Bakar Inuwa Book billyn Abdulll

Description

A few long minutes later, Ladan greeted his wife Zulaiha—whom the children called Mami—in her room. Originally from Nigeria, she was Ladan’s blood relative through their parents, resulting in an arranged marriage between them. They approached with bright smiles, and Ladan greeted Momma, wishing her a speedy recovery from her childbirth. Mami took the baby girl from Habiba’s hands, sat on the edge of the bed to wish Momma well, and exchanged pleasantries.

Reaching toward Papa, who was sitting in a resting chair, Ladan took Fadwa, saying, "Look at how sharp and alert this little girl is, unlike a newborn." Papa smiled and replied, "Truly, she gets sharper every day."

Ladan sat next to him, gently tapping the baby's nose with a smile. She stared back intently, not like a newborn, but as though she was memorizing his features. Maintaining his smile, Ladan looked at her and said, "You've been given a younger sister too."

Mami, watching them, agreed, "Hmm, that's true," before turning her head toward Momma, who was solely watching Ladan.

After the greetings concluded, and once Ladan handed Fadwa back and offered his own prayers, everyone stepped outside with Imam. Fadwa was still in Papa's arms as they left. Only then did Mami turn to Momma and say, "I have never seen parents prioritize someone else's child over their own. You are truly patient, Maman Jidda."

Sensing where the conversation was heading, Habiba excused herself to the restroom. Momma shifted slightly, feeling as though someone had scratched an itch she couldn't reach, and replied, "Hmm, you see what I see every day too."

"What I've seen alone is enough proof, Maman Jidda," Mami remarked.

Quietly, Momma said, "Turns out I'm not the only one seeing the injustice in this matter. Do you know he even went as far as turning my sister Anti Aina'u and me against each other just because I said I wouldn't foster her?"

Mami replied, "Baban Kareem told me as much. Where has such a thing ever been heard of? Since you didn't consent to foster her, no one should force you. Besides, someone else's child is never meant to be cared for—especially not a stranger's child whose obedience and upbringing are completely unknown to us."

With her blood boiling, Momma said, "Whenever I bring it up, he just says he feels pity for her. He has said the most hurtful things to me on her account. He looked me straight in the eyes and told me she has become his daughter, that she will use his name as her father, and that I can do whatever I want about it! Tell me, honestly, could even a heart of stone not feel the bitterness of this? The way Baban Jidda's attitude has flipped over this girl hurts me more than anything else. I didn't know my husband to be like this, Maman Kareem. Yarima is a man who, in the past, if I said I didn't want something, no matter how much he loved it, he would drop it even if his own mother showed displeasure. I never thought a day would come when he would look me in the eye and say, 'She will do what I don't want, and you can do whatever you want if you think you're powerful enough!' Me, of all people!"

Tears streamed down her face as she wiped them away. Mami grabbed her hand and said, "Be patient, Maman Jidda. Honestly, making you feel like you don't matter was his first mistake. And since you said you don't want to foster the child, no one can force you."

After wiping her tears, Momma asked, "Maman Kareem, advise me on what to do. By Allah, I do not love this child in my heart, and I never will. I initially thought your husband was in on taking her, but the way Yarima has completely flipped proves he had no hand in it."

Mami let out a sigh and shook her head. "Not at all, by Allah, Maman Jidda. In fact, Baban Kareem tried every possible way to make him give up taking her, but he insisted on his stance. Your husband is a very religious, gentle, and compassionate man, and you must consider the royal household he comes from. That heavily influenced his stance on this girl. But still, no one shows love like this to someone else's child. At the end of the day, your own flesh and blood are the ones who truly care for you."

The baby's crying interrupted them. Mami handed the infant back to Momma, who pulled up her shirt to feed her. Once the baby latched on and settled, Momma raised her head and said, "You know, he has only picked up this girl three times, but his attention is always on the other one. The moment she was brought in, he took her—even walking out with her in his hands right in front of you."

Mami pursed her lips slightly. "You need to nip this in the bud early on. Even if heaven and earth collide, do not accept that child, even when you return home. You'll see, he will end up giving her away to be raised somewhere else on his own. Peace of mind for the wife of the house is the only way any household can run smoothly."

Habiba, having just walked out of the restroom, rolled her eyes and shook her head, seeing how Mami kept stoking the fire in her mistress's heart, but she was in no position to reprimand them.

