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CANJIN RAYUWA BOOK 3 COMPELET
Alhaji Bashir was incredibly imptient to reach his mansion so he could break this marvelous news. In the exact same manner, Mimi was desperately anxious for her father's return so she could present the case of her beloved Khalil. Meanwhile, Momi Nafisa was completely consumed by malicious plotting, meticulously calculating back and forth how to orchestrate a massive, irreversible fallout between Mimi and her doting father.
It was in this tense atmosphere that the Alhaji arrived home, bursting with excitement. From the very moment he stepped into the main living room, his voice boomed across the house, calling out for Nafisa!
Nafisa hurried out of her quarters, answering immediately, "Here I am, Alhaji. Is everything alright that you're calling me with such urgency?"
He beamed, "Everything is perfectly fine! Nothing but immense fortune."
She respectfully collected his leather briefcase, his traditional cap, and his heavy outer agbada gown (Malum-malum). "Let us go into the inner room so you can hear this incredible news!" he urged.
Her heart dropped with a heavy thud. Is it some massive new business contract? she wondered nervously.
He waved off her unspoken thought, saying, "This completely transcends mere business." The moment they sat down on the plush sofas, he turned to her and revealed, "Can you believe that Abbas actually harbors a deep love for Mimi?"
Momi Nafisa’s heart skipped a beat in sheer panic.
Unaware of her reaction, he continued ecstatically, "Honestly, I am overjoyed. My ultimately cherished dream is finally on the verge of coming to fruition."
Forcing a strained, completely artificial smile onto her face, she managed to mutter, "Wow, that is truly wonderful. If this marriage actually works out, it will be an occasion for immense celebration."
He countered confidently, "What on earth could possibly prevent it from working out? Stop speaking such pessimism."
Nafisa seized her opportunity and remarked subtly, "Well, it's just that earlier today, Mimi explicitly confided in me that her own boyfriend is traveling all the way from Kaduna today just to formally introduce himself to us."
Alhaji Bashir's eyes widened in sheer disbelief, and he locked his gaze onto her. He demanded, "Who on earth is this boy? That is an absolute lie! If Mimi possessed a suitor, I would undeniably be the absolute first human being to know about it, because you know very well she conceals absolutely nothing from me. She has no friend or confidant in this world who ranks above me."
Nafisa doubled down, "That is entirely true, Alhaji, but she explicitly brought the matter to me just yesterday. And from all indications, she is profoundly in love with him."
Bashir instantly raised his hand, cutting her off with a sharp gesture to stop talking. Without another word, he marched out of the room and headed directly up the grand staircase toward Mimi’s penthouse suite.
Mimi was currently sprawled across her luxurious lounge chair, completely engrossed in text-chatting with Khalil. She was pouring her heart out to him, describing the suffocating anxiety she was experiencing, which had also left Khalil utterly distraught and panicked on his end. Suddenly, her father’s booming voice shattered the silence from the doorway.
"My dear daughter, sit up immediately!"
Startled, she adjusted herself, stammering, "Oh, Dad, you're back? I had no idea, otherwise I would have come downstairs to welcome you."
He sat down closely beside her on the sofa. "Mimi, I am overflowing with immense happiness today. My ultimate dream is about to be realized." He tenderly took her hand in his. "You know very well that I have spent years fervently praying for Allah to send you a husband who will pamper and cherish you, don't you?"
Her heart dropped into her stomach with a violent thud. She whispered, "Yes, Dad."
He declared proudly, "Well, the answer to our prayers is Abbas, the son of the Honorable Minister! His father personally contacted me to reveal the profound, intense affection that Abbas harbors for you..."
Step 3
"...This arrangement aligns flawlessly with my lifelong ambition to establish a powerful marital alliance with a Federal Minister. It will bring astronomical expansion to my business empire, most notably within the oil and gas sector."
Mimi cut in sharply, "Dad, there is a massive problem here. As far as Abbas is concerned, he and I have already concluded that matter permanently."
His expression hardened. "What kind of problem could you possibly mean?"
She explained, "Dad, he came to me and expressed his intentions, but I explicitly informed him that my heart already belongs to someone else—someone I have been deeply committed to for a very long time. Dad, is it fair or right for me to abruptly abandon him just to throw myself at Abbas?"
Alhaji Bashir simply stared at her, his face unreadable. He didn't unleash his anger just yet, fully anticipating that he could easily manipulate and convince her to see reason. He replied smoothly, "Of course you can easily leave him, considering the boy hasn't even formalised things by sending his elders to seek your hand. Furthermore, I never expected you to harbor secrets from me—the idea that you have been seeing a boy for a prolonged period without my knowledge is deeply disappointing. I want you to drop this ridiculous matter of an unauthorized boyfriend immediately. Clear your mind and compose yourself, do you understand me, my dear daughter?"
