FreeFreeDescription
Part 1
She stood up to leave, her mind completely troubled. She turned back and asked the doctor if she could see him at that exact moment. The doctor headed toward the exit of his office, telling her to follow him.
Hajiya Mama stood in frozen silence the moment her eyes met Jamal. The doctor had guided her right to his bedside, on the strict condition that she must not make any loud movements that would disturb the other patients in the ward. She began wiping away tears with the edge of her hijab, seeing how emaciated he had become overnight, looking as though he had been bedridden for days. In her mind, she replayed the doctor's words, which had completely shattered her nerves and her heart.
Holding the iron rail of the bed right at his head, she poured out prayers for him while weeping, before the doctor finished his rounds checking on the other patients. Realizing she was in a state of deep distress, the doctor returned to her with comforting words, reassuring her that Jamal would regain consciousness in full health and with renewed strength. He explained that the recent flare-up of his illness was simply compounded by a severe fever. Therefore, she should calm her mind, as nothing worse would happen to him.
This gave her the endurance to walk out of the ward, her heart fully reassured by the doctor’s words. At the entrance, she ran right into a disheveled Amna. Amna brushed past her side and burst in, her eyes darting wildly across the rows of patient beds until she spotted him on the very last bed.
She pulled up to the bedside and stood there, covering her mouth as a fresh wave of tears overtook her without warning. She quickly grabbed his hand, resting her head upon it, weeping out loud, her heart filled with profound pity for him. Feeling the coolness of her tears on his hand, he stirred slightly and opened his eyes just a slit. He then quickly closed them again, clutching his head in pain, and muttered,
"Nur, come closer to me."
Amna released his hand, a joyful smile breaking through the tears streaming down her face as she said,
"Uncle J, it's Amna..."
He turned his head toward her face, looking at her as if he wanted to speak, but then drew back his lips and remained silent, saying nothing. Amna rushed out with quick steps, overjoyed, to inform Hajiya that he had woken up. Together, they returned along with her driver, celebrating seeing him alive and having regained his consciousness. He merely followed them with his eyes, one by one, before gathering the strength to utter the matter that was gnawing at his soul.
"Hajiya, Nur hasn't returned yet, has she?"
Uhum 🥲
Part 2
Hajiya Mummy remained completely silent, for there was no answer she could give him at that moment. Because of this, she simply turned her face away, wiping the tears trickling down her cheeks, her heart filled with bitterness over what had transpired—the very catalyst of the illness now threatening his health.
Amna moved closer to the bed, touching his hand, and spoke to him in a soothing, comforting tone, saying,
"Please be patient, Uncle J. I know Nur will return to you because she loves you too. It is something everyone knows—she cannot live a life without you in it. So please, for God's sake, help us and help yourself, Uncle J. Strengthen yourself and your heart, and try to remove all worries from your mind. Allah is aware of everything that has happe..."
"What wrong did I do to her that she would run away from me?"
He threw the question at her rapidly, unable to swallow his bitterness. It was the exact question anchored in his mind, swirling continuously through his thoughts.
"Drop this matter, Jamal. It will be discussed later once you have recovered your health."
That was Hajiya’s voice, sharp and firm, despite her efforts to suppress the turmoil in her own heart. She desperately feared losing him, especially after the grim prognosis the doctor had previously given her. After that, Jamal said nothing more; he simply turned his head aside and closed his eyes, his chest heaving rapidly.
A heavy sleep overcame him. By then, the hospital had filled with their relatives, family members, and well-wishers. More than half of the distant relatives who had stayed overnight at Hajiya Mummy’s house were now at the hospital offering their sympathies. Hajiya had also called Minal's household to inform them of the situation, and she instructed her domestic staff to prepare breakfast and deliver it to Minal. Even in the midst of this profound crisis, her distress did not make her forget the trust reposed in her.
For this reason, Innarmu and Gwaggo Salame arrived at the hospital to see Jamal. From there, they proceeded to Minal’s place after concluding a discussion with Hajiya on how to resolve the problem smoothly. The matter was kept strictly between them; nothing was disclosed to Minal about Jamal's critical condition, out of fear that she might become stubborn, reject the marriage entirely, and ruin the new plan they had carefully structured.
As for Minal, Gwaggo Salame's words had reduced her anxieties by about forty percent. She accepted her destiny, even though deep down in her heart, she felt entirely unsatisfied with the validity of this marriage. To the best of her knowledge regarding historical marital disputes, she had never heard of anything quite like what had been done to her. Instantly, her mind began to provoke her with conflicting advice, but she stood firm on the choice her heart accepted, holding onto it as a weapon to shield herself from the hostilities within this marriage, and to maintain her loyalty to her relationship with Nur.
