Kulsum Book 3 Complete Sumayya Abdulkadir

Description

She stared at him without even blinking before calling his true name, his birth name, a name he never called him with, not even with a slip of the tongue.
ABUBAKAR!
He could not remember the last time His Majesty called him by his real name. This showed that whatever matter had summoned him was of utmost importance. With his head bowed, he answered,
"Yes, Your Highness?"
His Majesty fixed his gaze on him before stating the core reason for summoning him, something he never expected to hear from his mouth:
"Have you ever fulfilled your wife’s marital right?"
Startled, he raised his head. "Pardon? What? May Allah increase your lifespan? How do you mean?"
Directly, the Emir of Gaya said, "I mean, have you ever had intimate relations with her as commanded by the Lord, and placed that responsibility upon your neck as her husband?"
A sudden sweat broke out on Turaki, for His Majesty’s words weighed heavily upon him. With his head bowed in silence, he said nothing. His Majesty pointed at him with a finger,
"As long as you want us to part on good terms, and you seek my blessing in the journey you are about to undertake, as well as beneficial knowledge in your travels; tonight, make sure you consummate your marriage. So that if you die, she will observe her mourning period, and if she dies, she will die as your fully wedded wife. Life and destiny are not in our hands for us to plan out just as we please. I have told you, and I am telling you again: fulfill your Sunnah tonight upon the command of me and your Lord."
Turaki felt as though he had died while sitting. His entire body went limp. His Majesty had brought upon him a momentous affair, one that dwarfed his mind and spirit. To have his youth stripped away by someone with bedwetting issues? Before he realized it, His Majesty had stood up and headed for the door. He opened his mouth to beg for leniency regarding the command, but his tongue tied itself, unable to utter a word. Right before his eyes, His Majesty walked out. If he had been given the chance to speak, he would have told him that he could not even bear to go near the girl; he found her repulsive, and to him, affection required love. She had never appealed to him, let alone aroused him. He had high standards when it came to women, and not just any woman could share his noble body.
Upon returning to his room, he could not continue packing his bags. He sat on the edge of the bed and cupped his chin in deep despair. If not for the fact that he was his father, and his authority was absolute, who would dare subject him to such trouble? He felt tears fill his eyes out of self-pity, but he forced them back. If he cried out of frustration, that would mean Kulsumu had triumphed over him!
Around ten o'clock at night, Kulsumu prepared for sleep. She took a bath, applied that fragrant lotion (cocoa butter) which was among her bridal wear, sprayed Dove deodorant under her arms, and put on her nightgown. Just as she was leaving her dressing mirror, she heard her bedroom door pushed open without a knock. She was terribly startled, knowing it wasn't Batulu, as no one else visited her room at that hour.
Seeing that it was Turaki, her heart leaped harder than the first time. This was the first time he had ever stepped foot into her room. He was dressed in a milk-colored flowing jallabiyya made of a smooth, thin fabric. Before she could gather any meaningful words, she saw him reach for the light switch and click it; dim green lights replaced the bright ones.
Seeing him walk slowly, as if counting his steps, he reached her side. He took her hands and gently pulled her toward her bed, without saying a word to her. Terrified, she followed him like a camel being led by a rope. His hand reached for the zipper at the back of her dress. She grabbed the dress tightly and held on! She refused to cooperate when she realized what he was trying to do, her heart pounding faster than ever before in her entire life.
He pulled down her dress zipper—for what reason? Could Turaki have taken drugs??? She asked herself.
Don't fight me, it will not be good for all of us.
Helplessly, she watched as he stripped off her nightgown in a manner she couldn't interpret. Like someone doing everything under orders. Like someone being controlled automatically. He hadn't come to her out of desire, but to fulfill his father's command. But feeling the soft-skinned and tender body of a woman completely in his grasp, everything began to change in a startling way. Silently, he picked her up in his arms and placed her in the middle of her bed.
No romance, no kissing, not a shred of affection anywhere in his actions—just a drive to reach the finish line by all means. He was trying his absolute best to satisfy himself, without any regard for the fact that Kulsumu was a virgin and a young girl who didn't even understand the core of what marriage entailed. The ruthlessness he displayed to her—even a woman who had given birth three times would feel it in her bones—let alone Kulsumu, who didn't even know what sex was. She didn't know it was a thing, nor had she ever known what it was. Having done so, he stepped over her, covered her with a blanket, and walked away.
She grabbed a pillow, covered her head with it, and began to sob heavily. She cried as if her soul was leaving her body. She couldn't even move a single toe. Thus it remained until the dawn prayer call. All the love her heart had developed for Turaki in those past few days began to melt, drain away, and turn into pure hatred. She despised him; she despised him to the point where she didn't even want to remember his face.