She fell completely silent, her mind blazing with intense resentment as thick tears began welling up in her eyes. He gently lifted her chin to face him. "What is there to cry about? You should be rejoicing. Allah has blessed you with an exceptional, elite choice."
Bursting into a bitter sob, she cried, "Dad, I do not love him! It is Khalil that I love. In fact, he is arriving today just so you can see him. He is the exact type of husband my heart desires!"
His voice boomed, completely shattering his calm demeanor. "Mimi! Are we seriously at a point where I express my desire for something, and you dare to defy me? Are we openly engaging in a battle of wills now?"
Now, she dissolved into full-blown, hysterical tears. "Dad, it’s not like that at all, but it is deeply unjust to force me into loving someone I despise. Don't even worry, I will call Abbas right now and firmly remind him that I have absolutely no affection for him!"
Suddenly, a violent, stinging slap cut through the air—*PAU!*—crashing squarely across her face.
He barked furiously, "You lack the absolute audacity!"
In a towering rage, he spun on his heel and stormed out of the suite. Mimi clutched her throbbing cheek, weeping uncontrollably. Momi Nafisa, who had been greedily eavesdropping from the shadows of the hallway, turned and ran downstairs the moment she heard his heavy footsteps approaching. She ducked into her bedroom, her heart leaping with malicious ecstasy. Perfect, she thought, now it's time to pour pure kerosene onto this raging fire.
She emerged from her room a moment later, putting on a flawless performance of absolute innocence as she walked into the Alhaji's chambers. She offered a soft Islamic greeting, which the Alhaji grunted from deep within his chest as he paced frantically across his room like a caged animal.
Approaching him with an air of deep concern, she asked, "For heaven's sake, Alhaji, what on earth happened?"
He glared at her, breathing heavily. "Mimi is actively trying to humiliate me and ruin my reputation! I gave my absolute word of honor to the boy's father, explicitly promising him that I have given my daughter to his son. Yet, the moment I present the matter to her, she looks me in the eye and claims she wants nothing to do with it!"
Nafisa widened her eyes in calculated shock, clapping a hand over her chest. "Mimi said that?! Oh, Alhaji, she must be joking. Listen to me carefully: a young girl’s initial resistance holds absolutely no real weight; it will completely evaporate the moment the marriage is sealed."
Step 4
"What you need to do is fix a wedding date immediately," Nafisa urged maliciously. "Before she even completes her final university exams, have the marriage legally bound (Daura Aure). You can host the grand reception later once she graduates."
He hesitated, looking at her. "Do you truly believe such an abrupt move is feasible?"
"Most definitely," she assured him smoothly. "The moment she realizes she is legally bound by another man's marital tie (Igiyar Aure), she will be forced to permanently cut ties with everyone else."
He nodded, impressed. "You have actually presented a highly strategic piece of advice. However, I want you to go back upstairs and counsel her further. Considering the boundless, unparalleled privilege (Gata) I have showered her with her entire life, the absolute least she owes me is total obedience."
Momi Nafisa replied eagerly, "Let me go to her right now. But before I head up, should I prepare your hot bathwater, or would you prefer to have your dinner first?"
"I have absolutely no desire for either right now," he muttered, sinking heavily onto the edge of his mattress. "Let me call Sauda instead; perhaps speaking with her will afford me some mental clarity."
A sharp pang of bitter jealousy stung Nafisa’s heart at the mention of his first wife, but she quickly suppressed it, smoothing her expression. "Alright then, let me go check on Mimi. Please tell your 'darling' Sauda that I send my regards."
Nafisa found Mimi weeping hysterically in her room. She immediately moved in, offering comforting words, pleading with her to dry her tears so they could speak rationally, claiming she was entirely there to secure a solution for her. Once Mimi wiped her eyes, Momi Nafisa whispered conspiratorially, "Listen to me, Mimi. Tell this Khalil of yours to immediately dispatch his elders to this house. Perhaps the moment Alhaji sees his formal family delegation arrive, he will back down and relent."
In a cracked, defeated voice, Mimi whimpered, "Momi, haven't I already explained to you that he is still a student? His parents will absolutely not listen to any talk of marriage at this stage in his life. Our original plan was to wait entirely until we had both completed our university degrees."
Momi Nafisa fell silent, rapidly calculating her next manipulative move. Mimi desperately grabbed her hand, crying, "For God's sake, Momi, please tell me what to do!"
Nafisa pulled her into a warm, deceptive embrace. "Calm your mind, Mimi. This is actually a very minor issue, and you know very well that your dad ultimately bends to whatever you desire. The absolute best advice I can give you is this: stand completely firm on your stance that Khalil is the only man you will ever love. He will eventually concede. But if you foolishly surrender to his demands now, you will spend the rest of your life suffering in a miserable marriage to a man you utterly despise."
Mimi hesitated, a wave of guilt washing over her. "But Momi... I really hate the idea of Dad thinking I am openly defying his word."
