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Page 5
She sat down very close to Mummy before asking, "Mummy, did Abba cancel his trip?"
She asked because she noticed her daughter's face had completely fallen, looking like someone who had just received devastating news. Mummy smiled but said absolutely nothing to her. "Didn't we just say our goodbyes to him earlier, or did he really cancel the trip?" she pushed urgently, desperate for an answer.
"He left," Mummy replied flatly.
"Then what about this one? Isn't he going anywhere?" she asked, pointing her finger directly at him. He threw her a sharp, piercing glare that made her instantly drop her hand and avert her gaze. Before she could even register what was happening, Mummy slapped her across the mouth. Muhibbah immediately clutched her lips, tears flowing down her cheeks.
"When did you become like this? Is he your equal? By Allah, I will teach you a lesson you won't forget if you don't stay out of my sight!"
Muhibbah ran straight to her bedroom, threw herself onto the bed, and burst into uncontrollable tears.
She cried her heart out before finally getting up and heading to the restroom. She let the water run over her body, staying inside for a long time. When she emerged, she dressed in a black Abaya heavily detailed with glittering, fire-like rhinestones. She laid out her prayer mat and performed the Maghrib prayer, remaining seated for her evening supplications until the call for Isha prayer was made. After praying Isha, she folded the mat, pulled off her hijab, and sat on the edge of the bed resting her chin in her hands. It wasn't until intense hunger overtook her that she finally walked out to the parlor.
The family was seated in the parlor. She approached and greeted Daddy, wishing him a restful evening. He responded very coldly because his anger toward her had still not cooled down; he felt that if he didn't treat her strictly, she would never realize the gravity of her mistakes. She bypassed them and walked over to the dining table. Sitting down, she served herself a portion of Jellof pasta cooked with tender mutton and picked up her fork to eat.
Anas walked over, pulled up a chair next to her, and sat down. He looked at her silently for a moment before saying, "Wait, who on earth offended our girl? I see your eyes are all swollen as if you’ve been crying. Crying really comes too easily to you."
Her eyes welled up instantly, on the verge of breaking down again. He quickly comforted her, "Sorry, dear sister, just tell me who upset you?" Wiping away a stray tear, she sniffled, "It was Mummy... she slapped me across the mouth just now. And it’s all because of Brother Fu'ad! Now Daddy and everyone have stopped loving me."
He shook his head and said, "That’s not true at all. Just be patient, alright?" He began soothing her until he was certain she had calmed down. He then went over to the fridge, poured her a cup of cold water, and handed it to her. Mummy watched their entire interaction from a distance, simply shaking her head. In her heart, she marveled at their sibling dynamic; whenever they sat under the same shade, they never stopped bickering and arguing, yet the moment one fell into distress, the other’s heart could never find peace. And when they shared secrets, they buried them so deeply that no outsider could ever find out.
After finishing her dinner, she cleared the dining table, said goodnight to them, and retired to her bedroom. She went into the restroom, performed ablution, went through her usual nightly routine, and climbed into bed. Reciting her sleeping prayers, she pulled the blanket all the way over her head and fell fast asleep.
Meanwhile, regarding Fu'ad: Abba had told him to prepare to return home, but Fu'ad requested to stay back for one more week. He argued that he and Suhael could assist with managing things at the company to relieve some of Daddy’s workload. Abba didn't object and left him to it.
Page 6
She didn’t come out of her room until 9:13 AM since it was Saturday and there was no school. She greeted the family members, who were all indoors enjoying their weekend. Realizing Mummy wasn’t in the parlor, she headed to the kitchen and found her preparing breakfast. She greeted her and immediately began assisting with the cooking.
"Mummy, when is Mama Jummai returning? This housework is becoming way too much for you alone. Shouldn't we look for another housemaid instead?" she asked caringly.
"No, Muhibbah, I don't know what kind of stranger I might end up hiring. It’s better to wait for Jummai because I know her character well since we've been together for so long. I called her, and she assured me that Insha Allah, she will be back in two weeks."
Muhibbah let out a sigh of relief and said, "Alright then, may Allah bring her back safely." Mummy responded with a warm "Ameen."
"Oh, and Mummy, please, I’d love to visit Rufaeda’s house later today. Her mother is unwell."
"Alright, that’s fine. May Allah take us there safely."