By six o'clock in the morning, Kulsumu could not even get up, let alone pray. She wondered how she could possibly help herself. By that time, Turaki and their family driver were already nearing Kano, from where they would catch a flight to Lagos, and then head to the United Kingdom.
By seven o'clock, Umma decided that today she would check on Kulsumu since Turaki had traveled; she wanted to see someone near her to comfort her over the loneliness of her husband. Umma had never stepped foot into their quarters due to her usual dignity and reserve; Kulsumu was always the one who went to greet her. Today, the only reason she forced herself to go was because of Turaki's departure. Laraba was not around, having been sent to Kiru yesterday to visit Hadiza. Batulu was still sleeping, so Umma slipped out quietly so as not to wake her. She didn't want anyone to notice her entering Turaki's quarters.
She greeted her, but Kulsumu was unable to answer. Right from the living room, she could hear her muffled sobs. She hurried over, twisted the knob, and entered. Reaching out, she pulled back the blanket, but quickly replaced and covered her again, saying:
"Woe is me, Rakiya! What do I see like this? Is this what Turaki did? Just because they said he should fulfill his marital rights, he used force on you?"
Kulsumu said nothing in return, only continuing to cry with deep, choking gasps. Hastily, Umma went to boil hot water in a kettle, returned to her quarters to fetch a nursing bottle, and came back. She grabbed Kulsumu and lifted her into a sitting position. Kulsumu let out a agonizing scream and hugged Umma tightly. Realizing that Kulsumu couldn't walk and she couldn't carry her alone, Umma went to lock the quarters and returned, bringing the hot water into the middle of the room. Weeping and calling upon her grandmother, Umma steamed her body, adding more hot water and pressing towels against her from the top of her neck down to her feet—exactly how new mothers undergoing postnatal steaming are treated. She went back to her quarters, found paracetamol, and brewed a thick, spiced tea for her to drink. Soon after, an exhausted sleep overtook her as she let out deep sighs. Umma sighed as well, muttering to herself in anger, vowing that Turaki would regret this... he would wish he had never known her.
Umma returned to her quarters and instructed Abu, her maid, to prepare a special chicken pepper soup seasoned with traditional Hausa spices, and also mixed some local kunun kanwa (kanwa gruel). Within thirty minutes, Abu finished and brought the pepper soup to Umma in a small flask and the gruel in a tea flask. When Umma returned to Turaki's quarters, Kulsumu was still asleep. Letting her rest, Umma returned around noon and found her awake, sitting on the edge of the bed, looking entirely sapped of energy and staring blankly.
Umma said, "Kulsumu, you're awake?"
In a barely audible voice, she replied, "I'm awake, Umma. Good morning."
Umma said, "What morning when it's almost two o'clock? Get up and finish this pepper soup while it's still warm, drink all the broth, and follow it with the kanwa gruel."
She did not object because she was plagued by severe hunger. Only when Umma was certain she was full did she tell her to pray and lie down to rest until Asr. She sent Batulu to her sister Harira's house so she wouldn't come and disturb her. Kulsumu managed a faint smile and said nothing. As soon as Umma turned her back, she lay down and opened the floodgates of her thoughts.
So, what happened between her and Turaki yesterday was the very purpose of this marriage? But no one had ever sat her down to explain it to her because of how delicate the subject was! If this was what every woman endured in her marital home, she truly sympathized with women, seeing as marriage held nothing but torment and horrors capable of driving one to the grave. Turaki turned out to be deeply merciless when she recalled how she had begged him, invoking the dignity of his parents to have mercy on her, yet he didn't even listen. It was even a blessing that he had left; if he had stayed, she was certain her corpse would have been carried to her grandmother one day. She raised the back of her hand to wipe away her tears.
For seven days, she had Laraba look after her by preparing the pepper soup, kanwa gruel, and other remedies. Eventually, Laraba figured out what had happened—even though Umma didn't say it out loud—confirmed by the medical worker Umma had secretly summoned to examine her. Only then did Laraba's mind settle.
A week after Turaki's departure, her parents' bridal furniture was arranged in one of the empty rooms. Her parents had tried their best, purchasing fine furniture according to their means. The room was already laid out with traditional mats, and curtains matching the other rooms were hung. When they sent word that they were bringing the traditional gara gifts, His Majesty stated that they should not bother; he did not engage in such ostentatious displays.
