Hauwa Kulu Book 4 Sumayya Abdulkadir Takori

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HAUWA KULU BOOK 4 BY SUMAYYA ABDULKADIR TAKORI 

To his utter astonishment, he found her sitting on the vanity stool dressed in an exceptionally beautiful white nightgown that Sumayyah had gifted her. She had just taken a fresh bath and looked incredibly radiant. He had never seen her look quite like this before; her pure teenage youthfulness was fully on display. It was a refreshing state he had never anticipated from her. The entire room was filled with a wonderfully sweet, cool matrimonial fragrance. Her head, boasting neatly braided, intricate cornrows, was completely bare without a single headscarf. She had just finished applying a lotion that left her skin looking beautifully soft and smooth. She sat gracefully on the stool while Sumayyah sat at the edge of the bed, the two of them lost in deep conversation, laughing heartily with Hauwa’s white teeth on full display like someone advertising Sensodyne toothpaste.
He had truly never seen Hauwa-Kulu looking so beautiful, nor had he ever caught her in such an exquisite, neat appearance as she was right now.
Sumayyah, who was directly facing the door, noticed his entrance immediately, but she purposely hid it from Hauwa. At that exact moment, Hauwa was asking Sumayyah, "Is studying medicine very difficult?"
Sumayyah looked toward him, let out an audible chuckle, and caught his eye as he gave her a subtle wink. She turned back to Hauwa and replied, "Oh no, not at all. It isn't really hard."
Hauwa then sighed, "You know, if my eyes hadn't failed me—if they were still wide open like everyone else’s—I would have pursued the exact same field of study as your older brother. I have always been fascinated by ophthalmic surgery, considering the eye is one of the most delicate, dangerous, and vital sensory organs in the human body. You have no idea how much medical doctors fascinate me. In fact, there are moments when I feel this intense, burning desire... oh, how I wish I could just see Yaya Sarham! How I wish I could look at him with my own eyes, to see what his physical features truly look like. Would they perfectly match how I imaginatively construct and visualize him in my mind? Anti Sumayyah, I swear, for no explicit reason at all, his beautiful words just deeply captivate me!"
Hearing this, Sarham quietly backed out of the room, his entire body going numb with emotion. He quickly gestured to Sumayyah with his hand, warning her not to dare mention that he had entered.
As he prepared to go to sleep in his usual spot, he found his heart pouring out a sincere prayer: May Allah fulfill Hauwa’s profound dream one day, so she can lock her eyes directly into mine, and I can tell her face-to-face that she deeply captivates me, too.
He prayed for the divine capability to be absolutely just and fair to her in every single aspect of their marriage. He also begged for a long life so he could fulfill every single vow and intention he had made to become the ultimate PACESETTER in her life.
The following morning, he stepped into Sumayyah's room to exchange morning pleasantries. He handed Sumayyah a sealed smartphone box and told her to set it up for Hauwa.
Sumayyah was arguably even more ecstatic than Hauwa about owning such a sleek, high-end phone. She immediately unboxed it, inserted the brand-new MTN SIM card he had provided, plugged it into the charger, and excitedly told Hauwa the exact model name of the phone her brother (Bhaiya) had purchased for her.
Hauwa kept her head lowered from the very moment he walked into the room. She could literally feel his eyes sweeping all over her. With immense difficulty, she managed to murmur a very brief, quiet expression of gratitude.
She had not long emerged from her bath. Mama had brought her a premium, heavily beaten Malian Shadda outfit to wear. The vibrant orange color made her skin absolutely glow—she looked every bit the radiant, healthy, new bride. Sumayyah quietly slipped out of the room to grant them some privacy to properly greet each other, noting they hadn't shared a proper moment since yesterday.
Sarham stepped forward and sat right beside Hauwa, his shoulder brushing against hers. Hauwa could feel the exact moment he sat down, as the rich aroma of his premium Arabian sandalwood perfume (Sandalia) instantly enveloped her. She instinctively closed her eyes. Oh, how I wish I could see him right now, she thought. Truly, she would have multiplied her praises to Allah for the supreme blessing of granting her Dr. Sarham Abbas as her husband and life partner until the very end of time. He was dressed in a pristine, incredibly expensive, milk-white fabric that was so fine and sheer one could catch a glimpse of the brand-new white singlet underneath. The material was light as air, yet carried an unmistakable aura of luxury.
For the first time in their lives, Hauwa felt Dr. Sarham’s right hand gently slide into her own. The sudden physical contact startled her slightly, sending an intense, simultaneous shiver down both their spines. Sarham intertwined his fingers with hers, covering their joined hands with his other palm.
