1: The Kitchen Tensions & Subtle Jabs

When Uncle returned home, he found only Fateema sitting in the living room; Aneesa was in her own private quarters.
He walked over to Fateema, gently kissing her forehead and then her pregnant belly. Looking up at her with a warm smile, he teased, "I’ve cleared my debt, my Tee..."
She laughed along with him, playfully pushing him away. "Get out of here, you haven't even used any soap to freshen up yet!"
He then sat down where Aneesa had set out breakfast. Without bothering to look for Aneesa or call her out, he simply ate a small portion, as was his usual habit. Fateema felt a wave of satisfaction wash over her; she knew that because he ate without acknowledging Aneesa, Aneesa would likely explode with pure frustration inside her room.
As soon as he headed upstairs to his private area, Fateema stood up and retired to her own quarters as well, having intentionally sat in the living room just to witness the scene. 😆

The Classroom Confessions & Friendships

Meanwhile, after finishing their morning lecture, Amatallah and her friends found a quiet spot off to the side to sit down and listen to her.
Calmly and through her tears, Amatallah poured her heart out to them. Her friends began crying along with her, until none of them could even comfort the other. After shedding their share of tears, they quieted down, offering Amatallah comforting words and feeling immense empathy for her situation.
Rita spoke up and promised that she would share her own life story with them the following day, to which they all replied, "May God spare our lives until then."
Amatallah desperately wanted to ask them about the sharp remarks Aneesa had directed at her earlier that morning, but she worried that they might not fully understand—especially Goodness and Rita. Therefore, she kept quiet, deciding she would ask Fa'iza about it when they were alone.
When their final lecture of the day concluded, Goodness and Rita headed straight back to the student hostel, bypassing their usual routine of walking the others out because everyone was completely exhausted.
Amatallah seized this perfect opportunity to tell Fa'iza exactly what had transpired between her and Aneesa, as well as the questions Uncle had asked her that she chose to hide from him.
Fa'iza stared at Amatallah in absolute disbelief. "Are you really this naive, Amatallah? What kind of woman willingly gives up her scheduled night with her husband to a co-wife? The only valid reasons for that are childbirth or illness! You clearly don't know what real co-wife jealousy is yet. Look at me—as young as I am, I never allow my co-wife to find a weak spot in me. I won't engage in crazy, toxic jealousy, but I certainly won't let her walk all over me either."
"I don't understand, Fa'iza," Amatallah blinked. "Do you have a co-wife too?"
Fa'iza burst out laughing. "Oh, Amatallah! I suppose despite how close we've become, none of us truly knows the details of each other's home lives. Yes, my husband's marriage to me and my co-wife was contracted on the exact same day—mine in the morning, and hers in the afternoon. He actually has another wife besides us, but she was living at her parents' house at the time. He had a massive falling out with her and married the two of us out of sheer spite. Right now, family interventions are happening, and she is preparing to return since they've reconciled."
Amatallah was deeply shocked by the revelation. She silently thought about how unpredictable men could be, but aloud she asked, "But Fa'iza, knowing all of that, why did you agree to marry him?"
"What choice did we have, Amatallah? It was a family-arranged marriage. My mother and his father share the exact same parents. His first wife was his long-time sweetheart, but she threw a massive tantrum across both families when he announced he wanted to take another wife. It escalated so badly that he divorced her once because she disrespected his parents in her rage. His mother, being a proud woman, insisted that in addition to the new bride he wanted, he must marry me as well so we would become two new wives at once, just to see how the first wife would handle it. That's why our weddings happened on the same day—mine in the morning, hers during the afternoon prayer time. It's been almost two years now. The first wife never remarried, and you should see how miserable she looks now. She constantly follows him around, apologizing and begging him to take her back because they really do love each other. The family elders stepped in to settle the dispute, and she's actually returning the day after tomorrow."
"Wow," Amatallah mused. "Some women truly lack wisdom. I honestly see no point in a woman losing her mind and destroying her own home just because her husband wants to marry again. It only brings disrespect upon her, and everyone starts looking at her like a fool. Look at her now—she brought this upon herself; instead of facing one co-wife, she now has two. And her husband will never look at her with the same level of respect he had before."
"Exactly, Amatallah!" Fa'iza agreed. "May God ease this burning jealousy in women. Some women fail to realize that approaching a co-wife dynamic with political strategy brings far more peace and earns you way more respect from your husband. What's the point of acting crazy over a man who doesn't even realize the toll it's taking on you?"
Amatallah nodded. "You're right. If you show a co-wife that her actions don't faze you at all outwardly—even if you feel a sting of jealousy on the inside—she will naturally respect you and think twice before crossing you. You don't give her a single opening to look down on you, and your husband will never allow her to disrespect you either. That's how you build value for yourself, even in the eyes of his relatives. Take our senior wife, Fateema; the dignified way she carries herself handles jealousy beautifully. But Aneesa is a completely different story. She honestly baffles me."
"Don't worry, Amatallah," Fa'iza smiled reassuringly. "I'll teach you a few strategies. Although living with a co-wife isn't something you can just be taught in a classroom—hardship and experience force a woman to learn it, just like it forced me."
"Are you serious?"