Her body drained of energy, she pulled the food Hajiya had sent toward herself and ate a bit more. She then gave the remainder to the security guard, who showered her with gratitude. However, what threatened to plunge her back into distress was the absolute silence in the house since Innarmu and the others had left; no one else had visited the house until nightfall. Furthermore, she had called Amna more than ten times, but the phone rang completely out without being answered. This frustrated her further, and in deep anguish, she began dialing Nur’s numbers, spending time sending messages in the hope that whenever Nur turned on her phone, she would see them. Every time she called, the operator informed her that all lines were switched off.
That night, she barely slept a wink due to her restless heart and the barrage of questions she desperately wanted answers to, with no opportunity to get them. Even the dinner Hajiya had sent again was only eaten late into the night, when hunger finally broke her peace because sleep refused to cooperate. At two o’clock in the morning, she dedicated herself to crying out her grievances to Allah, praying that He bring relief to her predicament, return Nur to her husband, and allow her to marry the one she truly loved. The strict warning Innarmu had given her regarding her lover prevented her from contacting him by phone to know his situation.
She knew his mind would inevitably be shattered when he discovered that her hand in marriage had been taken by absolute force. She believed that Nur would eventually return to Jamal no matter how long it took, which was why she chose to use only her personal household items, few as they were. She packed Nur's clothes back into the bridal suitcases (lefe) sitting by the bedside. She had resolved in her mind that her stay in this house was strictly temporary, not permanent; therefore, nothing would entice her to relax in a place where she possessed no legitimate right to remain.
She did not find a peaceful sleep until after she finished her dawn (Asubahi) prayers, dropping off to sleep right where she sat after her supplications. She continued this lonely existence entirely by herself in Jamal’s house for a whole week, with no one visiting her except Gwaggo Salame. What infuriated her most was seeing how her rights were completely abandoned after her life had been restricted by a monumental injustice. Consequently, within those few days, she emaciated entirely; severe weight loss gripped her body, and her eyes became hollow as if she were suffering from an illness. Despite Gwaggo Salame's constant preaching and advice, coupled with the care Hajiya provided every morning, she could not be pulled out of the misery her heart befriended. Then came an additional wave of distress: Hajiya called her on the phone, informing her that Jamal was returning that day, and that she must prepare to cook a meal for her husband.
She remained completely silent after lowering the phone from her ear, her chest pounding as tears began to stream down her face. Her intuition told her that living alone in the house was far better than sharing a space with Jamal, considering the humiliation he had subjected her to and his attempt to kill her from their very first encounter.
"I cannot live in a marriage with him."
Those were her words as she stood up, her body trembling, and threw on a long hijab. With hurried steps, her body shaking, she descended the stairs and reached the gate. The security guard asked if everything was alright, seeing how she rushed out of the house as if she were being pursued. But she uttered absolutely nothing to him, opening the small gate to flee. Right there, she ran directly into Gwaggo Salame, who was attempting to enter the house, causing their heads to collide.
"Subhanallahi!"
That was Gwaggo’s exclamation the moment her eyes locked onto Minal. Instantly, her mind perceived exactly what Minal was trying to execute. With a tightened, serious expression, she stared at Minal, analyzing her state, observing how Minal pulled aside, pouting with a low mutter vibrating across her lips. With a stern face, she addressed her in a harsh, authoritative voice, saying,
"What brought you out, and where do you think you are going?"
Minal burst out sobbing like a little child, speaking through her tears, saying,
"By Allah, I will not stay in this house with just him and me..."
She spoke while collapsing into a fresh wave of weeping, stamping her feet on the ground. Open-mouthed in shock, Gwaggo watched her as she entered the compound and closed the small gate. She began clapping her hands in distress, uttering invocations (salati) because she was at a total loss for words. Seeing the security guard standing there watching them, she pulled Minal by the hand—despite her resistance and foot-stamping—until they returned inside the house. In the upstairs living room, she made her sit on a chair. Thoroughly infuriated, she began pointing an accusatory finger at her before finding the breath to speak:
"Now, Amina, how many times must I tell you to have patience? Does this mean everything I say goes in one ear and out the other? For God's sake, all the time I have dedicated to you recently, have you no regard for it? Or have you forgotten that I have a mountain of my own affairs that I put on hold just to come and console you? Little did I know you look at me as an idle person whose efforts are meant to be in vain..."
