Zainab and Usman arrived at the house, greeted by her parents and her uncle. Formal pleasantries were exchanged, and Usman was offered a seat while Abu sat close to her mother on a seating mound, opposite her uncle. The room filled with a tense atmosphere as Alhaji Badaru cleared his throat before speaking.
"I was afraid something had gone wrong when you called," Baba said, concern evident in his eyes as he glanced at Usman, who seemed preoccupied with his phone. Usman raised his head, meeting their gaze before he began speaking, his voice devoid of emotion. "Well, this visit is unusual, but I believe it's the way to solve the little problem we had between us (him and Abu). As I told you previously on the phone, we'll be coming for some issues. The thing is, Zainab asked for a divorce, and I tried to appease her, but things are out of my control," Usman stated, glancing back at his phone.
Shock reverberated through the room, freezing the air around them. "What divorce, Zainab? Are you out of your mind? Didn't you know that Allah dislikes women asking for a divorce? You better get back to your senses. Divorce isn't a solution," Abu's uncle erupted with indignation.
Her father snapped, his voice laced with frustration. "You better follow your husband back to your home. Enough of this." His stern gaze fell upon Abu, who sat there with her chin resting on her palm, clearly troubled.
Usman looked at her, a hint of a smile playing on his lips as he hummed. "Hajiya, I am leaving. Do you want me to drop you off or pick you up after work?" His smiling face used to be one of the things she liked about him, but not anymore.
Sometimes, she felt violated whenever he gave her such a look. She glared at him and said, "As I said earlier, I need a divorce, and I am not going anywhere. Kawu, Baba, please help me end this marriage. I am tired. Wallahi, living with him is crushing me. I am already in hell. Although he has enough, he never cared about what I and his children eat, nor does he care about what we wear. If not for his mother, who is helping me, our marriage wouldn't last long. I don't know what he thinks of marriage, but to me, food isn't the only thing we need. We also need someone to provide for us. He sometimes leaves the house early in the morning when it's still dark and doesn't come back until midnight. In most cases, he comes back after three days, and if I ask, he will only hum," she blew out a little air before continuing.
"Wallahi, I have been enduring his reckless behavior for so long, and it's for your sake (meaning to keep her parents' dignity) and my children, but not anymore. I just can't take it," she paused for a moment
And added, "And as if all that isn't enough, he is now seeing another woman." Her voice trembled as she said the last part in a low tone, trying to conceal her tears.
Her father's face softened as he offered some words of wisdom. "Zainab, you must know that the beginning of a marriage is not easy. Every couple quarrels with each other, but with time and patience, the marriage will stick for years. Just look at us, here we are after some 20 years."
She shook her head slightly and said, "But Baba, you can't compare people of your time to people of our time, especially people like Usman. You guys are mature."
Her uncle chimed in, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "Yes, now it's different, but back then, we were just like you guys. In life, a person needs to be patient."
Zainab took a deep breath, hoping desperately that her parents could understand her pain. "If it weren't for him seeing another woman, I wouldn't ask for a divorce," Zainab groaned.
"Uhum, do you just bring seeing another woman as an excuse? Mind you, a man can marry three wives apart from you, the first wife. You better come back to your senses," her father responded, clearly exhausted.
"Yes, Baba, I am aware of his freedom to marry three other women apart from me. But it's not like he wants to marry one of them. In fact, they are just involved in illicit relationships," she said sadly.
"How do you know they are together?" her uncle inquired, searching for the truth.
Feeling confident that her parents might finally understand her, she said, "Yes, I saw him with Sa'ada..." Before she could utter another word, Usman, seemingly disinterested in the discussion, interjected.
"She only saw us holding hands, that's all," he said nonchalantly.
"Wallahi, he is lying. I saw them together," she insisted, her voice quivering with emotion.
"Shut up, liar," her uncle barked, growing more belligerent.
Zainab began to sob, feeling a whirlwind of emotions overwhelm her. Confusion mingled with her tears as she realized the gravity of the situation she had caused. Her uncle and father's uncontrollable reactions, coupled with the icy glare from her mother, made it clear that her decision had shattered their world.
For a few minutes, Zainab and her parents, along with Usman, sat motionless, enveloped in an eerie silence. Finally, Zainab found the strength to speak up.
"Please, Uncle, consider my feelings seriously. I never want my children to be victims of a broken home, but living with him will result in my death," she pleaded, her voice heavy with desperation.
Mtttts, her uncle hissed, "Fine, go ahead and die, but you have to follow him back," he said, his steps heavy as he exited the house.
Umma, who had remained quiet throughout, pleaded softly, "Kawun yara, won't you wait for lunch to be ready?" Her voice carried a hint of desperation.
"No, I can't stay here any longer. Otherwise, this girl will raise my blood pressure even higher than it already is," he responded curtly before storming out.
Baba stood up, his eyes filled with anger. "Let me accompany him. You better leave before I come back," her father uttered, his frustration palpable.
Usman, still seated, suddenly rose to his feet. "Umma, I am leaving too. I will come back later to pick her up," he declared.
Umma shook her head, a mix of sadness and resignation etched on her face. "No, Usman, you have to leave together. You heard what Malam said."
Abu, still engulfed in tears, managed to speak between sobs. "Wallahi, I am not leaving with him," she sobbed, her words choked with emotion. "I can't live with an adulterer anymore."
In an instant, her mother's hand met her cheek with a resounding slap. Before Abu could utter another word, another blow landed on her, leaving her stunned. "Abu, what have you turned yourself into? Is that how we raised you? Innalillahi, you are calling your husband an adulterer," her mother seethed with anger.
"Umma, please stop beating her. I am ending everything now and for all," Usman turned to her, his resolve unwavering. "Zainab, I divorce my wife, Zainab, three times."
Umma interrupted, shocked and disbelieving. "Are you mad? How can you make such a decision while you are angry?"
Usman remained unfazed. "I just want to end everything, that's all. And for the sake of our children, I will take them to my mother before I marry another woman," he declared, his words heavy with finality, before swiftly exiting the house.