From there, they proceeded to London in the United Kingdom.
After two days in the city, they visited Khadija at her school. It had been a very long time since Bilki last saw her among the children — since she was very little. With just one glance, she realized the girl had completely taken after her father. There was nothing that differentiated her from him — even his brisk way of walking she had inherited. Aysha and Amal resembled their mother. The rest of the children were a mix of both parents. But Noor especially looked very much like Khadija.
Khadija received them cheerfully and respectfully. Bilki felt happy about the respect she showed her. She resolved in her heart that she would do her best to present herself to them as a motherly figure, so they could enter their father’s home without feeling the pain of having no mother.
Since Khadija was on holiday, her father asked her to come stay with them at their hotel. Within a few minutes, she came out dragging her small suitcase.
Before returning to the hotel, Khadija led them to a restaurant that served halal food.
After that, they went back to the hotel and Asad arranged a separate room for Khadija, quite a distance from theirs.
They rested well and took many pictures. Sometimes Khadija knowingly took photos of them, and sometimes she secretly captured them without their awareness.
During their stay in London, Bilki realized how deeply Khadija’s father loved his children. At dawn, he would call Khadija to ask if she had woken up for prayer. If she went back to sleep afterward, he would call again and tell her, “If you feel hungry, order anything you want. Don’t wait for us.” When they were fully ready in the morning, she would come downstairs and they would all have breakfast together.
Bilki also realized he was a man who acted confidently without hesitation or embarrassment. Whenever Khadija wanted to take their picture, she would instruct him how to stand or how to hold Bilki — and he would do exactly as she said without shyness. Likewise, he openly embraced Bilki in front of them.
Two days before leaving London, Khadija said:
“Daddy, we must visit Aunt Ayusha. I told you she’s very kind to me. I usually spend weekends at her house. You know when Northerners meet in Europe, we treat each other like family. She and her husband guide us a lot.”
He agreed and said they would go after buying gifts for her sisters.
Khadija and Bilki grew very close and developed a good understanding, although Khadija often missed her mother and felt that now Bilki stood beside Daddy instead of “Aunt Maigado.” She also noticed how enthusiastic her father was about his new bride. She realized that even if her mother were alive, he might still have pursued Bilki passionately and married her despite any conflicts. But she suppressed those thoughts, telling herself it was better he remarried respectably than engage in immoral behavior that would disgrace himself and them.
At about 5 PM GMT, they visited Ayusha. They were warmly received. The house was filled with different kinds of food within minutes. Asad thanked them sincerely for caring for Khadija and giving her access to their home. He gave gifts generously before they left. Bilki praised Ayusha and her husband’s kindness and prayed for Husna, Hanan, and Aryan to be blessed.
The next day, they returned Khadija to school and said goodbye peacefully, though they all missed her mother deeply. Bilki kept praying for her forgiveness and mercy until she felt calm.
Later, she opened WhatsApp and sent their pictures into a private group Aysha had created. Only four of them were in it: Aysha, Khadija, Hafcy, and Bilkisu (since she also had a phone). Amal and Noor were not included.
Within minutes, Aysha tagged a photo of Bilki and their father and said angrily:
“Khadija, you’ve betrayed Mom by sending us this! I swear I’ve never felt something so painful seeing a picture. Is this what Daddy has become now? Look how he’s clinging to her! And you — boldly sending it?”
Hafcy added that Khadija lacked loyalty.
Bilkisu simply kept sending laughing stickers because Daddy amused her — dressed casually and looking youthful, behaving like a young lover.
Aysha became furious and threatened to remove her from the group for laughing at something that should make them cry.
Khadija tried to calm her:
“Aysha, please. Aunt Maigado has done nothing wrong. Would you rather he married someone we don’t know who might harm him and us? At least she’s our relative.”