Nafisa reassured her smoothly, "Do not worry your head about that for a second. I am coming straight from his bedroom this very moment. He explicitly confided in me that if he sees you stand completely firm and unyielding, he will back down."
Mimi let out a massive sigh of relief, her posture relaxing. "Alright then. I will stand completely firm on my choice."
Momi Nafisa drove the final nail in, "No matter how severe the pressure gets, maintain that you despise Abbas."
"I will," Mimi resolved.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Bashir had dialed Hajiya Sauda, meticulously detailing every single thing that had transpired—from his high business ambitions to the current explosive defiance. He demanded, "I want you to call her immediately and deliver a severe reprimand. Order her to drop this ridiculous nonsense about some random boy..."
Step 5
"...and force her to submit to the choice I have personally made for her."
Hajiya Sauda replied calmly but firmly, "Alhaji, I will absolutely not involve myself in this conflict between you and your ultimate favorite child (Lele). There is only one single thing I am willing to do: I will call her and offer her objective maternal counsel."
He snapped back, "What do you mean you won't involve yourself in our conflict?"
She replied with a trace of long-held bitterness, "Oh, please, Alhaji. Is it only now, when your overindulgence has completely blown up in your face, that you suddenly remember I exist? Where was my status as her mother when she was routinely turned against me? When I was treated like an enemy simply because I strictly disciplined her to do what was right? I will offer her advice to obey you, but I will absolutely not force or terrorize her. If she ultimately refuses to submit, then simply give her exactly what she wants, just as you have accustomed her to since her infancy."
A heavy silence fell over the line. Bashir found himself completely paralyzed, utterly unable to formulate a single counterargument. In a fit of frustrated pride, he abruptly cut the call.
When Momi Nafisa returned to his room, she found him drowning in deep distress, mentally obsessing over Hajiya Sauda’s biting, accurate words. She sat close beside him. "Alhaji, I have spoken at length with Mimi."
He looked up with desperate hope. "Did she accept?"
Nafisa shook her head with a look of manufactured sorrow. "Mimi completely refused to yield, Alhaji. She is crying uncontrollably. When I intensified my pleas and tried to convince her to show total obedience to you, she turned on me bitterly and said, 'Of course it's easy for you to say that, since you aren't the mother who actually gave birth to me! If my real mother were the one counseling me, she would never subject me to a forced marriage!'"
Bashir’s eyes flashed with absolute rage. "She actually dared to say that?! This clearly proves she has the explicit, behind-the-scenes backing of her mother! Because when I called Sauda to reprimand her, she flatly told me she would only offer mild advice, not discipline."
Nafisa, secretly gloating with immense satisfaction, stoked the fire. "Honestly, Hajiya Sauda has behaved incredibly poorly. How on earth can a mother actively encourage your own daughter to defy your authority?"
"Exactly!" Bashir roared. "It is entirely baffling. But I am going to decisively prove to both of them that they lack the absolute power to cross me."
Nafisa pressed her advantage, "That is exactly what a real man should do! In fact, what you need to do right now is sit down with the Minister tomorrow and finalize the wedding date for three or four weeks from now. Perform the legal binding immediately and move past this crisis, just as I advised you."
He resolved, "Tomorrow, he and I will finalize everything. Mimi lacks the absolute power to ruin my massive business investments. She has completely crossed the line this time."
Meanwhile, Hajiya Sauda—who harbored absolutely no malicious intent, contrary to the toxic narrative Bashir and Nafisa had constructed—dialed Mimi's line. Mimi answered the call, her voice raw and barely audible.
Hajiya asked with immediate concern, "Are you unwell, Mimi?"
Mimi instantly dissolved into fresh tears. "Hajiya, Dad is furiously insisting that I must marry the Minister's son, but I absolutely do not love him!"
Hajiya Sauda replied with an unyielding, traditional gravity, "Listen to me very carefully, Mimi. If my voice still carries any maternal authority over your life, you will completely submit to your father's directive..."
Step 6
"...and marry the man he has chosen for you. Tell me, are you not completely overwhelmed with shame that your elder brothers and relatives might hear that you are openly arguing and trading insults with your own father? This is the man who has showered you with unparalleled privilege, fulfilled your every single material desire, and shielded you from anything that could cause you a moment's distress. Mimi, I used to believe that even if your father kindled a roaring bonfire and commanded you to leap into it, you would do so instantly without a single moment's hesitation. It is deeply disappointing to realize you do not harbor even a fraction of the deep love he has for you. Reflect deeply on your actions, and do exactly what is right. That is my final counsel to you."
Without waiting to hear a single excuse or reply from Mimi, Hajiya Sauda firmly disconnected the call.
Meanwhile, in a completely different world across town, Alhaji Lawal officially delivered the traditional bride-price (Sadaki) for Zainabu, totaling one hundred thousand naira, exactly as her maternal grandmother (Inna) had demanded. Along with the money, luxury bridal suitcases (Akwatuna) were delivered, and the wedding date was officially set for exactly two weeks' time.
