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Page 18
The hearts of both Ummah and Momy skipped a beat. Instantly, sweat began to break out all over them. Despite the chilly air conditioning in the room, it did not stop them from sweating profusely. One look at them was enough to tell you they were in utter turmoil!
Momy mustered the courage to ask, "Alhaji, where is Muzaffar right now?"
He said nothing in response except to point at him with his finger.
In complete confusion, Mamie (Momy's co-wife / Muzaffar's biological mother) said, "Abban Muzaffar, I don't understand you. For God's sake, what is going on?"
Without holding anything back, Dady explained everything to Mamie, starting from Muzaffar's disappearance up to the present moment when God brought him back. Quickly, Mamie sprang up from where she was seated and hurried down to where Muzaffar sat. Placing her palms on his face, she shed tears as she looked at him with pure love and affection.
"I truly love you, my son," she said. "And I swear by God, anyone in this entire world who dares to hate you has to go through me first, Muzaffar! So this is what happened to you? No wonder for days past I felt deep in my soul that something terrible had happened to my own flesh and blood. Is that why I lost my peace of mind?" She finished her words with a deeply heartbreaking cry!
It took a great effort for her to quiet her weeping. Then she continued, "I love you so much, my son. If anything ever happens to you, I swear I will live with eternal regret!"
Maliciously, Ummah chimed in, "Look at you! It's not like you love him more than anyone else! You've just sat there making a public spectacle of yourself, crying for people to see. We loved him long before you did, since we married his father long before you came into the picture."
Quickly, Momy backed her up, "Tell her! She just wants to put on a show for people, acting all righteous like some stepmother."
Mamie said nothing further; she only wept silently. Muzaffar was also crying, marveling at the immense love Mamie was showing him. Truly, even if she had been his biological mother from birth, this was the exact depth of love she would have shown him. With his hands, he began to wipe the tears from her face.
Throughout all this, Dady watched them quietly. Then he spoke up, "All of you, quiet down, because this weeping is not the solution. Today, everyone will hear what I have kept hidden from you for a long time. It may shock you, but it shouldn't come as a surprise—and among those shocked, I know you will be one of them, Muzaffar!"
Page 19
In utter confusion, Muzaffar looked at his father, saying nothing.
Dady let out a heavy sigh and continued speaking:
"Indeed, I concealed a certain matter from both of you during my life with you"—he gestured toward Ummah and Momy—"and I will continue. I tested you in the past by bringing my son Muzaffar to you when he was just one year old, separating him from his mother and placing him in your care. I did this to test your fear of God and your capacity for mercy. But you failed to raise him with honesty and truth; instead, you mistreated him. What you did not know is that Muzaffar's mother is still alive; she did not die!"
Filled with shock and absolute bewilderment, Muzaffar stared at his father. "Dady, do you mean to tell me my mother is alive and didn't die? But Dady, why did you separate me from my mother? Why did you choose for me to live with others instead of her? Why did you tell me my mother passed away? Please, Dady, pull me out of this confusion, for God's sake!"
Crawling over to Mamie, he grabbed her hands and pleaded, "My Mamie, please tell Dady to take me to see my mother, just to see her even once, please, Mamie!" He finished speaking, weeping bitterly like a little child.
With great effort, Mamie composed herself and said, "Calm down, my son. You have no other mother besides me, you hear? I am your mother, no one else."
Momy interrupted harshly, "Haba, Malama! Stop right there and leave us with this current reality. How can you sit there putting on a performance of fake, manipulative tears? Shut your mouth so we can hear the rest of this story!"
Ummah added, "We love this boy too; it was just a lapse in judgment and jealousy that made us unable to raise him properly from the beginning. That's why he brought him to you in the first place—it's not because you love him more than we do."
Muzaffar cried uncontrollably. Finally, Dady cut through their bickering to officially announce that Mamie was Muzaffar's biological mother, as well as the very first woman he ever married in his life, making her the primary wife (Uwar gida) and true mother to Muzaffar!