Fa'iza laughed heartily. "I swear, Amatallah! If I told you the full story of what goes on in our house, you'd think I was lying. At least in your house, it's clear you're dealing with educated, subtle jealousy. In our home, our fellow new bride possesses a fiery temper when it comes to jealousy, and the senior wife isn't easy to deal with either!"
"May God guide us all," Amatallah said.
They sat and chatted a bit longer as Fa'iza broke down the underlying meaning behind Aneesa's sharp morning comments, opening Amatallah's eyes to the reality of the situation.
"So from now on, make sure you're fully prepared," Fa'iza advised. "But please, let me ask you a question, and promise to tell me the absolute truth if you truly trust me."
"I trust you completely, Fa'iza. That's exactly why I shared my personal secrets with you in the first place."
Fa'iza smiled and pulled her by the hand to sit on a low concrete ledge near the school gate. Patting her shoulder, she asked, "Amatallah, do you genuinely love your Uncle?"
Amatallah let out a soft laugh before answering, "You asked for the truth, so I will give it to you straight, Fa'iza. When we first got married, I didn't love him as a husband at all because I viewed him strictly as a father figure, and I was entirely consumed by the grief of losing my parents. But over time, seeing how deeply invested he is in helping me achieve my educational dreams, and knowing the immense love he had for my late father, I felt a genuine romantic love begin to blossom. Slowly but surely, the sweet things he says to me over the phone and the constant guidance and advice his younger sister Nazeefa gives me made me realize something. I realized that no one understands my worth or pities my struggles quite like he does. I now see exactly what my father saw in him when he arranged this marriage. I swear, Fa'iza, I love my Uncle from the bottom of my heart. My only issue is that I feel an overwhelming sense of shyness around him, especially when I remember his close relationship with my father."
Fa'iza gave her an approving nod. "I'm genuinely impressed by you. Accepting your destiny is the most important step, and I am certain this path is a blessing. Another girl might have rebelled and complained that he was too old for her. As for being shy around him, don't worry about that; the moment you two start sharing the same intimate space consistently, that shyness will naturally fade away. I used to feel the exact same intense shyness around my husband, Usman, but now? Hmm!"
They both burst into a fit of laughter, playfully clapping hands.
Fa'iza continued, "Now, Amatallah, regarding your co-wives, my advice to you is to stand your ground firmly. If you don't, they will treat you like a simpleton, and your husband will continue to view you that way too. Claim your husband fully and hold onto him tightly. From everything you've told me, I can tell he appreciates romance and affection from a woman. Make sure you get your fair share of his love before they wear him out while you're busy hiding behind shyness. If he asks you to take your scheduled night today, take it! If he reaches out to you, do not push him away—especially with how unpredictable life and death are these days."
"Oh, Fa'iza, stop it! You're making me blush," Amatallah said, covering her face.
"No, seriously, girl! If you sit back like a bystander, life will pass you by. Good men are hard to come by these days, which is why every wise woman treasures what she has. Don't let shyness relegate you to being the neglected wife in your own home. Furthermore, I'm incredibly proud of you for not running to report exactly what Aneesa did to him. You need to handle her and balance the scales yourself. Don't go easy on her. Once she sees that both you and the senior wife possess strong, dignified characters, she will be forced to adjust her behavior. Look at it as killing two birds with one stone: you elevate your own value and love in your husband's eyes, and you correct your co-wife's behavior so you can all live in absolute peace."
"You're completely right, Fa'iza," Amatallah resolved. "That settles it; I will put your advice to good use. As for Aneesa, I am going to show her my true, natural colors. I've realized she looks at me like an easy target. She doesn't know that Amatallah does not tolerate disrespect. My heavy life circumstances were the only thing that made me quiet, but I don't look for trouble, and I know exactly how to handle any type of person."
Amatallah added, "To be honest, the only reason I let her have that night was because of my own shyness around Uncle, and I also wanted to test her character. That's why I went to help her cook this morning—to see how she would receive me. All of this is part of the wisdom and strategies Anty Maijidda taught me."
Fa'iza clapped her hands and laughed out loud. "Excellent, Amatallah! It turns out you've got a sharp mind yourself, and I didn't even know it!"
"It's not even like that, Fa'iza," Amatallah smiled. "I just genuinely despise being looked down upon. I believe if I show you respect, you should return it in equal measure."
"Very true, Amatallah. May God grant us lasting peace. My senior wife returns the day after tomorrow, and I honestly don't know what our dynamic will look like."
"Well, technically, you are the senior wife among the new ones now!" Amatallah teased.
Fa'iza laughed heartily, holding onto a nearby rail as she stood up with some effort due to her pregnancy. "Listen to her calling me a senior wife when my body feels this heavy!"
Amatallah stood up too, laughing along. "It doesn't matter how heavy you feel, don't let anyone disrespect you. You are the senior wife in that dynamic!"
They continued walking and teasing each other until they both found separate tricycles to head home. Fa'iza's advice had struck a powerful chord in Amatallah's heart, sparking a firm resolve to handle things intelligently and subtly. She realized she needed to step up and claim her place in the household because she truly loved her Uncle, and she knew this marriage was for life. Why should she continue to disadvantage herself while Aneesa looked down on her for nothing? She absolutely hated when her respectful nature was mistaken for weakness. It wasn't that she didn't know her own worth; her deep shyness and the fact that she viewed Uncle as a father figure had simply made her take a back seat. But now, Fa'iza's advice had set her straight, and she was ready to act on it.

