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Part 1: Fahad's Heartbreak and Salim's Intervention
Fahad's physical health had improved significantly and he had found some relief, though even until now, he remained on daily medication, strictly taking three small pills every single day. He was lying down all alone in the room because Ya Abba had gone back to school. Holding his phone in his hand, his eyes were glued to a picture of Bilkisu taken on their wedding day.
"Is it really true, Bilkisu, that you have left me...? Is it truly over between us? For God's sake, Bilkisu, come back to me. Wake me up from this horrible nightmare I am experiencing.... Please wake me up and tell me this is just a dream and not reality. Bilkisu, tell me that everything that happened was only in a dream. By Allah, I love you.... I love you, Bilkisu....."
Salim stood over him, silently watching. In his heart, he questioned what kind of trial his friend was enduring. How is it that even now, he cannot stop loving Bilkisu? Oh, Allah....
Salim suddenly snatched the phone from Fahad's hand. Only then did Fahad snap out of his deep trance, completely startled. Looking at the screen, Salim saw a vibrant, stunningly beautiful photo of Bilkisu. Shaking his head, Salim sat beside Fahad, who was subtly wiping away his tears so Salim wouldn't notice. However, he was too late; Salim had already seen his tears the moment he stepped into the room.
"Do you know something? You are going to kill yourself over nothing, all in the name of this useless thing called love.... How can you just sit here crying internally and externally over love? I swear, if you don't stop this constant worrying, you will experience exactly what the doctor warned you about just yesterday when I accompanied you. He explicitly stated that if you don't stop worrying and overthinking, your high blood pressure will trigger a heart disease..."
Wiping his tears again with the back of his hand, Fahad averted his gaze from Salim and tightly closed his eyes.
"Salim, by Allah, I have tried my best to do so, but I failed. I cannot remove her from my heart. I can't stop thinking about her. I can't stop seeing her in my dreams. I just can't, Salim. I can't stop loving her..... Why would Bilkisu do this to me?"
"You are being foolish, I swear. Who told you this is how love is supposed to be? Who told you that love means dying inside when you separate? For God's sake, pull yourself together! You are wasting your time overthinking about a woman who has long since forgotten you..."
Fahad sat up abruptly, facing Salim.
"Hey, don't you dare insult me or my wife..."
Salim burst into laughter, which irritated Fahad even further.
"Oh really? Let me tell you something. You sit here every single day staring at her pictures, right? Well, Insha Allah, from today onward, you will stop. What exactly are you trying to bring upon yourself? Heart disease or insanity? I swear, I'm starting to wonder if this Bilkisu hasn't used black magic on you. Just free yourself from this love..."
With that, Salim stood up to leave the room.
"Hey, give me back my phone..."
Salim turned around to look at him.
"No way. I swear, if I'm ever giving this phone back to you, it will only be after I have permanently deleted every single photo of Bilkisu..."
Before Salim could even finish his sentence, Fahad lunged out of bed to chase him. But he couldn't catch him; Salim sprinted out of the house. Fahad chased him all the way to the front gate, but realizing he couldn't catch up, he stopped, resting his hands on his waist while panting heavily. He didn't want to step out into the neighborhood looking like that anyway, since he was only dressed in a T-shirt and shorts.
He went back inside, took a shower, and changed his clothes, all while fuming with rage. He thought to himself that if Salim actually deleted those photos, they would have a massive problem. He continued brooding as he got dressed. He performed his Asr prayer in his room and then went to the main house to see Ayiyah. Mariya was getting ready to leave for Islamic school, while Maryam had already left long ago. He tapped Mariya on her back playfully, saying:
"You are so slow. Every single day, you are the last one to leave for school. Look at Maryam; she left ages ago, but you always have to be late as usual..."
"Ya Fahad, I swear I only delayed because I was trying to master what I learned. If I go there without knowing it, they will beat me..."
"Are you going to leave right now, or should I kick you out?"
