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Chapter 7
House No: 34, Tudun Wada Estate, Funtua Local Government, Katsina State, Nigeria
The following morning, the atmosphere within the compound remained heavily tense, thick with lingering resentment from the previous night's chaos.
Humaira sat quietly on a low wooden stool in the corner of Inna's room, her cheek still faintly stinging from the harsh slap she had received. Her mind raced with a mixture of bitter defiance and overwhelming despair. Around her, Sakina sat silently with her travel bag still unzipped beside her, while young Ummi dozed softly on a mat nearby.
The heavy silence was abruptly shattered when the sharp, authoritative voice of their father echoed from the courtyard, calling out for Inna and the children to assemble in the main parlor immediately.
With a sinking heart, Inna adjusted her wrapper, her expression hardening as she signaled for Humaira and Sakina to follow her.
As they stepped into the crowded parlor, they found Abba sitting on a single-seater armchair, his face etched with deep lines of exhaustion and strict disapproval. Standing nearby were Maami and Asma'u (Ma'u), the latter wearing a triumphant, self-satisfied smirk that made Humaira's blood boil.
Abba cleared his throat, his stern gaze sweeping across the young women before landing squarely on Inna.
"I have listened to enough complaints to last a lifetime," Abba began, his voice low and unyielding. "Every single day it is one crisis after another in this house. Fights over food, fights over chores, and now young girls running away from their matrimonial and extended family homes as if my house is an open refuge camp for every runaway! Sakina, your uncles sent word this morning. They made it clear that you and your sister have no business wandering back here to burden me when you belong elsewhere or under proper oversight. And you, Humaira—your lack of discipline has reached a threshold I will no longer tolerate."
Humaira's chest heaved with indignation. She stepped forward slightly, unable to contain her bursting anger any longer.
"Abba, please, you only listen to them! You never ask what they do to us! They treat us like slaves in this very house, and when we try to breathe or defend ourselves, we are painted as the wicked ones! Uncle Ismail and the others drove us out because they wanted to seize our mother's inheritance, and here—here we are treated like unwanted burdens!"
"Silence!" Abba thundered, slamming his palm against the arm of the chair.
Inna quickly grabbed Humaira's arm, pulling her back with a sharp, warning glare.
"Do not ever raise your voice in my presence!" Abba continued, pointing a trembling finger at Humaira. "Inheritance or no inheritance, a home is governed by peace and respect. Since you all find it impossible to live peaceably under this roof, changes must be made. Sakina will prepare to leave for Kano by the end of this week to stay with her paternal relatives, whether she likes it or not. As for Humaira..."
Abba paused, his eyes narrowing as he exchanged a brief, significant look with Maami.
"...An arrangement has been discussed. To curb this perpetual rebellion and ensure you learn proper womanhood and discipline, you will be sent away to live with our strict relatives in Zaria, where you will remain until your future is settled."
A collective gasp escaped the girls. Sakina burst into silent tears, while Humaira felt as though the floor beneath her had suddenly collapsed. Exile to Zaria—far away from any familiar face, handed over to strict, unforgiving relatives—felt like a death sentence.
Ma'u couldn't hide her wicked grin anymore, whispering loudly enough for them to hear:
“Good riddance to bad rubbish.”
Hayin Ruwa Quarter, Dutsanma Local Government, Katsina State, Nigeria
Across town in a similarly fractured household, the morning light brought no relief to Bilkisu.
Confined strictly to her room by Inna Asabe’s direct orders, Bilkisu stared out the small, barred window watching the dusty courtyard. The bitter altercation from the previous evening between Inna Asabe and Inna Ladidi had left the entire household walking on eggshells. Their father had enforced a strict curfew and cut off all casual movement outside the gate for the younger members of the household.
A soft tap at the door startled her.
Amina slipped into the room quietly, glancing over her shoulder to ensure no one was watching before closing the door behind her. Her expression was unusually serious.
"Bilkisu," Amina whispered, pulling up a small stool and sitting close. "I know you're upset about how everything blew up yesterday, but we need to talk about Sule."
Bilkisu turned her head away, her eyes flashing with frustration.
"I don't want to talk about Sule, Amina. Look at what happened just because he spoke to me! Inna treated me like a criminal, and Binta acted like a rabid dog. I just want out of this house—I don't care how or with whom, as long as I can breathe."
Amina leaned in closer, a cunning glint appearing in her eyes.
"That's exactly why I'm here. If you keep waiting for Inna to approve a proper suitor, you'll grow old and grey inside these walls. She will sabotage every single person who comes for you just to spite us and protect Binta's interests. But... what if you didn't have to wait for her permission?"
Bilkisu narrowed her eyes, studying her step-sister carefully. "What are you talking about, Amina?"
"Sule has a friend—an older cousin who travels frequently between Katsina and Kano for business," Amina whispered urgently. "He has a house in another part of town. Sule told me yesterday, before the chaos started, that if you are truly serious about escaping this prison, they can arrange a quiet nikah. You wouldn't need Inna's blessing or Baba's formal consent ceremony right away; you can legally secure your future, and once it's done, what can they possibly do? They'll have to accept it."
A cold shiver ran down Bilkisu's spine. The proposition was dangerously radical—defying her entire family, bypassing her father, and eloping into an uncertain future. Yet, as she looked around the cramped, suffocating walls of her room, the alternative—a lifetime of subjugation under Inna Asabe's thumb—seemed infinitely more terrifying.
"An elopement...?" Bilkisu's voice trembled. "Amina, if this goes wrong, Inna will literally disown me—or worse, destroy my life completely."
"And if you stay here, she's already destroying it piece by piece," Amina countered softly. "Think about it. You have until tonight to decide."