Smiling warmly, he murmured, "Maijidda, the doctor’s wife, good morning. How was your night as a guest in this house? I hope you had a peaceful sleep and have fully recovered from your exhaustion."
Hauwa, who felt a sudden wave of extreme shyness toward Dr. Sarham that surpassed anyone else on earth today, found herself completely unable to reply. To make matters more intense, he gently tightened his grip on her hand with his exceptionally soft palms. He pressed further, "I am greeting you, Maiji..."
She shifted her lips slightly, subtly trying to slide her hand out of his grip because the sheer softness of his touch was inducing a heavy, intoxicating wave of lethargy over her. With great effort, she managed to choke out, "I am the one who is supposed to greet you, Yaya Sarham. Good morning."
He absolutely refused to let go of her hand, despite her continuous, clever attempts to slip away. He said, "I spent the entire night wondering how you were coping without Inna by your side. I am actually more torn about your separation from Inna than you are. But this is the harsh reality for every daughter; a woman is always destined for someone else's household. Whether she is perfectly healthy or living with a disability, once she reaches a marriageable age, Allah commands her parents to marry her off, even if it means sending her as far away as China. So, regardless of whether it was me or someone else, banish the thought that you would have remained in front of Inna forever just because of your sight. Not when Allah has brought you a suitable husband who genuinely loves you with absolute sincerity—but explicitly not Jamilu. And I say this for no other reason than to secure your ultimate peace of mind and the lasting tranquility of your parents, which a union with Jamilu would have completely shattered. Please, have patience, do you hear me? I know I rushed this marriage through, but it's not like we are strangers to one another, Maijidda. If I had delayed for even a single moment past the time the Almighty allotted me, Jamilu would never have let you go; he was entirely serious. And by God’s grace, I will never allow another thing to break Inna’s heart ever again, let alone your marriage to Jamilu, which was her greatest nightmare."
Hauwa couldn't stem the tide of emotions any longer. Stifling a violent sob that rushed up her throat, she sharply interrupted him:
"Yaya Sarham, are you trying to tell me that you only married me for Inna’s sake? Just to secure her peace of mind against Baba Zakari, and to cut me off from Yaya Jamilu? But not because you, in your own right, actually love me?"
Hauwa's blunt words startled Sarham in a way he never anticipated. In his mind, he had assumed Hauwa was completely oblivious to the concept of romantic love (SO), and he never expected her to possess such a razor-sharp, deeply profound intuition.
The heavy silence that followed gave her the perfect opportunity to slowly slip her hand out of his grip. Shifting slightly away from his body, she composed herself, swallowed her tears, and pressed on defiantly:
"I know you married me out of pure pity. You wanted to wash away the stains of guilt you feel in your conscience regarding me, and to solidify your relationship with my mother. But you made a massive mistake; you forgot that you were the very one who built my mind upon a foundation of knowledge! You taught me never to let my disability make me view myself as an object of pity, or inferior, or useless in society, or someone whose status is too low to achieve certain milestones just because of blindness. You trained me to be resilient, to be a complete human being, and to pursue the education necessary to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with anyone. You taught me how to stand firmly on my own two feet. If that is the case, then you rushed this marriage for an entirely different agenda, but definitely not out of love. If it were truly about my development, you would have left me in front of my mother so I could continue following your guidance as my Pacesetter, living with my parents by my side. Even if I never married Yaya Jamilu, I could have continued my life perfectly fine, because as far as I know, a marriage cannot exist without romantic love. No wonder you didn't even bother to seek my consent before rushing into this contract! Yaya Sarham, you never once asked me if I wanted this or not, because you knew that the moment you mentioned it to Inna and Baba, they would instantly agree even if they secretly didn't want to. Doesn't that look like pure coercion? After all, I never asked anyone to marry me out of charity or pity!"
