Mr Romantic 1 Hausa Book Completed

Description

During this journey that Papa took, it coincided with the trip of His Highness and Uwah to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. He spent a month there before he began making preparations to return home. After handing over his remaining duties to his younger brother Abdulrazaq, who lives with his family right there in Abuja, he left. However, on the night of his return, his heart sank when Fadwa was handed over to him, and he looked at her. In just four short weeks, the little girl had completely lost her health, looking nothing like a normal baby; she had grown terribly emaciated, and some pimples had broken out on her like chickenpox, with absolutely no sign of care shown to her body whatsoever. He suppressed his emotions, held the baby, and said nothing. When Khadijah was brought to him later, he clearly saw the selfishness of his wife reflected in the appearance of her children, which was so obvious it didn’t need to be told. All the signs of a healthy infant receiving proper care were visible on Khadijah, but the exact opposite was true for Fadwa. The poor thing’s eyes bulged out wide, looking like someone who was purposely straining them. A long, intense look from Papa caused many thoughts to take root in his mind at that moment, but he suppressed everything inside. In the days that followed, he intensified his observation of the little girl’s situation. It was then that he noticed how his wife treated the schedule for taking care of Fadwa as a trivial matter. She wouldn’t let Habiba leave to care for Fadwa until nighttime, and despite all her maids, Habiba was never spared during the day; it reached a point where, occasionally throughout the day, Habiba had to interrupt some of her duties to go to Fadwa’s room and give her milk. Moreover, at that time, Imam and the others had returned to school and weren’t around much—especially now that they no longer lived in the same section of the house as frequently as before. What burned Papa the most was how, despite his return, his wife hadn't changed her attitude toward caring for the child, even with him watching. It was so extreme that he even began to wonder if there was still any heart left in the chest of the Fatima he was seeing now.

Around that time, His Highness and party returned from Umrah. On the day they arrived, Momma went to greet Uwah after leaving His Highness's section, and she found Uwah holding Fadwa, who had been brought to her. Seeing the way Uwah was glaring at her, Momma’s heart skipped a beat, but because her heart had already grown hardened regarding the matter, she put on a bold face and greeted her. Immediately, without hiding her burning anger, Uwah said, "Fatima! May Allah further correct your heart so you can attain success in your hereafter; if not, your life is a spectacle, and your character will not be an example for the children who came from your loins!" Right then, Momma burst into tears because the words struck her deeply and tasted bitter in her soul—what did she even do, after all? Uwah shook her head, knowing she was only seeing tears on her face because she knew Fatima wouldn't change.

In a rage, Momma left Uwah’s section that day with a burning heart and went straight to her husband’s parlor. She found him sitting with the children, with Jidda lying against him. Seeing this, he asked Imam and the others who were sitting there to give them some space. Once they stepped out, he looked at her but said nothing until she grew tired of the silence and asked, "Tell me, what wrong did that child commit among you that people have started openly cursing me because of her?" Calmly, he shook his head without showing any sign of anger or its opposite on his face, then said, "Not at all, Fatima. Fadwa is like Khadijah to me, so there is no way she will ever surpass you in my heart; you are more important to me. However, the things you do to her make me want to separate you from her, just as you want." She stood staring at him, and he took her hand and said, "I will separate you from her; her care will no longer be a source of worry for you forever, by the will of Allah. However, I am going to MARRY someone whom I want to look after her, since she is also my child, Fatima. The duty of caring for her rests upon my shoulders just like my other children, and I don't want us to fall into sin regarding her and commit an offense before God." Slowly, she withdrew her hand from his in a numb, lifeless fashion, her body freezing up as if she had no blood left in her veins. Seeing this, he lowered his voice further and said, "This is for the best, Fatima. I don't want this child to become a priority amid the friction coming between us. I love you immensely. Know that whoever is coming will never surpass you in my heart, ever." Trembling, she said, "Just shut up, Abdulaziz!" She stood up, her body shaking fiercely, and said, "Me?! You are taking a second wife over a foundling child?! You couldn't find any other reason to take a second wife except because of a child you picked up abandoned in the freezing cold of Texas?!" He stared at her fixedly, saying nothing. She clapped her hands mockingly and said, "What a lie! I swear you are lying, Abdulaziz!" Only then did he speak: "I've made my mind up, Fatima, and this is what will bring a solution between us." With a trembling voice, she said, "I swear it's a lie! Nonsense and useless solutions! If you are looking for a solution, take her and give her to your relatives to raise! Take her to Abdulrazaq’s house! Instead of saying you are taking a second wife because of her!" She gave a loud hiss and said, "Really, indeed, Abdulaziz!" She spun around furiously and stormed out of the parlor as he watched her go.

