: The Mother's Eve Drama**

The festivities didn't end until around 12:00 AM. Safna, exhausted from chatting, got up and went to her room, changed into her sleepwear, and went to bed. Maryam was the first to return, brought back by Sadik; she also changed quickly and collapsed into sleep because they were worn out from dancing. All three of them—Salma, Maryam, and Safna—slept in the same room, and everyone sought rest immediately upon returning.

The wedding festivities lasted four days, and throughout that time, Safna did not attend a single event. Today was Friday, the day of the wedding fatihah for **Fareeda and Imran**, as well as **Salma and Mas'ud**. That evening, the bride Fareeda was brought to her new home. Her relatives saw her there first, and then she was brought back to Mom's house because she was to spend the night there before the "Mother's Eve" event the following day. Mom was overflowing with joy; she set aside an entire wing of the house for Fareeda and her friends, treating them with immense honor and attending to their every need.

The next morning, preparations for the Mother's Eve began. It was to be held at Imran’s family house because of the large compound paved with interlock stones. Decorators arrived early in the morning. Around 10:00 AM, while Safna was having breakfast, her phone rang. It was **Imran**. Her heart skipped a beat. She hesitated, but finally picked up. In her "golden voice," she said, *"Hello, good morning?"*

He replied, *"Morning. How is the tiredness? I called to tell you that you can attend today's program since it’s being held inside the house, okay?"*

She quietly replied, *"Yes,"* and he hung up. By 12:00 PM, the decorations were finished. Large canopies were set up, and the chairs were arranged beautifully. The area for the brides and grooms looked so professional one would swear it was a high-end event center.

The event was set to start at 4:30 PM sharp. By 2:30 PM, Safna started doing Salma's makeup. When the call for Asr prayer came, they prayed. After finishing, Safna went to bathe and told Salma to put on her gown since her face was already done; she would tie her headgear (*dauri*) once she was out. As soon as Safna came out, before even applying lotion to herself, she finished the bride's styling. The bride wore a dark purple lace worth 250k, with a light purple headgear and stunning ceremonial jewelry. Salma looked breathtaking—so beautiful that no one could look at her just once. Everyone praised Safna's handiwork. Only after ensuring the bride was perfect did Safna go to dress herself.

Safna wore a sophisticated sky-blue lace gown with silver accents, worth about 150k (a gift from her trousseau). She did a simple makeup look and tied her headgear so perfectly it looked like a professional *gwagwaro* style. She wore silver jewelry and carried a ceremonial silver bag and shoes, with a silver shawl. She then headed to Salma’s room.

The compound was packed with guests. Mom entered the wing where the brides were. She saw Salma standing by the mirror. She had entered intending to scold her, but when their eyes met, she broke into a joyful smile. She thanked God for giving her a daughter as beautiful as Salma, noting that of all the events, this makeup was the best. She said, *"You look gorgeous, my daughter. Hurry out, the guests are waiting."*

Salma happily replied, *"Thank you, Mom."*

Just then, Safna entered the room. The joy on Mom’s face vanished instantly. With a harsh glare, she snapped, *"What are you doing in this house?"*

Salma intervened, *"She's been here, Mom. She's the one who did my makeup."*

With a frown, Mom said, *"Well, I don't give her permission to go out to the program."*

Salma asked quickly, *"Why, Mom?"*

*"Are you questioning me? Can't you see the cursed beauty she has? When I walked in, I thought no one in the world was more beautiful than you, but the moment she walked in, your beauty faded in comparison. If I let Safna go out and stand with you, everyone's attention will be on her. I didn't invite her anyway, so get out of my house! Very soon, I will take action against you, because this fitna-inducing beauty of yours might change my son's mind and make him love you again. And if there is one thing I hate in this world, it's sharing blood with you. Who knows if you're even a proper human, since you don't have a clear lineage."*

She turned to Safna and said, *"Pack your things. I’m opening the back door for you to leave. Salma, you and the others come out now."*

She marched Safna to the kitchen door and pushed her out. Hot tears began to stream down Safna’s face. She headed to the parking space, only to find that another car had blocked hers in. She leaned her head against her car and began to cry a pitiful, heart-wrenching sob. *What kind of marriage is this?* she thought. Her husband hated her, his family hated her—only Abba and Salma loved her. She remembered how poorly they were received when she first arrived, yet now Fareeda was being treated like royalty. She felt she had to leave Imran; she was tired of the humiliation. Maryam was elsewhere with friends, unaware of what was happening.

