The reason she became so overly spoiled was the tragic loss of her mother, Sara, when she was just ten years old. Her mother’s relatives passionately wanted to take her back with them to Sudan to raise her, arguing that a young girl’s upbringing is best handled by women. However, Alhaji Gaddafi Sheriff completely refused to let them take her. This was because he had transferred all the profound love he once held for Sarah onto Dina. Ultimately, they were forced to leave her with him, not because it was what their hearts desired, but out of sheer pity, seeing how deeply Sarah's death had affected him. At first, it seemed like he would be able to care for her properly. Soon, however, he failed to do so as he became deeply and intensely entangled in his political career. Consequently, he hired a nanny and brought her into the house to look after her, since his political engagements required him to travel frequently. This precise situation became the very reason Dina grew up completely lacking proper upbringing and discipline. On top of that, her being extremely spoiled became too much; she grew up without a mother's presence to guide her or a father to correct her. Her father simply did not have enough time for her, let alone the ability to stand firm in instilling solid moral values. As a result, her life became a reflection of whatever Dina felt like doing, and whatever she set her mind to, she did. No one could tell her otherwise or object to anything she did. She didn't even visit Sudan very often; instead, her relatives would travel to see her, and they were always left filled with deep regret and sorrow over how spoiled Dina had become, growing up completely devoid of proper discipline. She completed all of her education, up to the secondary school level, at Frine College in the city of Kano. It was during this time that Alhaji Gaddafi remarried. He wed a woman named Hajiya Batula, who had also been married before; her previous husband had passed away, but she had never given birth to any children. She was a native of Kano as well and was the younger sister of one of his political allies. The ally had given her to him in marriage because they were constantly facing criticism from their political opponents regarding Alhaji Gaddafi’s unmarried status. Upon finishing her secondary school education, Dina initially started her tertiary studies at the University of Lagos. However, seeing her immense intelligence and bright potential, her father pulled her out of there and sent her to London to continue her education abroad. Dina independently chose to study medicine, specializing in gynecology. Anyone who laid eyes on her could instantly tell that Dina was a highly privileged and deeply adored child from every angle. Her father bought her a magnificent house and filled it with every luxury and comfort life could offer. Moreover, she was exceptionally beautiful—the kind of breathtaking beauty that everyone admired and desired. She used this stunning beauty of hers to draw the attention of countless men and women toward her. Although her interactions with men extended to embracing and kissing, she had never felt that she could ever give away her ultimate virtue to anyone. That was until she met Zain. The moment she met him, she felt an overwhelming certainty that she could give him everything, because of the profound love that Almighty Allah had placed in her heart for him. From the very moment she entered the university, she began hearing stories about Zain's remarkable academic brilliance and exceptional capabilities. Initially, she didn't pay much attention to him, as she was quite full of herself and prideful too. Eventually, however, she found it impossible to ignore him because everyone was constantly singing his praises, even right in front of her. She had already spent a full year at the school before she actually saw Zain with her own eyes for the first time. The day she finally ran into him, he was playing table tennis, and for the first time in her life, she felt her immense pride completely crumble. She felt humbled and entirely captivated because of how incredibly handsome Zain was, and how everything about his demeanor captured her entire soul. She didn't approach him right away because she was still trying to hold onto her pride, but she found herself completely losing her peace of mind, her thoughts entirely consumed by him. What started like a fleeting infatuation quickly became a consuming reality. Try as she might, Zain completely refused to fade from Dina's heart. Thus, she began actively looking for ways to get to know him. Because she possessed wealth, it took her no time at all to gather detailed information about him—his hometown, his course of study, and aspects of his personality. She obtained all of this through one Saifkhan, an Indian friend of Zain's who was constantly trying to hit on Dina because he fancied her. She smartly used Saifkhan's infatuation to uncover everything about Zain, including his dating habits and even detailed stories about Haddir. Hearing the stories that he was a womanizer deeply upset her, and she was instantly consumed by intense jealousy. At first, she wanted to just drop him and move on, but she found herself entirely incapable of letting go. Out of necessity, she sought a way to orchestrate a meeting with Zain through his friend Saifkhan, approaching him under the pretext of needing academic guidance on a subject that was proving difficult for her. The very first time Zain laid eyes on Dina, he was completely captivated by her striking beauty and her entire aura. Within a short period, he completely let his guard down around her, to the point where she began learning some of his deepest secrets, including the stories about his Zainah. From that very moment, Dina grew to intensely hate the girl, because Zain never spoke about his studies with the same passion and frequency as he did about this particular girl. Out of nowhere, Haddir noticed a deep friendship and intense attachment blossoming between Zain and Dina. From the very first day Haddir saw Dina when she came to the house where they lived, he had taken an immediate dislike to her. Just from looking at her, he could tell she lacked proper discipline and upbringing. When he confronted Zain and advised him to leave her alone, it sparked a massive fight between the two brothers, to the point where they went nearly a week without speaking to each other. They only reconciled later when Haddir realized that Zain absolutely despised being questioned about Dina. Haddir simply washed his hands of the entire matter and ignored them. Dina herself was well aware that Haddir thoroughly disliked her, because whenever she greeted him, he would barely acknowledge her, keeping a stern, unwelcoming expression on his face. This got to the point where Dina once asked Zain, "Is your brother simply completely against being modern and enlightened? Why does he choose to live such a miserable, isolated life?" Zain merely laughed at her comment, replying, "That's just how he has been since we were children. He has always been quiet and non-confrontational. You cannot change him." From then on, she dropped the matter and focused entirely on drawing Zain closer to herself, aiming to completely cut him off from his associations with other women. Zain was the first man to ever know Dina intimately as a woman. Furthermore, he wasn't even the one who begged her for it; she willingly gave herself to him. This happened after she caught him in the middle of a foolish, casual encounter with another girl and forcefully chased the girl away. After the girl left, Zain began scolding Dina, telling her that he did not appreciate her chasing his guest away. He asked her if she was prepared to give him exactly what that other girl was about to provide. Because she was already completely head over heels in love with him and felt she would do absolutely anything for him without a single shred of regret, she simply surrendered her body to him. From that moment on, they became completely inseparable, living practically like a husband and wife. Because Zain knew the lifestyle he lived, he always made sure to use condoms. When Dina questioned him about it, he looked at her directly and asked, "Do you honestly want me to contract a disease and pass it on to my first love?" He explicitly told her that Zainah was the only girl he truly loved in the entire world, and that was why he refused to do anything that would ruin her life. That specific day, she and Zain had a