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RAINON SOJA BOOK COMPELET BY MAMAN TEDDY
Fadeelah got up, put on her hijab, and headed toward her father’s room.
Fadeelah sat down without greeting him.
Jamilu looked at her and said, "Welcome, malama Fadeelah. I hope you are doing well? I tried calling your phone, but you weren't picking up. I got so worried that I decided to come check on you myself, and besides, I wanted to see your beautiful face."
"I wasn't close to my phone," Fadeelah replied briefly, then added: "Jamilu, I want to bare my heart to you. You don't have to agree with what I am about to say, but whatever happens, I want you to know I haven't deceived you, and I won't carry the burden of playing with your feelings. The absolute truth is: my heart has completely failed to accept yours. I tried my best to force it, but it was in vain. To put it simply, I even hurt my own heart trying to endure and rebel against its refusal to accept you, but it still refused. For the sake of the Almighty, please forgive me, give up on a heart that cannot accept you, and retract what is between us. Because even if you marry me, you would only be marrying an empty shell of a body."
Jamilu went silent. Sweat was breaking out all over him. In the end, without saying a word, he got up and left.
It has been a full week since Fadeelah told Jamilu to drop the idea of marrying her, but she still hasn't heard anything that sounds like a retraction. However, ever since that day, Jamilu hasn't called her phone again.
There was one other thing she noticed: for the past three days, her father hasn't been responding to her greetings. Today, she decided to approach her mother to find out if she had somehow offended her father without knowing.
In the evening, after her mother finished the Maghrib prayer and was sitting on the prayer mat, Fadeelah came and sat beside her. She hesitated for a moment, looking like she didn't know where to start, then said: "Mama, for the past two days when I greet Baba, he doesn't answer me. Please, did I do something wrong to him without realizing it?"
Fadeelah’s mother raised her head to look at Fadeelah, then shook her head and said: "Well, Fadeelah, even if you did something to him, I wouldn't know because he hasn't told me. When he comes back, go and ask him yourself to find out."
Fadeelah looked pleadingly at her mother and said: "Mama, please talk to him yourself. You know I can't bring myself to ask him."
"Well, then you'll just have to let it go, because I can't talk to him about it either."
With that, Fadeelah gave up and got up.
Life went on, until there was only one week left until the wedding date her father had set for Fadeelah.
Fadeelah’s main worry right now was still the fact that her father refused to answer her greetings. As for Jamilu, he still hadn't called her since that conversation.
When there were only three days left before the wedding and Fadeelah still saw no wedding preparations whatsoever, it confirmed to her what she had long suspected: there was no wedding happening.
Today was supposed to be the day of Fadeelah’s wedding as fixed by her father, but everything remained quiet.
Fadeelah was quite happy about this, but a part of her heart was filled with anxiety regarding her father.
That night, while Fadeelah was lying down, her father sent for her.
When Fadeelah went, she stood crouching down for a long time without him saying anything. It looked like he wouldn't speak, but after a while, he said:
"Fadeelah, you have turned me into a laughingstock—a worthless man whose words carry no weight. People have always looked at me as someone who doesn't know what he's doing, keeping a grown daughter at home without marriage. When people said she lacked a suitor, behold, a suitor came, and you chased him away. Now tell me, what is your intention?"
Fadeelah kept quiet, giving no answer.
Her father continued: "Fadeelah, I thank God I have fulfilled my duty toward you. I gave you both Islamic and Western education. I brought you no fewer than three marriage suitors, and you rejected all of them, showing me that you are too 'sophisticated' for marriage to be your priority. Therefore, let your mother here be a witness."
Fadeelah’s father paused to look at her mother, then continued: "We have three months left, right?"
Fadeelah’s mother nodded to indicate yes.
He said: "Before the end of this year, if Fadeelah does not bring someone she feels she can marry, by the One God, I am done living with her in this house! She can figure out where else to live, but she is done staying in my house once this deadline expires."
Fadeelah remained silent with her head bowed down.
Her father looked at her and said: "If we reach December without you bringing a match for yourself whom you wish to marry, do not dare let me find you in my house. It won't be my house anymore—by God, you better go find somewhere else to live!"
Fadeelah's father repeated sternly that she must not let the year end without making a move, and then told her to get up and leave him.
ADAMAWA STATE
When Alhaji Bala got home, he informed his wife, Hajiya Halima, about the arrangement he made to give Maryam's hand in marriage to Muhammad.
