Fulani Maryama twisted her face in anger, for she was greatly offended by Jakadiya. She felt as though Jakadiya had begun to disrespect her, so she frowned even more and said:
"Jakadiya, your arrogance has gone too far. Don’t let our relationship turn into mockery. Restrain your tongue, otherwise, I swear I will deal with you."
Jakadiya sniffed in contempt, eyeing Fulani Maryama’s appearance—her unattractive looks, with a bulging forehead like a ship docking at a port, and wide, flat ears. Inside, she marveled at how Sarki Aminullah could have chosen Fulani Maryama as his wife—his first wife at that.
Noticing the prolonged stare, Fulani Maryama became uneasy and snapped:
"What’s the matter? Why are you staring at me as if you’ve seen a new creature?"
Jakadiya replied:
"Well, Maryama, what else is left? You and I know each other’s deepest secrets—yours and mine. There’s no superiority you can claim over me now. Let us simply continue with our dealings to find solutions for ourselves, because I swear, I’m tired of forcing false smiles."
Maryama remained silent, reflecting on Jakadiya’s words. Indeed, there was truth in them, but Jakadiya’s lack of deference to her rank soured her mood.
Stern-faced, she warned:
"But if you keep treating me like this, don’t you think people will notice? You know in this palace, everything is scrutinized. If you continue, accusations will surely fall upon us. You’d better restrain yourself. Remember, even a crooked tree is still taller than the shrubs beneath it. I am the King’s wife, and you are merely Jakadiya. Big is big—even in a house of wine."
Tired of Maryama’s posturing, Jakadiya replied dryly:
"Fine, I hear you. But still, find us a solution. I’m deeply troubled."
Maryama answered:
"You’re not the only one, Jakadiya. I thought the departure of that girl would bring me relief, but you can see how things are. Maybe we should return to Marduska and tell him the situation we’re facing."
Jakadiya stretched out her legs and said:
"Yes, that’s exactly what’s been on my mind day and night. God knows, he’s been a huge blessing to us."
Maryama agreed, and the two continued to lament their plight together.
Zaliha’s Visit to the King
Standing before her mirror, Fulani Zaliha sprayed herself with exquisite perfumes. Though she looked stunning, tears welled in her eyes as her heart softened with pity for herself. Slowly, she walked toward her chamber.
Jakadiya entered, bowed respectfully, and said:
"May Allah protect you. Permission has already been granted—you may see Takawa anytime, he awaits your visit."
Zaliha nodded:
"Thank you, Jakadiya. If Allah spares us until morning, send someone to collect honey and sugar on my behalf."
Jakadiya fell prostrate in gratitude:
"All thanks be to you, Queen of Queens, the star among stars. Daughter of a king, granddaughter of kings, wife of a king—and by Allah’s will, mother of a future king. You are like milk—a child who tastes it will always want more. May Allah guard our Prince Saif, grant him more health. Your joy is Takawa’s joy, your gold shines brighter than theirs…"
Zaliha cut her off:
"Jakadiya, thank you. Send the message tomorrow."
She stood up and left. Jakadiya pouted, glaring after her:
"This girl is unbearable. She won’t even allow a little flattery. Always locked away like a hypocrite."
Later, Zaliha made her way toward King Aminullah’s chambers, her servants trailing behind. She dismissed them before stepping forward, her heart pounding. The King cleared his throat, signaling he had heard someone at the door.
She entered respectfully, greeted him, and sat upon a soft mat:
"Peace be upon you, Your Majesty."
He gazed at her, feeling her absence deeply in his heart. Inside, he wondered:
"Why does Zaliha hold such a place within me? Aside from her attempted assassination plot, what fault of hers can I hold against her?"
When he remained silent, she pressed:
"I hope I find you well?"
Aminullah sighed:
"Zaliha, is it really you today? How long has it been since you came here?"
She forced a smile:
"May Allah protect you. I only came because of something I’ve heard whispered about."
The King also smiled, realizing she still bore a grudge against him. Inwardly, he thought:
"Ah, women! Their minds are always different. They strike you, then forbid you to cry. I was the one wronged, yet I’m the one she’s angry with."
He rose from where he reclined and asked:
"What rumor have you heard, Zaliha?"
She replied:
"I heard whispers that the girl Maleek left with was not his wife. In fact, they say she has never been married at all."
The Return of the Dead and Fulani Babba’s Curse
Maleek was shocked, for just the sight of Takawa’s return confirmed the troubling rumors were true. Stunned, he muttered:
"My God! What is happening in this kingdom? Since when does a dead woman rise again? Are these jinn playing with our minds?"
He rushed forward and was met by King Abdallah himself. Before them sat a woman, struggling for breath—none other than the Queen who had died over twenty years ago. Maleek froze as she raised her head, locked eyes with him, and stretched out her hand:
"Is this Audul Maleek? So, I get to see you once more in life?"
His heart sank, his tongue heavy.
