Zaki Book 1 Complete Aisha Maman Teddy

Description

ZAKI BOOK 1 COMPELET BY NAMAN TEDDY 

Part 1

"Nazifin, did you come because she is watching?"
She said, "No, he is not around, he just came back and found it empty."
Uwani was about to speak when they heard Baba’s greeting. He lifted the room's curtain and said, "Who just came in looking like Maryam?"
Uwani said, "It’s her. Living there has become unbearable; ever since the night she was taken there, they have been plotting misery against her without giving her any rest."
Baba said, "I don't understand how living there has become unbearable, but did you forget she was taken to her husband’s house only two days ago? So much so that she could just pick up her feet, come back, and feed you lies for you to believe. Get up and go back to your matrimonial home."
Uwani let out a gasp of shock, clapping her hands before saying, "By God, Mallam, people like you are the ones who sell their daughters into marriage. She went there to serve under the guise of marriage. At least you should have stayed to hear what brought her back before chasing her away."
He said, "What kind of impatience would make her return home just two days after her wedding?"
She began fabricating lies piece by piece, even claiming that today Gwaggo had slapped her right in front of him and he said nothing, that everyday she had to cook tuwo for her, and that Gwaggo’s granddaughter kept insulting her. Baba remained silent, thinking deeply before saying, "Uwani, even with all that, this is not enough reason for her to run back home. Even if there was a problem, she could have phoned someone to mediate. Now that people realize she has come back home, what will the world say?"
Uwani said, "As for life, if you keep trying to please the world, you will end up in misery. What do you care about the world or the people in it? The way they will gossip because she returned is the same way they would gossip if the husband and his mother destroyed her."
Baba just hissed, unable to engage in a long argument, and walked out of the house.
Uwani said, "Maryam, you must open your mouth and fight for your freedom! If you don't, by God, he will carry you back. You are young, will you end up in misery with a mother-in-law? No matter what happens, say you will not go back. Don't you dare give up. What is the difference between a two-day marriage and being an unmarried girl? Soon another young man will come to marry you who is far better than him. May God grant that he didn't place you on iddah."
She stared at her, waiting for a response. Maryam said, "I just hope it doesn't happen again."
Uwani said, "He has wronged you! May God recompense you."