That night, he told Uwah about the decision he had made. She simply stared at him without saying anything. Seeing this, he lowered his voice a bit: "I think this is the only thing that will bring us a solution. I want Fadwa to grow up with the same pampering that all our other children will receive, and Fatima is not making any effort regarding that." Only then did Uwah nod in agreement, because everyone in the house went to sleep knowing that. Then she smiled and said, "Whose daughter is this person you want to marry?" He replied, "We started talking not too long ago. She is the daughter of Muhammad Shettima." She asked, "Chief Muhammad Shettima of Borno?" Papa nodded slowly, looking at his mother. She let out a breath and said, "None of this is wrong, and taking another wife is also not wrong. May Allah decree what is best. As long as you think this will mend the tear in your household, I give you one hundred percent support. May Allah guide you." He responded and stood up to leave, while she watched him as many thoughts swirled through her mind. This was what she had prayed for Allah to show her for a long time, because undoubtedly, this new wife was the only rival who could blunt Fatima’s sharp edge—she had been too sharp with Abdulaziz. And this decision he had made brought immense relief to her heart, indicating that her son was beginning to stand firm against his wife. That was an act of bravery in her eyes.

After they performed the Isha prayer, Papa made sure His Highness was settled in his section as he did every night, and approached him with the matter. Calmly, the old man listened to him and understood. When Papa finished speaking, His Highness lowered his voice and said, "I am not opposed to yours, but I do not want you to build an endless war between your child and your wife. It would be more appropriate for you to take another wife because you intended to do so, but do not use this child as an excuse when she knows nothing. You will wrap her in a dangerous shield whose origin she knows nothing about when she grows up. Moreover, this will never yield a bright, prosperous outcome in your family." Papa nodded, deeply pained by his father’s words. He knew too well that this would also bring immense hatred upon Fadwa, but he had no choice; he could not stand by and watch the child being harmed without taking action. He had brought her home to give her all the care she had missed and to earn a reward from God, but with what was currently happening, he wasn't sure he could achieve that goal if he let things continue as they were.

Calmly, he explained further to his father. He also knew that the way Uwah had received the matter, she would help soften the old man’s stance on it, remembering that there had always been a great relationship between Binta’s father and His Highness—he always looked at her like a daughter. However, Allah turned the matter around, because Papa didn’t leave the section until they had already started discussing the arrangement for the wedding, and he told his father he didn't want to waste any time.

He felt a heavy weight lift from his heart seeing how his parents received the matter. When he returned to his section, he didn't find Momma there as she usually was every night, and he knew it would be so, because he was prepared for all her tantrums this time. Instead, he went out again to the Twins' section, since he hadn't seen them since morning. At the entrance of their quarters, he stopped and exchanged greetings with the two guards who cared for the place; like a commoner, he warmly answered their greetings, and they showered him with praise until he stepped inside. In the large parlor, he found them after Laure had served them various types of food she cooked, from which they could choose. Imam was lying on a couch, sketching on a white sheet, while Imran was watching TV. When he entered, Imran turned and said, "Papa, good evening." Smiling, he walked over and sat on a couch. Imam sat up, and they greeted him, and he answered. Once again, he reached out and took the sheet Imam was sketching on to look at it carefully. He tried to recognize the building, but his mind went blank, so he looked at Imam and asked, "What's this?" Imam moved closer so they could look at it together, and he pointed his finger at a section he hadn't finished sketching, saying, "This has to go from here to the top," and pointing to another part, "And from there, it goes straight to the outer layers of..." before he could finish, Papa looked at him again and said, "I mean the building, Imam; how am I supposed to know the outer or inner layers?" he finished, smiling. Imam smiled too and replied, "It's JPMorgan Chase Tower." Papa furrowed his brow in initial confusion, then said, "Houston??" Imam nodded and reached over to turn the sheet around in Papa’s hands because he had been holding it sideways, which was why he didn't recognize it. At that moment, Papa opened his eyes wide in realization, then turned back to look at Imam with astonishment, saying, "How did you kn—" "How do you know it?" Imran chimed in, "Papa, you took us there, remember?" He nodded, looking at the sheet again. To this day, he didn't think he would ever stop marveling at the things Imam could sketch—it was just raw talent that Allah had blessed the boy with before he had even been anywhere in life. He said again, "But who taught you this?" Imam shook his head and said, "I just did it." Papa remained silent, saying nothing as he looked at his son. He ate dinner with them in that section before leaving.