Everyone was left shaken, especially Momy. The shock hit Momy so hard that her breathing turned ragged and shallow. Ummah quickly rushed over to help steady Momy. They sat in gloomy silence for a long time.
Mamie pulled her son into another tight embrace, filled with deep love and affection. After a long period of silence where no one spoke, Fadilah said, "Momy, let's go so you can find some peace of mind."
Without argument, Momy stood up, as she was looking for a way out anyway. As they prepared to leave, Ummah followed them out. Once outside, Ameerah turned to Zahra and said, "Zahra, let's go too."
Zahra shot Ameerah a sharp glare and snapped, "I am not going anywhere. Just go on by yourself."
Ameerah stood up and stormed out of the lounge as if she were floating on air. Slowly, Zahra walked down and stood right before Dady's feet. "Dady, please forgive the behavior our mothers are showing you," she said softly. "I know that one day they will feel remorse."
Turning from Dady to Muzaffar, she continued, "Yaya, I am deeply sorry for everything you went through. I pray for your well-being always, because you are my one and only brother. I know that one day you are destined to become a father figure to all of us. I know we didn't get lucky with mothers, but please, I beg you to forgive them for what they did to you when you were a child. Please, Yaya Muzaffar, forgive them." As she spoke, tears rolled down her face.
Slowly lifting her reddened eyes, she looked at Mamie and said, "Truly, you are a mother worthy of the highest praise, seeing as you were able to sacrifice your only son for your husband's happiness. I swear, wherever a good mother ranks, you have reached the pinnacle, Mamie. If you had given birth to me, I would have been so proud of you."
With that, she stood up and walked out of the lounge, wiping her tears.
That day, Muzaffar spent the night filled with pure happiness, alongside Mamie and Dady. As for Ummah and Momy, they were practically dying of bitter jealousy.
Rugar Hardo
Ever since Muzaffar left, nothing brought Rabe joy anymore. Even though it had only been a single day since his departure, she had already grown thin from constant crying. To add to her misery, she had to endure the daily torments inflicted upon her by Laure. It was a heartbreaking sight.
She stood up from her room and walked over to the cattle pen where she and Muzaffar used to spend time together. Placing her hands upon the stone he used to sit on, she burst into a fresh wave of soul-shattering tears.
Weeping bitterly, she cried out, "O Allah, You are the One Who brought me happiness at a time when I least expected it! O Allah, I beg You by Your beautiful names, fill my life with lasting happiness, and grant me the strength to endure every kind of trial!" She kept crying and crying—a truly pathetic sight.
Page 19 (Continued)
She continued her weeping unchecked, with no one to comfort her, until the sun climbed high into the sky. Only then did she drive the animals out to graze. She walked with a weak, listless body to the spot where she and Muzaffar used to sit when they were tired or needed to pray. Sitting down in silence, her mind drifted away into thoughts of her dear "Yaya"!
She spent the entire day in a gloomy, downcast state.
Meanwhile, Momy stood inside her room, pacing back and forth with her phone in hand. Walking into her lounge with a stern face, she found Fadilah seated. Without even glancing at her, Momy said, "Get up and go call Zahra's mother for me." Without waiting for a reply, she retreated back to her room.
It didn't take long before Ummah walked into the room. Staring hard at Momy, Ummah asked, "I already understand what you want to tell me just by looking into your eyes. Now, what is the solution?" That was the question Momy threw at Ummah.
Instead of answering, Ummah simply raised her phone, as if she intended to call someone. Within moments, she began speaking in an arrogant, commanding tone: "Ado, is this what we agreed upon? How much did we pay you to eliminate that good-for-nothing bastard? If you knew you couldn't do it, why did you take our money?"
In utter shock, Ado stammered, "Haba, Hajia! That job was completed ages ago, because I made sure he wasn't breathing before I left him! You know yourself that you've never given me a botched job before."
