FreeFreeDescription
Rumors, Confrontation, and a Change of Heart
"Hey, why did you just barge in running like that? You almost scared me to death!" Siyama pouted, looking at Mama, and said:
"But Mama, didn't you tell us to let you know as soon as he returned? If I had known you'd react this way, I wouldn't have even bothered to come and tell you." Mama countered sharply:
"Listen to this wretched girl! Just because I spoke up, you have the nerve to say you shouldn't have come?" She finished her sentence with a harsh glare. Standing up from her prayer mat, she removed her hijab and marched straight over to Bappah's room.
She knocked and gave her greetings. Bappah, who was inside, answered. She entered and sat down, her face glowing with simulated warmth as she greeted him. Bappah responded, quite surprised by this sudden pleasant mood from his second wife.
Sitting close to him, she began, "Malam, I heard some heavy rumors circulating in this neighborhood, and I felt I couldn't keep you in the dark. I just had to tell you." Bappah stared at her as if trying to read her mind, then asked:
"And does it have anything to do with me?" She adjusted her posture and replied:
"Very much so." Bappah fixed his eyes on her, and she continued:
"People are gossiping everywhere that you've given your daughter out to be used by powerful men in exchange for money. And now, they say these men want you to send her to India because they've relocated their operations there, which is why you're preparing to send her off. They are even saying that the huge food supplies the Honorable brought the other day were simply a payment for handing your daughter over to them." Bappah stared at her intently. It was impossible to read his expression, but he kept his eyes locked on her as she went on:
"Wherever I hear this, I always defend you. But that's not all; they also say she wears very expensive clothes now and doesn't look at anyone with respect. They are asking, if it's really not true that you're sending her there so they can continue exploiting her, where on earth did you get the money to fund an international move? If she goes over there, who is she even going to live with?" She paused momentarily, then added with a sigh, "And honestly, their talk leaves a massive question mark. If I didn't know your character well, I would have believed it too."
Bappah stood up without uttering a single word and walked out, leaving her sitting there alone. A malicious smirk spread across her face as she tapped her foot contentedly.
When Bappah stepped outside, he saw Umma just finishing her ablutions. She set her water kettle down and, without glancing at him, walked straight into her room. His temper flaring, he followed her inside. She picked up a hijab to put it on, but he snatched it away. Visibly upset, she turned around and gave him a sharp look. He demanded:
"Do you see what your foolishness has started? People are already out there spreading disgusting rumors about me because of this, right?" Umma, deeply provoked, shot back:
"And so?" He stared at her, utter shock written all over his face.
Episode 22: The Night of Istikhara
She nodded to emphasize her words and snatched her hijab back from his hand. Staring at her, he snapped:
"Okay! So you now have the guts to talk back to me? Fine. I have already made my decision: that girl is going nowhere! If you think I have no authority over her, you better tell me now. And this just shows that you were fully aware of these rumors circulating in town, weren't you?" Furious, he turned to leave, but Umma quickly blocked his path.
"You say it's because of my foolishness? Do you even have the right to speak, Malam? Just because your wife sat down and manufactured a story for you, you immediately swallowed it hook, line, and sinker. You have absolutely no right to stop my daughter, because I see no valid reason. A woman who completely despises me and my children is the one pretending to be concerned about Azrah going away? Have you forgotten who Uwani really is?" She let out a bitter, sorrowful smile, tears pooling in her eyes.
"Where is Azrah's WAEC exam fee? She stopped you from giving it to me, claiming she would invest the money, and in the end, she claimed she knew nothing about it! If God hadn't brought a good Samaritan into Azrah's life, only Allah knows what kind of distress she would be in right now. Malam, stop this petty taunting. Ever since Azrah was a little girl, she has been the one carrying her own weight, as well as mine and her sister's. She worked herself to the bone whenever I fell ill. And now you're talking about stopping her from traveling for her studies—are you going to sponsor her education here instead?" She finished, staring down Bappah, who stood utterly speechless.
"I would never want any of my children to live the kind of life I lived in the past. I am certain that the Almighty will not let Azrah's educational pursuits go to waste. Who else do I have here? The little education I have is what I use to teach my children at home, and it's the only thing that distracts me from my mountain of worries. Now, I am..." Unable to continue, she burst into a heart-wrenching sob, releasing days of bottled-up emotional pain. She turned away, wiping her face with her hijab.
