Fahimah Book 3 Complete Book Sumayya Abdulkadir Takori

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FAHIMAH BOOK 3 COMPELET 

The Marriage Conditions Set by Alhaji Umar Dikko

Alhaji Umar Dikko spoke: "Initially, I had no intention of marrying Amrah off anytime soon. However, seeing how genuinely in love Uwais is with her, and since he has agreed to let her continue her studies in Malaysia while visiting him during her holidays—or he visiting her—I have given my consent. But if this agreement is going to be broken, it is better we drop the matter right now so she can simply focus on finishing her education."
Kawu Shuraim responded, "We have already moved past that stage because Uwais has fully agreed. They have come completely prepared with everything; they are only waiting for a date to be set."
In short, they did not leave Abuja until the wedding date was fixed for three months later, a time when Amrah would be on break and at home. Even the bride-price and wedding expenses were paid in full. The overwhelming happiness Uwais found himself in made him completely forget any talk of a girl named Fahimah. He never thought of her again, especially since he had stopped seeing her entirely. She had stopped sitting in the living room because her studies had intensified. With only two weeks left before the start of their WAEC exams, she spent every day in her room reviewing her books.
By now, Fahimah felt her heart had found peace from all the inner turmoil that used to plague her, solely because her studies occupied all her attention. Yet, not a single hour went by without her thinking of Uwais. He was always there, permanently engraved in her heart, but thinking of him no longer disturbed her peace as before, nor did it hinder her learning. Furthermore, she had absolutely no knowledge of the wedding arrangements; it was something she wouldn't even have imagined in her wildest dreams.
Thus, she began sitting for her WAEC exams with great success. She finished those, completed her NECO exams, and then they stayed home to rest before writing their JAMB.

Parallel Preparations

Over at Alhaji Umar Dikko's house, massive preparations were underway for Amrah's wedding, as Amrah was highly cherished in the family. Aunty Murjanatu and her older sister, Aunty Wasila, had already collected money from Daddy and traveled to Dubai to procure her bridal furniture and household goods.
Uwais, on his part, was also busy making his own arrangements. He had completed the construction of his house located along Sultan Road in Kano—a modest, beautiful home perfectly suited for a high-ranking bank executive. However, everything in the house was designed for just one woman, and the ongoing finishing touches were tailored for only one person. He hated remembering the topic of Fahimah; a wave of nausea would rise in him whenever he recalled that he was supposed to marry both her and Amrah on the same day. Were it not for his mother, who on earth would have dared to intrude into his life this way?
On their end, Ammi and her daughter Fahimah were making no wedding preparations whatsoever; they continued their lives as normally as before. Fahimah, of course, had no idea what was happening behind the scenes, as Ammi had never breathed a word of it to her. Ammi knew that if she gave Fahimah an order, the girl would never disobey, but she chose to remain quiet until a more suitable time arose to tell her—not while she was actively battling her final exams.
Thus, Fahimah went to her designated center and successfully wrote her JAMB exams without any hitches.