spectacular, fiery argument over his Zainah. Following the fight, she ignored him completely, and he ignored her right back. Eventually, however, she was the one who went back to seek him out so they could reconcile, simply because she could not bear the separation. Zain’s words cut her deeper than anything else, especially when he told her bluntly that Halima was the only one who held his true, genuine love, while the other women he fooled around with were merely objects of his physical lust. When she asked him if she was included in that category of lust, he told her straight to her face, "Absolutely, you are one of them." This precise revelation made her hate Zaimah with an even greater passion, even though she had never laid eyes on her. She also realized that if she wanted to keep Zain in her life, she had to completely stop showing her hatred for Halima; otherwise, he would abandon her without a second thought. When Haddir finally realized the shocking depth of the intimacy between Zain and Dina, he was filled with profound disgust and disappointment. He constantly scolded Zain, asking him why he was deliberately trying to ruin his own character. He asked if he had completely forgotten their parents and the core purpose for which they were sent abroad. He pressured him, asking, "How do you think your Halima would feel if she ever found out about the disgusting things you are doing over here? Do you honestly think she would ever agree to marry you?" These piercing words from Haddir successfully snapped Zain back to reality. He began making a conscious effort to detach himself from everything, even going so far as to tell Dina that their relationship had to end because of his Halima. He explained that he did not want her to suffer a broken heart if she ever found out he was betraying her trust. Not long after this dramatic shift took place, they received a long academic break and returned to Nigeria. Zain didn't even bother to say goodbye to Dina before leaving. She only found out about his departure after they had already gone. In a fit of blind desperation, since they didn't get an official vacation on her side, she hastily packed her bags and returned home to Nigeria as well. This was because she hadn't fallen in love with him just to let him go easily. The moment he showed he wanted nothing to do with her was the exact moment her obsession with him intensified. Upon her arrival back home, her father didn't bother to ask what brought her back so suddenly, and she didn't offer any explanations either. At that time, politics was in full swing, and her father had successfully won an election, serving as a Member of the House of Representatives representing Kano, which meant he was never around. As soon as she returned, she went in search of her close friend, Zakiya Nuhu, with whom she had attended Frine College. Their deep friendship was rooted in the fact that their personalities were identical—both were wild, rebellious, and completely lacked proper moral discipline. Zakiya had also grown up without a mother, raised instead by a cruel stepmother, which was why she was completely defiant and unmanageable. Dina traveled all the way to Zaria, where Zakiya was currently pursuing her university studies. She found her and poured out her heart, narrating everything that had happened. Zakiya immediately took her along and drove down the Kaduna road to visit a powerful ritualist who usually performed spiritual work for her to control and manipulate her boyfriends. Dina had the ritualist perform a potent spell on Zain to ensure that no matter the circumstances, he could never separate from her, and that he would completely lose physical desire for any other woman except her. The ritualist assured them that they would succeed in their mission. However, he warned them that there was a powerful spiritual star aligned with Zain's own star—a very strong force—and he could clearly foresee a marriage destiny between them. He noted that Zain would never stop loving that particular girl, as she was deeply woven into his ultimate destiny. Even though the ritualist didn't mention a name, Dina knew with absolute certainty who it was: Halima, his Zainah. The spiritualist assured them that she would succeed in binding his desires so that he would lose sexual interest in all other women, completely returning to her alone, and that he would find it impossible to leave her. However, he also noted that he foresaw immense darkness and chaos surrounding their ultimate union. He revealed that they would eventually marry each other, but only after he had married the one his heart truly desired, predicting immense turmoil and conflict in the entire affair. Dina accepted everything the spiritualist said without hesitation. Following the consultation, they handed over a massive amount of money to him and departed, confident that Zain would eventually seek her out on his own to make amends. When Zain and Haddir originally returned home for that break, Halima was thirteen years old, just beginning to transition into young womanhood and starting to show the physical signs of maturity. Zain was incredibly overjoyed to see how much his Zainah had grown. However, he aggressively complained to Umma and the family that Zafeera was much plumper and healthier than his Zainah, who was merely growing tall. He complained crossly, accusing them of not feeding and taking proper care of her for him. The family simply laughed at his intense possessiveness. As for Halima, she was old enough to understand the implications of his behavior, so she began to feel deeply shy around Zain, even though she had been the most excited out of everyone for his return. Noticing her sudden shyness, Zain made a deliberate effort to draw her close to himself, openly showering her with his unique style of romantic affection—the very affection she had known since she first opened her eyes to the world. As for the souvenirs he brought back, more than half of everything belonged to her; the high-end boutiques of London could certainly testify to this, because from the very start of his time abroad, the moment he laid eyes on anything beautiful, he would instantly declare that it would look perfect on his Zainah and buy it. Zafeera was quite envious because her own gifts were few, while Halima was filled with pure joy, playfully teasing both Zafeera and Faruq with her abundance. Not long after their return, Zareena also came home on vacation. She was also preparing to start an internship at the Bauchi Radio Corporation to gain practical professional experience. The joy in the household was completely beyond words, and the compound became lively and boisterous once again. Ever since they returned, they had made Alhaji Tsoho’s house their main base. Alhaji Tsoho was entirely settled at home now, no longer traveling anywhere because his legs were frail and failing him. However, having his family around him for the holidays brought him immense happiness. Soon after Zareena's arrival, Zain joined Haddir on a trip to Abuja. Just three days into the trip, Zain found himself entirely incapable of enduring the separation from Dina. He sought her out, and after she subjected him to a fair share of cold arrogance to punish him, she finally informed him that she was currently in Kano. Haddir had no idea where Zain was constantly rushing off to. They had initially planned to spend a full week in Abuja before leaving, but Zain became completely restless and refused to stay. He announced that he was leaving immediately, telling Haddir he could follow later. With that, he abandoned him in Abuja and traveled straight to Kano to see Dina. He spent the remaining four days of his trip right there in her family home. When her stepmother, Hajiya Batula, questioned the situation, Dina simply claimed he was just a friend, and her stepmother didn't press the matter further. The two lovers spent the entire time indulging in their forbidden affairs, entirely unbothered. By the time Zain left, he still hadn't crossed paths with Dina's father, who was away in Abuja. When Zain finally returned to Bauchi, he found that Haddir had also returned. Haddir immediately cornered him and demanded answers. Because Zain was terrible at lying and completely incapable of keeping secrets, he flatly confessed that he had gone to see Dina. That day, he and Haddir almost came to physical blows. Ultimately, their confrontation ended in a bitter, hostile standoff. The very next morning, a furious Haddir packed his bags and relocated to Abuja to stay with