Zuciya Da Kwanji 1 Book Compele

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1. ZUCIYA DA KWANJI 

"We will talk later, there is something I want us to discuss." He paused and then said, "Okay, may God spare our lives," and walked out of the kitchen. Mommah sighed inwardly, wondering whether he would agree or not.

She hadn’t even finished parking the car when she opened the door, stepped out, and walked away crying. In the large parlor, she found Daddy, who had just returned from seeing off his friend, along with Mommah and Mommy sitting on a sofa, while Mufeeda stood by the stairs typing on her phone. She walked straight to Daddy and burst into a fresh wave of weeping. Looking at her in astonishment, he asked, "Hey, what is wrong with you? What did they do to you?" Instead of answering, she squatted on the spot and continued sobbing loudly. Daddy, who hated being ignored when he spoke, yelled angrily, "Didn't you hear me talking to you?" Between heavy sobs, she managed to say, "Daddy, I am tired, I am so tired of staying at Farooq's house, I swear. Daddy, he is going to take another wife, Daddy, he is getting married again!"

Looking at her in surprise, he asked, "Did Farooq himself tell you he is getting married?" Lowering her weeping tone, she replied, "Yes, Daddy, that is exactly what he just finished telling me. And he said I cannot stop him. When I told him I would report to you, he asked who you thought you were, saying that even if I told you he would still go ahead, and that not even B. Musa coming back to life could stop him from doing it, and..."

Daddy stopped her by raising his hand. He began pacing up and down the parlor, the veins on his forehead bulging, and shook his head. After pacing for at least 5 minutes, he declared, "Then definitely I'll show him my true colour. He will find out who Idris B. Musa is! Not just him, I will drag his father into trouble too!" With that, he stormed out of the parlor so fast as if he were about to fly.

Nimrah started wiping her tears, knowing that at the very least Daddy wouldn't let him go through with the marriage. Mommah looked at her and called, "Nimrah! Nimrah!" Nimrah looked at Mommah, then cast her gaze downward. Mommah shook her head and said, "Go on. So you only brought this up because you know your father's temperament, right? Do you think if your marriage breaks down, someone else is the loser?" Between sobs, Nimrah replied, "I swear, Mommah, I am not lying, that is what he told me, and he even insulted me. Mommy, please, did I lie?" Mommy smiled slightly and said, "How could I know? But I do know Farooq's character." Nimrah wiped her tears, stood up, and said, "I swear I didn't frame him," before heading upstairs. Mufeeda, who had been watching, waited until Nimrah left before turning to Mommah and saying, "I swear, Mommah, she is framing him. Farooq would never insult Daddy." Mommah shook her head and replied, "I know, Mufeeda. Nimrah doesn't listen; all the things I tell her never sink in." Mommy let out a breath and said, "The other day when she came over, we talked, but that Farooq is also at fault."

"Even if he is at fault, she is at fault too. How can you be in your husband's house and show him no obedience? Is that how you saw us behaving? If we acted like that, would we still have stories to tell? But she'll get what's coming to her, I swear!" With that, Mommah got up and went upstairs. Mommy just stared after her before murmuring, "May God set things right."

She was walking, dragging her feet because she was thoroughly exhausted. It was around 6:00 PM, and the streets were bustling with noise—children running back and forth, some in Islamiyya uniforms and others in casual clothes. In this manner, she reached the front of their house, pulled up short, and stopped to stare with a look of profound astonishment. He stood up from the concrete slab where he was sitting and approached her with a smile.

"Hi dear," she heard his voice. She remained silent, staring at him. He rubbed his head with a smile and said, "Sorry, you don't know me, do you? I'm Al-ameen Jameel Giwa. I'm a physician doctor, working at my mom's clinic. Our dad passed away at least 10 years ago now, and I live on Abacha road. That's it." The way he threw his hands up at the end made her offer a small smile. Al-ameen looked at her and said, "And you haven't told me who you are either; I don't even know your name." Salma stayed quiet for a moment before saying, "I'm Salma Abubakar. I live with my Abba and Umma. My Ammina passed away when I was very young." Shaking his head with pity, he said, "Oh dear, how sad, may God forgive her." Salma, whose eyes were beginning to tear up, said, "Ameen, thank you." He glanced at his watch and said, "Maghrib is getting close, Salma, and you look like you're coming from somewhere else. Since we know where your house is now, bye." She stayed silent, then turned and headed home. Glancing back, she saw he was still standing there watching her.

"Are you coming back?" she asked him. He nodded with a smile, and she turned and went inside her house. Al-ameen sighed, then walked toward his car, feeling a quiet sense of calm in his heart. Giving the customary greeting, she entered their house and hurried over to the straw mat upon seeing her father struggling to adjust his leg...

