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"Please let me eat it! I swear to Allah, that is exactly what I've been craving." Nusaiba jumped up excitedly and exclaimed, "What on earth is makani? Describe it to me so that when I get home, I can tell them to fry some for me!" Hannah laughed and said, "Oh, makani isn't fried; it's boiled. Don't you know cocoyam (gwaza)?" Nusaiba gasped, "Cocoyam! Cocoyam?! What on earth is cocoyam? Oh, you mean cocoa-yam! My goodness, Allah forbid that I eat cocoyam like some uncultured village girl!" Hannah fell silent because she knew deep down that she was a village girl, and back in her remote village, cocoyams were considered an absolute delicacy. Nusaiba continued, "Where do you even find cocoyam anyway? I don't recall ever seeing it, not even in the high-end markets of Abuja." Hannah replied softly, "We find it plenty in our village."
Just then, Uncle Haisam walked over toward where they were sitting. The girls immediately stood up straight out of profound respect for him, chiming in unison, "Good morning, sir!" He smiled and replied, "Morning, Hannah. Good morning, Nusaiba. Well, look at my young ladies heading home today! I see you are bursting with pure joy, Nusaiba, aren't you?" Nusaiba beamed, "Yaya Haisam, the happiness I feel today is so intense it feels as though I am about to step directly into Paradise!" Haisam burst into a rich laugh and turned his gaze to the other girl. "What about you, Hannah? Are you also as thrilled as though you're entering Paradise?" Hannah forced a brave, tight smile and lied, "Yes, I am very happy too."
Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by the arrival of a sleek, luxury sedan—famously nicknamed the End of Discussion (Honda Accord)—which pulled up and came to a stop right in front of them. Before the driver could even step out of the vehicle, Nusaiba Idris let out a joyful shriek, sprinted across the concrete, and threw herself toward the car, shouting, "Daddy, welcome! Oyoyo!" Her father stepped out quickly, his face lighting up with a wide smile, and caught her in a tight, affectionate embrace, both of them radiating pure joy. Nusaiba took her father by the hand and proudly led him toward the spot where Malam Haisam and Hannah were standing. Both of them stood up politely to receive him.
Nusaiba introduced him, saying, "Daddy, this is our class master—the legendary teacher I am always telling you about in my letters, the one who takes such amazing care of us! His name is Uncle Haisam." Alhaji Idris let out a warm laugh and extended his hand. "Oh, Uncle Haisam! I swear, every single letter Nusaiba writes home is completely packed with stories about you, alongside her best friends, Hannah and Rauda." Haisam smiled warmly and replied, "Allah is great! Well, right here is her best friend, Hannah." Hannah quickly curtsied deeply, bowing her head as she formally greeted the patriarch. Alhaji Idris then reached out and gave Haisam a firm, respectful handshake. Nusaiba chimed in with a sad pout, "Daddy, after this term break, Uncle Haisam won't be returning to the school anymore." Alhaji Idris turned back to Haisam with surprise. "Ah, so you were only here on your temporary teaching practice deployment?" Haisam clarified politely, "Yes, sir. I was posted here for my mandatory National Youth Service Corps (N.Y.S.C.) deployment, and our service year has officially concluded today." Alhaji Idris shook his head regretfully. "Oh, what a shame. The children have grown so incredibly attached to you, and now you have to leave. We are deeply grateful for your service; may Allah reward your immense kindness with abundant blessings." Haisam smiled modestly, "Think nothing of it, sir. They are all like my own younger siblings."
Nusaiba reached into her bag, pulled out a clean piece of paper and a pen, and handed them to Haisam, pleading with him to write down his personal phone number. He took the pen and neatly jotted it down. She snatched it back happily and immediately slid it over to Hannah, instructing, "Hannah, write your phone number right beneath Uncle Haisam’s!" Hannah froze dead in her tracks, completely bewildered. She had never even held a modern mobile phone in her entire life, let alone understood how to operate one or memorize a telephone number. Sensing her immediate panic, Haisam quickly intervened, "No, Nusaiba, you should write your own number down instead and give it to her, so she can call you when she gets the chance." Nusaiba nodded, quickly scribbled her digits, and handed the slip of paper to Hannah, who took it with profound relief.
Finally, Hannah helped carry Nusaiba’s hand luggage as they walked over to the car. Alhaji Idris popped the trunk, and Haisam assisted by lifting the heavy bags inside. Nusaiba wrapped her arms tightly around Hannah, both young girls suddenly breaking into heavy, silent tears at the pain of separation. Nusaiba choked out through her sobs, "The very moment you arrive home, you must find a phone and call me, okay? We must speak on the phone every single day to catch up!" Alhaji Idris placed a comforting hand on both of their heads and chided gently, "Oh come on, why all these dramatic tears? You are only going home for a brief holiday. The moment the vacation concludes, you will both return right here. It’s not as if you are parting ways forever." Nusaiba and her father stepped inside the vehicle, the engine roared to life, and he drove off into the distance. Hannah and Haisam stood side-by-side, waving their hands continuously until the car shrunk into a tiny speck and vanished from sight.
