The journey was quite long as they moved stealthily toward the low fence behind the house. Fatima (Fatuu) helped Haulat climb over, then handed her their bags before climbing over herself. Once they were both over, they quickly grabbed their belongings and hurried away.
Haulat was terrified, her heart racing with fear and her mind consumed with prayer. The barking of dogs in the darkness only made her more anxious. On the other hand, Fatuu showed no fear—her only concern was getting out of the village. She led the way with the flashlight on her phone, switching it on and off to avoid detection.
Trying to Catch a Ride Before Dawn
Luckily, they reached the outskirts of the village just as the call for the dawn (Subh) prayer began. They stood by the roadside, hoping to find transport, but none came even after a long wait. Fatuu grew increasingly worried; morning was approaching, and she feared they might be spotted. Haulat, exhausted, crouched on the ground, her heart pounding.
Fatuu urged her to muster the strength to move before someone saw them. With difficulty, Haulat got up. Fatuu balanced her trolley on her head and took Haulat's bag in her hand. When Haulat offered to carry her own bag, Fatuu refused.
A Chance Encounter with a Cattle Cart Driver
As they continued walking, a cattle cart approached. Fatuu quickly stopped the driver, but he ignored her. She rushed in front of the cart and pleaded, “Please stop.” The man, speaking in Fulfulde, asked her to step aside. Realizing he didn’t understand Hausa, Fatuu switched to Fulfulde, begging him to help take them to Jimeta.
He looked at her suspiciously despite the darkness and said he wouldn’t take them—it wasn't his route. She pleaded further, swearing they were just regular people returning to their town. He asked how much they would pay. She offered ₦3,000, which surprised him. When she confirmed the offer, he agreed.
Overjoyed, Fatuu thanked him, but he dismissed her gratitude, saying payment was enough. She helped Haulat climb onto the cart, loaded their things, and they rode off.
Arrival in Jimeta and a New Hurdle
They reached Jimeta during the early morning prayer. The driver dropped them off and said they should get down. Fatuu begged him to take them to the motor park, claiming she would withdraw the money there. The man, now suspicious, asked if they really had the money. Fatuu insisted the money was in her bank account.
He finally agreed but demanded an extra ₦2,000. Fatuu quickly agreed. Fortunately, there was a POS agent at the park. She withdrew the remaining money—₦5,000—and paid the man, who blessed them joyfully.
Finding Transport to Katsina
They found a direct vehicle going to Katsina and boarded. Their luggage was loaded, and they took seats at the back. As they sat quietly, hearts pounding, both feared they might still be caught. They kept praying silently.
When the vehicle took too long to fill up, Fatuu suggested they switch to a vehicle heading to Kano instead. Haulat agreed. After some insistence, they got their bags and joined a vehicle to Kano, which was almost full. Within moments, it departed, prompting Fatuu to smile faintly, grateful for their luck.
Back at Home: The Realization
When Yadikko came into their room that morning, she didn’t notice their absence. She assumed they had gone for prayer and returned to sleep. After preparing breakfast, she asked Mino to wake them up for food.
But when Mino entered the room and saw no one, she returned and informed Yadikko. Still unconcerned, Yadikko thought they might have gone to visit Amadu. After Mino left for school, Yadikko finished cleaning and noticed they still hadn't returned. Concern began to creep in.
The Truth Unfolds
She searched the room, then the entire house, subtly asking others if they had seen them—so as not to raise suspicion. When she returned to the room and sat down in thought, her eyes caught Fatima’s suitcase. It hit her—there was supposed to be two trolleys, not one. And Haulat’s bag, which she herself had kept aside, was gone.
Her heart skipped. Could it be that they had run away?
She began trembling, barely able to walk back to the sitting room, where she collapsed onto a chair, lost in thought.
Safe in Kano – But Still Hiding
By noon (Azahar), they arrived safely in Kano. Haulat was extremely tired. At the park, Fatuu bought food. After eating, they boarded another vehicle to Katsina. They didn’t waste any time. The vehicles were readily available.
Back home, Yadikko tried calling Fatuu’s number, but it was switched off. She asked Kamalu to try as well, but he received the same response.