Before 10:00 AM, they had completely set the dining table. Muhibbah cleared everything up afterward and washed all the breakfast dishes before heading to her bedroom. She took a shower, stood before the mirror, and applied her body lotion. Keeping her makeup simple, she used only face powder and a stroke of lipstick. She walked over to her wardrobe, picked out an Ankara top and skirt ensemble, and draped her shawl. The outfit fit her beautifully, making her look absolutely stunning as she headed to Mummy’s room.
"Mummy, I’m leaving now."
"Alright, extend my greetings to them and tell her I wish her a speedy recovery. Don’t stay out until evening."
"Alright, see you when I return."
"Safe travels," Mummy responded as Muhibbah walked out.
Out in the compound, she ran straight into him just as she was shouting for Bala the driver. Forcing herself to speak, she muttered, "Welcome back." He didn’t bother returning the greeting, asking sharply instead, "Where do you think you are going?"
"To my friend's house," she answered shortly.
"Turn around and go back inside. You are not going anywhere."
She stared at him, utterly dumbfounded, and protested, "But Brother Fu'ad, my friend's mother is sick! And I already asked Mummy for permission and she said I could go visit her."
"I said you are not going. Go back inside." He turned to the driver and ordered, "You can leave. She isn't going anywhere today. On Monday, you don't even need to come early to pick her up; someone else will drop her off."
"Understood, boss," the driver replied, immediately driving out of the compound.
Her eyes welled up with tears of sheer frustration. "But I already asked Mummy! I’m going anyway, even if I have to take a commercial tricycle (Napep)!" she snapped, pouting defiantly. Seeing him step forward and reach for his belt, terror gripped her. She bolted at lightning speed back into the parlor, screaming at the top of her lungs for Mummy...
SOYAYYAR KWANA DAYA (One-Day Love)
By Fatima A. Muhammad (Aminiyar Ango)
Dashen Allah Writers Association
Dedicated to my lovely brother...
I dedicate the remaining pages of this book to my older brother, the groom of Fateema and the father of Fateema. May our beautiful bond continue until tomorrow.
They were seated in the parlor chatting casually, while half of his attention was glued to the television news.
"Abba, as soon as I finish my WAEC exams, Ummi and I are going to Kaduna, right?" Khadija asked expectantly.
He smiled and teased, "Oh, Khadija, that is all you ever talk about."
She pouted playfully before adding, "Abba, it's been a whole year since we last saw Muhibbah! She completely hates coming to this town just because Brother Fu'ad is always restricting her and making life difficult." She quickly clamped her hand over her mouth, realizing she had spoken too freely.
Ummi smiled and remarked, "Oh, just wait until he returns, you’ll repeat exactly what you just said to his face."
Khadija burst out laughing, shaking her head. "I just know that right now, she is suffering over there because Brother Fu'ad is staying at Daddy’s house. I can practically see her locked up in her bedroom all day long!" she chuckled maliciously. Ummi joined in the laughter because she knew it was the absolute truth; she understood Fu'ad's rigid nature perfectly, especially the severe lack of chemistry between him and Muhibbah. Daddy smiled too, recalling Muhibbah’s usual dramatic tantrums, before falling into deep thought.
"Please, Daddy, promise me that you and Ummi will take us once my exams are over," she interrupted his thoughts.
"May Allah bring us to that time, we will all go together." Khadija let out a joyful squeal and ran off to her bedroom.
Taking a deep, calculated breath, Abba turned to his wife. "Ummi." She turned her full attention to him. "Yes, Alhaji?"
"Regarding my trip to Kaduna... we have reached a firm decision to unite Fu'ad and Muhibbah in marriage!"
Ummi’s heart instantly dropped into her stomach. She sat in stunned, absolute silence, unable to utter a single word. Though she had long suspected this day might come—knowing Abba would rarely allow Fu'ad to marry an outsider—the reality caught her off guard.
"Why are you so quiet? You haven't said a word," Abba observed.
Forcing a strained smile, she replied, "I was just caught completely by surprise, Ummi’s father."
"Come now, look at it logically. Good fortune shouldn't be exported when the household is in need. It is far better to keep our blessings within the family to strengthen our blood ties. Besides, you know there is a severe rift between Fu'ad and Muhibbah—this marriage will force them to understand and tolerate one another."
"May Allah bless it with goodness," was all she could bring herself to say. Deep down, it wasn't that she opposed the union; she was simply terrified of the massive friction that would occur before those two ever learned to coexist. But she knew that once Abba made a decree, his word was absolute and unchangeable.
