I kept trying to wrench my hand free from his grasp. Even though being with him in that moment brought me an overwhelming rush of pleasure, I refused to let myself lose control. Letting my guard down with him had already landed me in massive, catastrophic trouble before... Caught in the throes of intense, intoxicating passion, he pulled my hand toward his lap again, quickly intertwining his fingers with mine. For the second time, I snatched my hand back. I pouted my small lips and aggressively wiped away the remaining tears rolling down my cheeks. "Oh come on, my baby," he pleaded. "Why can’t you ever get used to me? You treat me like I’m some kind of monster whenever we find ourselves alone together." Without giving him an answer, I reached for the door handle, desperately trying to open his car door so I could escape. But, completely drunk on love, he grabbed me again, pulling me so close that my body brushed against his. Click. He locked the car doors, reclined the front seat, and grabbed my hand for the third time. "Haba, my baby. Why are you running away from me like I’m someone who can’t be trusted?" A thick, suffocating wave of frustration choked my throat, and my heart burned with pure irritation. "But surely you remember what we agreed on, Abdul?" I snapped, distress heavy in my voice. "You know exactly what Umma is like! The moment she peeks into the bedroom and realizes I’m not there, she will rally the entire household to hunt me down!" "I know, baby, I know," he muttered softly. He slipped his fingers between mine again. Using a clever maneuver, I managed to slip my hand out of his grip, grabbed my small handbag, and reached out once more to unlock the car door. He didn't say a word. Instead, he reached into the car's center console box, pulled out a massive stack of cash, and tried to stuff it directly into my bag. I shot him a vicious glare. "Haba, Abdul! How many times do I have to tell you? I am not with you for your money! I love you purely for the sake of Allah! My only prayer every single day is for Allah to give you the courage to formally step forward and ask for my hand in marriage!" A forced, tightly strained smile appeared on his face. "Haba, baby. How many times do I have to tell you that our marriage is practically a done deal? Just give it a little more time. Insha Allah, the moment my Dad returns, you’ll hear our formal announcement very soon." A bright, genuine smile finally broke across my face. "Oh wow! You’ve completely made my day, sweetheart! Oh my goodness, I swear, on that day you will see what true happiness looks like!" I exclaimed, my eyes widening with excitement. "But why do you hate coming to the front of our house? I swear to Allah, Abba would let you visit me since I’ve already finished my secondary school exams (Candy)." He paused for a long moment before replying, "No, baby, it’s not like that. I’m just trying to keep our relationship private for now. Besides, look around—this is much more discreet for us. We have the car, the windows are tinted, and no one can see us or spy on us here." I stared at him blankly for a moment before challenging him. "Okay, but why do you care about spies if we are actually getting married?" "You wouldn't understand right now, baby," he said evasively. "But in the near future, you will fully understand why I insist on keeping myself hidden like this." "Well... may Allah bring us nothing but good fortune," I sighed. "Amin," he replied, leaning his head back against the car seat. Taking advantage of the moment, I quickly unlocked the car door and stepped out. But as I was exiting, I let out a sharp hiss of annoyance when I felt his hand reach out and casually brush against my backside. I didn't stop to call him out on it; I bolted instantly into the alleyway leading to our house. Hearing the call for Ishaa prayer echoing through the neighborhood, I let out a massive sigh of relief and thanked God, knowing that Abba would be at the mosque right now. Tucking my handbag tightly under my armpit, I slipped into our house's entrance corridor. The first door was wide open, but the second was closed. Moving with stealthy, cat-like steps, I pushed it open and tried to sneak inside. Just as I poked my head through, he was also coming out. He was clearly heading to the mosque, as his hands were wet from ablution and he was actively strapping on his wristwatch. We nearly crashed into each other head-on. I dodged out of the way instantly, pressing myself against the wall to give him room to pass. I heard him let out a low, menacing hiss. He shot me a lethal glare that clearly communicated: Where on earth are you coming from? I am going to deal with you tonight!!! Whoosh. He stormed past me with the authoritative, powerful stride of a disciplined military man. I rushed into the main courtyard, panting heavily from absolute terror. I knew better than anyone that an encounter with Ya Haidar never ended well for me.
Page 2: Household Chaos & The Monster's Arrival
I hurried across our compound. Fortunately for me, the roaring noise of the generator drowned out the sound of the door opening, so Umma didn't hear me come in. I breathed a sigh of relief when I finally made it into our bedroom. The moment I stepped inside, my younger sister, Ummi, locked her eyes on me. Before I could even open my mouth, she smirked. "Anty Batula, I swear to Allah, you are getting a massive beating tonight. Abba checked this room three separate times and didn't see you. When he asked Umma where you were, she told him she sent you on an errand to Anty Zee's house since 3:00 PM, and you still haven't returned." I kept my mouth shut, though a wave of furious insults welled up inside me. Seeing my wardrobe locker wide open, and hearing Ummi's words, I sat down in front of her, demanding more details. Before I could even settle down, my other younger sister, Ameera (who comes right after Ummi), walked out of our bedroom toilet with a towel tied tightly around her waist. She marched right up to me. "I swear to Allah, it’s true! Hmm, honestly, Abba’s anger is nothing compared to Ya Haidar's. I swear, Ya Haidar came into this room three times looking for you. He even said he was going to look for you at Anty Zee’s house earlier, and then I heard him drive off in his car. My dear sister, you are absolutely doomed today!" My eyes went wide, and I involuntarily sniffled from pure panic. Horrified, I barked at them, "Okay, what is your business with all this gossip, you useless, hypocritical snitches? This is exactly what you two pray for, isn't it?!" Ameera burst out laughing and walked away, knowing my temper all too well and realizing I was fully capable of throwing a massive tantrum. Ummi, however, was stubborn. She snapped back, "Go ahead and talk, you useless wanderer! Only God knows whose father's house you went to visit today! You absolute hypocrite!" I didn't even let her finish her sentence. Without even removing my veil, I lunged at her. Within seconds, a vicious, chaotic fistfight broke out between us. Clutching her prayer mat and prayer beads, Umma rushed into our room, running right behind Ameera, who had gone to report the fight. Uttering prayers of distress, Umma desperately tried to