Hauwa buried her face in her palms, weeping in a soul-wrenching manner as she cried out, "Yaya Jamilu didn't intend to marry me out of pity! He didn't do it just to offer charity or to sponsor my education. He was going to marry me out of pure, unadulterated love—propelled by the genuine essence of romance and affection, and a sincere desire to repair the broken ties of kinship between our families. But you rushed in and stopped him, not because you love me yourself! You already have your life and your romance; you have the exact woman you love, a woman who perfectly fits your high-status life. Why couldn't you leave me to marry someone who perfectly fits mine? To build my own home just as you built yours on a foundation of romance and mutual affection, instead of being cast away into a home under the guise of pity and charity? Is it because I cannot see? Or because my parents think they are a burden to me? Or is it that I simply do not deserve to be loved with a passionate, romantic love like other women?" Her weeping intensified into a frantic, breathless panic, as if she were unleashing a lifetime of bottled-up grievances directly at him on the floor.
Today, Hauwa was dishing out an overwhelming shock to Dr. Sarham. Truly, wonders shall never end! He had never experienced this level of defiance or emotional volatility from her. Hauwa had completely rebelled, throwing a massive tantrum, demanding to know why he married her only to strip her away from the one man who genuinely loved her. Between deep, gasping sobs, she kept wiping her face, insisting that letting her marry Jamilu would have been a far greater blessing for her.
This outburst firmly proved to him that Hauwa was fully aware of her human rights. In the near future, as she aged and gained deeper academic knowledge, she would absolutely never tolerate anyone trampling upon her rights under the pretext of her blindness.
He took a deep, exhausted breath, and spoke in a strained, weary tone, "Meji... Maijiddah, please listen to me. Maijidda, it’s me—your Yaya Sarham. You know very well that no man would ever marry a woman his soul utterly dislikes. Furthermore, you need to tell me: what exact kind of love are you claiming I do not have for you? You must describe this love to me, and tell me exactly where you learned about it!"
He stared at her intensely, his eyes fixed on her as if she could actually see him. She could deeply feel his piercing gaze washing over her body like strokes of a whip. Suddenly, an intense wave of bashfulness washed over her. She closed her eyes tightly, refusing to open them. He almost grabbed her hand to place it flat against his chest so she could feel how violently his heart was pounding over her rebellion—an emotional storm that had deeply unsettled his mind—and how much her sharp words had genuinely terrified him. But he suddenly stopped himself. He did not want to become overly touchy with her. In his estimation, Hauwa was still far too young for him to sit down and explicitly lay bare his deepest inner feelings to her. It was better to let her gain more maturity as time passed. Perhaps by then, he too would have fully understood his own emotions. Because in reality, at this very moment, he himself could not explicitly define the exact brand of love his heart harbored for Hauwa. He didn't know his true emotional compass. All he knew was that it wasn't the passionate, dramatic romance he shared with Madinah, nor was it the platonic affection he felt for Sumayyah, his biological sister, despite his past claims.
Seeing that she was completely flustered and trapped in shyness because he adamantly insisted that she define the exact love she claimed he lacked, he stood up. He decided to let it drop, saying, "Since you refuse to tell me, let me get back to my affairs. I am heading over to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), my lady of romance. I swear to you, you will eventually tell me with your own mouth what exact brand of love this is, because I genuinely don't comprehend it. Is there anything specific you want me to bring back for you when I return?"
Hauwa became even more deeply annoyed. The exact words she desperately wanted to hear from his mouth—a declaration of genuine affection—Sarham had completely withheld. Instead, he had turned her profound emotional crisis into a dismissive, playful joke. He had completely failed to deny her accusations: he didn't deny that he married her for Inna's sake, he didn't deny that he married her out of pity, and he didn't deny that his rush was fueled entirely by a desperate need to block Jamilu. Worst of all, he refused to tell her the beautiful lie she desperately craved to hear—he refused to lean down and lie to her face by saying he loved her with the same burning passion Jamilu did, or with a pure, unadulterated "I LOVE YOU."
This failure caused Hauwa to burst into an even louder, more bitter wave of tears. She utterly detested having her intelligence insulted.
"Cry all you want!" Sarham muttered playfully, stepping toward the door. "After all, Allah has handed HAUWA over to me—the man you claim to dislike—and not to your precious Jamilu who knows how to spin those fancy 'I love you' phrases that I am apparently incapable of uttering."