Part 2

When Nazifi returned home, he found that Maryam’s room door had been locked from the outside. It wasn't even the cold season for her to lock it, so he thought to himself that perhaps she had gone to sleep early, even though it was only time for the Isha prayer. He began by entering Gwaggo’s room with a greeting. She answered, and he sat down to greet her. She said, "Nazifi, what kind of wife do you have? Just because of a discussion about turning on the gas, she packed her things and left the house?"
His heart skipped a beat, and he said, "She left the house?!"
Gwaggo said, "Look Nazifi, I am going to leave this house. I am sure Auduwa did not place tenants in our house. Please speak to him so I can go back there. If I die alone, so be it; even if I swell up, no one will know until before I burst and fill the world with smell, then someone will come and see me."
Nazifi said, "Haba Gwaggo, what kind of talk is this?"
She said, "Go and bring your wife back. Tomorrow I am leaving this house. Even now because it is late, tell her to be patient; I am not a difficult person."
Nazifi stood up and walked out feeling lifeless. At the front of the house, he stopped and dialed Maryam’s number. She picked up, and he said, "Maryam, where are you?"
She said, "At our house."
He said, "For God's sake, why would you do this to me? What was so serious?"
She just hissed and hung up the phone. He stared at the phone in shock, never imagining she could actually pack out (yaji) just two days into their marriage. He put the phone in his pocket and headed towards their house.
As he arrived, her elder brother Sunusi was entering the house. They greeted each other, and Sunusi asked, "How is Maryam? Did you come to pick up something for her?"
Nazifi forced a smile and said, "She is actually inside; I came so we can leave together."
Sunusi opened his eyes wide in surprise and said, "What do you mean she is inside? What on earth did she come to do?"
Nazifi stammered before saying, "It's no major problem, we will resolve it."
Sunusi entered the house looking angry and began calling out Maryam's name. She sat up glaring. Uwani, coming out from the bathroom after putting down a kettle, said angrily, "Well, may God bring you back! Why are you calling her like a hunter calling dogs? What on earth did she kill of yours?"
He said, "I just saw her husband at the front of the house. Our mother, why on earth did she return today?"
She hit him playfully on the shoulder and said, "Your mother! And who sent you into this mess?"
In surprise, he said, "You call this a mess? Incredible! So you mean you are going to let her stay here? You, Maryam!"
He finished as he entered the room, looking like he wanted to beat her. He said, "What on earth happened between you two that made you pack your things and come back?"
She ignored him, pushing out her lips. He said, "I knew it would be hard for you to stay, by God. Whenever I said you are restless, people argued. Now it has started showing. Get going, he is waiting for you outside."
Uwani said, "You Sunusi, watch yourself! Stay out of my sight. What business do you have with this matter?"
He said, "May God set things right." And he went into his room.
Uwani put on her hijab and went out. She found Nazifi standing and waiting. He squatted to greet her, and she said, "Come inside, this talk belongs inside rather than the street."
He followed her with his head bowed down respectfully as an in-law.
In the courtyard, she spread a mat and he sat down. She went into the room and said to Maryam, "Come out, and make sure you don't look at him with love and give in. A marriage that starts with trouble like this never ends; it only grows bigger. You will grow old here inhaling misery. But if you have heard and seen, then follow him back."
Maryam stood up and came out. They sat down and exchanged greetings again. Uwani started the talk: "Nazifi, you surprised us! You took us unawares. So you brought my daughter to serve your mother without telling us? How can you both subject her to endless labor without a single rest? Look, even in this house, I wouldn't make Maryam work this hard because I don't want her to suffer. Honestly, this marriage of yours is impossible. Since it has reached the point of beating, just divorce her so everyone can have peace before you start bearing children."
His heart skipped a beat, and he said, "Beating? Maryam, did Gwaggo beat you?"
She frowned and looked away.
Uwani said, "So is she lying against her?"
He said, "No, I am just surprised because Gwaggo did not tell me this happened."
She pouted and said, "Would someone do something and confess to it? Nazifi, for God's sake, pronounce the word of divorce plain and simple, without complicating the legalities."
He said, "Haba Umma, this is just a small problem that can be resolved. It hasn't reached the point of separation."
She said, "I don't see any sign of that! That is your mother, you will never change her, so she is the one you should choose over your wife. Now if she drains your blessings, do you think I will let my daughter continue living with you under a mother's curse? No, it's impossible. Just divorce her; that is the best solution."
Nazifi said, "Please be patient. As for my mother, she said tomorrow she will leave the house. That's it, nothing more will come up, God willing."
Uwani said, "Well, she is right here, if she is leaving, fine!" She stood up and went into the room.
He looked at Maryam and said, "Haba Maryam, did this really make you run back home? This little problem that we can sort out between us?"
She said, "You are the one calling it a small problem; to me, it is a big one."
He said, "This is even shameful, for you to pack out (yaji) over this. Do me a favor and let's go back."
She said, "Is shame worse than a mother coming to stay at her children's house?"
Her words hit him hard. He felt offended but composed himself and said, "Get up then, let's go."
She said, "Nazifi, what language are you being spoken to in? You were told this marriage is impossible! So just release me."
He said, "Isn't it because of Gwaggo? She is leaving, I told you."
She said, "Even if she leaves, I have called off the marriage. Divorce me if you want peace."
Nazifi said, "Alright, let me leave. Tomorrow when you calm down, I will come back so we can talk."
She said, "There is no calming down for me; you are just wasting your time."
He walked out of the house feeling heavy-hearted.