Zainabu was completely devastated, weeping continuously. In her desperation, she hurried over to Mahmood’s house, crying and begging him, "For the sake of God, Mahmood, please lend me your smartphone just this once so I can call Ismail!"
Mahmood looked at her with pity but shook his head firmly. "Zainabu, you need to accept reality and completely submit to your parents' directive. Ismail possesses absolutely no power to change anything now, since a husband has already been officially chosen and locked in for you." Furthermore, Mahmood deeply dreaded the idea of Ismail finding out about this crisis while away, as it would completely derail him. Thus, Zainabu was forced to return home, her heart completely shattered and her ultimate dream crushed.
As for Ismail, over the past few days, he had been constantly tormented by highly vivid, terrifying, and completely incomprehensible nightmares. Whenever the anxiety became too much and he called Mahmood to check in, Mahmood would quickly deflect, assuring him that everyone back home was perfectly fine. Ever since the last time Ismail had spoken directly with Zainabu weeks ago, Mahmood had systematically blocked any further communication between them. Whenever Ismail pleaded, "For God's sake, Mahmood, please go fetch her so we can speak on the phone," Mahmood would lazily make excuses, claiming he had absolutely no free time.
Eventually, Ismail grew deeply resentful and snapped, "Fine! I will permanently stop begging you to take your phone to her. The moment I return to the city, I will simply purchase a personal smartphone for her so I can have some peace of mind."
Mahmood muttered under his breath, “You’re actually doing me a massive favor, because going on these errands was never something I did willingly.” Out loud, he simply watched as Ismail hung up the phone in deep frustration.
For nearly three consecutive days, whenever Ismail arrived at the estate to conduct his religious lessons with Mimi, she completely boycotted the sessions, refusing to emerge from her quarters until the class time completely elapsed. Recognizing the pattern, Ismail resolved that the moment Alhaji Bashir returned home tonight, he would officially report her behavior.
True to his word, following the completion of the late evening (Isha) prayers, Ismail approached the patriarch and laid out the situation.
Alhaji Bashir sighed heavily, a wave of exhaustion washing over his face. "I will speak to her directly. But even if she continues to refuse to come down, do not distress yourself. Simply focus entirely on continuing the education of her younger siblings."
Ismail nodded respectfully, "Understood, Alhaji."
Alhaji Bashir then added pleadingly, "But please, for the sake of God, if she eventually humbles herself and comes down to your class, I want you to continuously deliver profound moral and spiritual counseling (Nasiha) to her. Do you understand me?"
Ismail replied solemnly, "By the direct will of Allah (Insha Allah), I shall do so."
Meanwhile, Momi Nafisa and her daughter Naima had locked themselves securely inside Momi’s bedroom. Nafisa was actively giving Naima a live update on how brilliantly her grand, manipulative plot was unfolding exactly as she desired.
Step 7
"We are on the absolute precipice of total victory, so do not worry your head at all," Nafisa gloated maliciously. "Naima, as we speak right now, Alhaji harbors an intense, burning resentment toward Hajiya Sauda. He is completely convinced that she is the mastermind fueling Mimi's defiance. Just the day before yesterday, Mimi explicitly confided in me, mentioning that Hajiya Sauda had sternly ordered her to submit to Alhaji’s choice. I immediately manipulated her, saying, 'Mimi, you know very well that while your mother can boast that she gave birth to you, her love for you cannot hold a candle to mine, right?' and Mimi instantly agreed with me! Then I told her, 'Do exactly what I instruct you to do. You see, your mother is completely uneducated in western ways; she possesses absolutely no concept of self-liberation or personal rights, let alone yours!' Mimi completely swallowed it hook, line, and sinker. I instantly erased the tiny trace of sense her mother had managed to instill in her, forcing her to permanently discard her mother's advice."
Naima beamed with delight, "Oh, Momi, I am so incredibly happy! Now Dad treats us with far more attention and care compared to them."
Momi laughed mockingly, "That spoiled little brat! Even I was getting sick to my stomach constantly hearing her whine, 'Oh, my darling Dad this, my darling Dad that!'" she sneered, perfectly mimicking Mimi’s high-pitched, pampered voice, causing both mother and daughter to burst into a bout of malicious laughter.
Naima then paused, a look of sudden anxiety crossing her face. "But Momi, don't you see a massive loophole? If Dad actually goes ahead and forcefully binds them in marriage, what happens to my own prospects? Considering you explicitly advised him to fix a wedding date immediately!"
Nafisa smiled deeply, her eyes gleaming with cold calculation. "My ultimate goal is to force a situation where the impossible becomes the reality, ensuring everything crashes down permanently. That is exactly why I want a wedding date set. Just ensure you execute every single instruction I give you to the letter."
Naima complied readily, "Consider it done, Momi."