The moment they walked back to sit down, a massive crowd of female students suddenly converged on the spot, swarming around Haisam. One after another, the girls vocally expressed their deep sadness and heartbreak over his permanent departure from the institution. Haisam patiently comforted them, assuring the crowd, "By the special grace of Allah, I promise to travel down here every single school term just to visit and check up on all of you." This successfully lightened the mood, and they began joking and laughing together in their usual familiar manner. Rauda eventually walked over and joined the circle, sitting down to chat. They were all so deeply engrossed in their conversation that no one noticed when a luxury vehicle from Rauda's household glided into the school compound, until they suddenly spotted Auwal—Rauda’s older brother—marching confidently toward them.
Rauda leapt to her feet, sprinted across the lawn, and threw her arms around her brother. Auwal smiled, walked over, and extended a warm handshake to Haisam, teasing him playfully, "Well, well, look at the great Malam! Is this how you handle your official duties, teacher? Sitting out here in the open, surrounded by a harem of students, singing and gossiping away?" Haisam burst into a rich laugh. "We are simply saying our final farewells. You know that as of today, my national service is officially over and I won't be returning here." Auwal blinked in surprise, "Wait, your entire N.Y.S.C. service year is completely finished already?" Haisam smiled triumphantly, "Absolutely! Remember how much I begged you to come down here and keep me company for just a couple of days, and you flatly refused? Well, now Allah has blessed me with a permanent return home to Kano. We are back on the same turf now." Auwal shook his head in wonder, "Wow, time really flies like a blink of an eye. It feels like just yesterday we drove you down here, and you were almost on the verge of tears because you couldn't stand living in a remote village." Haisam let out a booming laugh. "And look at me now! I've grown so deeply attached to this place that I am actually heartbroken to leave my students behind."
Auwal found a vacant chair and sat down with them. Being a naturally charismatic, humorous man who possessed an effortless charm with people, he immediately dove into a lively conversation with the cluster of students, teasing them mercilessly. It took an immense amount of effort for Haisam to finally extract him from the adoring crowd. Auwal, ever the relentless jokester, kept targeting the younger girls with his sharp wit—especially Hannah. Even though he had absolutely no idea regarding the complex history between Hannah and Haisam, he kept teasing her about her strikingly exotic looks. "Hey, look at this gorgeous Arab girl (balarabiya)! Come on, teach me a bit of your language. How do you say 'young boy' in Arabic?" he teased. Hannah simply laughed shyly and replied, "I don't know." Auwal assumed she was merely being stubborn and coy, completely unaware that she wasn't an Arab at all, but a purebred rural Hausa girl whose skin had simply blossomed under proper care.
Auwal finally stood up, dusted his trousers, and announced dramatically to the remaining students, "Alright, you left-behind remnants of local cassava flour (kwaki) and burnt rice crust (kanzo), I am taking my leave! Since your own parents have clearly abandoned you here to rot as unsold commodities, I'm out!" He turned his gaze directly to Hannah and teased, "And what about you, little Miss Yemen? It seems the international flight from your home country has delayed. We are leaving you behind too! You're going to be the ultimate left-behind commodity here because you don't even hold a Nigerian passport!" Hannah burst into a ringing, melodic laugh. The surrounding students immediately shouted back in playful defense, "Excuse us! We don't eat local cassava flour, and we don't even know what burnt rice crust looks like! Allah forbid! Our own parents are high-class, and they are arriving to pick us up any minute from now!"
The entire courtyard erupted into a beautiful symphony of shared jokes and laughter between Auwal and the students. Haisam stood off to the side, watching the scene unfold with a warm smile. He finally stepped forward, looked down at Hannah, and said gently, "Alright, Hannah, go ahead and grab your heavy luggage from the office and let's head out. I have already officially signed the departure logbook for both you and Rauda. Let's hit the road." Auwal gasped dramatically, looking at Hannah, "Ah! And here I was teasing you that you'd be the ultimate left-behind commodity, yet it turns out you are riding shotgun with us! Wait, are we dropping you off at the international airport when we arrive in Kano, or what?" Hannah laughed merrily, "Who knows! All I know is that I am definitely not being left behind!"
Haisam stepped forward and lifted Rauda's massive trunk, which was far too heavy for the young girl to carry, and neatly loaded it into the car. Auwal turned to Hannah and said kindly, "Here, hand me your bag let me help you lift it, since you clearly don't possess the physical strength. I mean, back in your elite country, I know you guys don't eat heavy local swallow (tuwo)—you probably survive entirely on luxury local pancakes (gurasa) and pure wild honey, right?" Hannah’s heart was simply floating on a cloud of pure ecstasy; she didn't care about his teasing. Her entire soul was overwhelmed with joy because she wasn't being sent back to her abusive home yet—she was heading straight to Kano with her beloved Yaya Haisam.
Rauda and Hannah walked over to the vehicle and climbed into the spacious backseat together. Yaya Haisam and Auwal took their places in the front, with Haisam taking the steering wheel while Auwal sat in the passenger seat. The car smoothly glided toward the massive exit gates of the academy. Streams of students lined the drive, waving their hands continuously in a emotional farewell until the vehicle cleared the perimeter.