pull us apart. "Oh my God, I am ruined today! You children fight like wild animals—especially you!" She grabbed me by the arm, smacked me hard, and shoved me aside. "I swear to Allah, you inherited this chaotic, troublesome attitude from your father's side of the family! You go out wandering all day, and then you come back here and beat my child with those massive hands of yours that look like giant yams! First of all, whose father's house are you coming from?!" I pouted aggressively, bursting into tears. "Everyone in this house absolutely hates me! For real, everyone looks down on me, but nobody ever scolds them! In the end, I'm always the one blamed... Just earlier today, Hanif took my phone and was messing with it, but the moment I spoke up, everyone started shouting at me!" I screamed, stomping my feet on the floor. Crying loudly, Ummi chimed in, "I swear to Allah, Umma, she's the one who started it! I didn't do anything to her, she just lunged at me and started beating me up!" "I know, Ummi," Umma said, turning back to me. "This girl is a wild chicken looking for a fistfight! I swear to Allah, the moment Aliyu gets involved, he is going to deal with you, and I won't defend you!" Umma finished, raising her hand to smack me again. 😠I dodged out of the way quickly. Turning my head, I saw Ameera standing in the corner, openly mocking me and laughing. White-hot rage took over. With terrifying agility, I lunged at Ameera, grabbed her hair, and slammed her down to the floor. The room filled with Ameera's piercing shrieks as she screamed for help. Umma began crying out in shock again, rushing forward to lift Ameera off the ground. In a state of pure panic, Umma cried, "Oh my God, Aishatu! What is wrong with you, Batula? What on earth do you want to become? One disaster after another! I swear to Allah, I hope one of the two men handles you!" The very moment the words left Umma's mouth, the intoxicating, overwhelming scent of his expensive cologne instantly filled the room. The entire room went dead silent. Umma let out a sigh of immense relief. "Thank God! Thank Allah for bringing you here, Aliyu!" I whipped my head around fast, instantly letting go of Ameera's hair. My eyes locked directly with our big brother's. He was standing in our doorway, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. He pinned me down with his sharp, piercing gaze, scanning me with a dark, menacing look. I took one or two tentative steps, attempting to sneak past him toward our bathroom to lock myself inside, but I was too slow. Before I could make a move, he swiftly extended his leg, tripped me, and sent me crashing to the floor. He used his foot to callously shove me aside. By then, Umma, Ummi, and even the sobbing Ameera had completely vanished from the room. I looked around and realized it was just the two of us left. I wanted to burst out crying, but looking at the utterly chaotic, furious expression on his face, the tears froze in my throat. In a deep, booming voice that echoed in my chest like a military blast, he commanded, "Meet me in my room." Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving nothing but the lingering scent of his cologne behind. Crying, terror, hatred, regret, and pure frustration washed over me. I lay paralyzed on the floor like someone possessed. I knew exactly what kind of monster had just summoned me. Imagining the brutal, merciless punishment awaiting me, I forced myself to stand up. With a heavily pounding heart, I walked toward the door to face my personal Bogeyman...
Page 3: Facing the Soldier
Without even looking at what was in front of me, I dragged my feet toward Ya Haidar’s quarters. Abba had built him a completely separate wing on the left side of our compound. Because I was moving as fast as my trembling legs could carry me, I made it there quickly, though he had still arrived before me. I stopped dead at the edge of his living room veranda, making absolutely no attempt to step inside. I was terrified of repeating the massive mistake I made a few weeks ago when Umma asked me to deliver his dinner to his room. Back then, instead of just dropping off the food and leaving, I noticed he wasn't around and decided to be foolishly comfortable—I sat down and turned on his TV. Before I could even settle in, he caught me. The brutal beating he handed me that day is an experience I don't even want to waste my breath describing; I was thrashed to within an inch of my life. Remembering that lesson, I stood perfectly still on the veranda this time. I stood there for nearly ten minutes, completely lost in my thoughts. Ya Haidar hadn't given me permission to enter. Meanwhile, giant mosquitoes were mercilessly biting me, my stomach was growling with hunger, and I desperately needed to use the restroom. Every single misfortune in the world seemed to crush me all at once. Finally, after nearly 30 minutes of agonizing waiting, he slid open his glass bedroom window, extended a single hand, and gestured coldly for me to come inside. With a completely numb body, I dragged myself into his living room and stood right by the entrance. I quickly wiped my face, knowing very well that he was a man who absolutely loathed seeing anyone cry. Before I could even take another step, the powerful scent of his cologne washed over me, accompanied by the freezing blast of his air conditioner. I personally despise the cold, so I huddled tightly in a corner, shivering violently. After about five minutes, he finally made his grand entrance—or rather, the sudden assault of his intoxicating perfume on my nose announced his arrival. I raised my eyes, took exactly one glance at him, and immediately looked down. I knew his number-one rule: he absolutely despised being stared at. He was dressed in a pristine, snow-white casual loungewear set, exuding an aura of pure authority and luxury. Without casting a single glance in my direction, he climbed onto the royal sofa in his living room, picked up the remote control, and began surfing through TV channels. I didn't dare look at him again. To be completely honest, I absolutely despised Ya Haidar. Even though he was my biological older brother, I had zero affection for him. I loathed being in the same room as him, and this wasn't a recent feeling—I had harbored this deep resentment toward him since I was a little girl, and my feelings hadn't changed one bit. Wallahi! Tallahi! I swear to Almighty Allah, I have never loved Haidar, and I couldn't even stand the sight of him. That was the sole reason I resented him, despite the fact that he was my own flesh and blood. And it wasn't that I feared Ya Haidar in a normal way; it was simply that Allah had created me as someone who utterly loathes physical pain, while Allah had created him as a man who absolutely loves inflicting beatings. That was the only reason I was terrified of him. I hated conflict and I hated being restricted, whereas he was a naturally aggressive, controlling man who loved suffocating our freedom. And I was completely certain that he, too, knew I held absolutely NO LOVE for him in my life. In a harsh, booming voice, he barked my name... "You! Whose father’s house are you coming from?!" Thump-thump. My heart violently skipped a beat.