Kulsumu's life among her in-laws was a wonder to behold; she blossomed beautifully over three months. When her first menstrual period arrived, she panicked greatly. It wasn't until Laraba sat her down and educated her, explaining that it was a natural process every woman goes through upon reaching maturity, that she calmed down. Everyone in the palace loved Kulsumu for her humility, calmness, and good character; even the palace servants enjoyed her company, and she treated everyone as her own. Even Hajiya Rakiya's co-wives—the other wives of the Emir—praise Kulsumu. She would occasionally visit to greet them. Most of their children were grown and lived in their own homes, rarely visiting unless there was a major event.
At night, she would visit Batulu's grandmother (Fulani) for evening chats, laughing as she listened to stories of Turaki's childhood. Fulani told her that when he was young, he was terrified of horses, yet his father insisted on placing him right in front of him on a horse to go to the riding grounds. He would scream and cry the whole way, yet they went anyway as if forced. Kulsumu loved visiting her because it was the only place she could hear stories about him. Goggo (her maternal grandmother) visited twice and was overjoyed to see Kulsumu's overall well-being, which set her mind at ease, confident that even after her passing, Hajiya Rakiya would look after Kulsumu.
Word came of the death of Hajiya Rakiya’s uncle over in Gombe, so His Majesty granted her permission to go pay her condolences, and she announced that Kulsumu and Batulu would accompany her. The joy of Kulsumu and Batulu knew no bounds—almost as if they were going for a celebration rather than a funeral, especially for Kulsumu, who had never stepped foot outside Yalleman. His Majesty's driver, Malam Sule, would drive them all the way. It was to be a brief three-day trip. Umma carefully packed coolers with food and drinks so they wouldn't suffer on the journey, though the distance between Gombe and Gaya wasn't terribly long.
On Saturday morning, they hit the road, entering Gombe by noon. At Hajiya Rakiya’s family house in Jeka da Fari, a special reception awaited them. It was a large compound with different sections; her parents had passed away, leaving behind her older brothers and their wives. Her father had held the royal title of Dallatun Gombe, and there was also the late uncle who left behind two elderly wives.
They lodged in the room of the senior wife, Ramatu, whose personality clicked best with Hajiya Rakiya. Kulsumu attended to Umma’s every need with utmost care, as if she were her biological mother. Umma’s clothes, shoes, handbag—everything was handled by Kulsumu. Even the money Umma brought to distribute to her relatives was kept with Kulsumu, who would be instructed: "Kulsumu, count out this much money."
There was no part of Hajiya Rakiya’s family where Goggo Ramatu didn't take Kulsumu, proudly presenting her as "Turaki's wife." This brought immense joy to Kulsumu whenever she heard herself introduced and called that way. Despite the wrong Turaki had done her that shattered her romantic feelings, a corner of her heart still held a fondness for him.
Wrongs are one thing; natural affection planted by God is another.
The interaction between her and Umma was delightful. Though Umma wasn't overly expressive due to her Fulani upbringing, she looked after her diligently, making sure she lacked nothing and remained as cheerful as Batulu—especially because deep down, Umma pitied her over the affliction God had placed upon her. She didn't know what the future held... how things would turn out the day Turaki discovered what she had hidden from him.
The day after, Umma bade farewell to her relatives with a heavy heart and they took the road back to Gaya, their car packed with Gombe delicacies. Upon returning home, Kulsumu's share of the gifts was sorted out, and she had Laraba deliver portions to Fulani and everyone she interacted with in the palace. People even came to her quarters to welcome her back and thank her for the gifts. That very day, Fulani herself walked over to their quarters out of appreciation for the fresh fulani milk, butter, and traditional broom Kulsumu had sent her. Kulsumu immediately set about hosting the Emir's senior wife and serving her food and drinks from her kitchen. That night, they held their usual evening chat right there in Kulsumu's quarters.
If you knew Kulsumu back when she lived isolated with her grandparents, living a life of hardship and solitude, and then saw her now—interacting gracefully with people in a royal palace surrounded by her in-laws—it would amaze and delight you. She had opened up her heart because no one oppressed her, showed her contempt, or looked down on her. She would tell herself that they simply didn't know her medical condition, and Laraba guarded her secret faithfully like a trustworthy person.
During an earlier visit to her home in Maradi, Laraba had obtained a traditional herbal remedy for the bedwetting issue, supervising Kulsumu to ensure she took it consistently for three days. There were clear signs of improvement; now she could go a whole week without an incident, and even when it happened, it was minimal compared to before, when it used to flood the carpet.
When the enrollment of students into Senior Secondary School (SS1) began, Hajiya Rakiya reminded His Majesty of the promise they made to Goggo to let Kulsumu continue her education. Thus, both she and Batulu were enrolled in a fine private day-school nearby. Often, when Kulsumu sat alone with nothing to do, her mind drifted to Turaki. Even though she placed him in the category of major offenders and he had done things that dimmed his brightness in her eyes, a secret part of her heart remembered him with emotion. An emotion unlike anything else in her heart. She would ask herself what he was currently up to? What was he achieving? Had he found a beautiful girlfriend by now? These groundless, aimless thoughts proved to her that her heart had reserved a special, unmatched place for him—a place no one else held.
