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English Translation
Scene 1: The Fallout and Lilly's Plea
"Major, what does this behavior resemble? What is the use of such writings she published? Now, if she dies and younger generations continue reading them and going astray, what then? Only God knows how many youths have been corrupted because of what she wrote. By God, I feel like laying a curse on her ('Allah ya isa')."
"No, Major, please exercise patience since she has already expressed remorse. What is done is done, we can only pray for divine protection moving forward."
Mummy kept pacifying him and calming his nerves.
Following the Major's departure, Lilly entered Mummy’s room, her entire demeanor shifted to appear deeply pious and repentant.
Mummy looked at her and asked, "What is it?"
With a subdued posture, she said, "Mummy, I have come to beg you for a favor."
"What kind of favor is that?"
"Mummy, for God's sake, do not let Daddy force me into marrying that soldier; I do not want him. He is way too old for me. Please, I beg of you all to forgive me—I will never repeat my mistakes. And I don't want to be sent back to that town. Please, save my life."
Mummy replied, "No way! You never listen to advice anyway. Whatever decision he makes regarding you is correct, since he is your father."
"Mummy, please, spare me. By God, I don't love him."
Mummy retorted, "If you don't love him, who do you love?"
"Mummy, please ask Daddy to have Sir Nazir released from detention. Once he is released, we can get married, since he is the one—" She trailed off.
"Finish your sentence, queen of shamelessness! So you still haven't truly repented?"
Lilly shook her head, tears streaming down her face, and said, "Mummy, I am truly sorry. I am seeking your forgiveness, but I will never stop blaming myself for being the root cause of everything. Sir Nazir is a good man; it was the delusions of youth and the peak of puberty that led me to set a trap for him. He couldn't bypass my trap, and we fell into this deep pit we now regret. Please, Mummy, let me marry Nazir."
Mummy stared at Lilly and said, "You are out of your mind. Do you think if he marries you, you will hold any respect in his eyes? Everything a man yearns for, you already surrendered to him outside of wedlock, and you even got pregnant and aborted it. Therefore, there is nothing left about you that will impress him. He will never completely trust you. In this life, if you surrender your dignity to a man outside his house, he will trash-talk you—let alone someone like you who scattered everything out there. He will constantly suspect you, and his entire family knows what happened. They won't blame him; they will blame you. So, pull yourself together early. Since God has spared you from this new man knowing your atrocities, and he has spent some time with you, he will take care of you and might not even care. Forget about that boy while there is still time."
Lilly wiped her tears and said, "Alright, Mummy. Thank you."
Mummy said, "Go and find a place to rest."
Lilly replied, "Okay, Mummy. But if Daddy had allowed me to marry Nazeer in the first place, maybe all this wouldn't have happened. Please, forgive me."
Mummy concluded, "Both your father and I made mistakes. May God forgive all of us."
Scene 2: The Hospital Visit
At eight-thirty in the morning, Nana was inside the hospital where Sadik had been admitted. Unable to contain her anxiety, Mother had instructed a driver to bring her ahead of the others. Distraught, Nana rushed into the room designated for Sadik, headed straight for his bed, and stared at him. In just one day, he had emaciated significantly, and an IV drip was slowly running into his arm.
She pulled up a chair, sat down, stared intently at him, and slowly leaned her head against his chest, beginning to cry.
She felt him raise his hand to clasp hers. He didn't speak, but tears rolled down the sides of his eyes. She raised her head slightly, looked at him, and whispered, "How are you?"
He didn't answer, only squeezing her hand tighter within his.
The doctor walked in, accompanied by Khairat and Jidda. The doctor walked up to the bed and scolded him: "What is the meaning of this? Putting a young girl on the spot while you cry like a small child, just to distress her further?"
Jidda chimed in, "Baby, please leave them alone. Can't you see he hasn't made any substantial movement since yesterday? This is a sign that he is starting to recover."
The doctor retorted, "Even so, he is just upsetting her."
Nana couldn't bring herself to pull away from Sadik, and he likewise refused to let go of her hand. "May God grant you health. As long as it brings you peace of mind, go ahead and marry her!"