Hajiya Halima was extremely pleased with the news, because marrying into Alhaji Sagir Mai Shadda’s family was a matter of immense pride.
As for Maryam, when her mother brought up the topic, she agreed immediately without any hesitation.
When Muhammad’s father informed Hajiya Baturiya, she was also very happy, believing that perhaps this would finally help calm Muhammad’s troubled mind.
At night, Alhaji Sagir broached the subject with Muhammad. But even after he finished speaking, Muhammad didn't say a word.
Hajiya Baturiya chimed in: "Muhammad, didn't you hear what your daddy said? They have decided to pair you up with Maryam, the daughter of Alhaji Bala, in the hope that it will help bring peace to your mind."
Muhammad, who had run out of words and didn't want to disrespect his father, said: "Okay, Mommy."
Hajiya Baturiya opened her mouth to speak again, but Alhaji Sagir raised his hand to signal her to be quiet.
They set the wedding for ten days later. Consequently, the bride’s side went ahead with wedding preparations, while Alhaji Sagir’s side made virtually no preparations. As for the trousseau (lefe), Alhaji Sagir simply handed them money and told them to handle everything themselves.
As for Muhammad, he had completely pushed the thought of any upcoming marriage out of his mind.
On the day of the wedding, there was no grand celebration held—though Maryam’s family prepared heavily for it.
On Friday morning, the marriage between Maryam and Muhammad was solemnized without any elaborate public gathering.
When the news of the wedding reached Muhammad, it thoroughly shattered his peace of mind, to the point where Alhaji Sagir had to be called and informed of Muhammad's state.
Alhaji Sagir was deeply distressed seeing how broken Muhammad was with crying. There was no form of comfort or soothing he didn't try, but Muhammad acted as if he couldn't even hear him.
Seeing Muhammad crying—shedding more tears than he did even on the day Hafsat died—Alhaji Sagir asked with intense anxiety and pain: "Muhammad, do you not want this marriage?"
Muhammad, weeping, shook his head at his father and said: "Daddy, I don't want this marriage, please. Hafsat and I made a vow that I would never marry anyone else except her..." Muhammad finished his sentence in pure, uncontrollable crying, looking completely out of his mind with grief.
Muhammad's father said with deep sorrow: "Muhammad, please be patient. Hafsat has gone to where all of us will eventually go, so marrying someone else is not a sin."
Alhaji Sagir and Hajiya Baturiya spent a long time advising and consoling Muhammad until they finally managed to quiet him down.
Alhaji Sagir gave Muhammad one of his houses to live in, stating that Maryam would not be taken to the same house where Hafsat had lived; a brand-new house would be prepared for her instead.
Usman, Muhammad's friend, took charge of everything regarding picking up the bride and dropping her off at her new home.
After dropping Maryam off and returning, Usman and Muhammad's other friends tried every possible way to get Muhammad to dress up and go to his bride's house, but he refused. In the end, they had to report back to Alhaji Sagir.
Alhaji Sagir tried everything to get Muhammad to get up and let his friends accompany him, but he refused. When they pressed him further, he burst into tears again, leaving them with no choice but to back off.
Usman and another of Muhammad's friends returned to the bride's house. By the time they got there, all the bridesmaids and friends had dispersed, leaving her all alone.
Maryam thought the groom had finally arrived, but instead, she heard Usman saying: "Amarya, please bear with us. You will have to spend the night alone; Muhammad is not feeling well, but God willing, you'll see him by tomorrow. However, if you are scared, I can take you back to your parents' house to sleep."
Maryam smiled and asked: "How is he feeling?"
"Alhamdulillah, he's getting better."
"It's fine, don't worry about it. I can stay here alone, there's no problem at all."
Alhaji Sagir went to sleep filled with anxiety. Despite placing heavy security guards around the house, he felt a haunting sense that the exact same thing that happened to Hafsat could happen to Maryam.
In the middle of the night, Alhaji Sagir woke up with a start from a terrible nightmare.
Hearing Alhaji Sagir coughing, Hajiya Baturiya woke up and asked him: "Alhaji, are you alright? You look terrified."
Alhaji Sagir took a deep breath, and speaking as if he were about to cry, said: "Maryam has been killed, just like Hafsat..."