his parents. No one else in the family knew what had caused the sudden rift, because Haddir refused to breathe a word to anyone, and Zain kept quiet as well. However, Umma and the rest of the household were deeply puzzled as to why Haddir, who had only returned just the previous evening, would suddenly pack up at dawn and announce he was leaving. Zareena questioned him relentlessly, but he adamantly refused to reveal anything. He had already made a firm vow to himself that he would keep Zain's dark secrets hidden forever; no one would ever hear it from his mouth. He only harbored a deep hope that Zain would change his ways before a disastrous day arrived—a day when he would be forced to face bitter regret for his actions. They enjoyed a very long vacation, spending about four months at home before finally returning abroad. This time, they wouldn't be returning until they had fully completed their respective degrees. On the day of their departure, Halima wept bitterly once again. Zain tenderly comforted her, making a solemn promise that the moment he returned for good, their marriage would be officially solemnized, and wherever his career took him, she would always travel by his side. Just two days after they arrived back in London, Dina returned as well. She had fiercely refused to stay behind in Nigeria because Zain had returned abroad. Despite her presence, Zain began deliberately distancing himself from her. Whenever he traveled down to Kano during their breaks back home to indulge in their flings, he would lie to his family, claiming he was staying at his uncle’s house in Kaduna or at Haddir's family home. Up until the time they finally returned for good, he and Haddir never managed to reconcile their friendship, maintaining a very distant, superficial relationship. Once back abroad, they poured all their focus into their final studies, realizing they had reached the home stretch. On Halima's end, she and Zain spoke over the phone from time to time. When it came to his birthdays, she and her grandmother, Nene, never forgot the date. Even if his phone was switched off, he would always return to find a flood of heartwarming messages from them celebrating him. Back home, the family would always gather to celebrate his special day in his honor. During their sixth year in London, Halima and Zafeera enrolled in a culinary and pastry school. Halima had explicitly sought Zain's permission first, and only after he eagerly approved did she begin the program. It was a three-month course, and they successfully graduated, receiving their official certificates. After spending a full seven years in London, they finally packed up all their belongings and returned home permanently after successfully completing their studies. Their entire family traveled to meet them to celebrate their grand graduation. Only Alhaji Tsoho and Hajiya Mama were unable to make the trip due to age and health. However, his uncle from Kaduna and Mommy Iklima, alongside his Abuja uncle and Mama Safiya, were all present. Umma was the only mother who stayed behind to manage the home. Nene was right at the forefront alongside Abba, followed by Zareena—who had already completed her degree and mandatory national youth service (NYSC) and secured a job at the Bauchi Radio Corporation. Zafeera, Halima, and Umar Faruq were all there as well. Sadiq, the eldest brother, couldn't make it as he was currently away at the University of Ibadan. Even Auntie Hannatu made the trip to London; only Auntie Rukayyah was unable to attend. This long-awaited occasion marked the very first time Dina saw Zainah face-to-face with her own eyes. She witnessed firsthand the staggering, profound love that Zain had always claimed to hold for the girl. She saw it clearly with her own eyes. Throughout the celebrations, as Zain received a shower of prestigious awards for his exceptional academic brilliance and hard work, his Zainah was right by his side wherever he stepped. He completely refused to let go of her hand. She held onto all of his award plaques for him, and everyone present instantly recognized the famous Zainah they had spent years hearing so much about. Dina was consumed by bitter jealousy and sorrow. That day, Zain seemed to have completely forgotten that Dina even existed, his entire world revolving around his relatives and Halima. This reality only served to double the intense hatred Dina harbored for the girl. Zain didn't even remember Dina until long after the event had concluded. Late that night, he covertly slipped away to visit her at her residence. Dina aggressively refused to let him leave until she had thoroughly enticed him, and they indulged in their forbidden acts once more. Only then did she allow him to return. They said their goodbyes, as he was scheduled to return home to Bauchi with his parents the very next morning. She pleaded with him repeatedly, begging him to make a firm promise that he would marry her, but he flatly refused. He repeatedly drilled a single, harsh truth into her ears: she was simply not wife material to him. He reminded her that he had never once told her that he loved her; their entire relationship was built purely on physical convenience, and she was the one who had actively sought it out from the very beginning, which was how they had lasted this long. Their parting was deeply bitter and strained. She wept uncontrollably as he walked away, abandoning her. By the time he returned to his family's lodgings, his parents and his Zainah had been frantically looking for him everywhere. When they questioned his absence, he fabricated a lie, claiming he had gone to say a final goodbye to some of his university friends. Everyone readily believed his explanation except for Haddir, who merely cast a cold, knowing glare at him. Zain shot a sharp look back at him before quickly grabbing his Zainah's hand, pulling her into a secluded corner where they happily chatted away, completely immersed in their deep love for each other.
BOOK 1 — Chapter 7
Zain and Haddir spent a full year in Bauchi undergoing their mandatory medical housemanship at Dr. Saulawa's Hospital. Given their family background, the ultimate responsibility for managing the entire hospital would eventually fall squarely on their shoulders. To be completely fair, they performed exceptionally well, and the medical director continuously showered their dedication with high praise. During that single year, they made immense contributions to the facility. This brought profound joy to Alhaji Tsoho's heart; he was deeply gratified that even though none of his children had specialized in neurology, he had at least successfully produced specialists in fields that would directly benefit the less privileged—namely, pediatrics and gynecology. Upon completing their one-year internship, they both departed to pursue their respective two-year residency courses in their chosen medical fields. Zain traveled to a prestigious medical school located in the city of Mumbai, India, while Haddir departed for Cyprus. This time around, their parents were deeply surprised by their sudden decision to separate and study in entirely different countries. However, because both young men were highly independent and headstrong, no one pressed them for a detailed explanation. The truth was, during their one year working together in Bauchi, they had failed to find any real common ground or reconciliation. This was despite the fact that back in London, right as they were about to graduate, Zain had made a solemn promise to Haddir, swearing, "By God's grace, the moment we return home, I will completely stop all of my reckless behavior." Haddir had sincerely hoped he would honor his word. However, upon their return, their starkly contrasting worldviews and lifestyles caused major friction. Haddir was constantly suspicious; the moment Zain so much as stepped out of the house, Haddir would immediately assume he was running off to engage in foolish trysts with some woman. This constant suspicion led to frequent, explosive arguments between them. This friction was the exact reason why Haddir abruptly packed his bags and moved out of Abba Usman's house, relocating back to Alhaji Tsoho's compound. From that moment on, they would only cross paths at the hospital. Whenever they saw each other, they would simply look away coldly, behaving exactly like total strangers rather than lifelong best friends who had grown up side by side since infancy. When Abba Usman finally realized that Haddir had abandoned his household for Alhaji Tsoho's, he personally