Abayi Close is a prominent and well-known neighborhood within the city of Minna. It is an area inhabited by a diverse mix of people from various tribes and backgrounds: Muslims, Christians, the impoverished, the middle class, as well as wealthy elites possessing immense riches and influence. Consequently, the neighborhood is a mismatched blend of large mansions and small houses built side by side. At around 2:15 AM in the dead of night, rain was pouring down heavily. Everywhere was freezing cold, and the only audible sound was the fierce, violent drumming of the rain against the zinc rooftops of people's homes. This was accompanied by blinding flashes of lightning, terrifying claps of thunder that struck fear into anyone listening, and strong gusts of wind that blew intermittently. As a result, the entire town was enveloped in a piercing, bone-chilling cold. In one of the modest houses belonging to the less privileged in the neighborhood, AL-AMEEN lay inside his small bedroom located near the entrance porch (zaure) of their family home. He was on his modest mattress, tightly bundled up inside a blanket with his eyes closed. At first glance, one would assume he was fast asleep. However, that was far from the case; his strained, labored breathing and the sweat breaking out across his forehead—despite the intense cold and the wind howling outside—were clear indicators that he was in severe physical distress. Overwhelmed by intense, agonizing pain, he opened his bloodshot eyes and focused his gaze on a bag hanging from a peg mounted on the bedroom wall. He desperately wanted to stand up and reach the bag to retrieve his medication, which he had securely hidden deep inside it. But alas! He could not. He couldn't manage even the slightest movement, let alone stand up on his feet. In his current state, if he attempted any strenuous movement, the worst could happen, including losing his breath entirely. He kept staring at the bag, wishing deep down that he had the power to make the bag fly into his hands from where he lay, though he knew very well that such a thing was impossible. Slowly, he closed his eyes again, enduring the severe abdominal and pelvic pain (ciwon mara) that felt as though it would kill him. He already knew from experience that whenever dawn broke under this type of weather or anything similar, his health would completely deteriorate for the day. He had been battling this chronic ailment for about four years now. It began the moment he reached puberty at the age of eighteen, and over time, the condition escalated so severely that he eventually had to consult a doctor in absolute secrecy. He had been enduring this grueling struggle and fighting for his life entirely on his own without anyone's knowledge—including his mother, who was the most precious person to him in the entire world. Summoning the inner fortitude of a resilient man, he began reciting the names of Allah silently in his heart, praying for swift divine intervention, while placing both of his hands over his lower abdomen to clutch the source of the excruciating pain. He endured it tightly, feeling as though the veins in that area were on the verge of snapping. He spent about an hour and a half continuously invoking the name of Allah without ceasing. Slowly, by divine intervention, he felt the intense agony begin to subside. He gradually stood up, keeping one hand pressed against his lower abdomen. Stumbling and swaying unsteadily, he made his way to the bag containing his medication. He reached his hand deep into the bottom of the bag and pulled out a blister pack of pills. He popped out a single tablet and returned the pack to the bag. Walking back to the edge of his mattress, he sat down and pulled over a water jug standing nearby. Without wasting any time, he put the pill into his mouth and washed it down with water. Letting out a deep, relieved sigh, he lay flat on his back, breathing heavily.
