A’isha’s Recovery and Growing Tensions in the Household
The doctor pushed the door open and entered with a greeting. Uncle responded and stretched out his hand to greet him. After they exchanged pleasantries, he moved to A’isha’s bedside and asked if she had woken up. Uncle replied, “She just woke up now.” After the doctor examined her briefly, he gave her medicine. She sat up weakly and drank it. When he finished, he told Uncle he would be in his office. They both walked out, and after sitting, the doctor said, “Sir, up till now I haven’t confirmed whether she is pregnant or not. It’s possible there is pregnancy, and it’s possible there isn’t. Because of this confusion, I decided not to perform the pelvic wash—the uterus wash. We’ll allow her to regain strength, complete her blood transfusion, and after two days she should return for a check-up.”
Uncle nodded humbly and said, “No problem, may Allah guide us.” From then on, A’isha continued taking her medication. The bleeding also stopped, and sympathizers kept coming—Hajiya Jummai brought this friend, that friend. They comforted her, but once they left, she would burst into laughter.
After one week, A’isha was discharged. The doctor instructed that she return in two weeks. Before leaving the room, Uncle instructed that Ruqiyya prayer be done for her. After a few days, A’isha regained strength as if she was never sick. When the two-week mark arrived, Uncle told her they should return to the hospital, but she refused, saying her menstrual period had started that very morning—which meant she wasn’t pregnant. Feeling pity, he said, “May Allah bless us with what is beneficial.”
Life in the house became unpleasant for her; only Uncle gave her comfort. Even the housemaids treated her with disrespect. Only Uche and some of the drivers minded their business. So she did most of her chores herself. On her cooking days, she prepared all kinds of dishes Uncle liked. At bedtime, he would be intimate with her twice, sometimes even in the morning, praying that Allah grants him a child.
Then unexpectedly, Hadiza claimed she was pregnant. Even Uncle himself didn’t feel any joy in his heart, though he still showed concern for her. Hadiza refused for him to take her to the hospital—they always went with Hajiya Lanti to a different doctor. He didn’t even question the money they kept collecting from him; for Hadiza, before he slept with her, she must collect money—let alone now that she claimed pregnancy. When this news reached Hajiya Jummai, she panicked and began planning how to terminate Hadiza’s pregnancy, just as she believed A’isha’s own was removed.
A’isha congratulated Uncle sincerely. She then prepared to write her JAMB exam, hoping she would pass. She wondered why she still felt some symptoms—cravings, nausea—just like she used to, but she assumed her body was simply adjusting. Meanwhile, Hadiza’s body kept showing suspicious signs—was she really pregnant?
Manipulations, Jealousy, and the Brewing Conspiracy
On Monday morning, A’isha dressed up because Uncle was supposed to drop her at Nafisa’s house. As they stepped out, they saw the new maid brought by Hajiya Lanti rushing into Hadiza’s room. She said to Hadiza, “Your husband is going out with the golden girl,” (their nickname for A’isha). Hadiza immediately demanded her phone to call him.
A’isha noticed the maid’s look earlier and knew drama would follow. Just as Uncle was about to enter the car, his phone rang. He went back, answered, and asked, “What is it, Hadiza?” She replied in tears, “My stomach is hurting.” He rushed back inside. Hearing his footsteps, she began rolling on the floor in fake pain. In confusion, he asked, “Should we go to the hospital?” She said, “No, Hajiya forgot my traditional medicines. Please go and get them for me.” He hurried out, collected the keys from Jabir, and said he would return shortly.
He instructed A’isha to return inside, and he would be back. He left to get Hadiza’s medicine from her family house. A’isha felt hurt; she knew Hadiza staged everything so they wouldn’t go out. She asked if Jabir could take her with another car, but Uncle frowned and said, “Didn’t I say you should go back inside and wait?” She kept quiet. She returned inside with the intention that she wouldn’t go anywhere again.
The maid, Tabawa, stood by the door laughing. “Look at her, she’s back,” she said mockingly. Hadiza laughed too as she phoned Hajiya Lanti, narrating everything. Hajiya said, “Good, you’ve started well. That charm from the herbalist—I’ll give him something for your husband to drink when he returns.” Hadiza responded, “Good, arrange it quickly.” Hajiya Lanti told her to act carefully so no one suspects the pregnancy is fake.