She quickly wore her shoes and sprinted out of the house. Fahad then peeked into Mamuh's parlor. She was lying down, listening to a radio drama titled Madubi Hoton Kowa (The Mirror Reflecting Everyone) broadcasted on Freedom Radio.
"Mamuh, please what do you have for me? I swear I am starving."
She looked up at him.
"Oh, so you've finally ended the hunger strike you've been on? That's why I didn't bother setting anything aside for you today, since even when you are given food, you refuse to eat it..."
He laughed and stepped fully into the room, letting the curtain fall behind him.
"Please, Mamuh, give me something to eat before I develop an ulcer."
She sat up and turned down the volume of her radio.
"Of course I have to feed my last-born, even though you are so spoiled.... Oh, Fahad, always frowning..."
He just listened to her quietly without saying a word until she handed him a bowl of food. It was dan wake (flour dumplings), perfectly molded into neat, small pieces. She handed him the container of pepper blend, oil, and seasoning. Ayiyah wasn't home today; she had traveled to Kura for a wedding and wouldn't return until tomorrow.
"Mamuh, what genuinely cures and reduces worry? What is the ultimate medicine for it?"
She adjusted her posture and turned off her radio completely before answering him.
"Fahad, patience and prayer are the ultimate guide to curing every single worry. Whatever trial befalls a servant of Allah, if they can exercise patience and pray consistently, by the grace of God, the Almighty will lift that burden from them... Every single human being you see in this world carries their own unique burden that weighs heavily on them. They just choose not to speak about it. If someone were to lay bare their heavy worries to you, you would realize that yours pale in comparison to theirs, and you would stop worrying entirely... Patience and prayer are the only way out in life."
Fahad closed the lid of the bowl and nodded in total agreement. Mamuh looked at him, giving him a mock glare.
"What do you think you're doing? Don't tell me you are done eating already?"
He pouted and frowned playfully, knowing Mamuh's nature—she would insist he finish the entire portion, yet his appetite was completely gone these days and food no longer tasted good to him.
"I swear, Fahad, you must finish this food... That is exactly why I refused to let them take it to your room, because I knew you wouldn't finish it, or you'd just eat five pieces, give the rest to beggars, and then lie to me that you ate it all..."
Looking like he was about to cry, he grimaced but pulled the bowl back toward himself and continued eating. Mamuh continued to advise him wisely on the importance of patience and accepting destiny (qaddara). Just as she insisted, he ate every single piece of the flour dumplings until the bowl was completely empty, leaving him uncomfortably full. Because of how stuffed he felt, he decided against riding his motorcycle and chose to walk instead.
He arrived at their tailoring shop with an indifferent expression. Ever since his heartbreak, he had become deeply reserved and rarely smiled. TJ was standing by the large cutting table, cutting a piece of Swiss material while Fahad guided him on the correct measurements. Right then, Salim walked in. Fahad coldly acknowledged his greeting and immediately looked away. Salim laughed and tapped his shoulder.
"My friend, here is your phone..."
"You might as well have kept it permanently. At least that way, you'd have a valid excuse for killing me..."
Salim laughed at his dramatic response and looked at him.
"The real culprit trying to kill you is out there. That's exactly why I deleted her photos—because I realized that your love for her could literally be the death of you if you are not careful..."
"So what if it becomes the death of me? How is that any of your business?"
"It is my business, because your loss would affect all of us deeply. Every single day, your only job is to stare at her photo and cry... For God's sake, Prince, get a grip on yourself and minimize this love you have for her. I am genuinely terrified that your illness will get worse..."
Ignoring Salim completely, Fahad snatched his phone and opened the folder where Bilkisu’s pictures were kept. It was entirely empty—Salim had actually deleted everything. Clutching his forehead, Fahad felt his anger boil over. He refused to reply to anything Salim said, taking his actions very personally. Ultimately, he left the shop, walked downstairs, and entered the mosque, where he lay down until it was time for prayer. After performing his ablutions and completing the prayer, Salim extended his hand for a handshake, but Fahad coldly rejected it. Salim found his stubbornness incredibly amusing.