Momy snatched the phone right out of Ummah's hand, pressed it to her ear, and furiously shouted, "And you still have the nerve to claim there were no mistakes in your job? What kind of absolute fool are you to dump someone in a busy, high-traffic public area?! Look at how you've messed up our work—the boy has returned home alive and in good health! And you know the police are bound to take statements from him, so you better pack your bags and be ready—they could come arrest you at any moment!" She finished her angry rant in a fit of rage.
Ummah quickly grabbed the phone back and said, "Ado, are you listening to me?"
Terrified, he replied, "Yes, Hajia, I'm listening."
"Quickly pack your things, leave this city, get as far away from Kano as possible, and do not come back until we reach out to you."
"Yes, Hajia," he muttered.
After a brief pause, she asked him, "Wait, do you have any money left on you?"
"No," he replied.
Instantly, she snapped, "When did I deposit one million into your account for you to sit there telling me you have no money?!"
Sheepishly, he said, "Sorry, Hajia, I panicked."
Without another word, she hung up the phone, popped open the SIM tray, and snapped the SIM card in half to avoid being tracked overnight!
Slowly, Ummah tapped Momy's shoulder. "Haba Zuwaira, don't lose heart. An opportunity has just fallen right into our laps."
Completely confused, Momy asked, "What do you mean?"
Ummah flashed a cunning, worldly smile. "We will worm our way into that wretched woman's good graces. Once she lowers her guard around us, we will send that bastard off to a city of no return! What do you say?"
Momy burst into a gleeful laugh. "I swear, it's like you read my mind!"
They both broke into laughter and high-fived each other. (Verily, jealousy and a lack of fear of God lead many to destruction. Evil intentions bring no benefit other than leading a person to ruin! Oh women, please let us cleanse our hearts. Jealousy is a natural human trait present in every healthy woman, but if you handle it the right way, I swear you can live peacefully with anyone. Unfortunately, Momy and Ummah were driven by greed and a total lack of fear of God. O Lord, grant us the strength to conquer our own desires!)
Page 20
Moddibo was seated on the carpet, tying up his luggage bundle, apparently preparing to travel home. Muzaffar walked into the room with a smile on his face. "Baba..." he started, then paused. Hurrying over to Moddibo with a look of distress, he asked, "Baba, surely you haven't started packing already—starting today?"
Moddibo flashed a warm, grandfatherly smile. "My boy, what else am I supposed to stay and wait for? Since God has granted us success in bringing you back to your parents, it is time for me to start preparing to return home, if only for the sake of my Rabe! I know she is missing me terribly right now. I have never taken a journey this long and left her at home by herself; in all the time we've lived together, I've never stayed away overnight because of worrying about what state she might be in if I'm absent. Therefore, tomorrow, God willing, I will hit the road for home." He finished with a smile on his face.
Muzaffar fell silent for a moment. Truly, he was amazed by the deep bond between Moddibo and his foster daughter. Now, if she ever gets married, what is he going to do?
Moddibo patted his shoulder. "My boy, I noticed you've been so happy since yesterday."
Muzaffar smiled and recounted everything to Moddibo. Moddibo was genuinely happy and offered Muzaffar profound, deeply moving advice. Muzaffar's heart melted from Moddibo's counsel; deep down, he wished Moddibo could stay with him permanently—the elderly man had effortlessly captured a place in his heart.
With a heavy heart, Muzaffar stood up for the Isha'i prayer call. Without saying anything further to Moddibo, he headed out.
Moddibo smiled, realizing Muzaffar was acting sullen because he had announced his departure for the next day. Moddibo stood up as well and headed to the mosque.
Just at that moment, Mamie peeked out of the lounge window, caught a glimpse of them walking past, and turned back to continue setting food on the dining table.