Unspoken Realities and Lavish Gifts

Fahimah said her goodbyes to Yan Dutse College and the friends with whom she had shared close bonds, especially Majida Salisu. She began staying at home every single day, but she and Uwais simply never crossed paths. She had completely stopped looking out for him; if she knew he was coming in to greet Ammi, she would leave the living room by 6:00 PM. She knew that by the time the 7:00 PM Maghrib prayer arrived, he would be inside the house. Previously, they used to cross paths mostly in the morning—when she was leaving for school and he was heading to work—but now, she had graduated from school. Gradually, she felt her heart easing from its intense obsession; her infatuation with Uwais was fading, particularly because she no longer saw his face.
Now, only two weeks remained until the wedding day. Ammi informed him that whatever bridal gifts (Kayan Aure) he bought for Amrah, he must do the exact same for Fahimah. And the exact amount of bride-price he paid for Amrah, he must pay for Fahimah. He didn't argue with her while she spoke, but his heart turned pitch-black, burning with a silent, consuming rage.
To handle this, he specifically called Jabeer and requested to see Murjanatu. Jabeer gave him permission, and they sat down as he asked her about all of Amrah's favorite things—her preferred colors, designs, and sizes. He contracted Murjanatu to handle the entire shopping project, since she was closest to Amrah. However, he requested that whatever item she bought, she must buy two of them—in different colors but identical in quality and size. Murjanatu wanted to question him about this strange request, but she held herself back. Knowing how deeply Uwais loved Amrah, the thought of him marrying another woman at the same time or giving her a co-wife never even crossed their minds.
Within a week, Murjanatu and her friend gathered an incredibly exquisite collection of high-fashion bridal items. Uwais loaded the sets of suitcases into his car trunk and brought them to Ammi. It took him two trips because there were two dozen suitcases in total—twelve for each bride—all of them premium Louis Vuitton (LV) designs.
Ammi highly praised the selection, noting that whoever put the sets together clearly understood beauty and quality. He told her, "It was Murjanatu, Jabeer's wife."
"May Allah bless her," Ammi replied.
Ammi then instructed Talatu to carry the suitcases into Fahimah's room, telling the girl they were merely items being kept in her room for safe-keeping. Talatu knew the full truth. She was perhaps happier than anyone else regarding Ammi's decision, because she often worried deeply that finding a marriage for Fahimah outside this house would become a massive, painful challenge in the girl's life. Therefore, Ammi’s decision was entirely right in her eyes; even if Uwais were to marry ten women, as long as he included Fahimah, their minds would be at peace. Talatu had long transcended the status of a mere housemaid; she didn't even accept a formal salary, living for years entirely on the voluntary goodwill gifts Ammi chose to give her. She had become like a true blood sister to them.

The Eve of the Wedding

As the saying goes, the day will inevitably arrive, regardless of the mother's anxiety. As the wedding days drew closer, the pure, unadulterated love between Uwais and his bride Amrah blossomed beautifully—to say nothing of Fahimah, who wasn't even a factor in his calculations.
It was now the eve of the wedding, which was scheduled to take place at Alhaji Umar Dikko's family house in Kano. Just the day before, Kawu Shuraim, his two eldest sons (Mahdi and Mohamed), and two of Ammi's younger brothers—five of them in total—had arrived from Khartoum, Sudan. Along with them came the people of Shagari in full force. Uwais arranged premium accommodations for all of them at the Tahir Guest Palace.
Currently, he was sitting on a sofa beside Ammi, dressed in a soft, cream-colored voile fabric. His head was bare, and his thick mane of hair lay smooth, looking exceptionally full since he hadn't trimmed it in a long time. Ammi sat beside him, sipping the tea Fahimah had brewed for her before retreating to lock herself in her room, specifically because she knew Uwais would be sitting in the living room.
Uwais was busy answering a barrage of phone calls, all concerning the final arrangements for tomorrow's wedding. It was only when Ammi noticed a brief lull in the calls that she spoke his name:
"Uwais!"
He raised his heavy, relaxed eyes to look at her.
"Is this house the official meeting point tomorrow before you all head to the bride's family home for the wedding solemnization?"
He answered, "Yes, Ammi."
Ammi then declared calmly, "Excellent. Well... your marriage to Fahimah will be solemnized first. Meaning, Fahimah will be the senior wife (Uwargida). After that, the marriage to your 'BELOVED WIFE' (Matar So) can be solemnized."
The heavy sarcasm with which she delivered those words stung him brutally. Yet, he bitterly accepted the reality of her words: Yes, Amrah is indeed the beloved wife, while the other girl is merely an intruder thrust upon me, a girl of absolutely no status.
He didn't give her an answer; instead, he simply stood up and walked away. She knew he would be furious, and she hadn't expected him to reply anyway. She had issued an absolute command, and it had to be followed if peace was to reign. She called Kawu Shuraim and the wedding guardians, including Baffa Haruna, and informed them of the order. Baffa Haruna and the others were incredibly shocked, but once Kawu Shuraim explained the deeper context to them, they understood and agreed.
The following day, the street outside the residence of the Late Grand Khadi Abdulkarim Shagari was tightly packed with people from all walks of life, particularly GT Bank employees from across Kano. The marriage of Fahimah Abdulkarim Shagari to Uwais Abdulkarim Shagari was solemnized first, with a modest but highly blessed bride-price. From there, the convoy proceeded to the residence of Alhaji Umar Dikko, where the marriage of Amrah Umar Dikko to Uwais Abdulkarim Shagari was officially solemnized.
Afterward, he, his colleagues, and his friends proceeded to a wedding reception organized by his friends under the leadership of Jabeer, held at the Ni'ima Guest Palace.
The happiness Uwais felt on this day was indescribable; a mere pen could never articulate it. At long last, he legally possessed AMRAH. Every previous challenge, every bitter moment, now felt like an insignificant detail.
As they emerged from the reception venue, he stepped aside to a quiet corner and called Amrah.

