A JIKIN SA YAKE BOOK 2

"Naseer, you are up! Come lead us out!" As he stood up, the entire arena erupted with roaring cheers and applause, but his head felt like it was splitting with a sharp ache. Every time they called him "the groom of Nusaiba," he felt his blood pressure spike. He stood before the horse he usually rode and removed his riding helmet. Yakubu placed the metal polo helmet on his head. Applauses echoed from every direction. Forcing himself to stay composed, he raised his hands to salute the crowd, lashed his horse with the whip, and the horse neighed loudly, sprinting off at top speed. Naseer honestly did not realize the danger of what he was doing; he just galloped blindly as dust clouds billowed into the air. His entire life was consumed by such misery that he often lost himself in his thoughts. That was exactly what happened to him at that moment. He completely loosened the reins, unaware of the reckless speed the horse had reached. Sure enough, it didn't take long before the horse's legs tangled; it neighed, reared up into the air, and what did the crowd see? The groom was thrown violently to the ground! The arena went dead silent for a few seconds before the crowd erupted in prayers and distress, while those nearby rushed to surround him. He was rushed to the hospital completely unconscious and taken immediately to the Emergency room. Everyone you looked at was in a state of sheer panic, especially when the doctor announced that Naseer had suffered two fractures in his right arm. Alhaji Basheer was breaking out in a cold sweat, repeating, "Inna-lillahi wa-inna-ilaihir-raji'un" (To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return). While things were in this chaotic state, Malam Balarabe and his companions arrived, followed closely by Antin Jordan’s Jeep, which dropped off the brides. Both of them had wide, terrified eyes, their faces stained with tears. Their weeping only intensified when they saw their groom lying completely helpless, entirely unaware of his surroundings. From the moment she arrived, Antin Jordan unleashed a barrage of scolding, talking endlessly, asking why on earth the groom was allowed to participate in a race. She blamed Alhaji entirely for the mishap, shouting continuously, completely forgetting that this was a trial ordained by Allah. He didn't regain consciousness until late afternoon, and he was struck with shock to find himself in a hospital bed. A fresh wave of bitter frustration choked him. What kind of endless calamity was this?
"Ajininsa yake" 2-02
By Zulaihat Sani Kagara
Had his entire life been completely ruined? Instantly, his hatred for Nusaiba deepened—not just in his mind, but down into his very blood, he felt an absolute revulsion at the thought of living with her. Truly, "the wind punishes the one carrying stalks of straw," because Alhaji spent a fortune at the hospital and on traditional bone-setters. The honeymoon phase had turned into a hospital stay. It was there that his friends who traveled from afar came to say their goodbyes, returning home with hearts full of pity for Naseer. He spoke to no one, offering only a blunt "yes," "no," or accepting well-wishes with a strained reply. Even with Zarah, he merely stared at her, as doing so brought him peace of mind and prevented others from noticing that she was the only one he truly wanted to talk to.
He spent three days at Shika Hospital. Once the doctor fully assured Alhaji Basheer that there were no internal injuries, he was discharged and brought back home. They spent the entire day receiving visitors, including Lubabatu, Hauwa'u, and Maryam—Zarah’s friends from school. That evening, Zarah took a refreshing bath, dressed in a small, well-tailored traditional atamfa blouse and skirt outfit, and went over to check on Nusaiba's section. Finding that Nusaiba had just gone in to bathe, Zarah proceeded straight to Naseer’s quarters. She found him sitting on the carpet, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. Her greeting made him open his eyes, and he watched her until she approached and sat close to him. "My brother, you're up?" He replied, "I'm tired of lying down; my entire body feels stiff and sore." She glanced at him gently and asked, "I'm sorry, what would you like to eat?" He shook his head slightly, "I'm not hungry." They fell silent for a few moments, then she raised her eyes to look at him. Finding him already staring back, she smiled faintly and looked down. She felt him take hold of her hand; her body went soft, and she couldn't bring herself to move.
"Zarah!" he called her name in a soft, tender tone. Shyness completely washed over her, leaving her unable to look him in the eye. Softening his voice even more, he said, "Look at me. Didn't I say I am your groom? Or is it because you see me broken and fractured?" Using her free hand, she partially covered her mouth, smiling. He squeezed her fingers tighter and said, "Look at this mess. If you hadn't all pressured me into this, I would have pushed past this shyness long ago." His words made her even more self-conscious, making her feel like running away. He pulled her closer until she was right against him, wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and said, "Zarah, every single day I thank Allah for giving me you, because you are the only one I love in this life. But the situation I'm trapped in has become a massive trial, and I need you to help me with prayers. May Allah bring it to an end. Allah sees everything, and He knows what is in my heart—I feel like I am sitting on thorns in this house. Therefore, I am begging for your cooperation. Help me by always staying by my side, because you are the only one who wipes away the sorrow in my soul."