Takawa hurried over, clearing space for her. She spoke again:
"Audullahi, are you not happy to see me? Do you know who restored me? Your wife wronged me for years, but a young girl freed me. She called herself Muhaibish. Between me and your wife—it is only Allah who will judge. But I command you: divorce her with three pronouncements! If not, I swear I will curse you!"
King Abdallah trembled, especially when she mentioned the name Muhaibish. He silently repeated it, fearing it might all be the work of jinn. Angrily, he ordered his guards:
"Why do you stand there idle? Take her to the inner chamber immediately, and summon Malam Liman!"
Terrified, they carried her away.
As Abdallah turned to leave, he nearly stumbled over Hansatu, the wife of Waziri, who threw herself at his feet wailing:
"Alas! My life is over! They’ve killed him, Takawa! Just moments ago, we were with him—now he is gone. They’ve murdered him, I swear to God!"
A guard barked at her, but Takawa silenced him and asked gently:
"What happened, Hansatu?"
Weeping, she replied:
"We were sitting with Rafi’u’s father when suddenly blood gushed between his legs. He begged forgiveness from Muhaibish, saying she had tricked his heart but gave him a chance to repent. Then his mouth twisted and tore apart as if cut by a knife. This can only be sorcery!"
She collapsed again in grief.
Even Abdallah shed tears, whispering instructions for women to comfort her. Then he ordered his men to prepare the body for burial.
Meanwhile, Fulani Babba wandered restlessly, consumed by the shocking news. She muttered aloud:
"Is this really the Shukran I knew? Why has her return become my curse? Surely, there’s a hidden truth here, and I must stop her—no matter what it takes."
Suddenly, she felt something crawling over her body. She tried brushing it off, but nothing was there. It spread like a lizard’s crawl, gnawing at her flesh. Then—like thunder—she heard the voice of an old man:
"You broke our covenant. Do not blame anyone for what follows. Remember our pact from years past."
Silence.
Looking down, she saw foul-smelling white fluid dripping from her. The crawling sensation grew worse, and she ran screaming into the palace, tearing her clothes in madness:
"Who are you to ruin my plans? Did you say your name is Muhaibish? Are you not Shukura?"
Her screams grew wild:
"Forgive me, Shukura! It was a mistake! I repent! Please forgive me! Oh, my God!"
She tore away her garments until she stormed into King Abdallah’s palace—half-naked, shrieking like a madwoman.
Description
The Clash Between Fulani Maryama and Jakadiya
Fulani Maryama twisted her face in anger, for she was greatly offended by Jakadiya. She felt as though Jakadiya had begun to disrespect her, so she frowned even more and said:
"Jakadiya, your arrogance has gone too far. Don’t let our relationship turn into mockery. Restrain your tongue, otherwise, I swear I will deal with you."
Jakadiya sniffed in contempt, eyeing Fulani Maryama’s appearance—her unattractive looks, with a bulging forehead like a ship docking at a port, and wide, flat ears. Inside, she marveled at how Sarki Aminullah could have chosen Fulani Maryama as his wife—his first wife at that.
Noticing the prolonged stare, Fulani Maryama became uneasy and snapped:
"What’s the matter? Why are you staring at me as if you’ve seen a new creature?"
Jakadiya replied:
"Well, Maryama, what else is left? You and I know each other’s deepest secrets—yours and mine. There’s no superiority you can claim over me now. Let us simply continue with our dealings to find solutions for ourselves, because I swear, I’m tired of forcing false smiles."
Maryama remained silent, reflecting on Jakadiya’s words. Indeed, there was truth in them, but Jakadiya’s lack of deference to her rank soured her mood.
Stern-faced, she warned:
"But if you keep treating me like this, don’t you think people will notice? You know in this palace, everything is scrutinized. If you continue, accusations will surely fall upon us. You’d better restrain yourself. Remember, even a crooked tree is still taller than the shrubs beneath it. I am the King’s wife, and you are merely Jakadiya. Big is big—even in a house of wine."
Tired of Maryama’s posturing, Jakadiya replied dryly:
"Fine, I hear you. But still, find us a solution. I’m deeply troubled."
Maryama answered:
"You’re not the only one, Jakadiya. I thought the departure of that girl would bring me relief, but you can see how things are. Maybe we should return to Marduska and tell him the situation we’re facing."
Jakadiya stretched out her legs and said:
"Yes, that’s exactly what’s been on my mind day and night. God knows, he’s been a huge blessing to us."
Maryama agreed, and the two continued to lament their plight together.
Zaliha’s Visit to the King
Standing before her mirror, Fulani Zaliha sprayed herself with exquisite perfumes. Though she looked stunning, tears welled in her eyes as her heart softened with pity for herself. Slowly, she walked toward her chamber.
Jakadiya entered, bowed respectfully, and said:
"May Allah protect you. Permission has already been granted—you may see Takawa anytime, he awaits your visit."