Across the city, Alhaji Akilu (the Minister) and Alhaji Bashir were sitting inside Bashir’s executive corporate office. They had strategically selected this neutral venue to finalize the marital arrangements for their children.
Alhaji Bashir grumbled, "Can you believe the absolute nerve of that rebellious girl? The moment I laid out the marriage proposal, she actually dared to openly argue and trade words with me!"
"No way! Seriously?!" Alhaji Akilu gasped in shock.
Alhaji Bashir nodded grimly, "I swear it by God. But I know very well this is just the typical emotional drama of these young girls."
Alhaji Akilu offered a reassuring perspective, "You know how women are; she is probably under the delusion that we are the ones forcefully orchestrating this union behind her back, unaware that Abbas saw her himself and fell madly in love with her. Just ignore her tantrums completely. The moment the marriage is sealed, a woman's initial resentment never lasts, provided she is showered with immense material care and luxury."
Overflowing with immense relief and gratitude, Alhaji Bashir beamed, "Thank you so much for your profound understanding. Now, what exact timeline do you think we should set for the wedding?"
Alhaji Akilu replied decisively, "Let's not drag this matter out at all; let's execute it immediately and move past it."
"My thoughts exactly," Bashir agreed. "The most seamless timeline would be to set it for three or four weeks from now."
Alhaji Akilu finalized, "Let us settle firmly on four weeks. I overheard the women mentioning they need to immediately jet out to Dubai and China to procure the luxury bridal dowry and kitchen fittings. Meanwhile, the groom himself has already commenced extensive luxury renovations on my estate mansion in the elite Asokoro district of Abuja."
Step 8
Alhaji Bashir looked up in surprise, "Oh! So you completely abandoned your original plan of selling off that particular Asokoro mansion?"
Akilu smiled, "I had no choice but to drop it, considering Abbas fiercely insisted that it is the exact property he wants to live in. The estate is honestly massive for a young couple, but he is completely infatuated with the architectural layout."
Alhaji Bashir smiled warmly, "In that case, let him have it. May Almighty Allah decree that this union brings immense blessings."
Alhaji Akilu replied, "Amen. Within this coming week, I will formally dispatch his paternal representatives—my younger brother and my close associate, Alhaji Sa'idu—to your home to finalize the traditional protocols."
"Perfect, there is absolutely no problem," Bashir agreed. "On my end, I will immediately inform my younger brother and Alhaji Kabiru to receive them. What exact day will they be arriving?"
Alhaji Akilu replied, "Sometime within this week. I will call you to confirm the exact date." Having fully solidified their marital plot, the two billionaires smoothly transitioned back to discussing their massive joint corporate investments.
Like a joke turning into reality, the marriage gossip quickly manifested into concrete action when the formal bride-price was officially paid. Momi Nafisa and one of her elite high-society friends secured a massive stack of cash from Alhaji Bashir and immediately jetted off to Dubai for a lavish shopping spree, focusing on high-end luxury kitchen installations. Nafisa went all out, meticulously selecting only the most exquisite and jaw-droppingly expensive items—secretly harboring the malicious hope that through a future twist of fate, these exact luxury goods would ultimately be inherited by her own daughter, Naima.
Two days after their departure, Khalil and his mother unexpectedly arrived directly at Mimi’s family estate. The dramatic visit came about after Hajiya Amina noticed her son sinking into a terrifying abyss of severe depression and psychological torment. Utterly unable to comprehend his sudden decline, she had cornered him in his room, pleading with him to reveal the source of his agony, assuring him that she was his ultimate confidant and would deploy every resource to solve his crisis.
Overwhelmed, Khalil had broken down and confessed the entire situation to her. Without a moment's delay, Hajiya Amina had brought the matter to his father, whose entire existence was completely consumed by his political career. The politician had dismissively brushed it off, stating it was none of his concern and that Khalil's sole focus should be his university education, offering nothing but a cold directive for the boy to accept his fate.
Within days, however, Khalil was struck down completely, bedridden, entirely unable to eat or drink, fading away to a mere ghost of himself. Terrified for her son's survival, Hajiya Amina had practically forced him into their car and driven straight to Abuja to beg Mimi’s parents to allow the young lovers to continue their courtship until graduation, at which point a wedding could be celebrated.
Naima, who happened to be lounging in the main living room, received the unexpected visitors. After cold, brief greetings, she asked condescendingly, "Did you come to see Momi? Because she is currently out of the country."
Hajiya Amina inquired, "What about your father?"
Naima replied flatly, "He literally just drove out of the estate a few moments ago."
Khalil stepped forward, his voice trembling, "What about Mimi?"
Naima answered, "She is upstairs in her suite. Should I go call her down?"
Hajiya Amina nodded, "Yes, please."
Upstairs, Mimi was completely buried beneath a thick duvet. Since early morning, a severe, stress-induced fever had taken a firm hold of her body.