The Next Morning
Precisely at 6:00 AM, the alarm clock resting on the bedside drawer near her bed began to ring and vibrate. She slowly opened her beautiful eyes and reached out her hand to turn off the alarm. She spent about five minutes lying in bed before throwing off the blanket covering her body. She sat up, gathering her long, sprawling hair, and tied it back. Summoning her energy, she stood up on her feet, stretched, let out a long yawn, and whispered, "In Jesus' name" in her melodious voice. She was dressed in a thick pajama set—a matching top and trousers—chosen due to the freezing weather engulfing the town today. Feigning a wave of morning sluggishness, she began to walk slowly, as though her body lacked any strength, making her way toward a small door, which she opened and stepped through. She spent nearly thirty minutes inside before emerging with a small towel wrapped around her body, stopping right at her thighs. Her body and hair were dripping with water. She stood in front of a large vanity mirror packed with various women's cosmetics, creams, and perfumes. She turned on a hand dryer and began drying her hair after thoroughly applying about three types of high-quality, expensive hair care creams, making her hair look incredibly radiant and shiny. She combed it thoroughly before packing and styling it neatly to the side of her head. She applied her expensive, fragrant body lotion along with her body mists. Next, she touched up her face; she didn't do heavy makeup, opting instead for just face powder, lip gloss, and mascara to enhance her long, dramatic eyelashes. She then stood in front of a massive six-door wardrobe that came as a matching set with her bed and mirror. She opened the first door, which was fully packed with different types and colors of women's innerwear, looking almost like a commercial boutique. She picked out a panty, a vest, and socks, then shut the door. She opened the adjacent door, which contained about ten sets of her school uniform, all neatly pressed and folded. She pulled one out and quickly closed the wardrobe. She hurriedly dressed in the white, long-sleeved shirt and a fitted sky-blue skirt that stopped at her thighs. She pulled on her long white socks and selected a pair of white boots from her countless array of shoes neatly arranged on a shoe rack. She picked a wristwatch from a drawer and fastened it to her wrist. Without adding anything else, she hoisted her massive school bag and exited the room. She hurried down the stairs and arrived in the vast living room downstairs. The parlor was spotlessly clean, radiating a beautiful fragrance. The only sound in the room was the television, tuned into Eagle TV, where a prominent pastor was delivering a loud, fiery, and frightening sermon. It was evident that the house staff responsible for cleaning the living room had already completed their morning chores. Ignoring the television entirely, she dropped her school bag onto one of the couches surrounding the living room and stepped out. She headed toward the dining section, which was adjacent to the mansion’s massive general kitchen where all the household meals were prepared. To her delight, she found the dining table fully set and laden with various food warmers, flasks, tea condiments, and assorted delicacies. Without wasting time, she pulled out one of the dining chairs and sat down, checking the wristwatch on her arm. Hearing movement on the stairs, she quickly raised her head to look. Just as she expected, her two parents—her Mom and Papa—were descending the stairs, fully dressed for work, walking hand-in-hand. Her mother was dressed in a long lace gown with her head uncovered, flaunting her long hair extensions. Her father wore an ash-colored suit; looking at them, one could immediately recognize them as highly educated, elite, older lovers. They both smiled at her simultaneously. In response, her beautiful face lit up with absolute joy at the sight of her parents. She stood up before they could even reach the table and walked toward them. She threw herself into her father's arms first, giving him a warm embrace while saying, "Good morning, my Papa." He wrapped his arms around her as well, gently patting her back and replying, "Morning, dear. How are you? How was your night?" She replied, "Fine, Papa." She then released him and turned to her mother, who was watching them with a continuous smile. They exchanged morning greetings just as she had done with her father, before they all walked over to the dining table together. As they sat down, the chef emerged from the kitchen, indicating he had been standing by waiting for them to come out. He greeted them respectfully before beginning to serve them. The feast consisted of about seven different high-quality dishes; just looking at it, one could tell there was a significant amount of extravagance involved. Almost at the same time, they all stood up without having eaten anything substantial. She fetched her school bag from the parlor after entering the kitchen to stuff it with chocolates and various types of sweet treats. They all proceeded to the mansion's compound, where the domestic staff flocked to greet them. The driver tasked with taking her to school quickly brought out the car. Even though her school was not far away and was located right within the neighborhood, she was driven there and picked up every single day out of sheer pampering and privilege. Her mother looked at the driver and said in English, "Peter, don't worry about it today. I will drop her off since I have a morning shift. You can go pick her up when they close." He respectfully replied, "Yes, ma'am." They exchanged final goodbyes with her father, who kissed her on the cheek after giving her another gentle hug, telling her to take care of herself, which she responded to with a pampered, spoiled pout. The drive from the house to the school took a mere fifteen minutes. Her mother wanted to drive her straight into the school premises, but she protested against it. To avoid upsetting her daughter, her mother dropped her off right at the main gate. They waved at each other until her mother’s car disappeared from sight. She let out a deep sigh before lifting her school bag and strapping it onto her back. She stood by the school gate for about five minutes, ensuring that no one was watching her. Seeing that the coast was clear, she turned around and hurriedly sprinted away from the gate. Just as she was about to turn a corner behind the school fence, she heard someone shout loudly, "JOY JAMES!" Even without turning around, she instantly recognized the voice. She spun around, and their eyes locked. She threw him a harsh glare, giving him a warning look before turning around and bursting into a run. "Joy! Joy!" David kept calling out her name loudly, but it was in vain as she neither looked back nor stopped. David scoffed, hoisted his own bag, and walked into the school premises.