Part 3

Along the way, he stopped to buy tuwo for Gwaggo and took it to the house. He handed it to her and sat down in silence. She said, "Nazifi, are you coming from their house?"
He said, "I am coming from there."
She said, "How did it go?"
He said, "By God, she and her mother refused to understand me. They are even talking about me divorcing her."
Gwaggo said, "La ila ha illallahu! Divorce? All because of me? Look, help me pack these clothes so I can leave your house today. Didn't you beg her and tell her I am not a difficult person?"
Nazifi said, "I told her you are leaving since that is what she chose, but despite that, she is still talking about separation."
She said, "May God set things right."
Seeing her pull out her old suitcase and start packing her clothes, his body went limp as if his strength had been drained, and his heart began to swell. Only now did he realize that Maryam and her mother had really disrespected him. He remembered the value and honor of a mother, pregnancy, childbirth, nursing, raising him, and how Gwaggo never grew tired of looking after his upbringing and education. Could he really destroy his life's well-being by choosing the whim of a woman he met just the other day over his own mother?
A wave of pity washed over him, and he even felt it was better to live without marriage than to be the cause of her grief. He moved closer to her, put the clothes back, zipped the suitcase, pushed it aside, and bowed his head. Gwaggo stared at him fixedly. He said, "Gwaggo, you are going nowhere. You are my mother, a mother cannot be replaced, but a wife can be. No woman will separate me from you overnight. I can even live without marriage as long as I have your blessings."
Her body softened as well, and she said, "Nazifi, it is not possible for you to refuse marriage because of me. By God, it is love that made me choose to live close to you. You know among all of you, I love you the most, and I wouldn't want anything that will make your life difficult. Therefore, it is better I just leave since that is what she chose."
He said, "Gwaggo, by God, you will not leave. If she cannot live with you in this house, then truly I will agree to divorce her just as she said."
Gwaggo said, "No, don't even start that, it won't happen. Since you said I must stay, I will pack my things out of her kitchen, and I will cook on my own stove. If she likes, she doesn't even have to greet me, since she is not the one taking care of me. As long as this satisfies her, that's fine."
He said, "By God, if I knew Maryam was like this, I wouldn't have married her."
Gwaggo said, "Stop cursing yourself. If you notice, this is just youth and the flippancy typical of modern youth. May God set things right."
He said, "Amen. Let me go and buy you tuwo."
She said, "What did you eat?"
He said, "Just the pap (kunu) I drank at the market."
Teasingly, she said, "Your name should be 'groom-in-waiting' rather than 'groom'. Can you cook some noodles for us? Look at Yasmin, she didn't eat the afternoon tuwo you bought, she is lying down limply and can barely move because of hunger. We couldn't turn on the gas, and your wife said we would burn ourselves. I said we should just leave it since we don't know the sharpness of her tongue."
Visibly upset, he said, "What do you mean you would burn yourselves?"
She recounted how Yasmin had tried to turn on the gas. He said, "Goodness me, you really could have burned yourselves! Truly, let the girl never try such a risk again. How old is she to be cooking?"
He stood up and went into the kitchen, but he didn't see the food provisions. He checked the room and didn't find them either, because Maryam had locked them inside the wardrobe, pulled out the key, and left with it. He was surprised and almost called her to ask, but he figured he wasn't the one who bought them anyway, so he went out, bought noodles, and cooked for them. They ate and chatted cheerfully just like in their old home.
When it was nine o'clock, he bade her goodnight and went to sleep, but he couldn't sleep. He kept thinking about how his marital life had started with challenges. He loved Maryam very much and truly wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, but he began to suspect that she didn't love him—otherwise, how could this minor issue make her demand a divorce?
Around ten-thirty, he called her phone. It rang three times, and she didn't pick up. He turned on his data and saw she was online. He almost messaged her, then stopped. He left the phone and waited for the next day to see how things would go with her, because he was not ready to separate from her.
On Maryam's side, after Nazifi left, Uwani kept pressuring her, making her feel it was necessary to give up on the marriage if she loved herself and wanted peace. She pointed out that divorce was nothing, especially since she hadn't even given birth yet; another man far better than him would soon show up to marry her. She argued that living a married life in distress and bondage was far worse than refusing the marriage altogether, because at least you would retain your full freedom.
As for Baba, he didn't meddle again; he sat back to watch the outcome.
She thoroughly memorized all the instigations she was fed, to the point where she began to hate Nazifi and his marriage. She made up her mind that she would not return and that he had to divorce her. That was why when she saw his call coming in, she refused to answer it. She slept soundly, feeling as though she hadn't married at all—she had just gone out for a few days of visiting and returned to her mother's loving home.