Section 2: Setting the Stage at Home

When Amatallah arrived back at the house, Uncle had already gone out. She found only Fateema sitting in the living room, as the children were away at their Islamic school.
Fateema welcomed her warmly, and Amatallah responded cheerfully, exchanging pleasantries.
Hearing their voices from the kitchen, Aneesa poked her head out, assuming Uncle had returned. She was still deeply resentful about his behavior that morning—how he had eaten breakfast, showered, and left the house without uttering a single word to her, and he still wasn't back. Despite her anger, she had come out intending to welcome him warmly just to spite Fateema, only to find it was Amatallah.
Both Fateema and Amatallah turned to look at her. Amatallah quickly averted her eyes, gathered her books, and walked toward her section. Just before stepping through her door, she turned and said calmly, "Anty Aneesa, well done with the cooking." Without waiting for a response, she stepped inside.
Both Aneesa and Fateema stared after her in surprise. The tone Amatallah had used was entirely different—it carried her usual gentle softness, but there was an underlying confidence to it. If you didn't know her well, you would never guess she was asserting herself.
Fateema quietly chuckled to herself, thinking, And so the real game begins. Aneesa, on the other hand, felt a massive lump of bitter frustration rise in her throat, completely at a loss for how to process or handle Amatallah's subtle shift in attitude.

The Evening Routine & Glamour

Once inside her room, Amatallah performed ablution and observed her afternoon prayers, which had come due while she was on her way home.
After finishing, she didn't bother looking for food. She simply ate some snacks she had bought at school, drank some water, and went to take a long, relaxing bath. When she emerged, she locked her bedroom door, wanting to ensure she had absolute privacy even if Uncle returned.
She spent her time playing games on her phone until the call for Maghrib prayer sounded. She could hear the noisy, cheerful return of the children around 6:00 PM, but there was still no sign of Uncle's car, which pleased her.
She performed her ablution for Maghrib, completed her prayers, and spent the time between Maghrib and Isha reading the Qur'an and reciting her evening supplications (Azkar). Afterward, she sat down in front of her vanity mirror and carefully applied a simple, elegant layer of makeup that made her look absolutely radiant.
She dressed in a Pakistani-style outfit featuring a sky-blue tunic paired with dark blue jeans that fit her perfectly. She combed and styled her shoulder-length hair beautifully. She threw on a small, matching sky-blue scarf. To an undiscerning eye, her look seemed entirely effortless and simple, but she wore an incredibly intoxicating fragrance—the exact aromatic secret Anty Maijidda and her traditional skincare expert friend had prepared for her. 😉