With such words, Mami continued to poison Momma's mind against the situation, guiding her down a path entirely devoid of reason and filled with missteps. Because Momma was already looking for a sympathetic ear, she welcomed Mami's perspective. Their chat only stopped when the doctor arrived to check on Momma—much to Habiba's relief. It was obvious there was a lack of empathy in their stance, especially regarding Momma, whose coldness from the very first day she demanded the child be sent away had deeply frightened Habiba. Moreover, she didn't realize the full extent of her mistress's ruthlessness until Momma began forcefully forbidding anyone from caring for the baby—a level of cruelty that crossed all bounds when directed at a helpless infant of just a few weeks old.

Over the next two days, they were discharged and returned home. Habiba continued to take great care of Momma, but she also started strapping Fadwa to her back frequently—untying her to feed her milk even while working in the kitchen, or unstrapping her to wash her after cleaning Momma's bathroom. Papa noticed this tranquility and appreciated it deeply, as his primary goal was for the child to receive proper care.

Three days later, Papa called the Emir (Mai martaba) to inform him of the name he wanted for the baby. Knowing his father would arrange for the customary naming rites for his child, he stayed on the line without hanging up after their conversation. Noticing he hadn't hung up, the elder man asked, "Do you have anything else to say?"

Politely, Papa replied, "I am asking for the favor of combining their naming rites, Your Highness."

The Emir was silent for a moment before saying, "No problem."

With that, his father ordered rams and cows to be slaughtered as charity. The baby was named Khadijah, while Fadwa remained her chosen nickname. Three weeks and a few days later, coinciding with the New Year, they began preparations to return home.

MURADIN ZUCIYA (Desire of the Heart)

Bintu Musa Chapter 08 (Free Page)

Five days before their return to Nigeria, Papa had Habiba pack Fadwa’s belongings neatly into two massive suitcases he had bought for her. By this time, her clothes could no longer fit into a single carrier because of their sheer volume. Habiba spent two days organizing everything into separate piles, carefully sorting Momma's items from Baby Khadijah's. Imam and his brother had packed everything well in advance.

When Papa saw how Momma had packed all her things as though she were never returning to the country, he spoke to her: "Fatima, aren't you going to leave some things behind? I want us to return during the fall (Autumn season), because I still have some unfinished work there."

Without turning around, she retorted, "I am done living in this country. Nothing will bring me back here by September, not even by the weight of an atom. Living here has brought me nothing but a harvest of bitterness." She stuffed more clothes into her large box as she spoke.

Looking at her, Papa said, "What kind of talk is that? You know I'm talking about my work, which will require my family close to me because of the long stay I have ahead."

Only then did she turn to look at him. "By Allah, I will never set foot in this country again for a long time. I know what's coming—they'll probably leave twins at our doorstep next."

They stared at each other for a moment before Papa shook his head, walked over to the crib where Baby Khadijah was sleeping, and tried to pick her up. Momma stood watching him, but when he ignored her, she scoffed and went back to folding her clothes, plotting how she would handle the situation once they returned home.

The day before their departure, Ladan and his family came to say goodbye, along with their two children: the older one named Kamila, and the younger one, Kareem, whose age matched Imam's. Even during this visit, Mami made sure to pull Momma aside for another private chat in her room. When Ladan picked up Fadwa, a wave of pity washed over him at the thought of her being taken to a place where, even in dreams, she had no connection to the people living there. He handed her back to Papa, saying, "May Allah reward you for fostering her and bless her life and the lives of her siblings."

Papa responded with "Amin," watching the child. In truth, deep down in his heart, he felt profound pity for the little girl daily, as he still hadn't given up hope that her mother would return to claim her. Yet he knew that was a dream whose awakening time was unknown.

On travel day, Ladan arrived early in the morning, and Papa called two Ubers. Ladan, Imam, and Habiba—with Fadwa strapped to her back—rode in one, while Papa, his wife, and baby Khadijah rode in the other to the airport. They arrived promptly, bade each other peaceful farewells, and boarded their flight.

After spending a full day on a layover at Heathrow Airport in London for a few short hours, they boarded a connecting flight to Lagos. They spent two days resting at Papa’s large family house in Lagos before catching another flight to Kano. From there, they headed straight to the Kumi Royal Palace in Kano—a massive, powerful, and wealthy dynasty that was renowned across Nigeria during that era.

The Kumi Royal Palace was a household name from the 1800s down to the modern century. It was led by Sarki Abdulfatah, along with his four sons: three born to his senior wife, Amina (known as Uwah), and one born to his second wife, Aisha (who had passed away two years prior).

