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Introduction: The Long Wait
Around 3:00 PM on a Tuesday, in a Kano neighborhood known as 'Yankaba, Hajiya Safiyyah-Basudaniyyah (as everyone who knew her or was associated with her called her) was sitting on the carpet in the middle of her living room. She was holding a rosary from Medina, reciting her prayers, and occasionally lifting her head to look at a massive wall clock mounted on the southeast side of the room. By all indications, she was waiting for something important; ever since she performed her Zuhr afternoon prayer, she hadn't left the spot, her eyes constantly darting back to the clock.
It was an exquisite, beautifully adorned living room equipped with modern luxuries. One glance was enough to convince anyone that the owners of the house lived a life of abundant wealth—worldly luxury had settled there perfectly, matching the dreams of any human being. Everything in the living room was a cream color with hints of orange, making the space uniquely styled, as it was a color combination rarely used in contemporary interior design.
Initially, Hajiya Safiyyah wasn't too worried, but as time dragged on, anxiety began to show on her beautiful Sudanese face. What could possibly be keeping Fahimah at school until now, when it was nearly three in the afternoon?
The greeting of her housemaid, Talatu, interrupted her thoughts. She walked in carrying a tea jug—the kind used by Sudanese Arabs—along with small porcelain cups meant for drinking Sudanese tea. She walked straight to where her mistress was sitting, bowed respectfully sideways, and placed them down. By all indications, drinking this tea regularly had become a fixed habit for the Hajiya. Talatu looked at her and spoke:
"Hajiya, my dear friend, is everything alright? I’ve been watching the path for her since earlier, but it’s still completely quiet. Did she happen to tell you she was stopping by somewhere else today?"
Hajiya Safiyyah completed the final cycle of her rosary recitation, said a prayer, and blew it over herself and Talatu as a blessing before speaking:
"That is exactly what I’ve been thinking about. She told me she would be back by 1:30 PM today. Let me call her phone so we can hear if everything is fine; Fahimah never goes anywhere without telling me and getting my permission."
She picked up the phone resting beside her, dialed Fahimah's number, and held it to her ear. However, the phone rang until it timed out, and she didn't answer. This was highly unusual of her—refusing to answer a call—and it further agitated the hearts of both Hajiya and Talatu.
The Arrival of Uwais
Right at that moment, he walked into the living room, unbuttoning the links on the cuffs of his white shirt. The entire room instantly filled with the scent of his subtle luxury perfume, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Paris. He wore a pristine, smooth white brocade outfit known as London King, paired with a white Zanna cap that perfectly matched the brocade. He was tall with a broad, athletic chest, but his build didn't stop anyone from describing him as lean, as his height made him lean forward slightly. One glance at him was enough to confirm he wasn't fully Hausa; he was either a biracial half-caste or a pure Sudanese—specifically of the fair-skinned Sudanese lineage, not the dark-skinned ones. His nose was so long it hooked down slightly at the tip, and his cap sat snugly atop a thick mane of hair, further revealing his heritage.
By all indications, he was in a rush—a very big hurry. He looked at his mother, who was wrapped in a blue Sudanese laffaya cloth with her rosary in hand. He had never seen her dressed in anything other than Sudanese attire. Talatu was kneeling before her, fanning her tea. Standing there, he bowed slightly in deep respect for his mother.
"Ammi, I am heading out. I need to return to the office because I came home before we closed for the day. However, I won't stay past 5:00 PM; I'll be back by then, Insha Allah. I left some uncompleted files at the office that I want to finish up because tomorrow morning, the manager of the Gyadi-Gyadi branch is picking them up from my office."
Without even waiting for his mother's response, he turned toward the door, ignoring the lunch that had been laid out for him on the massive dining table in the living room.
"Uwais!"
His mother’s voice halted him. Without turning back, he stopped, completely impatient.
She said, "Fahimah hasn't returned since she left for school."
The brightness on his face vanished instantly. He turned around completely, his face tight. "For Allah's sake, Ammi, what does that have to do with me? Is she a kid? Or does she not know the way home?"