Uncle's Return and Moving Pieces

Meanwhile, Uncle M.A. was still over at Alhaji Sabi'u's house finalizing their strategies. It wasn't until after they observed the Isha prayer that he finally left. He made a quick stop at his family home to greet his parents briefly, having already paid them a longer visit earlier that morning, before driving straight back to his own house.
He honked his car horn about three times before Abulkhairi and the other children heard him. They ran out excitedly to open the gate for him.
The commotion outside drew Aneesa out of her quarters. She was dressed to the nines, looking extraordinarily beautiful and smelling divine. Her exit from her section perfectly coincided with Uncle stepping out of his car.
The children rushed to embrace him, and he received them joyfully, kissing each of them on the cheek as they returned the gesture.
Aneesa stood off to the side. He initially acted as though he hadn't seen her, which made her inner frustration burn hotter, but she suppressed her anger and offered a sweet, "Welcome home."
He turned his gaze toward her and flashed the exact charming smile that always melted her defenses.
Instantly dropping her guard, she smiled back. He took little Siddiqa from her arms, and the baby began babbling happily in her toddler language, making him and the other children laugh as they walked into the main living room.
He gestured for the children to sit on the sofas and wait for him while he freshened up. Setting Siddiqa down safely, he walked past Aneesa without a word and entered Fateema's quarters.
He found Fateema relaxing comfortably on the sofa with her legs stretched out, enjoying the cool breeze of the fan. A warm smile broke across his face as he approached her.
"O my Tee... relaxing like a queen, I see? Is my baby making you feel too hot?"
"Don't even get me started, my Nurri! I swear I am sweating so much it feels like I just stepped out of the shower."
He sat down right beside her, pulling her gently into his arms and kissing her neck and lips. "My Tee, that just tells me my baby is almost ready to meet the world. Whenever that intense sweating starts, I know the delivery is just around the corner. May God grant you a safe and easy delivery, my senior wife."
"Amen, my Nurrina," she replied, leaning in to kiss his cheek.
"Thanks, my Tee." She simply smiled warmly in response.
"Alright, my Tee, let me quickly go see Amatallah as well, and then I'll head up to take a shower. I want us all to spend some time together tonight."
"Okay, boss, we'll be waiting for your call."
He playfully raised a hand to give her a gentle tap on the head, but she blocked it quickly, whining, "Oh, my Nurrina, I'm sorry, please!"
He laughed, lowering his hand without tapping her, and teased, "Look at you, such a coward! So quick to start a fight but so easily frightened."
She laughed along as he stepped out of her room, his heart full of deepening affection for her.
Even before he fully emerged into the living room, Aneesa could hear his laughter from her quarters, causing her heart to burn with resentment. She quickly retreated into her room to avoid watching him.
And as he stepped back into the main living area, Uncle turned his footsteps straight toward Amatallah's section... ✍🏻

Section 3: Flashback: The Morning Conversation

Just like his usual routine, Uncle had woken everyone up at dawn to observe their prayers, leading his children out to the local mosque.
When they returned, he went straight upstairs to his private quarters to get some sleep.
Aneesa also went back to sleep for a while before heading into the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Not long after she started, Amatallah walked into the kitchen as well. They locked eyes, and Amatallah offered a polite, "Good morning, Anty."
With an air of haughty superiority, Aneesa acknowledged the greeting.
Amatallah didn't take it to heart because, even now, she didn't fully comprehend the bitter nature of co-wife jealousy. Having been raised as an only child by her mother, she had never experienced sibling rivalry or domestic friction, so she simply brushed off Aneesa's coldness as a personal personality trait.
Shrugging off the negative vibe, Amatallah smiled, stepped closer to Aneesa, and offered, "Anty, is there anything I can help you with?"
Looking down her nose at Amatallah, Aneesa paused what she was doing, glanced at her coldly, and then resumed her work. "No, go mind your own business. I want to personally prepare a special breakfast for my Dear this morning, if only to show him my appreciation for the wonderful time he gave me last night. After all, a woman who actually shares a husband's bed shouldn't be separated from the cooking duty, don't you think?"
Although Amatallah heard every single word clearly, her innocent mind couldn't fully untangle the malicious insinuation behind the jab. However, she was perceptive enough to know that the remark was intended as a sharp insult. She simply offered a small, quiet smile and said, "Okey, let me go get ready for school then, since I have morning lectures." Without waiting for Aneesa's reply, she walked away.
Aneesa glared at Amatallah’s retreating back, rolling her eyes and scoffing in disdain.
And to that, I say, "Hmm."