Now, Rauda had strictly refused to utter a single word to Hannah since the previous day. Today, she maintained her cold, absolute silence due to an intense, toxic wave of jealousy (kishi). Her heart was burning because Yaya Haisam doted on Hannah so heavily, openly declaring her as his own little sister. But now, seeing her own aristocratic brother right next to her, Rauda felt a smug sense of validation. She was safe inside her family's own car, and Yaya Haisam was driving Hannah straight to their family estate. She turned her head, glared at Hannah with a deeply contorted, disgusted expression, and snapped coldly, "So, you are actually tagging along with us to Kano? Wait, if you live in Kano, how come you have never once told any of us what your actual hometown is?!" Hannah fell dead silent, her throat tightening as she completely lost the ability to formulate a safe response.
Haisam quickly caught the tension in the rearview mirror and intervened smoothly, "Yes, Rauda. She is traveling to Kano with us, and she is actually going to be staying right inside your house! Isn't that fantastic? That way, the two of you can study and do your homework together every day, right?" Rauda’s eyes went wide with fury, and she snapped back arrogantly, "As if her own family doesn't possess a house of their own! Let her own relatives look for her and take her into their house!" In a barely audible, heartbreaking whisper, Hannah murmured, "Nobody... nobody is looking for me. I am not going to my own home." She glanced up at the rearview mirror; Haisam was watching her intently, offering her a silent, deeply reassuring smile.
Haisam steered the vehicle into the bustling heart of Kazaure town. Auwal looked over at him in confusion. "Wait, Haisam, where on earth are we heading? Aren't we supposed to be hitting the highway straight back to Kano?" Haisam replied calmly, "I need to make a quick stop inside the town. There is someone we need to pick up first."
They drove without stopping until they pulled up directly in front of the residence of Uwar-Biyu (the mother of twins). She was already fully packed and waiting anxiously. The moment they sent a neighborhood boy inside to announce, "Malam Haisam has arrived," she emerged from the house, her elegant shawl (gyale) draped neatly over her shoulders, looking completely prepared for a long journey. After exchanging warm greetings, Haisam called out to the backseat, instructing Rauda and Hannah to slide over and create space. The girls shifted, and Uwar-Biyu climbed inside, settling into the backseat before they all exchanged polite greetings. Haisam shifted into gear and drove off, navigating through the streets until he arrived at the massive Kazaure Main Motor Park, where he brought the car to a halt.
He shifted in his seat, turned around to face Uwar-Biyu and Hannah, and announced quietly, "Alright... this is exactly where you will board your vehicle." Uwar-Biyu nodded understandingly, "Yes, that's right. The direct commercial transit buses heading straight to Babban-Mutum village load from this exact spot." Uwar-Biyu shifted her weight, preparing to step out of the car. She turned to look at Hannah, who was sitting completely frozen, making absolutely no move to unbuckle or exit. In fact, Hannah had been under the blissful, mistaken assumption that Uwar-Biyu was the only one getting dropped off here, while she would remain in the car to journey onward to the paradise of Kano. Her entire world shattered when she heard Uwar-Biyu say gently, "Alright, Hannatu, step out of the car let's go, shall we?"
In a state of absolute, blind panic and psychological devastation, Hannah whipped her head around to look at Haisam, silently begging him with her eyes to say something—anything—to save her. But Haisam was completely trapped by social propriety; he completely lost his words. Overwhelmed with a mixture of intense guilt and sorrow, he simply cast his gaze downward to the floorboards, utterly unable to meet her eyes or utter a single syllable. He stepped out of the vehicle, walked to the rear, popped the trunk, and pulled out Hannah's heavy metal trunk.
Instantly, a swarm of aggressive commercial motor park conductors (kwandastoci) surrounded them, shouting raucously, "Heading to Babura?! Are you going to Babura? Or Daura?!" Uwar-Biyu answered over the din, "We are boarding the transit bus heading toward Babura, but we will be stepping off at Babban-Mutum village." Haisam handed Hannah's heavy luggage over to the specific conductor heading toward Babban-Mutum. Uwar-Biyu turned back, noticing the empty space next to her, and exclaimed, "Oh dear, is Hannah still sitting inside the car?"
Haisam bent down and looked through the open door, his eyes locking onto Hannah. He stood there frozen, completely speechless. Hannah bowed her head, her entire physical body turning entirely numb and cold (cikin sanyi jiki). With a heavy heart, she reached over, grabbed the straps of her schoolbag, slung it over her shoulders, and slowly stepped out. She turned back to look at Rauda and Auwal, forced a polite tone, and murmured, "I am leaving now. Goodbye to you all." Rauda blinked in absolute shock and gasped, "Oh my goodness! So you are actually boarding a cheap, local commercial vehicle? Wait, have you completely canceled your trip to Kano?!" Hannah simply offered a silent, slow nod of her head and turned away. Yaya Auwal, still trying to maintain his jovial mood, joked, "Ah! So it turns out you are a true-born village girl after all! You are actually boarding the rustic Babura transit bus, huh?" Hannah walked away into the terminal without offering him a single word of response.
Haisam and Hannah walked side-by-side into the bustling, dusty terminal, following closely behind Uwar-Biyu and the conductor who was lugging the heavy box. They approached a commercial transport bus that was only missing about four passengers before it was packed to full capacity. Uwar-Biyu took her seat on the back row, while the conductor shoved Hannah's box into the trunk space. Hannah climbed inside and squeezed in right next to Uwar-Biyu. Her entire body felt completely drained of life, as weak as a boneless rag doll. Her psychological state was in absolute, terrifying turmoil; she felt exactly like a condemned prisoner being dragged to the gallows of the afterlife, rather than a child simply returning to her paternal home.