Hajiya Safiyyah shook her head, easily reading the sheer hatred for the girl written boldly across his handsome face. Nevertheless, she had to tell him, considering how dangerous the country had become, where a human life was treated like that of an ant. Furthermore, there was no other man in the house besides him; he was the head of the household for everyone, including her, his own mother.
"Whatever urgent business you have, set it aside and go find her, or I will stand up and go look for her myself."
Extremely furious, he turned and stormed out of the living room without saying another word.
Deep-Seated Resentment
From the aggressive way he drove his car alone, anyone could tell his anger was boiling, though his face was naturally adept at concealing rage. There was absolutely nothing he loathed more in this world than Ammi mixing his affairs with Fahimah's. She consistently refused to accept that his heart simply did not care for Fahimah, and it never would!
This was entirely because of her origin... along with certain specific reasons that had taken root in his heart since childhood. Most central of all was the overwhelming love his Ammi showered on her—a devotion he firmly believed practically exceeded the love she had for him, her own biological child.
Furthermore, he had always been a naturally possessive and jealous person regarding the things he loved, especially his Ammi. In fact, his intense jealousy over her was the sole reason she had refused to ever remarry to this day.
At that moment, he swerved his car into the gates of Yan Dutse College after the security guard opened them for him. To his utter annoyance, the moment he drove in, he spotted her from afar. She was walking and chatting happily with her friend, Majida, laughing carelessly without a single worry in the world. She had left his mother back home drowning in anxiety, completely oblivious to her pain. Her elegant black skin practically glowed in the sunlight, and nothing shone brighter on her than her striking white eyes and perfectly aligned teeth. She was dark-skinned yet remarkably beautiful. She possessed a pair of eyes that sparkled at anyone who looked at her, and her thick, nearly connected eyebrows were part of what distinguished her from other women.
Uwais averted his eyes and hissed, letting out a sharp, deafening blast of the car horn since they didn't seem to notice his presence. In his mind, he wondered what on earth they had been doing at school until this hour. The remaining students left in the school yard could easily be counted on one hand.
She snapped her head up quickly toward the sound of the horn. He was the absolute last person she ever expected to see at her school, let alone coming to pick her up. She hurriedly said goodbye to her friend and walked toward the car, her legs practically tangling out of sheer haste and anxiety.
This wasn't the first time she was seeing that brooding, moody expression on his handsome face whenever it concerned her; if there was any comfort in familiarity, Fahimah was well used to it. She opened the passenger door and climbed in. He accelerated fiercely, leaving the school premises without sparing her a single glance.
Instead of taking the route back home as she expected, she noticed they headed toward Bank Road. She didn't say anything, but when they parked at a Guaranty Trust Bank branch, she understood exactly where they were—his workplace.
He opened his door, grabbed his laptop bag and phones, and walked right in. Wherever he passed, his colleagues noticed him and greeted him, but Uwais merely waved his hand and kept moving. Everyone was accustomed to his cold demeanor, so his aloofness didn't bother anyone; he possessed an immense, natural charm bolstered by his striking physical appearance.
As he was about to sit at his desk inside his glass-walled office—where everyone could see him from the outside—a call from Ammi came through. He pulled back his chair and answered as he sat down.
"We are together."
That was all he said before placing the phone on his polished, pitch-black desk. Ammi’s mind finally settled the moment he confirmed he was with Fahimah.
The Contrast of Lives
No one looking at him would ever guess he had left someone sitting out in the car. He turned on his desktop computer and immersed himself expertly in the tasks before him, which were the exact reason he had returned. He completely forgot about the human being he had left locked inside the vehicle, without even rolling down a window so she could get some fresh air.
Out in the car, Fahimah checked the slim watch strapped to her wrist repeatedly until she eventually rested her head against the dashboard. She manually rolled down the windows to let the breeze filter through, as a gnawing hunger began to twist her stomach. She hadn't eaten anything since the breakfast Ammi had forced her to have that morning. She knew Uwais's temperament all too well; it was obvious Ammi had pressured him to follow her, which was why he came and left her out to dry in the bank's parking lot.
The blame lay entirely on Mr. Edward, their Biology teacher. He had kept them back for practical lessons after normal school hours, since they were a mere three months away from writing their final senior secondary school certificate examinations (SSCE). Ammi knew very well that Uwais hated crossing paths with her, so why on earth did she make him come after her?
