eir area, but she deliberately excluded her best friend, Zainaba. They had planned

a day before the wedding, as she w

bu entered. They all recognized her, and S

just to congratulate her as her old frien

t's leave them al

atulate me. There must be another reaso

, I do have something else to say. Please, Sa'ada, raise my kids as your own, no matter what

e you, but at the same time, I envy you. I also despise you. So, to put a blemish, or at least a scratch, on you, I can't do that without making everything that belongs to you mine. I will make sure your

u peace, go ahead. But remember, you can never be

what, the love between a mother and her child is sacred. But don't under

was determined to be strong for her children and to cherish the love they shared. She had no regrets, f

d to take hold of Usman, as if a veil had descended upon his expressive nature. He spoke less, but his eyes betrayed a silent turmoil beneath his enigmat

meantime, their absence had brought about profound changes in the children's lives. Ummi, wore a mask of constant cheerfulness, yet her eyes concealed a profound loneliness. Mista

erred and received a reprimand from Hajiya, Ummi would embrace her, and together they would weep, Ummi whispering words of assurance that Hajiya's scolding

d themselves seated in the parlor, seeking solace from the melancholic weather.

her for a while," Hajiya inquired, her

Bashir," Ummi replied, her

," Hajiya instructed, co

iya, can you ask Aunty Baraka to call her? I need to finis

Baraka for me," H

aka!" Ummi

, around forty years of

ention towards the maid and said, "Baraka, please call A

replied before makin

y with her friends, heedless of the

of the main parlor. Amira looked at her with a disappointed expressi

ng dark, and the rain is starting to fall.

finish building our house," Amira stubbor

rom the veranda, raised her voice, "If you step out

paying no heed to her distress, took

the mud from her hands and feet. As they entered the parlor, Amira sought solace in her sister Ummi's embrac

e room, she widened her eyes and she interjected, "Amira, it's no

taking hold of her hands and beaming with joy. "Hajiya, is it tru

e and replied, "Why woul

staken," Amira exclaimed, he

en why had she allowed their father to marry another woman, especially someone like Sa'ada who seemed to shatte