Haisam quickly walked around the exterior of the bus, approaching the open window right where Uwar-Biyu was seated. He reached into his pockets, pulled out a substantial wad of cash, and pressed it firmly into her hands. He instructed in a low, urgent tone, "Take this money. Use it to pay for the transit fare, and make sure you pay for the extra vacant seats on the back row so that the conductors don't crowd you with strangers—I want the two of you to have the entire row to yourselves for comfort. Furthermore, the moment you step off, I want you to go directly into Aishalle Supermarket before the transit fills up. Purchase high-quality bathing soaps, laundry detergents, moisturizing body lotions, and specialized hair oils for Hannah. Buy plenty of luxury biscuits and assorted chocolates so she can distribute them to the household members as holiday gifts (tsaraba)."
He reached back into his pockets, pulled out an even larger, crisp stack of high-denominator currency notes, and pressed them into her palms. "And as for this substantial amount, I want you to keep it completely safe under your custody. The very moment the school vacation draws to a close—specifically when there are exactly two days left before resumption—I want you to travel down to her village, pick her up personally, and bring her back to your house. I will travel down here immediately to buy her brand-new school provisions and personally drive her back to the academy. From this specific stack of money, I want you to take a generous portion and hand it directly to her father as a personal financial gift from me. I want you to look him dead in the eye and explicitly explain to him that the school has officially granted them a strict holiday of exactly forty-two days. Tell him that the very moment those forty-two days conclude, you will be arriving to pick her up under my direct orders. Make sure you utilize your absolute best, most comforting, and persuasive words to soothe his mind so that he doesn't attempt to block her from returning to school. You know exactly how stubborn and narrow-minded our local elders can be! Tell him that you are her official structural guardian at the academy, that she resides under your care, and tell him that I send him my absolute highest, most respectful regards."
Uwar-Biyu’s eyes went wide as she showered him with profound prayers and endless blessings, her heart overflowing with gratitude as if the massive wealth had been gifted directly to her or her own flesh-and-blood granddaughter. Haisam then reached down, fished out yet another separate stack of money, and handed it over. "Use this to purchase a beautiful, high-quality gold-plated necklace and matching earrings for Hannah, and hand it to her." Uwar-Biyu gasped in disbelief, "My goodness, Malam Haisam! This money is far too excessive! The initial amount you gave me is more than enough to handle all her shopping!" He smiled gently, "Think nothing of it. I am deeply grateful to you, Uwar-Biyu. May Allah protect you on the road." She replied fervently, "Amen, Malam. We are the ones who cannot thank you enough."
Haisam finally stepped over to the next window, positioning himself directly outside where Hannah was sitting. She was leaning her head heavily against the vehicle's window frame, her face the absolute picture of profound misery, as silent, heavy tears rolled down her cheeks one after the other. Haisam locked his eyes onto her, and in that exact moment, he felt a sharp, stabbing physical pain in his chest—it felt as though his very heart was about to shatter into pieces out of pure, unadulterated empathy and sorrow for this fragile girl.
He forced himself to maintain a strong, steady exterior and chided her gently, "Hannah, why on earth are you crying like this? Is it simply because school has closed and you are going home for the holidays? Listen to me, the moment the vacation concludes, Uwar-Biyu is going to travel down personally to pick you up, do you understand? I will come down myself to buy all your provisions and escort you back to school. Right now, if you arrive at the compound weeping and miserable, your father will assume you are being subjected to horrific suffering and torture at the academy, and he might flatly refuse to let you return. You must show your father that school is an incredibly beautiful, joyful place! Show him the deep discipline, manners, and absolute obedience they teach you there. Show him the abundant, delicious food you are fed, and he will be the very first person to insist that you return, do you hear me?" Hannah offered a fragile nod of her head and began using her small hands to wipe the tears from her eyes.
He continued to counsel her in a soft voice, "Please, maintain absolute patience with whatever trials your stepmother, Iya Abu, subjects you to during this brief stay. The moment the holiday ends, Uwar-Biyu will rescue you and bring you right back to the academy. Furthermore, ensure you attend the local Islamic school (Islamiyya) every single day, and make sure you constantly open your Western academic notebooks to revise your studies so you don't forget anything you've learned, alright? May Allah protect you on your journey, Hannah."
He turned his back to walk away, but the very instant he took a step, Hannah completely broke down, bursting into a loud, agonizing, full-throated sob. Haisam froze dead in his tracks. He stood there completely paralyzed, staring back at her as his mind spun in complete helplessness, entirely unsure of what else he could possibly say to soothe her shattered spirit. Overwhelmed by an intense wave of psychological distress, deep sorrow, and bitter frustration, he abruptly turned around and walked away at a brisk pace, his heart weeping silently.
Without uttering a single word to Auwal or Rauda, he climbed into the driver's seat, started the ignition, and slammed his foot on the gas pedal. After they had driven for a long distance in heavy silence, Rauda finally broke the ice, asking curiously, "Yaya Haisam, so it turns out Hannah is a local Fulani girl from Daura? Wait, are they actually heading all the way to Daura?" Haisam simply offered a tight, forced smile and remained silent. Auwal chipped in with a smirk, "Seriously, Haisam, you are far too involved in random meddling! Where on earth did you dig up this gorgeous local nomad girl (buzuwa), along with her grandmother?" Haisam shot back defensively, "Me? Involved in meddling? If we are talking about meddling, you are the undisputed champion! I saw you the other day flirting with Naja'at Suleman—don't think I didn't notice when she secretly handed you her home address! Whereas I have spent an entire calendar year working at this school." Auwal laughed, "Alright, alright, that's enough! Look at this local canary bird sitting in the backseat—her ears are wide open, completely copying our field report!"