She would overhear Umma and her sister discussing how, since his departure, he had only called three times. Whenever she approached, they would drop the subject.
What she didn't know was that his parents were in deep distress over hearing nothing from him. Ever since his initial phone call announcing his safe arrival, they hadn't been able to reach the number he called from, losing all contact. The first year passed without a word, text, or call from Turaki. The second year went by similarly, and slowly the third year rolled by. Kulsumu was now on the verge of writing her Junior Secondary School certificate examinations.
During this time, she had undergone a dramatic transformation. She had grown into a fully mature young woman of seventeen years old. Womanhood had completely sculpted her. Islamic and Western education had enriched her mind, making her intellectually sharp and capable of understanding reality. She became convinced that Turaki had distanced himself from his parents and stayed away simply because he did not love her. Yet, throughout all these three years, despite trying her utmost to forget him and suppress those sweet, soul-soothing feelings she once felt for him, she had failed. Every time she tried, she failed. It was as if growing older only magnified her emotions toward him—emotions that resembled nothing less than pure, burning LOVE! If only she knew what they meant, they were nothing other than LOVE. The kindness shown to her by his parents and relatives cushioned the pain of his absence. She felt in her heart that she could wait for Turaki from now until eternity, as long as he returned to live with her as his wife the day he came back.
She and Batulu were sitting in Umma's living room at around five in the evening, studying their textbooks. They were quizzing each other on chemistry, testing one another on concepts they didn't quite understand. Suddenly, Umma rushed into the room as if blown in by the wind. Without stopping to acknowledge them, she headed straight for her inner bedroom, looking visibly distressed.
Both girls stopped studying. Batulu followed Umma, but found her bedroom door locked from the inside. As they sat there in stunned silence, Yaya Hadiza arrived and greeted them. They both welcomed her, and she asked:
"Where are the scholars of Umma?"
They replied, "She's inside."
Hadiza walked over and began knocking on Umma's door, bewildered as to why she would lock her door at such an hour in the evening. Kulsumu stood up, intending to run over to her quarters to fetch some delicious meat pies and cake she had baked that morning, along with some freshly made chilled pineapple juice in a jug. She arranged them on a tray, covered them with foil paper, and hurried back to Umma's quarters. Batulu was no longer in the study room, so Kulsumu walked straight toward Umma's bedroom.
The door wasn't fully closed; it had been left slightly ajar because Hadiza had gone in and left it unlocked. Just as she was about to step into the room, she heard Umma's voice saying:
"His Majesty said he will annul Kulsumu and Turaki's marriage if he reaches four years without returning, and we have only six months left to complete those four years. Where will I hide my face out of shame before her parents, Hadiza? We were living peacefully when I went and plucked their daughter away before they even planned to marry her off. Now I should take her back and return her, telling them what? That he doesn't even love her? Or that his own father grew tired of keeping her and dissolved the marriage? Turaki has disgraced us, Hadiza. He has shown the world that no one can control him, humiliating us before those who respect us, casting aside his father's command. I am not laying curses on him, but he will come to regret this when it's too late."
Silently, step by step, she backed away without finishing her errand. Rushing back to her quarters, she dropped the jug and tray onto the center mat, ran into her bedroom, and collapsed face down right in the middle of her bed.
She closed her eyes tightly, feeling a wave of overwhelming distress and anxiety crashing over her. She was ready to wait for Turaki even if it took a hundred years. She would never grow tired of waiting for him—even if it meant aging within the waiting period. Men like him were not the sort who drift in and out of a woman's life with ease.
From that day onward, Kulsumu sank into a deep, agonizing depression. She lost her cheerfulness and stopped studying. Her bedwetting returned intermittently, though she maintained strict cleanliness with Laraba's help. Laraba refused to give up, continuing her quest to fetch medicine whenever she visited her home in Maradi.
Amidst this painful state, both she and Batulu sat for and completed their senior secondary school certificate examinations, entering the waiting period for their results.
During this brief interval, Kulsumu began wasting away for no apparent reason. Though she was never heavily built to begin with, worry and anxiety were eating away at her flesh. Every single day, she counted down the months out of dread for the arrival of that fateful sixth month—the sixth month that...

