Nana was drawing water from the well, pouring it into her bucket to wash the bathroom.
Barira said, “Nana, please, forgive me for last night. I didn’t shine the torch on you intentionally. It was a mistake.”
Nana said, “It’s nothing.”
Sajida asked, “What exactly did you shine and see?”
Barira burst into laughter. “I didn’t see much, but even what I saw wasn’t proper. But Nana… is your husband an Arab or a white man?”
Nana only stared at her.
“Since you came, we’ve never seen him. Now I saw him… he looks like a tall woman.”
Nana ignored her and continued with her water.
Sajida laughed loudly. “Your big mouth ruined it. See how she glared at you!”
“She thinks too highly of herself. Like she’s from some big family. If she really had a big family she wouldn’t be renting one room here.” They insulted her loudly, knowing Nana could hear — but she pretended not to.
After she finished washing the bathroom, she returned and sat before Sayyid. He brought out the remaining money and placed it before her.
She looked at him. “Where did you hide it? I didn’t see it earlier.”
He smiled. “It was in my things. You didn’t check. Inside a nylon bag. And there was more before — Habu took the rest.”
Nana checked the money — mostly Niger currency. The Nigerian money wasn’t even ₦110,000.
“Sayyid,” she said, “rest a bit more. Maybe tomorrow we’ll go back to the hospital for your injections.”
“No… remember we now have to buy food. If this money finishes, we have no source. If we had enough money, we would leave this house first before treatment.”
“I don’t like this house myself. Mama will send me a bag of pepper soon. When it arrives and business moves, we’ll keep selling.”
He nodded. “Okay. Later today, take me to the mosque.”
“You’re strong enough to go to the mosque?”
“Yes. I want to go. You’ll escort me and return.”
She smiled. “Alright. Alhamdulillah, you’re improving.”
She kept the money. Before she stood, he grabbed her hand and removed her scarf.
He saw the burn mark on her neck. He stared at it closely. “What is this?”
She brushed it off. “It’s nothing… just a small burn.”
“That’s not small. What poured hot water on your neck? Who poured it on you?”
“No one. I was drinking and it spilled.”
He let it go, though he wasn’t convinced.
She kept the money — Niger currency in the bag, Nigerian in her clothes. When the call to prayer sounded, he made ablution. Nana gave him his turban scarf; he draped it over his head.
When Nana came out, she saw Barira cooking in a filthy tank-top with no bra, armpit hair showing, wrapper blackened with oil stains.
“Barira, please tidy up. We’re leaving.”
“Go ahead.”
“No, I mean me and my husband.”
“Go on, nothing is wrong.” Nana stayed quiet, amazed at the lack of shame in the house. She held Sayyid’s hand and he came out. He covered his face with the turban — he couldn’t tie it properly because of his breathing.
Barira stared at him, trying to see his face. But he kept his head down, and they left.
They walked slowly — he was weak. They reached the mosque.
“Should I go to Ummi’s house and return?” she asked.
“I’ll go home myself.”
“You know the way?”
“Yes. Greet her for me.”
“I won’t stay long.”
He entered the mosque and Nana went to Ummi’s house.
As soon as Nana left, Barira ran to call Sajida. “You missed it! Her husband came out. She’s been hiding him all along. Fair-skinned with that hair I saw. He’s real!”
Sajida came out holding her water pot. “I missed it because my stomach is running from that zogala and kuli I ate.”
“You missed! He was escorted by a woman. I even remembered Gali — tall, dark with that back.”
“Heh, look at my own husband — short and ugly.”
“Yes, yours is truly ugly… long mouth like a family of frogs.”
Sajida frowned. “Don’t insult me. Better him than Gali who can’t satisfy you.”
Before she finished, Barira slapped her. A fight broke out; they insulted each other viciously until they were tired.
---
Nana told Ummi about the pepper coming.
Ummi said, “Let them bring it here. People in this neighborhood buy fast.”
As they talked, Saleh suddenly entered. Nana felt a shock — he looked worse than before.
He froze when he saw Nana. “Nana… so you’re here?”
“Yes,” she answered briefly.
“Nana… you should have been my wife now, but you ran from me.”
Ummi frowned. “Saleh, she’s a married woman. Leave her alone.”
“Because she’s married, we can’t greet each other? Nana, you okay? I heard they married you to some useless man.”
Nana stood angrily. “Ummi, I’ll go. Dish my food when you finish.”
“In a moment. And when Islam comes, give her the smaller bowl, I won’t give that one to you.”
“No, you will. Come to my room and take anything you want. Serve me in the small bowl. I cooked for Sayyid. I’ll eat this one.”
Ummi laughed. “Ah, Nana has swallowed beans again.”
“I swallowed millet, not beans.”
Saleh said, “So this is your neighborhood? I heard Islam comes to your house. They said your husband is a guard.”
Ummi snapped. “Saleh, get out! Who invited you? You even got our father arrested. Leave!”
He left quietly.
Ummi served Nana rice and spinach soup with butter — Nana salivated with joy. Then Ummi brought her dried fish crumbs.
“Here, I saved this for you.”
Nana smiled gratefully. She left.
Walking through an alley, Saleh called her. She walked faster.
“Nana please wait!”
“I’ll scream ‘adulterer’ right now. Leave me alone!”
He backed off immediately.
She hurried home. She feared Sayyid might see them. Suddenly she saw him sitting alone on a small block, leaning on the wall. It startled her.
“Sayyid! What are you doing here? Why didn’t you go inside?”
“I can’t go in alone.”
She offered him her hand. “Let’s go.”
When they entered the compound, all the women were loud and chaotic. He covered his face. Nana greeted them; they fell silent, staring at them — especially at their hands holding each other.
She pulled him inside.
“Nana, you’re back,” Sajida said, struggling with her wrapper.
“Yes, greetings.”
He opened the door and entered.
As soon as they disappeared, the women screamed. “If it’s a man, the girl has finished enjoying!”
Inside their room, Sayyid stared at her and said:
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