Sarki Abdulfatah was a gentle, dignified elder in every aspect, and these noble traits filtered down to his four sons: Abdulaziz (Papa, the crown prince at the time), Abdulrazaq, Abdulmalik, and the youngest, Abdulrahman, who shared the same mother as Papa. Knowing the character and upbringing instilled by their father, Papa had no doubts whatsoever about adopting Fadwa. In fact, he knew this was the exact judgment his father would have made under the circumstances, leaving him entirely without regret and fully confident his parents would embrace her just as he had.

Papa and Momma’s marriage was an ordained union arranged by their families, bridging two royal houses. Momma hailed from the Kubaya dynasty in Bauchi, daughter of the reigning Emir at the time. There were three daughters in her family: the eldest, Aina'u; Binta (Momma); Khadija (called Madina); and an older brother, Kabiru. Being the children of a second wife, their mother was fiercely ambitious. Both Aina'u and Binta married into immense power and wealth—Aina'u married a prominent billionaire in Abuja who wielded massive political influence, while Binta (Momma) married the crown prince of the Kumi Emirate. Through calculated persuasion, their mother had planted the idea of these elite marriages until it reached Sarki Abdulfatah, who welcomed the match, leading to the union between their children.

Early in their marriage, Binta played the submissive wife, trying hard to conceal her true nature. But as the saying goes, habits are carved in stone, and as time went on, Abdulaziz began to realize the true character of the woman his parents had chosen for him.

During her first pregnancy, the Emir arranged visas for them to travel to the United States, where she gave birth in Houston to twin boys of striking appearance. The first-born, delivered twenty minutes prior, was named Imam, followed by Imran. They grew up in absolute privilege. Imran inherited Papa’s exact features and dark complexion, while Imam inherited his mother’s lighter skin tone. Papa had never felt as proud of Momma as he did then, and this gift from God brought him immense joy, steeling his resolve to endure any future quirks from his wife.

Yet, human nature often tests boundaries when given too much comfort. Momma failed to appreciate her husband’s patience and gentle nature in maintaining marital peace. Instead, she took advantage of his kindness to unleash her troublesome behavior. But every beginning has an end, and for the first time, she hit a brick wall regarding her husband's stance on baby Fadwa—and for the first time, he checked her long-standing habit of unchecked entitlement. Yet, seeing him shower love on Fadwa only stoked the fires of resentment in Momma's heart. Would anyone be able to see where this leads?

This story is not a straight road. It dips into valleys and climbs hills concerning Fadwa’s life inside this grand royal household. We shall see whether she truly becomes one of them, or if she will live under the shadow of the fate she was brought away from.

The evening their flight touched down in Kano, two cars were waiting to convey them home under the Emir's strict orders. The Emir deeply honored his children and adored his twin grandchildren. Everyone in the palace knew of the deep bond between the Emir and the twins, a bond that often frustrated their mother. Because of the twins, the Emir frequently overlooked Binta's tantrums, while Uwah silently bore the tension of living with the favored wife.

By late evening, their car passed through the wide gates leading into the expansive estate. Papa's residence was a good fifteen-minute walk from his parents' main quarters. Adjacent to Papa's main building was a separate, beautifully structured residence built by the Emir specifically for the twins, complete with dedicated domestic staff.

Sensing their arrival, crowds had already begun gathering at their quarters. Anticipating this, Papa had set up a room inside the first parlor of Momma's suite, instructing Habiba to neatly arrange Fadwa's things there. Momma walked straight through to her second parlor before reaching her massive bedroom, leaving visitors to be greeted in the parlor while Papa excused himself to his own quarters and then to Uwah's.

In Uwah's grand parlor, she sat conversing with some cousins. Papa entered, took a seat, and greeted his mother. She replied, "Ma sha Allah, how was the journey?"

"Alhamdulillah," he replied, turning to greet the elders sitting in the adjacent section. One of them, Baba Ladi, said, "Welcome back. You enjoyed your time in Europe, no doubt." He smiled.

She continued, "I heard you brought home a baby girl to foster."

"Yes, Babah, Allah works His will."

Before she could say more, Uwah interrupted, "Well, you'll do your formal greetings here first. Go on and see his children."

They smiled, and Baba Ladi told Papa, "We will come, Dada," before turning to him with, "May Allah aid your fostering and bless your intentions. You've truly done well." The other echoed her sentiments, and Papa answered, "Ameen, Ameen."

After the elders finished talking with Uwah and departed, Papa settled down for a fresh round of greetings. Uwah’s maid, Laraba, immediately placed a tray of refreshments before him. As he picked up a slice of watermelon, Uwah asked, "How is your family?"

"Alhamdulillah, they are settling in."

She nodded and asked, "Will you go over to see the Elder [the Emir] later?"