He walked back, leaning down directly in front of her face until she could feel the cool brush of his breath over her skin. For a second, it felt as though he was about to kiss the very hands she used to shield her face, but he quickly checked himself. A kiss was a weighty, serious intimacy that he only ever shared with Madinah. In his mind, Hauwa was simply too young right now for him to be kissing her. Furthermore, her bitter comparison—wielding Jamilu's love as a weapon against his ego—had forced him to put up his emotional guard. He firmly resolved within his heart that he would never grant Hauwa the privilege of knowing the true contents of his heart regarding her or Madinah. He recognized right then that Hauwa belonged to that category of highly romantic women who desperately craved overt courtships—women who needed a husband to constantly sit down and verbalize how much he loved them. Even if it was a beautiful lie, such women preferred hearing it over a harsh, silent truth. As for him, every single drop of "I love you" phrases, romantic sweet-nothings, and passionate vocabulary had already been entirely spent on Madinah back during his twenties. He was no longer that young man; he was now a father starting a family.
He still stood firmly by his original conviction: his marriage to Hauwa-Kulu was not born of conventional romance or a desire to satisfy physical passion. Absolutely not. It was a marriage born of a profound mission (auren dalili), an act of religious/moral duty (auren jihadi) to establish long-term security in her life and the lives of her parents.
"I will be back soon, Maijidda. What should I bring you?"
Hauwa gave him the silent treatment, sniffing quietly. He asked, "Would you like some ice cream?"
At this, she snapped back rather angrily, "I don't know what that is, and I don't know how to drink it!"
He chuckled, "Should I buy some so you can learn?"
She quickly spat out, "I swear, I don't want it!"
A wide smile spread across his face. In his mind, he amusedly thought, Suit yourself, my lady. I'm still not saying "I love you." He turned to leave just as Sumayyah walked into the room.
He called out, "Summy, I offered to buy you guys some ice cream, but our chief troublemaker here claims you don't drink it."
Sumayyah laughed, placing a food tray she was carrying right in front of Hauwa. She teased, "Bhaiya, you have made a massive blunder! Did you even bother to bring the traditional bridal welcome chicken (kazar amarci) before talking about ice cream? Or have you even officially commenced a proper romantic courtship to establish your government the way a real groom should?"
Sarham stroked his well-groomed beard—his ultimate man's pride—nodding his head in amusement before replying, "Well, they say birds of a feather flock together. Today, I completely agree with that idiom." He shook his head and exited the room, calling back, "Honestly, Sumayyah, you have completely lost all respect for me. I bet you are the very one coaching her on these tantrums. Tell me, between you and her, what is even the difference? As far as I'm concerned, Maijidda is just a younger sister to me, so I am far too old for bridal chickens or formal courtship visits."
This parting statement infuriated Hauwa-Kulu to a degree he couldn't possibly fathom. Sumayyah, however, kept laughing as he walked out and closed the door behind him.
Following his departure, Sumayyah continuously pestered her until Hauwa was forced to override her anger and eat the meal along with her. Once they finished, Mama walked into the room, dragging a succession of premium suitcases one after the other—six massive boxes in total.
Mama announced, "Sumy, this is Hauwa'u’s bridal trousseau (lefe), which her father had initially refused to let us deliver. I insisted back then that I would personally hand it over to her once she arrived here."
Hauwa immediately lowered her gaze out of profound shyness and immense respect for Mama. It was Sumayyah who continuously poured out effusive prayers of gratitude to Mama on Hauwa's behalf. Sumayyah immediately began unboxing the items, pulling out exceptionally high-end, luxurious fabrics, each beautifully tailored and paired with matching veils. There was an entire suitcase dedicated to premium designer footwear and handbags—all explicitly chosen with flat soles to accommodate her blindness—alongside a smaller, elegant case filled with premium cosmetics and luxury bath products. Mama had handpicked every single item herself, ensuring everything radiated class, harmony, and profound intentionality.
Mama sat down with them, engaging Sumayyah in a detailed conversation regarding her university preparations and the local items she needed to pack for her return to Saudi Arabia. Traditionally, whenever Sumayyah was concluding her holidays, she would purchase local household goods unavailable in Jeddah, such as local seasoning cubes (Maggi) and authentic Hausa culinary ingredients. This was because she was returning to Saudi Arabia alongside Sarham; her flight booking had been adjusted to match his schedule perfectly.