Al-Ameen
Al-Ameen heard the very first call to prayer (Assalatu) because he was highly accustomed to waking up at dawn; no matter his physical condition, once dawn approached, he would wake up whether he heard the call to prayer or not. Fortunately, he felt significantly better, although the abdominal pain had not fully released its grip on him. Managing his movements carefully, he stood up, his face contorting slightly from the residual pain. He picked up his water kettle (buta), walked toward his bedroom door, slid back the latch, and opened it. A blast of freezing cold air hit him, causing him to instantly snap his eyes shut. Bracing himself, he stepped outside. Clutching his shivering body tightly, he headed into the main house. The house possessed a moderate courtyard containing one large master bedroom with a parlor, alongside a restroom and a kitchen located off to the side. He walked toward Ummi's bedroom door. Just like every dawn, he was the one responsible for waking them up. He waited until he heard Ummi clear her throat, signaling she was awake, before he carefully shuffled to the restroom. After washing up, he emerged, performed his ablutions (alwala) as quickly as possible, and rushed back to his room, shivering violently. That morning, he was entirely unable to go out to the mosque for the congregational dawn prayer. He listened as the prayer commenced at the neighborhood mosque near their house, but he couldn't step outside out of fear of worsening his condition, especially since he hadn't fully recovered. He lay back down on his bed after completing his prayers at home. Instead of his usual routine of reciting the Holy Quran after the dawn prayer until daylight broke, he rested, primarily because he hadn't slept well the previous night. Ummi completed her prayers before walking over to the small bed in her master bedroom. Gently, she reached out her hand to wake up FATIMA, who was sleeping soundly and peacefully. Fatima opened her eyes and looked at Ummi. Seeing her awake, Ummi said, "Get up, the sky is bright. Even if you aren't praying (due to your menstrual cycle), perform your ablutions and come do your morning supplications (azkar)." Fatima stood up, replying, "Alright, Ummi." Seeing her up, Ummi returned to her spot to continue her own supplications. Fatima performed her ablutions, sat down, and recited her morning supplications and prayers just as her mother had accustomed her to; even during her periods, Ummi never allowed her to sit idly without remembering God. After finishing, she stood up, approached Ummi, knelt down, and said, "Good morning, Ummi." Ummi concluded her prayers, wiped her face with her hands, turned to Fatima, and said, "Good morning, Fatima. I hope you slept well." She replied, "I slept well, Ummi." "Alhamdulillah. Hurry up, go and greet your older brother, then come collect some money to buy charcoal so we can heat up some bathwater and prepare some millet porridge (kunu)." "Alright, Ummi," Fatima replied, standing up. She headed toward the room located at the entrance porch (zaure). She was deeply surprised not to hear the melodious voice of her brother reciting the Quran this morning. Bracing herself, she sent out a greeting (sallama) at the doorstep. To her surprise, there was complete silence. She called out her greetings nearly three times but received no response, which was highly unusual. She reached out her hand, pushed the door open slightly, and peered inside, thinking he wasn't there. To her amazement, she spotted him lying on his bed, tightly bundled up in one corner. Filled with worry, she turned back and returned to the main house. Noticing her worried expression, Ummi asked what the matter was. With visible concern, Fatima said, "Ummi, why is my brother still sleeping after dawn today? Or is he unwell?" Ummi looked at her inquisitively and asked, "Sleeping?" Fatima nodded and added, "I peeked into his room and saw him lying down tightly bundled up in his blanket." Ummi paused for a moment, equally surprised. She then said, "Well, perhaps he isn't feeling well. Let me go check on him. Take two hundred Naira from my purse and go buy some charcoal to start the fire." After Fatima left, Ummi went over to check on Al-Ameen. She found him exactly as Fatima had described. Filled with sympathy and concern, she gently closed his door and returned inside. By the time Fatima returned, she went straight into the kitchen to