“Ali, don’t you understand? By God, I truly despise you—the worst kind. A man who humiliates his own family is despicable. I have no intention of staying with you to bear a child of your wicked nature. I don’t even want to see your face. As for this house, I will never live here. By God, thank Allah, give me two weeks; I’ll finish my exams and leave, along with all your belongings, forever. The next thing I want to tell you is this: by God, whether you like it or not, whether you punish me or not, whether it’s water, spit, or disaster, I hate you, I despise you. May God deal with you like Pharaoh!”
He was silent, surprised. Manga, realizing he had no shame and no respect, had truly shaken his mind. She yawned and said,
“Get out of my room now!”
Her eyes were fixed; he squinted in frustration and left quietly. Ali knew then—Ali knew.
---
After one month and two weeks
By now, trouble followed her everywhere. Manga had not forgiven Gadanga and hated seeing him in her life. This was her last semester; she had finished all her projects and exams, preparing to leave.
Sitting down, she saw him in front of Fulani. He was silent, bowing his head. She didn’t speak either, accustomed to seeing him this way. She passed by Fulani, pressed herself close, lay down, and rested her head on Fulani’s lap, smiling.
“What? Don’t you feel ashamed? By God, if you knew now…” She laughed.
“Ummu, come on. I haven’t missed him. Since exams started, I haven’t sat on anyone’s lap like this, is that allowed?” She laughed again, saying, “Well, just lie down, your father said you should listen.”
She smiled and said:
“Ummu, Gadanga has returned, alive and well. And if he wants to take me with him, will you allow it?”
She murmured, “Hmm, if that happens, by God, the court will separate me from him. It’s dangerous. For his life and health, if he had sense, he wouldn’t start this. Just pray. The time has come for you to face your life, marry properly, and I hope to see you in my family.”
She laughed:
“Inshaa Allah, Ummu, when I go to Kaduna, I’ll go with Daddy for marriage. I don’t know him yet, but I wish him well, and if he dies, may God have mercy on him.”
She patted Fulani’s head.
“Ameen. May God grant you the best choice, Ameen.”
At that moment, her sister, Hajiya Mariya, came in with greetings, approached, and playfully slapped Manga on the thigh. “Get up, don’t just stay there.”
Ali watched silently. She smiled and said:
“Ali, I didn’t know how this happened, that you became so bold.”
She explained to him: “Since Hafsat passed away, Fulani has been upset. Wherever she saw Hafsa, she would cling to her. This girl wanted to replace Hafsa.”
She explained: “Ali, it’s something you forgot. That’s why people say mothers are mothers. The girl God gave to Fulani was like Hafsa’s twin. She passed away before you were born, so you never knew her.”
Ali was shocked:
“By God, Ummu, I never knew you had a daughter, let alone that she passed away. No one told me!”
Ummu was also surprised, but she let it go. Indeed, there was injustice.
“Now Ummu, think about how you’re showing Ali. His sister passed away when she was three, and he didn’t know. Fulani, you need to overcome this shyness and understand our parents didn’t treat you like that, even if you’re stubborn.”
She had no words, still shocked. Two things struck him: the talks between Manga and Ummu, and the news about his sister, which he didn’t know in life.
---
Kaduna, Nigeria
Since Manga returned, she prepared to go to court for marriage without Ali knowing. Huddy informed him the next day about the court session. He went mad but at 4 a.m. he insisted on going to Kaduna. Manga didn’t stop him, only prayed. Since that day, she had followed him to find out he was her real husband. She even read his diary, written while he was alive. She cried, worried about her health while three months pregnant. She knew she wouldn’t let him know she had discovered this, as he had been harsh.
At court, the judge listened to her parents’ request to separate her marriage for her peace. Suddenly Gadanga appeared in the court hall. Ali made excuses to the judge. Without wasting time, Gadanga detailed everything, including the killings he witnessed. The judge was amazed. Gadanga concluded:
“Now I realize my mistake and explained it in Sokoto, but she refused to listen. My wives are part of the law; I ask this just court for leniency to take them.”
Manga began shouting:
“By God, I will never live with a man like you, even if they bring my corpse. Know this: no law on earth can force me to live with you. You are a liar; our marriage is false. Your love is fake, you played with my life because I’m poor. I will never allow a second chance to trap me again. Know this: I will find a way to make you pay, but I will never accept living with you!”
The court hushed at her yelling.
---
Later, her father spoke to Ali Abbas:
“Aliyu, what you did is unforgivable. You played with the life of this girl, and now you are facing serious consequences. You must respect the court. Manga will not be separated from you unless she consents.”
Ali pleaded:
“Father, please save my life. I cannot live without Manga. Please don’t take this matter to the court.”
Her father replied firmly:
“If you do not know the rights of a human, you will learn. You violated her and her parents. I have prepared punishment for you. Do not think you can avoid it.”
Manga sat quietly, refusing to speak.
---
Two weeks later
Huddy had not spoken to her since her father knew she was ill. Ali Abbas also had not reached out. Manga had her phone but did not want to check.
In Yola, Manga began worrying about the past three months. She understood why they had taken her to Yola, and why her life was being constantly adjusted. She realized the joy in her life was learning she was the wife of the young man.