Meanwhile, **Imran** had finished dressing. He realized he had forgotten his cap. Wearing a maroon *gezna* outfit, he grabbed his keys and went to his car. He opened it, got his cap, and was about to leave when he heard the sound of sobbing. He followed the sound and saw a figure. He recognized her immediately. He turned her around to face him. She looked at him in terror.

In a "bedroom voice," he asked, *"What happened to you? Why are you crying?"*

Wiping her tears, she said, *"Nothing."*

*"Then what are you doing here?"*

*"I want to go home, but I'm blocked in."*

*"And that's why you're crying?"*

*"Uhm,"* she murmured without looking up.

He smiled and said, *"Oh, Safna."* He dialed Salma’s number. When she picked up, he asked, *"What happened to Safna? Why is she crying?"*

Salma replied, *"Wallahi, it's Mom. She kicked her out like a thief and said she can't attend the party."*

Imran felt a surge of anger and a deep sense of pity for Safna. It was the first time he had felt pity for her since discovering who she really was.

He pulled her into a hug, gently stroking her back. A sophisticated scent hit his nose. In a low voice, he said, *"I'm sorry, Safna. Please be patient, okay?"* They stayed like that for a while. Then he said, *"I see Bash’s car isn't blocked. Let me get his keys and drop you off."*

*"Don't worry,"* she said. *"Just go. I'll wait here until the event is over then I'll leave."*

*"No, that won't happen. Wait for me, I'm coming."*

He went back to his wing where his friends were and said, *"Bash, please lend me your car keys."* They started teasing him, asking where he was going right before the program started. He ignored them, took the keys, and hurried out. He opened the car and took Safna’s hand to help her in. Just then, **Bash** appeared as if he had been thrown there. He stared at Safna with an intense look.

In a flash of jealousy, Imran snapped, *"What is it?"*

Bash, still staring at Safna, suddenly remembered why he came. *"I forgot to tell you where the car's security [button/remote] is."*

With a frown, Imran said, *"Tell me quickly, I'm in a hurry."* As soon as Bash showed him, Imran sped off, leaving Bash standing there in deep thought.

Even while they were on the road, Mom pestered Imran with phone calls, telling him to hurry because the program was about to start. At first, he kept picking up and saying he was on his way, but eventually, he stopped answering altogether. He drove straight into Safna’s compound and parked; Safna jumped out immediately and ran inside. She went straight to her room, collapsed onto the bed, and continued her crying. Her thoughts were racing. A deep love for Imran was flowing through her veins, but she remembered his promise: he had said he would divorce her once he married Fareeda. Her heart told her she had to accept this, because he would never love her or care for her the way a husband should. It was better to be divorced and find someone who would give her a life of freedom.

After Safna went inside, Imran took his cap and went into his wing. He checked himself in the mirror, adjusted his cap, sprayed some perfume, and was about to go to Safna’s room when his mother called again. He decided to just leave.

He sped back to his parents' house. When he arrived, he found Mom at the gate, completely out of sorts with anger. She started scolding him, but he simply apologized and went inside to the event area, where everyone was waiting for him.

The celebration was grand—the kind of party that words can hardly describe. Just imagine the wedding of a tycoon; it had to be the talk of town. Since they were the only two children in the family, no expense was spared. High-end souvenirs were distributed like Android phones, expensive fabrics, laptops, and more. There was a staggering variety of food. Near Maghrib, the crowd dispersed. Imran went to his lodgings with his friends. After praying Maghrib and Isha and eating, they started chatting.

Bash pulled Imran aside. “Brother, I’ve totally lost my mind since I saw that girl earlier. I can’t stop thinking about her. Please, who is she?”

A surge of jealousy hit Imran. He said coldly, “She is a married woman.”

“Married? Who is her husband?”

"That’s none of your business," Imran replied, turning to walk away.

Bash held him back. “Please, Imran, help me. I’m desperately in love with her. I’ve been looking for a girl like her to marry for a long time. Help me out since you're already married.”

Imran snapped, “I told you, she’s married! Why won’t you believe me?”

“If she’s married, what’s your connection to her?”

“Oh my god, Bash, you have a problem. She’s my sister! And her husband is my friend.”

“So where is her husband now?”

“I don't know, you're annoying me! If you don't believe me, go do your own investigation.”

Bash held his hand. “Put away the 'knife,' you're a groom, you shouldn't be angry. Fine, the matter is dropped.”