"Gwaggo, I just don't want to live with him... because he said he will never look at me as a woman, and he threatened to kill m..."
"By now, you ought to understand that your husband cannot harm you. He couldn't even kill an ant, let alone a human being. Throughout all these days when he wasn't sleeping at home, he was in the hospital receiving medical care. He has been ill for days, and right now, he is entirely consumed by his own ailments. So, calm your mind; he will do nothing to you except good. And even if he tries to harm you, Allah will not leave him be, and the authorities will not let him get away with it scott-free; steps will certainly be taken against hi..."
"If that's the case, Gwaggo, let the police be informed right now so they know the situation and prevent him from attempting to kill me again... because by Allah, that night he was mere inches away from ripping out my throat."
Gwaggo Salame burst into laughter, then sat close to her, pulling Minal toward her chest. Her words made her realize that it was the sheer terror of that initial night that made her so terrified of living with him since the very first night of the marriage. Because of this, she began soothing her until Minal relaxed her mind. On the other hand, Gwaggo was quietly contemplating the terrifying depth of the love Jamal harbored for Nur, feeling deep pity for his condition. In her heart, she plotted how she would win him over so he would cease harboring resentment toward Minal, so they could collectively find a way to track down Nur wherever she had vanished.
After spending three days in the hospital, he was discharged. On the fourth day, Hajiya insisted he return to his house to sleep since his health had improved. But he adamantly refused, vowing never to step foot in that house again. She wanted to force him to sleep there that day, but some of his late father's relatives advised her to take things slowly. Consequently, she vowed to cleverly steer him back to his house, knowing it was unfair to leave Minal completely isolated in the house while he slept at his mother's home.
In her heart, Hajiya wished that immediately upon his hospital discharge, he would head straight home to reconcile with his wife. However, the doctor's advice to handle everything gently until he fully recovered made her give him some breathing room. On the side, however, she initiated her own secret scheme, proving that if he thought he was clever, she was steps ahead. As an antidote to his stubborn resistance, she began administering a powerful herbal concoction for him to drink without disclosing its true purpose. Whenever he questioned it, she claimed it was medication for his heart condition. Although he remained unconvinced, it did not cause him to doubt her, knowing fully well that she loved him more than he loved himself and would never harm him.
She also tasked his friends with keeping him grounded and helping him alleviate the grief over Nur’s absence. Consequently, they began showing him the virtues of patience in the face of life’s trials. Through their investigations, they confirmed that Nur was no longer in the city; she had embarked on a journey to an unknown destination. With the support of his encouraging friends, he continued taking Hajiya’s medicine. However, the plot thickened where the medicine began manifesting its real effects on his body. He started suspecting that the drug was intensely stimulating his male libido—contrary to the vow he had made to his own soul that as long as Nur did not return, no other woman on earth, no matter how virtuous, would ever share his life.
Inevitably, through Hajiya's persistent pressure, he gave in and agreed to return to his house to sleep. Delighted by his compliance, she sent groceries ahead to Minal, along with instructions on his favorite meal to prepare for him personally. At the house, Gwaggo Salame assisted Minal with the cooking until they finished. She then forced Minal to bathe and adorn herself in one of Nur's brand-new bridal outfits—a task that required an intense struggle before Minal finally wore it. However, Minal secretly intended to take it off the moment Gwaggo left, having vowed to herself to merely endure a temporary coexistence with Jamal until Nur returned.
Hajiya prepared a special tiger-nut drink (Kunun Aya) for Jamal, instructing him to take it along and share it with Minal. Knowing he was incredibly fond of it, she used it as a trap to ensnare him that very night. After lecturing him sternly on treating Minal with absolute trustworthiness even if he did not love her, the sight of tears in his mother's eyes compelled him to accept the vow to live with her in the house, abandoning the plan he had initially concocted to throw her out like a dog the moment he arrived.
As he drove out of the compound, his mother showered his car with prayers of protection against evil, wishing him peace in his life. Buoyed by the comfort of her prayers, he left the house with a strengthened heart, though he never ceased visualizing the image of Nur’s smile before his eyes. This fueled his determination to continue searching for Nur wherever she might be in the world.
The game is about to begin 🫠
Part 3
Minal sat in the living room, relying on the forced courage Gwaggo Salame had instilled in her. Gwaggo had strictly ordered her to sit there watching television until Jamal entered the house, warning her never to dare leave the living room without presenting him with his food. She emphasized that Minal must not let the hard work they put into cooking go to waste, and no matter how she felt, she must not let him go to bed hungry. Hajiya had informed Gwaggo that she deliberately refused to let him eat at her place so he wouldn't reject the food at his own home.