He hadn't heard Momma come in by the time he went to bed, so he finally walked over to her section. As he entered, her maids all cleared out to give him space. He walked all the way to her bedroom door and pushed it, but found it locked. He knocked softly, but there was silence—she didn't answer. He gave up and headed to the room where Fadwa was. There, Habiba also stepped out to give him privacy. He went inside; Fadwa was lying in her crib, not asleep, with her baby bottle sitting on a stool nearby, showing Habiba had recently given her milk. Gently, he bent down, picked her up, and sat on the resting sofa in the room, playing softly with her cheek using his finger while she looked at him. He stared at her intently with pity; the child was pitiful and so vulnerable in his arms. She yawned, and he covered her mouth with his hand. With that, her eyes began to droop with sleep, and he smiled, knowing how much she loved to sleep. Rather than crying, the little child turned out to be someone who slept frequently. He put her back in her crib, tucked her in, said prayers over her, and left. He didn't go back to Momma's room; instead, he headed straight to his own quarters.

Summary

In this chapter, Papa returns from a month-long trip to Saudi Arabia and is deeply shocked to find his adopted baby, Fadwa, neglected, emaciated, and sickly due to his wife Momma’s deep resentment and deliberate withholding of proper care. When Momma visits Uwah (the matriarch), Uwah severely rebukes her cold-hearted character and lack of maternal empathy toward the innocent child. Enraged, Momma confronts Papa, demanding to know why people are insulting her over "a foundling." Papa calmly informs her that because of her failure to care for Fadwa, he has decided to take a second wife from Borno (the daughter of Chief Muhammad Shettima) to ensure Fadwa receives proper protection and love, while reassuring Momma that she still holds his primary affection.

Momma flies into a hysterical rage, insults Fadwa, and rejects the decision, while Papa secures the tacit approval of both Uwah and His Highness (the Emir/patriarch), despite His Highness's warning that bringing in a second wife might institutionalize a permanent feud. Later, Papa visits his older sons, marveling at Imam’s extraordinary, self-taught architectural drawing talent of buildings like the JPMorgan Chase Tower in Houston. He checks on Fadwa at night, offering her gentle affection before retiring alone, while Momma spends the night in bitter turmoil, venting on the phone to her sister Aina'u, who criticizes her rigidity, warns her about the dangers of antagonizing a royal husband in line for the throne, and advises her to mend fences. The chapter closes with Momma trying to suppress her anger, showering affection on her biological children, Khadija and Jidda, while stiffly resisting Papa's impending departure back to Abuja.

Comments

• The Toxicity of Prejudice: The chapter brilliantly illustrates how baseless prejudice can distort a person's humanity. Momma’s hatred for an innocent, defenseless baby ("yar tsintuwa" / foundling) poisons her own household, alienates her husband, and exposes her deep insecurities.
• Papa’s Balanced Leadership: Papa demonstrates emotional intelligence and firm resolve. Unlike traditional patriarchs who might resort to brute force, he handles the domestic crisis with calculated maturity—seeking counsel from his parents, standing up for a vulnerable child, and making decisive structural changes to protect her.
• The Contrast in Motherhood: The stark contrast between Momma’s cold neglect of Fadwa and her fierce, doting love for her biological children (Khadijah and Jidda) highlights a flawed moral compass that Uwah and Aina'u rightly call out.

Conclusions

• Inevitability of Consequences: Momma’s stubborn pride and refusal to compromise have directly triggered the very outcome she feared most: the introduction of a co-wife ("kishiya"). Her refusal to show basic human empathy toward Fadwa has shattered her monopoly on her husband's household.
• The Burden of Royalty: As Aina'u points out to Momma, living in a royal household requires tactical wisdom, respect, and emotional regulation. Momma’s abrasive, defiant approach toward her husband threatens not only her marriage but her children's future standing in a prominent royal lineage.

