As Usman stepped outside, his legs trembled, threatening to give way beneath him. Strange thoughts raced through his mind, "What have I done? What possessed me to utter the word 'divorce'? Ya Ilahi, guide me through this." He muttered to himself, perplexed by his own actions. This was not like him. Divorce, not once, but three times? Why did his inner voice speak these words? The sudden realization hit him like a slap to the face, making him wince. He clumsily made his way to his car, where he sat for nearly twenty minutes, unsure of what to do next. He lacked the energy to drive away, lost in a sea of confusion.
Still in his car, Usman saw his father-in-law, Malam Badaru, returning. "A'a Usmanu, don't tell me you're still waiting for her?" his father-in-law remarked.
Forcing a fake smile, Usman replied, "No, Baba, I'm leaving now, but I'll be back later to pick her up."
Baba smiled and nodded. "Alright, make sure you're back early," he said before disappearing into the house.
Usman knew full well that he was to blame for everything. Regret gnawed at his conscience. If only he could turn back time, he wouldn't have allowed this day to become a part of his life.
Leaving his in-laws' place behind, Usman drove straight to his office. He sought solace in work, hoping to keep himself occupied. He began organizing some documents he needed to review and sign. However, his mind wandered, preoccupied with countless trivial thoughts. His brooding extended beyond himself and encompassed his mother as well. He pondered over what he would say to her, unsure of her reaction. He knew she held Zainaba in high regard, and he dreaded disappointing her.
When Baba entered the house, he glanced at Zainaba, who was still seated, unsure of what to do. "Zainaba, you better be ready on time. Don't keep him waiting," he said.
Umma sighed deeply. "Uhum, waiting for what? He's not coming back. He ended everything between them," Umma lamented, her face filled with sadness as she looked at Zainab.
Baba stopped in his tracks, curiosity piqued. "What do you mean, ended everything?"
Umma took a deep breath before responding, her voice weary, "While you were out accompanying Kawu, Abu insulted her husband, hurling a barrage of insults. She succeeded in making him divorce her, and the worst part is, it was a triple divorce," Umma explained, her words filled with sorrow.
Baba's anger surged upon hearing about the divorce. He looked at Abu, eyes filled with disappointment. "Is being a divorcee what attracts you? If that's the life you choose for yourself, then so be it," he said, shaking his head in disbelief, before retreating into his room.
Umma shot Abu an icy stare, hissing, "Useless trash," before leaving for her own room. Zainaba sensed the brewing storm and feared the wrath of her parents.
Sa'ada sat beside her father, Malam Imranu, who occupied a worn-out chair. He cleared his throat, signaling the seriousness of the conversation to come.
"Sa'ada," he began, his voice grave.
"Yes, Baba," Sa'ada replied, her attention focused on her father.
"Why did you cause Usman to divorce Zainaba?" he inquired.
Caught off guard, Sa'ada's voice trembled as she answered, "Wallahi, Baba, I didn't expect him to do that."
He studied her for a moment, as if searching for something, before adding, "Then why do you keep going to their house, especially when she's not there?"
The questions overwhelmed her, but silence would only worsen the situation. "Wallahi, Baba, she's lying. She's jealous of me. I admit to seducing him into marrying me, but I never committed adultery," Sa'ada replied confidently.
He let out a heavy sigh. "Okay, but why would you do that? Zainaba loves you for the sake of Allah. Why her, of all people?" his anger seeped through his words.
"I also love him for the sake of Allah, with all my heart. Besides, they've broken up now. Please, Baba, let bygones be bygones. We are getting married. Just wish us well," Sa'ada said, leaving the room without waiting for her father's response.
He simply nodded, his mind filled with worry and a sense of resignation. "If that's what you've chosen for your life," he muttered under his breath.
Since the divorce, Usman hadn't answered Sa'ada's calls or replied to her messages. Though it bothered her immensely, she pushed the concerns aside and focused on preparing for their wedding. She completed all the necessary arrangements, yet she couldn't shake off a lingering feeling of dissatisfaction in Usman's treatment of her. She had no one to confide in except Zainaba, her closest friend and confidante.