Page 4: The Brutal Beating
Thump-thump. My heart hammered violently against my ribs, echoing in my ears. I kept my head glued to the floor, chewing on my bottom lips in terror. As usual, I was darting my eyes around frantically like a cornered animal. "I am speaking to you, wallahi! If you make me repeat this question, I swear to Allah I will snap your spine!" he barked, his voice dripping with an icy, forced rage. I blinked rapidly, my eyes filling to the brim with tears that were just waiting for an excuse to spill over. Suddenly, the voice of his friend, Ya Najeeb, reciting the Islamic greeting (Sallamar) cut through the tense air, halting my violent shivering. I internally thanked Allah, knowing that Ya Najeeb was the only person who could rescue me right now. I quickly answered the greeting, but Ya Haidar didn't even look in his friend's direction, knowing full well that Najeeb had only come to beg for mercy on my behalf. With a warm smile, Ya Najeeb walked in. "Oh dear, Umma's Batula. What crime did you commit against the Boss today?" Blinking rapidly through my tears, I wailed, "Please, for the sake of Allah, Ya Najeeb, beg him for mercy! I swear to Allah I only went to Anty Zee's house, and a massive traffic jam delayed me on my way back! I swear to Allah I didn't go anywhere else!" I finished, breaking into loud, dramatic sobs. In a fit of pure rage, Haidar snatched a heavy leather belt resting beside his sofa. Without a second thought, he charged at me like a venomous, roaring lion. "Didn't I forbid you from constantly swearing oaths, you bastard with a black heart?! Who did I see dropping you off in a car earlier?!" he roared, lunging at me as if he were about to trample me to death. He violently shoved Ya Najeeb out of the way, slammed the living room door shut with terrifying force, and turned back to face me. He grabbed me in a vicious grip and began raining merciless blows on me with the belt. I was initially curled up on the floor, but as the pain became unbearable, I jumped up and clung onto his body, screaming at the top of my lungs. "For the sake of Allah, Ya Haidar, stop beating me! I swear to Allah I'm going to die!" I shrieked through my tears. He violently threw me onto the sofa, pinned me down on my back with one hand, and continued to thrash me like a man sent on a divine mission of destruction. I wept and begged for mercy, but Ya Haidar didn't relent. He beat me until my entire body was black and blue. No matter how much Ya Najeeb pleaded and begged him to stop, Haidar didn't cease until he saw that I was physically incapable of standing up. Only then did he drag me brutally by the arms toward the entrance door, yanked it open, and threw me out onto the veranda. Deeply shaken, Ya Najeeb called out after him, "May Allah punish you, you wicked bastard! Are you trying to unleash your military rage on a defenseless girl? If you want to impress anyone, go to the warfront!" Ya Haidar didn't even grant his friend a single glance; he marched back into his living room, panting heavily like an enraged lion, his chest heaving with untamed fury. Dragging my battered body, I managed to stand up with immense difficulty. I didn't even look at Ya Najeeb because I was deeply resentful that he hadn't saved me sooner. I limped back toward the main house, silently raining a basket full of curses on Haidar. On my way in, I nearly ran into Abba, who was heading toward his own section of the house. I quickly bolted into our wing before he could look at me, because I knew very well that he would only add to my misery. The moment I reached our bedroom door, I could hear the loud, obnoxious voices of my younger brothers, Hanif and Amir. They were clearly up to something. What shattered my heart completely was walking into the room and finding them casually lounging on my bed, playing a game of Ludo. Consumed by a wave of pure frustration, I dragged my aching body forward and launched a furious assault on them. But the physical strength of a woman is nothing compared to young boys; before I could even land a proper blow, Hanif and Amir completely overpowered me and beat me up. I collapsed onto the floor, crying hysterically and looking for a place to hide, while my room exploded with their mocking, cruel laughter. They were literally rolling on the bed laughing at me. I shrieked and began rolling on the floor like a spoiled toddler. Hearing the absolute chaos, Umma and Abba rushed into the bedroom, frantically asking Ummi what on earth was happening. Without missing a beat, Ummi detailed the entire event to Abba. To my utter shock and horror, Abba turned to me and said, "I swear to Allah, Batula, I am completely exhausted by your behavior. All these children are your younger siblings, but you have completely failed to carry yourself with any dignity!" "Imagine a girl of your age engaging in a physical brawl with Hanif and Amir! How many years are you older than them? It's bad enough you fight with Ummi, but now you've stooped low enough to fight Amir, the youngest child in this house! Good grief, Batula, you are the oldest daughter, you are supposed to be a mother figure to them in the future! But you possess absolutely zero maturity!" "Tell her, please, their father!" Umma chimed in, her face contorted in deep disgust. "I swear to Allah, whenever Batula starts her drama, I feel an intense urge to choke her! How can a grown girl act like she’s possessed by evil spirits? She completely lacks discipline, and now all her younger siblings openly disrespect her!" "Haba, Umma!" I wailed, stomping my feet. "What am I supposed to do?! Look at them, they completely ruined my neatly made bed! And as for Ya Haidar, I didn't do anything to him, but that old villain still beat me mercilessly! And I swear to Allah..." Before I could finish my sentence, Abba lunged at me. "How dare you refer to my son as an old villain in my presence?! I swear to Allah, I will personally cripple you today since you refuse to listen to anyone!" He charged at me to deliver a beating, but with the speed of a startled cat, I bolted into the bathroom, slammed the door shut, and turned the key. I stood there, my eyes wide with terror, panting as if I were about to pass out. I collapsed onto the cold bathroom floor, weeping bitterly out of pure frustration and self-pity... 😢
Page 5: The Next Morning's Rivalry