Step 9
Naima offered a soft knock, stepped into the bedroom, and found Mimi shivering. "You have guests downstairs," she announced. "They explicitly requested that I call you."
Mimi whimpered from beneath the sheets, "Who on earth are they from?"
Naima replied, "They didn't say."
Mimi groaned, "Tell them to just come upstairs to my private lounge; I lack the absolute physical strength to walk downstairs."
Naima escorted the guests up the grand staircase, leading them straight into Mimi’s private lounge, announcing, "Sis, they are here."
Mimi strained against her weakness, trying to sit up, but her body completely failed her. She turned to her sister and whispered, "Naima, please ask them where they traveled from; I honestly cannot pull myself up."
Before Naima could speak, Hajiya Amina stepped forward warmly, saying, "Let us just come to the bedside so I can explain things directly."
She sat gently on the edge of the mattress and tenderly took Mimi's hand in hers. "My beautiful daughter, I am Khalil’s mother."
The announcement shot through Mimi like a bolt of lightning, and she instantly forced herself into a sitting position. "You are very welcome, Momi!" she gasped. "Who on earth guided you to our estate?"
Hajiya Amina smiled softly, "He is standing right out there in your lounge; we traveled together."
Mimi eagerly threw off her duvet and stepped down from the bed, desperate to confirm with her own eyes if her beloved Khalil was truly there. The moment her eyes locked onto him, a fresh torrent of bitter tears began cascading down her face. She walked over and sank into a sofa closely beside him.
Looking at her with profound sorrow, Khalil choked out, "Look at how incredibly gaunt and emaciated you've become! For the sake of God, Mimi, please stay strong. Look, my Momi is right here; I brought her all the way so she can speak directly with your Momi or Dad."
Mimi shook her head hysterially, her voice breaking. "He will absolutely never listen to either of you! They have already gone too far with the arrangements to forcefully marry me off to Abbas."
Hajiya Amina walked over and sat gracefully on the wide armrest of Mimi's sofa, gently rubbing her back. "Do not despair, my daughter. Tell me, how can I get an audience with him?"
Mimi wiped her face and muttered, "Let me attempt to dial his line. I honestly don't know if he will pick up, because lately, he doesn't even bother answering my calls."
It was only on her second consecutive attempt that Alhaji Bashir finally answered. "What happened now, Mimi?" he demanded sharply the moment the call connected.
Mimi instantly began stammering, her voice filled with intense panic, "Um... Um... the thing is, Dad... there are some important guests here who are desperately seeking an audience with you."
Hajiya Amina smoothly reached out and took the phone from Mimi's trembling hand. "Good afternoon, Alhaji. I hope you are having a productive day."
He grunted into the receiver, "Good afternoon. Who am I speaking with?"
She replied politely, "My name is Hajiya Amina, traveling all the way from Kaduna. I am the mother of Khalil—the young man Mimi is profoundly in love with."
An intense wave of pure fury surged through Alhaji Bashir, but he fiercely suppressed it, keeping his voice dangerously calm. "Alright. Is there a problem?"
She explained, "I traveled down explicitly seeking an audience with you so we can have a rational discussion regarding the future of these two children."
He cut her off coldly, "There is absolutely no basis for any discussion whatsoever, because I have already officially given my daughter away in marriage. As we speak, the wedding is exactly three weeks away. For the sake of God, I highly advise you to tell your son to accept reality."
Hajiya Amina countered firmly, "But Alhaji, you are fully aware that she does not love your chosen groom, correct?"
He barked back, "That is absolutely none of my concern, and frankly, it is none of yours either! If your true intention was to seek a wife for your son, you should have conducted yourselves properly by dispatching your elders long ago, not now. At this juncture, you are completely too late. Thank you. Goodbye." He abruptly slammed the phone down, terminating the call.
Step 10
Hajiya Amina fell into a stunned silence, utterly lost for words as the two young lovers stared at her with desperate, wide eyes. She sighed heavily, "You two must simply accept your fate. Stand up, Khalil, let us depart. Mimi, you must submit to the choice of your parents."
The words had barely left her mouth when both Mimi and Khalil burst into simultaneous, gut-wrenching wails. Mimi desperately grabbed Hajiya Amina's hand, crying frantically, "For the sake of Almighty God, Momi, please elope with me! Run away with me! I cannot survive a single day in this world without Khalil! I will literally die! For the sake of God, help me!"
Khalil threw himself forward, echoing her desperation, "Momi, for the sake of God, let us take her with us!"
His mother whipped around, glaring at him in absolute disbelief. "Have you completely lost your mind?!" She turned and gently placed her hands on Mimi's trembling shoulders. "Calm yourself, my daughter. Let us simply perform prayers and beseech Allah to grant us the best divine outcome."
