The phone rang urgently, and she sprang up, sitting upright. She picked it up, saying it was Mama, noticing it was late and she hadn’t returned home.
A.S.P Abdulrazak said,
“Tell her you’re not coming back today.”
Quickly, Juhud looked at him and said,
“Mama, should I tell her I’m staying out and not coming back today?”
Juhud spoke, fixing her gaze on him.
A.S.P stroked his beard and said, “I see all of you girls are the same. If you tell her that, she won’t say anything.”
Angered by his words, Juhud didn’t respond. She started packing her things, put on her dress, and began zipping it up, saying, “I saw the alert, don’t let me leave and hear you say you won’t give me my money.”
He frowned and said, “Alert again? What have we even done? I haven’t even cooled off yet.”
She put down her phone, stuffed it into her bag, and said,
“You useless man, Abdulrazak, look me in the eyes. Don’t give me that dirty look like I’m some woman you can treat this way. You know I don’t tolerate nonsense. I swear, I’ll gather people in this hotel right now. Who told you the barracks is a lie? Do you go to the barracks without money? Even to buy a cigarette, you need money, let alone a woman who’s worth your money and the one you pick.”
He took off his jacket and said, “Don’t try to mess with my head. Did I tell you I’m stealing to get money? I haven’t done anything to you, yet you keep talking about money. No, you useless woman, I’ll give you money, and you’ll leave, or should I peel the skin off your body?”
Juhud screamed, “Abdulrazak, do you even have sense? If I don’t see an alert by the time you come to your senses, I swear you’ll see what happens.”
She said this as she stormed out of the place.
She let out a long sigh, and he sat there, rubbing his head.
He didn’t know this girl was such a troublemaker until today.
Even though she had inherited it.
He said this to himself.
He picked up his phone and started searching for Layla Abuja’s number, thinking she probably hadn’t gone home since they met at the club yesterday.
He dialed, but she didn’t pick up even after it kept ringing. He sighed again; this girl had really finished him.
He opened his Opay app and sent her 50k. If they had spent the night together, he would have given her 200k. After sending the money, he put down his phone and lay on the hotel bed.
The phone rang urgently again, and he picked it up, seeing his wife’s name. He let out a long sigh, wondering why he kept staying with that troublesome woman.
He answered, shouting at her, “Why are you calling me? I’m at work!”
Her body went cold, and with a weak voice, she said,
“Father of Amatu, we still haven’t eaten anything. Even the loan I was hoping for today, I didn’t get it.”
He sighed and said, “I haven’t been paid either. Since the tea my friend brought me, I haven’t put anything else in my stomach.”
After saying this, he yanked the phone from his ear, turned it off, placed it down, and lay on the bed, letting out another long sigh.

POLICE STATION
They were utterly shocked when the police told them to go, that they were released.
Tahir said, “Zahid, see the power of God, right? We didn’t have their rights, and God has rewarded us. That’s how life is. If you don’t owe anyone, I swear, it won’t take long for God to repay you justly for what was done to you. May God guide us with the love of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.”
Zahid, feeling relieved, said, “Amen, O Allah.”
Abdulraman said, “Amen, O Allah, but that man was treated like a goat. I swear, he’s not the one with the wealth.”
Asim said, “Why are we still standing here? You know we won’t find a vehicle.”
They started walking, no one saying a word, until they reached home. Zahid began knocking on the gate, hoping God would make Nabeel come to open it for him.
Abdulraman and the others stood behind him, then they heard a greeting. It was Iya who came and opened the gate. She looked at them, gave a greeting, and said,
“The seekers have been answered, and they’ve released you. Since that youngest one told me what was happening, I jumped on a motorcycle, and before they could take you anywhere, they saw they couldn’t do it and released you. I was sitting there giving them a piece of my mind. Who dares to mess with the daughter of a scholar, the granddaughter of a scholar, the wife of a scholar?”
Zahid was filled with frustration.
He didn’t say anything, just pushed past her and went inside, with Asim and the others following, laughing and chatting.
He entered his room, sat down, and bit his lips. Truly, he would deal with this girl. So, despite him telling her not to say anything, she went ahead and spoke, showing him she was full of mischief.
While in this thought, he heard Tahir and the others enter. They sat down, and Tahir said, “God bless Areej. She spoke up. Honestly, we were avoiding trouble, which is why we told her not to say anything.”
Zahid sighed and said, “May God bring us to tomorrow. I’ll deal with her. This girl acts like she’s been given a revelation to talk. She never sees something and stays quiet; she always spills everything.”
“Come on, big brother, forgive her,” Abdulraman said, lying on the mattress.
He ignored him.
That was that.
Iya entered the house, saw everyone’s doors closed, gave her heart some patience, went into her room, and lay down to sleep.