While he was with his friends, Fareeda called him. She used a forced, sweet voice. "Hello sweetheart, where are you? Mom said we’re going home together, but I don’t see you. I’m so tired and I want to bathe and sleep. Please come now." Imran found it amusing and said he was coming. He told his friends his bride was calling, and they laughed as he left.

On his way, he stopped at a suya spot, bought roasted chicken and ice cream, and went straight to Safna’s house.

Safna, having finished her crying, had gotten up to clean the house. Since she had been away for four days, it was dusty. Once everything was neat, she showered and put on a beautiful maroon English gown and perfume. She was hungry but felt too upset to cook, so she lay on the long sofa watching TV.

She didn’t hear him open the door. Suddenly, she felt someone sit next to her. She jumped up in a fright. He laughed. "Relax, scaredy-cat, it's just me." She sat back down. There was silence for a while before he asked, “How can you stay here all alone?”

She frowned. “That’s not your concern.”

“Goodness, I just wanted to know. If you can't handle it, I'll find someone to stay with you.”

"I don't need anyone," she replied curtly.

He handed her the bag he brought. “Here is some food. I'm going to pick up Fareeda so we can leave; she’s been waiting.”

With deep bitterness, Safna said, “Take your food, I don't want it. As for leaving, I’m not stopping you. But before you go, please fulfill the promise you made.”

“What promise?”

“You said when you married Fareeda, you would divorce me. So, I want you to divorce me now.”

He smiled. “The bride just moved in, and already I should divorce the first wife? People would think I'm unjust.”

"Are you even capable of justice? There is no justice in you, only cruelty. I hate you as much as you hate me, so give me my divorce papers. If not, I will leave this house tomorrow whether you divorce me or not." She finished her sentence crying. Imran felt a sharp pain in his heart. Finding nothing to say, he simply turned and walked out.

At 10:30 PM, Imran picked up Fareeda. Mom scolded him for being late. Once they got home, they went to their respective rooms. Imran went to the toilet to bathe. Fareeda refused to bathe; she just put on a nightgown, sprayed perfume, and went to his room. He came out of the shower surprised. “You're done already?”

She said flirtatiously, "I don't take long in the shower." She took his towel and dried his body. Seeing his skin made her heart race. He put on a jalabiya and sprayed designer perfume. He picked up the chicken and said, "Let's go to your room, shall we?" She agreed. They ate until they were full. Then he went out to stroll and exercise for a long time. When he returned, Fareeda was still awake. “You're not asleep?”

"I'm waiting to sleep next to my soft husband," she cooed.

“It's your first night, Fareeda. Aren't you afraid of me?”

"Afraid? Do you know how long I've waited for this day? I love you so much; if you hadn't married me, my heart would have stopped." She moved closer and started touching him. While most men are eager on their first night, Imran was hesitant, but eventually, Fareeda's persistence won him over. They didn't sleep until 1:00 AM. Imran bathed that night, but Fareeda again refused.

In the morning, he woke her for a bath and went to the mosque. When he returned, she was still asleep. He went back to bed, eventually waking at 9:00 AM. He dressed in an expensive ash and black fabric, sprayed perfume, and went to his father’s wing. Abba gave him a long lecture on being just between his wives, and Imran promised he would be.

Mom brought Abba’s breakfast. Imran took the tray and greeted her. She asked, “What are you doing here so early? They’re about to bring your food over.”

He joked, "Are you already disowning us as children of this house?" They laughed. Imran told her to send the food to Fareeda, but he would eat with Abba. Afterward, he took the dishes to the kitchen himself. Then he went to say goodbye to Salma. Maryam was there too, and they chatted. They were preparing to leave for Abuja. From there, he went to Safna's house.

Safna hadn't even touched the chicken he brought. She had slept until dawn, prayed, and read the Qur'an. She cleaned the whole house, lit incense, and dressed in a red and white Hilton fabric. She made a simple breakfast of plantain and toast.

Imran used his key to enter. The cool air and the sweet scent of the incense hit him. He stood at the door for a while, admiring her. *Why did Safna have to come from a poor family?* he thought. *If only she came from a family like Fareeda’s, I’d have no problems.* He greeted her. She looked up and saw how handsome he looked, but quickly looked away.

He sat at the dining table. "Won't I be offered food?" She ignored him. He watched her until she finished eating and washed the plates. When she came out, he said, “Go pack your things. You're going to Abuja with Salma.”

She pouted. “I'm not going.”

“I didn't ask for your opinion; I'm giving you an order.”