Weeping hysterically, Mimi followed them all the way downstairs, trailing behind them like a ghost right out to their parked vehicle. The domestic estate workers, who harbored absolutely no idea what was truly transpiring, stood frozen, staring at Mimi in sheer bewilderment. Looking at her intense grief, they assumed a catastrophic death had occurred within the family; their singular, selfish prayer was that it wasn't the billionaire patriarch himself, desperate to ensure their lucrative employment didn't instantly vaporize.
Naima finally stepped forward, gently taking Mimi by the arm and guiding her back inside toward the primary downstairs living room. Mimi sank onto a sofa, continuing to weep uncontrollably while Naima exhausted herself offering empty comforts.
It was at this exact moment that Mallam Ismail stepped into the living room, as the scheduled hour for his private religious lessons with the younger children had arrived. Seeing Mimi in such an unraveled, devastating state, he instinctively paused, nearly turning back before he looked at Naima and inquired with genuine concern, "Is everything alright?"
Naima completely ignored his presence, turning her face away with a look of pure, unadulterated arrogance and disrespect.
Ismail stood silently for a moment, absorbing the slight. Then, looking directly at Mimi, he spoke with a calm, unyielding gravity, "Servant of Allah, weeping has never once served as a sanctuary or a solution for a believer upon whom a severe calamity (Musiba) has descended. If you are truly in desperate need of a solution, I can provide you with a potent spiritual remedy that completely obliterates anxiety and unravels deep sorrow. Through it, you might even attain your ultimate heart's desire."
Neither of the sisters offered a single word in response, ignoring him entirely until he calmly turned and exited the mansion.
Mimi spent over an hour weeping continuously until a blinding, severe headache took hold of her brain. Naima grew utterly exhausted from offering futile comfort, so she picked up her phone and dialed Momi Nafisa in Dubai, detailing the entire dramatic incident. Nafisa immediately attempted to call Mimi’s smartphone, but because Mimi was downstairs while her device was left upstairs in her penthouse, she didn't answer.
Eventually, a wave of intense dizziness washed over Mimi. She forced herself to stand up and staggered upstairs to her lounge. She lay across her sofa for a long time before she finally heard the faint ringing of her phone. Snatching it up frantically, her heart leaped with the hope that it was Khalil—only to see it was Momi Nafisa.
She answered, her voice completely drained and barely audible, "Momi... Momi..."
Nafisa cut in with a firm, commanding tone, "Naima has already given me a live update on everything. I want you to completely calm your mind. I give you my absolute word of honor: you will never be forced to marry Abbas."
Mimi gasped, fresh tears spilling over. "Do you truly promise me that, Momi?"
Nafisa declared intensely, "Even if I were to swear a holy oath to you, I would never have a single reason to perform an expiation (Kaffara) for breaking it, because I will fulfill this promise. Therefore, I command you once again: stand completely firm and unyielding on your stance."
Mimi let out a massive breath, her posture relaxing completely. "Alright, Momi. I will stand firm."
Momi Nafisa drove the final point home, "No matter how catastrophic the pressure becomes, maintain that you completely despise Abbas."
"Consider it done," Mimi resolved.
Step 11
The following afternoon, Mimi stood completely still by her grand living room window upstairs, which offered a sweeping, panoramic view of the boys' quarters and the sprawling estate gardens below. Her eyes traced the movements of her massive flock of white pigeons. Years ago, when she had casually expressed a childish desire for them, her dad had immediately purchased fifty pedigree white pigeons for her. Today, through continuous breeding, they numbered well over a thousand, despite the kitchen staff routinely slaughtering them for family meals.
She suddenly realized it had been weeks since she last personally fed them; the entire task had been completely relegated to the domestic workers. Despite still being dressed in her luxury silk pajamas, she made her way downstairs.
As she crossed the living room, Naima looked up from her tablet and asked, "Where on earth are you heading to?"
"I'm going to check on my pigeons," Mimi replied flatly. "Ever since these crises erupted, I haven't set foot in their enclosure."
She passed through the grand kitchen, stepping out onto the expansive rear veranda where the massive sacks of specialized bird feed were stored. She scooped up a generous portion and scattered it across the pristine lawn. Even though it was already late afternoon—shifting past the early morning hour when she traditionally fed them—she was startled to see an immense, overwhelming swarm of them descend instantly. She marveled at the sight, knowing very well that by midday, the pigeons usually scattered across the city skies.
Suddenly, as if guided by an unspoken divine prompting, she turned her head toward the edge of the courtyard.
There, just a short distance away, she spotted Mallam Ismail. He was calmly hanging his laundry on a clothesline, having clearly just finished washing his basic traditional undergarments. In an instant, the sharp, unyielding words he had uttered the previous day came rushing back into her mind: “If you are truly in desperate need of a solution, I can provide you with a potent spiritual remedy that completely obliterates anxiety and unravels deep sorrow. Through it, you might even attain your ultimate heart's desire.”