Usman stepped in, saying, "Get up, Nana, let me take you home. He is not going to marry anyone."
Nana shook her head, pleading, "Please, Yaya Usman, let him do it so he doesn't lose his life."
Usman stepped forward, forcibly peeled Nana away from Sadik's body, and said, "Let's go. Do you want him to give you high blood pressure too? You people come here crying—you still don't realize you're adults and parents, yet you're weeping like babies."
Weeping bitterly, Nana was escorted out by the doctor to go back home.
Scene 3: Farhan and Abbas's Conversation
"Farhan, this Saturday, insha Allah, I expect to hear feedback from my father's older brothers. They will bring the bride price for our marriage. But please, I want to ask you a question, and answer me truthfully before God."
Farhan replied, "Go ahead, Doctor. May God grant me the knowledge to answer correctly."
Abbas adjusted his seating position and asked, "Do you still love him?"
"Who?"
"Sadik."
Farhan's heart skipped a terrifying beat. She took a deep sigh and asked, "Why do you ask?"
"Because I love you sincerely, for the sake of God. I don't want to hurt you or force you into anything. If you still love Sadik, I am here to understand you. I only want your happiness, Farhan."
Farhan's heart hammered intensely, but she mustered up courage and said, "Doctor, if you see that I am returning to Sadik, will you let me go? How many wives can he handle anyway? How can he manage two women?"
"Farhan, one of our current major problems is forbidding for ourselves what religion has permitted. So, stop looking at it from that angle."
Farhan stated, "Doctor, I do not need Sadik in my life anymore. The time has come for me to face my own future. Please stop bringing up his topic. Our past love was merely a delusion of youth, so let's put that matter to rest."
Abbas looked at her with a cryptic smile whose meaning only he understood.
Farhan asked, "Why are you smiling like that?"
He answered, "Nothing at all."
Scene 4: Nana's Plea to Her Parents
Ever since the doctor brought Nana back home, she could neither find peace, sit still, nor stand comfortably. She was overwhelmed with anxiety and distress, unable even to eat, spending the entire day feeling miserable.
It was past ten at night when she heard the car engine—a sign that Abba and Mother had returned from the hospital.
She waited a bit until around half-past ten, nearly eleven, before stepping into the inner house.
Abba greeted her, "Daughter, haven't you gone to sleep yet?"
Nana replied, "No, Abba. How is Sahal's father doing?"
Mother joked, "Every time you call him 'Sahal's father,' you make me laugh shamelessly."
They all laughed, except for Nana, whose face mirrored deep distress.
Abba said, "His health has improved tremendously. I believe he will be discharged tomorrow, God willing. He woke up and asked us to send his greetings to you all."
"So Abba, is he talking now?"
"Extensively! We had a long conversation with him."
With a subdued demeanor, Nana dropped to her knees and pleaded: "Abba, Mother, on behalf of Sadik—for God's and the Prophet's sake, I am begging you for a favor, not for our sake, but please grant him permission to go ahead with this marriage, if that is what will give him peace of mind."
They stared at Nana in stunned silence. Mother exclaimed, "Are you out of your mind? You people want to encourage nonsense! How can Sadik possibly manage two wives?"
Nana responded, "Since he was able to manage me, he can manage both of us, insha Allah. I do not want Sahal to become an orphan—though life is in God's hands. The Hakimi already counseled me, and I have accepted my destiny. I will continue living here and raising my son, but please, let him marry the woman he wants, since he insists it is her he truly loves and wanted first."
Abba said, "Nana, get up and go sleep. It's late."
"Abba, if you wish to attain the intercession of the Prophet of Mercy, please let him do it. Seek her hand in marriage for him. Mother, please intervene, let him do it, if it will restore his peace of mind."
Abba replied, "Alright, go to sleep. We will discuss it."
