“Haba Sadiya! Where is your character? You haven’t even performed ablution yet, and you want to fight this unruly girl?”

Sumy scoffed,

“Mama, you fear Allah? Stop pretending you don’t favor some children over others. I know you hate me because I’m not married and I don’t bring you worldly benefits. Pay me my food money—your grandchild ate it!”

Mama’s anger flared.

“If I followed my heart, I would insult you today. But take it easy in life. I am your mother—you raise your voice at me like this? Haven’t you learned manners? Do you forget a mother’s position and the sacrifices she made?”

She picked four hundred naira, threw it at Sumy, and said,

“Here is your food money.”

Without shame, Sumy collected it and went into her bedroom, unaffected by Mama’s words.

Mama returned and sat down heavily, burning with anger. Sadiya said softly,

“Mama, please forgive Sumy’s behavior. She never listens.”

Mama sighed,

“What choice do I have, Halima? Patience is compulsory. Otherwise, Sumy’s behavior will break my heart. They said at the end of time servants will give birth to their masters—and we are already seeing the signs.”

Sadiya said,

“May Allah guide her.”

Sadiya then began explaining how Nasir mistreated her, but Mama stopped her. Sadiya burst into tears.

“Mama, why won’t my problems be solved? Is this how I’ll continue living? I suffer from my husband and his family. His siblings disrespect me, his mother hates me—even Kalifa, who did nothing wrong, is treated like a stranger.”

At that moment, Baba returned from the mosque. As he approached his seat, he heard raised voices. When he got closer to the door, he listened and recognized Sadiya’s voice, though he couldn’t make out her words.

Angrily, he pulled aside the curtain and saw Sadiya crying. His heart skipped. Mama panicked at his sudden appearance. Sadiya began to tremble.

Baba narrowed his eyes and entered without removing his shoes.

“What nonsense are you doing here, Sadiya? Has Nasir died?”

Inside her heart, she thought,

“If only he had died, I would have been free from this suffering.”

Out loud, respectfully, she said,

“No Baba, he’s alive and well. I just came to visit you today.”

He cut her off harshly,

“Why are you restless? Did I sell a goat so you’d come eat my food? You came with your child for a whole day?”

He turned to Mama.

“Why is she crying?”

Before Mama could speak, he interrupted,