"Ameen," he replied, before instructing her to begin making arrangements and quietly informing close relatives, warning her strictly not to let Khadija find out yet. She agreed, and the conversation ended there.
Muhibbah dashed into Mummy’s room, screaming her name. Terrified, Mummy jumped up, grabbed her, and asked frantically, "Muhibbah, what is it? What happened?!" Her heart was pounding violently because of how loudly the girl had screamed.
"It's Brother Fu'ad! He drove me back inside and said I am not allowed to go anywhere!" she sobbed loudly.
Mummy let out a long sigh of relief and sat back down. Her heart had nearly stopped, thinking a real tragedy had occurred based on that ear-splitting scream. "My goodness, Muhibbah, when on earth are you going to grow up? Just because you were told you can't go out, you cause this massive uproar?"
"But Mummy, didn't you give me permission? Who is he to say I can't go, as if he is my fa—" Before she could finish her sentence, Mummy slapped her across the mouth again. Muhibbah clutched her face, crying fresh tears. She bolted from the bedroom, only to run straight into Fu'ad in the parlor. He caught her eye and gave her a slow, mocking wink accompanied by a malicious smile.
She slammed into her bedroom, locked the door, threw herself onto the bed, and wept bitterly. What kind of misfortune was this? In her own parents' house, she was being suffocated, and yet her parents always painted her as the villain. She stayed wrapped up in her spiraling thoughts until exhaustion took over and she cried herself to sleep.
The family finished dinner, but she refused to come out. Anas spent a long time knocking on her door, but she stubbornly refused to unlock it. Left with no choice, he pulled out his phone and sent her a text message:
Please, my precious youngest sister (Auta), come out and eat some dinner. 😩 (accompanied by worried emojis)
The ping of the message drew her attention. She checked her phone, and with a weary, deflated spirit, she finally dragged herself to the parlor. The family was relaxing, heavily engrossed in their smartphones. Without saying a word to anyone, she walked over to the dining area, picked at a tiny portion of food, and then raised her hand to Anas. "Bye," she whispered. He smiled gently back. "Bye."
Page 7
She tightly closed her eyes, feeling a burning ache in her chest. Suddenly, her phone began to vibrate gently. She reached out and answered it with her eyes still closed. The moment she heard Mukhtar’s comforting voice, she sat up straight, a radiant smile breaking across her face.
"Good evening, my Mukhy."
"Good evening, my princess," he replied.
Her smile widened, completely revealing her teeth. "I hope you are doing well?"
"Mmm, yes, but I miss you terribly. When are you finally going to give me permission to come over and see your father? I am completely exhausted of this loneliness."
Covering her face shyly, she murmured, "Very soon, Insha Allah. Don't worry, we are almost there."
He let out a soft laugh. "Well, before that time comes, I really need to see your beautiful face."
Rolling her eyes playfully, she agreed, "Alright, let's meet at school on Monday. We’ve finished our school mocks, so we only have our main WAEC papers left now." Delighted, he replied, "Wonderful. May Allah bring us safely to Monday."
"Ameen," she answered, before telling him the exact time she would be finishing her exam paper...
Page 11
She headed to the restroom, performed her ablution, and offered a voluntary prayer (Nafl), crying out to the Almighty to ease the heavy burden weighing on her heart. Afterward, she switched off the main bedroom light, turned on her dim nightlight, and went to bed.
From the moment she woke up, she had been frantically searching for her WAEC exam timetable, but it was nowhere to be found. She turned her entire room upside down, but there was no sign of it. Frustrated and highly agitated, she quickly got dressed, realizing she was running dangerously late. She came out into the parlor and found it blissfully empty, which relieved her tension. She went to Mummy’s room to say her morning greetings. As she turned to leave, Mummy called her back.
"Yes, Mummy?" she replied shortly.
"Have you had breakfast?"
"No, Mummy, once we finish our paper, I'll buy something to eat." Mummy sighed deeply before saying, "Alright, may Allah grant you success."
"Ameen," she replied, turning on her heel to leave.
Stepping into the compound, she was utterly shocked not to see Bala the driver. He was never late for work, and the car meant to take her to school was parked idly. Is he sick, or did Mummy send him on an errand? she pondered internally.
To her horror, a voice cut through her thoughts. "I told him to take the day off today. I will be personally driving my little sister to school," Fu'ad announced, playfully raising an eyebrow at her with a thoroughly malicious grin.