A Message is Sent – The Shocking Revelation
Later, as they traveled toward Katsina, Fatuu switched on her phone. Worried about how Yadikko must be feeling, she sent a message to Kamalu, saying she didn’t want the marriage and was going back home.
Then she quickly switched the phone off again.
Kamalu was with Amadu when the message came in. He read it with shock, and Amadu, noticing his expression, asked what was wrong. He handed him the phone. Amadu read the message, stunned.
The Family Is Informed
Together, they rushed home to inform Yadikko. She was already deeply worried and had been crying. Mino and others had returned from school. Yadikko, seeing the boys enter, asked if the girls had returned.
Kamalu shook his head, and then relayed the message from Fatuu. Yadikko cried out in distress. “I knew it! I suspected this would happen.”
Everyone was now in shock.
Calling Their Father
Calls continued, but Fatuu’s phone remained off. Yadikko called Fatuu’s father and explained everything. He was upset she didn’t inform him earlier. She told him she hadn’t suspected they had run away.
He said he was on his way immediately.
Father Arrives – Heartbroken and Angry
When their father arrived, worry was written all over his face. Yadikko explained everything again. In shock, he sat down, unable to stand properly. His knees were weak. Mino and the others were sent away as the situation grew heavier.
Kamalu showed him the message. With trembling hands, he read it, then looked up, deeply shaken.
A Father’s Pain
He began to speak, “Why would Inna Wuro (Fatuu’s nickname) do this to me? If she didn’t want the marriage, she should’ve said so from the beginning. Why wait until now, when everything is ready?”
Tears rolled down his face. Yadikko tried to console him, saying it wasn’t Fatuu’s fault, but Zakiyya and others who poisoned her mind against the marriage.
She revealed everything—even what Khalid had done to her. He once drugged her drink with sleeping pills at his farm. She confessed it all, shocking everyone, especially Amadu and their father, who stared at her in disbelief.
Their father, overwhelmed, finally realized the boy Khalid hadn’t changed after all. What was supposed to be a marriage celebration was now chaos, and everyone was left to wonder what would happen next.
Description
A Daring Escape in the Dark
The journey was quite long as they moved stealthily toward the low fence behind the house. Fatima (Fatuu) helped Haulat climb over, then handed her their bags before climbing over herself. Once they were both over, they quickly grabbed their belongings and hurried away.
Haulat was terrified, her heart racing with fear and her mind consumed with prayer. The barking of dogs in the darkness only made her more anxious. On the other hand, Fatuu showed no fear—her only concern was getting out of the village. She led the way with the flashlight on her phone, switching it on and off to avoid detection.
Trying to Catch a Ride Before Dawn
Luckily, they reached the outskirts of the village just as the call for the dawn (Subh) prayer began. They stood by the roadside, hoping to find transport, but none came even after a long wait. Fatuu grew increasingly worried; morning was approaching, and she feared they might be spotted. Haulat, exhausted, crouched on the ground, her heart pounding.
Fatuu urged her to muster the strength to move before someone saw them. With difficulty, Haulat got up. Fatuu balanced her trolley on her head and took Haulat's bag in her hand. When Haulat offered to carry her own bag, Fatuu refused.
A Chance Encounter with a Cattle Cart Driver
As they continued walking, a cattle cart approached. Fatuu quickly stopped the driver, but he ignored her. She rushed in front of the cart and pleaded, “Please stop.” The man, speaking in Fulfulde, asked her to step aside. Realizing he didn’t understand Hausa, Fatuu switched to Fulfulde, begging him to help take them to Jimeta.
He looked at her suspiciously despite the darkness and said he wouldn’t take them—it wasn't his route. She pleaded further, swearing they were just regular people returning to their town. He asked how much they would pay. She offered ₦3,000, which surprised him. When she confirmed the offer, he agreed.
Overjoyed, Fatuu thanked him, but he dismissed her gratitude, saying payment was enough. She helped Haulat climb onto the cart, loaded their things, and they rode off.
Arrival in Jimeta and a New Hurdle
They reached Jimeta during the early morning prayer. The driver dropped them off and said they should get down. Fatuu begged him to take them to the motor park, claiming she would withdraw the money there. The man, now suspicious, asked if they really had the money. Fatuu insisted the money was in her bank account.
