Part I: The Resigned Heart

Mami stood up and followed Hajiya Fa'iza to the bedroom where Khadija was lying down. Khadija had wept until she could cry no more; her emotional exhaustion was so profound that tears could no longer flow from her eyes.
Mami quietly sat on the edge of the bed where Khadija was seated and gently placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, feeling deeply heavy-hearted.
"Khadija, please have patience, do you hear me? By God’s grace, everything will be settled and you will return to your husband's house."
Khadija lifted her deeply bloodshot, swollen eyes and looked directly at Mami.
"Mami, I can never return to his house. I am completely finished with this marriage. I swear by Allah, I cannot endure living as a wife to him ever again."
Mami’s heart skipped a violent beat upon hearing Khadija’s absolute refusal.
"Khadija... did he physically do something to you?"
"Mami, he didn't do anything physical to me. It is simply his utter contempt and emotional neglect. I can no longer continue to tolerate it."
Mami leaned in closer, adopting a soothing, pleading tone.
"I know, Khadija, and I know how incredibly patient you are. But you must hold on and find the strength to exercise patience just one more time so you can return to your matrimonial home..."
"Mami, I swear by Allah I cannot go back! I have completely given up on it."
"But Khadija, what if Allah has already decreed that a biological child will come from this union? I don't want us to make a hasty decision now, only to face bitter regret later on."
It was only then that Hajiya Fa'iza, Khadija’s mother, finally broke her silence to interject:

"The truth is, Hajiya Siyama, the question of a child or shared destiny between them does not even exist. Since the day that wedding was finalized, he has never once entered her bedroom. She isn't even worth a glance to him, let alone him extending the basic courtesy of intimacy or attention."

Mami placed her chin in her palm (Tagumi), completely stunned as she listened to Hajiya Fa'iza’s painful revelation regarding the exact nature of the marriage Yusleem had subjected Khadija to. Hajiya Fa'iza finalized the conversation with a definitive declaration:
"At this point, let us simply pray that Allah makes this separation the absolute best outcome for her. In two weeks' time, we will come to pack her belongings from his house. Please inform him of this."

Part II: The Gathering Storm at the Mansion

Her body entirely drained of energy, Mami stood up after offering her deepest apologies and comfort to Khadija and her mother. She picked up her handbag and exited the house, her mind clouded with distress and her heart burning with unbridled anger. This time around, it was an absolute necessity that she show Yusleem the full extent of her maternal wrath regarding his habitual practice of divorcing women without any provocation, reason, or fault whatsoever.
Hajiya Fa'iza escorted her all the way to the front gate as they continued to exchange apologies and words of comfort. Mami felt exceptionally guilty, viewing the entire disaster as Yusleem's fault, since his actions were on the verge of destroying her long-standing friendship with a woman she had known for decades.
Mamman, the personal driver, held the car door open. Mami stepped inside, took her seat, and he closed it behind her. They drove off immediately, while Hajiya Fa'iza retreated into her residence.
With a myriad of turbulent thoughts racing through her mind, they arrived back at the mansion. Filled with deep anxiety, Mami began recounting the entire heartbreaking encounter to her daughter, Surayya. Right in the middle of their tense conversation, they heard Yusleem walk into the house.
He did not walk all the way into the main living room, choosing instead to pause by the dining area. He was dressed in a fitted red short-sleeve t-shirt and black trousers. A potent, luxurious blend of Lailatul Abyad and authentic Real Oud perfumes radiated powerfully from his person. His face looked immaculately groomed, glowing with effortless, striking physical beauty.
Mami raised her voice sharply, ensuring her tone would cut directly across the room to where he stood.
"You there!..."
"Yes, Mami..." he answered smoothly, casually opening the lids of the serving flasks arranged neatly on top of the dining table.
"Come over here this instant!" Mami commanded, her face hardening into an expression of severe disapproval.
Halting his attempt to plate his food, he turned and walked directly toward the living area where Mami and Surayya were seated.

Part III: The Craft of Survival

Meanwhile, Hafsat’s daily life continued its routine within the walls of the orphanage. Lately, she had channeled her entire focus into mastering vocational handcrafts, following the institution's introduction of specialized vocational training programs and dedicated instructors hired to teach the residents.
Within an impressively short period, Hafsat had completely mastered the intricate art of hand-knitting and had also developed proficiency in operating mechanical sewing machines. Her close friend, Amina, was making steady, commendable progress as well.
Every single day, she and Amina would sit together, knitting complex patterns with their yarn and needles, unraveling their work intentionally only to knit something entirely different—such as traditional caps, socks, or sweaters.
Today was no different. They were sitting in their usual designated spot, sharing quiet conversation while each held a knitting needle and a ball of colorful yarn, working diligently.
Their peaceful conversation was suddenly interrupted when they spotted a convoy of massive, high-end luxury vehicles navigating the turn and driving straight into the compound's spacious courtyard.
Amina gently nudged Hafsat with her elbow.
"Hafsat, look! It appears we have high-profile visitors today. Perhaps the Honorable Governor has paid us an unexpected, surprise state visit."
"That is exactly what I am thinking, Amina," Hafsat replied, setting her work aside. "Whatever the case may be, let's stand up and go see for ourselves. You know the traditional Hausa proverb: *'Gani ya kori ji'*—Seeing entirely dispels hearsay."
Standing up in unison, both girls neatly rolled up their balls of yarn, secured their knitting needles, and walked briskly toward the central area where the rest of the orphanage residents were already gathering...
[The chronicle continues in the next segment...]

Story Summary & Critical Commentary

1. Core Plot Analysis

This segment serves as a crucial turning point, exposing the deep psychological and relational damage caused by Yusleem's toxic behavior while parallelly advancing Hafsat's journey of self-reliance.

• The Unveiling of Yusleem's Cruelty: The confrontation between Mami and Hajiya Fa'iza reveals that Yusleem's actions are not merely a case of emotional incompatibility; he practices absolute marital abandonment. By refusing to even enter Khadija's bedroom during their three months of marriage, his behavior borders on psychological warfare against his wives, cementing his role as a deeply flawed protagonist who requires massive character redemption.

• The Proverbial Shift (Gani ya kori ji): At the orphanage, Hafsat and Amina's reliance on the Hausa proverb "Gani ya kori ji" (Seeing dispels hearing) serves as deep dramatic irony. They are running toward the convoy expecting a politician, completely unaware that the mysterious young billionaire who finances their lives (Baya Goya Marayu) is the exact same arrogant man currently facing a maternal reckoning across town.

  2. Key Themes & Motifs

• The Luxury of Fragrance vs. The Odor of Faded Cloth: The author uses sensory descriptions to highlight the extreme wealth disparity. Yusleem is bathed in the scents of ultra-premium Middle Eastern oils (Lailatul Abyad and Real Oud), highlighting his untouchable status, which stands in stark contrast to the faded, exhausted atamfa cloth worn by Hafsat.

• Knitting as Metaphor: Hafsat and Amina's repetitive act of knitting and unravelling yarn symbolizes their current state of existence—patiently building a life out of meager resources, waiting for the structural pattern of their destinies to change.

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