“Why do you want me to go when your mother doesn't want me there? I'm just waiting for you to give me my divorce...”

He gave her such a fierce look she couldn't finish the sentence. Once he saw she was sufficiently intimidated, he gave a deceptive smile and said, “I'm waiting in the car. Don't waste my time.”

She took only one set of clothes and they left. He escorted her to Salma's wing. Maryam whispered to her, "He let you come?" Safna said yes, but confessed she was still afraid of Mom. Maryam told her not to worry.

They snuck Safna and Maryam out the back door to reach Sadik's car. But just as they were about to get in, Mom’s voice boomed: "What are you doing here? You're not going to Abuja, are you?" They stood frozen. “If you've planned for Abuja, go back inside, because you aren't going anywhere!”

"I told her to pack and go," Imran’s voice interrupted. He walked over. "Hurry, the cars are leaving." To their surprise, Mom went silent. Imran took Safna’s bag and escorted her to the car. He told Sadik, "Take care of my wife for me, and don't speed." Sadik rolled his eyes. “You don't have to tell me.”

After they left, Imran went to Alhaji Sharif’s house. He explained that he had bought a house for Safna’s mother (Umma) and furnished it completely. He wanted her to move in today. Alhaji Sharif was thrilled. The house was in the *Gadon Kaya* area, near Maryam’s house, so the two women could be close.

They went to Umma's house. She looked much younger than her 40 years because she was finally at peace. Imran and Alhaji Sharif explained the news. At first, she refused. "I don't need a new house, this one is enough. You've done too much." But they eventually persuaded her. Imran even provided a truck from his aluminum company to move her things.

Maryam’s mother was also very happy. The new house was beautiful, filled with furniture from Imran’s own company. Safna’s mother called Safna, who was already in Abuja. “Safna, guess where I am? I'm in my new house!”

Safna was confused. "What new house?" Umma explained everything and told her to call Imran to thank him. Safna felt numb. She started crying. *What is Imran doing to me?* she thought. She told Maryam, "He did this so I can't leave him. Now Umma and Baba Sharif will never believe he’s hurting me. Why is he punishing me this way? I hate him!" Maryam shushed her and told her to be patient.

Back at home, Imran found Fareeda lounging on the sofa, grumpy because he had been out for so long. He ignored her. When he went to their room, it was a mess—the bed wasn't even made. "Aren't you ashamed?" he asked. “You couldn't even make the bed?”

She grumbled, “Well, you wore me out last night.”

He hissed and walked out. He hated mess; he was a very neat person.

Safna and the others returned from Abuja after one day. Safna went straight to her mother's new house. It was even more beautiful than her own. She was upset, but her mother was overjoyed. Umma announced she was going to sell their old house and start a business traveling to Dubai to buy goods. Safna just smiled weakly.

Life went on. Safna was in her final semester at school. Imran hadn't visited her in two weeks, though he visited her mother frequently and even ate there. Safna focused on her exams. Maryam’s wedding was set for a month away.

At Fareeda’s house, things were getting worse. Despite having six servants, the house was dirty and smelled. Fareeda was lazy and let the servants do everything without supervision. One morning, Imran woke up to a terrible smell. He found Fareeda eating breakfast, fully made up, while the house stank of a wet mop.

"Don't you smell that?" he asked.

"It's just the mop," she said dismissively. “Come eat.”

"Are you some kind of animal?" he snapped. “You have six servants and you can't maintain this house? Your room is dusty and the toilet stinks. Aren't you ashamed? You're a woman!”

She pouted. “I'm not used to hard work!”

"Shut up! You have to supervise them. If you don't change your ways, I'll deal with you." He left without eating.

Imran had a three-week trip to London coming up. He wanted to take Safna so they could reconcile, but he was afraid because of his promise to divorce her. He realized now that marrying for wealth or status wasn't true marriage; marrying someone with character and upbringing was what mattered.

He called Sadik about taking Safna, but Sadik told him their final exams started next week. Imran was frustrated. Fareeda begged to go, and eventually, Mom forced Imran to take her.

While Imran and Fareeda were in London, Safna finished her exams. Her mother’s business was thriving; she was going to Dubai twice a month.

With Maryam’s wedding approaching, Maryam’s father planned a trip to Dubai for them to shop. Safna wanted to go, but her mother said she had to ask her husband first.

"Where am I going to get his number?" Safna thought.

As if reading her mind, Umma said, “He just called me earlier. I'll give it to you.”

Safna smiled. “I'll ask him when he calls later.”