It was during this conversation that Sumayyah overheard the final, executive decision passed down by Mama: Hauwa would not be traveling to Jeddah with them. She was to remain behind under Mama's direct custody to officially enroll in a local university first.
Sumayyah was initially highly disappointed by this decision, but upon deeper reflection, she realized that Abba and Mama possessed a far superior wisdom and foresight. Where would a vulnerable girl like Hauwa even start when living under the same roof as Madinah? Sumayyah knew very well that Madinah wasn't inherently evil or malicious—she didn't consult sorcerers or dark marabouts—but her elite status, modern background, and intense pride meant she was light-years apart from Hauwa's reality. Hauwa would absolutely never feel free, safe, or relaxed in a shared household with Madinah. Furthermore, the specialized, highly attentive care Sarham was currently showering upon Hauwa would instantly vanish or cause a domestic war if displayed in front of Madinah. Sumayyah realized her parents were completely right: it was infinitely better for Hauwa to remain under Mama's protective wing, where she could be properly groomed, shielded, and given the maturity and academic exposure needed to navigate a co-wife dynamic before destiny eventually brought them together under one roof.
Throughout that day, Sarham slipped into Sumayyah's room at least three times under the simple pretext of catching a glimpse of Hauwa. This display deeply delighted Sumayyah. However, ever since the moment he playfully claimed there was no difference between Hauwa and his younger sister, he hadn't caught a single glimpse of her smile or her teeth. Even when Madinah was freshly wedded and brought to the family home years ago, he had never made a habit of constantly pacing and visiting Sumayyah's quarters the way he was doing now. But Hauwa remained fiercely locked in her anger toward him. He failed to extract anything beyond cold, mandatory morning greetings from her lips. No matter how long he sat in her room or how smoothly he tried to comfort her, she gave him the absolute silent treatment, which deeply distressed his mind. He couldn't bring himself to swallow his massive male pride, pull her close into his arms, and forcefully comfort her; his ego wouldn't allow him to show his emotional hand so early in the marriage.
And so, the reality loomed: the day after tomorrow, by God's grace, he and Sumayyah were scheduled to fly out to Jeddah. Yet, until now, he had completely failed to break down Hauwa’s emotional walls.
On the eve of his departure to Jeddah, he walked into the kitchen and found Hauwa and Sumayyah preparing a meal together. Sumayyah had set up a comfortable chair for her; Hauwa sat elegantly, chatting away while skillfully slicing salad vegetables. She was dressed in a highly expensive, exceptionally soft cotton lace outfit of a rich crimson, blood-red hue. The borders and neckline of the top were beautifully adorned with the matching inner lining material. Hauwa looked devastatingly beautiful. A distinct bridal glow radiated from her countenance, and her headscarf was tied in a perfect, flawless wrap. Looking at her, no one would ever suspect she was blind, especially since Sumayyah had meticulously applied a neat layer of mascara to her eyelashes and styled her head-tie with absolute precision.
As Sarham leaned against the kitchen doorway, he overheard Hauwa telling Sumayyah, "Honestly, once you guys leave, I am going to miss you terribly, Aunty Sumayyah. Especially since Aunty Surayyah barely ever stays in this house."
Sumayyah replied, "Oh, Surayyah has always preferred living at our grandmother’s house; she was the one who raised her from childhood. But Mama told me today that they are bringing down our uncle’s daughter from Shanono, a girl named Mardiyyah, to stay with you. She is incredibly well-mannered and intelligent. I am absolutely certain you will enjoy her companionship far better than Surayyah's."
The distinct, unmistakable aroma of Sarham’s perfume announced his presence to Hauwa before he even uttered a word. She instantly composed herself, shutting down her lively demeanor and falling into a completely quiet, reserved silence.
He extended his smartphone toward Hauwa and said, "Here, Inna is on the line to say goodbye. They have just touched down safely in Ghana. I don't want to see you crying to me after this."
He placed the phone directly into her hand. Hauwa’s entire body began to tremble with overwhelming emotion at the sudden prospect of hearing her mother's voice. She clutched the phone tightly against her ear, frantically calling out Inna's name as tears instantly burst from her eyes.