They cruised down the highway until they finally arrived in the ancient city of Kano. Throughout the journey, Haisam spoke only in brief, sporadic sentences; his entire mind was completely hijacked by vivid, terrifying thoughts of the horrific environment Hannah was about to face in her father's house. His heart was completely consumed with raw empathy, and his mind continuously plotted complex schemes and strategies on how he could possibly continue to secretly finance, protect, and support her, especially now that he had permanently left his teaching post at the academy.
They eventually arrived in the elite, high-brow neighborhood of Nasarawa G.R.A. Haisam’s family estate was situated along the prestigious Suleiman Crescent, and he steered the vehicle through the massive, towering automated gates of the compound. After Auwal and Rauda stepped inside the mansion to formally exchange warm greetings with Haisam’s mother (Hajiya), they offered their departures and drove over to their own family estate, which was situated just a short distance away along Lamido Crescent.
Rauda's father was the ultra-wealthy Alhaji Shitu Mukhtar, and her mother was Hajiya Jamila. Alhaji Shitu Mukhtar was a purebred Kano aristocrat, originally hailing from the historic Kabara quarters; he had attended both primary and secondary school alongside Haisam’s father, and the two patriarchs had been inseparable best friends since early childhood. Hajiya Jamila, Rauda’s mother, was a highly sophisticated, light-skinned woman of Chadian national origin whom Alhaji Shitu had met and married abroad. Allah had blessed their marriage with three exceptional children: the oldest was Yaya Auwal, who had successfully completed his medical degree in the United States of America and was currently a fully certified, high-ranking medical doctor. The second child was Anti Ramla, who had completed her secondary school education that very year; she was currently awaiting her final examination results to transition into the university, which would happen immediately after her upcoming, lavish wedding to her dashing groom—who happened to be none other than Haisam himself. She was scheduled to pursue her university degree comfortably from her matrimonial home. The absolute baby of the house (auta) was Rauda, who was currently a first-year student in secondary school. They were the absolute epitome of high-class, Western-educated elites (yan boko). Having only three children meant the parents poured an absolute ocean of wealth, endless resources, meticulous care, and unadulterated love into their lives. Allah had showered the family with immense, staggering fortunes, allowing them to live in absolute luxury, traveling across the globe for vacations. In fact, they had barely spent two years since permanently relocating back to Nigeria, because Alhaji Shitu Mukhtar served as a high-ranking diplomat in the foreign embassy—specifically holding the prestigious title of Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America. It was due to this diplomatic posting that all the children had spent their entire lives receiving world-class education in America, and even their mother, Hajiya Jamila, had completed her university degrees over there.
Meanwhile, back at the Kazaure terminal, the moment Haisam's car vanished from sight, Uwar-Biyu quickly hurried out of the commercial transit bus and rushed into the market to execute Hannah's luxury shopping exactly as Malam Haisam had explicitly commanded her. She dashed back into the vehicle and found that it was still awaiting a few more passengers. The moment the bus was fully loaded, the driver hit the road. Throughout the journey, Uwar-Biyu continuously showered Hannah with soothing words, desperately offering comforting advice until the young girl finally managed to choke back her tears and fall silent. Now, Uwar-Biyu had been burning with intense curiosity for a very long time, desperate to uncover the true history behind Hannah and her extraordinary relationship with Malam Haisam, considering the unprecedented level of extreme financial care and protection he lavished upon her. Utilizing the natural, sharp psychological wit of an experienced elder, Uwar-Biyu systematically poked and probed at Hannah's mind, gently extracting her life story. Being an innocent, naive young girl who was desperately drowning and searching for an emotional lifeline from any available source, Hannah laid her soul completely bare, confessing everything to Uwar-Biyu from A to Z (daga biri har wutsiya—from the monkey to its tail).
A profound wave of intense pity and sorrow washed over Uwar-Biyu’s heart. She felt an even deeper, staggering respect for Malam Haisam, marveling at the pure, selfless holy jihad he had undertaken solely for the sake of Almighty Allah to rescue and uplift this fragile girl.
They eventually arrived at Babban-Mutum village, and the conductor unloaded their heavy luggage by the roadside. The very instant her feet touched the soil of her hometown, Hannah's heart began to thump violently against her ribs with an intense wave of impending doom (faduwar gaba); she had officially returned to the dark domain where her human dignity went to die. Uwar-Biyu instantly noticed her physical panic and immediately began whispering soothing words into her ear, desperately trying to anchor her mind.