"Abba..." she said weakly. Malam Habu stroked her head with trembling hands as tears of agony streamed from his eyes. He wanted to speak, but couldn't. Salma stood up, lifted the room's curtain, and called Umma's name, but there was dead silence; Umma wasn't even in the house. She came back, sat down, and stared at his leg, which was bloated and weeping fluid, while tears fell across her face. Weeping, she clutched his shirt, saying, "Take heart, Abba. May God grant you health, Abba. May God relieve you of this pain. Innalil lahi wa ina ilayhi raji'un, Astagfirullaha wa'a tubu ilayk."

While she sat there crying, Umma Rahmatu greeted them and walked into the house. Looking at her in surprise, Umma dropped her polythene bag, hung her veil on the rope, and said, "What new trick of crying have you invented today? Can't you let him deal with his pain in peace?" Raising her head to look at her, Salma said, "Umma, let's take Abba to the hospital. His leg is leaking fluid, Umma. I think the bonesetter didn't set it properly, come and see, Umma!"

"God forbid! Is it your goal in life to never see us live in peace? The little money we currently have, you must find a way to waste it on your father, right? Well, I swear, you've seen nothing yet—enough of this nonsense. Everyone whose broken bones he sets doesn't complain, but you are the expert critic!" Salma shook her head and said, "No, Umma, I swear this looks severe, and the bandage should be unwrapped to see what's going on." Angrily, Umma snapped, "What kind of foolish girl are you? Have you ever seen a broken bone unwrapped at home? It's never done directly; the bonesetter has to be called to undo it!" Salma stood up, still wearing her hijab, and said, "Then Umma, let me go and call him." Umma shouted at her, "Look at this girl! Come back here and light the fire for me to cook, and leave Safiya to call the bonesetter!" With a heavy heart, Salma stopped, glanced sideways at her father to see his eyes closed, and then picked up the bag of charcoal and headed to the cooking area.

She rushed out of the room, shouting, and burst into the room where she had been sleeping, calling out:

"Salma! Salma! Ummusalma, come out and see! Innalil lahi wa ina ilayhi raji'un!" Salma, who was a light sleeper, opened her eyes and looked at her mother in panic, asking, "Umma, what happened that you're calling me at this dead of night?" Umma grabbed her hand, and they hurried out of the room, crying as she said, "Come and see, Salma, we are doomed!" Her heart hammering wildly, Salma followed her into the room. Seeing her father sitting up, she let out a hidden sigh of relief. Umma rushed over to him, staring and saying, "Salama, look! Your father's leg is crawling, Salama! I swear there are worms in his leg, I think it has rotted, Salma!"

HCDLight within the darknessNanameera

THE LIGHT WITHIN THE DARKNESS 💋

Chapter 08: Strings Attached

Salma clutched her chest and ran into her father's room. She found him sitting down, his eyes closed, sweat breaking out all over him despite it not being hot season. She knelt on her knees, tears streaming down her face—truly, there were worms in her father's leg. Placing her hand on her head, she let out a piercing scream. Umma, standing over them, rushed over crying too, saying, "We are ruined, Salma! What happened to your father?" Salma stood up saying, "Umma, let me go call the bonesetter to examine him," and headed for the exit. Umma quickly ran after her, grabbed her hand, and said, "Where are you going in the middle of the night? Whatever it is, let's leave it till morning!" Salma burst into tears, shaking her head. Umma said nothing more; she took Salma's hand and they returned to the room. Salma sat beside her father, sobbing uncontrollably. Malam Habu, feeling an excruciating wave of pain racking his body, stroked her head in comfort. She raised her head, looked at him, and saw how red and swollen his eyes were. Weeping, she said, "Abba, please forgive me. It's my fault. I didn't get money early enough to take you to the hospital. Forgive me, Abba..." She finished by holding his hand. Malam Habu just shook his head, unable to utter even a single word. Umma sat propping her chin on her hand, wondering what they would do tomorrow. They sat there with him until the early morning Adhan was called. Salma stood up, looked at Umma, and said, "They are coming out for Subh prayer now, Umma, let me go get him." Without waiting for Umma's reply, she hurried outside. She opened their gate and started walking. There weren't many people on the street, save for a few heading to the mosque. She walked until she reached the front of Malam Audi the bonesetter's house. She paused, hesitated for a moment, and knocked on the door. After five minutes, someone opened it. The woman looked at her in surprise. Salma curtsied slightly and said, "Good morning." "Morning, who are you?" Timidly, Salma said, "U... Actually, it's about my Abba whose broken leg Lawan's father set. It's hurting, so I came to call him to come and check it—the leg has worms." The woman stared at Salma silently for a moment before saying, "Oh dear, may God grant him health. Malam went to the neighborhood mosque; you can go look for him there." Salma simply said "Okay," turned away, and walked briskly.