Averting her gaze, she dug her hands into her hips, completely at a loss for words. He had pushed her to her absolute limit. She knew that if she spoke right now, given how furious she was, she would undoubtedly do something that would earn her a severe beating from Daddy.
He brushed past her, casually tossing the car keys into the air and catching them before hopping into the driver’s seat. Her logical mind quickly advised her to just get into the car so she wouldn't miss her exam. With a stiff, heavy posture, she walked over and opened the back door to sit in the rear.
"Who do you think is your personal driver?" he challenged.
Not wanting to drag out an argument, she opened the front passenger door and sat down, fiercely swallowing the tears that threatened to spill over. He accelerated out of the compound at breakneck speed. Once they hit the main road, he slowed down, turned on a beautiful Quranic recitation by Sheikh Sulaiman Al-Runaili, and drove along with a private smirk whose meaning only he understood. He clearly saw her school ahead, but deliberately accelerated right past it.
She whipped around to glare at him. He casually looked away. "Yaya, we just drove right past my school!"
Only then did he glance at her innocently. "Oh, really? I had no idea." She refused to utter a single syllable further; he had entirely exhausted her patience. He pulled a U-turn and drove back toward the school gate. Seeing him playing mind games, she quickly snapped, "We are here!" before he could overshoot it again. He tossed a 2,000 Naira note into her lap. "Buy some snacks and eat so you don't trigger your ulcer. Have a successful exam," he said, raising his eyebrow again. She flung the car door open, stepped out, slammed it shut with all her might, and sprinted into the exam hall to find her seat.
She didn't emerge from the hall until 12:00 PM. She barely scraped through the paper because an intense hunger was gnawing at her stomach. She and Sumayya rushed to the cafeteria, bought snacks and drinks, and returned to their main classroom to eat. Sumayya tried to engage her in lively conversation, but Muhibbah responded only in flat, one-word answers ("Yes," "No"). Realizing her best friend was in a horrible mood, Sumayya quietly zipped her lips and let her be.
Fu'ad
After dropping her off at school, Fu'ad drove straight to the family company. In the office, he met Suhael, and the two brothers happily worked together to reduce the workload. They chatted and laughed uproariously. Checking his wristwatch, Fu'ad abruptly stood up. "I need to run an errand, I'll be right back."
"Come on, just wait and let's leave together, my shift is almost over anyway," Suhael said.
"Are you serious? You came here with me, just wait until 4:00 PM and drive back with Daddy."
"No way, I’m not waiting for him. Bala will come drive him home later anyway."
"Well, you aren't tag-along with me. I have somewhere specific to stop by," Fu'ad countered, walking out and leaving Suhael completely bewildered, staring at his retreating back.
Muhibbah
Her phone began to ring softly. She pressed it to her ear. "Good afternoon, my Abba."
"Good afternoon, my precious daughter. I hope you are well?" Hearing his soothing voice was the final trigger; the heavy tears she had been suppressing since morning burst forth completely. "Oh dear, my daughter, did something happen?" he asked urgently.
Swallowing her sobs with great difficulty, she complained, "It's Brother Fu'ad... he dismissed my driver and forced me to let him drive me to school just to ruin my morning!"
"Ah, my little drama queen. Just be patient, your older brother cares about you, that's why. But what do you want me to do now?"
"Abba, please just tell him to go back home and run his hospital! There are plenty of sick patients waiting for him there!"
Abba chuckled warmly. "Actually, as soon as you finish your exams, I am moving you back to this town so you and Khadija can secure admissions and attend university together."
"I completely agree! But only on the condition that you leave Brother Fu'ad over at Daddy's house!"
Abba laughed out loud. "My girl, you are far too clever. Alright, it’s a deal." He lovingly humoured her tantrums until she finally smiled, said her goodbyes, and hung up. For the first time all day, her heart felt light and comforted.
Sumayya
Letting out a deep sigh, Sumayya stepped closer and placed a hand on Muhibbah’s shoulder. "My dear friend, I knew this whole dramatic breakdown was about Brother Fu'ad. You are a grown woman, yet you sit here letting him break your spirit. Everything he does to you is purely deliberate because he sees how easily you get riled up. If you just learn to suppress your reactions and act unfazed, he will stop. Take my advice: if you keep stressing yourself like this, he will purposely refuse to return to his town just to spite you."