Poor Fahimah! She went from listening to the rumbling of her empty stomach to leaning her head back against the car seat, until a heavy, exhausted sleep finally carried her away.
It wasn't until 5:00 PM that he concluded everything he was doing at the bank. He gathered his phones and laptop and walked out. It was only when he approached the car that he remembered her. He opened the back door, tossed his belongings inside, and took his seat behind the wheel. The sudden ignition of the engine, combined with a sharp reverse and the screech of tires as he exited the bank premises, was what jolted Fahimah from her deep, exhausted slumber—a sleep brought on by pure hunger and fatigue. She stole a side-glance at him as he drove with calm, masterly precision.
The face of a saint, beautiful to the eye, but the heart of a Pharaoh, Fahimah thought bitterly to herself. In the eighteen years of her life that she had spent living under the same roof with him, he had never treated her kindly even once, nor could she recall a single good thing he had ever done for her as an older brother, for reasons she could not fathom. Despite the fact that they were the only two children raised by their mother, Hajiya Safiyyah, she was convinced in her heart that Uwais was her enemy for absolutely no reason. She didn't know what crime she had committed against him, and neither did Ammi. She could see pure, unadulterated hatred lurking in his eyes—a hatred he couldn't hide from anyone, including their mother.
Yet, in this entire world, there was no one who captivated her more than Uwais Abdulkarim Shagari! He was the one individual who had utterly taken over her heart.
Identity and Ambiguity
As she grew older and gained understanding, she realized that Ammi had biologically given birth to him, not her. However, even if she were to be executed, she didn't know the true nature of her relationship with them. She had simply grown up under the care of Hajiya Safiyyah, receiving the kind of maternal love and ultimate goodness that any mother would give her child. To her, Ammi Safiyyah was more than a mother—she was an angel created by Allah to be the shoulder she could lean on to cry or laugh.
Ammi’s constant kindness, compassion, and protective care were the only things preventing her from confronting her with the forbidden questions: Who is my real mother? Who is my father? If she ever wanted to see Ammi deeply upset, all she had to do was ask those questions. Consequently, she had stopped asking them long before reaching adolescence. She accepted what Ammi always told her: "I am your mother, and I am your father." Yet, she knew a day would inevitably come when Ammi would have to confess where she had found her. After all, even a blind man could tell by touch that Ammi was of pure Arab descent, whereas one look at Fahimah confirmed she was a full-blooded Hausa girl, a true descendant of Barbushe and Tsimbirbira.
But what could she possibly seek in biological parents that Ammi hadn't already provided? Ammi had given her everything in life, constantly making her forget she hadn't given birth to her, save for the natural human yearning to establish one's legitimacy. Whenever such thoughts entangled her mind, she would conjure the image of Ammi’s motherly smile, and every worry, sorrow, or bitter feeling would instantly vanish. Whenever Uwais gave her his signature look of pure disgust and loathing, Ammi’s smile alone was enough to erase it, no matter how heavy it felt.
When you have a mother like Ammi by your side, there is no sorrow in life deep enough to weep over. Fahimah frequently repeated this mantra in her heart.
As she muddled through these thoughts, her stomach twisting with hunger, she felt the car stop in their house's parking lot. Only then did she realize they had arrived home. He climbed out and left her in the car without saying a single word.
The moment she stepped out, a wave of dizziness washed over her. She had to lean against the wall for support before she could manage to walk inside. He, on the other hand, had long since disappeared into his private wing of the house. To reach his wing, one had to walk through the main family living room; Ammi had refused to isolate him in an external boys' quarters due to her strict approach to proper upbringing.
Both Ammi and Talatu immediately bombarded her with questions when she walked in looking completely worn out and disheveled.
"Fahimah, what on earth kept you at school for so long?"
With her soft voice—which sounded even thinner due to hunger and exhaustion—she quickly explained how Mr. Edward had detained them to prepare for the upcoming SSCE. She then hurried to the dining table, her body trembling as she served herself food, made worse by the fact that she suffered from stomach ulcers.