Aysha sent a long voice note, crying bitterly, saying:
“How is she our relative? Didn’t they even take Grandpa to court? They wanted Daddy to marry Aunt Laura so she could continue caring for Noor since they were used to her, but he refused. Instead he brought this woman in her sixties or seventies! I’ve discovered he loved her long ago — he even named his daughter after her! I pity poor Mom…”
She wept uncontrollably.
Khadija listened silently, heart heavy. She didn’t like it either, but what could they do? Their mother would not return, and they could not stop him from remarrying. She felt Aysha wanted to lead them into mistreating their father’s wife so she would fail in the marriage.
Softly, Khadija sent her own voice note:
“Mom is gone. She won’t return. Let’s respect Daddy’s wife so he can have peace. If he sees we’re unhappy with her, he won’t find the calm he deserves. Let’s pray for Mom — that’s what she needs most.”
Aysha replied harshly that caring for them was Daddy’s duty from Allah, not a favor. Hafcy agreed, saying she now disliked Bilki for marrying him so quickly, as if waiting for their mother to die.
Bilkisu said nothing, but the accusation that naming her “Aunt Maigado” was betrayal deeply troubled her.
Khadija eventually left the group chat, feeling Aysha enjoyed stirring conflict.
---
On Friday evening, they arrived in Abuja and were received by a police escort who accompanied them home.
Bilki observed how respectfully they saluted him, and it filled her heart with pride.
They bathed, prayed, and slept deeply from exhaustion.
The next day was Saturday. After Fajr prayer, he embraced her and they returned to sleep until noon. The kitchen was massive and fully stocked with luxurious meals prepared for them. He personally served her.
Bilki ate cautiously, uneasy because non-Muslims had prepared the food.
Softly she suggested they visit her parents and bring the children back.
He refused, saying the children would return after his vacation — they wouldn’t interrupt their honeymoon.
She lowered her head shyly; she still felt reserved around him.
As he looked at her closely, he noticed she had changed — glowing, softer, more youthful. His heart raced. He began calculating their marriage timeline and realized they were nearing two months. He strongly suspected she might be pregnant.
Joy filled his heart — he loved children and wanted many.
When she complained about preferring Alti’s cooking, he told her she should cook for them herself until the others returned, as he didn’t want her distracted.
Gradually, she began to see him differently. The prejudice she once held faded. She realized he wasn’t ugly — just dark-skinned — and in fact, he was handsome and courageous.
The next evening, he drove her to her family home with gifts. Baba Babba welcomed them warmly, hoping this marriage would mend family rifts.
Bilki noticed how aged and weak he looked — not from poverty but from life’s burdens and illness.
They distributed gifts generously to everyone, including the household staff.
When Bilki entered Abida’s room, she found the children there. Farha ran to her crying, afraid she had abandoned her like they had left others behind in Katsina.
Bilki reassured her tearfully that only death could separate them.
Later, Abida teased Bilki, suggesting she looked pregnant due to her glow and changes. Bilki felt embarrassed but uncertain herself.
They discussed Yaya Sulaiman, who had been absent for nearly four years. Abida wept, insisting he was alive and had only left out of injustice and humiliation. Bilki suggested she consider remarrying after waiting four years, but Abida refused passionately, declaring she would wait for him forever — even until the Mahdi appeared.
Both women fell into deep sorrow.
Eventually they prayed Maghrib and Isha together before leaving.
On the drive home, she remained quiet and troubled. Instead of speaking, he played Surah Maryam in the car. The recitation calmed her racing thoughts about Sulaiman’s fate.
When they arrived home, over ten police officers saluted him. He raised his hand in acknowledgment.
She attempted to open the car door but found it locked. He stepped out, walked around, opened her door personally, and saluted her playfully the way his children had done earlier.
Deep in her heart, she loved when he did that — it made her feel truly like the queen of his heart.
She smiled and said:
“Thank you, Baban Bilkisu.”
Then she walked ahead while he locked the car and spoke briefly with one of the officers.