Zaliha nodded:
"Thank you, Jakadiya. If Allah spares us until morning, send someone to collect honey and sugar on my behalf."
Jakadiya fell prostrate in gratitude:
"All thanks be to you, Queen of Queens, the star among stars. Daughter of a king, granddaughter of kings, wife of a king—and by Allah’s will, mother of a future king. You are like milk—a child who tastes it will always want more. May Allah guard our Prince Saif, grant him more health. Your joy is Takawa’s joy, your gold shines brighter than theirs…"
Zaliha cut her off:
"Jakadiya, thank you. Send the message tomorrow."
She stood up and left. Jakadiya pouted, glaring after her:
"This girl is unbearable. She won’t even allow a little flattery. Always locked away like a hypocrite."
Later, Zaliha made her way toward King Aminullah’s chambers, her servants trailing behind. She dismissed them before stepping forward, her heart pounding. The King cleared his throat, signaling he had heard someone at the door.
She entered respectfully, greeted him, and sat upon a soft mat:
"Peace be upon you, Your Majesty."
He gazed at her, feeling her absence deeply in his heart. Inside, he wondered:
"Why does Zaliha hold such a place within me? Aside from her attempted assassination plot, what fault of hers can I hold against her?"
When he remained silent, she pressed:
"I hope I find you well?"
Aminullah sighed:
"Zaliha, is it really you today? How long has it been since you came here?"
She forced a smile:
"May Allah protect you. I only came because of something I’ve heard whispered about."
The King also smiled, realizing she still bore a grudge against him. Inwardly, he thought:
"Ah, women! Their minds are always different. They strike you, then forbid you to cry. I was the one wronged, yet I’m the one she’s angry with."
He rose from where he reclined and asked:
"What rumor have you heard, Zaliha?"
She replied:
"I heard whispers that the girl Maleek left with was not his wife. In fact, they say she has never been married at all."
The Return of the Dead and Fulani Babba’s Curse
Maleek was shocked, for just the sight of Takawa’s return confirmed the troubling rumors were true. Stunned, he muttered:
"My God! What is happening in this kingdom? Since when does a dead woman rise again? Are these jinn playing with our minds?"
He rushed forward and was met by King Abdallah himself. Before them sat a woman, struggling for breath—none other than the Queen who had died over twenty years ago. Maleek froze as she raised her head, locked eyes with him, and stretched out her hand:
"Is this Audul Maleek? So, I get to see you once more in life?"
His heart sank, his tongue heavy.
Takawa hurried over, clearing space for her. She spoke again:
"Audullahi, are you not happy to see me? Do you know who restored me? Your wife wronged me for years, but a young girl freed me. She called herself Muhaibish. Between me and your wife—it is only Allah who will judge. But I command you: divorce her with three pronouncements! If not, I swear I will curse you!"
King Abdallah trembled, especially when she mentioned the name Muhaibish. He silently repeated it, fearing it might all be the work of jinn. Angrily, he ordered his guards:
"Why do you stand there idle? Take her to the inner chamber immediately, and summon Malam Liman!"
Terrified, they carried her away.
As Abdallah turned to leave, he nearly stumbled over Hansatu, the wife of Waziri, who threw herself at his feet wailing:
"Alas! My life is over! They’ve killed him, Takawa! Just moments ago, we were with him—now he is gone. They’ve murdered him, I swear to God!"
A guard barked at her, but Takawa silenced him and asked gently:
"What happened, Hansatu?"
Weeping, she replied:
"We were sitting with Rafi’u’s father when suddenly blood gushed between his legs. He begged forgiveness from Muhaibish, saying she had tricked his heart but gave him a chance to repent. Then his mouth twisted and tore apart as if cut by a knife. This can only be sorcery!"
She collapsed again in grief.
Even Abdallah shed tears, whispering instructions for women to comfort her. Then he ordered his men to prepare the body for burial.
Meanwhile, Fulani Babba wandered restlessly, consumed by the shocking news. She muttered aloud:
"Is this really the Shukran I knew? Why has her return become my curse? Surely, there’s a hidden truth here, and I must stop her—no matter what it takes."
Suddenly, she felt something crawling over her body. She tried brushing it off, but nothing was there. It spread like a lizard’s crawl, gnawing at her flesh. Then—like thunder—she heard the voice of an old man:
"You broke our covenant. Do not blame anyone for what follows. Remember our pact from years past."
Silence.
Looking down, she saw foul-smelling white fluid dripping from her. The crawling sensation grew worse, and she ran screaming into the palace, tearing her clothes in madness:
"Who are you to ruin my plans? Did you say your name is Muhaibish? Are you not Shukura?"
Her screams grew wild:
"Forgive me, Shukura! It was a mistake! I repent! Please forgive me! Oh, my God!"
She tore away her garments until she stormed into King Abdallah’s palace—half-naked, shrieking like a madwoman.