Inside the family house, Amani was quietly drawing water from the well to bathe when she heard her uncle Malam Idrisu's voice calling from the front entrance. "Bring the kola nuts and sweets to Talatu's room, let her share them." Then he called out, "Talatu! Where are you? Uwa's marriage has just been officiated with this boy, Mukhtar. Send her to me, I have her bride price."
Talatu, adjusting her scarf, stepped out of her room and saw Amani standing by the well. "She's right there," she said.
"Oh, so you ignored me, Uwa? Leave that water and come inside to collect your bride price!" Malam Idrisu barked.
Amani stood frozen, a lump rising in her throat, suffocating her. She didn’t understand what her uncle meant. Then suddenly, she dropped the bucket into the well with a loud splash and stormed to the room she'd been staying in. She began packing her belongings into her travel bag.
Meanwhile, Uncle Idi waited, ready to hand her the bride price. But Amani slipped out of the house unnoticed. Talatu had gone back inside, preparing to inform family and friends about the wedding and invite them for the celebration the next day.
The Discussion With the Groom
In another room, Hon. Usman (Daddy) and Mukhtar were discussing. Hon. Usman spoke with a soft, emotional voice, filled with love for his daughter, Amani.
He said, "Mukhtar, I only ask one thing: be kind and patient with Amani. She doesn’t know hardship. Don’t let her suffer. Take her anywhere you go in life, and protect her. I wouldn’t have chosen you if I didn’t believe you could handle her. Treat her well, even after my death."
He continued, "Your uncle Idrisu insists we meet your family before everything is finalized. I personally don’t mind, but he deserves respect. Let’s honour his wish."
Mukhtar sat silent, overwhelmed. Amani was now his wife by Islamic rites. It was hard to believe. He wasn't sure how to feel about her in this new role. Still, he acknowledged Hon. Usman had taken a great risk, trusting him despite not knowing his background.
Mukhtar’s Secret
Hon. Usman noticed Mukhtar's silence and addressed him. "If you don’t want to return home, I won’t force you. But now you have responsibilities. You can't keep secrets from me. If something bothers you, tell me."
Mukhtar sighed and finally spoke. "Please, let us postpone the visit to Diffa. I want to fulfill my promise to Amani first by taking her to her mother. I promise, once we return, we’ll visit my family in Diffa together. I’m sorry I never told you my parents are alive. But I never lied either. You assumed they weren’t."
Hon. Usman was relieved. "Take your time, Mukhtar. I agree. Take her to Sierra Leone to find her mother. I’ll give you her maternal address. I had planned a big celebration before you two move in together, but this is more important. Once you return, we can do the ceremony with her maternal and paternal relatives."
He added, "Be patient with Amani. Please. Teach her what is right. You’re the only one I trust to shape her future."
Then he went inside and told Amani to prepare for the trip. He had already booked their flight to Sierra Leone.
Amani Disappears
When Mukhtar went to deliver Hon. Usman's message, he couldn’t find Amani. He sent a boy, Isyaka, to search the house, but she was gone. Talatu confirmed she had last seen Amani at the well after the wedding announcement. Amani hadn’t responded to the bride price summons and had disappeared.
Mukhtar was furious. He searched the entire compound but found no trace of her. His instincts told him she overheard the marriage news and ran away.
He was deeply hurt. What had he done to deserve such hate from Amani? Was it simply because he was considered a mere houseboy by her?
The Real Amani
Amani, now inside a commercial Sharon vehicle heading to Bauchi, leaned against the window crying. The tears wouldn't stop. It was rare for her to cry, but now, feeling utterly betrayed by Daddy, she broke.
She had always seen herself as strong, capable of anything men could do. But this? Being married off like that to Mukhtar?
She felt her prestige crash. Once known as Tafisu, meaning "you surpass all other women," she now felt beneath them. Her father had handed her over to a man she saw as beneath her status, someone she believed she could never respect or control.
She was certain Daddy had paid her bride price himself. And she knew Mukhtar would never have proposed on his own. Their dislike for each other was mutual.
What pained her most was Mukhtar’s calm nature, which always unsettled her. She couldn’t provoke or manipulate him the way she did others. His calm demeanor, lack of interest in flattery, and high self-respect irritated her.
From her youth, Amani had been raised to rule. Hon. Usman spoiled her, raising her to believe she was above everyone. She expected this dominance to continue into her marriage.
But with Mukhtar? She would have to submit.
No. She couldn't accept that.
Daddy had humiliated her, and she was done. She decided to leave both him and Mukhtar behind. Let Daddy find another daughter for his precious Mukhtar. She wished she had been married to Alhaji Sadi instead—an older man who was easier to manipulate.
With Mukhtar, she knew she could never win.
She cried harder, realizing all her dreams for marriage had been crushed. Mukhtar had no ego for her to shatter, and no weakness she could exploit. He was immune to her charm, and that alone made her feel powerless.
She couldn’t even figure out where to go next. But one thing was certain: she needed to find her mother. So she headed to Bauchi to stay with Hamida, her only friend. From there, she would find a way to Sierra Leone.
She knew Hamida would try to talk her out of it, insisting on obeying parents and submitting to destiny. But Amani had had enough. This was her fight now.
And she would rather lose it her way than live under a man she couldn't conquer.