After the prayers, Muzaffar spent a long time engaged in personal supplications (adhkar), then they wiped their faces and stepped out together. Dady also emerged around the same time, and they walked back together chatting. Along the way, Muzaffar informed Dady of Moddibo's impending departure. Dady was disappointed to hear it, having grown quite fond of the old man in just one day as if they had known each other for years. Moddibo possessed a unique aura of promptness, patience, and good character that made him exceptionally pleasant to interact with. If you sat with him for even a single day, you couldn't help but love him—the elder had a way of embedding himself in people's hearts.
Upon entering the house, Dady told Moddibo that since he was leaving tomorrow, he must come over to his wing to eat dinner together. But Moddibo flatly refused. Reluctantly, Dady gave up, bade Moddibo goodnight, and headed over to Mamie's wing.
Meanwhile, Moddibo returned to his quarters, followed by Muzaffar. They sat in the lounge, and Muzaffar went over to Mamie's wing to fetch food for them. He returned shortly carrying two large food flasks, accompanied by Zahra, who walked behind him carrying a tray with plates and spoons. She set them down, then fetched another plate covered with a transparent nylon wrap containing delicious-looking egg-and-meat pastries (kosai).
With a greeting, Zahra stepped forward, set the plate down, and respectfully greeted Moddibo. He welcomed her with a warm, beaming face and asked her name. Smiling, she replied, "Zahra."
Moddibo smiled. "Ah, so you are my wife's namesake!"
They all laughed, after which she stood up, wished them goodnight, and retreated to her section.
Page 21
Seated at the dining table eating dinner, Dady informed Mamie of Moddibo's departure scheduled for the following morning, God willing. Mamie's heart skipped a terrifying beat at the mere name her husband uttered. Her entire demeanor changed instantly.
Softly, she asked, "Just as he has arrived, he is leaving already? Is someone chasing him away?"
Dady smiled. "I swear, I said the exact same thing to him, but he stubbornly refused to stay another night."
Throughout this conversation with Dady, she was putting on a brave front ever since she heard the name Moddibo—a name she could never, ever forget in her lifetime.
Dady interrupted her thoughts by telling her how much he had missed her. Mamie smiled and said, "Abban Muzaffar, you talk just like a child!"
He laughed. "Oh, so only children are allowed to be romantic?"
She didn't answer, realizing he was just teasing her. Gently, she set down her spoon, stood up, and briefly said, "Goodnight."
He didn't try to stop her, sensing that her mood had shifted dramatically the moment he mentioned the name Moddibo. What baffled him the most was why she reacted so strongly to someone bearing that name.
Slowly, Dady closed his eyes, disliking anything that would upset his wife. Struggling through the rest of his meal, he stood up and headed into the bedroom. He found her sitting down, apparently just coming out of the bathroom; one look told you she had been crying. Without saying a word, he entered the bathroom, brushed his teeth, took a quick shower, and stepped out. He wasn't surprised to find that she had laid out a traditional men's robe (jallabiya) for him, as that was her customary habit. He smiled, put it on, climbed onto the massive Italian-style bed without a word, and pulled the covers over himself to sleep.
Recognizing on her own that she had offended her husband, Mamie opened her mouth and said, "Please forgive me. I had no choice; circumstances forced it upon me. You know very well that I can never forget someone who bears that name..." and she burst into tears.
Her husband felt profound pity for her. Reaching out to touch her gently, he offered comforting advice, emphasizing once again the importance of accepting divine decree (qadr).
Her body relaxed. Softly, she lifted the covers and lay down beside him. It was then that Dady asked her what she had in mind to gift Moddibo before his departure, wanting to show appreciation for what he did for their son—something he felt giving him the whole world wouldn't repay.
Mamie let out a audible smile. "Let it be. Tomorrow morning we'll talk about it."
She said no more, whispered her protective evening prayers and blew over herself, and shortly after, sleep claimed her.
In Muzaffar and Moddibo's quarters, they were chatting animatedly as if it weren't late into the night. After a long conversation, Moddibo stood up and headed to his room because sleep was overtaking him, and he wanted to make an early departure.