"Abba, please make this decision now! I don't want Sahal to lose his father over something that can be resolved. Look at how young he is, yet he's already suffering from high blood pressure—hypertension usually affects older people who can barely recognize others. If his blood pressure can spike and cause him to faint just because of heartbreak, then his condition needs urgent consideration. My own situation is easy; I have accepted destiny. Giving birth to Sahal is the reason I married him in the first place. But please, let him marry the woman he loves."
A profound wave of pity for Nana washed over Mother. With a soft voice, Mother said, "Nana, enough. Go and get some sleep."
Nana asked, "So when are they going to go ask for her hand? I don't want him to die," and she broke down crying uncontrollably, as though she might pass out.
Abba consoled her, "I have already agreed. Go, and may God bless you. You have proven yourself to be a dutiful child, Nana. Once he regains his health, we will see what needs to be done."
Nana asked, "So you agree to let them marry him?"
Abba replied, "It will be done. Get up and stop crying like this."
Nana said, "Thank you so much, Abba. May God reward you with goodness, grant you a peaceful end, and fulfill your desires."
Abba prayed, "Ameen. May God bless you." Nana stood up, carrying Sahal on her back, and left the parlor.
Mother remarked, "Goodness gracious, love is a disaster! Why else would this girl care so much as to secure Sadik's heart's desire? Who actually wants her husband to take a second wife? I feel like crying for her. Jealousy is right there inside her, yet she is the one seeking a way out for him. Sadik hasn't been fair to himself."
Abba remained silent, as he too was filled with pity for Nana.
Despite the self-sacrificing campaign Nana waged, she spent the night weeping out of self-pity and the piercing jealousy of Sadik that tormented her soul.
Farhan had felt out of sorts for the past two days because she no longer saw glimpses of Sadik. Furthermore, whenever she recalled that Abbas was scheduled to bring her bride price, her heart would pound frantically.
Scene 5: Sadik's Discharge and Confronations
After spending four days in the hospital, Sadik was finally discharged. Aside from high blood pressure, he had also contracted ulcers and typhoid. The doctor laid down strict rules for him before letting him leave.
People streamed in to visit Sadik. During all those days, Nana was only allowed to visit him twice because she would burst into tears the moment she saw him. Today, right after his return, she stepped in, greeted him briefly, and retreated to a corner. Sadik kept trailing her with his eyes, wanting to speak to her, but holding back due to his exhaustion.
Nana felt immense pity for Sadik catching such illnesses at a young age, but deep down, a sense of resentment flared up whenever she remembered that he would marry someone else and share him with another woman. Intense jealousy gripped her.
When night fell, she went to her quarters in the Boys' Quarters (BQ) and left him in his main house bedroom. He wanted her to stay close, but she refused to engage with him. She even barred Sahal from visiting him, despite the toddler crying to go to his father—distracting the child by claiming Sadik was unwell.
Surprisingly, just as Abba and the rest had gone to bed, a phone call came in from the village. Abba's anxiety spiked intensely. His hands trembled as he picked up the call, while Mother watched him intently, waiting to learn the reason for the call.
Abba heard the Hakimi's voice greeting him, and he let out a sigh, saying, "Alhaji, is this you personally?"
The Hakimi replied, "Yes, it is me, servant of God. I am calling about our previous discussion. Has the boy's marriage proposal been made yet?"
Abba said, "Alhaji, Sadik has been unwell. We just returned from the hospital today."
The Hakimi exclaimed, "Subhanallah! And you didn't mention it? How is his health?"
"He has improved significantly, and he has even been discharged."
"Well, may God grant him total health. Please, Abdullahi, I do not want to die without fulfilling my promise to this boy. He has treated me honorably and taken good care of the one I cherish most, without any insults or maltreatment. I am also begging you: please let him marry the person he loves. Do not let me be a useless old man, and do not look at his young age—religion does not forbid it, and God has blessed you with the wealth to support him in maintaining them."
Abba responded, "Alright then, Alhaji. It will be done just as you said, insha Allah."
Alhaji expressed satisfaction and said, "Wonderful. Wish him well for me, and greet Nana and my friend. Tell them I love them dearly. And remind Sadik: the apple of my eye is a sacred trust—take good care of that orphan of God."