Flashback: The Premonition and The Inception of the Crisis

(Note: The narrative now shifts back in time to the moment Fahimah woke from a shocking dream weeks prior, followed by the day Uwais first told Ammi about Amrah).
September 23, 2021, 8:15 PM - Buhainat: She had seen herself in a strange, intimate state with Yaya Uwais—a state that closely resembled the intimacy of marriage. It was something that went far beyond mere explanation, yet it felt beautifully vivid in her eyes, as though she were wide awake and not dreaming. She had dreamt that she was truly Uwais's wife, because the events unfolding in the dream were things she knew were strictly impossible outside of marriage. At the end of her dream, she saw a vast multitude of children surrounding them—so many that she couldn't even count them, filling the entire room they occupied.
Fahimah woke up in an absolute panic, her entire body shaking uncontrollably. She stumbled into the bathroom and turned on the warm shower, hoping the water would stop her body's violent trembling and help her regain consciousness. She never went back to sleep, staying awake until the sun rose. She lay completely still beneath her blanket, unable to go out and help Talatu with the morning chores as she usually did. Since it was Sunday, she had no school; having performed her Fajr prayer and morning supplications (Azkar), she simply chose to remain buried in bed.
At 10:00 AM that same Sunday, Uwais emerged from his wing and walked over to Ammi's section. He found her performing her mid-morning Duha prayer, so he sat on the edge of her bed, waiting patiently until she concluded. She completed her prayers, offered a supplication, and they both wiped their faces in blessing.
From the vibrant radiance on Uwais’s face that morning, Hajiya Safiyya knew instantly that he was bearing news that brought him immense joy. He slid down from the edge of the bed and sat directly at Ammi’s feet. From the sheer humility of his posture, Ammi understood that a deeply important matter had brought him to her.
"What is it that brings you right in front of me early on a Sunday morning? What brought you out so early? I thought you never leave your room until noon on weekends?"
Uwais adjusted his posture and said, "Ammi, I couldn't sleep because I am filled with so much happiness. Amrah has finally agreed to let me send my elders to formally discuss our marriage. We don't have to wait until she finishes her education."
Ammi stared at him with an open mouth, her eyes widening in shock. "Who on earth is that?"
With his head lowered, he said, "The girl I’ve been courting—Jabeer's younger sister. I told you a long time ago that I intended to marry."
Hajiya Safiyyah gave him a cold, piercing look. "Uwais!" she barked in a harsh, severe voice.
He snapped his head up quickly, looking at her with sudden, intense dread.
She declared, "Whether she is your friend's sister or the President's sister, I do not grant you permission to marry her. Even if a woman were crafted out of emeralds and rubies, she would look at you and leave you, because you have already had a wife assigned to you for a very long time."
Those final words hit his chest like a physical blow. Hajiya Safiyyah continued, "I have merely been watching you silently to see how far your foolish excitement would carry you. This reckless obsession you have over this girl is the exact reason I will never approve of her, because I know that the moment you marry her, you will never do justice to FAHIMAH!"
Utterly terrified and shaken to his core, Uwais stared blankly at his mother.
Fahimah? Fahimah! Fahimah!! Where on earth had he heard that name before? Like always, he heard it constantly inside this house from the mouths of Talatu and Ammi. Devoid of all energy, he stared at his mother.
"Ammi, I didn't hear you correctly. By Allah, I don't understand what you are talking about."
Hajiya Safiyyah stood up and folded her prayer mat. "Even if you understand it, you'll pretend you don't out of pure arrogance, Uwais. After all, I spoke to you in plain Hausa. If you don't understand Hausa, go find someone to translate it for you!"
She stormed out of the room, leaving him sitting there entirely frozen.