Bappah felt a sudden wave of guilt wash over him. He couldn't take his eyes off her. He moved closer to where Umma was kneeling and said softly:
"I'm sorry Bitti, I'm sorry. Please, stop crying." He fell silent, his own heart deeply moved. He wished he could change their destiny, but his hands were tied. He knew Umma deserved happiness and so much more. He gradually consoled her until she calmed down. Looking at her with deep sympathy, he said:
"In Shaa Allah, later tonight we will rise and observe the night prayers (Tahajjud) so Allah can ordain what is best for us, as we planned. And tomorrow, I will fast and pray for her." Umma didn't say a word, and he stood up to head for the door.
"Please forgive me if my words hurt you," Umma's soft voice caught him. He turned slightly, flashed a gentle smile, and walked out.
Mama, who had been pressing her ear against the door the entire time, quickly stepped back. Her face was twisted in an angry scowl. Without giving her a single glance, Bappah walked straight past her to his room. She glared after him, then glared at Umma's door before retreating to her own room, utterly frustrated that her plan hadn't worked out.
Zahra stepped out of their room, looking at Umma. Umma suddenly realized that the girls had been in their room and must have heard everything. Overcome with embarrassment, she walked over to her prayer mat without looking at Zahra and began praying. Zahra sat down, waiting for Umma to finish so she could get an explanation of what just transpired.
Just as Bappah had promised, he woke up at 2:15 am and woke Umma up as well.
Azrah woke up from her sleep too. Even though she didn't know what time it was, she adjusted her headscarf and stepped outside. Seeing signs that someone had just performed ablutions, she realized it was Umma. After performing her own ablutions, she went back to her room and began to pray, her heart filled with peace mixed with a slight nervousness. But remembering Bappah and Umma's words, her peace outweighed her fear. She prayed continuously, making supplications, sending blessings upon the Prophet, and reciting the Quran. She couldn't even tell how many units (raka'at) she had prayed. Zahra woke up, saw Azrah on the prayer mat, sat up, and said:
"May Allah accept your prayers, Sister Azrah... May He answer us."
Azrah nodded and replied, "Ameen, Zahra." Zahra then stood up and went out to the courtyard to perform her ablutions.
Meanwhile, Umma and Bappah were also in their room, praying intensely for their children and specifically for Azrah's upcoming journey. Umma let out a heavy sigh.
"The girl clearly wants to go. Oh Allah, if this journey is good for her, make it easy for her."
Bappah sighed as well, adding, "May Allah establish what is best for us."
Close to dawn, Azrah finally lay down and fell asleep. She had a dream. In her dream, she was standing in front of a massive, incredibly beautiful school—its architecture was breathtaking. A gentle, comforting voice said to her:
"Enter, and study everything your heart desires. Knowledge is a shield."
She raised her eyes to the sky and saw it filled with brilliant, shining stars. As she turned around, she heard a voice say, "Bismillah."
At dawn, after Umma woke them up, Azrah rose feeling an overwhelming sense of tranquility, as if a cool stream of water had washed over her heart. A radiant smile refused to leave her face. She recited her morning supplications and stood up.
Stepping out of the room, she found Umma sitting on her prayer mat doing her morning remembrance (dhikr). Azrah walked over and hugged her tightly.
"Umma… Allah showed me a beautiful sign in my dream! I dreamt that I saw myself inside a magnificent school." She finished with a bright smile. Umma smiled back, her lingering doubts completely vanishing. She said:
"Masha Allah, Azrah. If it is meant to be good, you will go with our blessings. May Allah protect you, elevate your status, grant you deep understanding, and increase your faith."
Azrah looked at her and said, "Ameen." Then she went to perform her dawn ablutions.
After the dawn prayer, Bappah returned from the mosque and went straight to Umma's room. After Azrah and Zahra came in to greet him, he calmly said:
"Yesterday, your mother mentioned that they are looking for us at the board?" Azrah nodded, "Yes, they said they need to see my parents." Bappah said:
"Alright, prepare breakfast quickly so we can head out early, okay?" Umma watched him in pleasant surprise. Azrah looked up at him and said:
"Alright, Bappah. Thank you so much." He simply smiled, and she hurried off to make breakfast so they wouldn't be late.
By 9:00 am, Bappah and Umma had left for the office. Umma was amazed at how determined Bappah was, asking for directions and navigating the administrative offices until they arrived at the exact spot. This gave her total peace of mind, knowing their prayers were bearing fruit.