From there, they proceeded to London in the United Kingdom.
After two days in the city, they visited Khadija at her school. It had been a very long time since Bilki last saw her among the children — since she was very little. With just one glance, she realized the girl had completely taken after her father. There was nothing that differentiated her from him — even his brisk way of walking she had inherited. Aysha and Amal resembled their mother. The rest of the children were a mix of both parents. But Noor especially looked very much like Khadija.
Khadija received them cheerfully and respectfully. Bilki felt happy about the respect she showed her. She resolved in her heart that she would do her best to present herself to them as a motherly figure, so they could enter their father’s home without feeling the pain of having no mother.
Since Khadija was on holiday, her father asked her to come stay with them at their hotel. Within a few minutes, she came out dragging her small suitcase.
Before returning to the hotel, Khadija led them to a restaurant that served halal food.
After that, they went back to the hotel and Asad arranged a separate room for Khadija, quite a distance from theirs.
They rested well and took many pictures. Sometimes Khadija knowingly took photos of them, and sometimes she secretly captured them without their awareness.
During their stay in London, Bilki realized how deeply Khadija’s father loved his children. At dawn, he would call Khadija to ask if she had woken up for prayer. If she went back to sleep afterward, he would call again and tell her, “If you feel hungry, order anything you want. Don’t wait for us.” When they were fully ready in the morning, she would come downstairs and they would all have breakfast together.
Bilki also realized he was a man who acted confidently without hesitation or embarrassment. Whenever Khadija wanted to take their picture, she would instruct him how to stand or how to hold Bilki — and he would do exactly as she said without shyness. Likewise, he openly embraced Bilki in front of them.
Two days before leaving London, Khadija said:
“Daddy, we must visit Aunt Ayusha. I told you she’s very kind to me. I usually spend weekends at her house. You know when Northerners meet in Europe, we treat each other like family. She and her husband guide us a lot.”
He agreed and said they would go after buying gifts for her sisters.
Khadija and Bilki grew very close and developed a good understanding, although Khadija often missed her mother and felt that now Bilki stood beside Daddy instead of “Aunt Maigado.” She also noticed how enthusiastic her father was about his new bride. She realized that even if her mother were alive, he might still have pursued Bilki passionately and married her despite any conflicts. But she suppressed those thoughts, telling herself it was better he remarried respectably than engage in immoral behavior that would disgrace himself and them.
At about 5 PM GMT, they visited Ayusha. They were warmly received. The house was filled with different kinds of food within minutes. Asad thanked them sincerely for caring for Khadija and giving her access to their home. He gave gifts generously before they left. Bilki praised Ayusha and her husband’s kindness and prayed for Husna, Hanan, and Aryan to be blessed.
The next day, they returned Khadija to school and said goodbye peacefully, though they all missed her mother deeply. Bilki kept praying for her forgiveness and mercy until she felt calm.
Later, she opened WhatsApp and sent their pictures into a private group Aysha had created. Only four of them were in it: Aysha, Khadija, Hafcy, and Bilkisu (since she also had a phone). Amal and Noor were not included.
Within minutes, Aysha tagged a photo of Bilki and their father and said angrily:
“Khadija, you’ve betrayed Mom by sending us this! I swear I’ve never felt something so painful seeing a picture. Is this what Daddy has become now? Look how he’s clinging to her! And you — boldly sending it?”
Hafcy added that Khadija lacked loyalty.
Bilkisu simply kept sending laughing stickers because Daddy amused her — dressed casually and looking youthful, behaving like a young lover.
Aysha became furious and threatened to remove her from the group for laughing at something that should make them cry.
Khadija tried to calm her:
“Aysha, please. Aunt Maigado has done nothing wrong. Would you rather he married someone we don’t know who might harm him and us? At least she’s our relative.”