Taking a sharp breath, Muhibbah replied, "I hear you, Summy, but you have no idea the absolute misery Brother Fu'ad causes m—" Her phone's ringtone abruptly cut her off. She checked the screen and a massive, radiant smile lit up her face. "I'm on my way out right now, my husband-to-be!" she chimed happily. Hanging up, she jumped to her feet. "Summy, Mukhtar is waiting for me outside! Let's go!" Without waiting for a reply, she bolted forward with Sumayya trailing closely behind.
Page 12
Mukhtar
Mukhtar stood leaning against his car, arms crossed over his chest and head tilted down as he scrolled through his phone. Stealthily, Muhibbah crept up behind him and snatched the phone from his grip, sprinting to hide behind a row of parked cars. He blinked in confusion, looking around wildly. He couldn't spot her, but he saw Sumayya standing nearby, grinning widely.
"Alright, my lady, come out, I know it's you," he called out.
She emerged giggling, asking how on earth he knew it was her.
"How could I possibly fail to recognize you? I know no one else would play such childish games with me. You are fully grown, yet you refuse to leave your childish antics behind," he teased, affectionately pinching the tip of her nose.
Pouting beautifully, she whined, "I hate it when you say I'm grown up. I am not old at all!"
"Oh, you are definitely grown," he smiled, "considering you are now publicly standing out here with your boyfriend." Shifting her gaze shyly, she covered her face and laughed. "Alright, I'm leaving since you're going to tease me." As she turned to walk away, he quickly grabbed her hand. She turned back, swiftly wrenching her hand free while pouting.
He playfully held his ears in surrender. "I am down on my knees, my future wife! I beg for your forgiveness, I will never do it again." She pouted even harder, stamping her foot dramatically. "No!"
He dropped to one knee, putting on a thoroughly pitiful expression. "I said I'm sorry, my dear."
Panicking slightly, she whispered urgently, "Oh goodness, Shalele, please stand up! Get up right now!"
"No, I won't stand up until you say you've forgiven me."
"I swear I have forgiven you! For Allah's sake, stand up before people start staring at us!"
He stood up, a broad smile gracing his face. "Thank you, my princess."
Gazing at him lovingly, she whispered, "You are my entire life, Mukhy. If I ever lose you, I honestly don’t know what I would do with myself. I would literally die."
He instantly placed his index finger over her lips. "Shhh... never mention death. If you ever leave this world and abandon me, what purpose would I have left to live for? I assure you, if I ever lose you, I will remain unmarried for the rest of my life. Words are entirely too small to express what I feel; they can only be proven through actions. Making you my legal wife is the only opportunity I want to show you the true depths of my love."
"My sweet darling, please don't say that. You will never lose me. I am entirely yours; I was created solely for you," she said, looking deeply into his eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks. He gazed back into her eyes without blinking, seeing the absolute, unadulterated truth radiating from her soul. He felt an overwhelming urge to pull her into a tight embrace, completely consumed by the raging fire of love in his chest. He reached out and gently wiped the tears from her face, while the flame of their mutual adoration burned even brighter.
Sumayya
Clearing her throat loudly, Sumayya stepped forward. They were so deeply lost in each other’s gaze, completely oblivious to her presence or the world around them.
"Well, hello there, Romeo and Juliet," Summy teased. "You've left me standing here like a literal statue for over an hour while you guys drink from the fountain of love, entirely forgetting my existence."
Mukhtar smiled warmly. "Oh, generic apologies, our dear friend! Please forgive me, it is entirely my fault."
"No, you are completely innocent," Summy laughed, throwing a playful glare at Muhibbah. "It's this girl's fault since I walked out with her. But of course, you see me as the crooked branch that's easy to blame, so naturally you defend him over me!"
Mukhtar chuckled. "Muhibbah is just a magnet for drama. Now, our dear friend, I beg for your forgiveness on her behalf." Sumayya smiled and greeted him respectfully, and he responded with great warmth. Turning back to Muhibbah, Summya snapped, "Alright lady, can we please leave? My legs are literally dead from standing out here!"
Before Muhibbah could speak, Mukhtar intervened. "Hop in, let's head to the shopping mall! You guys can pick out absolutely anything you want, and then I’ll drop you both home." He opened the car door for them. Just as Muhibbah was about to step inside, her eyes accidentally locked with someone watching from a distance.
Her heart violently dropped into her stomach. She felt a sudden, terrifying urge for the ground to open up and swallow her whole. Panic seized her, and her entire body began to tremble violently. She knew, with absolute certainty, that she was completely doomed today. Their eyes remained frozen, locked onto one another.
It was Fu'ad, watching her intently from his car.