Knowing that returning home would only expose his soul to endless overthinking, Fahad pondered where to go. He considered visiting Husnah, but then remembered that the gates of the School of Nursing close strictly at 6:00 PM, with no entries or exits allowed. Instead, he went to the late Sheikh Ja'afar's Islamic center, where two of his students conducted daily Islamic lectures between Maghrib and Isha prayers. This deeply comforted him and eased his loneliness. By the time the Isha prayer concluded, he stepped out feeling significantly lighter at heart. Salim kept calling his phone, but Fahad refused to answer. Husnah called next; he let it ring out before calling her back.
He sat on the raised concrete ledge outside his family house, talking on the phone with Husnah. They had never shared such a long, extensive conversation before, lasting all the way until 9:00 PM. He was hesitant to go inside because he knew that the moment he made eye contact with Mamuh, she would force him to eat dinner, yet he was still completely stuffed. Just as he was about to get up, Yaya Auwal stepped out of the house. He was their eldest brother and the husband of Anty Fauziyya.
"Oh! Yaya, when did you get into town?"
"I've been waiting for you inside for quite a while, but you didn't show up... Tell me, what are your plans now?"
"Yaya, I intend to go back to school."
"Where?"
"I was thinking of Maryam Abacha University, or somewhere in Ogun State. I heard there's a good private university there..."
"Cut that nonsense out. Go and apply at the Federal University in Kaduna. Fill out the Direct Entry (D.E.) form so you don't waste any time. It's close to home, and you can study whatever course your heart desires... Goodnight."
"Alright, Yaya. Extend my greetings to Anty."
With that, they said their goodbyes and Yaya Auwal left. Fahad remained seated for a moment, realizing he had no better choice than to follow Yaya Auwal's advice. He absolutely needed to leave Kano, even if it meant moving to Kaduna...
Part 2: The Radio Broadcast and a Final Resolution
Fahad remained sitting outside until the constant mosquito bites became unbearable. He finally stood up and went inside. Bypassing Mamuh's wing entirely, he went straight to his room and got ready for bed. To his surprise, sleep completely eluded his eyes tonight. Every single night, he was accustomed to staring at Bilkisu's photos until he drifted off to sleep, but tonight, Salim had wiped everything clean.
He tossed and turned in deep frustration, letting out a sharp hiss. He kept shifting in bed and sighing heavily until around 12:00 AM. Realizing sleep was not coming, he dialed Ya Abba's number. It rang three to four times before Abba picked up.
"My little brother, aren't you asleep yet? I hope it's not worry that's keeping you awake?"
Fahad rolled over from his side onto his back and let out a faint, dry smile.
"Ya Abba, I swear life is just a gradual process... white today, rags tomorrow..."
"Fahad, you just have to be patient. Try your best to minimize your worrying, especially given your current medical condition..."
"Insha Allah. I couldn't sleep, so I decided to check up on my roommate to see how he's doing..." he concluded playfully, making Abba laugh.
"I have two tests tomorrow, so I'm staying up to do some reading..."
"May Allah grant you success. Go ahead with your studies, I'll try to sleep now... Goodnight."
"Alright, but please, do not overthink things..."
"Insha Allah, big brother..."
After hanging up, he tossed his phone under his pillow and closed his eyes. He knew deep down that until the day he died, he would never stop loving Bilkisu because her love was woven into his very blood. If he were ever to be separated from her love, it would mean separating him from his very breath. This intense longing triggered a vivid dream that morning—a dream unlike any he had ever had before.
