Zuma Sai Da Wuta Completed

Description

ZUMA SAI DA WUTA

ZAHRA BUKAR

Abdulrahman bin Auff"

Nurain came out quickly and opened the door for Mummy to step out. She hid her inner displeasure, faked a smile, and said, "Hello, Nurain." He smiled and replied, "Welcome."

She caught sight of Malam Saleem walking towards them swiftly with a smile. He drew closer, squatted to greet her, and she responded smilingly. They made their way into the school premises just as the students had begun their studies. A special seating area was allocated to Mummy and Anty Laila.

Students were called up one by one to recite, each showing great proficiency and possessing sweet, melodious voices. First came a girl named Amina Rabi'u, and then Zulfa'u Adam was called. Malam Saleem quickly turned around to stand by the pulpit. She stepped forward gracefully and mounted the pulpit. Their eyes met, and he gave her a reassuring smile that boosted her confidence. In a soft, gentle voice, she recited the Mukaddimah (introduction) and then began her recitation with a captivating voice. Her soft cadence and the precision with which she gave every single letter its due right impressed everyone present. Mummy could not take her eyes off the girl; among all who had recited, none had captivated her quite like this young lady. Coincidentally, she was given the exact chapter Mummy loved and constantly revised: Suratul Nisa'i. Mummy did not even realize when the girl stepped down from the pulpit, only waking from her trance when another student began reciting with equal poise. All the students deeply impressed Mummy.

When the recitations concluded, certificates were distributed to the children, with Mummy mentally praising them all. The top male student, Musa Ahmed, was called forward, and he received numerous gifts. Next, the two top female students who tied with identical marks were called: Zulfa'u Adam and Bilkisu Nabayi. They stepped forward together joyfully, receiving plenty of gifts, including a cash envelope. Zulfa could not hide her happiness and kept laughing. Mummy watched her closely.

Laila noticed Mummy's intense gaze and, wanting to cheer her up, said, "That girl over there really impressed me, Mummy." Mummy beamed and replied, "Oh, so I'm not the only one she impressed! That girl has won my heart, Laila."

Nearby, they overheard some women whispering about the harsh treatment Zulfa endured from Marka. One woman remarked that the blame lay squarely on Ado; when a man moves into his wife's home and sits around doing nothing while she works hard to feed him, he is bound to be disrespected. Another woman, Dije, lowered her voice and revealed that Marka actually used stolen money to buy that house—money Ado had saved to buy property—and she had effectively silenced him, forcing him to live there against his will because he had no choice. Amara chimed in, saying her only wish was for Zulfa'u to find a husband, get married, leave that house behind, and escape Marka's cruelty.

Mummy listened intently, filled with profound pity for the girl. Seeing Zulfa laughing and appearing so happy, Mummy handed everything she was holding to Saleem, who was equally overjoyed. Saleem approached Malam Ado Salim to hand over Zulfa's certificate and money. Suddenly, Malam Ado burst into tears because back home, his house was swarming with Bangis and his crazy family members waiting for him so that a forced marriage could be conducted. Salim urged, "Baba, you should be rejoicing, not crying." Malam Ado replied, "I am crying for the life Zulfa'u is about to fall into! Help me, Salim. Speak to one of your Islamic scholars here to marry her off right now before the crowd disperses. If her wedding is conducted, Alhaji Mati and his cohorts will have no choice but to give up and leave."

Salim fell into deep distress, glancing at his father sitting nearby, who also looked troubled. Mummy walked over upon hearing the father's plea, looked at Saleem, and said, "Malam, if I am not overstepping, I would like my son Sadeeq to marry the young lady you were just discussing."

Salim's heart hammered frantically, his spirit crushed. What about his own love for Zulfa'u? But remembering the kind of household she would otherwise be sent to and knowing what Haj Aisha was like, he instantly brushed aside the anguish on his face, forced a smile, and said, "Alhamdulillah, Hajiya. Thank you so much; you have truly helped us at our greatest time of need."

Malam Ado looked at her as though he had just been promised a ticket to Paradise, and they showered her with gratitude. She replied, "No, I am the one who should thank you. Now let me call his older brother to come over so we can finalize the marriage." The Imam agreed, "Indeed, let us not waste any time."