Seeking Amrah's Hand
September 23, 2021, 8:15 PM - Buhainat: He met Jabeer waiting for him right by the gate. They were to leave in Uwais's car; upon their return, Uwais would drop him off at his house and head back. From the moment they hit the road leading to Bompai, Uwais went completely silent, gripped by anxiety over the kind of reception and answers he would receive from Alhaji Umar Dikko. Jabeer, on the other hand, was chatting away carelessly, clearly without a single worry left in his life. Noticing Uwais's tense state, he laughed and patted his shoulder.
"Daddy is very friendly. You'll just face a barrage of questions. If he feels like it, he might even tell you to wait six years for his youngest daughter (Auta) to finish her MBBS medical degree. I am absolutely certain he will say that."
"If that happens, I might as well pack my bags and move into his house in Abuja so that seeing me every single day will make him realize I cannot wait that long."
Jabeer laughed again and said, "Don't be terrified by his questions. Be brave, be yourself, and don't hide anything he asks you."
Alhaji Umar Dikko was seated on a plush sofa in his living room. One look at him revealed a Fulani man of pure heritage; though his hair was completely white, his skin was smooth and youthful, showing no signs of aging due to a life of comfort and rest. Jabeer ushered them in, as he had already notified his father of their arrival.
They both knelt on the floor to offer their profound, respectful greetings—the kind expected of a suitor. He answered with a warm, welcoming expression, even teasing Uwais about why he had let his friend lead the way while he lagged behind. This was, of course, before he heard the core reason for their visit.
"Daddy, as you know, Uwais is my close friend from our days at A.B.U. Daddy, what brought us here is that he has come to seek your permission to formally begin courting Amrah."
Surprised, Alhaji Umar Dikko echoed, "Amrah? Which Amrah?"
Jabeer replied, "Mama's youngest daughter, Daddy."
The older man fixed his eyes on Uwais for a few moments, observing his flawless, dignified appearance. Everything about him signaled that he was a man of substantial standing; education and the seal of success were vividly evident. Furthermore, there was a striking, refined beauty about him, making it hard to pinpoint the exact tribe he inherited it from. Above all, Allah had blessed Uwais with a powerful aura, charisma, and a commanding presence that made it nearly impossible for anyone to deny him a request.
The answer Alhaji Umar Dikko originally intended to give changed completely without him even realizing it; initially, he had wanted to tell them to stand up and leave, as he had no intention of marrying off his daughter just yet.
"Who is your father? And what tribe do you belong to? Because I can clearly see you are not a typical Hausa man."
Uwais shifted slightly and lowered his head even further. In that moment, he looked like a servant desperately pleading for a favor. He felt he could endure anything and do whatever it took, as long as Alhaji Dikko granted him Amrah's hand in marriage in the end.
"My father's name was Grand Khadi Abdulkarim Shagari. He passed away a long time ago, and I was raised by my mother. My father was a Sokoto man (Basakkwace), and my mother is Sudanese."
Alhaji Dikko nodded, then hit him with another question.
"What is your educational qualification? And what is your profession?"
Uwais drew a deep breath, wondering internally what kind of intense interrogation this was. "I hold a Master's degree, and I am a banker with Guaranty Trust Bank."
Alhaji Umar Dikko nodded in deep satisfaction, then said, "Are you aware that Amrah is studying medicine and is only in her first stage? Can you wait six years for her to graduate?"
Uwais swallowed hard with great difficulty. Waiting was the one thing he absolutely could not do; his singular desire was to open his eyes and find that Amrah belonged to him. Therefore, he didn't hesitate.
"Daddy, please grant me this favor. I solemnly promise to allow Amrah to continue her education inside my house until she decides she has had enough."
He lowered his head again, filled with suspense and anxiety over the final verdict.
The Verdict and The First Official Meeting
Alhaji Umar Dikko couldn't explain why this young man had suddenly won his favor. Was it his dignified presence or his absolute self-control? He couldn't say, but there were exceptional qualities evident in him. Even Jabeer, knowing how strict their father usually was, never expected the interrogation to end so smoothly. Alhaji Umar looked intently at Uwais before delivering his decision:
"I grant you permission to court my daughter. If she accepts you one hundred percent, I will give her to you in marriage based on the solemn promise you have made me—that you will allow her to continue her studies in your home. Furthermore, I will conduct my own thorough background check on you and your parents. If I discover any hidden bad character, I will halt everything. My daughter is innocent; maintain a clean, honorable courtship with her."