I remained seated on the bathroom floor, continuously weeping over the sheer injustice and cruelty I was facing in our house today. Realizing that no one was coming to save me except Allah, I dragged my aching bones toward the tap. I washed my face and body, performed my ablutions, and stepped out of the bathroom, limping heavily. My sisters were all gathered around the TV, completely engrossed in a show while some were doing their homework. It was painfully clear that they had completely forgotten about my existence. A wave of bitter resentment washed over me. Crying silently, I walked away from them and headed toward our shared wardrobe. I picked out a long gown to wear, but because they were all seated in the room, I couldn't change comfortably. I walked over to the light switch and aggressively turned off the lights so I could quickly slip into my dress in the dark. To my irritation, Ummi immediately stood up, her voice dripping with hostility. "Haba, Anty Batula! How can you just turn off the lights while we are busy doing our things? Who told you we want to sleep right now?!" Pure rage consumed me, but I deliberately ignored her. I finished putting on my dress, turned the lights back on for them, and immediately walked over to my prayer mat to begin praying. The most tragic part was that I hadn't even performed my Maghrib prayer yet, so I sat down and began reciting them one after the other. The moment I finished praying, I crawled onto the bed and collapsed. My entire back was burning with a fierce, agonizing pain from Ya Haidar's brutal beating. Within minutes, my eyes grew heavy, and exhaustion pulled me into a deep, heavy slumber. Hours later, through the thick fog of my sleep, I faintly heard Amir's voice calling out to me. "Anty, wake up. Abba said you should come and eat dinner." I groaned, turned around, and tightly pressed a pillow over my ears to block out his voice. "Anty!" he called out a second time. Losing my temper completely, I bolted upright, aggressively shoved him to the floor, and went right back to sleep. I could hear him muttering curses against me as he walked away. In my mind, a bitter voice echoed: You brought this entirely upon yourself, Batula. Look at how all your younger siblings openly disrespect you for nothing. But then again, if the oldest child fails to maintain their own value, the younger ones will naturally look down on them. This was especially true for me, because I possessed absolutely zero patience and I never backed down from a fight. Heck, even if it was our house cat that crossed me, I would violently fight it and beat it up, and if it scratched me back, I would gladly lie on the floor and weep without an ounce of shame! 😜😜 I didn't make another move for the rest of the night, falling into a dead sleep filled with vivid dreams of my true love, Abdul. When dawn broke, Umma tried every tactic in the book to wake me up for the morning prayer, but sleep held me in a tight, unyielding grip. Frustrated and exhausted by my behavior, Umma walked away, deeply lamenting her daughter's sheer foolishness and lack of respect—Batula behaved exactly like a spoiled child raised by a doting grandmother. I didn't wake up until around 9:00 AM, and the only reason I woke up was because I heard the voice of Garba, the house cleaner, greeting Umma as he washed Ya Haidar's car. Knowing very well that Ya Haidar was currently preparing to leave for the office, and knowing that Umma would definitely report my morning laziness to him, I jumped out of bed in a panic. I rushed into the bathroom, performed my ablutions without even brushing my teeth, and frantically began my morning prayers. I didn't even stay back to perform my spiritual supplications (Azkar); I jumped up and walked out into the compound, stretching my arms lazily and yawning loudly. I ran right into Umma as she was about to enter Abba's living room. "Umma, good morning," I greeted. "Good morning to you, Miss Freeloader," Umma snapped coldly, bypassing me entirely as she walked into Abba's room, leaving me standing there. Frustration boiled within me. I marched into the kitchen, pouting aggressively. Ummi and the rest of the girls were already in the kitchen preparing breakfast since they didn't have school today due to ongoing renovations. Naturally, as the oldest daughter, I was supposed to have led this chore. The moment I walked in, a massive shouting match broke out because I tried to scoop some pancakes for myself. They fiercely blocked me, insisting that I wasn't allowed to touch a single pancake until they finished dividing the portions. Within seconds, a chaotic, physical scuffle broke out between us. I aggressively snatched the plate of pancakes and turned to storm out of the kitchen. But the very moment I turned around, I crashed violently right into Ya Haidar. He was dressed in his full military uniform—army green. He looked exceptionally sharp, handsome, and imposing in his gear. I froze entirely, clutching the plate of pancakes tightly against my chest, my eyes darting around frantically the moment I saw the lethal, icy stare Ya Haidar was directing at me...
Story Summary
The Dangerous Romance: The story follows Batula, a rebellious, hot-tempered girl who has just completed her secondary school exams. She is deeply in love with Abdul, a wealthy young man who meets her secretly in a car with tinted windows. While Batula constantly pressures Abdul to formally visit her house and ask for her hand in marriage, Abdul remains evasive, insisting on keeping their romance completely hidden from her family.
The Terror of the Household: Batula’s household is a chaotic battleground. She possesses zero maturity and constantly engages in physical brawls with her younger siblings (Ummi, Ameera, Hanif, and Amir), earning her the reputation of a troublemaker. Her parents, Umma and Abba, are entirely fed up with her lazy, aggressive behavior and openly take the siblings' sides.
The Military Enforcer: The ultimate source of terror in Batula's life is her biological older brother, Ya Haidar (Aliyu), a disciplined, cold, and authoritative military officer. Haidar rules the household with an iron fist and frequently inflicts brutal physical beatings on Batula to discipline her. Batula harbors a deep, lifelong hatred for Haidar, who has just caught her sneaking back from her secret meeting with Abdul and brawling with her siblings.
Character & Setting Description
The Settings
The Tinted Car: A secluded, claustrophobic space where Abdul treats Batula with intense, intoxicating physical affection, but also where he hides his true intentions behind a wall of cash and evasive promises.
The Family Compound: A bustling middle-class northern home powered by a noisy generator. It features a main courtyard, a shared girls' bedroom, a kitchen that serves as a warzone for sibling rivalries, and a completely separate luxury wing built exclusively for Ya Haidar.
Key Characters
Batula (The Protagonist): A volatile, stubborn, and deeply immature young woman. She is fiercely loyal to her lover Abdul but completely lacks emotional control at home, resorting to screaming matches, foot-stomping, and physical fights over trivial things like Ludo games and pancakes.