"Yes, Your Highness, I will relay the message to them, insha Allah."
They ended the call, and Abba sat in silence, pondering the situation.
Scene 6: The Encounter Outside Farhan's House
Sadik had recovered fully, though his body lacked its usual strength. His mind was heavily focused on Nana and how he could manage to go see Farhan.
Today, he found Nana in their bedroom and sat close to her. She gave him one quick glance and went right back to typing on her phone.
He snatched the phone from her hands, stared at her briefly, and asked, "Are you still angry with me, Nana?"
"Why on earth would I be angry with you?"
"Look at you—ever since I returned, nothing has changed. I am completely off your radar."
Nana replied, "No, why should I keep intruding? I have resigned myself to fate. From now on, I will just focus on living for my child."
"Nana, what can I say to you that will make you believe in me?"
"Please spare me! You are still not fully recovered; don't go fainting again. If it's because of me, just go ahead and get married so you stop collapsing from heartbreak."
He remained silent, gazing at her as she struggled to hold back tears threatening to spill. Her jealousy was glaringly obvious and impossible to hide.
"Am I a criminal to you? I will never stop apologizing, Nana, because I love you and I will never mistreat you."
"For God's sake, stop saying that word! You are burning my heart. Stop deceiving me that you love me; I don't want to hear it anymore!" she finished, letting the tears she had held back finally stream down.
With a heavy heart, Sadik stood up, left her room, grabbed his car keys, and drove out of the house.
He pulled up in front of Farhan's house, looking around nervously, searching for someone he could send to call her out.
Just then, he spotted her trying to enter the house holding a nylon bag. "Hey there, young lady, where are you coming from?" he asked in a soft voice.
Farhan's heart skipped a beat. Seeing how dark and emaciated Sadik looked made it glaringly obvious that he had been sick.
She glared at him, intending to walk past, but deep down, she felt a childish impulse to ask what had happened to him.
His eyes locked onto the nylon bag in her hand. As she tried to bypass him, he snatched the bag from her grasp, opened it, and found cough medicine and some other pills inside. A wave of dizziness hit Sadik as he demanded, "Farhan, what kind of problem do you have now that you have to take things like this?"
"Did I send you? Give me back my bag so I can leave!"
"I will not give it back. By God, stay out of my business!"
"I will not stay out of it! Watch yourself, Farhan. Don't think that because I'm being gentle with you—Farhan, what is the pleasure in these kinds of substance abuses?"
As Farhan looked up, she saw Abbas's car driving in, while from the opposite direction, Abba was approaching the house.
Farhan froze in her tracks, her chest pounding furiously.
"Hey, Farhan! Didn't I forbid you from standing around with this boy?" Abba barked before even reaching them.
Farhan couldn't utter a word. Abba strode up and let loose a furious tirade, shouting at the top of his lungs. Neither Sadik nor Farhan could muster any movement. Abbas, meanwhile, stayed seated in his car, refusing to step out.
Abba ranted on: "Aside from foolishness, what business do you have with this boy? Where is your common sense? Get inside before I deal with you severely! And you—this is my final warning to you: do not let me catch you near my gate again! Even if she never finds another husband, I will never let her marry a worthless fellow like you. So leave my girl alone so she can marry and I can collect her bride price. I am done with nonsense and the delusions of youth!"
Huzaifa, standing in the porch of Farhan's house and hearing everything, shook his head internally and thought, "So this is Sadik? If that's the case, Abba is about to make another mistake because Farhan still loves Sadik."
Without even noticing Huzaifa, Farhan stomped into the house, furious though she didn't even know the cause of her anger.
Once Abba finished his rant, Sadik turned around, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over him as he headed toward his car. Unable to open the door, he leaned against the vehicle and clutched his head. He felt someone tap his shoulder and ask, "Brother, are you alright?"
Sadik looked up and saw Huzaifa. "It's nothing."
"I saw you clutching your head."
"No, I'm just unwell. My head hurts, but my medications are in the car; I'll take them, insha Allah. Thank you very much."