Exhaling deeply with intense pity, she looked at him and said, "I am always with you, my brother. I have told you repeatedly to stop worrying. Stop looking at this marriage as some sort of tragedy; look at it as the divine will of Allah. You do not know what blessings the Almighty has hidden within it. It's not that I don't feel jealous over you—not at all. I wouldn't mind having you all to myself in your house, but I firmly believe that anyone who fights against the decree of God will only find endless suffering and a mountain of sins. That is how people fall into evil paths due to toxic jealousy. I know you love me, my brother, but listen to me: Nusaiba is also a trust placed in your hands."
Naseer hated even hearing that name mentioned; it made him want to scream out loud. He forced himself to stay calm purely because Zarah was right beside him. Tilting her chin up so she would look at him, he forced a bright smile and said, "I hear you, and I will try my absolute best. The only thing I don't want is for people to be so quick to judge or blame me..." She asked, "What do you mean by that?" He shook his head and said, "That is my secret, I won't tell. I realized people were watching us, but your shyness put a stop to it. See how I've played myself?" She reached out and playfully slapped his hand away from her chin, turning her face away with a soft laugh. Laughing along, he turned her face back toward his, leaning his forehead against hers, and whispered, "You promised to always stay by my side, so why are you turning away from me?" She lowered her eyes and remained silent. Kissing her cheek gently, he murmured, "I'm talking to you." She said, "Let me go call the bride so we can organize our cooking roster." She made a move to stand up without waiting for his input, but his grip clamped firmly onto her hand. Turning back with a smile, she pleaded, "For Allah's sake, let me go call her." He closed his eyes, shaking his head, "I didn't give you permission." She spent a while trying to break free from his grip but couldn't.
Suddenly, they heard the sound of a door opening followed by a greeting. Using the distraction, she pulled away with all her strength just as Naseer released his grip right when Nusaiba walked in. Nusaiba didn't notice anything unusual because Zarah was already standing up. As for the "boss," he immediately turned his face away, deeply annoyed that Nusaiba had interrupted his moment. Zarah quickly spoke up, "I was actually just coming to call you, bride. I peeked in earlier but you were bathing." Nusaiba replied, "I came out, and I kept saying my greetings but heard no response. How is he feeling? I see he's sitting on the floor." They both sat down, placing him right in the middle, as Zarah explained, "I came in and found him sitting here too. He says he's sick of lying down." Nusaiba agreed, "Lying down all day is exhausting." Naseer leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes again. Nusaiba said, "I'm sorry, I hope you feel better." He gave a curt nod. She stood up, grabbed a pillow, and knelt before him. "Let me lift you slightly to place this pillow behind you; it will feel much better." He remained completely silent, acting as if he hadn't heard a word. Nusaiba teased, "Well, it's a good thing you stepped in. Senior sister and the others were about to outsmart me." Naseer looked at her, visibly annoyed, and snapped at Zarah, "Just leave her alone. Stand up and go do whatever you need to do." Taking the hint, Nusaiba stood up to leave. Zarah held her back, "Wait, are you really leaving?" Nusaiba replied, "What else should I wait for, senior sister? I've kept you both company, now it's time for me to go sleep." Zarah looked at the clock, "At 9:00 PM?" "Yes, indeed. Sleep early, wake up early." With a thoroughly sour face, Naseer barked, "For Allah's sake, let her go! Someone wants to sleep and you're stopping them?" Seeing Naseer's heavily darkened mood, Nusaiba pulled her hand away from Zarah's grip and said, "May Allah bless our night. My brother, may Allah grant you a speedy recovery." "Ameen," he snapped back aggressively.
Zarah sat frozen, watching Nusaiba leave the room. Naseer burst out laughing, seeing how Zarah had gone completely rigid and deflated with awkwardness. She pointed a finger at him and whined, "Stop snapping at us when we are talking!" her face full of a childish pout. He kept laughing at her, and they continued their conversation. It wasn't until 11:00 PM that he finally let her return to her room to prepare for bed, lock her door, and return to spend the night by his side.