Meanwhile, the Honorable was in his office, looking at a newspaper feature of Azrah with the caption: "The girl who fought the odds and won."
His heart raced with a fresh wave of affection, but suddenly his mood shifted. He felt a wave of inexplicable agitation, feeling physically weak whenever he thought of her. He placed his phone face down for several minutes until he regained the strength to pick it up. He dialed her number, staring at her name. Just as he was about to press call, he hesitated, went to messages instead, typed out a text after some careful thought, and sent it.
Azrah was sitting alone after taking food to the room. She picked up her phone intending to play a game when she saw a message from the Honorable. She stared at his number curiously but decided not to reply, setting the phone aside to wait for Umma's return to tell her about it.
Soon, Bappah and Umma returned, completely exhausted but having filled out all the necessary forms and signed the documents. Later, Azrah joined them to complete her registration and get processed for her international passport. Everything went smoothly, and because everyone at the office knew she was the Honorable's candidate, they treated the family with immense respect. As they entered the house, Zahra, who was performing ablutions, ran over and hugged them excitedly.
They all went into Umma's room. Bappah sat down and said, "Zahra, please fetch us some water, we are all exhausted." Zahra glanced at Azrah and hurried out, returning shortly with water. She looked at Bappah eagerly:
"Bappah, is everything done? Please tell me yes!" She pouted playfully. He smiled and said:
"Okay, yes, my dear. Even if the answer were no, you told me to say yes, right?" She frowned slightly:
"Well, I just don't want to hear a 'no', Bappah." They all laughed at her antics. Bappah handed an envelope to Umma and said:
"Keep this safe where nothing can happen to it, please." She accepted it, and Zahra began jumping with joy:
"Yes! Sister, you are really going to India now!" Azrah smiled and went to serve them food, with Zahra following close behind, eager for all the details.
Umma, seeing they were alone, cleared her throat and asked Bappah, "So you've finally agreed to let Azrah go?" He nodded.
"I feel completely at peace with it now, unlike before. If it weren't a good thing, Allah wouldn't have made the registration process so seamless. Have you forgotten we prayed about it?" Umma just smiled warmly.
Later that evening, after dinner, Umma, Zahra, and Azrah were together. Azrah opened the Honorable's message and handed her phone to Umma. Umma read it and looked up.
"Is this from the Honorable?" Azrah nodded.
"Yes, Umma, he sent it earlier." Umma nodded and said:
"He is right. You really should open a bank account. Go tomorrow, or your father can accompany you." Azrah agreed. Umma asked, "But what did you reply?" She said:
"I haven't replied yet. When I saw him asking for my account details, I wanted to tell him I didn't have one, but then his next message said if I didn't have one, I should go open it. So I just ignored the messages entirely." Umma nodded silently.
Just then, Siyama and Habibah walked into the house, immediately throwing passive-aggressive insults at Zahra. Zahra, who was doing dishes, ignored them completely. Siyama and Habibah sat in the courtyard and continued their taunts.
Zahra looked down at the cup she was washing and muttered aloud, "Look at this cup. Help me bear witness to the sheer ignorance some people choose to wrap themselves in. How can people who actually go to school be so completely devoid of good upbringing?" Siyama and Habibah glared at each other, then at Zahra, shocked by her sheer audacity.
Zahra scoffed and continued, "They spend their time hawking goods around mechanics and crowds of men. While hawking isn't forbidden, they mingle closely with grown men, yet they have the nerve to claim Umma's children lack morals. I bet they don't even know how to recite their prayers properly."
Siyama, furious, lunged at Zahra. Seeing her approach, Zahra scooped up a handful of soapy dishwater and splashed it directly into Siyama's face. Siyama shrieked, blinded by the soap, and blindly struck out, slapping Zahra hard.
Hearing the commotion, Bappah rushed out of his room just in time to see Siyama slap Zahra, while Habibah was closing in to join the fight. Bappah bellowed in a thunderous voice:
"Have you lost your minds?!" Habibah tried to speak, but Bappah cut her off fiercely:
"Shut up, you disrespectful girl! How dare you attack her while she's doing her chores?" Zahra, seeing Bappah defend her, immediately burst into tears and sobbed against him as he comforted her.