He finally agreed but demanded an extra ₦2,000. Fatuu quickly agreed. Fortunately, there was a POS agent at the park. She withdrew the remaining money—₦5,000—and paid the man, who blessed them joyfully.
Finding Transport to Katsina
They found a direct vehicle going to Katsina and boarded. Their luggage was loaded, and they took seats at the back. As they sat quietly, hearts pounding, both feared they might still be caught. They kept praying silently.
When the vehicle took too long to fill up, Fatuu suggested they switch to a vehicle heading to Kano instead. Haulat agreed. After some insistence, they got their bags and joined a vehicle to Kano, which was almost full. Within moments, it departed, prompting Fatuu to smile faintly, grateful for their luck.
Back at Home: The Realization
When Yadikko came into their room that morning, she didn’t notice their absence. She assumed they had gone for prayer and returned to sleep. After preparing breakfast, she asked Mino to wake them up for food.
But when Mino entered the room and saw no one, she returned and informed Yadikko. Still unconcerned, Yadikko thought they might have gone to visit Amadu. After Mino left for school, Yadikko finished cleaning and noticed they still hadn't returned. Concern began to creep in.
The Truth Unfolds
She searched the room, then the entire house, subtly asking others if they had seen them—so as not to raise suspicion. When she returned to the room and sat down in thought, her eyes caught Fatima’s suitcase. It hit her—there was supposed to be two trolleys, not one. And Haulat’s bag, which she herself had kept aside, was gone.
Her heart skipped. Could it be that they had run away?
She began trembling, barely able to walk back to the sitting room, where she collapsed onto a chair, lost in thought.
Safe in Kano – But Still Hiding
By noon (Azahar), they arrived safely in Kano. Haulat was extremely tired. At the park, Fatuu bought food. After eating, they boarded another vehicle to Katsina. They didn’t waste any time. The vehicles were readily available.
Back home, Yadikko tried calling Fatuu’s number, but it was switched off. She asked Kamalu to try as well, but he received the same response.
A Message is Sent – The Shocking Revelation
Later, as they traveled toward Katsina, Fatuu switched on her phone. Worried about how Yadikko must be feeling, she sent a message to Kamalu, saying she didn’t want the marriage and was going back home.
Then she quickly switched the phone off again.
Kamalu was with Amadu when the message came in. He read it with shock, and Amadu, noticing his expression, asked what was wrong. He handed him the phone. Amadu read the message, stunned.
The Family Is Informed
Together, they rushed home to inform Yadikko. She was already deeply worried and had been crying. Mino and others had returned from school. Yadikko, seeing the boys enter, asked if the girls had returned.
Kamalu shook his head, and then relayed the message from Fatuu. Yadikko cried out in distress. “I knew it! I suspected this would happen.”
Everyone was now in shock.
Calling Their Father
Calls continued, but Fatuu’s phone remained off. Yadikko called Fatuu’s father and explained everything. He was upset she didn’t inform him earlier. She told him she hadn’t suspected they had run away.
He said he was on his way immediately.
Father Arrives – Heartbroken and Angry
When their father arrived, worry was written all over his face. Yadikko explained everything again. In shock, he sat down, unable to stand properly. His knees were weak. Mino and the others were sent away as the situation grew heavier.
Kamalu showed him the message. With trembling hands, he read it, then looked up, deeply shaken.
A Father’s Pain
He began to speak, “Why would Inna Wuro (Fatuu’s nickname) do this to me? If she didn’t want the marriage, she should’ve said so from the beginning. Why wait until now, when everything is ready?”
Tears rolled down his face. Yadikko tried to console him, saying it wasn’t Fatuu’s fault, but Zakiyya and others who poisoned her mind against the marriage.
She revealed everything—even what Khalid had done to her. He once drugged her drink with sleeping pills at his farm. She confessed it all, shocking everyone, especially Amadu and their father, who stared at her in disbelief.
Their father, overwhelmed, finally realized the boy Khalid hadn’t changed after all. What was supposed to be a marriage celebration was now chaos, and everyone was left to wonder what would happen next.