Aysha sent a long voice note, crying bitterly, saying:
“How is she our relative? Didn’t they even take Grandpa to court? They wanted Daddy to marry Aunt Laura so she could continue caring for Noor since they were used to her, but he refused. Instead he brought this woman in her sixties or seventies! I’ve discovered he loved her long ago — he even named his daughter after her! I pity poor Mom…”
She wept uncontrollably.
Khadija listened silently, heart heavy. She didn’t like it either, but what could they do? Their mother would not return, and they could not stop him from remarrying. She felt Aysha wanted to lead them into mistreating their father’s wife so she would fail in the marriage.
Softly, Khadija sent her own voice note:
“Mom is gone. She won’t return. Let’s respect Daddy’s wife so he can have peace. If he sees we’re unhappy with her, he won’t find the calm he deserves. Let’s pray for Mom — that’s what she needs most.”
Aysha replied harshly that caring for them was Daddy’s duty from Allah, not a favor. Hafcy agreed, saying she now disliked Bilki for marrying him so quickly, as if waiting for their mother to die.
Bilkisu said nothing, but the accusation that naming her “Aunt Maigado” was betrayal deeply troubled her.
Khadija eventually left the group chat, feeling Aysha enjoyed stirring conflict.
---
On Friday evening, they arrived in Abuja and were received by a police escort who accompanied them home.
Bilki observed how respectfully they saluted him, and it filled her heart with pride.
They bathed, prayed, and slept deeply from exhaustion.
The next day was Saturday. After Fajr prayer, he embraced her and they returned to sleep until noon. The kitchen was massive and fully stocked with luxurious meals prepared for them. He personally served her.
Bilki ate cautiously, uneasy because non-Muslims had prepared the food.
Softly she suggested they visit her parents and bring the children back.
He refused, saying the children would return after his vacation — they wouldn’t interrupt their honeymoon.
She lowered her head shyly; she still felt reserved around him.
As he looked at her closely, he noticed she had changed — glowing, softer, more youthful. His heart raced. He began calculating their marriage timeline and realized they were nearing two months. He strongly suspected she might be pregnant.
Joy filled his heart — he loved children and wanted many.
When she complained about preferring Alti’s cooking, he told her she should cook for them herself until the others returned, as he didn’t want her distracted.
Gradually, she began to see him differently. The prejudice she once held faded. She realized he wasn’t ugly — just dark-skinned — and in fact, he was handsome and courageous.
The next evening, he drove her to her family home with gifts. Baba Babba welcomed them warmly, hoping this marriage would mend family rifts.
Bilki noticed how aged and weak he looked — not from poverty but from life’s burdens and illness.
They distributed gifts generously to everyone, including the household staff.
When Bilki entered Abida’s room, she found the children there. Farha ran to her crying, afraid she had abandoned her like they had left others behind in Katsina.
Bilki reassured her tearfully that only death could separate them.
Later, Abida teased Bilki, suggesting she looked pregnant due to her glow and changes. Bilki felt embarrassed but uncertain herself.
They discussed Yaya Sulaiman, who had been absent for nearly four years. Abida wept, insisting he was alive and had only left out of injustice and humiliation. Bilki suggested she consider remarrying after waiting four years, but Abida refused passionately, declaring she would wait for him forever — even until the Mahdi appeared.
Both women fell into deep sorrow.
Eventually they prayed Maghrib and Isha together before leaving.
On the drive home, she remained quiet and troubled. Instead of speaking, he played Surah Maryam in the car. The recitation calmed her racing thoughts about Sulaiman’s fate.
When they arrived home, over ten police officers saluted him. He raised his hand in acknowledgment.
She attempted to open the car door but found it locked. He stepped out, walked around, opened her door personally, and saluted her playfully the way his children had done earlier.
Deep in her heart, she loved when he did that — it made her feel truly like the queen of his heart.
She smiled and said:
“Thank you, Baban Bilkisu.”
Then she walked ahead while he locked the car and spoke briefly with one of the officers.