Siyama grumbled, "But Bappah, she started it, and now you're taking her side!" A sharp glare from Bappah sent her scurrying inside, muttering under her breath. Bappah consoled Zahra and stood by her until she finished the dishes, escorted her inside, and told her to perform her night ablutions before bed.
Episode 23: The Hardest Goodbye Begins
The next day, Bappah and Azrah returned home late in the evening, completely worn out. Bappah had ensured Azrah's bank account was successfully opened, and they finalized the remaining paperwork. Exhausted, Azrah fell asleep right after the Isha prayer.
After returning from the mosque, Bappah stopped by Umma's room.
"Tell Azrah to get ready tomorrow; we are going to Dada's house to say our goodbyes, as she might not get another chance before she leaves for India." Umma nodded.
"I was just thinking the exact same thing." Bappah said:
"We leave first thing in the morning," and wished her goodnight.
The next morning, after prayers, Umma told Azrah, "Azrah, go pack your things. Your father said you are visiting Dada today since your departure seems so close." Azrah nodded slowly, staring into space. Umma asked:
"Is everything alright?" Azrah forced a smile, "Yes, Umma, everything is fine." Zahra chimed in:
"You've looked different since yesterday." Azrah rolled her eyes at her and went to pack.
By 8:00 am, Azrah was ready, waiting for Bappah while Zahra was at school. Bappah parted the door curtain and said:
"Let's go if you're ready." Azrah picked up her small bag and turned to Umma, "Umma, I'm going to miss you so much." Umma smiled tenderly.
"You need to start getting used to it before you head to India. Give my regards to Dada." Umma wished them a safe journey.
As they passed the courtyard, Mama, who had already gathered her morning gossip circle, looked at Bappah, her heart pounding with envy.
"Malam, where are you off to again?" Without looking at her, Bappah replied:
"We are going to Dada's house." Mama sneered, rolling her eyes:
"Alright then, but must you go with her? Can't she go on her own?" She secretly loathed the old woman entirely and was terrified Bappah might bring Dada back with him.
Bappah ignored her completely and walked out. Azrah politely greeted Mama, who answered with a look of pure disgust before returning to her customers.
Bappah hailed a tricycle to the motor park, and they boarded a commercial vehicle that departed immediately. They arrived at Dada's village around 11:30 am.
Local children playing outside welcomed Bappah joyfully. They walked into the modest but neat compound—the nicest house on the street. Dada, who was about to take her cooking pot off the fire, gaped at them in shock.
"Are you really here?" Bappah replied, "Yes, Dada." Azrah ran and hugged her tightly.
"Grandmother, I missed you so much!" Dada playfully pushed her away, glaring, "Yet you never bother to visit me!" Azrah laughed. Dada handed her cooking pot to a neighbor's daughter.
"Zainabu, take this inside for me," and led Bappah and Azrah into her room. Once inside, Dada asked:
"I hope all is well?" Bappah replied:
"Everything is fine, Dada. It's regarding the scholarship matter we discussed earlier." Dada nodded, "Oh, okay."
They spent one night at Dada's house before bidding her farewell and returning to Katsina. Arriving exhausted in the evening, they found Mama sitting in the courtyard with some women. Mama completely ignored Bappah, though the other women greeted him politely. He gave a brief reply and went inside. Azrah greeted them collectively and hurried to her room to escape Mama's hateful glares.
The next morning, Azrah stared at another message from the Honorable on her phone. Zahra asked:
"What is it?" Azrah replied:
"It's the Honorable again, asking for my account details. He has been bugging me for two days." Zahra looked at her and scoffed:
"Okay... You mean you're not going to send it? He is offering to help, and you didn't even beg him for it. Why refuse?" Azrah said:
"So you think I should send it?" Zahra replied:
"Let me see what he wrote exactly," extending her hand.
Azrah handed over the phone. Zahra quickly opened contacts, copied Azrah's newly created account number, pasted it into the message thread with the Honorable, and hit send. She immediately deleted the sent message from the log, cleared the running apps, and handed the phone back to Azrah—all within seconds, leaving Azrah completely oblivious. Zahra then said aloud to cover her tracks, "Well, if you don't feel like sending it, don't. He barely speaks to you, yet he's insisting on sending money? It feels weird." Zahra shrugged and left the room.
