At exactly 5:00 PM, Mutallab’s plane landed in Nigeria. All attempts he had made for them to delay the trip failed because of an urgent call he received from the President of Niger Republic regarding a contract. The President wanted to award him a major project to build large, modern shopping complexes for traders in the city of Niamey.
The President had been impressed by Mutallab’s architectural designs across different locations in Niger, which were eye-catching and easily recognizable as his work. Reports from close associates praising the quality of his buildings increased the President’s admiration.
Mutallab felt deep happiness as the President explained the project to him, handed over the proposal, and praised his professionalism. After signing the necessary documents, he assured the President that the work would be executed better than expected.
Some people were pleased with this development, while others disliked the fact that a foreigner like him was gaining influence and making a name for himself in their country. But Mutallab only thanked God, knowing that every success, opportunity, and breakthrough came from Him.
Because of this unexpected meeting, he couldn’t return home until around 1:00 PM the next day. He visited Dada first, informed her about the contract, and she blessed him while also advising him to uphold trust, honesty, and fairness—especially toward her granddaughter Aïcha. After her final counsel, they said goodbye.
Ten minutes after he returned home, they all headed to the airport. They had been waiting for him there. He called Jalil to inform him they were already inside the plane, then hung up and glanced at Aïcha. She appeared frightened—it was her first time flying. She frowned, lowered her head, and looked like she might cry.
He smiled, held her hand to reassure her as the plane prepared for takeoff. She squeezed his hand tightly, eyes shut, heart pounding with fear. He watched her beautiful face and smiled again.
When the plane stabilized mid-air, she slowly opened her eyes and her gaze met his. She quickly withdrew her hand and lowered her head.
“Sorry,” she whispered softly.
He chuckled and said, “I hope you didn’t break my hand on your first flight with Dada’s grandchild.”
She pouted slightly, lifted her head, and he nodded to assure her he was joking.
Return Home and Household Tension
Upon arrival, they went straight to Dada and Jalil’s quarters. Fannah helped them settle in, while Aïcha followed her. Meenal, who was still angry about the second marriage, lay in bed pretending not to notice their arrival. Jealousy and bitterness filled her heart despite her longing to see the man she loved. When she heard him heading to his section of the house, she calmed herself, stood up, and went out.
She had dressed neatly in tight-fitted Ankara top and skirt, looking elegant. She met him on the stairs heading to his room. He appeared fresher, slightly chubbier, and more handsome than before, which irritated her.
‘So he’s not even thinking about me anymore since he married someone else,’ she thought bitterly. ‘No wonder he looks so fresh.’
She stared at him angrily as he walked past without greeting her. He was still upset with her because of the loss of their unborn child caused by her carelessness. Her anger rose again as she followed him.
At the entrance to his room, he slipped his hands into his pockets and looked around. The parlor was messy and dusty, unattended since he traveled. When he heard footsteps, he turned to see Meenal standing there. She intended to speak, but his stern expression silenced her.
“What?” he said coldly.
Her face darkened. She felt embarrassed and hurt but forced herself to speak.
“So because you remarried, you want to act like you didn’t see me? Typical men and their betrayal.”
He shut his eyes briefly and replied, “Get out of my room if that’s why you came here, Meenal.”
“You must tell me to get out since you don’t need me anymore now…”
Before she could finish, he snapped angrily and pointed at the door.
She stormed out angrily. He ignored her and brought out his phone. He called Afrah, who had just finished showering and was getting dressed. Aïcha was sitting with Fannah when Afrah’s phone rang.
“Hello, Brother Mutallab.”
“Come to my section right now and clean my room.” He hung up immediately.
Afrah stared at her phone, her expression changing. She knew he must have found the place in a mess.
Fannah noticed her worry.
“Are you okay, Afrah?”
“I’m fine, Aunty.”
Fannah told her to serve food for herself and Aïcha, but Afrah hesitated.
“Aunty Fannah, please don’t serve Aunty Aïcha. Let me go. He’s calling me to clean his room.”
Both Aïcha and Fannah looked at her in surprise.
“What do you mean? Isn’t Meenal here?” Fannah asked.
“You know how things are…”
As she reached the door, Aïcha, who had been silently observing, spoke softly but firmly:
“Wait, Afrah. Let me go instead. It’s not your responsibility, and it’s not proper for you to clean your brother’s bedroom.”
Fannah immediately supported Aïcha, praising her.
“You’re right. I’ve been telling her the same thing. Please go, Aïcha, even though I know you’re tired.”
Aïcha smiled and stood up.
“There’s reward in helping others. Where is his room?”
Afrah led her to the stairs, pointed up, and said he was inside. Then she returned to their section.
Aïcha knocked. He opened the door and stepped aside. She noticed his expression soften slightly before she looked around and saw the state of the room.
She forced a smile.
“Where is the bathroom? Let me start there so you can take your bath.”
“Mon Amour… are you sure you can do it?”
“Why not? If Afrah can do it, shouldn’t I? This is a wife’s responsibility.”
She went in, cleaned the bathtub, arranged the toiletries, swept, mopped, wiped surfaces, and prepared warm bathwater for him.
When she came out, she said, “Your bath is ready. You can enter while I finish up.”
He held her hand gently, kissed it, and whispered, “Thank you.”
She smiled and let him go in.
She arranged his clothes, changed the bedsheets, cleaned the room thoroughly, and finished before he came out. She brought out outfits for him and showed them.
“This one looks perfect, right?”
He nodded from the mirror.
She placed the clothes on the bed and went to clean the parlor. In less than fifteen minutes, the whole section was spotless.
He came out and found her standing there, breathing heavily from exhaustion.