Thus, she sat watching MBC2, resting her chin in her hand, until she heard the gate opening and his car driving in. Her heart instantly leaped into her throat; her body began to shake, and her eyes darted around erratically as she sought a place to hide, fearing that the sight of her would trigger his mad obsession with Nur and cause him to harm her for no reason.
'Don't you dare show him that you are afraid of him. Because this is your very first opportunity to show him that you respect yourself.'
Recalling Gwaggo Salame's words, she began reciting Hasbunallahu wa ni'imal wakil (Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs) to regain the tranquility that had deserted her body as terror overwhelmed her self-encouragement. The sound of Gwaggo's sermon echoed in her ears as if she were receiving the warning right then. This made her quickly adjust her posture and tighten her expression, repeating the phrase La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (There is no power nor might except with Allah). Soon, she heard the sound of the downstairs living room door opening, followed by his hurried footsteps ascending the stairs.
Thump-thump went her heart, beating faster and faster the moment he stepped into the living room. Her eyes remained glued to the TV without casting a single glance toward him, terrified that he would read her fear and harm her with no one around to save her. According to Gwaggo, if he realized she was deathly afraid of him, he would look down on her completely and treat her however he pleased. Therefore, his entry did not make her look at him, even though her entire focus was locked on him. He didn't offer an Islamic greeting (sallama) for her to answer; instead, she just heard him drop the plastic bags in his hands, scattering them across the floor. His voice trembling, he called out Nur's name loudly, saying,
"Nur! When did you return without my knowledge?"
She cast a cold glance at him, neither praiseful nor critical, but deep down, a profound pity for him almost broke her heart. Nevertheless, she looked away indifferently and said,
"Where do you see Nur here?"
"Oh God!"
Jamal cried out in a strained voice as he quickly clutched his throbbing head. Mistaking Minal for Nur had violently reopened the wound he was desperately trying to suppress in his soul. The illusion had perfectly mirrored Nur, amplified by the scent of Nur's perfume permeating the living room, which had welcomed him before he even crossed the threshold. His heart pounded relentlessly as he pointed an accusatory finger at her, raging,
"If you ever dare wear Nur's perfume in this house again, I will alter your face permanently... and you're lucky I promised Hajiya Mummy that I would live with you, otherwise you would be leaving this house this very instant, by Allah... ahhhh!"
He cut his words short, clutching his head as a wave of dizziness overcame him, and stumbled into his bedroom. As if by design, the scent of Nur's perfume welcomed him into his bedroom as well. He quickly threw himself onto the bed, holding his head and massaging his forehead while gently tapping his head against the pillow. He left Minal frozen in place like a statue, his venomous words completely shattering the fragile courage in her heart.
Stepping up abruptly, she ran into her room, her body trembling violently. Without wasting a single moment, she began stripping off Nur's clothes. She rushed into the bathroom and furiously scrubbed her body with soap, lathering heavily in a desperate bid to rid herself of Nur's scent, terrified of infringing further upon his boundaries and triggering another episode of his illness. Hajiya had hidden nothing from her; she had disclosed everything the doctor said regarding his condition before he returned home, begging her to look after him and endure his erratic behavior until the underlying crises could be untangled.
Only when her skin began to sting from scrubbing did she stop and exit the bathroom. Her spirit drained, she re-dressed and stepped out, remembering the food she was supposed to serve so he wouldn't sleep on an empty stomach. She spent five agonizing minutes outside his door, contemplating how to enter and what consequences awaited her. Like an intruder, she stepped into his room, her legs heavy and her heart pounding violently. She stood a distance away from him for two whole minutes, unable to utter a single word. Sensing a presence, he quickly sat up, staring at her in utter astonishment. Knittings his brows tightly, he spoke in a harsh, biting tone:
"Madam, what brings you into my room without even an Islamic greeting?!"
"The... food... the... food... I said..."
Those were the only words she managed to piece together, stuttering in a way she never knew she was capable of until that day. He had locked his gaze onto her as if she were a captured murderer or a thief.
"The food, the food, you said what?"
He mimicked her words, his tone morphing into absolute disdain, indicating he had reached the limit of his frustration with her. Staring down at her fingers, she answered with a tight face and a bowed head, saying,
"I cooked food; if you will eat, I will bring it to you."
"Food!"