followed him there. Standing alongside Hajiya Mama and Alhaji Tsoho, Abba Usman directly questioned Haddir, asking if anyone in his house had offended or mistreated him. He reminded him, "Ever since you were a little boy, I am the one who raised you until you reached manhood. Never once in your life have I ever seen you and Zain sleep under separate roofs until now, when you are both grown men. Have you two had a major falling out?" Abba Usman asked this because he was well aware of Zain's volatile, quick-tempered nature. However, Haddir fiercely refused to reveal a single thing. He simply assured his parents that he merely preferred living at Alhaji Tsoho's house for a change, pointing out that since childhood, Alhaji Tsoho’s house had always felt like a second home to Zain, Zareena, and himself anyway—until Hajiya Mama had eventually grown tired of their childhood mischief and sent them back to their respective homes. With this explanation, Haddir successfully silenced everyone's questions. The parents didn't drop the matter because they actually believed him, but rather because both Zain and Haddir completely shut them out, refusing to let them understand the root of the problem. Consequently, the elders washed their hands of the matter, assuming whatever was going on was simply a private issue between the two brothers. During the brief period Zain spent at home before his departure for Mumbai, he stirred up an absolute storm, aggressively demanding that his marriage to his Zainah be officially solemnized immediately. At that time, Halima, Zafeera, and Umar Faruq were all seventeen years old. Even though Zafeera was naturally much more voluptuous and physically filled out, I was significantly taller and possessed a remarkably mature, fully developed feminine physique. My hips and bust had filled out completely even before I reached this age; any onlooker could instantly tell that Allah had beautifully sculpted a true woman here. God knows that I am not fair-skinned, nor am I an extraordinary, unmatched beauty, but my facial features are perfectly proportioned and graceful. Zafeera was the fair-skinned one, while I inherited my father's beautiful dark complexion, according to Auntie Halima—whom I had never actually met in person, knowing her only through photographs. There was absolutely no doubt that if I had inherited my mother's exceptionally fair complexion, even Zafeera wouldn't have been able to outshine me in fairness. I possessed a naturally quiet, gentle, and deeply shy demeanor—traits that Umma always reminded me were a direct inheritance from my late mother. During Zain's stay at home, seeing how much I had matured, he immediately began imposing strict rules upon me. He strictly forbade me from going out unnecessarily and mandated that I must always wear a large, proper hijab. He only permitted me to move between my regular school and my Islamic school, with Alhaji Tsoho's house being the only other exception. When our school vacation arrived, I planned to travel out of town, and Abba gave his official blessing for me to visit my mother's relatives, specifically Auntie Halima, who traveled down to check on me at every opportunity and whom I looked up to entirely as a mother figure. Zain, however, vehemently opposed the trip. He stubbornly insisted that I must wait until the weekend so he could personally drive me there and bring me back himself. It took Umma explicitly involving Abba, who thoroughly scolded Zain, before he finally backed down and reluctantly allowed me to go. Even so, he was so deeply furious that he refused to even say goodbye to me, storming out of the house to the hospital instead. While away, I repeatedly tried calling him using Nene's phone. The moment he picked up and recognized my voice, he would instantly hang up the phone. I called back countless times, but he flatly refused to answer. Zafeera offered to accompany me on the trip, and so we traveled out of town together. We spent ten wonderful days in the town of Gada at Auntie Halima’s house, fully enjoying the peaceful, rustic rhythm of rural life. We spent our days visiting various relatives and family friends, and everyone we met was profoundly amazed by how beautifully I had grown and matured into a proper young woman. During our stay, a childhood playmate of mine named Hisham caught sight of me and declared his love for me. Hisham was currently in his final year of studies at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. When he initially approached me with his intentions, I directly informed him that I already had a fiancé waiting for me, but he adamantly refused to accept it. He went so far as to approach Auntie Halima, earnestly begging her to intervene on his behalf because his love for me was entirely genuine. Auntie Halima didn't hesitate for a single second; she flatly told him the absolute truth—that I already had a husband ordained for me before I was even born into this world, and he was currently away waiting for me. With those definitive words, Auntie Halima firmly closed the door on Hisham. Following that incident, both Zafeera and I found ourselves facing romantic advances from several other local young men as well. This influx of male attention prompted us to hastily cut our trip short and return home ahead of schedule, solely because we were well aware of Zain's volatile, intensely jealous nature. On top of that, he was still actively throwing a tantrum and hadn't checked on me even once, completely refusing to call throughout our entire stay in Gada. The moment we returned home, a highly amused Zafeera immediately ran her mouth, gleefully narrating everything that had transpired in Gada to Umma and Nene. Unfortunately, her words reached Zain's ears. That very day, he threw an absolute tantrum, storming out of the house and going straight to Alhaji Tsoho’s compound. He sat before the family patriarch and passionately demanded, once again, that his marriage to his woman must be tied immediately. Alhaji Tsoho spent a long time patiently calming him down, promising him that he would personally gather all of his fathers to discuss the matter, and whatever decision the elders collectively reached would be final. With that solemn promise, Zain finally relented and dropped the issue. Two days later, Alhaji Tsoho convened a meeting with all of his sons—a family gathering they typically held every two months to deliberate on matters affecting the household. He officially brought up Zain’s urgent request. Before anyone else could even utter a word, his uncle from Kaduna (Baban Kaduna) fiercely shut it down, declaring it entirely impossible. He argued, "How old is Zain anyway? He is only twenty-seven years old! Furthermore, he hasn't even fully completed his medical specialization. What assets has he accumulated to sustain a household?" He then launched into a stern lecture, declaring that he would personally confront Zain and order him to drop the matter immediately. He emphasized that all of them—including Haddir—must return abroad immediately to complete their two-year residency courses. Hearing this reasonable argument, the entire family unanimously agreed with his stance. Baban Kaduna then personally cornered Zain and thoroughly reprimanded him, effectively forcing him back into line. He warned him sternly that if he continued to cause any more trouble, he would ensure that he never married Halima even after she completed her university degree. Knowing that Baban Kaduna was a man of absolute, uncompromising resolve, Zain completely dropped the subject. Zareena and Haddir couldn't help but mock him, thoroughly amused by how pathetic and defeated the usually arrogant Zain now looked. Petty as he was, Zain shifted the blame for his defeat onto his Zainah. He went nearly a full week completely ignoring me; whenever I tried to talk to him, he would coldly turn his face away. He claimed that I should have approached Abba ourselves to declare that I also wanted the marriage to happen right away. When I told him that I could never muster up the courage to say such a thing to our father, his anger intensified. It took an immense amount of gentle coaxing and pleading on my part before he finally softened up, forgave me, and allowed the matter to pass. Sometime after these events, the family traveled down to Kano to attend a wedding. It was the wedding ceremony of Auntie Rukayyah’s eldest daughter, named Asma'u. The main reason I traveled along for this specific wedding was because Zain himself was attending the marriage solemnization.