light the charcoal. She struggled heavily to get the fire going because the charcoal was damp from the weather, wasting a considerable amount of time. Once she succeeded, she gathered the dishes to wash them. By the time she finished her chores, she noticed the water hadn't heated up much. She sat down, fanning the embers continuously until Ummi finished her extended prayers and emerged to find her. Seeing this, Ummi said, "You haven't taken your bath yet, Binta? You know how strict your school is when students arrive late." "I swear, Ummi, the charcoal is damp, so the fire isn't burning well." Ummi checked the water and realized it would be sufficient for her if she poured it all out. She said, "Go fetch your bath bucket, pour all of this water out, and go bathe. Once you leave for school, your brother and I will heat up ours since we aren't going anywhere today." After Fatima poured out her bathwater, Ummi put fresh water on the fire to prepare the millet porridge (kunu). She sat down herself to fan the flames. When Fatima emerged from her bath, she went to her room, pulled her neatly ironed school uniform out of the wardrobe, and began dressing hurriedly. She put on the white long-sleeved shirt and a sky-blue skirt—except hers was a long skirt that reached down to her ankles, in accordance with her Islamic values. She tied her hair up and put on a medium-sized hijab that properly covered her chest. She grabbed her school bag and stepped out into the courtyard after putting on her socks and shoes. There, she found that Ummi had already finished preparing the millet porridge. Seeing her, Ummi said, "Excellent, Binta. Hand me the sugar container and the bag of kulikuli (peanut cakes). If you haven't taken yours, quickly have your breakfast and leave." Setting her bag aside, she went back into the room to fetch the sugar and kulikuli, her eyes wide with shock as she realized how late it had gotten. She drank the porridge in a frantic hurry, unable to even finish it because it was too hot. She set the remainder down and hoisted her bag. Ummi said, "Take fifty Naira from the purse." She quickly rushed into the room, grabbed the money, and stepped back out into the courtyard just as JOY sent out a greeting (Sallama) at the door in her broken, non-native Hausa accent. At that exact moment, Al-Ameen emerged from his room wearing a white singlet and long trousers. Joy froze in her tracks, her heart instantly hammering violently against her chest. Her entire body began to tremble as Al-Ameen's intense gaze locked directly into hers...
2. Structural & Plot Summary
This opening section introduces a stark juxtaposition between two contrasting families living within the same neighborhood (Abayi Close in Minna, Niger State), setting up a story centered around social class, religious dynamics, health struggles, and forbidden or tense relationships.
The Two Intertwined Worlds of Abayi Close: The neighborhood is structurally defined as a melting pot of wealthy elites and impoverished citizens. The narrative alternates between these two extremes.
Al-Ameen's Secret Illness: Al-Ameen is an upright, deeply religious young Muslim man living in poverty. He suffers from a secret, chronic reproductive/pelvic health condition (ciwon mara) that has plagued him since puberty (age 18). He hides this agonizing pain from his beloved mother (Ummi) and sister (Fatima) to avoid worrying them, managing it independently with hidden medication.
Joy James' Elite Background: Joy is a pampered Christian girl from a wealthy, Westernized, and highly religious elite household. Her parents (Mom and Papa) are deeply affectionate professionals who indulge her with luxury (expensive cosmetics, private drivers, and imported treats). Despite this wealth, Joy displays a rebellious streak—she avoids being dropped off inside the school premises by her mother and slips away from the school gate to meet Fatima, deliberately ignoring her wealthy suitor/peer, David.
The Tense Interaction: Joy and Fatima share a profound, unbreakable bond of friendship despite their differing religious and social backgrounds, much to the initial chagrin of Fatima's mother. The chapter reaches a climax when Joy arrives at Fatima's modest home, only to come face-to-face with Al-Ameen. Joy harbors an intense, trembling fear and awe of Al-Ameen, who views her with absolute disdain and hostility, setting up a complex psychological tension between them.