The Shock and The Search for Answers

Uwais remained seated exactly where he was, as if glued to the floor. He tried desperately to digest Ammi's words within his brain, but his mind utterly rejected the information. Providence brought Talatu—whom he respectfully called "Baba Talatu"—into the room, holding a broom to sweep Ammi's floor. Seeing him sitting completely still like a statue, she asked, "Master of the house, what deep thoughts are occupying your mind like this?"
From the depths of his confusion, hearing Baba Talatu’s voice felt like the very translator Ammi had told him to find. Talatu couldn't believe it was actually Uwais’s voice speaking to her, because it sounded incredibly thin and cracked, stripped of all its usual thick, deep huskiness.
"Baba Talatu... when someone says a person has already had a wife assigned to him for a long time, what does that mean?"
The question made Talatu chuckle. "My master, it means he has a woman designated to be his wife, right? What I don't understand is whether the marriage has already taken place or if it will happen in the future."
Uwais swallowed hard, feeling as though he were swallowing a scorpion. "Baba Talatu... who is FAHIMAH?"
Talatu instantly darted her eyes toward a portrait of Fahimah resting on Ammi’s bedside table, right where Ammi laid her head. She said, "Master of the house, Fahimah and I are one and the same in this house, and we only know one Fahimah. Who else could she be but your lifelong companion? I mean Fahimah of this house—Ammi's youngest child."
It was at that exact moment that Uwais's brain fully processed the reality. A wave of intense fury and deep sorrow rose up, blocking his chest. Before he could even realize what was happening, his stomach churned violently. Before Talatu could even react, Uwais began violently vomiting right in the middle of Ammi's bedroom floor, retching as if he were going to empty his entire being.
Talatu frantically offered words of sympathy, but he dragged himself up, swaying unsteadily, and stormed out of the room. He completely ignored the cold water she brought him from the fridge to wash his face and rinse his mouth so he could feel better.
He marched right past Ammi, who was sitting quietly in the living room, without so much as glancing at her face—something he had never done in his entire life. Ammi simply scoffed and averted her eyes from his retreating figure. Were it not for his demanding job, he would have packed his bags and left the town that very day—a departure from which he wouldn't return until Ammi retracted her horrific decree.
But banks do not accept personal excuses. On that day, he deeply regretted choosing banking as his career. However, he firmly resolved in his heart that Ammi was suffering from a mental condition like dementia, which plagues the elderly. He vowed he would do everything in his power to seek medical treatment for her.