Mummy instructed Laila to call Nurain. He quickly stepped out of the car and entered the school. Smiling, Mummy explained what was happening. He let out a sigh of relief and said, "Let me call Daddy and inform him, Mummy." She told him to go ahead. He called Daddy, who laughed and said, "Aisha and her dramas! Well, what can I say? You are also a father figure to him; may this turn out to be a blessing for our family." Nurain felt greatly relieved, said "Ameen," and ended the call. He reported Daddy's response to Mummy, who said, "Wonderful! Come help them pay the bridal dower so the wedding can be solemnized and we can take our bride home."

Nurain, astonished by the sheer joy radiating from Mummy’s face, walked over to the Imam and the other men, pulled out 100,000 Naira, and handed it over as the dower. The Imam offered prayers, and all the scholars gathered to conduct the marriage rites according to Islamic injunctions. Mummy could not stop smiling and began distributing money freely. As soon as the wedding concluded, a scholar announced it over the speaker, leaving everyone present in utter shock.

Meanwhile, Saleem retreated into an office, burying his head on the table as if his heart might burst. Unaware of any of these swift developments, Zulfa remained chatting away with her friends...

Mrs. Tijjani Shattima...

News quickly spread across "Babbar Saura," and the neighbors rejoiced immensely. Goggo Amina even offered a prayer of prostration, knowing that Zulfa's hardships had finally ended since she was marrying into a wealthy family and stepping into a world of luxury. She showered Zulfa with prayers as though she were right there in front of her.

Meanwhile, Marka and Delu sat decked out in the expensive clothes Marka had bought using Bangis's stolen money, plotting evil and laughing as they eagerly awaited the return of Malam Ado and Zulfa so the forced wedding could take place.

The sudden, fierce entry of Bangis into the house like a lion cut their laughter short. Marka rushed up to him, asking, "My groom, why do you look like this?" He delivered a resounding slap that dazed her for several seconds. She shrieked and staggered backward, clutching her cheek. Delu cried out, "Innalillahi! Babangida, what happened?"

Giving her a murderous glare, Bangis shouted, "You people thought you could make a fool of me? You know me, Marka; I don't tolerate nonsense. Right now, either you bring out all the money I gave you, or I will do something to you beyond recognition!"

Marka, still reeling from the stinging slap, protested, "I don't understand what you mean!" Bangis snapped, "You'll understand right now!" He snatched a small knife from Laminu's hand and lunged at them. They screamed and bolted into a room. The men standing outside the gate rushed in and restrained Bangis, who was raging and cursing wildly. With great difficulty, they dragged him out to the porch.

Marka, Delu, and the others were completely shaken. Delu cautiously stood up, looked at the men left in the room, and timidly asked, "Please, what is happening? You left us in the dark." One of the men replied, "Marka, today you people crossed the line with Babangida. How could he pay the marriage dues and gather a crowd, only to find out you mocked him and married her off elsewhere out of pure disrespect?"

Goggo Marka jumped up, exclaiming, "A marriage?!" The man confirmed, "Yes, a marriage! The news is already spreading everywhere. So, before Bangis loses his mind completely, you better give him his money back, or he will deal with you severely!"

Marka burst into tears, invoking Allah's name, and wailed, "Ado has ruined me! I swear I knew nothing about this deceit! I am finished! Where on earth am I going to find the money to pay Bangis back?" She wept bitterly, cursing Malam Ado and swearing that he must leave her house this very day.

What drove Marka completely mad, however, was learning that Zulfa had married into a wealthy family. A young boy who had returned from the graduation ceremony pulled out three thousand Naira from his pocket and boasted, "Her in-laws are out there handing out money everywhere, Marka! Look at what I got. And I heard she married the son of the Nigerian Chief of Air Staff!"

Consumed by burning envy, Marka's eyes narrowed, her chest grew heavy with rage, and she finally broke down in a fresh wave of uncontrollable sobs, feeling certain that Ado had betrayed her. Salaha was still unmarried at home, yet he didn't give her hand to wealthy suitors; instead, he chose little Zulfa. This proved to Marka that Ado never loved them and only favored Saude and her daughter.