3. Key Vocabulary & Cultural Context
Ciwon Mara: A Hausa term referring to lower abdominal, pelvic, or reproductive tract pain. In young men, it is often used in literature to describe chronic conditions like severe urinary tract issues, hernias, or kidney stones.
Zaure: The traditional entrance porch or vestibule of a Northern Nigerian house. It serves as a reception area for visitors to preserve the privacy of the inner courtyard. Al-Ameen’s room is located here, separating him slightly from the female quarters.
Azkar: Islamic morning and evening supplications, prayers, and invocations derived from the Quran and Hadith, practiced systematically after dawn.
Kunu and Kulikuli:Kunu is a traditional, nutritious grain porridge (usually made from millet or sorghum) popular in Northern Nigeria. Kulikuli is a crunchy, fried snack made from compressed peanut paste, often crushed into porridge as a condiment.
Harshen Nasara / Boko: "Harshen Nasara" translates literally to "the language of the Europeans" (English). "Boko" refers to Western education or a highly Westernized lifestyle, characterizing Joy’s elite, English-speaking parents.
Niger State
Abayi Close is a prominent and well-known neighborhood within the city of Minna. It is an area inhabited by a diverse mix of people from various tribes and backgrounds: Muslims, Christians, the impoverished, the middle class, as well as wealthy elites possessing immense riches and influence. Consequently, the neighborhood is a mismatched blend of large mansions and small houses built side by side.
At around 2:15 AM in the dead of night, rain was pouring down heavily. Everywhere was freezing cold, and the only audible sound was the fierce, violent drumming of the rain against the zinc rooftops of people's homes. This was accompanied by blinding flashes of lightning, terrifying claps of thunder that struck fear into anyone listening, and strong gusts of wind that blew intermittently. As a result, the entire town was enveloped in a piercing, bone-chilling cold.
In one of the modest houses belonging to the less privileged in the neighborhood, AL-AMEEN lay inside his small bedroom located near the entrance porch (zaure) of their family home. He was on his modest mattress, tightly bundled up inside a blanket with his eyes closed. At first glance, one would assume he was fast asleep. However, that was far from the case; his strained, labored breathing and the sweat breaking out across his forehead—despite the intense cold and the wind howling outside—were clear indicators that he was in severe physical distress.
Overwhelmed by intense, agonizing pain, he opened his bloodshot eyes and focused his gaze on a bag hanging from a peg mounted on the bedroom wall. He desperately wanted to stand up and reach the bag to retrieve his medication, which he had securely hidden deep inside it. But alas! He could not. He couldn't manage even the slightest movement, let alone stand up on his feet. In his current state, if he attempted any strenuous movement, the worst could happen, including losing his breath entirely. He kept staring at the bag, wishing deep down that he had the power to make the bag fly into his hands from where he lay, though he knew very well that such a thing was impossible.
Slowly, he closed his eyes again, enduring the severe abdominal and pelvic pain (ciwon mara) that felt as though it would kill him. He already knew from experience that whenever dawn broke under this type of weather or anything similar, his health would completely deteriorate for the day. He had been battling this chronic ailment for about four years now. It began the moment he reached puberty at the age of eighteen, and over time, the condition escalated so severely that he eventually had to consult a doctor in absolute secrecy. He had been enduring this grueling struggle and fighting for his life entirely on his own without anyone's knowledge—including his mother, who was the most precious person to him in the entire world.
Summoning the inner fortitude of a resilient man, he began reciting the names of Allah silently in his heart, praying for swift divine intervention, while placing both of his hands over his lower abdomen to clutch the source of the excruciating pain. He endured it tightly, feeling as though the veins in that area were on the verge of snapping.
He spent about an hour and a half continuously invoking the name of Allah without ceasing. Slowly, by divine intervention, he felt the intense agony begin to subside.
He gradually stood up, keeping one hand pressed against his lower abdomen. Stumbling and swaying unsteadily, he made his way to the bag containing his medication. He reached his hand deep into the bottom of the bag and pulled out a blister pack of pills. He popped out a single tablet and returned the pack to the bag. Walking back to the edge of his mattress, he sat down and pulled over a water jug standing nearby. Without wasting any time, he put the pill into his mouth and washed it down with water. Letting out a deep, relieved sigh, he lay flat on his back, breathing heavily.
