<p> </p><p>**"HEEDAYA, are you out of your mind? Is your brain not functioning? Have the screws in your head loosened, or what? So, you want ABDULHAKEEM so much that you're even considering marriage? Have you forgotten the deep-seated conflict between us and his mother? We don’t even exchange pleasantries, let alone have any form of relationship! When she comes to this house, she acts like we are complete strangers, avoiding my part of the house and heading straight to Hajiya Baturiya’s place. And yet, you want to bring me disgrace and mockery, to have people gossiping about me, talking behind my back, and ridiculing me because of a co-wife’s child?</p><p>I will allow you to love any man in this world, and I will stand by you until you have him, but not ABDULHAKEEM! Even the sibling-like affection you have for him disgusts me, let alone love leading to marriage and having children together. Never!"**</p><p>Umma ended her words, panting heavily as if she had just run a race.</p><p>“I can’t, Umma. I have already fallen. Marriage to him is the only solution…”</p><p>Before she could finish her sentence, Umma delivered a resounding slap that made her ears ring.</p><p>“If you ever utter the name ABDULHAKEEM in this house again, I will curse you, HEEDAYA!”</p><p>She pointed a warning finger at her as she spoke angrily.</p><p>HEEDAYA slumped onto the floor from the chair, clutching her cheek that had received the slap. Tears streamed down her face, and she knew they wouldn’t stop unless Umma accepted her choice. She fell to her knees, bowed her head, and pleaded:</p><p>“Please forgive me, Umma. But I will never stop declaring my love for Ya ABDUL until the day I take my last breath on this earth.”</p><p>She got up, still crying, and attempted to run to her room, but after taking just a couple of steps, Umma grabbed the collar of her dress and pulled her back forcefully.</p><p>“Didn’t you hear me when I said I would curse you?”</p><p>She asked, her eyes blazing with anger.</p><p>“I already asked for your forgiveness! But my heart is chained to my love for him. I can’t stop loving him, Umma. If you separate me from him, I will live in misery and unbearable sorrow forever!”</p><p>She cried out.</p><p>“Even if you die and come back to life, you will never marry ABDULHAKEEM!”</p><p>Umma declared, releasing her grip on HEEDAYA's dress before storming off to her room in a fury.</p><p>HEEDAYA collapsed in frustration. Her mind raced—she had to go to Ya ABDUL’s house and tell him everything. Maybe he could do something to stop this before it got worse. Just as she resolved to follow her thoughts, she heard Na'eema's voice greeting at the door. Quickly wiping her tears, she responded.</p><p>"Abba is calling everyone," Na'eema announced before turning to leave.</p><p>Feeling weak, HEEDAYA walked to Umma’s room and greeted her, only to find Umma pacing in distress. Clearly, her words had deeply affected her.</p><p>"Abba is calling everyone," HEEDAYA repeated in a low voice, turning to leave since Umma didn’t respond.</p><p>“If this gathering is about you—if it’s for your sake—and you dare open that mouth of yours to say that you love ABDULHAKEEM, then you might as well find another mother because I won’t be one to you anymore.”</p><p>HEEDAYA didn’t say a word. She turned and left, but in her heart, she knew that if Abba asked who she wanted as a husband, she would only say Ya ABDUL—even if it cost her everything.</p><p>She made her way to Abba’s part of the house without encountering anyone. It seemed like everyone was already gathered, waiting for her. The last time she saw Abba was before going to Ya ABDUL’s house for the party they had arranged for her. Since then, she hadn’t laid eyes on him.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