Bangis re-entered the house accompanied by his cronies, who had been advising him to marry Salaha instead of demanding his cash back. As he walked in, Marka cut short her crying and hid behind Delu, who sat frozen like a corpse.

One of Bangis's friends called out, "Marka, come out and have someone stand as a proxy for your daughter Salaha. Bangis will marry her in lieu of the money." Marka looked at Bangis's face and saw the menacing glare directed at them. Salaha, on her part, was overjoyed as if she had received a divine ticket to paradise.

Hanne jumped up angrily, shouting, "Which Salaha?!" Laminu glared at her and retorted, "How many Salahas are here?" Hanne's eyes turned red with fury. "I swear this is impossible! You are betraying me, Bangis! By Allah, today there will be absolute chaos in this house; everyone will lose out!" She tied her scarf firmly around her waist and started stomping her feet.

That was when Marka found the courage to stand up, seeing that Hanne was about to throw a massive tantrum (as if Bangis were a righteous man anyway!). She yelled, "Hanne, go to hell! How dare you speak to Bangis like that? If he wants to marry Salaha, then good riddance, let him marry her!"

That pushed Delu to her breaking point. She jumped up, and a fierce shouting match erupted between them. Despite everyone trying to calm them down, they refused to quieten down, washing each other's dirty linen in public. Salaha didn't care; she had slipped outside to look for her father or Uncle Kabir.

When Kabir and Salaha returned, they found Bangis standing in the courtyard, giving Hanne some very special, sweet-talking reassurances that quickly calmed her down. He whispered, "Be patient. You know there is no one else in the world I love like you. Let me marry her, collect my money, and then I will marry you too so we can enjoy the wealth together by making her suffer."

Even though Salaha felt like dying of frustration, possessing the stubbornness of a dog and the brain of a goldfish, she brushed it off, thinking internally, Once I marry you, I will force you to love me! She walked inside, mocking Hanne with a sneer.

After the dust of the fierce quarrels finally settled, all the men went outside for the actual wedding ceremonies. Hanne and Delu retreated indoors to plot further schemes, while Goggo Amina ignored them entirely, happily continuing to prepare the chicken she had bought with the money Fa'ee gave her, humming a tune that infuriated the others even more, though they dared not utter a word to her.

Malam Ado did not return home until after Maghrib, just as the bridal car had already departed. He watched the retreating vehicle silently. Kabir stepped out of the house and asked, "Baba, you just arrived?" Malam Ado replied, "Yes, Kabir. Whose car was that parked outside?" Kabir explained, "Ah, Salaha's marriage to Bangis was just conducted, and they came to take her." He recounted everything that had happened.

Malam Ado let out a sigh of relief and said, "May Allah grant them peace." Kabir said, "Ameen." After a brief chat where Kabir also shared the good news about Zulfa's wonderful wedding, Malam Ado smiled and said, "I'm so glad, Kabir."

They stepped inside, and the moment they crossed the threshold, Marka barked aggressively, "Stop right there!" She marched up to him, pointed her finger in his face, and screamed, "Ado, you actually have the nerve to look at me? You have the audacity to walk back into my house? Let me swear to you, since you don't love me and I don't love you either, divorce me right now and go face your misery elsewhere! You can go crawl to Zulfa's house and let them house you, but you will never live in this house again since we didn't buy it together!"

She hurled a bag of his clothes at his feet, shouting, "Get out!" Kabir squatted down in distress and pleaded, "Please, Goggo—" She cut him off sharply, "I will curse you, you bastard!" Malam Ado intervened, "Quiet, Kabir." He picked up his bag of clothes and said, "I am leaving, Marka. If I wronged you, may Allah recompense you. But if you wronged me, may my dues rob you of your peace."

As he turned to leave, she chased after him, screaming insults and demanding the divorce papers. He replied, "I'll send them to you." She let out a mocking screech, "Good riddance, you worthless beggar!"

By the time he and Kabir had walked some distance away, they could still hear her raging. Stopping by the mosque, Kabir wept and asked, "Baba, where are we going?" Malam Ado answered, "I will sleep in the mosque, and in the morning, I'll head to Kano to resume the trade I abandoned." Kabir asked, "Baba, do you have any money?" Malam Ado replied, "Yes, I do." He pulled out 200,000 Naira, explaining, "100,000 is Zulfa's dower surplus, and the rest is a gift her in-laws gave me. This is more than enough for me to restart any business." Kabir beamed, "That's wonderful, Baba! But I am coming with you to help out. Staying here is useless; let's join hands."