"Yes, he has guests right now."

"No problem, we will meet there later."

That night, everyone gathered in the Emir’s grand parlor, where all family gatherings were held. Momma entered carrying Khadijah, followed closely by Habiba holding Fadwa wrapped in a towel. Imam and Imran sat near the Emir, snacking on fruits while the elder reclined with his arm resting on a traditional velvet palace pillow. The Emir wore a flowing royal robe (alkyabba) topped with an embroidered cap instead of a turban. Papa, dressed in his royal attire, sat beside Abdulrazaq and Abdulrahman (Abdulmalik was away studying for his PhD in Manchester, England).

Momma took a seat beside Abdulrazaq’s wife, Maimuna. The Emir commenced the gathering with a prayer and conventional greetings. Momma greeted her in-laws with lowered eyes. Then, the Emir shifted slightly, prompting Abdulrahman to stand, walk over to Momma, take Khadijah, and present her to their father. The Emir took her with a warm smile, saying, "Ma sha Allah, welcome Khadijah."

Uwah smiled at her granddaughter. After offering prayers, the Emir passed her to Uwah, who also blessed the baby before handing her to her uncles. Then the Emir asked, "Where is our little guest?"

Everyone in the parlor smiled, including Papa. Uwah said, "She was brought along too, of course."

Habiba immediately stood and brought Fadwa to Uwah. Uwah took her, gazing intently at the baby. With the parlor brightly lit, Fadwa’s wide, luminous eyes were wide open as she looked around at everyone. Uwah smiled and said, "Ma sha Allah, she looks like she was made by herself."

Abdulrahman, looking at her as well, echoed, "Ma sha Allah."

Momma lifted her head, watching. When Fadwa was passed to the Emir, he held her and said, "Tubarakallah, these eyes look as though she came prepared to marry me!"

Everyone in the parlor laughed, except Momma, Maimuna, and Habiba. Uwah remarked, "Well, I certainly can't be jealous of this one, no!"

Momma turned away, looking at her own daughter in Abdulrahman’s arms while his eyes remained on Fadwa. She felt an urge to stand up, snatch her child, and leave the parlor, though she knew even if she were intoxicated, she wouldn't dare try such a thing. She adjusted her seat, lowering her head in bitter agony. It was clear—his family was going to back him up on adopting this child. She realized she needed to figure out how to counter this before the night was over.

As for Papa, his face radiated happiness. Seeing his family warmly accept Fadwa filled his heart with profound joy. When the Emir prayed over the baby, everyone in the room—including Papa—said "Ameen" while gazing at the child whose eyes remained wide open. After she was passed to Abdulrazaq and the others, the Emir offered wise counsel to everyone present regarding her, pointing out the realities of destiny and the virtue of helping others in life. The household members respectfully accepted his advice, and the Emir concluded softly, "This little girl’s destiny is what it is. The best way to foster her is to treat her with absolute kindness. To tell her what happened to her improperly..." (Trailing off into further palace instructions)

Summary

The narrative opens in the West, where Ladan and Mami visit Momma and Papa just before their family relocates to Nigeria. Mami exploits Momma's deep-seated resentment toward Fadwa—an infant adopted and fiercely protected by Papa—stoking Momma's bitterness and encouraging her to firmly reject the child. Despite Momma’s open hostility and cruelty (including withholding basic care from the infant), Papa remains steadfast in his commitment to raise and protect Fadwa.

After securing the Emir’s blessing—who graciously combines naming rites—the family flies back to Nigeria, settling into the opulent Kumi Royal Palace in Kano. Papa belongs to a distinguished royal lineage alongside his brothers, led by the wise Sarki Abdulfatah and Uwah. Upon arrival, the family and royal elders warmly receive both baby Khadijah and the adopted Fadwa. While the royal family embraces Fadwa with open arms and spiritual blessings, Momma is consumed by bitter jealousy and isolation, realizing that her husband's family fully supports his decision to shelter the child.

Description

This chapter captures a pivotal transition from the diaspora back to the heart of traditional Nigerian royalty. It contrasts the intimate, tense dynamics of a fractured marital home with the grand, opulent, and structured environment of the Kumi Royal Palace in Kano. The prose vividly illustrates emotional manipulation through character interactions—particularly Mami’s toxic counsel versus Habiba’s quiet empathy—and highlights the rigid yet deeply influential hierarchical structures of northern Nigerian aristocracy, where family honor, destiny, and elder consent dictate the course of domestic life.