The reason she became so overly spoiled was the tragic loss of her mother, Sara, when she was just ten years old. Her mother’s relatives passionately wanted to take her back with them to Sudan to raise her, arguing that a young girl’s upbringing is best handled by women. However, Alhaji Gaddafi Sheriff completely refused to let them take her. This was because he had transferred all the profound love he once held for Sarah onto Dina. Ultimately, they were forced to leave her with him, not because it was what their hearts desired, but out of sheer pity, seeing how deeply Sarah's death had affected him.
At first, it seemed like he would be able to care for her properly. Soon, however, he failed to do so as he became deeply and intensely entangled in his political career. Consequently, he hired a nanny and brought her into the house to look after her, since his political engagements required him to travel frequently. This precise situation became the very reason Dina grew up completely lacking proper upbringing and discipline. On top of that, her being extremely spoiled became too much; she grew up without a mother's presence to guide her or a father to correct her. Her father simply did not have enough time for her, let alone the ability to stand firm in instilling solid moral values. As a result, her life became a reflection of whatever Dina felt like doing, and whatever she set her mind to, she did. No one could tell her otherwise or object to anything she did. She didn't even visit Sudan very often; instead, her relatives would travel to see her, and they were always left filled with deep regret and sorrow over how spoiled Dina had become, growing up completely devoid of proper discipline.
She completed all of her education, up to the secondary school level, at Frine College in the city of Kano. It was during this time that Alhaji Gaddafi remarried. He wed a woman named Hajiya Batula, who had also been married before; her previous husband had passed away, but she had never given birth to any children. She was a native of Kano as well and was the younger sister of one of his political allies. The ally had given her to him in marriage because they were constantly facing criticism from their political opponents regarding Alhaji Gaddafi’s unmarried status.
Upon finishing her secondary school education, Dina initially started her tertiary studies at the University of Lagos. However, seeing her immense intelligence and bright potential, her father pulled her out of there and sent her to London to continue her education abroad. Dina independently chose to study medicine, specializing in gynecology. Anyone who laid eyes on her could instantly tell that Dina was a highly privileged and deeply adored child from every angle. Her father bought her a magnificent house and filled it with every luxury and comfort life could offer. Moreover, she was exceptionally beautiful—the kind of breathtaking beauty that everyone admired and desired.
She used this stunning beauty of hers to draw the attention of countless men and women toward her. Although her interactions with men extended to embracing and kissing, she had never felt that she could ever give away her ultimate virtue to anyone. That was until she met Zain. The moment she met him, she felt an overwhelming certainty that she could give him everything, because of the profound love that Almighty Allah had placed in her heart for him.
From the very moment she entered the university, she began hearing stories about Zain's remarkable academic brilliance and exceptional capabilities. Initially, she didn't pay much attention to him, as she was quite full of herself and prideful too. Eventually, however, she found it impossible to ignore him because everyone was constantly singing his praises, even right in front of her. She had already spent a full year at the school before she actually saw Zain with her own eyes for the first time. The day she finally ran into him, he was playing table tennis, and for the first time in her life, she felt her immense pride completely crumble.
She felt humbled and entirely captivated because of how incredibly handsome Zain was, and how everything about his demeanor captured her entire soul. She didn't approach him right away because she was still trying to hold onto her pride, but she found herself completely losing her peace of mind, her thoughts entirely consumed by him. What started like a fleeting infatuation quickly became a consuming reality. Try as she might, Zain completely refused to fade from Dina's heart. Thus, she began actively looking for ways to get to know him. Because she possessed wealth, it took her no time at all to gather detailed information about him—his hometown, his course of study, and aspects of his personality. She obtained all of this through one Saifkhan, an Indian friend of Zain's who was constantly trying to hit on Dina because he fancied her. She smartly used Saifkhan's infatuation to uncover everything about Zain, including his dating habits and even detailed stories about Haddir.
Hearing the stories that he was a womanizer deeply upset her, and she was instantly consumed by intense jealousy. At first, she wanted to just drop him and move on, but she found herself entirely incapable of letting go. Out of necessity, she sought a way to orchestrate a meeting with Zain through his friend Saifkhan, approaching him under the pretext of needing academic guidance on a subject that was proving difficult for her. The very first time Zain laid eyes on Dina, he was completely captivated by her striking beauty and her entire aura. Within a short period, he completely let his guard down around her, to the point where she began learning some of his deepest secrets, including the stories about his Zainah. From that very moment, Dina grew to intensely hate the girl, because Zain never spoke about his studies with the same passion and frequency as he did about this particular girl.
Out of nowhere, Haddir noticed a deep friendship and intense attachment blossoming between Zain and Dina. From the very first day Haddir saw Dina when she came to the house where they lived, he had taken an immediate dislike to her. Just from looking at her, he could tell she lacked proper discipline and upbringing. When he confronted Zain and advised him to leave her alone, it sparked a massive fight between the two brothers, to the point where they went nearly a week without speaking to each other. They only reconciled later when Haddir realized that Zain absolutely despised being questioned about Dina. Haddir simply washed his hands of the entire matter and ignored them. Dina herself was well aware that Haddir thoroughly disliked her, because whenever she greeted him, he would barely acknowledge her, keeping a stern, unwelcoming expression on his face. This got to the point where Dina once asked Zain, "Is your brother simply completely against being modern and enlightened? Why does he choose to live such a miserable, isolated life?" Zain merely laughed at her comment, replying, "That's just how he has been since we were children. He has always been quiet and non-confrontational. You cannot change him." From then on, she dropped the matter and focused entirely on drawing Zain closer to herself, aiming to completely cut him off from his associations with other women.
Zain was the first man to ever know Dina intimately as a woman. Furthermore, he wasn't even the one who begged her for it; she willingly gave herself to him. This happened after she caught him in the middle of a foolish, casual encounter with another girl and forcefully chased the girl away. After the girl left, Zain began scolding Dina, telling her that he did not appreciate her chasing his guest away. He asked her if she was prepared to give him exactly what that other girl was about to provide. Because she was already completely head over heels in love with him and felt she would do absolutely anything for him without a single shred of regret, she simply surrendered her body to him. From that moment on, they became completely inseparable, living practically like a husband and wife.
Because Zain knew the lifestyle he lived, he always made sure to use condoms. When Dina questioned him about it, he looked at her directly and asked, "Do you honestly want me to contract a disease and pass it on to my first love?" He explicitly told her that Zainah was the only girl he truly loved in the entire world, and that was why he refused to do anything that would ruin her life. That specific day, she and Zain had a spectacular, fiery argument over his Zainah. Following the fight, she ignored him completely, and he ignored her right back. Eventually, however, she was the one who went back to seek him out so they could reconcile, simply because she could not bear the separation. Zain’s words cut her deeper than anything else, especially when he told her bluntly that Halima was the only one who held his true, genuine love, while the other women he fooled around with were merely objects of his physical lust. When she asked him if she was included in that category of lust, he told her straight to her face, "Absolutely, you are one of them." This precise revelation made her hate Zaimah with an even greater passion, even though she had never laid eyes on her. She also realized that if she wanted to keep Zain in her life, she had to completely stop showing her hatred for Halima; otherwise, he would abandon her without a second thought.