Malam Ado was deeply touched and agreed, "You've thought this through. Go pack your things and formally notify your mother." He handed Kabir 5,000 Naira to give to her. Kabir eagerly rushed back inside, utterly tired of his idle life.

Mrs. Tijjani Shattima...

Zulfa'u sat huddled inside the car while Anty Laila occasionally made light conversation with her. Zulfa offered faint smiles, but she was deeply terrified because she had no idea where they were headed. Remembering that Malam Saleem knew these people provided her a sliver of comfort.

Mummy looked at Laila and said, "It's getting late, Laila. You should have taken her shopping for essentials today, but early tomorrow morning, make sure you take her out." With deep respect, Laila replied, "As you wish, Mummy."

Zulfa stared out at the neighborhood, her anxiety intensifying as they approached a massive, intimidating gate that opened automatically while she gazed around in wide-eyed wonder. Soldiers opened the gate for them, saluting smartly. Tears welled up in Zulfa's eyes, prompting Anty Laila to gently prompt, "Come on, let's get out."

Stepping out cautiously, they walked side-by-side into the grand house. A cool, pleasant fragrance wafted into Zulfa's nose as the door opened. Anty Laila held her hand, and they followed behind Mummy, stepping inside with greetings of peace.

The twins rushed over, flinging themselves onto Mummy, while Ayda slept nearby beside Anty Amarya. Mummy set the twins down, saying, "I'm exhausted; give me a moment to rest before sweets." Shaking their heads, the twins ran back to Anty Laila, chattering nonsense.

Anty Amarya looked at Mummy, who had seated herself to catch her breath, and teased, "You took forever, Yaya! I was almost about search parties out."

Laila and Zulfa walked into the parlor, and Laila squatted to greet Anty Amarya. Anty Amarya smiled warmly and asked, "Laila, where did you find this little beauty?" Mummy smiled, looked at Laila, and instructed, "Go ahead, Laila. Take her to a room in my wing and help her freshen up." Anty Laila suggested, "Mummy, what if we take her to my side so she can bathe, eat, and I bring her to your room later?" Mummy approved, "That's fine too. May Allah bless whatever you do." "Ameen," Laila responded, pulling Zulfa along with the twins toward her quarters.

Mummy turned to Anty Amarya and said, "I found this girl at the graduation venue. She's an orphan, very well-mannered, and such a pitiable soul." She recounted everything she had learned about Zulfa's background.

Anty Amarya nodded sympathetically, saying, "Oh dear, I already feel sorry for her." Mummy continued, "You have no idea; the girl instantly captured my heart, which is why I sought her hand for Abba, and the marriage has already been conducted."

Not just Anty Amarya, but even Jalila and Sanah—who had just walked in from the garden—were completely stunned. Jalila glared at Sanah, whose eyes were already red, stepped up in front of Mummy, and demanded, "Mummy, which Abba?" Mummy glared back at her, "Do I have any other Abba besides Sadeeq?"

Sanah bolted toward her room in tears, her heart hammering wildly, completely unable to hold back her sobbing. Anty Amarya tried her absolute best to mask her deep displeasure, but she failed. This was the second time Mummy had pulled a stunt like this; previously, regarding Nurain, Anty Amarya had wanted him to marry her younger sister Aneesah, and discussions with Daddy were nearly finalized when Mummy suddenly went out and arranged a marriage with her best friend's daughter instead.

Forcing a strained smile, Anty Amarya said, "May Allah make it a blessing." Mummy smiled aloud ("Ameen"), though inwardly she thought, Well, you'll just have to keep suffering. She stood up, saying, "Let me go freshen up," and rushed upstairs, calling after Jalila, who was trailing behind Sanah. Jalila hurried up after Mummy.

Upstairs in her room, Anty Amarya was trying to comfort Sanah, who was crying as though her life depended on it because Mummy had completely dismantled her plans.