FLASHBACK
As for Juhud, she left in a hurry and found a ride. She got in without even negotiating with the driver. She pulled out her phone, scrolling through it calmly.
“Little sister, hand over that phone,” she heard, as if the voice came from above.
Since she wasn’t alone in the tricycle, she didn’t feel scared. She looked up at him, frowned, and said, “You useless man, I’m not giving it up. Did your father buy it for me?”
A slap landed on her face.
Quickly, she got out of the tricycle and ran off, seeing they were in a muddy area. They didn’t chase her, so they gave up.
On foot, she reached home and started knocking on their gate. Hearing it was locked, she let out a small sigh, opened her bag, and took out the key.
She opened the gate, entered, and locked it behind her, removing her hijab while letting out a long sigh. She suspected Mama wasn’t home. She called her, but to avoid Mama’s scolding, she didn’t pick up when Mama called back. She returned to her bag and realized Mama wasn’t home.
As she approached the door to drop her things and enter their parlor, she saw Hajiya Rukayyah’s shoes.
Her mood soured further because she knew this woman’s visit wasn’t for good. She entered the parlor, pouting.
Hajiya Rukayyah laughed and said, “Here comes the fall, right on time, and look, the blessed girl is back too.
Come here, my dear, sit right here.”
Juhud sat down, her mood sour, as if she’d been told she’d die today.
Hajiya Rukayyah took her hand and said, “Relax, blessed girl.”
Mama quickly glanced at her face and said, “Juhud, who slapped you?”
Juhud said, “Phone snatchers. I ran into them, but God protected me. They didn’t take my phone. I escaped with just a slap, nothing more.”
Mama said, “May God protect us moving forward.”
“Amen,” Juhud said, looking at Hajiya Rukayyah.
Hajiya Rukayyah said, “Did you take the tricycle’s number?”
Juhud said, “Barely, I was shaken.”
“Well, may God protect us moving forward, my dear. I came with some good news, and I hope you won’t reject it,” said Hajiya Rukayyah.
In her heart, Juhud thought, Here we go. I knew her visit wasn’t for nothing. She said, “Alright, I’m listening.”
“Alright, my dear, blessed girl. There’s an Alhaji who saw you and likes you. He’s wealthy, and with him, you’ll rest, and we’ll rest too.”
She pulled out her phone and showed it to her.
Juhud took it, said nothing, stared at the man’s face, and handed the phone back.
She stood up to leave, and Mama said, “Juhud, what kind of nonsense is this?”
Juhud said, “Mama, I can’t marry him. He’s not for me. Just looking at him makes me want to vomit.”
Hajiya Rukayyah, starting to get angry, said, “Vomit? Do you sit around vomiting?”
“Yes, vomit,” Juhud said, entering her room. She was tired and had no time for this marriage talk. She lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
She truly loved Zahid, but she wouldn’t kill herself to keep him because he had no money, and work wasn’t forthcoming. God knows she didn’t love poverty or anything tied to it, so she had to find a way out. Even though marriage wasn’t on her mind now, she was getting what marriage offers, so why bother with the headache of marriage? Let someone else try to control her—she wouldn’t allow it.
With these thoughts, sleep overtook her.
She didn’t even bathe.

In the parlor, Jummai Dubai said, “Look, since Juhud said she doesn’t want him, I swear by God, she won’t want that man. So let’s just give up. Alhamdulillah, that girl is getting enough as it is.”
“Hmm, but honestly, this girl is something else,” said Hajiya Rukayyah.
Jummai Dubai said, “Oh, don’t worry. God will give her someone her heart will accept, someone who suits her.”
“Amen, O Allah,” Hajiya Rukayyah said, standing up.
Jummai Dubai said, “Aren’t you leaving?”
Hajiya Rukayyah widened her eyes and said, “What, secretly? I just ran into some rogues who could’ve broken my legs. I’m going to Juhud’s room to sleep.”
Jummai Dubai said, “Well, I’m leaving now.”
Hajiya Rukayyah said, “Come back safely. A car will take you, and you’ll enjoy the A.C. I swear, that Alhaji isn’t sparing any expense for you.”
“Just wait, it’s not like you’re standing still unless it’s for a woman. I don’t know what you all find in this, but everyone has their own burdens,” said Jummai Dubai.