She quickly stood up from the concrete slab where she sat upon seeing people stream out of the mosque. Spotting him walking toward her, she hurried over to stand before him. Looking at her in surprise, he asked, "Is everything alright, Ummusalma?" Salma said, "Actually, it's my Abba; he is unwell, his leg is hurting so badly it has worms," finishing her sentence in tears. Visibly shaken, he said, "Subhanallah, let's go see." With that, he walked ahead while she followed behind.

He shook his head after finishing examining Abba's leg, looked at Salma who was crouching nearby in tears, and then at Umma who stood with a cup in her hand. Seeing him stay silent, Salma asked, "What is wrong with my Abba?" He sighed before answering, "The setting that was done slipped out of place, and nobody noticed it to reset it. Now, he has to be taken to the hospital." Umma clapped her hands to her head and began shaking it, crying, "Innalil lahi wa ina ilayhi raji'una, we are finished!" Salma stood up, grabbed her hand while crying too, and said, "Take heart, Umma, God will grant him health; we will take him to the hospital." Umma yanked her hand away, retreated to the doorway, and resumed wailing: where on earth would they find the money to take him to the hospital now?!

4:35 PM

Mami smiled as she continued slicing lettuce in front of her, saying, "So what are you going to do at Orange market?" Nayla, standing nearby peeling Maggi cubes, replied, "I want to buy some lemons, Mami." Mami said, "Okay, wait till tomorrow, God willing, and we'll go together." Nayla smiled and said, "Yay, our Mami! That's why I love you so much." Mami just shook her head with a smile. He pushed open the kitchen door and stepped inside, looking at them. Nayla turned to look at him and said, "My lover, where are you off to?" He shook his head and said, "Come here and hear," before walking back out of the kitchen. She put down the Maggi packet since she had finished peeling, washed her hands at the sink, and walked out. Mami watched them go.

She found him sitting on the sofa typing on his phone. She sat beside him with a smile and asked, "What's going up, Lover?" He put down his phone and said, "I want you to accompany me out." She sat quietly, looking at him before asking, "Where are we going?"

"If you aren't coming with me, then forget it, get up." She pouted playfully and said, "And when did I say I wouldn't go with you, lover? Lemme take a shower." He smiled and said, "Alright, little duck, go ahead." She smiled back, stood up, and headed upstairs.

Asokoro, Abuja.

Ever since Daddy started talking, Zayyad had been staring at him. Noticing the intense look, Daddy asked, "Anything wrong, Zayyad?"

Zayyad just shook his head, tapped his phone, and said, "Nothing, Dad, I'm listening."

Daddy nodded and continued, "As I said before, you see we have a good relationship with General Kabeer, and I know him. I know his character; he has no issues, and I'm sure his family has no issues either. I want you to go and check out the girl, Zayyad. See her, and if she suits you, we'll take things further. But if you find she doesn't suit you, you won't be forced. Do try to go and hear her out." Zayyad sighed and said, "Don't worry, Dad, I'll do it." Daddy smiled and said, "That's why you've always been my favorite." Zayyad smiled back and said, "Thank you, Daddy." With that, he stood up, reached for his car keys, and said, "In sha Allah, I'll go tomorrow just as you requested." Daddy nodded and said, "May God spare our lives. When you're free, I want you to speak with that boy Farooq, because I can't stand talking to him myself." Zayyad simply said "Okay" and walked out of the parlor.

He headed straight to Mommah's apartment, pushing the door open with a greeting that those inside might not even hear. He spotted her sitting comfortably on a sofa playing with her phone. He walked closer, looked at her, and snapped:

"Hey!"

Startled, she looked up at him, then cast her gaze down. He glared at her and said, "Don't you dare spend the night in this house! Pack everything you brought with you and go back to your husband's house, or else..." He finished with a fierce look, not bothering to wait for a response as he walked toward Mommah's bedroom. Nimrah stared after him before bursting into tears. Why on earth would he tell her to go back? She stood up, grabbed her phone, left the parlor, and went downstairs to see Mommy.

Looking almost ready to cry, Zayyad said, "Now this is what you people will keep doing to me? Dad says I should go see the General's daughter, and now Mommah, you say we should reconcile with Fatiha? This little girl, she's Nayla's age mate, Mommah!" Mommah looked at him in surprise and asked, "When did you talk to your dad?"