Suddenly, a massive horde of Hannah's childhood peers—both boys and girls from the village—completely swarmed them. They stared at her in utter, slack-jawed amazement, crowding around her eagerly, practically fighting over one another just to get a chance to speak to her. A few boys quickly grabbed her heavy traveling bag and trunk, and the massive procession marched triumphantly toward Hannah's family compound. The local young men of the village could do nothing but gawk at Hannah in absolute awe; it felt as though this was a completely different creature from the ragged Hanne they once knew. Her skin had turned radiant, plump, and flawless (jawur da ita), and she looked immaculately clean. Their eyes were particularly locked in complete bewilderment at the high-end white canvas sneakers (kambas) gleaming on her feet; some whispered that she was wearing professional football shoes, while others argued they were elite military parade boots.
A wave of profound shock gripped the entire community as they struggled to comprehend how Hanne had transformed into a breathtaking, fair-skinned lady resembling a Caucasian woman (baturiya) within a mere single month. Her natural beauty was absolutely blinding; despite the entire village turning up to witness her arrival, there was not a single girl in the entire region who could match Hanne's exquisite looks and sophisticated aura. Instantly, the local village boys began aggressively competing, with one declaring, "I swear to God, this girl belongs to me!" while another snapped, "Back off, I claimed her first!" Many of her childhood girlfriends immediately made internal vows that they would launch an absolute rebellion against their own parents, throwing massive tantrums until they were also sent away to a high-end boarding school just like Hanne, so that they could also wash off their rustic village dirt and glow beautifully.
Before Hanne could even step foot inside the outer gates of her compound, wild rumors had already spread like wildfire through the inner rooms of the house. Word reached the family that Hanne was arriving, glowing as radiantly fair as an Arab or a white woman, escorted by an elite elderly matriarch. A profound wave of pure fatherly joy completely washed over her father, Malam Habu; he bolted out of his room, rushed outside the compound gates, and stood there trembling with pure excitement, anxiously awaiting the arrival of his beloved Hanne—his very own educated daughter (yar boko).
However, the moment the bitter stepmother, Iya Abu, heard the news, she pouted her lips maliciously and sneered venomously, "Hmph! She probably got herself knocked up (ciki aka yi mata) by some man at that school, which is why her skin has suddenly turned bloated and fair! Because we all know Hanne is naturally as dark as charcoal!" She continued to spew a nonstop barrage of toxic, green-eyed jealousy and bitter malice to anyone who would listen.
The moment Hanne turned the corner and her eyes locked onto her father standing by the gate, an overwhelming ocean of pure joy completely enveloped both of them. Hannah sprinted the remaining distance and threw her arms tightly around his neck, mimicking the beautiful display of raw affection she had witnessed between Nusaiba and her father at the academy. Heavy tears of profound emotional release flowed freely from both Hanne and her father's eyes.
Meanwhile, inside the central courtyard, Iya Abu and her adult biological children sat like statues. Not a single soul among them deigned to acknowledge or answer the polite Islamic greetings (sallama) that Uwar-Biyu offered as she stepped inside. Seeing this blatant hostility, Malam Habu quickly intervened, saying gently, "Please, just come right inside. Don't mind them; they have absolutely no intention of answering your greetings." He rushed into his small room, emerged with a clean woven straw mat (tabarma), and quickly spread it out for Uwar-Biyu. She sat down slowly, her heart filling with a cold sense of absolute shock and wonder at the sheer, terrifying depth of hatred and animosity directed at this tiny, innocent young girl—to the point that anyone who showed her a shred of love was automatically marked as an enemy.
Hannah walked over, dropped to her knees directly in front of her stepmother, Iya Abu, and offered her deepest respect as she greeted her. The woman didn't even bother to grunt a response, completely turning her face away in disgust. Hannah then turned and politely greeted her older half-siblings—Iya Abu's biological children—and they systematically mirrored their mother's toxic behavior, treating her with frozen silence.
Uwar-Biyu placed her hands over her mouth in sheer, absolute horror and exclaimed aloud, "Oh, look at the sovereign power of Almighty Allah! You servants of God, what on earth warrants this level of extreme bitterness? How old is Hannah anyway?! For the love of God, can't you force even a tiny smile on your faces just to make her feel a little bit welcome? You haven't seen this girl for nearly two solid months! Even if you despise her, at least show some basic respect to me, a complete stranger and a guest in your home, before I take my leave!"
Instantly, the entire hornets' nest emptied out. Iya Abu and her children launched a vicious, roaring verbal assault, screaming over Uwar-Biyu in a chaotic din. Uwar-Biyu yelled back in defense, and the adult children roared louder. Uwar-Biyu abruptly stood up, turned her back on the toxic crowd, and looked over at Hannah, who was cowering flat against the mud wall of the compound, her entire physical body trembling violently (tana makyarkyata) as a nonstop stream of terrified tears poured from her eyes. Hannah knew with absolute certainty that today, the sheer volume of horrific beatings and venomous insults she was about to endure would be boundless—only Allah knew if she would survive it.
Tears of intense frustration and pity broke from Uwar-Biyu's eyes. She turned to Hannah and cried out, "Hannah, please, maintain absolute fortitude! Hardship does not kill a person! Whether they like it or hate it, this is your biological father's house, and no matter where you travel in this world, you will always have a right to return here!" Iya Abu shrieked back venomously, "Oh really?! This father's house of hers will become an absolute living hell for her to reside in, if I so choose!"
