'm going out to visit one of my cement factories to meet some expatriates. What do you need?" "Money!" He brought out 200,000 Naira and handed it to her. She thanked him, walked him all the way to the front door, and watched him leave before heading back inside.
Once inside, she called her friend Maryam Yahya. As soon as Maryam picked up, Jamila said, "My friend, how are you feeling?" "I'm on my way over, farsa! 😜" Jamila hissed, "Who are you calling? You're useless, I swear. Please come right now, the bride is waiting!" "I'm on my way. I just stepped out of the bathroom, let me quickly put on my clothes and I'll be there." "Alright, see you."
Friend's Visit and Comparison
She sat in the parlor eating grapes and apples, shaking her foot happily as a wave of comfort washed over her. Baby J, your prayers have been answered!
Soon, she heard a knock and quickly opened the door, recognizing Maryam Yahya's voice. They hugged each other and walked into the parlor. Once seated, Maryam asked, "Don't tell me nothing happened!" "Mtssww, why are you always poking your nose into things that aren't your business?" "Oh, come on, Baby J! Did the wedding actually happen or not? I'm on my way too," Maryam teased.
Jamila laughed and said, "No, that's not what I meant at all." They both laughed, and then Jamila said, "Maryam, there's a problem!" "A problem? Like what?" "Yes, I swear. Remember when Hadiza Aminu got married? We were the ones who helped her clean her house and brought her food; she couldn't even walk properly! She kept crying and even had a fever, it was such a pity. Isn't that so?" "Yes, exactly." "Then why is my experience so different from hers?!"
Maryam replied, "Well, Jamila, you have to understand. Hadiza married a young man full of life, health, and youth. Your husband, on the other hand, aside from his massive potbelly and weight, what else does he have? And don't forget, you wanted money, and God gave it to you. So you just have to patient with what you've got. You can never compare the physical energy of a young man with that of an older married man. What Hadiza's husband can do on the bed, your husband couldn't even manage if it killed him! All I can say to you is, just be patient. You know nowadays, marriages aren't built on pure love anymore—it's all about money. You and the others are the rare ones who married without focusing solely on cash. Look at Hadiza, she married for love."
Jamila sighed, "I swear, you're right. Hadiza lives in a modest family house, but she doesn't care because her husband shows her true love, gives her attention, and above all, fully satisfies her marital rights 🙈." Maryam agreed, "Yes, everything you listed is true, Hadiza is getting all of that."
Maryam added, "But look at you! Even though you don't have that romantic youth, look at how far ahead of your family you are—no one has ever had a car brought as part of their bridal gifts except you! My friend, what else did you look for and not find?" Jamila admitted, "True. In fact, just now before he left, he gave me 200,000 Naira in case there was anything I wanted to buy before he returned." "Oh, my friend! So where is my share?" Jamila laughed, "I love how impatient you are! You already knew you'd get your cut." "Well, I better speak up. You know what they say—delaying things gives someone else the chance to take your blessing!" "True. Let me go get it for you."
Jamila went to her room and brought out 50,000 Naira for Maryam. Maryam was thrilled, her face beaming with joy. They continued chatting until past afternoon when Maryam left.
As for Alhaji Usman, he didn't return until 11:00 PM. By that time, Jamila was already feeling sleepy, but when she heard him enter, she got up to welcome him. He touched her face affectionately and said, "Look at me, coming back this late." In a seductive, playful voice, she replied, "It's fine, you left me all by myself waiting for you." "Sorry, my baby. I'm back, but I am so exhausted, I swear. Let me take a bath and go straight to sleep." "Sleep?!" she thought.
As he spoke, he headed upstairs. "Yes, I'm really tired." Jamila looked down at herself. She was wearing a pure white, semi-sheer nightgown with no underwear underneath, and her body was drenched in rich perfumes. Was all of this going to waste just like that?!
Feeling deflated, she dragged her feet, turned his door handle, and walked in. She found that he had already finished his bath, climbed into bed, and was fast asleep with his huge belly exposed, snoring loudly, and even letting out a burp in his sleep. Lol.
Overwhelmed with bitterness and frustration, Jamila slammed the door shut, left his room, and walked back to her own...
Summary
The excerpt follows Jamila, a young woman who has recently married Alhaji Usman, a wealthy and prominent billionaire businessman in Minna. Driven by a desire for luxury and financial security, Jamila entered the marriage for wealth rather than romantic youth, contrasting her situation with her friend Hadiza, who married a young man for love.
On their wedding night, Jamila experiences a surprisingly gentle and brief intimacy with her older husband, which leaves her feeling somewhat confused and underwhelmed compared to the dramatic, painful experiences of her peers. The following morning, Alhaji Usman leaves her well-funded with 200,000 Naira, which she promptly shares a portion of with her visiting friend, Maryam. However, the emotional and physical disconnect becomes starkly apparent later that night when Alhaji Usman returns exhausted from work, ignores her romantic preparations, and falls immediately into a heavy, snoring sleep, leaving Jamila frustrated and disillusioned in her luxurious cage.
Analytics and Comments
- Thematic Conflict (Love vs. Wealth): The narrative heavily explores the transactional nature of modern relationships in certain social circles. Jamila chose financial stability over youthful romance, but the story highlights the psychological cost of this choice—material comfort does not automatically translate to emotional or physical fulfillment.
- Character Dynamics: Jamila represents a pragmatic yet naive archetype—she wants the financial perks of marrying a wealthy older man (the "car, money, and grand house"), but she still harbors expectations of romantic passion and attention, leading to internal friction. Maryam serves as a foil/voice of realism, reminding Jamila to weigh her immense material privileges against her husband's physical limitations.
- Pacing and Realism: The inclusion of mundane, highly relatable social behaviors (gossip among friends, sharing money, adjusting nightwear, husband snoring) grounds the extravagant setting in a recognizable cultural reality.
Conclusions
Jamila's marriage to Alhaji Usman proves that wealth and luxury solve material problems but fail to substitute for genuine emotional and physical connection. While she enjoys a level of financial elevation and social prestige that none of her peers have attained (such as receiving a car as part of her bridal gifts), her wedding night and subsequent evenings reveal a stark void of romance. The story suggests that marrying for money requires a heavy compromise on expectations, leaving the protagonist wrestling with the ironic loneliness of living in a mansion with a husband who is too exhausted or aged to notice her romantic efforts.
What specific aspect of Jamila and Alhaji Usman's relationship would you like to explore or analyze further?