Story Summary

The narrative revolves around Kulsumu, a young, innocent girl who is married off to Turaki, the son of the Emir of Gaya, through an arranged royal match orchestrated by the Emir and Hajiya Rakiya. Turaki, who feels no physical attraction or affection toward Kulsumu and harbors feelings of revulsion due to his high standards and her hidden medical condition (bedwetting), is coerced by his father on the eve of his international trip to Britain to consummate the marriage. He complies strictly out of obedience, treating Kulsumu callously and forcefully, leaving her traumatized, physically battered, and emotionally devastated. Immediately afterward, Turaki departs the country for years, cutting off communication with his family.
Despite the painful beginning and betrayal, Kulsumu is embraced lovingly by the royal family, especially Umma, Fulani, and her grandmother Goggo, and she forms a deep bond with her maid, Laraba. Over the next three years, Kulsumu matures into an educated, graceful seventeen-year-old woman. Although she initially despised Turaki, her feelings evolve into a deep, unshakeable, and painful romantic attachment—she secretly falls deeply in love with him and resolves to wait for him forever. However, the story reaches a tense climax when Kulsumu overhears a conversation between Umma and Yaya Hadiza, revealing that His Majesty plans to legally annul her marriage to Turaki after four years of abandonment if he fails to return, leaving Kulsumu devastated as she counts down the remaining six months.

Character & Setting Description

Characters

• Kulsumu: The protagonist. A gentle, innocent, and humble young girl from a modest background who is thrust into royalty. Despite facing emotional trauma, physical pain, and a medical condition (bedwetting), she demonstrates remarkable resilience, kindness, and loyalty, eventually falling deeply in love with the husband who abandoned her.
• Turaki: The Emir’s son and Kulsumu’s husband. Arrogant, selective, and initially cold. He marries Kulsumu solely under paternal duress, treats her with extreme cruelty on their wedding night, and promptly abandons the country for years, causing widespread grief for his family.
• Maimartaba (The Emir of Gaya): Turaki’s stern, authoritative father who holds absolute sway over his household and enforces strict traditional and religious duties upon his son.
• Hajiya Rakiya (Umma): A dignified, reserved, yet deeply compassionate senior wife in the palace. Though initially distant due to her royal demeanor, she becomes Kulsumu's primary caregiver, protector, and surrogate mother, feeling profound pity and affection for her.
• Laraba: Kulsumu's loyal maid and confidante who keeps her medical secret safe, aids in her physical recovery, and tirelessly seeks traditional herbal remedies from Maradi for her condition.

• Batulu: Kulsumu’s young companion and friend in the palace who shares her studies and daily life.

  Settings

• The Royal Palace of Gaya: A sprawling, structured traditional northern Nigerian palace featuring distinct quarters for the Emir's wives, sprawling living spaces, quiet courtyards, and bustling domestic staff. It serves as the primary backdrop for Kulsumu's transformation from an isolated girl to a beloved, respected royal resident.

• Gombe (Jeka da Fari): A historic, culturally rich family compound belonging to Hajiya Rakiya’s relatives, characterized by warm traditional hospitality and deep familial roots.

  Narrative Analytics

• Genre: Contemporary Hausa Romance / Royal Drama / Tragedy & Redemption.
• Core Themes:
  • Patriarchal Authority vs. Personal Agency: Explores how royal decrees and parental pressure dictate the lives and marriages of youth without their consent.
  • Trauma and Emotional Resilience: Highlights Kulsumu's journey from victimization and despair to emotional maturity and steadfast endurance.
  • The Paradox of Love: Examines how genuine affection can sprout from toxic or painful beginnings, subverting initial hatred into enduring devotion.
• Literary Devices Used:
  • Dramatic Irony: The reader and characters experience tension through secrets withheld—such as Kulsumu's medical condition, Turaki's prolonged silence, and the impending annulment threat overheard by Kulsumu.
  • Character Juxtaposition: Contrasting Turaki's cold, mechanical cruelty with the overwhelming warmth, care, and communal sisterhood provided by Umma, Laraba, and the palace women.