“Goje, what is this you’re doing?” Uwaisu asked angrily, his heart burning with the tension of the gambling quarrel.
Goje stood before him, smoke rising from the large tobacco pipe in his mouth. His sharp hat pointed upwards, his thick beard rough like thorns. With a hoarse, confident voice, he mocked:
“Old man, are you still standing on your word? Do you really want to gamble with me? You know there’s no mercy in this. If I win, by God, I’ll take even your life if I wish. Nothing troubles me. From the look of you, even a little sickness could finish you off.”
Uwaisu’s stomach twisted at his words, but deep inside he felt a chance at success. He looked at Goje’s herd of cattle, tethered nearby. If he won, he could walk away with them.
The crowd—men and women—sat around, watching intently.
Uwaisu rose with pride, declaring:
“Since I started gambling, I’ve never lost without honor. Whether I win or lose, I don’t back down. Gambling is our life, it uncovers secrets, it gives us respect. We were born in it and grew with it. So there’s no turning back, young man.”
Manga, his friend, clapped for him, praising his courage.
Goje smirked and laughed, shuffling his cards slowly. One by one, he laid them down before Uwaisu. Everyone knew the match was in his favor. Pulling out a half-burned roll of hemp from his mouth, he stretched his hardened hand to Uwaisu and said coldly:
“Old man, it’s either your life or your wealth. You must give one right now.”
Fear electrified Uwaisu’s body. He turned to Manga for help.
“Manga, for God’s sake, if you have money with you, help me. I’ll repay you at home.”
Manga shook his head and replied mockingly:
“You know well, Uwaisu, I’m broke. Just last week I lost my engine in gambling. I can’t help you.”
Goje, without flinching, drew closer, pulling out a sharp knife.
“If you don’t give me one hundred and fifty thousand—the worth of the cow I wagered—I’ll cut your fingers right here.”
He grabbed Uwaisu’s hand firmly, pressing the knife to it. Uwaisu screamed desperately:
“Please, don’t cut me! I’ll pay you. Just tell me what else you want and I’ll give it.”
The crowd grew tense, some pulling Goje away, others trying to free Uwaisu. But Goje’s strength was terrifying.
Then, in desperation, Uwaisu cried out:
“Wait! I’ll give you my daughter, Sumaimah, in place of the debt. Just spare me!”
The people gasped in shock. What kind of father would trade his innocent daughter for gambling debt?
Goje froze, staring wide-eyed, then burst out in anger.
“Do you think I’m mad? How can your daughter replace my cow? Who would buy her? Even dowries don’t go that high! You insult me by offering me a woman!”
The crowd murmured, some pleading with Goje to forgive Uwaisu.
“Goje, he offered his daughter. That’s greater than money. Forgive him, for life is worth more than wealth.”
Goje paused, scratching his head, then said grudgingly:
“Hmm. True, I do need someone to cook for us, since my old mother is weak. Bring the girl to my house tomorrow. If you ever gamble again without money, I’ll skin you alive.”
With that, he kicked his slippers and stormed off, leaving everyone shaken.
The Burden of Sumaimah
While all this was happening, Sumaimah was at the market. She was selling food, her daily struggle for survival. Though she hadn’t sold much, she packed her pots and plates early—she never stayed late in the market.
It was exactly one year since her younger sister, Shaheedah, got married, forcing her into street vending. She had cried bitterly when she had to quit her studies for hawking, but what could she do? Without it, she wouldn’t even eat at home.
Her stepmother, Ammi, was the one who controlled her life. Though she didn’t treat Sumaimah cruelly, she never showed her deep affection like her own children. Only because of her beauty and intelligence, she was always the subject of envy and gossip.
Walking home with her bowls and plates, Sumaimah’s heart was heavy. For no reason, she felt deep unease. As she neared her street, children began mocking her loudly:
“Here comes Goje’s wife! Nobody will marry her but Goje! Her father already paid his gambling debt with her!”
Her heart pounded violently. Though she didn’t believe it fully, she knew it was possible. She was aware of her father’s reckless gambling. He had sold their household belongings, even wasted the little they had. Everyone in town knew of his addiction.
But this time, the fear inside her was different—it felt as though her fate had already been sealed.
The Shame and the Fear of Tomorrow
At the gambling arena, people whispered among themselves:
“Poor Sumaimah. She is paying the price of her father’s shame. If it were any of her other siblings, it wouldn’t hurt as much. But Sumaimah is different. She’s the only one with intelligence and grace among them.”
They pitied her, knowing her future might be destroyed because of her father’s recklessness.
Meanwhile, Uwaisu, without shame or regret, simply adjusted his clothes and headed home for dinner. He thought only of which wife would cook for him that night, as though nothing had happened.
But the community was left stunned, their hearts burdened with pity for Sumaimah—an innocent girl condemned to suffer for her father’s sins.