Malam Habu stood off to the side, his head bowed in a posture of absolute defeat (yayi jugum), entirely unable to find his voice. A storm of profound psychological agony and distress completely overwhelmed his soul; he felt a deep, bleeding empathy for Hannah because he knew with absolute certainty that from this day onward, his family would double and triple the horrific physical abuse and torture they inflicted upon her, simply because Allah had protected her and made her look so staggeringly beautiful and high-class.
Uwar-Biyu stormed out of the compound, and Malam Habu quickly followed her outside, with Hannah sprinting right behind them. Uwar-Biyu used the edge of her shawl to wipe the hot tears from her face and murmured fiercely, "Allah is fully aware of everything. Malam, I was personally sent here by someone. Malam Haisam—the extraordinary teacher who officially rescued her from your hands." Malam Habu quickly interrupted her, his voice trembling with gratitude, "Yes, yes! I completely understand! Please, convey my deepest, most profound gratitude to him. I am endlessly thankful. God bless him."
Uwar-Biyu reached into the deep folds of her traditional wrapper and pulled out the substantial, thick stack of money, pressing it into Malam Habu's hands. "This is directly from Malam Haisam. He explicitly stated that this is a personal financial gift meant entirely for your own pocket and your personal upkeep—it has absolutely nothing to do with Hannah's school expenses. Furthermore, he wants you to know that the very moment this school vacation concludes, I will arrive here personally to pick her up. Malam Habu fell into a deep silence, staring down at the massive fortune resting in his palms. He kept shaking his head in absolute wonder and disbelief, utterly stunned by the breathtaking generosity and kindness that Haisam was lavishing upon his family. He whispered in awe, "So... there truly are still humans with such magnificent, golden souls left in this cruel world? People who willingly gift their immense wealth to completely destitute strangers out of pure charity, just like Malam Haisam?"
Malam Habu raised his tear-filled eyes to look at Uwar-Biyu and said, "And as for you, who took the sacred trust he gave you and maintained absolute integrity—may Almighty Allah reward you with the highest mansions of Paradise! May Allah bless him immensely for taking our heavy burdens upon his shoulders. May Allah grant him someone who will do the exact same for him in his own time of need. We are deeply grateful; we cannot thank you enough. I swear to you, there were countless nights where I would lie awake in the dark, my heart breaking as I wondered, 'Oh God, how is my poor little daughter doing? What on earth is she eating in that distant school? Did I completely abandon her to die of starvation?' And yet, look at her! She was out there living a life far more abundant and well-fed than my own! Look at how beautifully plump and healthy she has become! Ah, Alhamdulillah!"
He took a sharp breath and continued bitterly, "Listen to this: a while back, the local Village Head (Mai Gari) kindly sent over two bowls of local cassava flour (garin kwaki), half a bowl of sugar, and a small amount of cash meant specifically to transport Hannah to Kazaure. I swear to you, the moment that wicked wife of mine spotted the food items and the transit money, she waited until I was dead asleep, sneaked into my room, and stole the cash! Then she grabbed the plastic bag of cassava flour and violently hurled it outside, leaving the grains to scatter and rot in the dirt! When I walked over to inform the Village Head of what happened, you cannot begin to fathom the horrific humiliation and insults his household subjected me to! They sneered at me, barking that my extreme poverty had driven me mad, and accused me of trying to scam government provisions to fat myself! They flatly refused to help me ever again, and the Village Head coldly told me to leave her alone to die of raw starvation! I wept bitter tears, came back to my room, and surrendered my pain to God, pouring my soul into constant prayers that Allah would connect her with a savior. And look! Allah answered my desperate cries! He connected her with a man who feeds her abundantly. Allah has answered my prayers, because right now, we haven't even harvested our farm crops, and I woke up this morning without a single copper coin inside my pockets."
Uwar-Biyu let out a deep, sorrowful sigh. "What an absolute tragedy! Is this truly the horrific reality of how you are forced to live your life, Malam? Listen to me carefully: the advice I am going to give you, for the absolute sake of Almighty Allah and His Holy Prophet (S.A.W.), is this—no matter how horrific the storm becomes, no matter how brutal the pressure inside your house, you must completely block your ears! No matter what toxic lies they spew regarding Hannah’s education, you must never pull her out of that school! It doesn't cost you a single penny. You aren't the one spending money to finance it. You won't even be the one responsible for transporting her back; I will personally handle the journey of bringing her here and taking her back. All we require from you is your parental permission—never withdraw it! Because I swear to you, education is the absolute exclusive key that will liberate Hannah, giving her true freedom and a beautiful, abundant life in the future. The torture she faces here is far too much."
Malam Habu answered fiercely, "I swear to you, I will gladly let her go! If it weren't for the fact that the vicious gossips of this village would start barking that I have officially sold my daughter, or slander me by claiming I smuggled her to the city to live a life of prostitution, I would actually insist that she spend her entire holiday right inside your house! But unfortunately, right now, the moment everyone hears on the radio that boarding schools have closed for vacation and they don't see Hannah in the village, the elders will instantly corner me, demanding answers and spreading dangerous rumors."
Uwar-Biyu nodded understandingly. "May Allah rectify our affairs. I must take my leave now. Listen, there are high-quality bathing soaps, laundry detergents, and specialized skin lotions packed inside her traveling bag, courtesy of Malam Haisam. For the love of God, ensure she is permitted to bathe regularly, wash her clothes, and keep her hair neatly braided. She must never be allowed to sink back into that ragged, filthy state she was in when you first brought her to me—completely unkempt and dirty. What on earth is the benefit of filth?"