Inna's voice came through the speaker, "This is exactly why I adamantly refused to let the Doctor put me on the phone with you until now! I explicitly told him we must land safely first, because I knew this exact crying fit would happen. Doctor Sarham purchased premium flight tickets that brought us straight down here to Kumasi. Oh, Hauwa, you need to see our new residence here—masha Allah! It is easily three times the size of our old house in Kano. Listen to me carefully, Hauwa: you must practice absolute obedience in your marriage. Be entirely submissive and respectful to his parents and to the Doctor himself; they are now your true parents. Multiply your gratitude to Allah for connecting you with such honorable, noble in-laws, and live in absolute peace with everyone. Do you hear me, my Hauwa-Kulu?"
Hauwa nodded her head vigorously in compliance, as if Inna were standing right in front of her. Inna continued, "Excellent. He has already informed me that he is leaving you behind in their family home under the direct care of his mother, so you can officially commence your university education. This decision gives my heart an infinite sense of peace and comfort, far better than having you relocate to a co-wife's household in your current visual state. May Allah remain your ultimate guardian and oversee your affairs. May His infinite blessings encompass you both."
Malam Bilyaminu then took the phone from his wife, pouring out profound paternal advice, prayers, and deep wisdom to his daughter before they finally concluded the call. Even after hanging up, Hauwa could not stop wiping the heavy stream of tears from her face.
Mama walked into the kitchen right then, asking, "Are you two still not finished with the cooking? What on earth happened to make Hauwa’u cry like this?"
Sarham turned around and walked out of the kitchen, his own heart deeply struck and unsettled by the sight of Hauwa's tears. He felt a sudden pang of regret, wishing he had never initiated the phone call with her parents in the first place.
With great effort, Mama managed to calm her down. She personally assisted in finalizing the meal and escorted Hauwa straight to her private quarters, where the two of them sat completely alone.
Mama spoke with deep maternal tenderness, "Hauwa, I know I can never truly replace your biological mother, Inna. But I promise you, I will look after you with the exact same love and devotion I give to my own biological children. I know society claims that mothers-in-law are inherently wicked and cruel, but I want to be the absolute exception to that rule! Grant me the privilege of being a true mother to you, Hauwa. I love my son Sarham deeply, and I passionately love anything that secures his ultimate peace of mind. You will watch me become a fiercely protective mother who will carry you securely on my back with the strongest cloth."
With these profound, comforting words, Mama successfully shattered her emotional walls, leading her gently to the dining table where they all ate dinner together.
Immediately after performing his Asr prayers, Sarham began packing his final luggage for the journey. Sumayyah had already packed her bags the previous day. An unmistakable air of melancholy and heavy silence hung over both of them. Their hearts were profoundly heavy, not because of the impending flight, but because they were leaving Hauwa behind all by herself with Mama, who spent most of her days tending to her private chambers.
Following the Isha prayers, Sarham stepped into Hauwa's room to officially deliver his final farewell. By then, she had already changed into her sleepwear. Sumayyah was out in the living room, watching television alongside her parents.
Hauwa was in the middle of reciting her night protection prayers when she felt the physical weight of Sarham sitting at the edge of her bed, his body lightly brushing against her legs. As usual, the distinct aura of his premium perfume and his soft greeting had preceded his physical movement.
With smooth, deliberate psychological tact, he reached out, took her hand, and placed it flat directly over his heart.
Hauwa could feel his chest violently rising and falling beneath her palm. He whispered softly, "This is exactly how much your fierce anger has been torturing my soul over these past few days, Nana Hauwa'u. I simply cannot verbalize it openly to you because you are still far too young, and furthermore, this is my parents' house; I do not possess the freedom to lay bare my vulnerabilities here."
This exceptional trait of dignified restraint and deep respect was something Dr. Sarham held onto fiercely; he never allowed his personal romantic frustrations to override the honor of his parents' household.
He pressed on gently, "Maijidda, I am leaving. Am I really not going to receive a single sweet memory to hold onto during my absence? Nothing to remind me that I have left my wife, HAUWA, under the sacred covenant of my marriage and the protection of my parents? Not even a beautiful verbal farewell from your lips? I know you harbor an intense resentment toward me, but honestly speaking, I desperately want to know my exact crime, Maijidda. Honestly speaking, I do not know what I did wrong."
Slowly and quietly, Hauwa began to slide her hand away from his chest, entirely unable to handle the intense, intoxicating physical sensations that his rapid heartbeat was sending through her veins...