Analytics

• Character Dynamics & Power Shifts:
  • Papa shifts from a passive observer to an active protector, exercising his prerogative to marry a second wife from a prominent Borno family (Muhammad Shettima).
  • Momma experiences a sharp loss of leverage; her tantrums no longer work on Papa, and even her closest confidante (Sister Aina'u) refuses to completely validate her irrational hatred of Fadwa.
• Subplots & Thematic Motifs:
  • Imam’s Genius: The brief interlude featuring Imam's uncanny, self-taught architectural sketching of the JPMorgan Chase Tower provides a brilliant literary contrast to the domestic toxicity—symbolizing raw, divine gifts and higher aspirations within the family.
  • The Symbolism of Fadwa: Fadwa serves as a moral litmus test for every character in the household. Her vulnerability exposes the cruelty of Momma, the wisdom of the elders, and the protective integrity of Papa.

Comprehensive Thematic and Psychological Breakdown

1. The Architecture of Domestic Power and Control

The narrative operates as a clinical dissection of a power struggle within a patriarchal elite setting. Momma’s mistreatment of Fadwa is not merely passive neglect; it is an active, aggressive exertion of control. By deliberately starving the infant of proper medical attention, nutrition, and timely care (using staff like Habiba as pawns), Momma attempts to establish an absolute boundary: What enters this household outside of my bloodline will not survive or thrive.

Papa’s counter-strategy is a masterclass in quiet, unyielding authority. In traditional settings, a husband threatening a second wife is often portrayed as impulsive or emotionally reactive. Here, however, Papa’s decision is framed as a structural correction. He recognizes that negotiation with a narcissist who lacks basic empathy is futile. By bringing in the daughter of Chief Muhammad Shettima of Borno, Papa does two things:

• The Moral Mandate: He fulfills his religious and ethical obligation to protect a vulnerable child whose safety has been compromised.
• The Strategic Checkmate: He introduces an external power center into the home. As Uwah astutely notes, Momma’s sharp edge has long needed a blunt instrument to check her dominance.

2. The Psychology of Rationalization and Denial

Momma’s phone conversation with her sister, Aina'u, lays bare the psychology of enablers and self-delusion. Aina'u’s reaction is fascinating: she refuses to coddle Momma, yet she herself admits that she has also grown to resent Fadwa simply because the child "ruined" her sister's marriage dynamic.

• This reveals a generational and familial flaw: the women of Momma's circle view marriage not as a partnership of mutual respect, but as a zero-sum game of territorial dominance.
• Aina'u’s warning about the realities of living in an Emirate family highlights the systemic precarity of women who weaponize their husband's affection. In royal and high-status households, arrogance without tactical diplomacy is a liability. Momma's failure to recognize this makes her own downfall self-inflicted.

3. The Dualism of Paternity and Mentorship

Papa’s interactions split across two distinct poles in this chapter, revealing his internal duality:

• The Protector of the Vulnerable: With Fadwa, he is gentle, observant, and heavy-hearted. He recognizes his failure to fully shield her, and his late-night visits to her crib show a deep, quiet remorse.
• The Awed Father: The scene with Imam is arguably the emotional anchor of the chapter. Imam’s spontaneous architectural sketching of the JPMorgan Chase Tower serves as a brilliant literary device. While the adults are consumed by petty tribalism, malice, and marital warfare, Imam’s mind is constructing skyscrapers. Papa’s reaction—transitioning from paternal affection to sheer, awed reverence for his son's raw, unprompted genius—reminds the reader that these characters exist within a wider world of intellect and legacy, making their petty domestic hatreds look all the more tragic and small.

4. The Inevitability of Generational Echoes

Uwah’s warning to Momma ("your character will not be an example for the children who came from your loins") touches upon the central theme of legacy. Momma’s sudden pivot at the end of the chapter—showering affection on Jidda and Khadijah and lecturing her sons on unity—is a frantic attempt to lock down her territory. She realizes that by pushing her husband away, she risks losing her grip on her biological children as well. Yet, her affection remains conditional and weaponized, contrasting sharply with the universal, unconditional compassion that true leadership and motherhood demand in this literary universe.