<p> </p><p>Stepping out of her room, she started crying softly as she glanced at the room where her father lay. She felt a hand on her shoulder and heard her name being called.</p><p>"Ummu Salma, please be patient. Allah will provide us with a way out." Without even looking up, she knew it was Yaya Hadiza. Through her tears, she said, “Yaya Hadiza, this is heartbreaking. How can ten thousand naira be the reason we’ll have to take Baba home in this condition?”</p><p>Yaya Hadiza held her hand. “Let’s go before Yaya comes out, and we’ll figure something out.”</p><p>They stood in the hospital courtyard where there wasn’t much movement—only cars parked here and there. Leaning against a car, they didn’t care about its scorching heat.</p><p>Yaya Hadiza asked, “Salma, how much do you have on you right now?”</p><p>"My entire bean cake business fund is just ten thousand seven hundred naira. You know, I earn about seven hundred or six hundred daily, and that’s what we use for food. If we use it up, how will we eat, let alone continue Baba's hospital care?" Salma replied, wiping her tears.</p><p>Yaya Hadiza sighed and shook her head. “We can’t touch that capital. Let’s wait for Yaya Auwalu to come out. You know his bakery job only pays at the end of the month unless, by Allah’s will, he gets an odd job to fix something.”</p><p>Salma looked hopeful. “Yaya Hadiza, can’t you think of something we could do?”</p><p>"What’s left of my possessions, Salma?" she replied. “Just the mattress we sleep on. And you know Amira’s father is also struggling. He barely manages to find something before we can eat.”</p><p>Salma noticed Yaya Auwalu scanning the area as if searching for them. “There’s Yaya Auwalu! I’m sure he’s looking for us.”</p><p>"Yaya Auwalu!" Yaya Hadiza called out. He looked in their direction and walked toward them.</p><p>They resumed their discussion on how to raise the money. For thirty minutes, they couldn’t agree on a solution. They all needed money, but none had it.</p><p>Suddenly, a knock came from inside the car. Salma quickly moved aside in shock and told Yaya Hadiza to step away.</p><p>A man emerged from the vehicle, dressed in a brown traditional outfit with no cap on his head. He was handsome, with striking features, but his face bore no smile. His presence made Salma's heart race in fear.</p><p>"Alhaji, please forgive us. We didn’t know someone was inside," she pleaded.</p><p>He glanced toward the hospital entrance and then pressed something on the phone he held. Without paying them any further attention, he began speaking into the phone.</p><p>"Hey, my friend! Are you coming out, or should I go and come back later?" He paused briefly, then said, “Alright, no problem. I’ll be back in 15 minutes.”</p><p>Finally, he turned to Salma, who hadn’t stopped staring nervously at him.</p><p>"How much do you need to continue your father’s care?" he asked.</p><p>Startled, Salma stammered, “Am…we…need money?”</p><p>"Calm down, young lady. Take a deep breath first," he said gently, now looking at Yaya Auwalu. “How much do you need right now?”</p><p>Yaya Hadiza and Yaya Auwalu simultaneously replied, “It’s ten thousand naira for now.”</p><p>He nodded. “Alright, which of you will come with me to get it? If I leave now, I’ll take about 15 minutes before I return to the hospital to pick my friend.”</p><p>Yaya Auwalu said, “I’ll go with you. Thank you so much, Alhaji. May Allah reward you abundantly.”</p><p>Hadiza and Salma also expressed their gratitude.</p><p>He responded, “Don’t thank me; thank Allah.”</p><p> </p><p>—</p><p>Meanwhile, Nafisa sat on her bed, staring at her mother, who was applying lotion. She said, “Mama, I still have my doubts about my marriage to Yaya Shatima.”</p><p>Her mother glanced at her, smiling slightly. “This is the third day you’ve been saying this, but you haven’t told me why you feel that way.”</p><p>Nafisa looked up at the ceiling as if trying to recall something. Her mother finished applying lotion, walked to the wardrobe to pick out clothes, and said, “Why do you have these doubts?”</p><p>"I’ve been thinking," Nafisa began hesitantly. “Since he sent that message asking if I was ready to marry him, and I replied yes, he hasn’t called or visited me. That’s all.”</p><p>Her mother returned to sit beside her and held her hand. "Nafisa, let me advise you. Don’t let this bother you. Your marriage to Shatima will happen unless one of you passes away.</p><p>Remember, your father and his father are brothers from the same parents. They arranged this marriage for you two without even consulting you. You should focus on winning his heart. Shatima is modern, educated, wealthy, and handsome. Many women dream of marrying someone like him. You’ll need to work hard to be his priority and stand out among other women."</p><p>Nafisa smiled. “I only want him to meet me halfway so we can understand each other better.”</p><p>Her mother responded, “Every man has his personality and way of doing things. Perhaps this is his approach.”</p><p>Nafisa asked, “Mama, would it be wrong if I sent him a Friday greeting?”</p><p>"Not at all," her mother replied. “But a woman should maintain her dignity. Not every man likes being overwhelmed by attention. Try sending him a message this Friday and see how he responds.”</p><p>Nafisa smiled. “Thank you, Mama. I’m proud to have a mother like you. I’ll go eat now. I’m starving.”</p><p>Her mother patted her hand. “Go and eat. Don’t stress yourself over this.”</p><p> </p><p>—</p><p>Elsewhere, Munnir glanced at the phone charging in the car and turned to his friend. “Your phone is ringing.”</p><p>The man picked up his phone, looked at the screen, and quickly answered. “Hello! The great one from Nigeria.”</p><p>“Amna! Are you in Nigeria now?”</p><p>"Didn’t you check the number? I’ve been back for four days," she replied.</p><p>“And it took you this long to call me?”</p><p>“How could you say that when you’ve only called me once since you left Dubai?”</p><p>"You’re right, Amna," he admitted. “But I had a good reason. My phone and laptop were stolen shortly after I returned to Nigeria. I lost everyone’s contact information.”</p><p>She softened. “Alright. When will you visit me?”</p><p>"Not this week. Maybe next week," he said.</p><p>"Have you replaced me in your heart?" she asked.</p><p>"Your place is secure. Don’t think otherwise," he assured her.</p><p>Satisfied, she said, “I trust you. Let’s talk again soon.”</p><p>After the call, Munnir asked his friend, “What’s going on, really?”</p><p>Smiling, he replied, “I don’t know, but I feel a significant event is about to happen. I even had a dream about it recently, and it felt like a good omen.”</p><p>Munnir prayed, “May Allah make it a blessing.”</p><p> </p><p>—</p><p>The man, Shatima, arrived at his family’s grand mansion in Zaria. Entering the spacious living room, he greeted his mother, who was having ointment applied to her legs by Badi’a.</p><p>"Welcome back, Shatima," his mother said warmly.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
