TEN YEARS LATER
HANEEFAH’S POV
Ten years later… life flet like sand slipping through open fingers. So fast. So unreal,. Ther ewere dsays I thought this moment would never arrive. Ten years beneasth the roof of this beautiful mansions. Ten years of laughter echoing through wide halls, of footsteps, prayers, shared meals, and silent tears. Every moment was beautiful, truly beautiful. yet deep within each of us, there was a quiet discomfort, a sacrifice we carried silently. But we carried it with love.
Ten years…
To others, it may sound ordinary, but to me, it felt like a century. A lifetime folded into a decade, and within those years, Allah gifted me treasures beyond measure. Four beautiful children. My walking on little feet. They became the greatest blessing Allah ever placed in my hands, and beside me stood my husbands, my companion, my support, my calm in storms. He never wavered, together, we raised our children not just with care, but with faith stiched into their souls. We taught them islam not as a burden but as a way of life, so deeply rooted thast even family stood in awe, wondering how we manage it all.
We never missed the essence of the deen. We carried it inour words, actions, our silence. We let it flow into their blood, into their character, into who they became, and this is only the beginning of our story.
And speaking of what made this family complete. Chief. The pillar of this household. The root from which every branch grew. Time, however has not been gentle with him. The old man is growing older by the day. though we tried… Allah knows we tried to make every moment of his life beautiful, time no longer walk at his pace..
White and grey have climb his hair, so full. His back bends now, even as he tries to stand strong. The hands that once built this family, now lean heavily on a walking staff. He can no longer walk without it. Yet his presence still fills the mansion.
Jamiu’s wife, Rahmah was blessed with three children, Maryam was was also blessed with two children, bringin her joy to five. And the third wife, Aishat was blessed with two children added to the one she already had, making four.
Together we gave chief something priceless, twenty one beautiful grasnchildren. More than he ever prayed for. More than he ever imagined.
Imagine the mansion now. no longer quiet, no longer spacious. Overflowing with life, with voices, footsteps, laughter, arguments, prayers, overcrowded…. Yet full. Huge… yet warm.
The little children birthed before ten years ago are no longer little. They are . they are grown teenagers now, with questions, emotions and minds of their own.
And we parents, especially we the wives, found ourselves explaining.. and explaining again. talking, guiding, correcting, listening. Because this too is another stage of parenting it was not easy but alhamdulilah.. we tried our best.. we cautioned them together, raised them together and we stood as one family..
All the grandchildren except mine, all the fifteen of them were sent to the same school it made life easier, one route, one pickup and one family bus, moving through the street like a small parade. Before long we became known, by the entire school. Some of our children were granted scholarships, not for excellence
Sometimes I look aaround and cannot believe this is my life. I have grown so used to it,. so attached to this way of living, that it has become part of my breath, part of who we are. This life, ths family, it has become us.
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Haneefah: [Opens the car boot, exhausted] Alhamdulilah… what a day… Khalid!! Come out, please… I can’t carry this alone… [Struggles with the groceries] Ahhh… Roheemah!! Where are these children?
Gate man: Should I help you, Hajia?
Haneefah: [Waves him off] Don’t worry, sir… that’s why we have children to help. That’s very kind of you… [Raises her voice] Khalid, don’t let me get you oo…
Gate man: [Shouting to assist] Khalid!!! [Moves to the window] Khalid… Roheemah!!
Khalid: [Opens the door and runs out] Sir!!! Maa!!!
Haneefah: [Angrily glances at him as he walks closer]
Khalid: As-salamu alaykum, Ummi. [Scared to take a step further, lowers his gaze] I’m sorry, Mum… I was in my room to wash Hazeemah's bum… she had an accident and messed up the toilet.
Haneefah: Walaykum salam warahmatullah. Where is your sister?
Khalid: [Points at the door] She is inside.
Roheemah: [Runs out] As-salamu alaykum, Ummi. [Embraces her]
Haneefah: [Rolls her eyes] Just pack the groceries into the kitchen… I don’t have the strength for this.
[They happily carry what they can, adjusting to her strength and struggles.]