When Uncle arrived, Hajiya Lanti prepared zobo drink for him, secretly adding something. Though he hesitated, he felt like drinking it and consumed half the cup. She rejoiced because he drank it—even though he said bismillah first, which weakened the charm.
Meanwhile, A’isha returned to the house and found Hadiza pretending to talk on the phone with another man, saying, “Don’t come with that nagging girl, come alone, my husband.” A’isha heard everything. She entered her room and lay on the bed, shocked because Uncle had never spoken harshly to her before.
Nafisa called, asking why she didn't come. A’isha explained. Nafisa said, “Don’t you know who Hajiya Lanti and her daughter are? Even our mother doesn’t believe Hadiza’s pregnancy is real—it’s a fake pregnancy.” They said goodbye.
Uncle soon entered A’isha’s room. She didn’t look at him. He ordered, “Beby, get up, let’s go.” She replied gently that he should go to work, and she would go another day. He insisted. She said they already called Nafisa. He glared at her: “So you’re angry? Because I brought her medicine? Is it because it’s not you? If you’re sick, don’t I help you? Just because I helped her, you’re upset? Let me tell you—anyone I love is the one I will help.” Then he stormed out.
A’isha cried the entire day, shocked because he had never spoken to her that way.
Meanwhile, Uncle went to work restless. Even people waiting for him weren’t allowed in at first. After a long period of reflection, he felt he hadn’t been fair to A’isha.
When he called her later—wanting his usual zobo—she answered quietly. He apologized indirectly, asking if he could get zobo. She cooked it and sent Uche to deliver it.
All this while, Tabawa continued feeding Hadiza with wicked ideas, bragging that she was sent specifically to destroy the household. She exposed that she was the one who suggested the fake pregnancy. She vowed that she would ruin A’isha completely and secure Hadiza’s freedom over her husband.
Hadiza, delighted, clapped hands with her and said, “This is exactly the kind of woman I like.”
Description
A’isha’s Recovery and Growing Tensions in the Household
The doctor pushed the door open and entered with a greeting. Uncle responded and stretched out his hand to greet him. After they exchanged pleasantries, he moved to A’isha’s bedside and asked if she had woken up. Uncle replied, “She just woke up now.” After the doctor examined her briefly, he gave her medicine. She sat up weakly and drank it. When he finished, he told Uncle he would be in his office. They both walked out, and after sitting, the doctor said, “Sir, up till now I haven’t confirmed whether she is pregnant or not. It’s possible there is pregnancy, and it’s possible there isn’t. Because of this confusion, I decided not to perform the pelvic wash—the uterus wash. We’ll allow her to regain strength, complete her blood transfusion, and after two days she should return for a check-up.”
Uncle nodded humbly and said, “No problem, may Allah guide us.” From then on, A’isha continued taking her medication. The bleeding also stopped, and sympathizers kept coming—Hajiya Jummai brought this friend, that friend. They comforted her, but once they left, she would burst into laughter.
After one week, A’isha was discharged. The doctor instructed that she return in two weeks. Before leaving the room, Uncle instructed that Ruqiyya prayer be done for her. After a few days, A’isha regained strength as if she was never sick. When the two-week mark arrived, Uncle told her they should return to the hospital, but she refused, saying her menstrual period had started that very morning—which meant she wasn’t pregnant. Feeling pity, he said, “May Allah bless us with what is beneficial.”
Life in the house became unpleasant for her; only Uncle gave her comfort. Even the housemaids treated her with disrespect. Only Uche and some of the drivers minded their business. So she did most of her chores herself. On her cooking days, she prepared all kinds of dishes Uncle liked. At bedtime, he would be intimate with her twice, sometimes even in the morning, praying that Allah grants him a child.
Then unexpectedly, Hadiza claimed she was pregnant. Even Uncle himself didn’t feel any joy in his heart, though he still showed concern for her. Hadiza refused for him to take her to the hospital—they always went with Hajiya Lanti to a different doctor. He didn’t even question the money they kept collecting from him; for Hadiza, before he slept with her, she must collect money—let alone now that she claimed pregnancy. When this news reached Hajiya Jummai, she panicked and began planning how to terminate Hadiza’s pregnancy, just as she believed A’isha’s own was removed.
