FreeFreeDescription
Translation (English)
And then Sufwan said, "I don't blame you, Wallahi... because even I have my own plans..." he said briefly. "What is yours?.." Habib asked him in a soft voice. "It comes with revenge on Alhaji Ibrahim's family..." "Hmm, leave him out of it... or his family..." Habib said. Before Habib could finish, Sufwan interrupted: "I cannot leave him out... he is my neighbor... don't you know the condition we are in today, that this man has a huge share in it? Remember, he has the capacity to help us, but this man flatly refused... he is so greedy... and you know greedy people always pay for their greedy attitude," Sufwan said angrily, as if he knew something big was about to happen in their lives.
"Well, he is not the only rich man who didn't help us... remember, he wasn't the only one we went to for help who turned us down... your own uncle refused to help us, let alone some neighbor..." Before Habib could finish, Sufwan said, "That Uncle Musa must pay dearly too... I don't want to talk about him because it always reminds me of my late young sisters... how can I forget to take revenge on someone who stood by and watched, yet refused to help us with the hospital money for my sick sisters? Hmmm, let's just drop it," Sufwan said with extreme bitterness.
"Let's just pray we get the job first... I pray he shouldn't change his mind," Usman said. "And may God make this job a blessing for us... if it's not a blessing, may it fall through," said Habib. Usman laughed and said, "Have you ever seen a job that isn't a blessing? I just know he's not getting it through theft." "Just say Amen," Habib told him shortly. "Amen," they responded, as if they didn't feel like talking.
"Now here is my suggestion: why don't we go into town right now and have some fun? Let's get new clothes and girls... At least we'll have places to go for dating," Usman said. "Great idea," Habib agreed. They hailed a tricycle straight to the market. They went shopping until each of them spent around 30k on themselves, and then they bought five pieces of wrapper material (atampa) each to take home to their mothers. Usman also bought two shadda fabrics for his dad. On their way back home, they ran into Sufwan's uncle—his father's older brother. They greeted him, but he quickly turned his face away as if he hadn't seen them.
Back home, Habib's mother was still inquisitive about where Habib was getting money, making him sit down like a small boy while interrogating him. He told her to calm down, saying it was their time to shine. Reluctantly, she accepted the clothes, and right there he gave her money to get three outfits sewn for herself and two for his sisters.
At Sufwan's house, his mother didn't care about the source of the money at all; she just wanted it to keep coming, no matter the method. There was no gratitude, no prayers; all she thought about was him continuing to bring money. Since he claimed he found a job, and she wasn't the type of mother to call her son down and ask for the truth, she didn't care. All she knew was that she was his mother, and she had total and absolute control over him.
A week later, Nana started her registration at school. Her dad gave her money to buy everything she needed, and she went ahead to buy flashy clothes—though cheap, they looked nice in their own way. Her friend Maryam was just amazed at Nana's attitude, wondering if she was actually going to study. Nana had asked Maryam to stay with her in the hostel since they did everything together.
As for Habib and his friends, they returned to Alhaji Idris's house as instructed to collect money. Again, he gave them the same talk about readiness and willpower. One thing about him was that whenever he talked about money, you would want to grab it by fire and force because he made money look like the only joy and happiness in life. "You will do whatever you want, and no one will stop you; even the filthy authorities will be at your beck and call," he told them. Seeing how deeply he had influenced them, he brought out money and gave them 100k each. They thanked him as usual and left.
As expected of people suddenly seeing cash, within two weeks they started changing. Some of their peers wondered what was happening because the transformation was rapid. Habib's mother had no peace of mind due to the way Habib was constantly handling money, but Sufwan's mother never asked even once where the goodies were coming from—whatever he brought, she accepted.
Thus, a month passed. Alhaji Idris called them to his house and informed them to get ready because they would be traveling tomorrow. They jumped up in joy because they couldn't wait to start working for real cash.
(The narrator notes the end of the free pages, listing payment instructions and bank details for readers who wish to continue.)
Summary
In this excerpt, friends Habib, Sufwan, and Usman find themselves drawn into a shady path under the influence of a wealthy man named Alhaji Idris, who tempts them with easy money and lectures on greed and power. While Habib and Sufwan harbor deep-seated grudges against family members and neighbors (such as Sufwan's uncle Musa and unhelpful neighbors) who refused to help them during past financial crises, they embrace the influx of cash.
Their mothers react very differently: Habib's mother is deeply suspicious, anxious, and constantly prays for him, while Sufwan's mother blindly accepts the money with entitlement, demanding more and offering no maternal guidance or prayers. Meanwhile, a girl named Nana starts university, eagerly embracing her newfound freedom, discarding conservative norms, and ignoring her friend Maryam’s warnings about provocative dressing and safety.
Culminating at the end of the chapter, Alhaji Idris summons the young men for a mysterious trip out of state to Anambra, setting the stage for a dangerous turning point despite the tearful pleas and deep foreboding of Habib's mother.
Description
This narrative is a contemporary Nigerian fiction piece that explores themes of poverty, desperation, peer pressure, moral corruption, and the allure of wealth. It highlights the stark contrast between responsible, prayerful parenting (embodied by Habib's mother) and negligent, demanding parenting (exemplified by Sufwan's mother). The plot moves briskly through urban settings, university campuses, and domestic households, capturing the social pressures faced by modern Nigerian youth and the slippery slope of chasing quick riches.
Analytics
- Genre: Contemporary Nigerian Fiction / Drama / Moral Thriller
- Key Themes:
- The corrupting influence of poverty and the desperation for quick wealth.
- Parental dynamics and styles (protective/anxious vs. exploitative/indifferent).
- Vengeance and lingering bitterness from past hardships.
- Youth autonomy and peer pressure in tertiary institutions.
- Main Characters:
- Habib: Driven by past suffering, pressured by his conscience and anxious mother, yet yielding to easy money.
- Sufwan: Bitter and vengeful toward neighbors and family (Uncle Musa) who failed to help his family during his sister's illness; easily manipulated.
- Usman: More lighthearted about the sudden wealth and eager to enjoy life.
- Alhaji Idris: A manipulative, wealthy figure grooming the young men for illicit activities under the guise of "work."
- Mamanmu (Habib's Mom): Loving, highly intuitive, anxious, and prayerful.
- Inna (Sufwan's Mom): Demanding, ungrateful, emotionally detached, and controlling.
- Nana: A newly admitted university student eager to break free from home constraints and adopt a flashy, rebellious lifestyle.