Part 4

The next day, Nazifi called her phone early in the morning, but she didn't pick up. So he went to the market. In the afternoon, he closed, returned home, took a bath, changed clothes, and went to their house. He ran into her right as he rounded the corner of their street. She was standing at the front of the house near them, with her hijab pushed back completely off her back. The tight skirt and top she wore hugged her figure closely. She was standing near a young girl selling fried bean cake (awara) in front of the house, picked one from the basket, and was just raising it to her mouth when their eyes met. Nazifi stopped, staring at her with an angry and frustrated look.
A wave of annoyance hit her. She stood her ground, staring back at him just as he stared at her. Nazifi was tall, slim, dark-skinned, not exceptionally handsome, and not wealthy. Today, she even felt disgusted with herself, wondering why on earth she had married him. It was as if she had been hypnotized, her eyes blinded by the love he claimed to have for her.
She hissed after taking the awara from the girl, turned around, and began walking away as if she didn't notice he was there.
He followed her, calling her name. She stopped without turning around. He caught up and stood right in front of her, his heart full of love, and said, "Maryam, don't forget you are a married man's wife now. It is not proper for you to lift your hijab like this on the street. Whoever looks at you like this on my behalf has truly wronged me."
She gave him a fierce, defiant glare and said, "Mallam, what brings you here?"
He forced a fake smile and said, "A groom has come to visit his bride, is he not allowed to ask why? I came so we can go back together."
She adjusted her stance and said, "Nazifi, do you love yourself and your peace? Then spare yourself the stress and divorce me. Let me tell you briefly: even if the heavens and the earth collide, or if my mother rises from the grave, I will not return to your house. Do you understand this explanation I've given you? If you don't get it now, you never will, so I have no time to waste listening to you."
His temper flared. By nature, he was quick-tempered, but he always controlled himself in front of Maryam. He said, "Please be patient, Maryam. As for Gwaggo, she has agreed to the conditions you set initially—she will do her own cooking, and she even said she would remove her things from the kitchen."
She burst into a mocking, harsh laugh and said, "Now that you people have realized how stubborn things are! Well, go back and tell her you are too late. Opportunities only come once in a lifetime. If you had agreed back then, it could have been done. But you dragged your feet, and now the marriage has completely left my mind. By God, no one can force me to continue. Please Nazifi, if you didn't come to bring me divorce papers, don't ever come to see me again. In fact, I'd prefer it if you just sent me a divorce via phone because I don't want to set eyes on you."
Seeing him freeze and unable to utter a word, she hissed and stepped into the house. He felt completely lost—what could he do to make her agree to return? He noticed that her mother clearly didn't want the marriage to succeed, so he decided not to pester her further. Instead, he sat down at the front of the house waiting for her father to return. He thought over various things until the Maghrib prayer was called, went into the mosque to pray, and came back to sit. Shortly after, the father returned.
He stood up quickly, bowed, and greeted him. Baba responded, saying, "Is this Nazifi?"
With a bowed head, he said, "It is me, Baba."
Baba said, "Welcome."
He said, "Thank you."
Baba said, "Did you come for Maryam? Come inside."
Nazifi scratched the back of his head and said, "Actually I came for you. We spoke with her earlier, so I was just waiting for you."
Baba said, "Then come into the porch."
They went in, and Baba went inside the house to fetch a mat, brought it out, and they sat down. Baba asked, "So what is actually happening between you two?"
Nazifi narrated everything to him. Baba realized there were omissions in Nazifi's story compared to what Uwani had claimed (such as Gwaggo physically beating Maryam). Baba said, "They informed me. So, what step have you taken now?"
He said, "From the beginning, Maryam herself said she agreed to live with Gwaggo on condition that everyone kept to themselves and did their own cooking. At first, I didn't agree—that was what caused the uproar, considering she is my mother, has full authority in my house, and deserves respect from my wife. But when I saw that wasn't bringing peace, I said I accepted her condition, and Gwaggo agreed too. Yet Maryam still refuses and demands a divorce."
Baba said, "Divorce?! You give birth to a child, but you don't dictate their character. Look, that's why I don't let the troubles of today's youth weigh on me; they will just get you killed for nothing. And frankly, Maryam has always been different from the other children in this house—she is capable of doing this. Did she even really want this marriage?"
Nazifi said, "We just need patience, Baba."
Baba stood up and said, "Wait for me a moment."
He went inside the house and called out Maryam's name. As she stood up, Uwani pulled her back down, frowning tightly, and asked, "Mallam, is everything alright?"
He entered the room saying, "Uwani, what kind of nonsense is this? How can you encourage a girl to seek a divorce and refuse to return to her husband's house?"
Maryam, acting as though she might cry, said, "Baba, this marriage is simply impossible for me."
He said, "On what grounds? Isn't it just about his mother's interference? He has explained everything to me; he said he will follow the condition you set initially—live with his mother with no one interfering with the other, just like separate tenants. May God reform modern youth! Get up, put on your hijab, and let's go."
Uwani said, "Haba Mallam! Just because you didn't give birth to this girl, that's why you won't let me fight for her freedom?"
He said, "Even if she were one of the children I gave birth to, I would do the same. I never harbor the thought that you didn't give birth to Maryam, since you treat them equally. But you know this stubbornness of hers has no benefit."
He looked at Maryam and said, "Are you going to put on your hijab or not?"
She stood up abruptly like someone ready to pick a fight, pushing out her lips and furrowing her brows. She put on her hijab and walked out behind him. He asked, "Where is the box?"
She said, "Bring it to me tomorrow."
Uwani was consumed with frustration, feeling as though her heart would burst. She deeply disliked this outcome; she had wanted the matter pushed to the absolute end—for the marriage to collapse completely that very week for the whole world to witness.
"Maryam!" she called out in a choked voice.
Maryam went back into the room, wiping away the tears that fell. Whenever she thought of growing old in servitude and misery, she felt death was preferable to staying in Nazifi's house.
Uwani dragged her to the corner of the room and said, "Don't you dare cry. Go back, but prepare for war against both of them—him and his mother. Do not yield to them, especially the mother, because once she sees the situation is unworkable, she will force him to divorce you. And do not let them share a bed! If you go there, submit to him, and get pregnant, you will only harm yourself. You'll end up as a nursing divorcee."
"Hey Maryam!" Baba's voice cut through their conversation.
This time, both of them came out, with Uwani muttering, "May God grant success, Maryam."
They met Nazifi in the porch. Baba said, "Rise and go, Nazifi. May God preserve peace."
Nazifi stood up, rolled up the mat, and said, "Thank you, Baba. May God recompense you."
He walked ahead, and Maryam followed behind him. Once they had walked a little distance from the house toward the main street, he stopped and waited for her to catch up so they could walk side by side.