A’isha congratulated Uncle sincerely. She then prepared to write her JAMB exam, hoping she would pass. She wondered why she still felt some symptoms—cravings, nausea—just like she used to, but she assumed her body was simply adjusting. Meanwhile, Hadiza’s body kept showing suspicious signs—was she really pregnant?
Manipulations, Jealousy, and the Brewing Conspiracy
On Monday morning, A’isha dressed up because Uncle was supposed to drop her at Nafisa’s house. As they stepped out, they saw the new maid brought by Hajiya Lanti rushing into Hadiza’s room. She said to Hadiza, “Your husband is going out with the golden girl,” (their nickname for A’isha). Hadiza immediately demanded her phone to call him.
A’isha noticed the maid’s look earlier and knew drama would follow. Just as Uncle was about to enter the car, his phone rang. He went back, answered, and asked, “What is it, Hadiza?” She replied in tears, “My stomach is hurting.” He rushed back inside. Hearing his footsteps, she began rolling on the floor in fake pain. In confusion, he asked, “Should we go to the hospital?” She said, “No, Hajiya forgot my traditional medicines. Please go and get them for me.” He hurried out, collected the keys from Jabir, and said he would return shortly.
He instructed A’isha to return inside, and he would be back. He left to get Hadiza’s medicine from her family house. A’isha felt hurt; she knew Hadiza staged everything so they wouldn’t go out. She asked if Jabir could take her with another car, but Uncle frowned and said, “Didn’t I say you should go back inside and wait?” She kept quiet. She returned inside with the intention that she wouldn’t go anywhere again.
The maid, Tabawa, stood by the door laughing. “Look at her, she’s back,” she said mockingly. Hadiza laughed too as she phoned Hajiya Lanti, narrating everything. Hajiya said, “Good, you’ve started well. That charm from the herbalist—I’ll give him something for your husband to drink when he returns.” Hadiza responded, “Good, arrange it quickly.” Hajiya Lanti told her to act carefully so no one suspects the pregnancy is fake.
When Uncle arrived, Hajiya Lanti prepared zobo drink for him, secretly adding something. Though he hesitated, he felt like drinking it and consumed half the cup. She rejoiced because he drank it—even though he said bismillah first, which weakened the charm.
Meanwhile, A’isha returned to the house and found Hadiza pretending to talk on the phone with another man, saying, “Don’t come with that nagging girl, come alone, my husband.” A’isha heard everything. She entered her room and lay on the bed, shocked because Uncle had never spoken harshly to her before.
Nafisa called, asking why she didn't come. A’isha explained. Nafisa said, “Don’t you know who Hajiya Lanti and her daughter are? Even our mother doesn’t believe Hadiza’s pregnancy is real—it’s a fake pregnancy.” They said goodbye.
Uncle soon entered A’isha’s room. She didn’t look at him. He ordered, “Beby, get up, let’s go.” She replied gently that he should go to work, and she would go another day. He insisted. She said they already called Nafisa. He glared at her: “So you’re angry? Because I brought her medicine? Is it because it’s not you? If you’re sick, don’t I help you? Just because I helped her, you’re upset? Let me tell you—anyone I love is the one I will help.” Then he stormed out.
A’isha cried the entire day, shocked because he had never spoken to her that way.
Meanwhile, Uncle went to work restless. Even people waiting for him weren’t allowed in at first. After a long period of reflection, he felt he hadn’t been fair to A’isha.
When he called her later—wanting his usual zobo—she answered quietly. He apologized indirectly, asking if he could get zobo. She cooked it and sent Uche to deliver it.
All this while, Tabawa continued feeding Hadiza with wicked ideas, bragging that she was sent specifically to destroy the household. She exposed that she was the one who suggested the fake pregnancy. She vowed that she would ruin A’isha completely and secure Hadiza’s freedom over her husband.
Hadiza, delighted, clapped hands with her and said, “This is exactly the kind of woman I like.”