Ya Haidar / Aliyu (The Brother): A powerful military officer who exudes an aura of expensive cologne and absolute authority. He is cold, merciless when angered, and operates as the family's ultimate disciplinarian. He despises Batula's deceitful behavior and holds an absolute monopoly on fear in the house.
Abdul (The Lover): A wealthy, smooth-talking boyfriend who drives a luxury car with tinted windows. While he floods Batula with affection and cash, his extreme reluctance to meet her father suggests he is harboring dark secrets.
Ummi & Ameera (The Instigating Sisters): Batula's younger sisters who act as the eyes and ears of the household, takes pleasure in snitching on Batula's late-night movements, and are always ready to engage in a physical brawl with her.
KO BA SO AKWAI KAUNA
Page 1: The Secret Car Meeting
I kept trying to wrench my hand free from his grasp. Even though being with him in that moment brought me an overwhelming rush of pleasure, I refused to let myself lose control. Letting my guard down with him had already landed me in massive, catastrophic trouble before...
Caught in the throes of intense, intoxicating passion, he pulled my hand toward his lap again, quickly intertwining his fingers with mine. For the second time, I snatched my hand back. I pouted my small lips and aggressively wiped away the remaining tears rolling down my cheeks.
"Oh come on, my baby," he pleaded. "Why can’t you ever get used to me? You treat me like I’m some kind of monster whenever we find ourselves alone together."
Without giving him an answer, I reached for the door handle, desperately trying to open his car door so I could escape. But, completely drunk on love, he grabbed me again, pulling me so close that my body brushed against his.
Click.
He locked the car doors, reclined the front seat, and grabbed my hand for the third time. "Haba, my baby. Why are you running away from me like I’m someone who can’t be trusted?" A thick, suffocating wave of frustration choked my throat, and my heart burned with pure irritation.
"But surely you remember what we agreed on, Abdul?" I snapped, distress heavy in my voice. "You know exactly what Umma is like! The moment she peeks into the bedroom and realizes I’m not there, she will rally the entire household to hunt me down!"
"I know, baby, I know," he muttered softly. He slipped his fingers between mine again.
Using a clever maneuver, I managed to slip my hand out of his grip, grabbed my small handbag, and reached out once more to unlock the car door. He didn't say a word. Instead, he reached into the car's center console box, pulled out a massive stack of cash, and tried to stuff it directly into my bag.
I shot him a vicious glare. "Haba, Abdul! How many times do I have to tell you? I am not with you for your money! I love you purely for the sake of Allah! My only prayer every single day is for Allah to give you the courage to formally step forward and ask for my hand in marriage!"
A forced, tightly strained smile appeared on his face. "Haba, baby. How many times do I have to tell you that our marriage is practically a done deal? Just give it a little more time. Insha Allah, the moment my Dad returns, you’ll hear our formal announcement very soon."
A bright, genuine smile finally broke across my face. "Oh wow! You’ve completely made my day, sweetheart! Oh my goodness, I swear, on that day you will see what true happiness looks like!" I exclaimed, my eyes widening with excitement. "But why do you hate coming to the front of our house? I swear to Allah, Abba would let you visit me since I’ve already finished my secondary school exams (Candy)."
He paused for a long moment before replying, "No, baby, it’s not like that. I’m just trying to keep our relationship private for now. Besides, look around—this is much more discreet for us. We have the car, the windows are tinted, and no one can see us or spy on us here."
I stared at him blankly for a moment before challenging him. "Okay, but why do you care about spies if we are actually getting married?"
"You wouldn't understand right now, baby," he said evasively. "But in the near future, you will fully understand why I insist on keeping myself hidden like this."
"Well... may Allah bring us nothing but good fortune," I sighed.
"Amin," he replied, leaning his head back against the car seat.
Taking advantage of the moment, I quickly unlocked the car door and stepped out. But as I was exiting, I let out a sharp hiss of annoyance when I felt his hand reach out and casually brush against my backside. I didn't stop to call him out on it; I bolted instantly into the alleyway leading to our house. Hearing the call for Ishaa prayer echoing through the neighborhood, I let out a massive sigh of relief and thanked God, knowing that Abba would be at the mosque right now.
Tucking my handbag tightly under my armpit, I slipped into our house's entrance corridor. The first door was wide open, but the second was closed. Moving with stealthy, cat-like steps, I pushed it open and tried to sneak inside.
Just as I poked my head through, he was also coming out. He was clearly heading to the mosque, as his hands were wet from ablution and he was actively strapping on his wristwatch.
We nearly crashed into each other head-on. I dodged out of the way instantly, pressing myself against the wall to give him room to pass. I heard him let out a low, menacing hiss. He shot me a lethal glare that clearly communicated: Where on earth are you coming from? I am going to deal with you tonight!!!
Whoosh.
He stormed past me with the authoritative, powerful stride of a disciplined military man. I rushed into the main courtyard, panting heavily from absolute terror. I knew better than anyone that an encounter with Ya Haidar never ended well for me.
Page 2: Household Chaos & The Monster's Arrival
I hurried across our compound. Fortunately for me, the roaring noise of the generator drowned out the sound of the door opening, so Umma didn't hear me come in. I breathed a sigh of relief when I finally made it into our bedroom.
The moment I stepped inside, my younger sister, Ummi, locked her eyes on me. Before I could even open my mouth, she smirked. "Anty Batula, I swear to Allah, you are getting a massive beating tonight. Abba checked this room three separate times and didn't see you. When he asked Umma where you were, she told him she sent you on an errand to Anty Zee's house since 3:00 PM, and you still haven't returned."
I kept my mouth shut, though a wave of furious insults welled up inside me. Seeing my wardrobe locker wide open, and hearing Ummi's words, I sat down in front of her, demanding more details.