The Long Standoff and The Recourse to Sudan

From that day forward, the atmosphere in the house turned incredibly bleak and hostile; all joy vanished. Ammi remained deeply furious over the marriage Uwais had brought forward, while Fahimah was completely broken down by the silent sickness of her unrequited love for him. The situation drained her of all energy and vitality, and she entirely ceased coming out into the family living room.
Meanwhile, Uwais was desperately searching for a way out of the impending disaster looming over him. And a disaster it truly was! Losing Amrah would be an absolute catastrophe, while Ammi’s decree (which made him physically sick) was an equally massive nightmare. If it turned out that Ammi did not have dementia and truly meant what she said from the bottom of her heart, what possible escape route could he find for himself without incurring the wrath of the Almighty?
To him, Ammi wasn't just a mother; she was his father, his extended family, his closest friend, and his absolute everything. Yet, he could never yield to her on this matter, even if the entire world turned against him. He could force himself to give up Amrah if that was the price of peace, but as for marrying Fahimah—that would only happen over his dead body.
The house's warmth deteriorated entirely. Everyone stayed confined to their respective rooms day in and day out. Talatu was the only one moving about to clean the house. They completely stopped eating together at the dining table as they used to; instead, she carried meals to each person's room. Even then, she noticed that no one really ate the food she brought, especially Uwais, who wouldn't even touch it. When he left the house at 7:00 AM, he wouldn't return until 7:00 PM, surviving entirely on black coffee that he brewed himself at the office.
Amrah had long since returned to Malaysia. Whenever they spoke on the phone, she noticed his voice sounded completely different from usual. Whenever she questioned him about the cause, he simply claimed it was due to an overwhelming workload. He had severely reduced his visits to Jabeer's house since Amrah's departure. Jabeer teased and pestered him repeatedly about his absence, but Uwais would merely offer a hollow smile and say, "What am I coming to do at your house anyway? You know very well I never used to come there because of you." He never breathed a word to his friend about the massive crisis he was having with his Ammi over the topic of Amrah.
One day, while sitting in his office, an idea suddenly struck him: Kawu Shuraim. His uncle living in Sudan came to mind. He was Ammi's full elder brother from the same mother and father—the one man whose words Ammi could never disregard.
Uwais let out a long sigh of relief, reached out to grab his phone from the desk, and dialed his uncle's number. Uwais spoke flawless Arabic, as Ammi had raised him speaking it since childhood. Furthermore, there was a deep bond of trust between him and his uncle, as Uwais frequently sent him financial gifts without Ammi’s knowledge. This uncle was the sole remaining elder in Ammi’s family; he was highly advanced in age, while the rest of her siblings were younger brothers and sisters.
They exchanged warm, extensive greetings, and the uncle immediately detected the profound distress in Uwais’s voice. He said, "Uwais, tell me exactly what is troubling you. Insha Allah, a solution will be found."
Uwais closed his eyes tightly and confessed, "Kawu, I have found the woman I wish to marry—a woman perfectly aligned with my values, possessing every single quality I desire in a wife. I love her deeply, and she has given me permission to send my elders this very moment. But when I approached Ammi, she brought up a matter that my brain completely fails to comprehend to this day. Kawu... I understand that she has already assigned a wife to me. Imagine, Kawu... she wants me to marry that stray cat she picked up from the orphanage!"
"Ya Subhanallah!" Kawu Shuraim exclaimed in utter disbelief. He added, "Has Safiyyah lost her mind to marry you off to that dark-skinned girl of completely unknown origins? As if the beautiful women of Sudan and Nigeria have completely ceased to exist?"
Hearing his uncle's words felt like a refreshing splash of water over the raging fire burning in Uwais's chest. He pleaded, "Kawu, I will personally buy your flight ticket. For Allah's sake, please come down so we can bring this matter to a final conclusion. You are my absolute last hope, Kawu. Please help me convince Ammi to let me marry four women in a single day if she wants, as long as Amrah is among them! But she must remove this orphan girl from the equation, or I will literally suffocate from heartbreak and die."
Kawu Shuraim quickly reassured him, "I will come within this very week, Insha Allah. The matter has not reached such a desperate state. Calm your mind."