Fateema's Realization

Over in Fateema's quarters, ever since her husband had woken them up for dawn prayers, she had noticed little Saifuddin sleeping in her room, which sparked a wave of sudden annoyance. She realized that Aneesa was trying to play her for a fool by dumping the child in her room so that she and Uncle could have uninterrupted privacy to enjoy themselves.
If that were truly the case, Fateema thought sharply, tonight is technically Amatallah's scheduled night to host him, right? Which means Aneesa must have pulled some manipulative trick to keep him. Well, I am going to make sure I do something to utterly ruin her mood today before the sun goes down.
A mischievous, plotting smile crossed Fateema's face.
Well now, Senior Wife, Queen of the house, what exactly are you plotting against Aneesa? 😆

The Comforting Uncle

Ever since Amatallah left the kitchen, she found herself completely unable to forget Aneesa's sharp words. Every time she tried to push them out of her mind, the conversation echoed back clearly. A part of her heart began to ache with the bitter sting of the insult, and she finished getting ready for school feeling incredibly deflated and downcast.
She looked beautiful in a rich, oxblood-colored tailored wrapper and top (Shadda). The skirt was expertly fitted, making her silhouette look striking, and the top complemented her perfectly. She kept her makeup minimal—just a light dusting of powder, traditional kohl eyeliner, and a touch of lipstick, tying her headscarf in a standard knot. In the middle of packing her textbooks and essentials into her handbag, she heard a soft knock and a greeting at her door.
Answering softly, she bowed slightly out of respect to greet him as he walked in.
Uncle fixed his eyes on her, noting how slowly and quietly she was moving, looking completely lost in thought. "Khadeeja!"
He called her name softly as he took a seat on the small vanity stool by her mirror where she had just finished getting ready.
Keeping her gaze lowered, she replied, "Yes, Uncle?"
"Are you not feeling well?"
This time, she actually raised her eyes to look at him, her eyes instantly brimming with unshed tears. The memory of Aneesa's words was still eating away at her heart, and she desperately wanted to understand their true meaning, because the malicious tone Aneesa had used made it painfully obvious it wasn't a kind remark.
"Khadeeja!" He called her name again, his voice carrying more weight this time as he noticed her drifting off into deep thought. Her silence only confirmed his suspicion that something was deeply bothering her.
Startled out of her thoughts, she quickly replied, "Yes, Uncle, I'm listening."
"You say you're listening, but your mind is clearly miles away, My Best. Please, look at me and tell me what is troubling you. Do not hide anything from me, Khadeeja. Right now, I am your father, I am your mother, I am your guardian, and I am your husband. Whatever hurts you, you must bring it to me so I can wipe away your tears, protect your dignity, and fight for your rights, do you understand me?"
She nodded silently, fighting back the lump in her throat to keep from crying.
"That's my girl, My Best. Now tell me what's wrong. Just look at me as if I were your mother right now; I know you could never hide your pain from her, right?"
With a trembling voice, she whispered, "I swear it's nothing, Uncle."
"Khadeeja, I don't believe you. This is not how we parted ways last night," he said, rising from the stool and stepping closer to her.
He gently took the handouts and handbag from her hands, placing them carefully on the bed. Then, he placed both of his hands firmly on her shoulders, his eyes searching her face.
She immediately cast her gaze downward, staring at his feet.
In his smooth, incredibly gentle voice, which dropped to a soothing, slow cadence, he asked softly, "Who upset you in this house? Was it Fateema?"
She shook her head.
He asked, "Was it Aneesa?"
Amatallah fell completely silent.
Her silence gave him all the confirmation he needed; it was indeed Aneesa. He let out a long breath and pressed further, "It was Aneesa, wasn't it? What did she do to you?"
The tears she had been desperately holding back finally spilled over, tracing warm paths down her cheeks. In a broken, trembling voice, she managed to say, "She didn't do anything to me, Uncle. Truly. I just went into the kitchen to help her cook, and she told me to leave it because she wanted to handle it alone. It just made me feel incredibly sad. I keep wondering if I did something to offend her. When you're away, Anty Nazeefa and I always handle everything together, and sometimes Anty Aneesa joins us too. So when she sharply told me to leave the kitchen today, it just hurt my feelings... it made me feel like I committed a crime."
He let out another deep exhale, and without another word, he pulled her tenderly against his chest, holding her close and gently stroking her back to comfort her. They stood wrapped in the embrace for nearly three minutes before he gently lifted her chin. Using his thumbs, he wiped the tears from her face before leaning down to press a soft kiss against her forehead.
"Stop troubling your heart over this, do you hear me, my heartbeat? It's not because you offended her at all; I'm sure she just noticed you were getting ready for school. But make no mistake, I will have a serious word with her. From this day forward, do not ever waste your precious tears over anyone in this household again. You are a wife and a mistress of this house just like any of them, and I will personally make sure they all understand and respect that reality, do you hear me?"