“Ali, don’t you understand? By God, I truly despise you—the worst kind. A man who humiliates his own family is despicable. I have no intention of staying with you to bear a child of your wicked nature. I don’t even want to see your face. As for this house, I will never live here. By God, thank Allah, give me two weeks; I’ll finish my exams and leave, along with all your belongings, forever. The next thing I want to tell you is this: by God, whether you like it or not, whether you punish me or not, whether it’s water, spit, or disaster, I hate you, I despise you. May God deal with you like Pharaoh!”
He was silent, surprised. Manga, realizing he had no shame and no respect, had truly shaken his mind. She yawned and said,
“Get out of my room now!”
Her eyes were fixed; he squinted in frustration and left quietly. Ali knew then—Ali knew.
---
After one month and two weeks
By now, trouble followed her everywhere. Manga had not forgiven Gadanga and hated seeing him in her life. This was her last semester; she had finished all her projects and exams, preparing to leave.
Sitting down, she saw him in front of Fulani. He was silent, bowing his head. She didn’t speak either, accustomed to seeing him this way. She passed by Fulani, pressed herself close, lay down, and rested her head on Fulani’s lap, smiling.
“What? Don’t you feel ashamed? By God, if you knew now…” She laughed.
“Ummu, come on. I haven’t missed him. Since exams started, I haven’t sat on anyone’s lap like this, is that allowed?” She laughed again, saying, “Well, just lie down, your father said you should listen.”
She smiled and said:
“Ummu, Gadanga has returned, alive and well. And if he wants to take me with him, will you allow it?”
She murmured, “Hmm, if that happens, by God, the court will separate me from him. It’s dangerous. For his life and health, if he had sense, he wouldn’t start this. Just pray. The time has come for you to face your life, marry properly, and I hope to see you in my family.”
She laughed:
“Inshaa Allah, Ummu, when I go to Kaduna, I’ll go with Daddy for marriage. I don’t know him yet, but I wish him well, and if he dies, may God have mercy on him.”
She patted Fulani’s head.
“Ameen. May God grant you the best choice, Ameen.”
At that moment, her sister, Hajiya Mariya, came in with greetings, approached, and playfully slapped Manga on the thigh. “Get up, don’t just stay there.”
Ali watched silently. She smiled and said:
“Ali, I didn’t know how this happened, that you became so bold.”
She explained to him: “Since Hafsat passed away, Fulani has been upset. Wherever she saw Hafsa, she would cling to her. This girl wanted to replace Hafsa.”
Ali, confused, asked: “Which Hafsat passed away, Ummu?”
She explained: “Ali, it’s something you forgot. That’s why people say mothers are mothers. The girl God gave to Fulani was like Hafsa’s twin. She passed away before you were born, so you never knew her.”
Ali was shocked:
“By God, Ummu, I never knew you had a daughter, let alone that she passed away. No one told me!”
Ummu was also surprised, but she let it go. Indeed, there was injustice.
“Now Ummu, think about how you’re showing Ali. His sister passed away when she was three, and he didn’t know. Fulani, you need to overcome this shyness and understand our parents didn’t treat you like that, even if you’re stubborn.”
She had no words, still shocked. Two things struck him: the talks between Manga and Ummu, and the news about his sister, which he didn’t know in life.
---
Kaduna, Nigeria
Since Manga returned, she prepared to go to court for marriage without Ali knowing. Huddy informed him the next day about the court session. He went mad but at 4 a.m. he insisted on going to Kaduna. Manga didn’t stop him, only prayed. Since that day, she had followed him to find out he was her real husband. She even read his diary, written while he was alive. She cried, worried about her health while three months pregnant. She knew she wouldn’t let him know she had discovered this, as he had been harsh.
At court, the judge listened to her parents’ request to separate her marriage for her peace. Suddenly Gadanga appeared in the court hall. Ali made excuses to the judge. Without wasting time, Gadanga detailed everything, including the killings he witnessed. The judge was amazed. Gadanga concluded:
“Now I realize my mistake and explained it in Sokoto, but she refused to listen. My wives are part of the law; I ask this just court for leniency to take them.”
Manga began shouting:
“By God, I will never live with a man like you, even if they bring my corpse. Know this: no law on earth can force me to live with you. You are a liar; our marriage is false. Your love is fake, you played with my life because I’m poor. I will never allow a second chance to trap me again. Know this: I will find a way to make you pay, but I will never accept living with you!”
The court hushed at her yelling.
---
Later, her father spoke to Ali Abbas:
“Aliyu, what you did is unforgivable. You played with the life of this girl, and now you are facing serious consequences. You must respect the court. Manga will not be separated from you unless she consents.”
Ali pleaded:
“Father, please save my life. I cannot live without Manga. Please don’t take this matter to the court.”
Her father replied firmly:
“If you do not know the rights of a human, you will learn. You violated her and her parents. I have prepared punishment for you. Do not think you can avoid it.”
Manga sat quietly, refusing to speak.
---
Two weeks later
Huddy had not spoken to her since her father knew she was ill. Ali Abbas also had not reached out. Manga had her phone but did not want to check.
In Yola, Manga began worrying about the past three months. She understood why they had taken her to Yola, and why her life was being constantly adjusted. She realized the joy in her life was learning she was the wife of the young man.