Analytics

• Character Dynamics & Conflict: The chapter relies heavily on psychological contrast. Momma represents a self-destructive, bitter rigidity driven by pride and insecurity, contrasted against Papa’s unwavering moral compass, gentle demeanor, and fierce protectiveness over a vulnerable orphan.
• Thematic Motif of Acceptance vs. Rejection: Fadwa serves as a test of character for everyone around her. While Papa and the royal elders view her arrival through the lens of divine destiny (kaddara) and charity, Momma and Mami view her through a lens of threat, social hierarchy, and wounded pride.
• Setting Transition: Moving the narrative from a Western setting to the Kumi Royal Palace dramatically expands the narrative stakes. It introduces complex political and familial dynamics (Uwah, the Emir, the brothers) that will inevitably police, shape, or escalate Momma’s ongoing rebellion against Fadwa's presence.

Comments

• Pacing & Narrative Structure: The transition from the overseas departure to the grand palace arrival in Kano provides a rich sense of place. However, the dialogue driven by Mami feels somewhat repetitive in reinforcing Momma's malice, though it effectively establishes how deeply entrenched Momma's prejudice is before facing the collective approval of the royal family.
• Character Growth (Papa vs. Momma): Papa's evolution is striking. Moving away from his historically passive compliance to his wife's demands, he draws a hard, unyielding boundary where human life and compassion are concerned. Momma, conversely, digs herself deeper into isolation by refusing to recognize the moral authority of her husband and his royal family.

Conclusions

Chapter 08 successfully shifts the story's landscape into the high-stakes environment of a royal palace, establishing that Fadwa’s adoption is not merely a temporary whim of Papa's, but a sanctioned reality endorsed by the highest authority of the house—the Emir himself. While Momma enters this royal stronghold plotting resistance, the unanimous acceptance of Fadwa by the extended family leaves Momma isolated in her malice. This sets the stage for high-intensity domestic conflict as Momma's internal war against an innocent child clashes with the unbreakable protective walls built by her husband and the royal household.

Summary

Following the intense private conversations abroad where Mami reinforces Momma’s deep-seated resentment toward the adopted infant Fadwa, the family finalizes their departure. Papa secures his father’s blessing to name the children, officially welcoming baby Khadijah and sealing Fadwa’s place within the family framework. The household embarks on a multi-stage journey—transitioning from the West through London and Lagos—ultimately arriving at the magnificent Kumi Royal Palace in Kano. Upon their grand homecoming, the royal family, led by the Emir (Mai martaba) and Uwah, openly accepts and blesses both children. While Papa is filled with profound relief and joy, Momma is left isolated in her bitterness, realizing that her husband’s family fully supports his protective stance over Fadwa, forcing her to plot her next moves in secret.

Description

The narrative unfolds across a vivid geographical and social canvas, shifting from the quiet clinical and domestic tensions of the diaspora to the sweeping, heavily stratified architecture of northern Nigerian royalty. The prose contrasts intimate interior spaces—such as the closed-door bedroom where Mami poisons Momma's perspective and Habiba quietly cares for the infant—with expansive public settings like the Kumi Royal Palace. Details such as the Emir's velvet pillows, traditional royal attire (alkyabba), structured vehicle arrangements, and the bustling anticipation of extended family members breathe authentic life into the setting, grounding the emotional turmoil within a rich cultural environment.

Analytics

• Thematic Juxtaposition of Power and Empathy: The chapter contrasts the institutional power of the Kumi dynasty with individual emotional choices. The Emir uses his patriarchal authority not to crush vulnerability, but to mandate compassion and acceptance, establishing a moral counter-weight to Momma's cruelty.
• Character Foil Dynamics: Habiba functions as a silent moral anchor. While Mami actively fuels Momma's malice and Momma drifts into callous neglect, Habiba quietly nurtures Fadwa, bridging the gap between Papa's intentions and the child's survival.
• Escalation of Conflict Stakes: By moving the setting from a neutral foreign country into the heart of the royal palace, the narrative raises the stakes. Momma can no longer rely on isolation; she must navigate a collective family structure that actively validates the very thing she despises, turning her personal grievance into a high-risk domestic standoff.

Comments

• Atmospheric Depth: The transition scenes—from the meticulous packing of suitcases to the multi-stop travel itinerary through London and Lagos—effectively convey the weight and permanence of the relocation, grounding the emotional shifts in realistic logistical details.
• Character Psychological Realism: Momma's internal reaction to the Emir and Uwah welcoming Fadwa is sharply written. Her impulse to snatch her child back from Abdulrahman's arms, checked only by the overwhelming social gravity of the royal court, vividly illustrates a woman cornered by her own unyielding pride.