"Just now."

She curled her lip and said, "Anyway, just because you went to see the one he mentioned doesn't mean you won't listen to what I have to say. I don't like marriages of friends' children turning into endless bickering like Nimrah's. But I know Fatiha very well; she's my older sister's daughter."

"But Mommah..."

Cutting him off with a wave of her hand as she continued arranging clothes that had just been ironed, she said, "I have spoken my final word. Unless you want to show me that you no longer respect my boundaries." Zayyad just stared at her, seeing her face locked in a stern expression completely unlike her usual self. He never liked upsetting Mommah, so he stood up, looked at her, and said, "Alright Mommah, I will." Without looking at him, she replied, "God willing."

"But Mommah, smile man," he finished with a slight grin. She glared at him and said, "As if you love seeing me smile." Opening his eyes wide, he exclaimed, "Mommah, if I don't love your smile, whose smile would I love?" She rolled her eyes and said, "Get out of here, I don't want your sweet talk." He rubbed his head, saying, "But Mommah, I'm hungry. You didn't give me food today; you've completely stopped loving your son." Seeing his pitifully feigned expression made her smile as she said, "Fine, come to the parlor and I'll give you some." He turned to leave, but before heading out, he noticed Nimrah wasn't in the parlor. Looking at Mommah, who was heading to the kitchen, he said, "Make sure I don't find that girl still in this house when I get back, Mommah, or I swear I'll make her miserable." Mommah replied, "Zayyad, talk to her yourself. Nimrah doesn't listen; I've run out of ideas regarding her behavior. No matter what is told to her, she won't change." He scoffed and said, "I'm coming back." With that, he headed out of the parlor.

"What about your food?"

"I'll eat when I get back, Mommah."

Farooq sighed, looked at Zayyad, and said, "I don't even know how to tell you this, I can't explain it. Nimrah doesn't want to live with me, Zayyad. I can't even speak to her and expect her to listen. If I'm not careful, she flies into a rage and starts screaming. I don't know when she became like this. To bring an end to all these problems, I said I would marry another wife, but if you saw the kind of stunt Nimrah pulled, it would shock you. Can you imagine she even smashed my system? I'm sure if she had the chance, she might even beat me up! And she walked out of the house without my consent—which is something she's used to doing. I never know when she's leaving or when she's coming back. How is life supposed to go on like this?"

Zayyad, sitting beside him with dark shades hiding his eyes, shook his head and said, "That's exactly why I looked for you; I wanted to find out where the problem lies. Don't worry, Nimrah will be going back later today, and whatever she does again, just tell me. And one thing—don't stop pursuing a second marriage; find someone else and marry her." Farooq smiled happily and said, "Thank you very much, may God increase your status." Zayyad stood up, took his car keys, and said, "Alright, see you later." Farooq offered his hand, they shook, and Zayyad left Transcorp.

Ever since he stepped outside, his eyes had been locked on her until he reached his parked Lexus. She was wearing a knee-length dress, her hair loose and neatly styled, and her face heavily made up. She didn't notice him at all because her attention was entirely focused on her friends, who were also heavily dolled up. Zayyad scoffed, hopped into his car without acknowledging her, sat inside for a while, and then started the engine and drove away.

As the Maghrib Adhan was being called, he entered the house. He found everyone sitting together in the parlor chatting. One glance was enough for him to focus on Nimrah, who, upon seeing him, instantly clutched Mommy tighter. Angrily, she snapped at him, but he shouted, "Hey, come here!" She looked at Mommy, then at Mommah, but Mommah refused to meet her gaze. She stood up and walked over to where he stood. Zayyad looked her up and down before saying,

"So you have lost your mind, right? Are you crazy? When did you learn these animalistic behaviors? When did you become so spoiled, Nimrah? Who is behind all of this? Who changed you? Who are you associating with? What do you take marriage for?! Tell me!"

Tears instantly flooded her face as she wept, "Yaya, he keeps saying he's going to marry another wife! I swear by Almighty God, as long as I have breath in me, Farooq will never marry someone else, otherwise, I swear by God I will..."

She felt the heavy impact of two successive slaps landing on both of her cheeks. Nimrah froze in place. Since the day her mother gave birth to her, she had never been struck like that—in fact, she didn't even know what physical abuse felt like. Holding her cheek, she gasped for air because even crying became difficult. Dead silence fell over the parlor as Zayyad's eyes turned bloodshot. It had been a long time since he lost his temper like this, and even longer since he interfered in the household's petty drama. Straightening his posture, he continued staring at her and said:

"And this is the first and the last warning I will give you: go back to your husband's house and live peacefully, since nobody forced you to marry him in the first place, nobody compelled you! The day I ever hear you've come back to this house because of some minor disagreement, I swear you'll realize you aren't as smart as you think, you'll find out who Zayyad is! Stupid, mindless girl!"