Two days later, it was Nusaiba's turn to manage the household and the kitchen. That day, the house was packed with extended family and well-wishers, including their parents. The two wives teamed up to cook the meals and took excellent care of the guests together, working in beautiful, admirable harmony just as they always did. By the end of it, Zarah was bone-tired. Right after the evening (*Isha*) prayer, she took a bath, climbed straight into her bed, and fell into a deep, instant sleep. After getting dressed, Nusaiba headed to Zarah’s section first, but found the living room door securely locked. She stood there, hand on her chin, thinking, *Don't tell me senior sister is already asleep? Wow, senior sister!* Shaking her head with a smile, she walked over to her husband's quarters. 

He was lying down, the room feeling incredibly gloomy to him. His mind was entirely fixed on Zarah, and what bittered his spirit was the fact that she wasn't the one he would be seeing in his room tonight. He couldn't even bring himself to answer Nusaiba's greeting properly. She sat on the edge of the bed and said, "Do you know what? Senior sister is already fast asleep! She even locked her living room door." He muttered, "Good for her." From that point on, he refused to say another word, leaving her sitting there until she assumed he had simply fallen asleep. Hearing her lay down, he waited until she was fully asleep before grabbing his pillow, placing it on the floor, and lying down there instead. At 2:00 AM, she woke up to perform her night prayers (*Tahajjud*). Spotting him lying all the way out on the carpet, she was struck with deep surprise. She climbed down from the bed and stood over him, watching him. She debated waking him up, but a second thought suggested that maybe he just preferred the firm floor for his broken arm. Therefore, she slipped into the bathroom, washed up, performed her ablutions, and came out. Her movements woke him up, but he pretended to be sound asleep so she wouldn't notice. She tied her wrapper, put on her prayer hijab, stepped onto the mat, and began her prayers. Watching her, he had to secretly admire her devotion if he was being completely honest with himself. She stayed on the prayer mat for a long time offering supplications before standing up. She approached his sleeping form on the floor; seeing him exposed without a blanket, she worried he might catch a chill, so she reached out, pulled the duvet over him, and tucked him in securely before returning to her bed. Naseer lay there in the dark, his mind spinning with endless thoughts. He couldn't fall back asleep until dawn, his heart trapped in a relentless cycle of anxiety.

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For a whole month, Naseer received dedicated care from his brides—both the one he loved and the one whose care he resented. Out of pure bitterness, he didn't even want to hear a word of sympathy from Nusaiba, which made him feel constantly trapped on thorns inside his own home. He couldn't understand why his hatred for her intensified every single day, despite the outstanding kindness and maturity she and her parents continuously showed him. At times, he grew terrified of his own heart for its absolute refusal to accept her. His arm had healed significantly, allowing him to drive out and visit his parents to greet them. However, he had refused to touch the brand-new, luxury Jeep that Alhaji had bought for him until Zarah explicitly shamed him into driving it. 

He pulled up and parked outside Sageer’s tailoring shop, stepping out as the eyes of everyone in the area glued to him. Looking at him, anyone would swear under oath that he was a wildly successful billionaire businessman. He acknowledged the greetings of the onlookers and walked into the shop. Sageer teased loudly, "May Allah preserve Zarah’s pride, the groom of Nusaiba!" Naseer walked past him and took a seat on a chair. The shop apprentices greeted him warmly, asking about his health, and he responded. Sageer followed him, sitting on an adjacent chair, and said, "I was staring out the window wondering what big shot was going to step out of that sleek machine, only to find out it’s my own Alhaji! Have you looked at yourself lately? People would easily assume you have a hundred billion tucked away somewhere, my friend." Naseer sighed, "Drop it, please. I am terrified of both that mansion and that car. It was Zarah who forced me to drive it out." Sageer smiled gently, "That is wealth, Naseer. You’ve already stepped into it, and everyone has a destined path that Allah maps out for their sustenance. May Allah keep us close to those who love us." He paused before adding, "Now, strictly between you and Allah, don't you look at me and think I made a commercialized marriage for money?" Sageer stared at him intensely, "Why are you always so defensive and insecure? Even if it were a marriage for wealth, how is that anyone's business? Do you think if anyone else had the opportunity to pull this off, they wouldn't jump at it? Naseer, whether you call it a marriage for wealth or a marriage of convenience, ignore the public; everyone is busy dealing with their own lives. What Allah judges is the purity of the heart, which is why we must keep it clean at all times." Naseer let out a sharp breath, "I understand you, but don't forget that not everyone thinks like you. I hate suspicion. The moment I step out of that car, everyone stares, giving me hypocritical greetings. If I drive this, I become the talk of the town. You know I have zero patience; if I hear a slick comment, it won't end well, no matter how old or respected the person is." Sageer patted his shoulder with a smile, "May Allah protect the groom of two brides from his own temper! That won't happen, Insha-Allah. You've outgrown petty street fights; your only job now is to settle disputes among your future children at home, isn't that right?" Naseer let out a rare, genuine smile, "Drop that topic. You know how much I love kids, don't trigger my longing for them." "Oh really?" Sageer asked, eyes wide. Naseer joked, "Of course! What else is the profit of marriage? Zarah is taking forever to even show morning sickness; she's just playing with my patience." Sageer burst out laughing, and they shared a high-five. Sageer pointed at him, "Just Zarah? Along with the bride, they will both drop twins for you at the exact same time!" 

