The convoy of bridal cars parked in the compound of Alhaji Yusuf, the father of the bride, Afrah.
Around 8:30pm, an elderly woman who seemed to be about 70 years old came out saying, “Here comes the bride, she’s coming out…”
Before she could finish speaking, Afrah appeared, wrapped in a veil, crying as she prepared to part with her parents.
Her grandmother held her hand, looked deeply at her, and tears began to fall from her own eyes as well.
They all continued crying, no one encouraging the other to be strong. The groom’s friends looked at the scene and one of them said to the grandmother, “Mama, you are not parting forever. Marriage is not death.” But the grandmother kept crying, saying that Afrah was going to a polygamous home.
Still holding hands, Afrah entered the car and they set out on the road to Kano.
The journey between Zaria and Kano wasn’t long, so they arrived early.
They headed to a stunning, well-designed house that looked like a European-style mansion. As the cars arrived, the horns sounded loudly.
The gatekeeper opened the gate for them and as they entered, the drummers began to play.
The bride’s family led the way, followed by a few members of the groom’s family, and finally the bride herself.
They entered the magnificent mansion that seemed to have everything one could imagine—there was no lack of anything. Readers, you understand the meaning of that.
Her room was on the ground floor, furnished in a way that made it seem like there was no poverty in their land. They took her directly to her room. The room was elegant, and her friends applied perfume, making her even more beautiful.
Her mother’s relatives gave her heartfelt advice, then said goodbye and left with her friends.
Sitting alone, Afrah thought to herself, “So this is really how marriage looks? I thought I would meet my co-wife walking in.”
Around 10:30pm, she heard the sound of the door opening. The groom entered alone, without his friends.
He went straight to the kitchen to prepare what they would need. He returned with chicken and a large bottle of Hollandia milk, poured them a drink, and Afrah stayed wrapped in her veil.
She felt him gently lift her like a baby and sit her down, feeding her while eating with her until they almost finished. She got up, brushed her teeth, and returned. He packed the dishes, took them to the kitchen, and came back. He requested that they perform ablution. After they finished, he led them in a two-rakat prayer and made heartfelt supplications, placing his hand on her head.
He then lay her on the bed and covered them with a blanket, just as they heard a knock on the door. Afrah quickly rose in fear, but Jabir signaled to her to lie back down.
He stepped out to see who it was. It was his little daughter, not more than ten years old, crying.
He took her hand and asked, “What happened?”
She answered, “Mommy beat me, and you don’t like hearing children cry.” He laid her beside him and forgot about the bride.
Life With the Groom’s First Family
The next morning, Afrah bathed and dressed in a long Arabian gown, looking beautiful. Jabir prayed Fajr and left the house, and the young girl followed him.
Later, Jabir called Afrah and also summoned Mariya, the mother of the children. From the moment Mariya entered, she kept throwing sharp, angry looks and didn’t even greet. She sat on Jabir’s lap.
He began rebuking her. She stood up, burst into tears, and said, “I knew since you married again you would start mistreating me!”
Jabir ignored her and looked toward Afrah, who showed no sign of being bothered. He finished speaking and held Afrah’s hand, leading her to their room.
As he pushed the door open, the little girl from the previous night arrived with food in decorated stainless plates. She handed the food to Afrah.
Afrah smiled and asked, “What’s your name?”
The girl replied, “Billy.”
Afrah said, “Balkisu, right?”
The girl answered, “Yes.”
Jabir, seeing that Mariya brought food for Afrah, thought perhaps peace was possible between them.
He left for his own room. Afrah ate until she was satisfied, drank water, and continued chatting with Billy.
Sleep overtook Afrah, so she told Billy to go and play while she rested. As soon as she lay down, she fell into a deep sleep and had a frightening dream. She woke up in fear, performed ablution, prayed, and recited the Qur’an.
Around 2pm, she called her mother for blessings. After speaking with her twice, she went to the kitchen to cook.
She prepared spaghetti mixed with beans, liver, and fish. She served Billy’s portion and kept her own.
Mariya later sent for Billy. Billy told a boy, no more than eight years old, named Khalifa, “Go to Mommy and tell her Afrah is cooking food for me in her room.”
When Mariya heard this, she stormed out angrily, shouting:
“So you want to kill my child with your witchcraft?”
Afrah felt deeply hurt by the insult, but she stayed calm.
By nightfall, Billy and Khalifa came to Jabir. He did not seem bothered and let them play around him. Afrah remained silent, thinking:
“So this is what it means to be in a polygamous marriage?”