Hajiya Baturiya cut him off, saying: "Oh please, Alhaji, a dream is not reality. I know you had a nightmare; you went to sleep with these thoughts on your mind, which is why it manifested in your dream. God willing, nothing will happen to Maryam."
Alhaji Sagir remained silent, desperately wishing for dawn to break so he could go check on the innocent girl.
Alhaji Sagir sat awake until the Adhan for the Fajr prayer was called. As soon as it was called, he got up, grabbed his car keys, and headed for the door.
Hajiya Baturiya said with concern: "Alhaji, God willing, nothing has happened to Maryam. Please be patient, let's pray first, and then I will accompany you."
With great difficulty, Hajiya Baturiya persuaded Alhaji Sagir to wait and pray. As soon as they finished praying, they left for Dan Maliki Road, where Maryam had been taken.
Upon arrival, the gate guards opened up for them, and Alhaji Sagir drove in filled with dread over what his eyes might discover.
They knocked on the door repeatedly, but there was dead silence. This severely panicked both Alhaji Sagir and Hajiya Baturiya.
Hajiya Baturiya burst into tears, crying out: "We are ruined, Alhaji! I pray your dream didn't come true!"
Alhaji Sagir wanted to call Maryam's father to ask for her number and call her directly, but he worried it would cause even more panic.
Alhaji Sagir continued pounding on the door, until, like a voice from nowhere, someone asked: "Who is that?"
Alhaji Sagir felt a wave of relief wash over him upon hearing Maryam's voice. He answered: "My daughter, it's your daddy, open up!"
Maryam opened the door, looking bewildered as to why Alhaji Sagir and Hajiya Baturiya would show up at her house so early in the morning.
Alhaji Sagir and Hajiya Baturiya stared at Maryam in absolute disbelief.
Maryam, who had been woken up by the knocking on the apartment door, said gently: "Daddy, I hope everything is alright for you to be here at dawn? Is it about Muhammad?" She assumed perhaps Muhammad's health had taken a turn.
Alhaji Sagir let out a very clear, heavy sigh of relief and said: "Maryam, I swear I had a terrible nightmare and couldn't find any peace of mind, which is why we came here at this hour to check on your well-being."
Maryam broke into a happy smile, touched by how deeply her in-laws cared for her. She said: "Ayyah, it's nothing, Daddy. God willing, nothing bad will happen to me. That other incident was just a written destiny."
Alhaji Sagir nodded and said: "That's true, Maryam. Well then, let us be on our way."
Hajiya Baturiya pleaded pleadingly: "Alhaji, even though Maryam isn't alone in this compound, my mind won't be at ease unless we take her back with us. When Muhammad is better, they can both return together."
Alhaji Sagir agreed wholeheartedly: "You're right. Maryam, grab your scarf and let's go. You can return later with Muhammad."
And just like that, Alhaji Sagir and Hajiya Baturiya bundled Maryam up and took her away with them.
KADUNA: GARIN GWAMNA
Today, the traders of the Kaduna medicinal market woke up in utter devastation due to the demolition of their market stalls—an event that included the destruction of Fadeelah's father's vegetable stall.
Life began to change drastically for Fadeelah's family. Previously, daily survival depended entirely on going out to the market to earn enough for immediate food (cefane).
Now, hardship had intensified for them. They woke up with absolutely nothing to eat. The market they relied on daily for livelihood had been completely torn down.
Fadeelah's father lay down, pondering what they would possibly eat. He looked at Fadeelah's mother and said: "Mama Fadeelah, what if we measure out some of the rice and sell it to get money for food?"
Fadeelah's mother fell silent for a moment, then said: "Well, you know the rice is almost gone; there are only three mudu left. If we sell one mudu, that leaves us with only two."
"Then what else can we do? Should we just sit here and starve?"
Reluctantly, Fadeelah's mother had a boy go sell just one mudu of their remaining rice. When the boy returned, they used the money to buy cooking ingredients.
Life went on like this until everything they had was completely exhausted, and every trick ran out.
From morning until night, they had eaten nothing.
Fadeelah's mother spoke softly to Fadeelah's father: "Baban Fadeelah, I wanted to suggest—since you see how the livelihood we depended on has been destroyed—why don't you reconsider and let Fadeelah return to her job, at least so we can have a way to put food on the table?"
Fadeelah's father remained silent, looking as though he wouldn't answer, before finally saying: "Alright, I will think about it."