Khalid and Roheemah: [In unison, as they open the door in uniform] As-salamu alaykum.
Haneefah: [Follows them, carrying the rest of the groceries] Is your dad back?
Roheemah: No, Ma.
Haneefah: [Greets her senior wives while their children try to collect her bag] Nusaybah, noo!! Don’t worry… Yusuf, don’t worry!! Thank you, dear… I really appreciate it.
[Enters the kitchen and finds Khalid.]
Haneefah: So, you haven’t washed the plates since… ehn? Khalid.
Khalid: Mummy, I’m sorry… I was… I was… [Scared]
Haneefah: [Sighs] No problem… I’ll go upstairs now, and by the time I’m back, this kitchen should be as good as new. I won’t say more than that… [Leaves the kitchen] Roheemah! [Climbs stairs and heads to her room]
[Two hours later]
[Khalid and Yusuf are looking out the window.]
Yusuf: Thank God my daddy isn’t back… I still have time to play football with them. Ibrahim! [Hurriedly grabs his plastic ball] Ibrahim, oya, let’s play small…
Khalid: [Anxiously waits, resting his head] Hmmm…
Hazeemah: [Walks up to him] Khayidd… Khayid.
Khalid: [Looks down] What again?
Hazeemah: [Breaks down in tears, stretches her hand] Khayid… Khalid.
Khalid: [Frustrated, carries her] What is it? Shebi, Ummi is upstairs.
Roheemah: [From upstairs] Khalid!!! Ummi is calling you!
Khalid: [Hitting his leg while carrying Hazeemah] Me!! All the time… [Suddenly hears a car horn as it drives into the compound, his mood brightens] Abu is back… look, Hazeemah… Daddy is home… Abu!!! [Happily opens the door, watching as he comes out from his car] Abu is back!!!
Anas: [Slaps the car door and locks it]
Gate man: Welcome, Sir. [Tries to take his bag] Let me…
Anas: [Squeezes a naira note into his hand] Manage, my brother… we gather dey.
Gate man: Ahhh, Sir… again! Thank you so much. At least let me help you.
Anas: Thank you, my kids will do that. [Waves as he moves to the door]
Gate man: [Smiles, watching him disappear from sight] My best couple in this mansion.
Anas: [Sighs, looking at Khalid and Hazeemah] My boy…
Khalid: [Bright smile on his face] As-salamu alaykum warahmatullah, Dad. [Head held high]
Anas: Walaykum salam warahmatullah wabarakatuh. [Carries Hazeemah in his arms] Mama… how was school and Madrasah today?
Khalid: [Takes his bag and stands in front of him, excited, expecting something more]
Anas: What? Let’s go in… [Realizes, drags him to his half-body height, letting him embrace his waist] I bought it…
Khalid: [Happily lets go and jumps up excitedly] Yes!!! Thank you, Abu! [Leads the way]
Anas: Anike, baby mi… do you miss me?
Hazeemah: [Nods] Abu.
Anas: [Climbs stairs, greeting the family one after the other]
Hazeemah: Daddy!!
Anas: Yes, my baby… [Pecks her cheek] Hmmmm… you smell like jute soup… your mom has fed you with amala… As-salamu alaykum warahmatullah. [Opens the door as the rest of the children jump on him]
Roheemah and Muhammed: Abu! Oyoyo!!!
Anas: Gbagi!! Ehhh! Mama Roheemah! The biggy of my house… [Chuckles as he welcomes their embrace] Now you can let go… you don’t want Abu to slip and fall.
[They let go.]
Anas: Where is my wife?
Roheemah: [Chuckles] Daddy said, “my wife.”
Anas: Yes… where did you hide my wife?
Khalid: She is taking her shower.
Anas: Alright… here. [Opens his bag; the children jump happily as they predict what is coming out] These children, ehn? Oya, sit down… all of you. [They obey] And… tada… [Presents chicken and chips, sharing it while the children surround him on the tiles]
Haneefah: [Drying herself as she comes out] What, are you still here? I thought I said you should… ohh!! That’s why… no wonder. [Finds a veil to cover herself] Eat fast oo… it’s almost 9pm… [Moves closer to them] Hmmmm… As-salamu alaykum, my love.
