Tmw Book 2 Complete Hausa Novel

His mind was focused on the links he was attaching, so he did not notice Siyama and the others.

Abba and Umma, however, first sensed his presence through the fragrance of his perfume, which announced that he had arrived.

Umma looked at him with pride.

Sadiq held a special place in her heart. Even though she had not spent all her life with him, there was a strong bond between her and the child she gave birth to.

Abba also looked at him with great pride, feeling a light in his heart that Allah had granted him Sadiq at a time when he had already lost hope of having an heir.

Mama also looked at him, measuring his dignity and presence. She could not recall a single moment when the issue of him not being her biological child had ever caused a problem between her and Sadiq. He had never shown any difference between her and Umma, nor between her children and Umma’s children.

Her heart could not feel resentment toward him because of his many good qualities.

Siyama and Salima had already entered Mama’s section and did not notice him.

But Sultana saw him. That was why she stopped abruptly, staring at him as her heart began to pound.

It was only now, as she had grown more mature and met new friends at school, that she began to realize Sadiq’s importance in her life.

She did not realize she had been standing there staring at him. She became lost in pride that this handsome and impressive young man now belonged to her alone. Pride filled her chest, along with the love for Sadiq that she had always hidden in her heart.

At the same time, jealousy suddenly overwhelmed her at the thought that other women might look at what belonged to her.

Sultana had not yet fully understood herself, but she had already realized one thing.

She was among the women with intense jealousy—almost a mad jealousy. She could not bear to see anyone share what she loved. She did not want to spend her life the way her mother had, leaving the world while Baba continued living with other wives.

She did not want to marry and have to share her husband with another woman like Umma and Mama. She did not want to see another woman bearing children for the man she loved while she watched. She did not want her children to grow up like Salima and Aunty Surayya.

More than anything, if something belonged to her, she wanted it to be hers forever—hers alone—without ever having to share it with anyone.

Lost in these thoughts, she did not realize that he had finished attaching the links. When he finally raised his head, he saw Umma and the others smiling at him.

Quickly, he returned their smiles, but he soon turned his face away because he felt ashamed before Umma and Abba for what he had done without their knowledge.

As he looked to the side, he saw Sultana standing at the doorway of Umma’s section, wearing her school uniform with her bag hanging on her back.

Two things surprised him.

First, she had gained weight—she no longer looked like the thin little girl he remembered.

Second, the way she stared at him. Although they had grown up under the same roof, he had never known Sultana to look at someone like that. She had always been a shy and quiet girl.

He was surprised that he found himself looking straight into her eyes while she looked back at him without turning away.

He did not look away until he heard Umma calling his name. He then took a deep breath and walked toward her, bending slightly to greet her.

Just like Abba, she hugged him and said,

“My youngest has grown so much.”

Smiling, he said,

“Umma, are you well?”

As he gently touched her face, he said silently in his heart, Umma, forgive me—I have wronged you.

Happily, Umma held his hand and said,

“I am perfectly fine, but I have missed my youngest.”

He nodded and said,

“Umma, I will have a long holiday this time. Your youngest will stay with his Umma for a long time.”

Umma beamed with joy and looked at Abba before saying,

“Really, Auta?”

He nodded again, and she hugged him tightly, saying,

“May Allah bless you, Abubakar Sadiq.”

He and Abba both replied, “Ameen, Ameen.”

Only then did he notice Mama. He released Umma and walked toward her. Bending slightly, he greeted her, and she reached out to lift him up, responding warmly.