Before I could even settle down, my other younger sister, Ameera (who comes right after Ummi), walked out of our bedroom toilet with a towel tied tightly around her waist. She marched right up to me. "I swear to Allah, it’s true! Hmm, honestly, Abba’s anger is nothing compared to Ya Haidar's. I swear, Ya Haidar came into this room three times looking for you. He even said he was going to look for you at Anty Zee’s house earlier, and then I heard him drive off in his car. My dear sister, you are absolutely doomed today!"
My eyes went wide, and I involuntarily sniffled from pure panic. Horrified, I barked at them, "Okay, what is your business with all this gossip, you useless, hypocritical snitches? This is exactly what you two pray for, isn't it?!"
Ameera burst out laughing and walked away, knowing my temper all too well and realizing I was fully capable of throwing a massive tantrum. Ummi, however, was stubborn. She snapped back, "Go ahead and talk, you useless wanderer! Only God knows whose father's house you went to visit today! You absolute hypocrite!"
I didn't even let her finish her sentence. Without even removing my veil, I lunged at her. Within seconds, a vicious, chaotic fistfight broke out between us.
Clutching her prayer mat and prayer beads, Umma rushed into our room, running right behind Ameera, who had gone to report the fight. Uttering prayers of distress, Umma desperately tried to pull us apart. "Oh my God, I am ruined today! You children fight like wild animals—especially you!" She grabbed me by the arm, smacked me hard, and shoved me aside.
"I swear to Allah, you inherited this chaotic, troublesome attitude from your father's side of the family! You go out wandering all day, and then you come back here and beat my child with those massive hands of yours that look like giant yams! First of all, whose father's house are you coming from?!"
I pouted aggressively, bursting into tears. "Everyone in this house absolutely hates me! For real, everyone looks down on me, but nobody ever scolds them! In the end, I'm always the one blamed... Just earlier today, Hanif took my phone and was messing with it, but the moment I spoke up, everyone started shouting at me!" I screamed, stomping my feet on the floor.
Crying loudly, Ummi chimed in, "I swear to Allah, Umma, she's the one who started it! I didn't do anything to her, she just lunged at me and started beating me up!"
"I know, Ummi," Umma said, turning back to me. "This girl is a wild chicken looking for a fistfight! I swear to Allah, the moment Aliyu gets involved, he is going to deal with you, and I won't defend you!" Umma finished, raising her hand to smack me again. ðŸ˜
I dodged out of the way quickly. Turning my head, I saw Ameera standing in the corner, openly mocking me and laughing. White-hot rage took over. With terrifying agility, I lunged at Ameera, grabbed her hair, and slammed her down to the floor. The room filled with Ameera's piercing shrieks as she screamed for help.
Umma began crying out in shock again, rushing forward to lift Ameera off the ground. In a state of pure panic, Umma cried, "Oh my God, Aishatu! What is wrong with you, Batula? What on earth do you want to become? One disaster after another! I swear to Allah, I hope one of the two men handles you!"
The very moment the words left Umma's mouth, the intoxicating, overwhelming scent of his expensive cologne instantly filled the room. The entire room went dead silent.
Umma let out a sigh of immense relief. "Thank God! Thank Allah for bringing you here, Aliyu!"
I whipped my head around fast, instantly letting go of Ameera's hair.
My eyes locked directly with our big brother's. He was standing in our doorway, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. He pinned me down with his sharp, piercing gaze, scanning me with a dark, menacing look.
I took one or two tentative steps, attempting to sneak past him toward our bathroom to lock myself inside, but I was too slow. Before I could make a move, he swiftly extended his leg, tripped me, and sent me crashing to the floor.
He used his foot to callously shove me aside. By then, Umma, Ummi, and even the sobbing Ameera had completely vanished from the room. I looked around and realized it was just the two of us left. I wanted to burst out crying, but looking at the utterly chaotic, furious expression on his face, the tears froze in my throat.
In a deep, booming voice that echoed in my chest like a military blast, he commanded, "Meet me in my room." Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving nothing but the lingering scent of his cologne behind.
Crying, terror, hatred, regret, and pure frustration washed over me. I lay paralyzed on the floor like someone possessed. I knew exactly what kind of monster had just summoned me. Imagining the brutal, merciless punishment awaiting me, I forced myself to stand up. With a heavily pounding heart, I walked toward the door to face my personal Bogeyman...
Page 3: Facing the Soldier
Without even looking at what was in front of me, I dragged my feet toward Ya Haidar’s quarters. Abba had built him a completely separate wing on the left side of our compound. Because I was moving as fast as my trembling legs could carry me, I made it there quickly, though he had still arrived before me.
I stopped dead at the edge of his living room veranda, making absolutely no attempt to step inside. I was terrified of repeating the massive mistake I made a few weeks ago when Umma asked me to deliver his dinner to his room.
Back then, instead of just dropping off the food and leaving, I noticed he wasn't around and decided to be foolishly comfortable—I sat down and turned on his TV. Before I could even settle in, he caught me. The brutal beating he handed me that day is an experience I don't even want to waste my breath describing; I was thrashed to within an inch of my life. Remembering that lesson, I stood perfectly still on the veranda this time.
I stood there for nearly ten minutes, completely lost in my thoughts. Ya Haidar hadn't given me permission to enter. Meanwhile, giant mosquitoes were mercilessly biting me, my stomach was growling with hunger, and I desperately needed to use the restroom. Every single misfortune in the world seemed to crush me all at once.
Finally, after nearly 30 minutes of agonizing waiting, he slid open his glass bedroom window, extended a single hand, and gestured coldly for me to come inside.
With a completely numb body, I dragged myself into his living room and stood right by the entrance. I quickly wiped my face, knowing very well that he was a man who absolutely loathed seeing anyone cry. Before I could even take another step, the powerful scent of his cologne washed over me, accompanied by the freezing blast of his air conditioner. I personally despise the cold, so I huddled tightly in a corner, shivering violently.
After about five minutes, he finally made his grand entrance—or rather, the sudden assault of his intoxicating perfume on my nose announced his arrival. I raised my eyes, took exactly one glance at him, and immediately looked down.
I knew his number-one rule: he absolutely despised being stared at. He was dressed in a pristine, snow-white casual loungewear set, exuding an aura of pure authority and luxury.