Uwar-Biyu turned and began walking away after offering her final farewells to Malam Habu, who continued to shower her with endless gratitude. Suddenly, Hannah completely broke down, bursting into a frantic, hysterical wall of tears. She bolted down the dirt path, sprinting after Uwar-Biyu, and threw her arms tightly around her waist, both of them breaking into shared, agonizing sobs. Hannah wept uncontrollably, screaming through her tears, "Uwar-Biyu, please! I beg you, do not leave me here! The horrific torture I am about to endure..."
[The chapter segment concludes here...]
II. Comprehensive Story Summary & Critical Commentary
1. Plot Synopsis of the Segment
This segment serves as a crucial emotional crossroads in the narrative, depicting the poignant final departures at the closing of the school term and Hannah’s traumatic repatriation to her toxic village, Babban-Mutum. The story opens on the contrasting worldviews of the elite students, highlighted by Nusaiba’s ignorance of rural staples like cocoyam (gwaza), which she dismisses as food for "uncultured village girls." The narrative then transitions to the arrival of the parents. Haisam is revealed to have completed his N.Y.S.C. service, marking his permanent departure from the institution. Contact details are exchanged, exposing Hannah’s complete alienation from modern technology.
The core of the tension arises during the drive back to Kano. Haisam is driving his prospective brother-in-law Auwal and his fiancée's younger sister, Rauda. Rauda exhibits deep class-based jealousy (kishi) toward Hannah, leading to a confrontation in the vehicle. Haisam drops Hannah and her rural guardian, Uwar-Biyu, at the commercial motor park. In a heartbreaking sequence, Haisam passes a massive amount of personal wealth to Uwar-Biyu to ensure Hannah’s holiday welfare and guarantee her return to school, before driving home to his luxury family estate in Nasarawa G.R.A., Kano.
The final act documents Hannah's arrival in Babban-Mutum. While her natural beauty leaves the villagers in absolute awe and sparks fierce competition among the local youth, her return is met with toxic malice from her stepmother, Iya Abu. The segment concludes with a deeply emotional conversation outside the compound, where Malam Habu reveals the systemic abuse and financial desperation he suffers at the hands of his wife, and Uwar-Biyu delivers a powerful defense of female education as Hannah's sole path to emancipation.
2. Character & Thematic Analysis
- The Weaponization of Class Terms (Bakauyiya vs. Yar Boko): The text operates on a sharp socio-linguistic binary. Wealthy characters like Nusaiba use bakauyiya (village bumpkin) as a casual slur, reinforcing class stratification. Conversely, the villagers label the transformed Hanne as a yar boko (educated/Westernized girl). This linguistic tension shows that Hannah no longer fits into the rural fabric, yet she is not fully accepted by the urban elite, trapped in an identity crisis.
- The Cruelty of Domestic Tyranny (Kishiyanci): Iya Abu represents the archetypal villain of Hausa domestic fiction—the malicious co-wife/stepmother. Her immediate slander that Hannah's glowing skin is a sign of pregnancy (ciki aka yi mata) highlights the weaponization of sexual shame to destroy a young girl's progress. Her structural power over the weak-willed patriarch, Malam Habu, highlights the breakdown of traditional male protection in families plagued by extreme poverty.
Education as Institutional Salvation: The dialogue between Uwar-Biyu and Malam Habu elevates Western education (boko) to a sacred tool of socio-economic liberation. Uwar-Biyu explicitly states that education is the only mechanism through which Hannah will "attain her freedom and human rights." The school is portrayed as an artificial sanctuary of wealth and safety, making the village a domestic prison.
III. Analytical Insights & Cultural Context
Hausa Term / Cultural ConceptContextual Meaning in the TextSocio-Cultural SignificanceOyoyoA joyful, melodic exclamation of welcome used exclusively for loved ones returning from a journey.Deeply rooted in Hausa domestic life, it signifies intense affection and familial warmth, seen during Nusaiba's reunion with her father.KishiJealousy, specifically the toxic rivalry typical of polygamous households or social competition.Extended here from the domestic sphere to the classroom, as Rauda resents Hannah for receiving Haisam's brotherly affection.TsarabaSouvenirs, gifts, or delicacies brought back by a traveler for family and friends.An essential cultural obligation in Hausa society; Haisam funds Hannah's tsaraba to strategically disarm her hostile household.BuzuwaStrictly referring to a Tuareg woman, but used colloquially by urban elites as a term for nomadic or exotic-looking girls.Auwal uses this term to describe Hannah's striking, fair-skinned transformation, highlighting her distinct appearance.IslamiyyaFormalized Islamic evening schools that teach Arabic literacy, Quranic recitation, and jurisprudence.Haisam commands Hannah to attend Islamiyya during the holidays, emphasizing that secular advancement must go hand-in-hand with religious literacy.Single Follow-up Question
Hannah is now left entirely defenseless in the hands of her abusive stepmother Iya Abu for a grueling 42-day holiday, while her elite savior Haisam is back in Kano preparing for his high-society wedding to Rauda's older sister, Ramla. Would you like to translate the next segment to see how Hannah survives this domestic nightmare, or would you prefer to analyze the complex marital dynamics and family alliance between Haisam and the Ambassador’s family?
