FATE

Chapter 3

~Somewhere in the mid 90s~

Bauchi, Azare

"Be the good girl that you are Hannatu and follow your husband. Do as he says provided that it doesn't go against the teachings of Islam for your jannah lies under his feet."

Hannatu couldn't answer her father Mal. Audu. The 14 year old cried profusely as she was being conveyed to her husband's house.

"It's okay, stop crying, Muhammadu is your cousin. He will do right by you insha Allah. Remember to always pray over everything and Allah will be your sure guide insha Allah." Her father said.

Her paternal aunt Baba Asabe brought her out of her father's room. "Let her go bid farewell to her mother" Gwaggo Lami her maternal aunt ordered.

All Hannatu's mum said was "Allah yayi miki albarka, ya baku zaman lafiya (may God bless you and may your marriage be blessed)." As she sobbed silently.

Hannatu was conveyed to her husband's house by her aunts, her mother's best friend and few neighbors.

It was a big family house. Her uncle's house. It was the house her grandparents used to live in. The house she used to play in when she was little.

After her grandparents' demise, her father alongside his siblings inherited the house. Muhammadu's father, her uncle Kawu Jafaru bought his brother's share not long ago as his children were getting married.

He renovated parts of the the house for his children Muhammadu, Umaru and Musa. He however didn't buy his female siblings' share.

"They should have somewhere to return to should anything happen" he always says. And because of that, Baba Asabe, Baba Jummai and Baba Salamatu have their own part where they stay when ever they come visit.

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Mal. Musa and Hanne, her late grandparents had 6 children.

Jafaru, Abdullahi, Ishaq, Aisha (Asabe), Maryama (Jummai) and Salamatu.

Kawu Jafaru has 2 wives and 10 children. His wives Rakiya and Magajiya each have 5 kids of their own.

Muhammadu, Musa, Indo, Rabi and Sani are Rakiya's. While Umar, Hauwa'u, Bashari, Halimatu and Hafsatu are Magajiya's.

Abdullahi (Audu) has 1 wife Bilkisu and 2 kids Hannatu and Ahmadu.

Ishaq died in a fire accident. He was married with a child who was born shortly after his death and was named after him. Ishaq (Baba).

Aisha, Maryama and Salamatu were all married too. Aisha(Asabe) has no kids while Maryama and Salamatu have 5 and 3 children respectively.

*** *** ***

Hannatu and Muhammadu's marriage was arranged by Kawu Jafaru just like few other marriages among her cousins. They hardly marry outsiders.

Hannatu and Muhammadu lived in a room just like Muhammadu's siblings and their wives. The brothers and their wives shared a toilet.

And all the house hold shared a big kitchen which was inside the main house. They take turns in cooking. Hannatu mostly cook lunch twice a week sometimes thrice.

Their marriage was a beautiful one. They had a mutual understanding and share their thoughts with each other.

They hardly fight, but just like every other couple they had their differences. They however respect each other's opinions.

And that's what kept them going. Hannatu learnt to apologize whenever she's wrong and even times she knows she's right.

Muhammadu worked on his father's large farm alongside his brothers. He began traveling to different places to supply their goods.