FreeFreeDescription
The policeman let out a sigh and said, "Calm yourself, Mrs. Laila. I am not one of the officers who were sent to trap you. I am indeed an officer, but I did not come here to arrest you; in fact, I came to help you."
"You are lying; you are all the same. So, you want me to trust you a second time just to destroy my life? I don’t need your help. If you are going to arrest me, just do it and stop with the games." Mrs. Laila finished, sounding as though she were about to cry from despair.
"It was your husband who asked me to help you, no one else. I am one of your husband's officers, and he is the one who sent me to you. So, calm down; I am going to help you," the policeman insisted.
Confused, Mrs. Laila replied, "My husband? My husband is the one who sent you? Why would he do that now, when he didn't help me when I needed him? Not one member of my family or my husband came to stand for me in court; I became like an orphan. Not once did my husband come to visit me in prison. Now that I am about to find freedom, he sends you to me? I don’t need it. When I needed his help, he wasn't there, and now that I am about to gain my own freedom—having escaped the hospital so the truth can come to light—I will not follow you." Mrs. Laila said this as she stepped out of the tricycle (napep).
Adjusting the baby in her arms, with tears rolling down her cheeks, she said, "In front of my husband, the police came and arrested me without him stopping them. Nothing shocks me more than seeing my husband join forces with my enemies. If I could forgive anyone in this world, it wouldn't be my husband." Mrs. Laila said this as she left the scene. The policeman quickly followed behind her.
As for Nurse Nadiya, just as the doctor had instructed, she took the baby in her arms and headed home. Fortunately, she found her husband at home. She said a prayer before entering. She found him lying on a large three-seater sofa, holding a remote, apparently watching TV.
Nurse Nadiya greeted him. He turned to look at her but then went back to watching the program on the screen. Nurse Nadiya let out a heavy sigh; knowing his temperament, she said nothing to him. She held the baby tighter and headed toward her bedroom door.
From the sofa, she heard his voice ask, "Where are you coming from?"
She turned around, confused, and said, "What do you mean, where am I coming from? Where would I go other than work?" she said, frowning.
He gave her a smile, looked at the baby in her arms, and said, "And this baby? Where did you get her from?"
Hearing this, Nurse Nadiya relaxed and smiled, moving toward where he was sitting. She went up to him, sat down, and said:
"You don't know who she is, do you? Forgive me for taking the child without asking for your permission first. The truth is, this child belongs to the high-profile criminal the police are looking for, Mrs. Laila Abdullahi. I promised her I would take care of her daughter until she grows up, and I was the one who helped her escape from the hospital. I hope you won't reject this child, husband." She said this with her head bowed.
Her husband’s eyes widened, and he stood up, furious. "Have you gone mad? How can you bring the daughter of a major criminal into my house and think I would allow it? Are you trying to bring disaster upon me so the police start hunting me, too? You must have a death wish. Listen to me: find a way to get this child out of this house. If you don't take her away to another place, I swear I am done with this marriage. I will not sit here peacefully while you bring catastrophe to my doorstep!" he said, his rage peaking.
Nurse Nadiya stared at him, mouth agape, as tears began to stream down her face. She looked at the baby and was immediately overcome with pity. The baby was doing nothing but crying from intense hunger, and she had no breast milk to give her.
Filled with compassion, she said, "Oh, poor children. You have only just arrived in this world and are already facing such challenges. What kind of life is this? To think there is no one to look at you with mercy and help you. Oh Allah, I beseech You, let this suffering end in their childhood; do not let it continue into their adulthood."
She looked back at her husband and said, "Don't say that, husband. I promised Mrs. Laila I would do my best to help her daughter and raise her as my own. She is just an innocent baby; a mother’s crime shouldn't affect the child. If you tell me to take her out, where do you want me to take her? She will live a life of misery, with no one to wipe away her tears or bring her happiness, because she has no mother nearby. She isn't alone; there are three of them, and you see, even before they could know each other, they were separated to save their lives and their mother’s—and so they might understand the value of life. Please, don’t say no, I beg you." She finished, breaking into sobs.
1. The Archetypes of the Three Settings
The author has clearly defined three distinct "universes" for the three babies, which serve as a social commentary on the different ways society abandons or nurtures the vulnerable:
- The Forest (Daji): Represents Survival and Instinct. By having the baby (Amrah) rescued by "Birririka" (primates/wildlife), the author suggests that nature is sometimes more merciful than humanity. This child will likely grow up with a connection to the wild, perhaps becoming a survivor who learns the harsh lessons of the natural world.
- The Prison (Magarƙama): Represents Restricted Human Society. This setting is paradoxical—it is a place of punishment, yet it is the only place where the baby finds genuine maternal warmth (Hajiya Binta) and a sense of duty from the law enforcement (the DPO). This child represents the "reformed" perspective—learning justice from those who are behind bars.
The City (Birni): Represents Modern Cruelty and Materialism. The City is the most dangerous setting. The husband of Nurse Nadiya represents a society that values status, comfort, and safety over human life. Abandoning the baby on the street is a cold, calculated act of a "civilized" person, which stands in stark contrast to the animals in the forest who chose to save the baby.
2. The Cycle of Betrayal and Redemption
The story is built on a series of broken promises and forced separations:
- Laila’s Betrayal: Laila feels betrayed by her husband, who abandoned her to the law. This informs her decision to "give away" her children to save them.
- Nurse Nadiya’s Struggle: Nadiya is a tragic figure. She represents the "Good Samaritan" who is crushed by the oppressive patriarchy of her home. Her attempt to perform a selfless act leads to her being physically assaulted and likely incapacitated, highlighting the dangerous cost of moral integrity in a corrupt environment.
The Husband’s Villainy: He serves as the primary antagonist of the domestic subplot. His act of putting the baby in a box and leaving her on the street is the catalyst for the "City" arc, ensuring the three siblings will be raised in completely different realities, unaware of one another.
3. Emotive Analytics: The "Blue Eyes" (The Mystery)
The recurring mention of the baby's blue eyes is a significant literary trope here. It serves as:
- A Genetic Marker: A physical link that will eventually allow the three siblings to identify each other when they cross paths in the future.
A Symbol of "Otherness": The baby is physically distinct, suggesting that their origin is not just about Laila, but perhaps something deeper or more mysterious that the reader does not yet know.
4. What to Expect Next (Narrative Projection)
The author, A'isha M.B, is setting up a "Reunion Saga." We can anticipate:
- The Survival Gap: We will likely see how each child adapts to their environment—Amrah in the forest, the one with Hajiya Binta in prison, and the one abandoned on the city street.
- The Revelation: The "Book" (Kundin Cinikayya) that Laila entrusted to Hajiya Binta will eventually become the bridge that connects these three narratives.
- The Turning Point: The children will grow up, and their paths will inevitably cross. The "City" sibling will likely have a privileged or difficult urban life, the "Prison" sibling will have a hardened but structured outlook, and the "Forest" sibling will be the wild card.
In summary: The story is shifting from a standard legal drama into an epic tale of three sisters finding their way back to their truth. The emotional core—the mother's sacrifice and the children's resilience—is what keeps the reader engaged, despite the overwhelming tragedy occurring in every chapter.