Sitting alone in her room, her chin resting on her palm, Sa'ada contemplated her predicament. Suddenly, Maryam burst into the room, exclaiming, "Where is the bride?" Sa'ada managed a weak smile in response. "Oh, our bride, what's on your mind?" Maryam asked, concern etched on her face.
Sa'ada sighed and muttered, "Nothing, really."
Maryam tapped her gently on the shoulder. "Come on, girl, speak up. Holding your sorrows alone won't solve anything; it'll only make things more difficult."
Motivated by Maryam's words, Sa'ada spoke up, her voice tinged with sorrow, "Well, Maryam, Usman has changed. He never picks up my calls or responds to my messages since the fallout with Abu."
Maryam sat beside her, offering comfort. "You know better than anyone that he loves Zainaba deeply. If it weren't for his genuine feelings, he wouldn't have been tempted elsewhere. For now, give him more time to heal from the past," Maryam suggested.
Sa'ada's tears welled up. "But how much time, Maryam? It has already been two weeks," she said, her voice on the verge of breaking.
Maryam smiled empathetically. "Two weeks is not enough for someone who loved another with their whole heart to completely let go after a breakup. It may take years. However, I think it would be good for us to go to his office and talk to him. He may listen," Maryam suggested.
Sa'ada found herself convinced. "That's good advice. Can we go now?" she asked, eager to resolve the growing distance between them.
When Sa'ada and Maryam arrived at Usman's office, he was nowhere to be found. They had no choice but to wait for his return. When he finally arrived, he appeared visibly agitated. He forced a smile and asked, "What brings you here?"
Sa'ada stared at him in surprise. "Wait, don't tell me you forgot about our upcoming marriage. Are you still aware of the promise you made to me? We were supposed to get married this month," she said, her gaze fixed on him.
"I haven't forgotten, but haven't you seen what's been happening? I need more time to prepare and think about what to tell my mother. If it weren't for this divorce, nothing would have changed, and everything would be as planned," he responded wearily.
Sa'ada hissed in frustration. "What preparations? My problem is Usman. You're so clueless," she said, her anger rising.
He stared at her, his eyes wide open and mouth slightly ajar. "Sa'ada, are you calling me clueless?" he asked, anger seeping through his voice. "Please leave my office before I do something we'll all regret," he shouted, gesturing towards the door.
As Sa'ada and Maryam left the office, Sa'ada's tears flowed freely, while Maryam comforted her, assuring her that everything would be okay. Once they were gone, Usman slumped back into his chair, muttering to himself, "Stupid girl, she has no idea," his frustration palpable.
Usman appeared to be reading a newspaper in his office, but his mind was elsewhere. His phone, plugged in and charging, continued to ring incessantly. His secretary entered the room and said, "Sir, your phone is ringing," raising her voice to bring him back to reality. "Please bring me the phone," he replied.
He had missed seven calls from Sa'ada. Irritated, he let out a sigh, knowing exactly who was calling. Without checking the screen, he answered, "Haba, Malama, what's the matter?"
"Usman, what's wrong with you? Are you shouting at me?" his mother's voice filled his ears.
"Sorry, Mama, I didn't check. I just picked up the call," he apologized, his voice softened.
"Well, I'm in front of your house to drop off Ummi and Amira, but the gatekeeper said Zainaba hasn't been there for almost two weeks. Where is she? Her children want to see her," she inquired.
"Ah, well, she went to Katsina for a ceremony," he quickly replied.
"What kind of ceremony is that? And why didn't she return safely?" his mother pressed for more information.
"Amin, Mama," he responded before ending the call.
His mother sensed that something was amiss, especially when she recalled what Amira had mentioned earlier when they arrived. The young girl had said, "Hajiya, do you know something? Ummi and Abba have been fighting since yesterday."
Hajiya replied, "No," dismissing Amira's words, as she was the younger of the two siblings. But deep down, Hajiya knew Amira was telling the truth. "Malan Manu, we're going to my in-laws' house," Hajiya told her driver, who simply nodded before starting the car.
It was a somber moment for Hajiya when she learned about the divorce. She genuinely cared for Zainaba, despite her in-laws blaming their daughter for everything. She spent nearly two hours comforting Abu, hoping to provide some solace.
The children were overjoyed to see their mother again before Hajiya left. She gave Abu some cash and assured her that the kids would visit regularly. This was the only source of relief for Abu in her trying times.