<p> </p><p>—</p><p>Uwais said, “Don’t say that to us, Ammi. Fahimah has no one else in this country but you, and I also have no one else but you, Ammi. We need you to stand behind us. My wish is that when we return to Abuja, you move into our house and stay with us, Ammi.”</p><p>Ammi stroked his soft hair and replied,</p><p>“No, Uwais, I can’t go with you. I’m going back to Khartoum. All of you have reached the stage where you can stand on your own feet, build your families, and raise them with the same upbringing you received. Don’t worry. I’ll be in Sudan, and you’ll be in Nigeria. Planes fly every day, and there are phones. Even if you have just a cough, I’ll hear about it.”</p><p>Ammi didn’t realize when Fahimah had come out and overheard the end of her conversation about returning to Sudan. Fahimah placed both hands on her head and burst into tears. She ran into Ammi’s arms, crying, while Ammi comforted her, saying,</p><p>“I’m not leaving immediately. I’ll only leave when you and Uwais settle down in one place.”</p><p>Fahimah sobbed, “Ammi, do I really have to accept being called an orphan? Seeing you every day makes me forget who I am. If you leave and abandon us, I’ll truly become an orphan. My life will never be the same or joyful like it used to be.”</p><p>Ammi smiled and said, “But don’t you have your Uwais? Uwais, the prince of love?”</p><p>Fahimah felt embarrassed and buried her face in Ammi’s arms, saying, "Oh, Ammi!" Uwais was on the phone and didn’t hear their conversation.</p><p>Ammi then said, "Take all these gifts Uwais brought and put them in your room." Fahimah replied, “But Ammi, I didn’t see yours.”</p><p>Ammi smiled, "I’m too old for fancy clothes, Fahimah. That’s why I left them all for you." She picked two Vlisco fabrics and said, “These are the only ones I’ll keep for myself. May Allah bless you both.”</p><p>Fahimah said, “Ammi, I’m going to rest; I’m really tired.”</p><p>Ammi asked, “Have you tidied the room for me?”</p><p>"Yes, Ammi," Fahimah replied, “I even sprayed mosquito repellent so the 'foreigner' won’t get bitten.”</p><p>Uwais laughed as he walked past, shaking his head, "You owe me for that!" Ammi chuckled and said, “If you hadn’t sprayed, he would’ve known he’s back in his homeland. When someone leaves home, home leaves them.”</p><p>Fahimah laughed, saying, “Oh, Ammi!”</p><p>That night, Uwais fell asleep early, genuinely exhausted. At dawn, after returning from the mosque, he decided to wake Fahimah for prayer, knowing she sometimes sleeps deeply. Sure enough, he found her sound asleep in a delicate nightgown. Embarrassed, Uwais closed his eyes briefly, then mischievously fetched cold water and sprinkled it on her.</p><p>Startled, Fahimah jumped up, exclaiming, “Oh, Brother Uwais, that’s so mean!”</p><p>"With all that snoring, have you prayed yet?" he teased.</p><p>Quickly, she ran to the bathroom, exclaiming, “Ya Salam!”</p><p>He smiled and left for Ammi’s room, where he found her on her prayer mat, finishing her devotion.</p><p>"Uwais, you’re back from the mosque already?" she asked.</p><p>“Yes, Ammi. Good morning.”</p><p>After exchanging greetings in Arabic, Uwais said, “Ammi, I’ll head to the UDB site after breakfast to oversee the workers and finalize the building. Also, I transferred money to your account to furnish Fahimah’s room. Even though we won’t stay in Kano for long, the house should have everything it needs. Ammi, please reconsider staying in Sudan.”</p><p>Ammi shook her head, touched by Uwais’s dedication to Fahimah. She knew he had fully embraced her into his life, even more than his previous wife, Amrah, whose name he hadn’t mentioned since his arrival. Fahimah… it was as if Uwais had named her himself.</p><p>"Don’t worry about me," Ammi said. “I’ve made up my mind. I’ll return to Sudan as soon as everything here is settled. As for the furniture, Fahimah should thank her brother. This shows me, Uwais, that even if I’m not around, you’ll care for her. You’ve proven you can fulfill her rights.”</p><p>Uwais bowed his head humbly and said, “Ammi, for the first time, I apologize for everything I’ve done in the past out of human error. You once said I’d come back to thank you, and you were right. Here I am, offering my gratitude. You told me one day I’d understand who Fahimah is, and you didn’t lie. She’s a treasure, and only someone truly blessed would be fortunate enough to have her as a wife. Ammi, I remain loyal, grateful, and deeply regretful for my past actions.”</p><p>Ammi held his hands and said, “I hold no grudge against you, Uwais, only prayers for your well-being. The most important thing is that you recognized your mistakes in time to make amends. My advice is to love moderately and to hate sparingly, for only Allah knows what the future holds.”</p><p>Uwais sighed, silently praying for Ammi’s long life and good health. He hoped she’d live to see his children with Fahimah grow up.</p><p>The story continues with Uwais and Fahimah’s transition to their new home, a beautiful place Uwais had worked hard to complete. Despite Ammi’s departure to Sudan, her wisdom and prayers remain central to their lives.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