He saw a massive crowd gathered right in front of Bilkisu's family house. When he approached, he spotted Bilkisu crouching right in the center of the crowd, burying her head between her knees so her face was completely hidden. Suddenly, a man walked up, grabbed her hand, and led her away. Fahad was crying hysterically, his face soaked with tears as he screamed her name, but she walked away without a single backward glance. When he woke up at dawn, his body was completely drenched in sweat and his spirit felt entirely crushed. He rose sluggishly with zero energy and went into the bathroom. As he came out and was putting on his jallabiya, he heard his father knocking on the door. They walked out together to the mosque.
When he returned to his room and lay down after the morning prayer, the vivid details of the dream began replaying in his mind.
"What is happening to Bilkisu...?" he questioned his heart repeatedly. Unable to fall back asleep, he sat in absolute silence, lost in thought. Eventually, he pulled out his phone to check his saved audio files of her voice notes, but that folder was also completely empty. He let out a deep, angry sigh, his resentment toward Salim intensifying.
"So he actually went ahead and deleted her voice notes too? I am going to deal with you heavily, Salim..."
He then turned on his phone's radio to distract himself and ease his loneliness. Just as he was beginning to doze off, he heard a broadcast that sounded like a surreal extension of his nightmare:
"We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our colleague, Bilkisu Lukman Aliyu, on her wedding solemnization to her dashing groom, Ma'arufi Sha Guda Hamood Ahmad Barewa. We pray that Allah grants them a peaceful marriage and blesses their home...!"
He froze in absolute silence, listening until the announcement concluded. Scalding tears immediately rushed down his face as his mind focused heavily on Nazifi Asnanic’s song playing in the background:
“I have left you, how will I survive... farewell... one day my lips will say it... farewell... but someone like you I can never forget... farewell, whether by night or day... until we meet again, I say farewell until another day, my other half... Today, let us say our goodbyes until another day... parting is not death, my sister, the half of my soul, I never wanted us to part...!”
He aggressively switched off the radio and raised his phone, intending to smash it against the wall. But remembering something, he stopped, tossed it onto the bed beside him, and continued weeping bitter tears of frustration for a very long time.
Sluggish and completely drained of energy, he lay there until his phone began to vibrate. He initially wanted to ignore it, but eventually pulled it closer and answered while wiping his eyes.
"Hey girl..." he murmured in a weak, low voice. Hearing his tone, Husnah smiled warmly on the other end.
"Ya Fahad, good morning..."
"Morning dear, how was your night?"
"Fine, sweetheart. I just called to greet you..."
"Thank you. What are you up to right now?"
"I'm dressed and heading out for a lecture, but I won't stay long afterward because I want to go to the market to buy a lace material. I'll bring it over so you can sew it for me. I am traveling to Kaduna this Friday..."
"Let me take a shower and I'll come over to accompany you.... Just call me when you are out of your lecture."
With that resolution, he stood up and headed to the bathroom. He firmly resolved within his soul to completely forget about Bilkisu; since she had obviously moved on and forgotten about him, there was absolutely no point in wasting his life worrying over someone who didn't care about him. By Allah's grace, he vowed that this would be the absolute last time he would ever shed a tear over her love.
He bathed, dressed up, applied a premium perfume, and went to the main house. Suppressing his inner turmoil, he engaged in a lively conversation with Mamuh while eating a breakfast of rice cakes (waina) with taushe soup and warm water. Once finished, he left the house. He parked his motorcycle at the shopping plaza and walked over to the School of Nursing, which was quite close by. While on his way, Husnah called to inform him that she was stepping out.
As he neared the school gate, he spotted her dressed in her pristine white uniform, a modest white hijab, black Toms shoes, and a matching black side bag. She was talking on the phone. He leaned against the wall near the gate, watching her approach him. When she reached him, she hung up, and they stood facing each other, both smiling broadly. Fahad looked incredibly handsome today, dressed in casual clothes—a red T-shirt, black trousers, a black cap, red slip-ons, a red wristwatch, and his earphones draped around his neck. Husnah was completely smitten by his appearance, despite his eyes looking slightly heavy from crying.