When Haddir finally realized the shocking depth of the intimacy between Zain and Dina, he was filled with profound disgust and disappointment. He constantly scolded Zain, asking him why he was deliberately trying to ruin his own character. He asked if he had completely forgotten their parents and the core purpose for which they were sent abroad. He pressured him, asking, "How do you think your Halima would feel if she ever found out about the disgusting things you are doing over here? Do you honestly think she would ever agree to marry you?" These piercing words from Haddir successfully snapped Zain back to reality. He began making a conscious effort to detach himself from everything, even going so far as to tell Dina that their relationship had to end because of his Halima. He explained that he did not want her to suffer a broken heart if she ever found out he was betraying her trust. Not long after this dramatic shift took place, they received a long academic break and returned to Nigeria. Zain didn't even bother to say goodbye to Dina before leaving. She only found out about his departure after they had already gone. In a fit of blind desperation, since they didn't get an official vacation on her side, she hastily packed her bags and returned home to Nigeria as well. This was because she hadn't fallen in love with him just to let him go easily. The moment he showed he wanted nothing to do with her was the exact moment her obsession with him intensified.
Upon her arrival back home, her father didn't bother to ask what brought her back so suddenly, and she didn't offer any explanations either. At that time, politics was in full swing, and her father had successfully won an election, serving as a Member of the House of Representatives representing Kano, which meant he was never around. As soon as she returned, she went in search of her close friend, Zakiya Nuhu, with whom she had attended Frine College. Their deep friendship was rooted in the fact that their personalities were identical—both were wild, rebellious, and completely lacked proper moral discipline. Zakiya had also grown up without a mother, raised instead by a cruel stepmother, which was why she was completely defiant and unmanageable. Dina traveled all the way to Zaria, where Zakiya was currently pursuing her university studies. She found her and poured out her heart, narrating everything that had happened. Zakiya immediately took her along and drove down the Kaduna road to visit a powerful ritualist who usually performed spiritual work for her to control and manipulate her boyfriends. Dina had the ritualist perform a potent spell on Zain to ensure that no matter the circumstances, he could never separate from her, and that he would completely lose physical desire for any other woman except her. The ritualist assured them that they would succeed in their mission. However, he warned them that there was a powerful spiritual star aligned with Zain's own star—a very strong force—and he could clearly foresee a marriage destiny between them. He noted that Zain would never stop loving that particular girl, as she was deeply woven into his ultimate destiny. Even though the ritualist didn't mention a name, Dina knew with absolute certainty who it was: Halima, his Zainah.
The spiritualist assured them that she would succeed in binding his desires so that he would lose sexual interest in all other women, completely returning to her alone, and that he would find it impossible to leave her. However, he also noted that he foresaw immense darkness and chaos surrounding their ultimate union. He revealed that they would eventually marry each other, but only after he had married the one his heart truly desired, predicting immense turmoil and conflict in the entire affair. Dina accepted everything the spiritualist said without hesitation. Following the consultation, they handed over a massive amount of money to him and departed, confident that Zain would eventually seek her out on his own to make amends.
When Zain and Haddir originally returned home for that break, Halima was thirteen years old, just beginning to transition into young womanhood and starting to show the physical signs of maturity. Zain was incredibly overjoyed to see how much his Zainah had grown. However, he aggressively complained to Umma and the family that Zafeera was much plumper and healthier than his Zainah, who was merely growing tall. He complained crossly, accusing them of not feeding and taking proper care of her for him. The family simply laughed at his intense possessiveness. As for Halima, she was old enough to understand the implications of his behavior, so she began to feel deeply shy around Zain, even though she had been the most excited out of everyone for his return.
Noticing her sudden shyness, Zain made a deliberate effort to draw her close to himself, openly showering her with his unique style of romantic affection—the very affection she had known since she first opened her eyes to the world. As for the souvenirs he brought back, more than half of everything belonged to her; the high-end boutiques of London could certainly testify to this, because from the very start of his time abroad, the moment he laid eyes on anything beautiful, he would instantly declare that it would look perfect on his Zainah and buy it. Zafeera was quite envious because her own gifts were few, while Halima was filled with pure joy, playfully teasing both Zafeera and Faruq with her abundance.
Not long after their return, Zareena also came home on vacation. She was also preparing to start an internship at the Bauchi Radio Corporation to gain practical professional experience. The joy in the household was completely beyond words, and the compound became lively and boisterous once again. Ever since they returned, they had made Alhaji Tsoho’s house their main base. Alhaji Tsoho was entirely settled at home now, no longer traveling anywhere because his legs were frail and failing him. However, having his family around him for the holidays brought him immense happiness. Soon after Zareena's arrival, Zain joined Haddir on a trip to Abuja. Just three days into the trip, Zain found himself entirely incapable of enduring the separation from Dina. He sought her out, and after she subjected him to a fair share of cold arrogance to punish him, she finally informed him that she was currently in Kano. Haddir had no idea where Zain was constantly rushing off to. They had initially planned to spend a full week in Abuja before leaving, but Zain became completely restless and refused to stay. He announced that he was leaving immediately, telling Haddir he could follow later. With that, he abandoned him in Abuja and traveled straight to Kano to see Dina. He spent the remaining four days of his trip right there in her family home. When her stepmother, Hajiya Batula, questioned the situation, Dina simply claimed he was just a friend, and her stepmother didn't press the matter further. The two lovers spent the entire time indulging in their forbidden affairs, entirely unbothered. By the time Zain left, he still hadn't crossed paths with Dina's father, who was away in Abuja.
When Zain finally returned to Bauchi, he found that Haddir had also returned. Haddir immediately cornered him and demanded answers. Because Zain was terrible at lying and completely incapable of keeping secrets, he flatly confessed that he had gone to see Dina. That day, he and Haddir almost came to physical blows. Ultimately, their confrontation ended in a bitter, hostile standoff. The very next morning, a furious Haddir packed his bags and relocated to Abuja to stay with his parents. No one else in the family knew what had caused the sudden rift, because Haddir refused to breathe a word to anyone, and Zain kept quiet as well. However, Umma and the rest of the household were deeply puzzled as to why Haddir, who had only returned just the previous evening, would suddenly pack up at dawn and announce he was leaving. Zareena questioned him relentlessly, but he adamantly refused to reveal anything. He had already made a firm vow to himself that he would keep Zain's dark secrets hidden forever; no one would ever hear it from his mouth. He only harbored a deep hope that Zain would change his ways before a disastrous day arrived—a day when he would be forced to face bitter regret for his actions.