Her phone buzzed relentlessly nearby. She knew it was Sadeeq, but she refused to even look at it. Finally, unable to bear the ringing, Anty Amarya picked it up. "Hello," she said flatly, devoid of any warmth.

On the other end, Sadeeq's voice trembled as he answered, thinking it was Sanah. "Sweet baby, what did I do to deserve this torture? You know if I don't hear your voi—" Anty Amarya cut him off coldly, "It's not her, Abba. It's me."

He stammered in shy embarrassment, "Anty, good afternoon." She replied icily, "Fine." He asked anxiously, "Is Sanah unwell?" Adopting a manipulative, mournful tone, Anty Amarya said, "She's fine physically. Listen to me very carefully, Abba. From today onward, do not ever call Sanah's line again. Submit to your mother's choice and leave Sanah alone so she can find someone who truly loves her."

Panicking, Sadeeq cried out, "Anty, I don't understand what you mean!" Lowering her voice into hypocritical weeping, she said, "Abba, I don't know why Yaya despises me so much. No matter how obedient I am to her, she doesn't appreciate it. My greatest wish has always been to unite our families, but Yaya simply detests it. When it happened with Aneesah, I let it go because Nurain never expressed love for her. But now, everyone knows the deep love you and Sanah share, and we were all hoping you'd get married. Yet Yaya treated Sanah with utter disrespect over you, going so far as to fetch some impoverished girl—whose family has nothing and whose only goal is to trap a wealthy man, inherit his wealth, and watch him die—just to force her on you!"

She burst into feigned tears, adding, "As Allah is my witness, I love Yaya Aisha's bloodline like my own! Because I couldn't have children in your household, I desperately wanted someone to marry into my family so that if I die, I won't be forgotten."

Sadeeq grew even more frantic. "Anty, please stop! Who told you this? How can a marriage be forced on me without my knowledge?!" Anty Amarya feigned compliance, "It's true, Abba, but please just bear with it and submi—" "Don't tell me to submit to something that will destroy me!" Sadeeq shouted frantically like a madman. "I swear I will not submit to anything that harms me! Right this second, I am calling Mummy to annul whatever nonsense marriage she forced upon herself!"

Quickly intervening with master-level manipulation, Anty Amarya stopped him: "Don't you dare do that! Act like you knew nothing about it unless they bring it up to you first. Otherwise, you will bring disaster upon me because you know I hate anything that displeases Yaya." She shot a pointed wink at Sanah, knowing Sadeeq was trapped in her web.

Mrs. Tijjani Shattima...

Softly, Sadeeq pleaded, "Okay, Anty, but please bear with me." She sighed, "It's fine. May Allah give you the fortitude to endure the loss of Sanah, because you both have my sympathy. She's right here doing nothing but crying."

Sadeeq was nearly in tears himself as he vowed, "I can never part ways with Sanah, Anty! Whatever it takes, I won't allow this. Sanah has become a part of my soul, so drop this subject completely." Anty Amarya countered, "You have no choice but to accept—" He cut her off urgently, "Anty, put Sanah on the phone, please!"

She smiled, knowing Sanah had successfully applied her bitter poison and that she now had the perfect opening to execute her grand design through Sadeeq. Softening her tone, she lied, "It's impossible for you to speak with her right now. Just be patient; may Allah guide everyone to their rightful partner," and she abruptly hung up, smiling maliciously.

She turned off the phone entirely and looked at Sanah. "We've got him, Sanah. He will definitely rebel against his mother. And I will keep fanning the flames from underneath between all three of them—Daddy, Mummy, and Sadeeq. This time, I will triumph over her! So tomorrow, get ready to leave. Don't ever answer his calls; in fact, change your line, because I know he won't be able to handle it and will come looking for you. You'll play hard to get until he comes back and divorces that starving peasant girl! Once that happens, everything will fall apart, and I will pull Abba right into my palm to achieve our ultimate goal."

Sanah wiped away her tears and smiled with relief, her heart calming down because she simply could not imagine surviving a day without Sadeeq.

Meanwhile, Sadeeq tossed and turned in agony, a heavy lump stuck in his throat. He wanted to weep, but the tears wouldn't come. Why would Mummy do this to me? What kind of woman did she force on me? Those were the questions spinning endlessly in his head without answers.