In a soft, breathless whisper, she said, "Prince, you look incredibly handsome..."
He closed his eyes briefly before opening them to look at her.
"You look far more beautiful than I do... shall we go?"
They walked side by side toward the plaza. They entered a fabric shop where she picked out a lace material she liked. As she reached into her bag to pay, Fahad stepped in and paid for it himself. They then went into a sewing accessories shop where he purchased all the materials needed to tailor the dress. As they neared his shop, Fahad looked at her and asked:
"Don't you need any makeup products...?"
"I already have makeup, Prince..."
"What about perfume? Even if you have some, let's go buy more."
They walked into Salim's cosmetics shop. Fahad acted as though he didn't even know Salim, maintaining a completely cold, detached expression as he picked out several bottles of perfume and lined them up on the counter in front of him.
"How much for these perfumes?"
Salim burst into laughter.
"No matter the price, you know I'll definitely give you a discount since we are buying them for our girlfriend..."
Fahad glared at him, parting his lips as if to snap back, but chose to stay silent.
Salim turned to Husnah and joked, "Husnah, please tell your boyfriend to stop being mad at me. Just because I gave him some honest, realistic advice, he has been throwing a tantrum..."
"Oh, Ya Fahad, please forgive him so you guys can make up..."
Fahad looked at her, and as their eyes met, she quickly looked away. No ordinary woman could easily withstand the intensity of his gaze, given the deep, mysterious charm locked within his stark white eyes.
"Don't worry about it, Husnah, just leave him alone. He knows exactly what massive offense he committed against me..."
"Alright then, I'll just be a spectator since you two are closer anyway..."
Salim laughed as he packed the items into a plastic bag.
"My friend, I see love is in the air today. No wonder you look so incredibly happy..."
"Mind your business, you nosy guy..." Fahad muttered.
Amidst jokes and laughter, they parted ways and headed upstairs to Fahad's tailoring shop. He immediately began cutting the lace fabric while looking at her.
"What style should I make for you? A skirt and blouse or a wrapper (zani) set?"
"No, make a skirt and blouse for me."
He smiled and gave her a playful look.
"A wrapper set would look far more elegant on you..."
She stepped closer to him as he was finalizing the cuts on the fabric.
"Ya Fahad, I don't even know how to properly tie a wrapper..."
"Oh, Husnah case... I will be the one tying it for you then."
She playfully tapped his shoulder and pouted. Together, they finished the cutting process. She followed him into the inner workspace, hovering around him like a shadow. The other workers in the shop began whispering among themselves, although they were already accustomed to seeing her around Fahad, as everyone knew she only visited the shop because of him. They remained together until the Zuhr prayer. Everyone left the shop to pray, leaving her alone. After the prayer concluded, Fahad returned to the workspace ahead of the others. As he sat down, she stepped close and gently brushed through his hair.
"Ya Fahad, there's something white in your hair..."
He used his hand to brush his hair out and continued his sewing while she chatted with him. After a while, she hesitated, bracing herself to say something. Distracted, Fahad suddenly pulled his hand back just as the sewing needle almost pierced his finger.
She quickly grabbed his hand, gently massaging the spot. He raised his eyes and looked at her intently.
"Husnah, why are you so stubborn? I strictly warned you against touching me like this, but you refuse to listen. This isn't Bayelsa State..."
"Oh come on, Ya Fahad. What's wrong with me touching you? It's nothing, it's normal..."
He tapped the sewing machine pedal twice, stopped, and stared deeply into her eyes.
"Do you want me to take your virginity right here in this shop one day? If you don't want that, then stop touching me. If you continue doing this, anything can happen because I could easily give you a baby before we are even legally married. Just exercise patience until we are married, then you can touch me as much as your heart desires... In fact, we will get to a level where you'll even get tired of touching me..."