Without casting a single glance in my direction, he climbed onto the royal sofa in his living room, picked up the remote control, and began surfing through TV channels. I didn't dare look at him again. To be completely honest, I absolutely despised Ya Haidar. Even though he was my biological older brother, I had zero affection for him. I loathed being in the same room as him, and this wasn't a recent feeling—I had harbored this deep resentment toward him since I was a little girl, and my feelings hadn't changed one bit.
Wallahi! Tallahi! I swear to Almighty Allah, I have never loved Haidar, and I couldn't even stand the sight of him. That was the sole reason I resented him, despite the fact that he was my own flesh and blood.
And it wasn't that I feared Ya Haidar in a normal way; it was simply that Allah had created me as someone who utterly loathes physical pain, while Allah had created him as a man who absolutely loves inflicting beatings. That was the only reason I was terrified of him. I hated conflict and I hated being restricted, whereas he was a naturally aggressive, controlling man who loved suffocating our freedom. And I was completely certain that he, too, knew I held absolutely NO LOVE for him in my life.
In a harsh, booming voice, he barked my name... "You! Whose father’s house are you coming from?!"
Thump-thump. My heart violently skipped a beat.
Page 4: The Brutal Beating
Thump-thump. My heart hammered violently against my ribs, echoing in my ears. I kept my head glued to the floor, chewing on my bottom lips in terror. As usual, I was darting my eyes around frantically like a cornered animal.
"I am speaking to you, wallahi! If you make me repeat this question, I swear to Allah I will snap your spine!" he barked, his voice dripping with an icy, forced rage.
I blinked rapidly, my eyes filling to the brim with tears that were just waiting for an excuse to spill over.
Suddenly, the voice of his friend, Ya Najeeb, reciting the Islamic greeting (Sallamar) cut through the tense air, halting my violent shivering. I internally thanked Allah, knowing that Ya Najeeb was the only person who could rescue me right now. I quickly answered the greeting, but Ya Haidar didn't even look in his friend's direction, knowing full well that Najeeb had only come to beg for mercy on my behalf.
With a warm smile, Ya Najeeb walked in. "Oh dear, Umma's Batula. What crime did you commit against the Boss today?"
Blinking rapidly through my tears, I wailed, "Please, for the sake of Allah, Ya Najeeb, beg him for mercy! I swear to Allah I only went to Anty Zee's house, and a massive traffic jam delayed me on my way back! I swear to Allah I didn't go anywhere else!" I finished, breaking into loud, dramatic sobs.
In a fit of pure rage, Haidar snatched a heavy leather belt resting beside his sofa. Without a second thought, he charged at me like a venomous, roaring lion.
"Didn't I forbid you from constantly swearing oaths, you bastard with a black heart?! Who did I see dropping you off in a car earlier?!" he roared, lunging at me as if he were about to trample me to death.
He violently shoved Ya Najeeb out of the way, slammed the living room door shut with terrifying force, and turned back to face me. He grabbed me in a vicious grip and began raining merciless blows on me with the belt. I was initially curled up on the floor, but as the pain became unbearable, I jumped up and clung onto his body, screaming at the top of my lungs.
"For the sake of Allah, Ya Haidar, stop beating me! I swear to Allah I'm going to die!" I shrieked through my tears. He violently threw me onto the sofa, pinned me down on my back with one hand, and continued to thrash me like a man sent on a divine mission of destruction.
I wept and begged for mercy, but Ya Haidar didn't relent. He beat me until my entire body was black and blue. No matter how much Ya Najeeb pleaded and begged him to stop, Haidar didn't cease until he saw that I was physically incapable of standing up. Only then did he drag me brutally by the arms toward the entrance door, yanked it open, and threw me out onto the veranda.
Deeply shaken, Ya Najeeb called out after him, "May Allah punish you, you wicked bastard! Are you trying to unleash your military rage on a defenseless girl? If you want to impress anyone, go to the warfront!" Ya Haidar didn't even grant his friend a single glance; he marched back into his living room, panting heavily like an enraged lion, his chest heaving with untamed fury.
Dragging my battered body, I managed to stand up with immense difficulty. I didn't even look at Ya Najeeb because I was deeply resentful that he hadn't saved me sooner. I limped back toward the main house, silently raining a basket full of curses on Haidar.
On my way in, I nearly ran into Abba, who was heading toward his own section of the house. I quickly bolted into our wing before he could look at me, because I knew very well that he would only add to my misery.
The moment I reached our bedroom door, I could hear the loud, obnoxious voices of my younger brothers, Hanif and Amir. They were clearly up to something.
What shattered my heart completely was walking into the room and finding them casually lounging on my bed, playing a game of Ludo. Consumed by a wave of pure frustration, I dragged my aching body forward and launched a furious assault on them. But the physical strength of a woman is nothing compared to young boys; before I could even land a proper blow, Hanif and Amir completely overpowered me and beat me up. I collapsed onto the floor, crying hysterically and looking for a place to hide, while my room exploded with their mocking, cruel laughter. They were literally rolling on the bed laughing at me.
I shrieked and began rolling on the floor like a spoiled toddler. Hearing the absolute chaos, Umma and Abba rushed into the bedroom, frantically asking Ummi what on earth was happening.
Without missing a beat, Ummi detailed the entire event to Abba.
To my utter shock and horror, Abba turned to me and said, "I swear to Allah, Batula, I am completely exhausted by your behavior. All these children are your younger siblings, but you have completely failed to carry yourself with any dignity!"
"Imagine a girl of your age engaging in a physical brawl with Hanif and Amir! How many years are you older than them? It's bad enough you fight with Ummi, but now you've stooped low enough to fight Amir, the youngest child in this house! Good grief, Batula, you are the oldest daughter, you are supposed to be a mother figure to them in the future! But you possess absolutely zero maturity!"
"Tell her, please, their father!" Umma chimed in, her face contorted in deep disgust. "I swear to Allah, whenever Batula starts her drama, I feel an intense urge to choke her! How can a grown girl act like she’s possessed by evil spirits? She completely lacks discipline, and now all her younger siblings openly disrespect her!"