The Next Morning
Precisely at 6:00 AM, the alarm clock resting on the bedside drawer near her bed began to ring and vibrate. She slowly opened her beautiful eyes and reached out her hand to turn off the alarm. She spent about five minutes lying in bed before throwing off the blanket covering her body. She sat up, gathering her long, sprawling hair, and tied it back. Summoning her energy, she stood up on her feet, stretched, let out a long yawn, and whispered, "In Jesus' name" in her melodious voice. She was dressed in a thick pajama set—a matching top and trousers—chosen due to the freezing weather engulfing the town today. Feigning a wave of morning sluggishness, she began to walk slowly, as though her body lacked any strength, making her way toward a small door, which she opened and stepped through.
She spent nearly thirty minutes inside before emerging with a small towel wrapped around her body, stopping right at her thighs. Her body and hair were dripping with water. She stood in front of a large vanity mirror packed with various women's cosmetics, creams, and perfumes. She turned on a hand dryer and began drying her hair after thoroughly applying about three types of high-quality, expensive hair care creams, making her hair look incredibly radiant and shiny. She combed it thoroughly before packing and styling it neatly to the side of her head.
She applied her expensive, fragrant body lotion along with her body mists. Next, she touched up her face; she didn't do heavy makeup, opting instead for just face powder, lip gloss, and mascara to enhance her long, dramatic eyelashes.
She then stood in front of a massive six-door wardrobe that came as a matching set with her bed and mirror. She opened the first door, which was fully packed with different types and colors of women's innerwear, looking almost like a commercial boutique. She picked out a panty, a vest, and socks, then shut the door. She opened the adjacent door, which contained about ten sets of her school uniform, all neatly pressed and folded. She pulled one out and quickly closed the wardrobe. She hurriedly dressed in the white, long-sleeved shirt and a fitted sky-blue skirt that stopped at her thighs. She pulled on her long white socks and selected a pair of white boots from her countless array of shoes neatly arranged on a shoe rack. She picked a wristwatch from a drawer and fastened it to her wrist. Without adding anything else, she hoisted her massive school bag and exited the room.
She hurried down the stairs and arrived in the vast living room downstairs. The parlor was spotlessly clean, radiating a beautiful fragrance. The only sound in the room was the television, tuned into Eagle TV, where a prominent pastor was delivering a loud, fiery, and frightening sermon. It was evident that the house staff responsible for cleaning the living room had already completed their morning chores. Ignoring the television entirely, she dropped her school bag onto one of the couches surrounding the living room and stepped out.
She headed toward the dining section, which was adjacent to the mansion’s massive general kitchen where all the household meals were prepared. To her delight, she found the dining table fully set and laden with various food warmers, flasks, tea condiments, and assorted delicacies.
Without wasting time, she pulled out one of the dining chairs and sat down, checking the wristwatch on her arm. Hearing movement on the stairs, she quickly raised her head to look. Just as she expected, her two parents—her Mom and Papa—were descending the stairs, fully dressed for work, walking hand-in-hand. Her mother was dressed in a long lace gown with her head uncovered, flaunting her long hair extensions. Her father wore an ash-colored suit; looking at them, one could immediately recognize them as highly educated, elite, older lovers.
They both smiled at her simultaneously. In response, her beautiful face lit up with absolute joy at the sight of her parents.
She stood up before they could even reach the table and walked toward them. She threw herself into her father's arms first, giving him a warm embrace while saying, "Good morning, my Papa." He wrapped his arms around her as well, gently patting her back and replying, "Morning, dear. How are you? How was your night?" She replied, "Fine, Papa." She then released him and turned to her mother, who was watching them with a continuous smile. They exchanged morning greetings just as she had done with her father, before they all walked over to the dining table together.
As they sat down, the chef emerged from the kitchen, indicating he had been standing by waiting for them to come out. He greeted them respectfully before beginning to serve them. The feast consisted of about seven different high-quality dishes; just looking at it, one could tell there was a significant amount of extravagance involved.
