Today Thursday Imaan didn’t go to school after her bath. She ate and left the parlor to sit near Ammi, who was relaxing. She leaned in and said, *"Ammi, I want to go to the supermarket to buy pads and some other things."*
Ammi looked at her and said, *"Imaan, didn’t all the pads you bought the other day finish?"*
Imaan laughed and replied, *"No, they didn’t finish, but they’re halfway gone."*
Ammi said, *"Then call your dad and tell him to send me the money so I can give you for the pads."*
Imaan widened her eyes and said, *"Wait, what about the 30k transfer from the other day?"*
Ammi gasped, *"30k?! May God help us!"*
Imaan laughed, stretched, and went back to her room. She adjusted her neatly wrapped hijab, picked up her small bag, inserted her ATM card, sprayed herself with perfume, and stepped out of the parlor. She crouched near Ammi and said, *"Ammi, please give me transport money, for God’s sake."*
Ammi replied, *"Check in front of the mirror in the room."*
Imaan got up, went inside, picked something up, and returned to the parlor. *"Okay, Ammi, I also want to stop by Mariya’s house. She hasn’t been to school since Tuesday—she’s sick."*
Ammi asked, *"Who is Mariya again?"*
Imaan said, *"Huh? The one who always wears glasses. If I’m not feeling well—"*
Ammi cut in, *"So you’re going to her house, not the supermarket?"*
Imaan replied, *"No, Ammi, I just remembered. I don’t even know her house well—we only went there once with Maimoon. If I don’t find it, I’ll just come back home."*
Ammi said, *"Make sure you find it since she always checks on you."*
Imaan responded, *"Okay, Ammi."* She then said goodbye and left.
Ammi reminded her to say her prayers before leaving.
As she reached Yusuf’s section, she saw Umma sitting outside with a friend on white chairs. Imaan lowered her head and walked past them toward the gate.
Hajiya Salaha, watching Umma, asked, *"Whose daughter is this again?"*
Umma smiled slightly and said, *"Aisha’s daughter."*
Hajiya Salaha exclaimed, *"By God’s power, she’s grown this much?"*
Umma pursed her lips.
Hajiya Salaha continued, *"Did Aisha tell her not to greet you in this house?"*
Umma chuckled dryly. *"You saw it yourself. My eyes are glued to her wickedness—she doesn’t even see me as her stepmother."*
Hajiya Salaha said, *"Is this girl that disrespectful?"*
Umma replied, *"Ever since I returned to this house, I’ve seen her and Mujaheed acting like they’re in their own world. He treats Aisha like his sister, not his wife. And that girl is always sick—she’s a sickle cell patient. If you see how he pampers her, even his mother doesn’t get that treatment. In short, Aisha has taken everything—just like she took his father’s younger brother. The way she makes him kneel for her—"*
Hajiya Salaha gasped, *"God’s power!"*
Umma continued, *"I had to stand firm. With God’s help and Magajiya’s support, I regained my strength. Now, even snakes don’t dare enter this house. I can’t risk it. Her father doesn’t know how dirty Aisha is. She blocked his younger brother from marrying so he wouldn’t have children—just so the world would close his mouth and tie him to a sickler, always spending money on hospital bills. God knows best. If I’m breathing like this, that girl won’t last long—today health, tomorrow sickness. If God wills, she’ll reap what she sows. Anyone she’s wronged will crush her. And she keeps provoking—doesn’t she know her father can’t afford to keep breaking his finances? I swear by God, I have no enemy worse than Aisha. I’ll do anything to remove her and her daughter. I don’t even hate my co-wife as much as I hate Aisha. The way she was brought back—who made her senior wife? I’ll remove her too, sooner or later. I’m just waiting for my time."*
Hajiya Salaha said, *"Yes, don’t let her win."*
Umma added, *"Tomorrow, there’s somewhere I want to go with Magajiya. If you’re free, let’s go together. There’s something I want to prepare for early."*
Hajiya Salaha asked, *"What is it?"*
Umma said, *"Listen, because of this nonsense, Mujaheed keeps taking her to the hospital. The money he spends—even if you call, she won’t answer. Why is she causing him stress? I’ve warned that wicked girl—if she keeps pushing, I’ll make sure she regrets it. No one is after his money, and his money isn’t free. Let them go and suffer with her sickness—those who gave birth to her should take care of her!"*
Hajiya Salaha said, *"Truly, may God see us through tomorrow. If you’re going out, call me."*
As Imaan walked out, Yusuf, sitting with the guard and their new driver, watched her. He smiled and said, *"Where are you going, Imaan, Daddy’s girl?"*
She frowned. *"Shopping for us."*
He raised an eyebrow. *"Ah, Hajiya Imaan! If I stand up, let’s go together—I’ll pay."*
She laughed and shrugged. *"Let’s go then—you’ll pay for me."*
He smiled. *"That’s how it is, huh? So who brought you?"*
She opened her palm. *"Napep (commercial tricycle)."*
He widened his eyes. *"You took a bike and came back with asthma?"*
She pouted. *"No, just let the driver drop me off and bring me back home."*
He squinted. *"If I feel like it."*
He glanced at the new driver, who was smiling, and said, *"Well, Driver, you’ll drop her off at the supermarket."* He stretched. *"In sha Allah, let me bring the car out."*
He went into the compound.