They enjoyed a very long vacation, spending about four months at home before finally returning abroad. This time, they wouldn't be returning until they had fully completed their respective degrees. On the day of their departure, Halima wept bitterly once again. Zain tenderly comforted her, making a solemn promise that the moment he returned for good, their marriage would be officially solemnized, and wherever his career took him, she would always travel by his side. Just two days after they arrived back in London, Dina returned as well. She had fiercely refused to stay behind in Nigeria because Zain had returned abroad. Despite her presence, Zain began deliberately distancing himself from her. Whenever he traveled down to Kano during their breaks back home to indulge in their flings, he would lie to his family, claiming he was staying at his uncle’s house in Kaduna or at Haddir's family home. Up until the time they finally returned for good, he and Haddir never managed to reconcile their friendship, maintaining a very distant, superficial relationship.
Once back abroad, they poured all their focus into their final studies, realizing they had reached the home stretch. On Halima's end, she and Zain spoke over the phone from time to time. When it came to his birthdays, she and her grandmother, Nene, never forgot the date. Even if his phone was switched off, he would always return to find a flood of heartwarming messages from them celebrating him. Back home, the family would always gather to celebrate his special day in his honor. During their sixth year in London, Halima and Zafeera enrolled in a culinary and pastry school. Halima had explicitly sought Zain's permission first, and only after he eagerly approved did she begin the program. It was a three-month course, and they successfully graduated, receiving their official certificates.
After spending a full seven years in London, they finally packed up all their belongings and returned home permanently after successfully completing their studies. Their entire family traveled to meet them to celebrate their grand graduation. Only Alhaji Tsoho and Hajiya Mama were unable to make the trip due to age and health. However, his uncle from Kaduna and Mommy Iklima, alongside his Abuja uncle and Mama Safiya, were all present. Umma was the only mother who stayed behind to manage the home. Nene was right at the forefront alongside Abba, followed by Zareena—who had already completed her degree and mandatory national youth service (NYSC) and secured a job at the Bauchi Radio Corporation. Zafeera, Halima, and Umar Faruq were all there as well. Sadiq, the eldest brother, couldn't make it as he was currently away at the University of Ibadan. Even Auntie Hannatu made the trip to London; only Auntie Rukayyah was unable to attend.
This long-awaited occasion marked the very first time Dina saw Zainah face-to-face with her own eyes. She witnessed firsthand the staggering, profound love that Zain had always claimed to hold for the girl. She saw it clearly with her own eyes. Throughout the celebrations, as Zain received a shower of prestigious awards for his exceptional academic brilliance and hard work, his Zainah was right by his side wherever he stepped. He completely refused to let go of her hand. She held onto all of his award plaques for him, and everyone present instantly recognized the famous Zainah they had spent years hearing so much about. Dina was consumed by bitter jealousy and sorrow. That day, Zain seemed to have completely forgotten that Dina even existed, his entire world revolving around his relatives and Halima. This reality only served to double the intense hatred Dina harbored for the girl. Zain didn't even remember Dina until long after the event had concluded. Late that night, he covertly slipped away to visit her at her residence. Dina aggressively refused to let him leave until she had thoroughly enticed him, and they indulged in their forbidden acts once more. Only then did she allow him to return.
They said their goodbyes, as he was scheduled to return home to Bauchi with his parents the very next morning. She pleaded with him repeatedly, begging him to make a firm promise that he would marry her, but he flatly refused. He repeatedly drilled a single, harsh truth into her ears: she was simply not wife material to him. He reminded her that he had never once told her that he loved her; their entire relationship was built purely on physical convenience, and she was the one who had actively sought it out from the very beginning, which was how they had lasted this long. Their parting was deeply bitter and strained. She wept uncontrollably as he walked away, abandoning her. By the time he returned to his family's lodgings, his parents and his Zainah had been frantically looking for him everywhere. When they questioned his absence, he fabricated a lie, claiming he had gone to say a final goodbye to some of his university friends. Everyone readily believed his explanation except for Haddir, who merely cast a cold, knowing glare at him. Zain shot a sharp look back at him before quickly grabbing his Zainah's hand, pulling her into a secluded corner where they happily chatted away, completely immersed in their deep love for each other.
BOOK 1 — Chapter 7
Zain and Haddir spent a full year in Bauchi undergoing their mandatory medical housemanship at Dr. Saulawa's Hospital. Given their family background, the ultimate responsibility for managing the entire hospital would eventually fall squarely on their shoulders. To be completely fair, they performed exceptionally well, and the medical director continuously showered their dedication with high praise. During that single year, they made immense contributions to the facility. This brought profound joy to Alhaji Tsoho's heart; he was deeply gratified that even though none of his children had specialized in neurology, he had at least successfully produced specialists in fields that would directly benefit the less privileged—namely, pediatrics and gynecology.
Upon completing their one-year internship, they both departed to pursue their respective two-year residency courses in their chosen medical fields. Zain traveled to a prestigious medical school located in the city of Mumbai, India, while Haddir departed for Cyprus. This time around, their parents were deeply surprised by their sudden decision to separate and study in entirely different countries. However, because both young men were highly independent and headstrong, no one pressed them for a detailed explanation. The truth was, during their one year working together in Bauchi, they had failed to find any real common ground or reconciliation. This was despite the fact that back in London, right as they were about to graduate, Zain had made a solemn promise to Haddir, swearing, "By God's grace, the moment we return home, I will completely stop all of my reckless behavior." Haddir had sincerely hoped he would honor his word.
However, upon their return, their starkly contrasting worldviews and lifestyles caused major friction. Haddir was constantly suspicious; the moment Zain so much as stepped out of the house, Haddir would immediately assume he was running off to engage in foolish trysts with some woman. This constant suspicion led to frequent, explosive arguments between them. This friction was the exact reason why Haddir abruptly packed his bags and moved out of Abba Usman's house, relocating back to Alhaji Tsoho's compound. From that moment on, they would only cross paths at the hospital. Whenever they saw each other, they would simply look away coldly, behaving exactly like total strangers rather than lifelong best friends who had grown up side by side since infancy.