Changing the subject entirely, Naseer said, "Do you know something? I'm planning to start apprenticing under you to learn tailoring. I'm just waiting for my arm to fully heal." Sageer stared at him, jaw dropped. "I love how you drop random bombshells without warning! A man facing the stress of university studies and busy sports tournaments—where on earth will you find the time to sit here? You're going to shock everyone. Can a student really manage tailoring simultaneously?" Naseer replied, "I'm already shocked myself." "But why do you suddenly want to learn tailoring now?" Sageer asked. "My interests changed; right now, tailoring is what I want." Sageer laughed softly, "May Allah live to show us that day." "Ameen," Naseer replied. They chatted for a while longer before he went to greet his mother, Umma. His father, Abba, had already left for the market. From there, he headed to Zarah’s family home and had a long, pleasant chat with her mother, Inna. He spent the rest of the day drifting around town, intentionally delaying his return because he knew it was Nusaiba's night to cook, not returning home until right before the evening (*Maghrib*) prayer.

The two wives were sitting in the living room, both beautifully dressed up, when he walked in. They responded to his greeting with bright, cheerful smiles, welcoming him back. Keeping his eyes strictly on Zarah, he walked straight over to her chair and sat on the armrest. Zarah scolded gently, "Come on, my brother, away from morning until evening without even a single check-in at home? Is this how it's done?" He stared intensely at the movement of her lips as she spoke, completely captivated. Nusaiba chimed in, "Honestly, senior sister, I don't even know what to say anymore." He blinked slowly and asked Zarah, "So I am guilty then?" She replied, "Are you seriously asking? Anyway, it's none of my business; it's between you and your bride. I only lent her my voice to address it. Let me go prepare for prayers." As she stood up to leave, he swiftly grabbed her hand. Her sheer beauty completely dazzled him; the fabric of her outfit perfectly complemented her physique. She turned back in a panic, completely flustered, "Let me go so I can smell the onions I supposedly borrowed to speak up!" She looked at Nusaiba, who was watching them and laughing, and whined, "Oh, so you're just laughing instead of rescuing me? You're watching him twist my arm!" Nusaiba suppressed her laughter and joked, "I am perfectly capable of nursing both of you if he breaks it." He pulled Zarah firmly, causing her to fall back onto the chair right next to him. He pressed close to her and said, "Come on, my Fati, the moment I walk in you try to leave, why?" She looked at him sideways, "I need to pray, the call to prayer is already blaring out there." Without waiting, she outsmarted his grip and slipped away. "Zarah!" he called out. She turned back. He stared at her for a long moment before saying, "You look incredibly beautiful." She placed her hands on her hips, exhaled deeply, and looked at Nusaiba, "Did you hear what he just said? Don't let him sweet-talk you until he explains exactly where he went instead of coming home for lunch. I'm out of this!" She walked away, leaving Nusaiba smiling. He watched her until she disappeared into her quarters, letting out a sharp sigh as a heavy knot formed in his throat. He was forced away from the woman he loved and forbidden to enjoy her freely. People looked at his life and thought he was highly favored by this wealthy arrangement. What favor? His entire existence was miserable, completely stripped of joy. 