"Haba, Umma!" I wailed, stomping my feet. "What am I supposed to do?! Look at them, they completely ruined my neatly made bed! And as for Ya Haidar, I didn't do anything to him, but that old villain still beat me mercilessly! And I swear to Allah..."
Before I could finish my sentence, Abba lunged at me. "How dare you refer to my son as an old villain in my presence?! I swear to Allah, I will personally cripple you today since you refuse to listen to anyone!" He charged at me to deliver a beating, but with the speed of a startled cat, I bolted into the bathroom, slammed the door shut, and turned the key. I stood there, my eyes wide with terror, panting as if I were about to pass out.
I collapsed onto the cold bathroom floor, weeping bitterly out of pure frustration and self-pity... 😢
Page 5: The Next Morning's Rivalry
I remained seated on the bathroom floor, continuously weeping over the sheer injustice and cruelty I was facing in our house today. Realizing that no one was coming to save me except Allah, I dragged my aching bones toward the tap. I washed my face and body, performed my ablutions, and stepped out of the bathroom, limping heavily.
My sisters were all gathered around the TV, completely engrossed in a show while some were doing their homework. It was painfully clear that they had completely forgotten about my existence.
A wave of bitter resentment washed over me. Crying silently, I walked away from them and headed toward our shared wardrobe. I picked out a long gown to wear, but because they were all seated in the room, I couldn't change comfortably. I walked over to the light switch and aggressively turned off the lights so I could quickly slip into my dress in the dark.
To my irritation, Ummi immediately stood up, her voice dripping with hostility. "Haba, Anty Batula! How can you just turn off the lights while we are busy doing our things? Who told you we want to sleep right now?!"
Pure rage consumed me, but I deliberately ignored her. I finished putting on my dress, turned the lights back on for them, and immediately walked over to my prayer mat to begin praying. The most tragic part was that I hadn't even performed my Maghrib prayer yet, so I sat down and began reciting them one after the other.
The moment I finished praying, I crawled onto the bed and collapsed. My entire back was burning with a fierce, agonizing pain from Ya Haidar's brutal beating. Within minutes, my eyes grew heavy, and exhaustion pulled me into a deep, heavy slumber.
Hours later, through the thick fog of my sleep, I faintly heard Amir's voice calling out to me. "Anty, wake up. Abba said you should come and eat dinner." I groaned, turned around, and tightly pressed a pillow over my ears to block out his voice. "Anty!" he called out a second time.
Losing my temper completely, I bolted upright, aggressively shoved him to the floor, and went right back to sleep. I could hear him muttering curses against me as he walked away. In my mind, a bitter voice echoed: You brought this entirely upon yourself, Batula. Look at how all your younger siblings openly disrespect you for nothing.
But then again, if the oldest child fails to maintain their own value, the younger ones will naturally look down on them. This was especially true for me, because I possessed absolutely zero patience and I never backed down from a fight. Heck, even if it was our house cat that crossed me, I would violently fight it and beat it up, and if it scratched me back, I would gladly lie on the floor and weep without an ounce of shame! 😜😜
I didn't make another move for the rest of the night, falling into a dead sleep filled with vivid dreams of my true love, Abdul. When dawn broke, Umma tried every tactic in the book to wake me up for the morning prayer, but sleep held me in a tight, unyielding grip. Frustrated and exhausted by my behavior, Umma walked away, deeply lamenting her daughter's sheer foolishness and lack of respect—Batula behaved exactly like a spoiled child raised by a doting grandmother.
I didn't wake up until around 9:00 AM, and the only reason I woke up was because I heard the voice of Garba, the house cleaner, greeting Umma as he washed Ya Haidar's car. Knowing very well that Ya Haidar was currently preparing to leave for the office, and knowing that Umma would definitely report my morning laziness to him, I jumped out of bed in a panic.
I rushed into the bathroom, performed my ablutions without even brushing my teeth, and frantically began my morning prayers. I didn't even stay back to perform my spiritual supplications (Azkar); I jumped up and walked out into the compound, stretching my arms lazily and yawning loudly.
I ran right into Umma as she was about to enter Abba's living room. "Umma, good morning," I greeted.
"Good morning to you, Miss Freeloader," Umma snapped coldly, bypassing me entirely as she walked into Abba's room, leaving me standing there.
Frustration boiled within me. I marched into the kitchen, pouting aggressively. Ummi and the rest of the girls were already in the kitchen preparing breakfast since they didn't have school today due to ongoing renovations. Naturally, as the oldest daughter, I was supposed to have led this chore.
The moment I walked in, a massive shouting match broke out because I tried to scoop some pancakes for myself. They fiercely blocked me, insisting that I wasn't allowed to touch a single pancake until they finished dividing the portions. Within seconds, a chaotic, physical scuffle broke out between us.
I aggressively snatched the plate of pancakes and turned to storm out of the kitchen. But the very moment I turned around, I crashed violently right into Ya Haidar.
He was dressed in his full military uniform—army green. He looked exceptionally sharp, handsome, and imposing in his gear.
I froze entirely, clutching the plate of pancakes tightly against my chest, my eyes darting around frantically the moment I saw the lethal, icy stare Ya Haidar was directing at me...
Story Summary
The Military Enforcer: The ultimate source of terror in Batula's life is her biological older brother, Ya Haidar (Aliyu), a disciplined, cold, and authoritative military officer. Haidar rules the household with an iron fist and frequently inflicts brutal physical beatings on Batula to discipline her. Batula harbors a deep, lifelong hatred for Haidar, who has just caught her sneaking back from her secret meeting with Abdul and brawling with her siblings.
Character & Setting Description
The Settings
The Family Compound: A bustling middle-class northern home powered by a noisy generator. It features a main courtyard, a shared girls' bedroom, a kitchen that serves as a warzone for sibling rivalries, and a completely separate luxury wing built exclusively for Ya Haidar.
Key Characters