Her mind began to race fiercely. How on earth did he know she possessed a hidden, desperate desire? Then again, she reasoned, he is an Islamic scholar, and rumors constantly circulate that these deeply spiritual mallams possess immense knowledge of esoteric remedies and prayers. She vividly recalled a conversation with her close friend, Mina, who had once shared a chilling story about how her stepmother had procured a specialized spiritual remedy against their father, rendering him completely submissive to her absolute commands.
Aloud, Mimi murmured to herself, "I am going to explicitly seek the assistance of this tutor. But how on earth am I supposed to approach him and initiate the conversation?"
Consumed by these swirling, frantic thoughts, she made her way back up to her penthouse suite. She paced her bedroom for a long time before finally resolving to call Naima.
The moment the call connected, she commanded imperiously, "I want you to go downstairs immediately, find that tutor who teaches us, and secure his personal phone number for me."
Naima contorted her face into a deeply annoyed scowl over the phone. "Are you serious, Sis? You know very well that I absolutely detest setting foot near the boys' quarters! Let me just dispatch Folina to fetch it."
"Absolutely not!" Mimi snapped back. "Just instruct Mallam Hamisu to collect it from him and bring it directly to you, then bring it up to me."
"Fine," Naima grumbled.
A short while later, Naima walked into Mimi's lounge, holding Mimi's smartphone. She quickly dialed the digits, saving Ismail's contact information under the simple title: Malam. She handed the device over to her sister.
Mimi took the phone and nodded dismissively, "Alright, you can leave now."
Naima turned to walk away, but sudden curiosity stopped her in her tracks. She spun back around and asked, "Wait, Sis... what on earth do you intend to do with that broke tutor's phone number anyway?"
Mimi shot her a cold, silencing glare. "Just go back downstairs. Do not concern yourself with matters that don't affect you, you'll find out in due time."
Part 2: Structural & Stylistic Description
This section marks a crucial narrative shift where the author employs a dual-perspective layout, contrasting the high-stakes corporate maneuvering of the elite class against the raw, desperate reality of traditional marital expectations.
1. Domestic Realism and Suspense
The text balances the frantic pacing of real-time dialogue with strategic internal monologues (specifically Nafisa's and Mimi's). The author maintains a thick atmosphere of suspense by utilizing short, punchy Hausa phrasings (Gabanta ya fadi, Tufka da warwara) that signal immediate psychological dread.
2. Symmetrical Imagery (The Pigeons vs. The Human Actors)
The introduction of the white pigeons in Step 11 is highly symbolic. The flock, which multiplied from 50 to over 1,000 under Alhaji Bashir's boundless funding, mirrors Mimi's own growth—unrestrained, overfed, and completely isolated within the walls of an artificial paradise. The act of Mimi stepping out to feed them symbolizes a rare moment of vulnerability where she looks outward, setting up her eventual reliance on Ismail.
Part 3: Analytical Breakdown
1. The Weaponization of Polygamous Jealousy (Kishi)
Momi Nafisa’s manipulation highlights the dark underbelly of systemic corporate favoritism in high-society Hausa households:
- The Proxy War: Nafisa does not confront Alhaji Bashir directly; instead, she systematically feeds Mimi’s defiance, transforming the girl into a human shield to destroy Bashir's alliance with the Minister.
The Destruction of Maternal Trust: Nafisa’s most brilliant, malicious stroke is redefining Hajiya Sauda's strict, honorable maternal advice as a sign of uneducated backwardness (Bata yi boko ba). By weaponizing Mimi's privilege, she cuts the girl off from her true spiritual anchor (her biological mother), leaving her completely dependent on Nafisa's destructive guidance.
2. The Transactional Nature of Elite Marriages
The corporate office meeting between Alhaji Bashir and Alhaji Akilu in Step 7 lays bare the completely commodified nature of marriage among the political and business aristocracy:
- Children as Capital: The union between Abbas and Mimi is explicitly framed by Bashir as a strategic vehicle for expanding his oil and gas investments. The emotional or romantic autonomy of the children is treated as an irrelevant, minor glitch.
Material Compensation for Emotional Subjugation: The Minister's assertion that "a woman's initial resentment never lasts, provided she is showered with care" uncovers a toxic philosophy where extreme wealth (trips to Dubai, Asokoro mansions) is viewed as a natural anesthesia to numb the trauma of forced marriage.
3. The Pivot to Esoteric Desperation
Mimi's decision to seek Ismail's phone number marks a critical psychological breakdown:
- The Failure of Material Power: Mimi has witnessed her father discard her tears, her boyfriend's mother get humiliated over the phone, and her own elite status fail to secure her freedom. Having realized that her father's wealth is now being used against her, her worldview fractures.
- The Superstitious Fallback: When she remembers the rumor of her friend's stepmother using traditional/esoteric means (Magani) to subdue a powerful patriarch, her elite, westernized persona immediately vanishes. In her desperation, she pivots back to the ultimate traditional source of unseen power—the spiritual scholar—unwittingly setting up her own path toward structural and moral re-education at the hands of Ismail.