When Abba Usman finally realized that Haddir had abandoned his household for Alhaji Tsoho's, he personally followed him there. Standing alongside Hajiya Mama and Alhaji Tsoho, Abba Usman directly questioned Haddir, asking if anyone in his house had offended or mistreated him. He reminded him, "Ever since you were a little boy, I am the one who raised you until you reached manhood. Never once in your life have I ever seen you and Zain sleep under separate roofs until now, when you are both grown men. Have you two had a major falling out?" Abba Usman asked this because he was well aware of Zain's volatile, quick-tempered nature. However, Haddir fiercely refused to reveal a single thing. He simply assured his parents that he merely preferred living at Alhaji Tsoho's house for a change, pointing out that since childhood, Alhaji Tsoho’s house had always felt like a second home to Zain, Zareena, and himself anyway—until Hajiya Mama had eventually grown tired of their childhood mischief and sent them back to their respective homes. With this explanation, Haddir successfully silenced everyone's questions. The parents didn't drop the matter because they actually believed him, but rather because both Zain and Haddir completely shut them out, refusing to let them understand the root of the problem. Consequently, the elders washed their hands of the matter, assuming whatever was going on was simply a private issue between the two brothers.
During the brief period Zain spent at home before his departure for Mumbai, he stirred up an absolute storm, aggressively demanding that his marriage to his Zainah be officially solemnized immediately. At that time, Halima, Zafeera, and Umar Faruq were all seventeen years old. Even though Zafeera was naturally much more voluptuous and physically filled out, I was significantly taller and possessed a remarkably mature, fully developed feminine physique. My hips and bust had filled out completely even before I reached this age; any onlooker could instantly tell that Allah had beautifully sculpted a true woman here. God knows that I am not fair-skinned, nor am I an extraordinary, unmatched beauty, but my facial features are perfectly proportioned and graceful. Zafeera was the fair-skinned one, while I inherited my father's beautiful dark complexion, according to Auntie Halima—whom I had never actually met in person, knowing her only through photographs. There was absolutely no doubt that if I had inherited my mother's exceptionally fair complexion, even Zafeera wouldn't have been able to outshine me in fairness.
I possessed a naturally quiet, gentle, and deeply shy demeanor—traits that Umma always reminded me were a direct inheritance from my late mother. During Zain's stay at home, seeing how much I had matured, he immediately began imposing strict rules upon me. He strictly forbade me from going out unnecessarily and mandated that I must always wear a large, proper hijab. He only permitted me to move between my regular school and my Islamic school, with Alhaji Tsoho's house being the only other exception. When our school vacation arrived, I planned to travel out of town, and Abba gave his official blessing for me to visit my mother's relatives, specifically Auntie Halima, who traveled down to check on me at every opportunity and whom I looked up to entirely as a mother figure.
Zain, however, vehemently opposed the trip. He stubbornly insisted that I must wait until the weekend so he could personally drive me there and bring me back himself. It took Umma explicitly involving Abba, who thoroughly scolded Zain, before he finally backed down and reluctantly allowed me to go. Even so, he was so deeply furious that he refused to even say goodbye to me, storming out of the house to the hospital instead. While away, I repeatedly tried calling him using Nene's phone. The moment he picked up and recognized my voice, he would instantly hang up the phone. I called back countless times, but he flatly refused to answer. Zafeera offered to accompany me on the trip, and so we traveled out of town together.
We spent ten wonderful days in the town of Gada at Auntie Halima’s house, fully enjoying the peaceful, rustic rhythm of rural life. We spent our days visiting various relatives and family friends, and everyone we met was profoundly amazed by how beautifully I had grown and matured into a proper young woman. During our stay, a childhood playmate of mine named Hisham caught sight of me and declared his love for me. Hisham was currently in his final year of studies at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. When he initially approached me with his intentions, I directly informed him that I already had a fiancé waiting for me, but he adamantly refused to accept it. He went so far as to approach Auntie Halima, earnestly begging her to intervene on his behalf because his love for me was entirely genuine. Auntie Halima didn't hesitate for a single second; she flatly told him the absolute truth—that I already had a husband ordained for me before I was even born into this world, and he was currently away waiting for me. With those definitive words, Auntie Halima firmly closed the door on Hisham. Following that incident, both Zafeera and I found ourselves facing romantic advances from several other local young men as well. This influx of male attention prompted us to hastily cut our trip short and return home ahead of schedule, solely because we were well aware of Zain's volatile, intensely jealous nature. On top of that, he was still actively throwing a tantrum and hadn't checked on me even once, completely refusing to call throughout our entire stay in Gada.
The moment we returned home, a highly amused Zafeera immediately ran her mouth, gleefully narrating everything that had transpired in Gada to Umma and Nene. Unfortunately, her words reached Zain's ears. That very day, he threw an absolute tantrum, storming out of the house and going straight to Alhaji Tsoho’s compound. He sat before the family patriarch and passionately demanded, once again, that his marriage to his woman must be tied immediately. Alhaji Tsoho spent a long time patiently calming him down, promising him that he would personally gather all of his fathers to discuss the matter, and whatever decision the elders collectively reached would be final. With that solemn promise, Zain finally relented and dropped the issue.
Two days later, Alhaji Tsoho convened a meeting with all of his sons—a family gathering they typically held every two months to deliberate on matters affecting the household. He officially brought up Zain’s urgent request. Before anyone else could even utter a word, his uncle from Kaduna (Baban Kaduna) fiercely shut it down, declaring it entirely impossible. He argued, "How old is Zain anyway? He is only twenty-seven years old! Furthermore, he hasn't even fully completed his medical specialization. What assets has he accumulated to sustain a household?" He then launched into a stern lecture, declaring that he would personally confront Zain and order him to drop the matter immediately. He emphasized that all of them—including Haddir—must return abroad immediately to complete their two-year residency courses. Hearing this reasonable argument, the entire family unanimously agreed with his stance. Baban Kaduna then personally cornered Zain and thoroughly reprimanded him, effectively forcing him back into line. He warned him sternly that if he continued to cause any more trouble, he would ensure that he never married Halima even after she completed her university degree. Knowing that Baban Kaduna was a man of absolute, uncompromising resolve, Zain completely dropped the subject. Zareena and Haddir couldn't help but mock him, thoroughly amused by how pathetic and defeated the usually arrogant Zain now looked.
Petty as he was, Zain shifted the blame for his defeat onto his Zainah. He went nearly a full week completely ignoring me; whenever I tried to talk to him, he would coldly turn his face away. He claimed that I should have approached Abba ourselves to declare that I also wanted the marriage to happen right away. When I told him that I could never muster up the courage to say such a thing to our father, his anger intensified. It took an immense amount of gentle coaxing and pleading on my part before he finally softened up, forgave me, and allowed the matter to pass.
Sometime after these events, the family traveled down to Kano to attend a wedding. It was the wedding ceremony of Auntie Rukayyah’s eldest daughter, named Asma'u. The main reason I traveled along for this specific wedding was because Zain himself was attending the marriage solemnization.