Description
The Gambling Clash Between Goje and Uwaisu
“Goje, what is this you’re doing?” Uwaisu asked angrily, his heart burning with the tension of the gambling quarrel.
Goje stood before him, smoke rising from the large tobacco pipe in his mouth. His sharp hat pointed upwards, his thick beard rough like thorns. With a hoarse, confident voice, he mocked:
“Old man, are you still standing on your word? Do you really want to gamble with me? You know there’s no mercy in this. If I win, by God, I’ll take even your life if I wish. Nothing troubles me. From the look of you, even a little sickness could finish you off.”
Uwaisu’s stomach twisted at his words, but deep inside he felt a chance at success. He looked at Goje’s herd of cattle, tethered nearby. If he won, he could walk away with them.
The crowd—men and women—sat around, watching intently.
Uwaisu rose with pride, declaring:
“Since I started gambling, I’ve never lost without honor. Whether I win or lose, I don’t back down. Gambling is our life, it uncovers secrets, it gives us respect. We were born in it and grew with it. So there’s no turning back, young man.”
Manga, his friend, clapped for him, praising his courage.
Goje smirked and laughed, shuffling his cards slowly. One by one, he laid them down before Uwaisu. Everyone knew the match was in his favor. Pulling out a half-burned roll of hemp from his mouth, he stretched his hardened hand to Uwaisu and said coldly:
“Old man, it’s either your life or your wealth. You must give one right now.”
Fear electrified Uwaisu’s body. He turned to Manga for help.
“Manga, for God’s sake, if you have money with you, help me. I’ll repay you at home.”
Manga shook his head and replied mockingly:
“You know well, Uwaisu, I’m broke. Just last week I lost my engine in gambling. I can’t help you.”
Goje, without flinching, drew closer, pulling out a sharp knife.
“If you don’t give me one hundred and fifty thousand—the worth of the cow I wagered—I’ll cut your fingers right here.”
He grabbed Uwaisu’s hand firmly, pressing the knife to it. Uwaisu screamed desperately:
“Please, don’t cut me! I’ll pay you. Just tell me what else you want and I’ll give it.”
The crowd grew tense, some pulling Goje away, others trying to free Uwaisu. But Goje’s strength was terrifying.
Then, in desperation, Uwaisu cried out:
“Wait! I’ll give you my daughter, Sumaimah, in place of the debt. Just spare me!”
The people gasped in shock. What kind of father would trade his innocent daughter for gambling debt?
Goje froze, staring wide-eyed, then burst out in anger.
“Do you think I’m mad? How can your daughter replace my cow? Who would buy her? Even dowries don’t go that high! You insult me by offering me a woman!”
The crowd murmured, some pleading with Goje to forgive Uwaisu.
“Goje, he offered his daughter. That’s greater than money. Forgive him, for life is worth more than wealth.”
Goje paused, scratching his head, then said grudgingly:
“Hmm. True, I do need someone to cook for us, since my old mother is weak. Bring the girl to my house tomorrow. If you ever gamble again without money, I’ll skin you alive.”
With that, he kicked his slippers and stormed off, leaving everyone shaken.
The Burden of Sumaimah
While all this was happening, Sumaimah was at the market. She was selling food, her daily struggle for survival. Though she hadn’t sold much, she packed her pots and plates early—she never stayed late in the market.
It was exactly one year since her younger sister, Shaheedah, got married, forcing her into street vending. She had cried bitterly when she had to quit her studies for hawking, but what could she do? Without it, she wouldn’t even eat at home.
Her stepmother, Ammi, was the one who controlled her life. Though she didn’t treat Sumaimah cruelly, she never showed her deep affection like her own children. Only because of her beauty and intelligence, she was always the subject of envy and gossip.
Walking home with her bowls and plates, Sumaimah’s heart was heavy. For no reason, she felt deep unease. As she neared her street, children began mocking her loudly:
“Here comes Goje’s wife! Nobody will marry her but Goje! Her father already paid his gambling debt with her!”
Her heart pounded violently. Though she didn’t believe it fully, she knew it was possible. She was aware of her father’s reckless gambling. He had sold their household belongings, even wasted the little they had. Everyone in town knew of his addiction.
But this time, the fear inside her was different—it felt as though her fate had already been sealed.
The Shame and the Fear of Tomorrow
At the gambling arena, people whispered among themselves:
“Poor Sumaimah. She is paying the price of her father’s shame. If it were any of her other siblings, it wouldn’t hurt as much. But Sumaimah is different. She’s the only one with intelligence and grace among them.”
They pitied her, knowing her future might be destroyed because of her father’s recklessness.
Meanwhile, Uwaisu, without shame or regret, simply adjusted his clothes and headed home for dinner. He thought only of which wife would cook for him that night, as though nothing had happened.
But the community was left stunned, their hearts burdened with pity for Sumaimah—an innocent girl condemned to suffer for her father’s sins.