Description
The Bride’s Departure and Arrival at Her New Home
The convoy of bridal cars parked in the compound of Alhaji Yusuf, the father of the bride, Afrah.
Around 8:30pm, an elderly woman who seemed to be about 70 years old came out saying, “Here comes the bride, she’s coming out…”
Before she could finish speaking, Afrah appeared, wrapped in a veil, crying as she prepared to part with her parents.
Her grandmother held her hand, looked deeply at her, and tears began to fall from her own eyes as well.
They all continued crying, no one encouraging the other to be strong. The groom’s friends looked at the scene and one of them said to the grandmother, “Mama, you are not parting forever. Marriage is not death.” But the grandmother kept crying, saying that Afrah was going to a polygamous home.
Still holding hands, Afrah entered the car and they set out on the road to Kano.
The journey between Zaria and Kano wasn’t long, so they arrived early.
They headed to a stunning, well-designed house that looked like a European-style mansion. As the cars arrived, the horns sounded loudly.
The gatekeeper opened the gate for them and as they entered, the drummers began to play.
The bride’s family led the way, followed by a few members of the groom’s family, and finally the bride herself.
They entered the magnificent mansion that seemed to have everything one could imagine—there was no lack of anything. Readers, you understand the meaning of that.
Her room was on the ground floor, furnished in a way that made it seem like there was no poverty in their land. They took her directly to her room. The room was elegant, and her friends applied perfume, making her even more beautiful.
Her mother’s relatives gave her heartfelt advice, then said goodbye and left with her friends.
Sitting alone, Afrah thought to herself, “So this is really how marriage looks? I thought I would meet my co-wife walking in.”
Around 10:30pm, she heard the sound of the door opening. The groom entered alone, without his friends.
He went straight to the kitchen to prepare what they would need. He returned with chicken and a large bottle of Hollandia milk, poured them a drink, and Afrah stayed wrapped in her veil.
She felt him gently lift her like a baby and sit her down, feeding her while eating with her until they almost finished. She got up, brushed her teeth, and returned. He packed the dishes, took them to the kitchen, and came back. He requested that they perform ablution. After they finished, he led them in a two-rakat prayer and made heartfelt supplications, placing his hand on her head.
He then lay her on the bed and covered them with a blanket, just as they heard a knock on the door. Afrah quickly rose in fear, but Jabir signaled to her to lie back down.
He stepped out to see who it was. It was his little daughter, not more than ten years old, crying.
He took her hand and asked, “What happened?”
She answered, “Mommy beat me, and you don’t like hearing children cry.” He laid her beside him and forgot about the bride.
Life With the Groom’s First Family
The next morning, Afrah bathed and dressed in a long Arabian gown, looking beautiful. Jabir prayed Fajr and left the house, and the young girl followed him.
Later, Jabir called Afrah and also summoned Mariya, the mother of the children. From the moment Mariya entered, she kept throwing sharp, angry looks and didn’t even greet. She sat on Jabir’s lap.
He began rebuking her. She stood up, burst into tears, and said, “I knew since you married again you would start mistreating me!”
Jabir ignored her and looked toward Afrah, who showed no sign of being bothered. He finished speaking and held Afrah’s hand, leading her to their room.
As he pushed the door open, the little girl from the previous night arrived with food in decorated stainless plates. She handed the food to Afrah.
Afrah smiled and asked, “What’s your name?”
The girl replied, “Billy.”
Afrah said, “Balkisu, right?”
The girl answered, “Yes.”
Jabir, seeing that Mariya brought food for Afrah, thought perhaps peace was possible between them.
He left for his own room. Afrah ate until she was satisfied, drank water, and continued chatting with Billy.
Sleep overtook Afrah, so she told Billy to go and play while she rested. As soon as she lay down, she fell into a deep sleep and had a frightening dream. She woke up in fear, performed ablution, prayed, and recited the Qur’an.
Around 2pm, she called her mother for blessings. After speaking with her twice, she went to the kitchen to cook.
She prepared spaghetti mixed with beans, liver, and fish. She served Billy’s portion and kept her own.
Mariya later sent for Billy. Billy told a boy, no more than eight years old, named Khalifa, “Go to Mommy and tell her Afrah is cooking food for me in her room.”
When Mariya heard this, she stormed out angrily, shouting:
“So you want to kill my child with your witchcraft?”
Afrah felt deeply hurt by the insult, but she stayed calm.
By nightfall, Billy and Khalifa came to Jabir. He did not seem bothered and let them play around him. Afrah remained silent, thinking:
“So this is what it means to be in a polygamous marriage?”