Description
Arrival and the Unexpected Contract
At exactly 5:00 PM, Mutallab’s plane landed in Nigeria. All attempts he had made for them to delay the trip failed because of an urgent call he received from the President of Niger Republic regarding a contract. The President wanted to award him a major project to build large, modern shopping complexes for traders in the city of Niamey.
The President had been impressed by Mutallab’s architectural designs across different locations in Niger, which were eye-catching and easily recognizable as his work. Reports from close associates praising the quality of his buildings increased the President’s admiration.
Mutallab felt deep happiness as the President explained the project to him, handed over the proposal, and praised his professionalism. After signing the necessary documents, he assured the President that the work would be executed better than expected.
Some people were pleased with this development, while others disliked the fact that a foreigner like him was gaining influence and making a name for himself in their country. But Mutallab only thanked God, knowing that every success, opportunity, and breakthrough came from Him.
Because of this unexpected meeting, he couldn’t return home until around 1:00 PM the next day. He visited Dada first, informed her about the contract, and she blessed him while also advising him to uphold trust, honesty, and fairness—especially toward her granddaughter Aïcha. After her final counsel, they said goodbye.
Ten minutes after he returned home, they all headed to the airport. They had been waiting for him there. He called Jalil to inform him they were already inside the plane, then hung up and glanced at Aïcha. She appeared frightened—it was her first time flying. She frowned, lowered her head, and looked like she might cry.
He smiled, held her hand to reassure her as the plane prepared for takeoff. She squeezed his hand tightly, eyes shut, heart pounding with fear. He watched her beautiful face and smiled again.
When the plane stabilized mid-air, she slowly opened her eyes and her gaze met his. She quickly withdrew her hand and lowered her head.
“Sorry,” she whispered softly.
He chuckled and said, “I hope you didn’t break my hand on your first flight with Dada’s grandchild.”
She pouted slightly, lifted her head, and he nodded to assure her he was joking.
Return Home and Household Tension
Upon arrival, they went straight to Dada and Jalil’s quarters. Fannah helped them settle in, while Aïcha followed her. Meenal, who was still angry about the second marriage, lay in bed pretending not to notice their arrival. Jealousy and bitterness filled her heart despite her longing to see the man she loved. When she heard him heading to his section of the house, she calmed herself, stood up, and went out.
She had dressed neatly in tight-fitted Ankara top and skirt, looking elegant. She met him on the stairs heading to his room. He appeared fresher, slightly chubbier, and more handsome than before, which irritated her.
‘So he’s not even thinking about me anymore since he married someone else,’ she thought bitterly. ‘No wonder he looks so fresh.’
She stared at him angrily as he walked past without greeting her. He was still upset with her because of the loss of their unborn child caused by her carelessness. Her anger rose again as she followed him.
At the entrance to his room, he slipped his hands into his pockets and looked around. The parlor was messy and dusty, unattended since he traveled. When he heard footsteps, he turned to see Meenal standing there. She intended to speak, but his stern expression silenced her.
“What?” he said coldly.
Her face darkened. She felt embarrassed and hurt but forced herself to speak.
“So because you remarried, you want to act like you didn’t see me? Typical men and their betrayal.”
He shut his eyes briefly and replied, “Get out of my room if that’s why you came here, Meenal.”
“You must tell me to get out since you don’t need me anymore now…”
Before she could finish, he snapped angrily and pointed at the door.
She stormed out angrily. He ignored her and brought out his phone. He called Afrah, who had just finished showering and was getting dressed. Aïcha was sitting with Fannah when Afrah’s phone rang.
“Hello, Brother Mutallab.”
“Come to my section right now and clean my room.” He hung up immediately.
Afrah stared at her phone, her expression changing. She knew he must have found the place in a mess.
Fannah noticed her worry.
“Are you okay, Afrah?”
“I’m fine, Aunty.”
Fannah told her to serve food for herself and Aïcha, but Afrah hesitated.
“Aunty Fannah, please don’t serve Aunty Aïcha. Let me go. He’s calling me to clean his room.”
Both Aïcha and Fannah looked at her in surprise.
“What do you mean? Isn’t Meenal here?” Fannah asked.
“You know how things are…”
As she reached the door, Aïcha, who had been silently observing, spoke softly but firmly:
“Wait, Afrah. Let me go instead. It’s not your responsibility, and it’s not proper for you to clean your brother’s bedroom.”
Fannah immediately supported Aïcha, praising her.
“You’re right. I’ve been telling her the same thing. Please go, Aïcha, even though I know you’re tired.”
Aïcha smiled and stood up.
“There’s reward in helping others. Where is his room?”
Afrah led her to the stairs, pointed up, and said he was inside. Then she returned to their section.
Aïcha knocked. He opened the door and stepped aside. She noticed his expression soften slightly before she looked around and saw the state of the room.
She forced a smile.
“Where is the bathroom? Let me start there so you can take your bath.”
“Mon Amour… are you sure you can do it?”
“Why not? If Afrah can do it, shouldn’t I? This is a wife’s responsibility.”
She went in, cleaned the bathtub, arranged the toiletries, swept, mopped, wiped surfaces, and prepared warm bathwater for him.
When she came out, she said, “Your bath is ready. You can enter while I finish up.”
He held her hand gently, kissed it, and whispered, “Thank you.”
She smiled and let him go in.
She arranged his clothes, changed the bedsheets, cleaned the room thoroughly, and finished before he came out. She brought out outfits for him and showed them.
“This one looks perfect, right?”
He nodded from the mirror.
She placed the clothes on the bed and went to clean the parlor. In less than fifteen minutes, the whole section was spotless.
He came out and found her standing there, breathing heavily from exhaustion.
“Thank you, Mon Amour. May Allah bless you.”