2. Summary

This chapter explores the immediate domestic aftermath of Dr. Sarham and Hauwa-Kulu's sudden marriage, detailing the deep psychological and emotional friction between the newlyweds on the eve of Sarham’s return to Saudi Arabia.
The story opens with Sarham discovering a visually breathtaking, transformed Hauwa in her bedroom, dressed in a white nightgown with her hair beautifully exposed. Overhearing her express a profound, poetic admiration for ophthalmic surgery and a deep fascination with his voice and character to Sumayyah, Sarham is deeply moved. He secretly retreats, praying for a future where her sight is restored so she can look into his eyes. The next morning, he gifts her a high-end smartphone, but their physical proximity triggers an intense emotional confrontation. When Sarham tries to justify the marriage as a necessary rescue from Jamilu and a protection for Inna, Hauwa fiercely rebels. She accuses him of marrying her out of pure pity and structural coercion, using his own philosophical teachings as a Pacesetter to argue that she is not an object of charity and deserved a marriage built on genuine, passionate romance (SO) rather than clinical benevolence.
Sarham, privately stunned by her razor-sharp intuition, puts up his emotional guard, refusing to utter the "I love you" phrases he considers a closed chapter reserved exclusively for his first wife, Madinah. He maintains that their union is a marriage of profound purpose (auren dalili) and a moral duty (auren jihadi). Amidst this cold war, Mama steps in with executive authority, delivering Hauwa’s massive six-suitcase bridal trousseau (lefe) and revealing a major structural decision: Hauwa will not be traveling to Jeddah. She will remain in Kano under Mama's direct custody to complete her university education, shielding her from a premature, toxic co-wife clash with Madinah. The chapter closes on an intensely emotional note: after a tearful, long-distance farewell call with her parents in Kumasi, Ghana (funded by Sarham), Mama firmly bonds with Hauwa as a protective surrogate mother. Finally, on the night before his flight, Sarham corners a vulnerable Hauwa in her bed, forcing her hand over his pounding heart, pleading for her to end her emotional boycott and reveal his crime before he departs.

3. Analytics

Theme Analysis

• The Irony of Empowerment: A fascinating ideological conflict occurs here. Hauwa uses the very tools of self-worth, resilience, and independence that Sarham taught her during his time as her mentor/Pacesetter to reject his marital authority. She argues that because he taught her she wasn't inferior, she refuses to accept a marriage based on "pity" or "charity."
• The Economy of Romantic Vocabulary: Sarham exhibits a rigid emotional economy. He explicitly notes that words like "I love you" belong to his youth (his twenties) and are exclusively spent on his first wife, Madinah. He views romance as a finite resource, substituting it in Hauwa's case with protective duty, financial security, and structural elevation.