He turned and stormed out of the parlor as if he were about to fly. Only after he left did she collapse to the floor, wailing and checking her cheek to see if it was bruised. Mommy rushed over to her, grabbed her hand soothingly, and said, "That's enough, Nimrah, get up." She burst into fresh tears, hugged Mommy, and sobbed, "Mommy, I'm not loved in this house. Look at how Yaya slapped me because of Farooq, he slapped me, Mommy! And he said I must go back to Farooq's house. Oh my God, I'd rather die!"

Mommah stood up, glared at her, and said, "Get up and go get dressed! Don't make me repeat myself. If you know what's good for you, you better let him return and find you already at home!" With that, she headed upstairs as fast as lightning. Mommy stared after her, then took Nimrah's hand and said, "Come on, let's go, dear." Nimrah stood up, her hands still pressed against her face, crying.

Mararaba, Nassarawa.

She walked slowly, weeping softly, her eyes swollen and exhausted from intense crying. The doctor's words echoed in her head one after another:

"Truly, her father's leg must be amputated, because it has completely rotted. This is precisely why people are always advised to bring a patient to the hospital immediately when a fracture occurs. An operation must be done right now, and to perform this surgery, it requires approximately Four Hundred Thousand Naira..."

2. Summary

This excerpt from Hasken Cikin Dubu weaves together multiple emotionally tense subplots revolving around family conflict, marital crisis, and sudden tragedy:

• Nimrah's Marital Turmoil: Nimrah runs away from her matrimonial home in tears, claiming to her family that her husband, Farooq, is planning to take a second wife and has insulted both her and her father (Idris B. Musa). While Daddy is enraged and vows to deal with Farooq, Mommah and Mommy suspect Nimrah's stubbornness and dishonesty are partly to blame.
• Zayyad's Intervention and Discipline: Zayyad (Nimrah’s brother) is pressured by Daddy to court General Kabeer's daughter, while Mommah pushes him toward Fatiha. Later, after conferring with Farooq and learning about Nimrah's destructive behavior (including smashing a laptop), Zayyad intercepts Nimrah at home, severely reprimands her, and slaps her across both cheeks—a shocking first in her life. He forces her to return to her husband's house.
• Salma and Al-ameen's Encounter: Meanwhile, a hardworking young woman named Salma encounters a kind physician named Dr. Al-ameen Jameel Giwa on her way home, and they briefly exchange names and backgrounds.
• A Medical Crisis for Salma's Father: Salma returns home to find her father, Malam Habu, suffering agonizing pain from a poorly set broken leg. Despite Umma’s initial denial and resistance, a nightmarish discovery is made at dawn: the leg has become infested with worms and rotted. The bonesetter confirms the bone slipped out of place, and a hospital visit reveals a devastating requirement: an immediate amputation and a staggering 400,000 Naira for surgery.

3. Analytics

4. Comments

• Character Growth and Toxicity: Nimrah's reaction to Farooq's threat of taking a second wife highlights a deep lack of emotional maturity. Resorting to physical destruction (smashing electronics) and running home to weaponize her father shows toxic entitlement.
• Zayyad’s Brashness: While Zayyad's intervention brings a temporary reality check to Nimrah, his use of physical violence (slapping her twice across the face) crosses a harsh line, though it underscores the author's portrayal of a household where strict, traditional authority rules.
• The Tragic Plight of Salma: Salma’s storyline evokes deep sympathy. Trapped between a neglectful/harsh stepmother/mother figure and a father suffering from horrific medical malpractice, her introduction of a kind doctor (Al-ameen) hints at a potential romantic or supportive turning point amidst her overwhelming despair.

5. Conclusions

This chapter serves as a masterclass in contrasting privilege with profound suffering. On one hand, elite family dramas over marriages and second wives consume the Abuja household, resolved through authoritarian commands and slaps. On the other hand, a quiet, devastating tragedy unfolds in Mararaba, where a family's ignorance and poverty lead to a rotting limb and an unaffordable medical ransom.

Ultimately, the text sets up high stakes for both Nimrah (forced back into a fractured marriage) and Salma (faced with the harrowing choice of finding 400,000 Naira or losing her father's leg to amputation).

Would you like me to analyze a specific character's psychological motivations further in the next chapter?