Deep in his thoughts, he noticed Nusaiba speaking softly. He raised his eyes—which were already turning bloodshot from pure stress—and asked coldly, "What?" She said, "I was just welcoming you home." He had heard her the first time but saw absolutely no reason for her to repeat it, since they had already welcomed him when he entered. She continued, "You stayed out so late and left us worrying. Even though you barely touch the food I cook, it would still be nice if you returned early so we could see you, especially given your health condition." He stared at her, and her gentle, maternal lecturing forced a tiny smirk from him. He shook his head and thought to himself, *"A stubborn child playing at being wise."* She noticed his expression, "Oh, so I managed to make you laugh?" He replied, "I made myself laugh; you know you don't have the power to make me smile. Or do you think you can?" She shook her head, "Who am I to do that? But you know you shouldn't be wandering around all day, right?" He shrugged, "Alright, my little chief, I'll stop. Can I go pray now?" She smiled faintly, "Run along and pray, I'll be right over with the food containers." *"Eat it yourself,"* he muttered internally as he walked away. She watched him leave, fully realizing now that love for Naseer was taking root in her heart, though she remained deeply confused by what was bothering him and why he refused to relax around her. Exhaling deeply, she stood up.

He had been asleep for hours right in the middle of the room on the soft carpet when a sudden, loud pounding on the door startled him awake. He checked the clock—it was a quarter to 4:00 AM. Nusaiba had also bolted upright in bed, asking frantically, "Who is that?" Without answering her, he walked to the door, calling out, "Zarah! What is it?" while throwing the door open. 

What met his eyes froze him. A group of massive, heavily built men dressed entirely in black from head to toe stood there. Nothing was visible except their bloodshot eyes. They were holding Zarah at gunpoint! Before he could even process the shock, the men violently shoved Zarah and the door inward, storming into the center of the room. Seeing this nightmare unfold, Nusaiba clamped her hands onto her head and screamed out a loud prayer for protection! Before she could even finish, one of the thugs delivered a vicious, ringing slap across her face, roaring, "Shut up!" She scrambled on her hands and knees to cling tightly to Zarah, the two women huddled into a corner as blood began trickling from Nusaiba's mouth. 

Naseer stared at them and demanded, "What do you want?" The most ruthless thug among them eyed Naseer’s arm resting in its sling. Raising his heavy, thick boot, he stomped violently onto the fractured arm, pinning it to the floor and grinding his heel into it mercilessly. From the horrific snap and agonizing pain, Naseer knew without a doubt that his arm had been broken all over again. Yet, out of sheer, stubborn pride, he refused to let out a single scream. He raised his head to glare at the monster using his arm as a footstool and gritted out, "Why the violence, servant of Allah? Whatever I have, I will give to you. To be completely honest, you are out of luck—I have nothing of major value here. There is only thirty thousand naira in total inside my house, and it's in that bag over there. Go take it." The thug struck him hard with the butt of the rifle, barking, "You're lying, you bastard! Where is the real money?" Naseer groaned, "I've told you exactly what I have." The thug began brutally kicking him without mercy. 

Nusaiba gathered her courage, kneeling as tears poured down her face, her voice trembling violently, "Please, for the sake of Allah, have mercy! Stop beating him! We have an immense amount of very expensive gold jewelry, and my smartphones are right here. I also have fifty thousand naira cash; I will give you everything! Please just leave him alone, he is badly injured!" Zarah, meanwhile, looked as pale as a corpse, barely able to breathe from sheer terror. 

The ringleader split his crew, assigning two thugs to escort each wife to her respective quarters to gather everything of value. In Zarah’s room, they found ten thousand naira—the remains of her dowry that Malam Umar had insisted she keep. However, Nusaiba's gold collection was staggering, containing pieces worth upwards of two hundred and fifty thousand naira. The sight of this massive haul was the only thing that kept the robber chief from beating Naseer to a pulp; otherwise, Naseer would have faced a lethal beating. To think they had wasted time invading a mansion like this only to find so little cash! The leader felt entitled to take his frustration out on the landlord's body. Despite the haul, they left Naseer battered and broken on the floor before fleeing. 

The wives rushed to his side, cradling him. Only then did Naseer feel a wave of complete numbness wash over his body, rendering him paralyzed and unable to move for a long time. Zarah could do nothing but weep hysterically, while Naseer kept whispering through the pain, *"Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal wakil" (Sufficient for us is Allah, and He is the best Disposer of affairs).* As time ticked away, Naseer remained completely paralyzed, sending his wives into an absolute panic. Nusaiba bolted into the living room, grabbing the landline with trembling hands, tears streaming down her face as she dialed her family home in Kaduna. Alhaji Basheer picked up immediately, knowing instantly that a 4:30 AM call meant a severe emergency. "Hello?" He heard Nusaiba's panicked, weeping voice cry out, "Abba! Armed robbers almost killed Naseer! He's lying right there, completely paralyzed and unable to move!" Alhaji’s heart dropped into his stomach. Gasping, his voice shook as he asked, "Did they shoot him?!" She sobbed, "No, it's from a severe beating, Abba! Please help us, they took absolutely everything, including our phones, so I can't even call anyone here!" He rushed to comfort her, "Calm your mind, do you hear me? I will call his father right now, and I am on my way immediately, Insha-Allah. Where is Zarah? Is she safe too?" She answered, "Yes, she is right here by his side." He replied, "Alright, she..."