After lunch, Azrah's phone pinged with a message notification. Zahra glanced at it quickly, while Azrah casually dismissed it, assuming it was a routine network provider message. Zahra urged her:
"Sister Azrah, didn't you hear your phone ping?" Azrah replied:
"It's probably just an MTN text." Zahra shook her head.
"You shouldn't ignore messages like that right now. What if it's an important bank alert or an urgent update about your trip?" Umma agreed:
"Your sister is right, Azrah. This is not the time to ignore notifications. Check it; it might be something important or urgent."
Azrah unlocked her phone, and her eyes went wide with pure shock. Without a word, she handed the phone straight to Umma. Umma looked at the massive credit alert in complete shock, utterly speechless. Zahra snatched the phone from Umma's hand, read the screen, and gasped:
"Oh wow! Long live the Honorable! Wallahi, God sent him as a true blessing to save us!"
Umma and Azrah stared at Zahra intensely. Suddenly, Umma remembered that Azrah had never replied to the Honorable's message. Azrah was equally baffled—how did he get her account details when she hadn't even memorized the new number herself?
Umma looked directly at Zahra and asked, "It was you, wasn't it?"
Zahra nodded with a grin, "Guilty! Yes, Umma, it was me. And it hasn't even been an hour since I secretly sent it to him!" She instantly slapped her hand over her mouth, realizing she had just fully exposed her own trick.
Both Umma and Azrah kept their eyes locked on Zahra as...
Story Summary
- Mama’s Malicious Gossip: Jealous of the family's sudden good fortune and Azrah's impending scholarship to study in India, Mama fabricates a disgusting rumor. She tells Bappah that the neighborhood is talking about him "selling" Azrah to wealthy men in exchange for food and favors.
- Umma’s Fierce Defense & Bappah’s Remorse: Bappah initially believes the gossip and aggressively threatens to cancel Azrah’s trip. However, Umma fires back with a devastating reality check, reminding Bappah of his financial neglect and Mama’s past sabotage regarding Azrah’s exam fees. Broken by guilt, Bappah repents, consoles Umma, and commits to fasting and performing Tahajjud (night prayers) for Azrah’s success.
- The Divine Sign & Finalizing Plans: Following a night of intense prayers, Azrah receives a beautiful, comforting dream of a grand school under a starry sky, which solidifies the family's peace of mind. Bappah proactively leads the effort to sign her administrative papers and process her international passport.
- Zahra’s Feud & The Farewell Trip: Tensions flare when Mama's daughters (Siyama and Habibah) attack Zahra with petty insults. Zahra boldly retaliates by throwing dishwater at Siyama, earning a slap, but Bappah steps in and fiercely protects Zahra. Afterward, Bappah and Azrah make a sentimental, one-night farewell journey to visit his mother, Dada, in her village.
Zahra’s Secret Scheme: Back home, Honorable Ibrahim texts Azrah for her bank details. Out of modesty and pride, Azrah hesitates to reply. Sneaky and protective, Zahra intercepts the phone, text-messages the account number to the Honorable, and wipes the evidence. Within an hour, a massive, life-altering financial alert drops on Azrah's phone, causing Zahra to accidentally blurt out her brilliant scheme.
New & Updated Character Descriptions
- Bappah (Significant Development): Showing massive emotional growth, he completely sheds his detached demeanor after Umma's breakdown. Moved by deep remorse, he aggressively defends Zahra from step-siblings, actively helps process Azrah's passport, and embraces spiritual intercession (fasting and Tahajjud) for his daughter’s future.
- Zahra (Significant Development): Solidifies her role as the family's sharp-witted protector. She is completely unafraid of confrontation, mocking her toxic step-siblings' lack of morals and physically defending herself. Furthermore, she displays high intelligence and quick thinking by secretly manipulating Azrah's phone to secure the Honorable's financial blessing.
- Mama, Siyama, and Habibah: Driven entirely by bitter envy, they resort to character assassination and physical altercations to sabotage Azrah's success, though their plans backfire completely as Bappah turns against them.
- Dada: Bappah’s mother and Azrah's grandmother. She lives in a well-kept house in a nearby village. While playfully blunt and demanding of family visits, she is deeply affectionate and serves as an important pillar of family blessings before Azrah's relocation to India.
- Honorable Ibrahim Yusuf (Developed): His deep fascination with Azrah intensifies to the point of causing him physical distraction and emotional vulnerability. He treats the family like royalty at the education board and responds instantly with massive financial aid the moment he receives her account details.