Summary

The newlywed couple, Maryam and Nazifi, face an immediate marital crisis just two days after their wedding. Maryam abruptly abandons her matrimonial home and returns to her mother (Uwani) and stepfather (Baba), fueled by conflicts with Nazifi’s mother (Gwaggo) over household chores, cooking arrangements, and control of the kitchen (specifically the gas cooker).
While Uwani fiercely encourages Maryam to demand a divorce and escape a life of perceived oppression, Baba takes a more pragmatic, neutral stance, insisting that the couple attempt to make the marriage work under agreed-upon boundaries (where Gwaggo and Maryam live completely separate lives within the same house). Nazifi, who deeply loves Maryam and is determined not to lose her, successfully negotiates these terms with Gwaggo. Despite the compromise being reached, Maryam—egged on by Uwani—stubbornly refuses to return, weaponizing the situation to demand an absolute divorce. Ultimately, despite her protests and Uwani's toxic instigations, Baba forces Maryam to pack her bags and return with Nazifi.

Analytics

Character Dynamics & Psychological Profiles

• Maryam: Exhibits extreme impulsivity, stubbornness, and immaturity. Two days into marriage, she abandons her home over domestic friction. Her judgment is heavily compromised by peer/maternal pressure (Uwani), transforming initial marital adjustment challenges into a flat-out rejection of the marriage.
• Nazifi: Caught between filial duty and marital devotion. He displays patience, emotional maturity, and a willingness to compromise to save his marriage. Despite facing insults and stubborn rejection, his commitment to Maryam remains strong.
• Uwani (Mother): A toxic, manipulative maternal figure who views marriage transactionally and adversarial. Rather than acting as a peacemaker, she weaponizes minor domestic disputes to sabotage her daughter's marriage out of pride and a desire for conflict.
• Baba (Stepfather/Father): Grounded, rational, and objective. Unlike Uwani, he refuses to pander to emotional manipulation, recognizes the flaws in Maryam's behavior, and ultimately enforces accountability and traditional marital stability.

• Gwaggo (Mother-in-Law): Represents traditional matriarchal authority. Initially rigid and protective of her space, she eventually humbles herself and agrees to separate her domestic affairs to preserve her son's happiness.

  Core Themes

1. Maternal Interference: The story heavily critiques toxic parental influence (specifically Uwani's toxic coaching) which often destroys young, fragile marriages.
2. Communication Breakdown vs. Compromise: Highlights how minor domestic adjustments (like separate cooking arrangements) can easily resolve household friction if ego and outside manipulation are removed.
3. Youthful Impatience: Explores the modern trend of impatience among young couples who treat the institution of marriage as easily discardable at the first sign of discomfort.