Huzaifa offered, "If you can't drive, wait until you feel better."
"No, I can manage. Thank you so much."
Huzaifa walked back into Farhan's house, but to his surprise, he found Abba still ranting in the courtyard. When he peered into Farhan's room, he saw her curled up in a corner, crying.
Huzaifa thought to himself, "There is real trouble here. I don't understand why our elders make decisions with their emotions rather than their brains."
Abbas witnessed the entire incident. Slowly, he reversed his car, pulled up right behind Sadik's vehicle, and intentionally rammed into it—having noticed that this boy was still blinded by the delusions of youth.
Scene 7: The Tragedy at the Village
Abba confronted Sadik right at the parlor entrance: "Where are you coming from?"
Sadik replied, "I went out for some fresh air."
Abba shook his head and said, "Before you drop dead on us out of heartbreak, go tell the girl that we will come to ask for her hand in marriage."
A smile flashed across Sadik's face, but it instantly vanished as he remembered the harsh words of Farhan's father—and then he spotted Nana standing just behind Abba, waiting to walk past once they finished talking. Evidently, Abba didn't realize she was standing right there. Abba's statement pierced straight through Nana's heart; her eyes turned red, and she quickly turned away and hurried off before Abba could see her.
"I am talking to you, but you just stand there staring at me!"
Sadik murmured, "Alright, Abba. Thank you very much, and may God elevate you."
Abba didn't say another word and walked away.
However, Sadik lost all courage to approach Nana. It was truly a case of "having food before you, yet being forced to sleep hungry" (ga ƙoshi ga kwanan yunwa).
Nana spent both day and night in absolute misery because her heart burned with a fierce pain. She couldn't find a moment of peace, spending the entire night sleepless, offering midnight prayers (nafilfili) and supplicating to God to rid her of her love for Sadik and the consuming jealousy torturing her.
Early the next morning, Mother knocked on Nana's door—she had slept inside the main house that night—and told her to get ready for a trip to the village.
Nana was deeply surprised and asked Mother why, but Mother only replied that the Hakimi wanted to see them.
To her astonishment, the car trip included Mother, Nana, Jidda, and Khairat's Mummy, all packed into one vehicle. Abba and the others had apparently left since dawn.
Nana sat in silent brooding, completely unaware of what awaited her. Even Sahal's fussing could not be managed by her; Khairat's Mummy had to take the baby. They rode in heavy, unbroken silence.
Nana felt completely numb, losing her sense of perception temporarily until she found herself walking inside the Hakimi's private quarters, guided by Mother. Upon arrival, she was met with a devastating sight: a corpse laid out, surrounded by Inna, Abba, Sadik, and Faruk, their eyes red with grief.
Trembling, she stepped forward without anyone stopping her, pulled back the burial shroud covering the Hakimi, and caught sight of his handsome, majestic, and dignified face—as if she wanted to say, "Wake up, my handsome grandfather," just like she used to do when she wanted to tease him.
(Note: The text notes this is a paid book; contacts provided for purchasing for 300 Naira).
Scene 8: The Mourning
Nana's body trembled violently as if she was losing her mind. She collapsed to the floor, her eyes bloodshot.
Screaming at the top of her lungs, Nana cried out, "Inna, for God's sake, wake me up from this dream! Tell me I am dreaming and that Alhaji hasn't died! Please wake me up, for God's sake!"
Usman pleaded, "Nana, please exercise patience and lower your voice. Everyone with life must taste death. Be patient and pray for him."
"I will not! Let me be! Please, Inna, wake Alhaji up! Tell him to wake up and not leave me behind!"
Inna, weeping tears of her own, pulled Nana into her arms, gently patting her back to comfort her.
Indeed, nobody felt the sting of the Hakimi's passing quite like Nana. Ever since Nana's parents passed away, Inna and the Hakimi had poured all the love in the world onto her.
Inna alone stood firm on Nana's upbringing, because left on her own, she might have grown up spoiled. The Hakimi never pressured Nana; whatever she wanted, he provided. Since all his other children had passed away leaving only Abba, Nana was their only surviving grandchild present. Nana barely knew her maternal relatives because she never visited them—at most, they would visit her, as the Hakimi loathed the idea of her staying far from him.