Muzaffar smiled, bidding him a fond goodnight. Slowly, he stood up, turned off the television, lowered the air conditioning, dimmed the lounge lights, and walked over to his own wing. To his surprise, he found his room freshly tidied up. Without anyone telling him, he knew Zahra was behind it.
He smiled. "Bless you, my darling."
He took a bath and stepped out of the bathroom dressed in a crisp white jallabiya. Even though it was sleepwear, the outfit made him look exceptionally handsome. Slowly, he walked over to the edge of his massive Italian-style bed and sat down in silence. One look at him would reveal a shadow of worry on his face.
Touching a small rubber wristband on his hand, a soft smile touched his lips. Softly, he whispered, "I miss you, Rabi'atu. I miss everything about you." He smiled a second time, climbed onto his bed, pulled the covers over himself, and lay down. For a long time, he lay awake thinking about her, reminiscing about her childhood quirks and her frequent smiles. After a lengthy session of deep thought, sleep finally swept him away.
At the first call for dawn prayer (Fajr), Moddibo woke up, headed to the bathroom, washed, performed ablution, and got dressed. He headed to the mosque. Upon entering, he performed the two Sunnah raka'at of Fajr. After completing them, he sat quietly in supplication until congregational Fajr prayer was established.
Leaving the mosque, he ran into Muzaffar, and they walked back home together chatting.
They headed to Moddibo's quarters, where Muzaffar helped him pack and tie up his luggage until daylight broke. Then Dady walked into the suite to greet Moddibo. After exchanging pleasantries, Dady invited him over to greet Muzaffar's mother and share breakfast before hitting the road. Moddibo smiled and said, "No problem. When you go in, let your wife know so I don't barge into her space unannounced."
Dady smiled, looked at Muzaffar, and instructed, "Go ahead and bring him into Mamie's lounge once he's ready." Muzaffar smiled and replied, "Alright, Dady."
As soon as Dady stepped inside, he informed Mamie that Moddibo was coming over to bid her farewell. Mamie smiled and said, "Honestly, he shouldn't leave just yet; he really should have added another two days with us." Dady smiled as they bantered back and forth.
Mamie said, "Let me check on something I left cooking on the stove," and hurried into the kitchen to tend to it.
Right as she stepped out, Moddibo and Muzaffar walked into the lounge. Muzaffar showed Moddibo a seat, and they sat down, exchanging occasional remarks with Dady. Just then, Mamie walked back in to join them.
Moddibo did not look at her face at all, and she likewise kept her gaze averted as she walked into the lounge, a smile gracing her face. Calmly, she took a seat beside Dady and quietly greeted Moddibo.
In a calm, courteous tone, Moddibo began to respond...
Suddenly, Mamie froze in absolute horror upon hearing a voice that she recognized anywhere as belonging to her own flesh and blood.
She stared at Moddibo, and he stared right back at her in sheer shock, pointing a trembling finger at her.
Utterly unable to utter a single word, Moddibo abruptly stood up with the intention of storming out of the lounge entirely!
Quickly, Mamie lunged forward, grabbing his ankles as she wept a heart-wrenching cry. Through her sobs, she cried out, "Please, Brother, I beg you, forgive me! I know I made a mistake in life that I can never fix!" She finished her words sobbing uncontrollably.
In total confusion, Dady stared at them, while Muzaffar stood frozen in absolute bewilderment.
With deep distress, Dady asked Mamie if she knew Moddibo, and what history they shared that made her beg for his forgiveness.
With immense effort, she managed to force the words out: "He is my older brother... it is my brother Moddibo, the one we went searching for fifteen years ago! It is him..." and she broke down in fresh, violent tears.
Mustering all his strength, Moddibo violently yanked his foot free from her grip and stormed out of the lounge at top speed, tears streaming down his face.
He didn't even bother grabbing his luggage; he bolted straight out of the compound entirely!