Just then, Imaan noticed Mujaheed sitting on a white chair in the distance, pressing his phone. He threw her a teasing look. She pouted and returned to Yusuf.
*"Yusuf, did Inna leave you any meat yesterday when I left?"*
He laughed. *"No, she didn’t give me any."*
She pursed her lips. *"That’s strange. I know she waits until I leave before giving you some—and she eats it too. I don’t even eat meat much."*
He said, *"Well, maybe you’ll enjoy the meat today. She’ll pay for what she did to you."*
She frowned. *"I know she gave you some yesterday—she didn’t give me any."*
The driver entered the compound and greeted Umma respectfully, holding the car keys.
She didn’t respond to his greeting and asked, *"Where are you going?"*
He bowed slightly. *"Hajiya, we’re dropping her at the supermarket."*
Umma gave him a sharp look. *"Do you even know who employs you in this house?"*
He stayed silent, staring at her.
She continued, *"That girl you see—her father is different from the one in this house. And it’s not him who pays you—it’s the other side. So mind your business. You’ve been here for minutes—take your friend and go."*
He lowered his head. *"My apologies, Hajiya. I didn’t know."*
She said, *"Now you know."*
Frustrated, he turned and left the compound.
Yusuf watched him and asked, *"What happened?"*
The driver bowed. *"Hajiya said we shouldn’t take your sister."*
Yusuf tensed and glanced at Mujaheed, who looked up from his phone.
Yusuf turned to Imaan. *"Wait, let me get the car and take you."*
Quietly, she said, *"Okay, thank you."*
Apart from his anger, Hajiya had no reason to stop the driver from taking Imaan. She pulled Yusuf aside after the driver left with the car.
Imaan opened the front passenger door and got in. Once they were on the road, Yusuf said, *"But don’t leave me in the car if you go shopping."*
She laughed. *"You know what, Yusuf? If you drop me off and leave, I won’t come back home."*
He asked, *"Where are you going?"*
She replied, *"To check on my friend—she’s sick."*
He frowned. *"Imaan, be careful. You’re going to see a sick person alone?"*
She laughed until they reached the supermarket.
After parking, Yusuf warned her, *"Don’t leave me, Imaan. If you do, you won’t find me here. Here’s my ATM card—you know the PIN."*
She said, *"Yusuf, just go home. I’ll come back later. Daddy already gave me shopping money."*
He asked, *"And you’re going to your friend’s house alone?"*
She pouted, looking at him.
He smiled. *"Fine, sorry. Should I wait to take you there?"*
She lowered her head. *"Did you hear me say I’d wear a nose mask?"*
She replied, *"Yes, it’s in my bag."*
He said, *"Then don’t stay long at your friend’s. I can’t upset Ammi."*
She laughed. *"You’re just trying to upset me now."*
He handed her 1,000 naira. *"Take a Napep since Daddy gave you shopping money."*
She replied, *"Thank you."*
With that, she waved and headed to the supermarket entrance.
From the entrance, he watched her until she entered the mall, then followed her discreetly.
She went straight to the sanitary pads aisle, picked two large packs, and was about to leave when she noticed someone approaching.
Their eyes met, and she quickly placed the pads back, grabbing a Dettol bottle nearby.
He stopped close to her, staring through his dark glasses.
*"Assalamu alaikum,"* he greeted.
Without looking at him, she replied.
*"Good evening,"* he said.
*"Same,"* she responded.