• Strategic Domestic Isolation (Maternal Shielding): Mama and Abba’s intervention introduces a brilliant structural theme of tribal/familial protection. By keeping Hauwa in Kano for university rather than sending her to Jeddah, they actively prevent the predictable destruction of a vulnerable, disabled co-wife by an elite, fiercely independent first wife (Madinah).

  Narrative & Structural Techniques

• Olfactory Signifiers of Intimacy: The author consistently uses fragrance (Arabian Sandalwood / Sandalia) as a sensory bridge. For a blind protagonist, Sarham’s scent acts as an immediate physical invasion of her space, inducing physical lethargy and breaking down her defensive barriers before he even speaks.
• The Smartphone as a Totem of Modernity: The inclusion of a high-end smartphone with an MTN SIM card acts as a literary totem. It signifies Hauwa’s transition from a destitute, displaced village girl to a high-status, connected wife of an elite doctor, serving as the literal vehicle that connects her back to her parents in Ghana.

• Climactic Ending (The Interrupted Gesture): The chapter utilizes a classic cliffhanger technique. By ending on the physical sensation of Hauwa pulling her hand away from Sarham’s rapidly beating heart, the author maximizes the unresolved romantic and psychological tension right before his international departure.

  4. Character Description

  Dr. Sarham Abbas Shanono

• Role: The Bound Patriarch / Pacesetter
• Attire: Dressed in an exceptionally expensive, sheer, milk-white luxury fabric so fine it reveals his white undershirt, exuding wealth, cleanliness, and an elite nuptial status.

• Psychological Profile: Deeply complex, proud, and emotionally guarded. He is experiencing a profound internal awakening toward Hauwa, evidenced by his rapid heartbeat and his constant pacing to her room. However, his massive male ego prevents him from displaying vulnerability or lying to her with romantic sweet-nothings. He rationalizes his intense protective instinct as a strict religious/moral duty (jihadi), fiercely guarding his parents' domestic boundaries while privately agonizing over Hauwa's emotional boycott.

  Hauwa-Kulu

• Role: The Empowered Rebel / Romantic Traditionalist
• Attire: Transitions from a fresh white nightgown with her intricate cornrows exposed to a devastatingly beautiful, high-end crimson (blood-red) cotton lace bridal outfit adorned with tailored neck embroideries, complete with expert mascara and a flawless headscarf wrap.

• Psychological Profile: Highly intuitive, intensely romantic, and deeply conflicted. While she harbors a secret, poetic fascination with Sarham’s voice, intellect, and physical identity, her pride is deeply wounded by the perception that she was married out of "pity." She demands a relationship of equal romantic footing, weaponizing Jamilu’s passionate courtship against Sarham’s clinical benevolence. Despite her fierce rebellion, she is easily overwhelmed by physical touch and experiences intense shyness under Sarham's masculine presence.

  Mama (Sarham's Mother)

• Role: The Protective Matriarch / Surrogate Mother

• Psychological Profile: Highly authoritative, exceptionally wise, and deeply compassionate. She completely rejects the traditional stereotype of the cruel Hausa mother-in-law (suruka). She displays immense class by hand-selecting a luxurious six-suitcase bridal trousseau (lefe) for Hauwa. She possesses superior tactical foresight, executing the executive decision to keep Hauwa in Kano for university to insulate her from Madinah, while fiercely vowing to act as her surrogate mother and protective shield.

  Sumayyah

• Role: The Domestic Co-Conspirator / Bridge
• Psychological Profile: Exuberant, fiercely supportive, and highly observant. She acts as the ultimate emotional buffer between Sarham and Hauwa. She delights in teasing her brother about his obvious, buried attraction to Hauwa, sets up protective spaces for Hauwa to retain her dignity in the kitchen, and serves as her primary stylist and emotional confidante.