Overjoyed, Uwais couldn't hide his massive smile. Keeping his head down, he offered his profound gratitude, promising the father that he would strictly adhere to everything specified and that, by God's grace, no one would find any negative testimony against him or his mother.
He and Jabeer walked out, and Jabeer led him further into the house to visit their father's newest wife, Aunty Nana. She was an incredibly kind woman. Jabeer introduced Uwais as his best friend and Amrah's suitor, whom Daddy had just officially approved. Aunty Nana was thoroughly surprised, knowing Daddy had vowed never to marry Amrah off until she completed her MBBS. She welcomed Uwais with open arms, deeply admiring everything about him. If Amrah secures this man, she thought, she has truly found an exemplary husband.
They eventually drove back to Jabeer's house. When Uwais dropped him off, Jabeer offered to let him come inside in case he wanted to speak with Amrah. Uwais smiled and declined:
"Not now. I am not composed enough yet, even though I've secured my official license."
Uwais’s very first formal visit to Amrah occurred on a rainy Saturday night. The downpour was heavy, and the rain had already started soaking him by the time he parked and stepped out of his car. He walked through the garage straight into Jabeer's living room, a place where he faced no restrictions. He had already called Jabeer, who confirmed he was home and that Amrah was present as well. However, Jabeer had advised him to come early, because once Amrah began her late-night studies, she absolutely detested being interrupted. This was to be their very first official face-to-face meeting as suitors; she already knew his face, but strictly as her older brother's friend.
He sat in Jabeer’s living room, checking his wristwatch. Jabeer told him to wait a moment as she was on her way down, then informed Murjanatu that Amrah had a guest in the living room, and that he had come with Daddy's full awareness.
"A guest approved by Daddy?" Amrah asked Aunty Murjanatu in complete shock. Murja replied, "That's exactly what he said. Hurry up, he's waiting for you."
Murjanatu wasn't surprised by Uwais’s arrival at all. She had long realized that whenever you see a dog sniffing around a shoe, it fully intends to pick it up.
Amrah offered her greeting as she entered the living room, her soft voice instantly shattering Uwais’s composure. He stood up abruptly, completely unaware of his own action, until Amrah stepped further into the room. They stood there, locking eyes under the bright white electric light of the living room. Their hearts hammered in identical, rapid rhythms at that exact moment, while Amrah felt an immense, heavy stone suddenly lifted from her chest.
This was the very Uwais she thought of day and night—the Uwais who had completely dominated her heart, leaving her no peace or joy in life. Today, here he was standing officially before her as her suitor. What could she possibly say? What could she do except glorify the Almighty?
She was the first to look away from his gaze, but try as she might to whisper a simple "Good evening" or "Welcome," the words completely failed her. She sank into the nearest chair, leaning her head back against its frame to keep her legs from collapsing under the intense, sharp gaze of Uwais's beautiful eyes. She drew slow, measured breaths.
It was as if Uwais could read her mind perfectly; he didn't waste time with long, awkward self-introductions. He went straight to the point.
"Amrah, am I welcome as a husband?" Uwais finally asked, dropping down to his knees right before her.
Analytical Overview
Key Theme: Identity & Origins
The text highlights a fascinating contrast between Uwais and Fahimah:
- Uwais: Inherits the striking features of his fair-skinned Sudanese mother and prominent Sokoto father. He moves through life with intense privilege, professional success, and a brooding, possessive demeanor.
Fahimah: A pure-blooded Hausa girl raised entirely by a Sudanese mother (Ammi). She is fiercely trapped by the mystery of her biological roots, keeping silent to protect her mother's feelings, while dealing with the raw, unjustified hatred of her step-brother, Uwais.
The Complex Dynamics of Polygamy & Courting
The text smoothly transitions into a flashback detailing how Uwais passionately pursued Amrah years prior. His absolute obsession with possessing her legally forced him to face her strict Fulani father, promising to finance her 6-year medical degree within his home. This creates deep structural dramatic tension, considering his hidden, unloved marriage to Fahimah detailed in the previous pages.