Out on the street, he hailed a tricycle taxi (keke napep) and hopped in without even telling the driver where he was headed!
Once they were moving, the driver asked, "Malam, where am I taking you?"
Curtly, he replied, "Take me to the motor park. Please, if you know where the Abuja transport is loading, take me straight there because I am in a hurry."
The driver dropped Moddibo off right along Zaria Road, bundled him into an Abuja-bound vehicle, paid the fare on his spot, thanked the driver, and they set off toward Abuja!
Page 21 (Continued)
Ever since Moddibo's abrupt departure, Mamie hadn't stopped crying. Dady's mind was entirely unsettled; completely at a loss for what to do, he found a seat and clutched his throbbing head, which felt impossibly heavy.
The lounge fell into a dead silence, broken only by the sound of Mamie's weeping. Muzaffar finally mustered the courage to speak: "Dady, sitting around like this is not the solution. We just need to get up and go after him. I know he will listen to us. I believe sorting this out is far better than sitting here doing nothing."
Through her tears, Mamie choked out, "I know his nature, Muzaffar, he..."
Summary
The narrative continues with the dramatic revelation of Muzaffar's true identity and lineage, followed by a shocking family reunion intertwined with a tragic past.
When Dady gathers the family to reveal that Mamie is Muzaffar's biological mother and his own first wife, shockwaves ripple through the household. Momy and Ummah, gripped by their prior malicious plots, are exposed, and Zahra expresses deep remorse and support for Muzaffar. Meanwhile, back at the nomadic settlement (ruga), Rabe is consumed by grief and heartbreak over Muzaffar's absence, praying fervently for happiness and endurance.
In the city, Moddibo prepares to return home to his foster daughter Rabe after successfully reuniting Muzaffar with his family. However, a stunning twist occurs during his farewell visit: Moddibo is revealed to be Mamie’s long-lost older brother whom she and her family spent fifteen years searching for. Overwhelmed by deep emotional trauma, past regrets, and shock, Moddibo rejects reconciliation and flees the house in tears, rushing back toward Abuja without his belongings, leaving Mamie, Dady, and Muzaffar in utter devastation.
Description
- Setting: A stark contrast between an opulent, modern city residence in Kano (filled with tensions, luxury, and family drama) and the rustic, emotional isolation of the Fulani nomadic settlement (ruga).
- Tone: Highly dramatic, emotionally charged, suspenseful, and tragic, emphasizing themes of fate, familial separation, profound guilt, and unexpected twists.
Themes: The consequences of long-hidden secrets, the pain of unresolved family trauma, unconditional maternal love, and the haunting impact of past decisions.
Analytics
1. Character Arcs & Psychological Profiles
- Mamie (The Grief-Stricken Sister & Mother): Faces an overwhelming emotional collision—reuniting with her long-lost son only to immediately experience the traumatic rediscovery and subsequent re-loss of her estranged older brother, Moddibo.
- Moddibo (The Resilient Patriarch): Driven by rigid principles and deep emotional scars from past family tragedies. His abrupt flight underscores a profound inability to confront a painful past without time to process.
- Muzaffar (The Bridging Figure): Having transitioned from an outcast to a beloved son, he now attempts to act as a peacemaker and anchor for his fragmented family.
Zahra (The Voice of Empathy): Stands out among the younger generation for her emotional intelligence, accountability, and compassion, contrasting sharply with her mother Momy's malice.
2. Narrative Pacing & Structural Turning Points
- Climax of Secrets: The major exposition where Dady exposes the domestic conspiracy, validating Mamie as Muzaffar's true mother.
- Parallel Narrative Shift: Intercuts urban chaos with Rabe’s rural heartbreak, keeping the emotional stakes high across both settings.
- The Inciting Twist of the Ending: The explosive brother-sister reunion between Moddibo and Mamie, which instantly shatters into tragedy when Moddibo flees, resetting the conflict on a heartbreaking note.