Anas: Walaykum salam warahmatullah… I will attend to you soon… let me settle with these children first.
Haneefah: Okay oo. They should eat fast; I want to dress up.
Anas: We are coming jare…
Haneefah: [Sits on the bed while waiting, caught up in the moment, admires her blessings in front of her, surrounds their father, then smiles] Hmmmm.
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Few minutes later.
Haneefah: [Coming back from her children’s room, opens the door and bumps into Anas, and he grabs her waist] Ahhh! [They land on the bed] Baby… [Chuckles] You scared me!
Anas: Now I have your time, you sexy woman… [Leans in going for her lips]
Haneefah: Hnmmm… hm. Hmmm [Blocks his lips] Not tonight…
Anas: [Admires her and begins to kiss her hands down to her lips and neck]
Haneefah: [Feeling it] Baby…
Anas: [Pauses] What?
Haneefah: Uhmmm… nothing. Carry on… I’m in the mood already… you are good at what you know best.
Anas: Hmmmm… [About to proceed but suddenly steps back, feeling dizzy] Ahhh… [Touches his head]
Haneefah: [Notices and hurriedly grabs him before he falls onto the bed] Are you alright? Baby!!! Anas!!!
Haneefah: [Panicking, shouting] Anas!!!
Anas: [Falls onto the bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling relief instantly, panting heavily]
Haneefah: [Worried] What happened? You… you scared me!! Are you okay? How are you feeling?
Anas: [Struggles to speak, gestures for her to calm down] Hmmmm…
Haneefah: [Breath shaky] Should I call for help?
Anas: [Shakes his head, declining, unable to speak]
Haneefah: [Tears stream down her face, seeing him in such a state] Why? We need to take you to the hospital… let me call for help… [Panting]
Anas: [Forces himself to speak] I… I… am fine… I’m just a little bit weak…
Haneefah: Little bit weak and you lost your balance?!
Anas: Go… go get my dinner and don’t tell anyone… please… I’m just hungry, that’s all…
Haneefah: Are you sure?
Anas: Yes!! [Finally sits up] I’m fine… see!
Haneefah: If you say so… don’t ever scare me like that… I almost lost it! [Moves to the drawer and brings out blood tonic and paracetamol] You have to take this after your meal. This is definitely stress. I’m sorry, this is my fault… I should have served you immediately when you arrived…
Anas: Not your fault… just go get it, please.
Haneefah: Okay, baby. [Wears her khimar and heads out, like she doesn’t want to leave him alone]
Anas: [Watches her close the door, then falls onto the bed, touches his head and groans in pain, breath shaky, struggles to get up, moves to his bag, brings out some medicine, swallows it, grabs a nearby bottle of water and drinks it, then falls back onto the bed, still panting] Ya Allah!
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[Few days later]
Tunde: [Opens the door] Sir… you have some special guests.
Jamiu: Some special guests, keh? Okay… let them in…
Tunde: Alright, sir. [Holding the door, signals them] Come in, sir.
Anas: Thanks, my brother! [Taps his shoulder as he leads them in, followed by Jamil and Junaid] As-salamu alaykum, brother! [Bright smile]
Jamiu: [Jaw drops] Ahah… ahhh… Walaykum salam warahmatullah, alfa nla!
Jamil: Baba olowo yii… [They exchange handshakes as they get seated] Remain this money for us, na.
Junaid: Abi na…
Jamiu: Special guests indeed… this never happened before?
Jamil: What do you mean? I come here often now…
Jamiu: Not you, jare. I mean all of you at once… especially with Anas…
Anas: No offense taken.
Junaid: So, how have you been, man?
Jamiu: I’m good… I’m doing good. Want something? Tunde!! Please get 3 Fearless with Amster Malt for…
Anas: [Cuts in] No, I’m good… I’m watching what I take these days.
Jamiu: Come with bottled water as well, then.