She quickly raised her head, thinking she had done something commendable, but the thunderous shout he unleashed and the torrent of words that followed sent her retreating silently out of the room, her body trembling with absolute terror.
"Am I the one you think will eat your food? What kind of lunatic are you to think I could ever accept anything from your hands, let alone your filthy cooking?!"
Seeing that she had fled his room, he followed her out into the living room, continuous vitriol pouring out of his mouth even after she locked herself in her bedroom. He refused to let it go, raising his voice despite the late hour, unleashing burning words upon her as though he were divinely inspired to torment her.
"If I ever see your withered feet in my room again, I will take an axe and chop them off completely! From this day forward, never involve yourself in anything that concerns me... and if your foolishness leads me to permanently maim you, let's see who will stand up for you, you wretched, ignorant fool! And open your ears wide and listen to me clearly: as long as you do not reveal to me where Nur went, I will be the end of you, you wicked hypocrite and destroyer of love!"
Minal collapsed into a violent sob that she could no longer restrain. For his words of cru—
2. Story Summary
Narrative Context
This text is an excerpt from the Hausa domestic drama novel Fansar Ƙauna (The Ransom of Love) written by Hadiza Ibrahim D. Auta (Chapters 5 and 6). The plot revolves around a forced or arranged marriage born out of a crisis involving three central characters: Jamal (Uncle J), his missing true love Nur, and Minal, the woman forced to take Nur's place.
Plot Summary
- Jamal's Illness and Obsession: Jamal is hospitalized after suffering a severe physical and psychological breakdown caused by the sudden disappearance of his lover, Nur. His mother (Hajiya Mummy/Mama) and niece/relative (Amna) nurse him through a life-threatening fever. Upon waking up, Jamal's single obsession is finding out if Nur has returned.
- The Forced Marriage & Minal's Plight: To stabilize family arrangements or preserve honor, Minal has been married to Jamal against her will following Nur's flight. Minal is staying at Jamal's house completely isolated, terrified of him, and filled with deep anxiety. She respects Nur and views her own presence in the house as strictly temporary, keeping Nur's bridal belongings intact.
- The Structural Intervention: Senior female relatives (Hajiya Mummy, Innarmu, and Gwaggo Salame) conspire to keep Jamal's true medical condition a secret from Minal to avoid her fully rebelling against the marriage. Hajiya secretly breaks Jamal's resistance to returning home by feeding him traditional herbal aphrodisiacs/tonics (disguised as heart medication) to stimulate his desire for a wife.
The Confrontation: Jamal is forced to return to his marital home. Gwaggo Salame pressures a terrified Minal to dress up in Nur's bridal clothes, wear her perfume, and cook Jamal's favorite meal to entrap his affections. When Jamal arrives, the overwhelming scent of Nur's perfume and the visual illusion of Minal wearing Nur's clothes causes a psychological trigger. He hallucinates that she is Nur, but upon realizing the truth, he undergoes a massive fit of rage, violently threatens Minal's life, refuses her food, insults her background, and demands she confess where Nur is hidden, leaving Minal completely shattered and weeping.
3. Key Character Descriptions
- Jamal (Uncle J): The male protagonist. He is deeply, obsessively in love with Nur to the point of severe physical illness and psychological instability. He is completely bitter, highly volatile, and harbors intense resentment and hostility toward Minal, viewing her as an opportunistic interloper who helped drive Nur away.
- Minal: The tragic female lead of this excerpt. She is trapped in a marriage she doesn't want, forced to bear the brunt of Jamal's psychological abuse and physical threats. She is anxious, deeply terrified of Jamal's violent outbursts, yet attempts to maintain her dignity, her boundaries, and her loyalty to her missing friend, Nur.
- Hajiya Mummy / Hajiya Mama: Jamal's fiercely protective and highly manipulative mother. She orchestrates family affairs from behind the scenes, using emotional manipulation (tears) and secret herbal concoctions to force Jamal back into his marital home to fulfill his obligations to Minal.
- Gwaggo Salame: A senior family aunt who acts as Minal's counselor. While she offers emotional support and protects Minal from escaping the house, she is firmly dedicated to enforcing traditional marital endurance (haƙuri) and coordinates the trap to make Minal physically appealing to Jamal.
- Amna: Jamal’s young relative who shows deep empathy for his heartbreak. She attempts to comfort him at his bedside and maintains hope that his true love, Nur, will return.
- Nur: The absent catalyst of the entire conflict. She fled the marriage/town for undisclosed reasons, leaving behind a heartbroken, unstable Jamal and a completely upended family dynamic.