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## 2. Literary Breakdown & Character Analytics

### Character Evolution & Coping Mechanisms
*   **Naseer's Self-Destructive Pride:** Naseer's emotional instability reaches a climax when he uses reckless speeding during a polo exhibition as an outlet for his psychological distress. This directly results in his initial physical fracture. His refusal to scream when the robbers deliberately re-fracture his arm highlights a toxic variation of *taurin rai* (stubborn pride/stoicism)—he would rather endure physical mutilation than show vulnerability in front of Nusaiba or beg his attackers.
*   **Nusaiba's Heroism:** Nusaiba shatters the stereotype of the fragile, wealthy girl. When the crisis hits, she acts as the protector. She takes a physical blow (a slap causing her mouth to bleed), risks her life by kneeling before armed men to deflect violence from Naseer, and uses her own expensive gold dowry as leverage to save his life. 
*   **Zarah's Paralyzing Terror:** Unlike her emotional resilience in domestic disputes, Zarah is completely paralyzed by physical violence, rendering her physically weak and reliant on Nusaiba’s quick thinking. This balances her character, showing that while she excels at moral and emotional fortitude, Nusaiba possesses high tactical crisis management.

### Themes & Cultural Architecture
*   **The Equalizer of Tragedy:** The home invasion acts as a violent equalizer. The class divides that Naseer obsessed over vanish when both wives are terrorized. Nusaiba’s wealthy possessions (the gold) end up saving the household from a potentially fatal outcome, ironic given Naseer's deep hatred for her family's wealth.
*   **The Cooking Roster (*Girki*):** The text highlights the domestic scheduling of polygamy. The tension built around whose night it is to cook sets up the intimate dynamics of the household, emphasizing the stark contrast between Naseer's inner warmth with Zarah and his frozen, performance-based presence with Nusaiba.

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## 3. Chronological Summary

1.  **The Polo Accident:** Overwhelmed by bitterness at being called "Nusaiba's groom," Naseer loses control while riding his horse during a match, leading to a violent fall and two fractures in his right arm. He is rushed to Shika Hospital unconscious.
2.  **The Safe Return:** After three days, Naseer is discharged. His deep resentment toward Nusaiba intensifies because he blames the marriage arrangement for his bad luck.
3.  **Domestic Intimacy and Interruptions:** While Nusaiba is bathing, Zarah sneaks into Naseer's quarters to comfort him. Naseer expresses his absolute devotion to her and his misery over the marriage. Nusaiba interrupts them, causing an awkward moment, and Naseer harshly dismisses her.
4.  **The Night of the Shift:** On Nusaiba’s designated night to cook, she treats the household guests alongside Zarah in perfect harmony. Later that night, Naseer secretly deserts Nusaiba's bed to sleep on the floor. Nusaiba discovers him, quietly covers him with a blanket to protect him from the cold, and returns to bed.
5.  **The Outing to Sageer's Shop:** Fully healed a month later, Naseer drives his new luxury Jeep (which Alhaji bought him) to Sageer’s shop. He vents his fears of being labeled a gold-digger. He expresses a sudden desire to learn tailoring to escape his current mental anxieties.
6.  **The Home Invasion:** At 3:45 AM, armed robbers dressed in black breach the house, using Zarah as a shield. They beat Naseer brutally, deliberately re-breaking his fractured arm when he claims he only has thirty thousand naira cash.
7.  **The Ransom of Gold:** Nusaiba steps in, endures a violent slap, and offers up her massive gold collection (worth 250,000 naira) and phones to save Naseer's life. The robbers strip the house and leave Naseer paralyzed on the floor. 
8.  **The Emergency Call:** With Naseer completely unable to move, a bleeding Nusaiba uses the landline to call her father, Alhaji Basheer, in Kaduna at 4:30 AM, prompting an emergency response from both families.