Even when it came to courtly gatherings (zaman fada), Inna had barely managed to stop the Hakimi from bringing Nana along as she grew older. There was an intense, unbreakable bond of deep love between Nana and the Hakimi—a truly profound connection.
One of the Hakimi's bodyguards announced at the doorway of the quarters, "Bring him out! People have completed their ablutions; the funeral stretcher is being brought in to take him away."
(Innalillahi wa Innalillahi raji'un. Oh Lord of the worlds, make the day we return to You a day of joy for us. O God, do not let us die astray; let us die upon Your path and the path of Your Messenger.)
Abba stood up with a shaking body, tears streaming down his face, while Faruk wept bitterly as they stood to lift the Hakimi's body. But Nana lost her mind entirely. She scrambled up, her body shaking violently, and clung to the Hakimi's corpse, shaking her head and crying, "Inna, if you let them take him away, I will never see him again! Inna, my grandfather in this world, who will ever replace him? Please don't let them take him away!"
She was utterly hysterical and out of her mind, muttering incoherently. Despite his weak body, Sadik stood up, pulled Nana away from the Hakimi's body. She fought back, trying to push Sadik away, but he held her tightly against him as she reached out, weeping uncontrollably, and carried her outside.
The compound was packed with people. Sadik took her into a separate room, sitting with her while she thrashed and tried to break free.
Sadik pulled her tightly into his embrace, whispering, "Innalillahi wa Innalillahi raji'un" repeatedly into her ear.
Slowly, she closed her eyes, letting out a deep, heavy sigh, as...
Summary
The story revolves around the emotional turmoil, family pressures, and complex love triangles involving Nana, Sadik, Farhan, Lilly, and their families.
- Lilly's Regret: Lilly attempts to escape an arranged marriage to an older soldier by begging her family to forgive her past mistakes and let her marry Sir Nazir instead. Mummy shuts her down, pointing out that her past indiscretions have ruined her reputation and that Nazir will never truly trust or respect her.
- Sadik's Illness and Nana's Selflessness: Sadik falls critically ill with high blood pressure, ulcers, and typhoid due to heartbreak and stress over his fractured relationships. Deeply in love yet consumed by jealousy, Nana selflessly begs her parents and the village elders to let Sadik marry Farhan so he can find peace of mind, even though the thought of sharing him causes her immense agony.
- Farhan's Predicament: Farhan tries to move on with Abbas, who plans to pay her bride price soon. However, she struggles with lingering feelings for Sadik, leading to hostile run-ins orchestrated by her father and an aggressive interference by Abbas.
- Tragedy Strikes: Just as arrangements are finally settling and Sadik is recovering, devastating news arrives from the village. The Hakimi passes away, shattering Nana, who shared an intensely close bond with her grandfather. In her grief and hysteria, Sadik steps up to comfort and hold her through her darkest moment.
Description
This dramatic contemporary Hausa fiction excerpt delves deep into themes of heartbreak, societal expectations, familial duty, polyamorous relationship dynamics, and profound grief. Set against the backdrop of traditional northern Nigerian family structures, the narrative highlights the emotional sacrifices made by women like Nana, the consequences of youthful indiscretions (as seen with Lilly and Farhan), and the healing power of shared grief and compassion in times of unimaginable loss.
Analytics
- Primary Themes: Grief and Loss, Selfless Love vs. Jealousy, Parental Authority vs. Youthful Agency, Regret and Redemption.
- Character Arcs:
- Nana: Transitions from deep personal anguish and debilitating jealousy to profound selflessness, ultimately facing the ultimate heartbreak with the loss of her beloved grandfather.
- Sadik: Moves from being overwhelmed by physical illness and emotional confusion to finding anchoring support through the crises.
- Lilly: Shifts from defiance to desperate, humbling remorse regarding her past mistakes.
- Tone: Emotional, tense, dramatic, and melancholic.