The Confrontation of the Orphan Identity

Ammi had no idea what plot Uwais and his uncle were cooking up. She began restoring a bit of normalcy to her routine around the house, but she completely excluded Uwais from her life, especially after noticing he was actively holding a grudge against her. Her primary worry now centered on Fahimah, who was losing weight drastically for no apparent reason and refusing to eat. Meanwhile, their final high school graduation examinations were fast approaching.
Around 10:00 PM one night, Ammi woke up from her sleep, deeply compelled to check on Fahimah's condition. She stepped off her bed, wrapped herself gracefully in her Sudanese laffaya cloth as if she were heading out on a journey, and walked toward Fahimah's room.
Even from outside the door, she could hear the muffled, heartbreaking sounds of Fahimah sobbing. She quickly turned the doorknob and stepped inside. The girl had buried her face inside her pillow, curling her body into a tight ball as she wept uncontrollably. She suddenly heard Ammi’s voice right beside her:
"Fahimah! Tonight, you must tell me exactly what is bothering you. Is someone doing something you hate within this house, or have you simply grown tired of living with me?"
Fahimah slowly raised her head, her heart hammering violently against her chest. She had never expected Ammi to walk in at this hour. She had vowed she would never shed tears in front of her mother, so her absolute panic right now was due to Ammi witnessing her crying, far outweighing the initial sorrow she felt.
Hajiya Safiyyah sat on the edge of the bed and said tenderly, "Fahimah, you have no one closer to you in this entire world than me. Therefore, force yourself to tell me whatever your trouble is. I solemnly promise you that I will fight with every ounce of my strength to secure your happiness. To me, you are a sacred trust (Amana) far greater than that boy. This trust is between me and you. Tell me what it is, my Fahimah."
Fahimah had already resolved in her heart that her unspoken love for Uwais would eventually be the death of her, but she would never utter that truth to a single soul, let alone to his own mother. If Ammi forced him to marry her, what joy would that bring? The man looked at her as if he were the Angel of Death; what happiness could a woman possibly find in a marriage to him? Especially a woman whom he loathed more than anyone else on earth?
Therefore, she quickly scrambled for a different truth to tell Ammi without raising her suspicions. Indeed, many things were troubling her—not just Uwais Shagari. She desperately wanted to know her true origins; she wanted to know who brought her into this world. Ammi absolutely detested this line of questioning, but tonight, Fahimah had to use it to protect herself and her dignity in the eyes of Ammi Safiyyah.
"Ammi... there is no pain more brutal for a human being than knowing they have no lineage—not knowing who gave birth to them, not knowing if they are a child of a legitimate union or an illegitimate child. Ammi, even if you don't say it, I realized it a long time ago. That orphanage we always visit... that is my true home. That is my origin and my root. That is where you picked me up from."
She finished her words, dissolving into a violent fit of weeping that pierced right through Hajiya Safiyyah’s heart.
On this night, even Ammi found herself completely at a loss for words to comfort Fahimah. She deeply understood the raw agony the girl was harboring in her soul, an agony she lacked the power to completely heal. She reached out, pulled Fahimah tightly into her embrace, and said:
"Fahimah, if you truly believe that I am your MOTHER, and if my efforts have matched the love of any true mother, then look to Allah and banish this sorrow from your heart. I am your mother, I am your father, and Uwais is your brother. Know that no one's life is entirely perfect, and there is no one whom the Almighty does not test in one way or another. A true believer is known by their willingness to accept the destiny ordained by God and remaining grateful to Him under all circumstances. This deep sorrow you are subjecting yourself to will bring nothing but severe damage to your mental and physical health. Insha Allah, next month, we will go for Umrah to perform our worship and seek closeness to the Almighty. You will find absolute peace for your heart there, Insha Allah."
Thus, Ammi continued to soothe Fahimah with beautiful words and profound affection until she finally managed to coax a small, gentle smile back onto the girl's lips.

Narrative Overview & Turning Points

1. The Parallel Realities of the Suitor: This portion highlights the severe dramatic irony of the novel. Uwais builds a beautiful home completely dedicated to his beloved Amrah, fully ignoring Fahimah's existence.
2. The Maternal Ambush: The true climax of this segment occurs on the eve of the wedding. Ammi uses her absolute authority to force the family elders to solemnize Uwais's marriage to Fahimah first, officially establishing the despised orphan girl as the Senior Wife (Uwargida), before allowing his marriage to Amrah to proceed.
3. The Orphan's Pain: The flashback reveals that Fahimah's deep depression isn't just driven by her unrequited infatuation with her step-brother, but by the profound identity crisis of being adopted from an orphanage, contrasting sharply against Ammi's proud Sudanese lineage and Uwais's prominent pedigree.