Upon hearing his raw, blunt words, she instantly covered her face in intense embarrassment, burying her head against the sewing machine. He smiled, biting his lip, knowing she would be incredibly shy. However, he had deliberately told her the absolute truth; if he didn't set boundaries, their physical contact would continue to escalate into sin.
"Alright, raise your head so I can finish assembling your dress. I need to head home because I am starving," he said with a smile.
"Let me go fetch some food for you..."
Before he could object, she stood up and ran out, thoroughly flushed with embarrassment, unable to look him in the eye. As soon as she left, Salim walked in and continued chatting with him until the rest of the shop hands returned. Before 3:00 PM, Fahad completed tailoring a magnificent skirt and blouse set for her. Just as he stood up to stretch, she walked back in alongside her friend, Hafsa. She had touched up her makeup and was dressed beautifully in an atamfa gown and a shawl.
He murmured softly, "You look stunning, Princess......"
Beaming with joy, she placed the food in front of him and whispered, "Thank you."
Without wasting any time, she took her completed dress and left. Fahad had firmly resolved to eat her cooked meal today, so he called Salim on the phone to come over and share it with him. It was a savory dish of macaroni jellof mixed with potatoes and sardines, radiating a mouthwatering aroma. They ate together, though Fahad only picked at the food, as his hearty appetite had still not fully returned.
Ultimately, his relationship with Husnah had taken a massive step forward, as he was now fully receptive to her, unlike before. Even though he still didn't feel that consuming, blood-deep passion for her, he leaned into her affection and felt a deeply profound emotional bond growing between them. Furthermore, despite his aversion to studying close to home, he went ahead and submitted his Direct Entry application form for the Federal University in Kaduna just as Yaya Auwal had advised. Now, he was simply waiting for the admission list to drop.
Part 3: Bilkisu's Reality
Meanwhile, on the very day Bilkisu had a fierce physical altercation with Wise, she wept bitterly. It took an immense amount of consoling from Hamood to calm her down. He helped her change her clothes and took her to a local pharmacy, where her wounds were cleaned with cotton wool and dressed with plaster and bandages. Upon returning home, he looked at her seriously and advised:
"The best advice I can give you is to stay completely out of Wise's way. To her, physical fighting is absolutely nothing. She is far beyond your league because she literally fights hand-to-hand with men..."
2. Summary
The narrative centers on Fahad’s intense emotional struggle to overcome his heartbreak over Bilkisu, his gradual acceptance of a new romantic path with Husnah, and the looming reality of Bilkisu's new life.
- The Pain of Deletion and Bitter Reality: Fahad remains severely depressed and physically dependent on medication due to a broken heart. His close friend, Salim, snatches his phone and permanently deletes all of Bilkisu's photos and voice notes in a desperate bid to save Fahad from fatal high blood pressure and insanity. Fahad is deeply enraged by this. However, his heartbreak peaks when he hears a live radio broadcast announcing Bilkisu’s formal wedding solemnization to another man, Hamood. After weeping bitterly, Fahad vows that this will be the absolute last time he will ever cry over her.
- Embracing Husnah and Setting Boundaries: Resolving to move on from a woman who has forgotten him, Fahad accompanies Husnah—a nursing student who is deeply in love with him—to buy fabric. He tailors a beautiful dress for her at his shop. When Husnah playfully and continuously initiates physical contact, Fahad bluntly sets a firm boundary, warning her that continuous physical intimacy before marriage could lead them straight into sin. Though intensely embarrassed by his candor, Husnah appreciates his integrity, and their emotional bond strengthens significantly. Following his older brother's advice to leave town and clear his head, Fahad applies for a university transfer to Kaduna.
- Bilkisu's Domestic Trouble: The chapter briefly cuts to Bilkisu, who has just been severely beaten in a physical brawl with a tough character named Wise. Her new husband, Hamood, treats her wounds and strongly warns her to completely stay out of Wise's way, revealing that Bilkisu is entirely out of her depth against someone who fights men routinely.
