They were traveling in a car, a hot and suffocating one. The air was heavy because five people were inside. Fatima sat at the front with a young man, Shattima, around twenty-five years old—a businessman and a government employee, who was also a highly respected consultant doctor at a well-known hospital in Kano.
Fatima was the only woman in the car with him, very beautiful, fair-skinned, tall, slender, and not older than 25. In the back sat a young girl, around fifteen to sixteen years old, with smooth chocolate-colored skin and a warm, soft body. She was accompanied by two children, Adnan, five years old, and Jiddah, three. Both children were close to her, almost clinging to her as if their presence completed her.
The journey was quiet, almost like a silent ride through the wind. Hudah glanced up and met Shattima’s eyes. He had been driving half-attentively for the past five months whenever they were together, but he hadn’t noticed much change in anyone’s body, except that hers seemed fuller, catching his attention.
As they parked, Hudah immediately unbuckled her seatbelt and rushed out of the car, calling loudly for her mother:
“Ammi! Where are you? Ammi! I haven’t seen you for so long; I missed you!”
Her elderly relative, whom she called Ammi, came out just as Shattima and Fatima, with the children, were entering the house. She laughed joyfully, welcoming Hudah. Fatima teased her gently, asking why she always wanted to leave them and return to her Ammi’s house. Hudah simply said it was a visit, nothing more.
Shattima, meanwhile, had moved on to check the news on Aljazeera, smiling softly as Hudah quietly moved to another room. He murmured to himself about her youthful quarrels over the past two nights and how she had been causing mild mischief in the house. Hudah reassured him, explaining her intentions politely and respectfully, emphasizing her desire for the visit to be peaceful and orderly.
Tensions at Home
Later, Hudah entered her room after a bath, her long hair wet and tied loosely with a towel. Shattima stood there, staring at her, his chest beating fast. He moved closer, pressing her against him, but she turned her face away. Frustrated, he tried to remove the towel, revealing her chest, causing her to gasp and struggle.
“Hudah, please… Uncle Shattima, you shouldn’t—Ammi could come in!” she pleaded, trembling.
He ignored her protests for a moment, scolding gently, claiming he had known her since she was a child and that everything about her was familiar to him. He assured her he would not harm her but insisted she behave obediently, though Hudah’s fear and embarrassment were evident.
Suddenly, Ammi called from another room, prompting Hudah to stop him. Shattima wiped his face and exited, leaving Hudah to breathe and compose herself. She put on her long dress and went to the dining room to join Fatima and Shattima for breakfast. The weight of her worries pressed on her as she watched Shattima remain unusually quiet, distracted even while eating.
Ammi noticed Hudah’s unease and comforted her, acknowledging that Shattima’s behavior had always been strict and controlling. Hudah admitted her fear of telling him anything, recalling past incidents where she had been scolded or punished for small mistakes. Ammi advised her to exercise patience, knowing Shattima’s strictness was part of his protective nature.
After breakfast, they prepared to leave for Umerah. Hudah followed silently, still thinking about Shattima’s controlling tendencies. Even as they traveled, she observed him closely, aware that he often imposed strict rules, and she feared making a mistake that could bring his wrath. Despite the tension, they stopped at a shopping mall to buy gifts for her mother before continuing to their destination. Hudah kept to herself, reflecting on the dynamics in Shattima’s household and the careful navigation required to maintain peace.
Description
The Journey and Arrival
They were traveling in a car, a hot and suffocating one. The air was heavy because five people were inside. Fatima sat at the front with a young man, Shattima, around twenty-five years old—a businessman and a government employee, who was also a highly respected consultant doctor at a well-known hospital in Kano.
Fatima was the only woman in the car with him, very beautiful, fair-skinned, tall, slender, and not older than 25. In the back sat a young girl, around fifteen to sixteen years old, with smooth chocolate-colored skin and a warm, soft body. She was accompanied by two children, Adnan, five years old, and Jiddah, three. Both children were close to her, almost clinging to her as if their presence completed her.
The journey was quiet, almost like a silent ride through the wind. Hudah glanced up and met Shattima’s eyes. He had been driving half-attentively for the past five months whenever they were together, but he hadn’t noticed much change in anyone’s body, except that hers seemed fuller, catching his attention.
As they parked, Hudah immediately unbuckled her seatbelt and rushed out of the car, calling loudly for her mother:
“Ammi! Where are you? Ammi! I haven’t seen you for so long; I missed you!”
Her elderly relative, whom she called Ammi, came out just as Shattima and Fatima, with the children, were entering the house. She laughed joyfully, welcoming Hudah. Fatima teased her gently, asking why she always wanted to leave them and return to her Ammi’s house. Hudah simply said it was a visit, nothing more.
Shattima, meanwhile, had moved on to check the news on Aljazeera, smiling softly as Hudah quietly moved to another room. He murmured to himself about her youthful quarrels over the past two nights and how she had been causing mild mischief in the house. Hudah reassured him, explaining her intentions politely and respectfully, emphasizing her desire for the visit to be peaceful and orderly.
Tensions at Home
Later, Hudah entered her room after a bath, her long hair wet and tied loosely with a towel. Shattima stood there, staring at her, his chest beating fast. He moved closer, pressing her against him, but she turned her face away. Frustrated, he tried to remove the towel, revealing her chest, causing her to gasp and struggle.
“Hudah, please… Uncle Shattima, you shouldn’t—Ammi could come in!” she pleaded, trembling.
He ignored her protests for a moment, scolding gently, claiming he had known her since she was a child and that everything about her was familiar to him. He assured her he would not harm her but insisted she behave obediently, though Hudah’s fear and embarrassment were evident.
Suddenly, Ammi called from another room, prompting Hudah to stop him. Shattima wiped his face and exited, leaving Hudah to breathe and compose herself. She put on her long dress and went to the dining room to join Fatima and Shattima for breakfast. The weight of her worries pressed on her as she watched Shattima remain unusually quiet, distracted even while eating.
Ammi noticed Hudah’s unease and comforted her, acknowledging that Shattima’s behavior had always been strict and controlling. Hudah admitted her fear of telling him anything, recalling past incidents where she had been scolded or punished for small mistakes. Ammi advised her to exercise patience, knowing Shattima’s strictness was part of his protective nature.
After breakfast, they prepared to leave for Umerah. Hudah followed silently, still thinking about Shattima’s controlling tendencies. Even as they traveled, she observed him closely, aware that he often imposed strict rules, and she feared making a mistake that could bring his wrath. Despite the tension, they stopped at a shopping mall to buy gifts for her mother before continuing to their destination. Hudah kept to herself, reflecting on the dynamics in Shattima’s household and the careful navigation required to maintain peace.