Almost at the same time, they all stood up without having eaten anything substantial. She fetched her school bag from the parlor after entering the kitchen to stuff it with chocolates and various types of sweet treats. They all proceeded to the mansion's compound, where the domestic staff flocked to greet them. The driver tasked with taking her to school quickly brought out the car. Even though her school was not far away and was located right within the neighborhood, she was driven there and picked up every single day out of sheer pampering and privilege.
Her mother looked at the driver and said in English, "Peter, don't worry about it today. I will drop her off since I have a morning shift. You can go pick her up when they close." He respectfully replied, "Yes, ma'am." They exchanged final goodbyes with her father, who kissed her on the cheek after giving her another gentle hug, telling her to take care of herself, which she responded to with a pampered, spoiled pout.
The drive from the house to the school took a mere fifteen minutes. Her mother wanted to drive her straight into the school premises, but she protested against it. To avoid upsetting her daughter, her mother dropped her off right at the main gate. They waved at each other until her mother’s car disappeared from sight.
She let out a deep sigh before lifting her school bag and strapping it onto her back. She stood by the school gate for about five minutes, ensuring that no one was watching her. Seeing that the coast was clear, she turned around and hurriedly sprinted away from the gate. Just as she was about to turn a corner behind the school fence, she heard someone shout loudly, "JOY JAMES!" Even without turning around, she instantly recognized the voice. She spun around, and their eyes locked. She threw him a harsh glare, giving him a warning look before turning around and bursting into a run. "Joy! Joy!" David kept calling out her name loudly, but it was in vain as she neither looked back nor stopped. David scoffed, hoisted his own bag, and walked into the school premises.
Al-Ameen
Al-Ameen heard the very first call to prayer (Assalatu) because he was highly accustomed to waking up at dawn; no matter his physical condition, once dawn approached, he would wake up whether he heard the call to prayer or not. Fortunately, he felt significantly better, although the abdominal pain had not fully released its grip on him. Managing his movements carefully, he stood up, his face contorting slightly from the residual pain. He picked up his water kettle (buta), walked toward his bedroom door, slid back the latch, and opened it. A blast of freezing cold air hit him, causing him to instantly snap his eyes shut. Bracing himself, he stepped outside. Clutching his shivering body tightly, he headed into the main house. The house possessed a moderate courtyard containing one large master bedroom with a parlor, alongside a restroom and a kitchen located off to the side.
He walked toward Ummi's bedroom door. Just like every dawn, he was the one responsible for waking them up. He waited until he heard Ummi clear her throat, signaling she was awake, before he carefully shuffled to the restroom. After washing up, he emerged, performed his ablutions (alwala) as quickly as possible, and rushed back to his room, shivering violently. That morning, he was entirely unable to go out to the mosque for the congregational dawn prayer. He listened as the prayer commenced at the neighborhood mosque near their house, but he couldn't step outside out of fear of worsening his condition, especially since he hadn't fully recovered. He lay back down on his bed after completing his prayers at home. Instead of his usual routine of reciting the Holy Quran after the dawn prayer until daylight broke, he rested, primarily because he hadn't slept well the previous night.
Ummi completed her prayers before walking over to the small bed in her master bedroom. Gently, she reached out her hand to wake up FATIMA, who was sleeping soundly and peacefully. Fatima opened her eyes and looked at Ummi. Seeing her awake, Ummi said, "Get up, the sky is bright. Even if you aren't praying (due to your menstrual cycle), perform your ablutions and come do your morning supplications (azkar)." Fatima stood up, replying, "Alright, Ummi." Seeing her up, Ummi returned to her spot to continue her own supplications.
Fatima performed her ablutions, sat down, and recited her morning supplications and prayers just as her mother had accustomed her to; even during her periods, Ummi never allowed her to sit idly without remembering God.
After finishing, she stood up, approached Ummi, knelt down, and said, "Good morning, Ummi." Ummi concluded her prayers, wiped her face with her hands, turned to Fatima, and said, "Good morning, Fatima. I hope you slept well." She replied, "I slept well, Ummi."
"Alhamdulillah. Hurry up, go and greet your older brother, then come collect some money to buy charcoal so we can heat up some bathwater and prepare some millet porridge (kunu)."
"Alright, Ummi," Fatima replied, standing up.