"Wait, Muhibbah, what's wrong? What are you looking at?" Mukhtar asked, turning his gaze toward the direction she was staring. Seeing Mukhtar looking over, Fu'ad swiftly averted his gaze to avoid a direct eye confrontation. Sumayya had already hopped into the back seat and settled in. With a completely numb, frozen body, Muhibbah slowly climbed into the passenger seat. Mukhtar closed her door, walked around to the driver's side, and pulled out of the parking lot. He clearly noticed her sudden, drastic shift in energy, but whenever he tried to lock eyes with her, she forced a hollow, bright smile to mask her terror.
He parked outside a massive shopping mall, walked around to open her door, and they all headed inside. He tried to liven her up, telling her to grab whatever she wanted, but she single-mindly grabbed only chocolates and sweets.
"Wow, my little honeybee, is there absolutely nothing else you want besides chocolates?" he asked.
She simply nodded. "I don't need anything else, these are more than enough." In her mind, she was frantically thinking: Why on earth would I grab luxury items? If I bring back massive bags, they’ll realize I went to a mall and I'll just add to my crimes. I can easily hide these small chocolates inside my school bag where no one will ever see them.
He turned to Sumayya. "And you've joined your friend too? You didn't pick anything except sweets either." Sumayya simply smiled without saying a word. They grabbed some ice cream, Mukhtar paid at the counter, and they exited the mall.
Sumayya sat in the back seat, her heart overflowing with deep empathy for the two lovers. Seeing the profound depth of their love for each other, she couldn't help but worry: If anyone ever tries to forcefully tear them apart, what kind of psychological ruin will they face? Real love is terrifying. She used to think romance stories were just silly fabrications, but today, she witnessed real, undeniable love with her own eyes.
They drove all the way to Sumayya's gate, and she stepped out, thanking Mukhtar profusely. Sumayya took a moment to carefully conceal her shopping bags inside her main backpack, knowing her mother (Umma) would aggressively cross-examine her about where she got them, and she had no viable cover story. Satisfied, she walked into her house.
Back in the car, Muhibbah was slowly sipping her ice cream, completely detached from reality. Her mind was in absolute chaos because she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that today marked the end of her freedom.
Mukhtar glanced over at her with a warm smile. "Drink up, my little honeybee... though seriously, when are you ever going to stop eating sweets?" She managed only a tight, forced smile.
2. Updated Narrative Analytics & Character Profiling
The Structural Plot Shift (The Forced Alliance)
The introduction of the Dashen Allah Writers Association segment brings a massive, dramatic twist to the story. We shift perspectives briefly to Abba’s house (Fu'ad’s parental home), revealing a major structural plot development: Abba and Daddy have secretly arranged a marriage between Fu'ad and Muhibbah to preserve family ties and force them to overcome their mutual animosity (*"tuwo na maina"*—keeping wealth/blessings within the family).
The Core Conflict: A Toxic Love Triangle
The narrative moves from a lighthearted teenage comedy of errors into high-stakes family drama.
- Muhibbah & Mukhtar (The Idealized Romance): Their interactions on Page 12 are heavilycoded with traditional romantic tropes—dropping to one knee, dramatic declarations of dying without each other, hiding phones, and buying chocolates. Their love is pure, highly emotional, and vulnerable.
- Muhibbah & Fu'ad (The Oppressive Boundary): Fu'ad acts as a rigid, imposing figure who deliberately targets Muhibbah’s freedom. He cuts off her driver, intercepts her trips, and mocks her distress.
The Climax of Page 12: The turning point occurs when Fu'ad catches Muhibbah acting intimately with Mukhtar outside the school gate. The psychological terror Muhibbah experiences ("she felt like the ground should open up and swallow her") stems from the realization that Fu'ad now holds total leverage over her secret relationship in a deeply conservative social setting.
Character Behavioral Depth
- Fu'ad’s Sadism/Jealousy: His behavior crosses from mere strictness to targeted psychological games. He passes her school intentionally, winks at her maliciously after she gets punished by Mummy, and tracks her movements. Whether his actions stem from a toxic sense of family duty, early jealousy due to the arranged marriage plans, or pure spite remains a central mystery.
- Sibling Solidarity (Anas & Muhibbah): Despite their constant daily bickering, Page 5 highlights a beautiful aspect of Hausa family dynamics—Anas is the first to step up, comfort her, fetch her water, and soothe her pain when she is disciplined by their mother. They protect each other's secrets fiercely.