He let out a furious breath and declared aloud, "Mummy, I'm sorry, but I can never live with a woman I don't love!" In his mind, he preferred sophisticated, high-class women, and he knew he simply could not live with someone like...

Mrs. Tijjani Shattima...

Summary

In this excerpt from the Hausa fiction Zulfah, the narrative centers around a graduation ceremony where young women recite the Quran with impressive skill. Among them is Zulfa'u Adam, an impoverished girl enduring severe mistreatment and exploitation from her stepmother, Marka, and a shady figure named Bangis. Mummy, a wealthy woman attending the event, is deeply captivated by Zulfa'u's grace, character, and proficiency in reciting Suratul Nisa'i.

Coincidentally, Zulfa'u's impoverished father, Malam Ado, is desperate to rescue his daughter from a forced marriage orchestrated by his abusive household and Bangis. Upon learning of this, Mummy impulsively arranges for Zulfa'u to marry her own son, Sadeeq, paying the dower through her other son, Nurain, and conducting the wedding instantly. While the neighborhood back home reacts with shock—leaving Marka and Bangis in disarray and forcing adjustments in their own dysfunctional relationships—Zulfa'u is whisked away into a life of unimaginable wealth and luxury at Mummy's grand estate.

However, this abrupt arrangement disrupts pre-existing plans. Anty Amarya, who had intended for Sadeeq to marry her own niece/relative (Sanah), feels sidelined and threatened by Mummy's unilateral decision. Crafty and manipulative, Anty Amarya schemes with Sanah behind the scenes, gaslighting and fueling Sadeeq's anger against his mother so he will rebel against the marriage, thereby destabilizing the household to serve her own hidden agenda.

Description

This literary text is a contemporary Hausa domestic drama rich in themes of socioeconomic disparity, forced marriages, family politics, betrayal, and psychological manipulation. It contrasts the gritty, harsh struggles of lower-class survival in traditional northern settings with the elite, high-society lifestyle of affluent urban families. The character dynamics highlight the stark contrast between pure-hearted resilience (represented by Zulfa'u) and toxic ambition and deceit (represented by Marka and Anty Amarya).

Analytics

• Character Arcs:
  • Zulfa'u Adam: Transitions from an oppressed, suffering stepchild to a protected bride of an elite family, though she remains largely unaware of the geopolitical shifts happening around her.
  • Mummy: Acts as a benevolent benefactor driven by impulse and affection, yet her patriarchal authority in making unilateral marital decisions triggers domestic conflict.
  • Anty Amarya: Emerges as the primary antagonist/puppeteer, utilizing emotional blackmail, strategic lies, and triangulation to turn Sadeeq against his mother and protect her faction's interests.
• Plot Structure: Employs parallel narrative tracking—simultaneously following the joyous/chaotic fallout of the wedding at the school, the chaotic domestic collapse in Zulfa'u's old neighborhood, and the insidious plotting brewing inside Mummy's mansion.
• Pacing: Fast-paced, shifting rapidly between emotional highs (graduation, unexpected marriage) and intense dramatic tension (domestic abuse, covert sabotage).

Comments

The narrative offers a compelling critique of traditional domestic abuses—such as stepmother cruelty and financial exploitation by predatory figures like Bangis—while simultaneously subverting tropes through a Cinderella-esque rescue. However, it brilliantly subverts pure fairy-tale resolutions by introducing sophisticated psychological warfare within the elite household through Anty Amarya. Her ability to weaponize Sadeeq's romantic attachment to Sanah against Mummy sets up a high-stakes conflict that promises deeper family betrayal in subsequent chapters.

Conclusions

The text successfully establishes a multi-layered conflict where Zulfa'u's physical rescue from poverty and abuse is merely the catalyst for a much darker internal war within her new family. While external antagonists like Marka and Bangis receive poetic justice through their own chaotic domestic entanglements, the real threat to peace lies within Mummy's estate, where Anty Amarya's calculated treachery threatens to unravel the matrimonial union before it can even begin.

Keywords

• Zulfa'u Adam
• Malam Ado
• Mummy
• Anty Amarya
• Sadeeq
• Sanah
• Marka
• Bangis
• Hausa Fiction
• Domestic Drama
• Forced Marriage
• Family Politics