She headed toward the room located at the entrance porch (zaure). She was deeply surprised not to hear the melodious voice of her brother reciting the Quran this morning. Bracing herself, she sent out a greeting (sallama) at the doorstep. To her surprise, there was complete silence. She called out her greetings nearly three times but received no response, which was highly unusual. She reached out her hand, pushed the door open slightly, and peered inside, thinking he wasn't there. To her amazement, she spotted him lying on his bed, tightly bundled up in one corner. Filled with worry, she turned back and returned to the main house.
Noticing her worried expression, Ummi asked what the matter was. With visible concern, Fatima said, "Ummi, why is my brother still sleeping after dawn today? Or is he unwell?"
Ummi looked at her inquisitively and asked, "Sleeping?" Fatima nodded and added, "I peeked into his room and saw him lying down tightly bundled up in his blanket." Ummi paused for a moment, equally surprised. She then said, "Well, perhaps he isn't feeling well. Let me go check on him. Take two hundred Naira from my purse and go buy some charcoal to start the fire."
After Fatima left, Ummi went over to check on Al-Ameen. She found him exactly as Fatima had described. Filled with sympathy and concern, she gently closed his door and returned inside.
By the time Fatima returned, she went straight into the kitchen to light the charcoal. She struggled heavily to get the fire going because the charcoal was damp from the weather, wasting a considerable amount of time. Once she succeeded, she gathered the dishes to wash them. By the time she finished her chores, she noticed the water hadn't heated up much. She sat down, fanning the embers continuously until Ummi finished her extended prayers and emerged to find her. Seeing this, Ummi said, "You haven't taken your bath yet, Binta? You know how strict your school is when students arrive late."
"I swear, Ummi, the charcoal is damp, so the fire isn't burning well." Ummi checked the water and realized it would be sufficient for her if she poured it all out. She said, "Go fetch your bath bucket, pour all of this water out, and go bathe. Once you leave for school, your brother and I will heat up ours since we aren't going anywhere today."
After Fatima poured out her bathwater, Ummi put fresh water on the fire to prepare the millet porridge (kunu). She sat down herself to fan the flames. When Fatima emerged from her bath, she went to her room, pulled her neatly ironed school uniform out of the wardrobe, and began dressing hurriedly. She put on the white long-sleeved shirt and a sky-blue skirt—except hers was a long skirt that reached down to her ankles, in accordance with her Islamic values. She tied her hair up and put on a medium-sized hijab that properly covered her chest. She grabbed her school bag and stepped out into the courtyard after putting on her socks and shoes.
There, she found that Ummi had already finished preparing the millet porridge. Seeing her, Ummi said, "Excellent, Binta. Hand me the sugar container and the bag of kulikuli (peanut cakes). If you haven't taken yours, quickly have your breakfast and leave." Setting her bag aside, she went back into the room to fetch the sugar and kulikuli, her eyes wide with shock as she realized how late it had gotten.
She drank the porridge in a frantic hurry, unable to even finish it because it was too hot. She set the remainder down and hoisted her bag. Ummi said, "Take fifty Naira from the purse." She quickly rushed into the room, grabbed the money, and stepped back out into the courtyard just as JOY sent out a greeting (Sallama) at the door in her broken, non-native Hausa accent.
At that exact moment, Al-Ameen emerged from his room wearing a white singlet and long trousers. Joy froze in her tracks, her heart instantly hammering violently against her chest. Her entire body began to tremble as Al-Ameen's intense gaze locked directly into hers...
2. Structural & Plot Summary
This opening section introduces a stark juxtaposition between two contrasting families living within the same neighborhood (Abayi Close in Minna, Niger State), setting up a story centered around social class, religious dynamics, health struggles, and forbidden or tense relationships.
The Tense Interaction: Joy and Fatima share a profound, unbreakable bond of friendship despite their differing religious and social backgrounds, much to the initial chagrin of Fatima's mother. The chapter reaches a climax when Joy arrives at Fatima's modest home, only to come face-to-face with Al-Ameen. Joy harbors an intense, trembling fear and awe of Al-Ameen, who views her with absolute disdain and hostility, setting up a complex psychological tension between them.
3. Key Vocabulary & Cultural Context