Description
The Shocking Wedding Announcement
Inside the family house, Amani was quietly drawing water from the well to bathe when she heard her uncle Malam Idrisu's voice calling from the front entrance. "Bring the kola nuts and sweets to Talatu's room, let her share them." Then he called out, "Talatu! Where are you? Uwa's marriage has just been officiated with this boy, Mukhtar. Send her to me, I have her bride price."
Talatu, adjusting her scarf, stepped out of her room and saw Amani standing by the well. "She's right there," she said.
"Oh, so you ignored me, Uwa? Leave that water and come inside to collect your bride price!" Malam Idrisu barked.
Amani stood frozen, a lump rising in her throat, suffocating her. She didn’t understand what her uncle meant. Then suddenly, she dropped the bucket into the well with a loud splash and stormed to the room she'd been staying in. She began packing her belongings into her travel bag.
Meanwhile, Uncle Idi waited, ready to hand her the bride price. But Amani slipped out of the house unnoticed. Talatu had gone back inside, preparing to inform family and friends about the wedding and invite them for the celebration the next day.
The Discussion With the Groom
In another room, Hon. Usman (Daddy) and Mukhtar were discussing. Hon. Usman spoke with a soft, emotional voice, filled with love for his daughter, Amani.
He said, "Mukhtar, I only ask one thing: be kind and patient with Amani. She doesn’t know hardship. Don’t let her suffer. Take her anywhere you go in life, and protect her. I wouldn’t have chosen you if I didn’t believe you could handle her. Treat her well, even after my death."
He continued, "Your uncle Idrisu insists we meet your family before everything is finalized. I personally don’t mind, but he deserves respect. Let’s honour his wish."
Mukhtar sat silent, overwhelmed. Amani was now his wife by Islamic rites. It was hard to believe. He wasn't sure how to feel about her in this new role. Still, he acknowledged Hon. Usman had taken a great risk, trusting him despite not knowing his background.
Mukhtar’s Secret
Hon. Usman noticed Mukhtar's silence and addressed him. "If you don’t want to return home, I won’t force you. But now you have responsibilities. You can't keep secrets from me. If something bothers you, tell me."
Mukhtar sighed and finally spoke. "Please, let us postpone the visit to Diffa. I want to fulfill my promise to Amani first by taking her to her mother. I promise, once we return, we’ll visit my family in Diffa together. I’m sorry I never told you my parents are alive. But I never lied either. You assumed they weren’t."
Hon. Usman was relieved. "Take your time, Mukhtar. I agree. Take her to Sierra Leone to find her mother. I’ll give you her maternal address. I had planned a big celebration before you two move in together, but this is more important. Once you return, we can do the ceremony with her maternal and paternal relatives."
He added, "Be patient with Amani. Please. Teach her what is right. You’re the only one I trust to shape her future."
Then he went inside and told Amani to prepare for the trip. He had already booked their flight to Sierra Leone.
Amani Disappears
When Mukhtar went to deliver Hon. Usman's message, he couldn’t find Amani. He sent a boy, Isyaka, to search the house, but she was gone. Talatu confirmed she had last seen Amani at the well after the wedding announcement. Amani hadn’t responded to the bride price summons and had disappeared.
Mukhtar was furious. He searched the entire compound but found no trace of her. His instincts told him she overheard the marriage news and ran away.
He was deeply hurt. What had he done to deserve such hate from Amani? Was it simply because he was considered a mere houseboy by her?
The Real Amani
Amani, now inside a commercial Sharon vehicle heading to Bauchi, leaned against the window crying. The tears wouldn't stop. It was rare for her to cry, but now, feeling utterly betrayed by Daddy, she broke.
She had always seen herself as strong, capable of anything men could do. But this? Being married off like that to Mukhtar?
She felt her prestige crash. Once known as Tafisu, meaning "you surpass all other women," she now felt beneath them. Her father had handed her over to a man she saw as beneath her status, someone she believed she could never respect or control.
She was certain Daddy had paid her bride price himself. And she knew Mukhtar would never have proposed on his own. Their dislike for each other was mutual.
What pained her most was Mukhtar’s calm nature, which always unsettled her. She couldn’t provoke or manipulate him the way she did others. His calm demeanor, lack of interest in flattery, and high self-respect irritated her.
From her youth, Amani had been raised to rule. Hon. Usman spoiled her, raising her to believe she was above everyone. She expected this dominance to continue into her marriage.
But with Mukhtar? She would have to submit.
No. She couldn't accept that.
Daddy had humiliated her, and she was done. She decided to leave both him and Mukhtar behind. Let Daddy find another daughter for his precious Mukhtar. She wished she had been married to Alhaji Sadi instead—an older man who was easier to manipulate.
With Mukhtar, she knew she could never win.
She cried harder, realizing all her dreams for marriage had been crushed. Mukhtar had no ego for her to shatter, and no weakness she could exploit. He was immune to her charm, and that alone made her feel powerless.
She couldn’t even figure out where to go next. But one thing was certain: she needed to find her mother. So she headed to Bauchi to stay with Hamida, her only friend. From there, she would find a way to Sierra Leone.
She knew Hamida would try to talk her out of it, insisting on obeying parents and submitting to destiny. But Amani had had enough. This was her fight now.
And she would rather lose it her way than live under a man she couldn't conquer.