ABOUT THIS BOOK
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Narma’s Collapse and a Family in Turmoil
Narma’s sudden collapse distracted everyone from Omar. They rushed to her, shaking her, but she was not even breathing. Panic spread instantly. She was hurriedly taken to the hospital. Rage consumed him so deeply he felt like strangling Omar and ending everything once and for all. Anyone who looked at their faces could see there was no joy among them — their hearts were heavy with anger over what had happened.
Late that night, Narma opened her eyes and saw her parents seated beside her, her siblings standing nearby. In a choked voice she asked, “Dad, has Faruk left?”
Her words made them realize she was awake, and they all turned to look at her.
Sen clicked his tongue in irritation and walked out of the room. If he stayed any longer, he did not know what he might do. Mum moved closer, held Narma’s hand, and said gently, “Narma, stop talking like that. Let’s go home first — you’re still in the hospital.”
“Mum, if I lose him, I will die,” Narma replied weakly.
Mum’s anger flared, but she hid it. “I said be quiet, okay?”
Narma fell silent, her head heavy as she replayed everything that had happened.
Not long after, they decided to return home. Seeing that she was relatively stable, they discharged her. No one spoke to her; each person retreated to their room to rest. She lay down too — not because she wanted to sleep, but because she had no choice.
Meanwhile, Mum found Sen standing by the window, speaking on the phone.
“Do whatever needs to be done,” he said angrily. “If it were up to me, I’d have him sent straight to prison. I don’t want any wasted time.”
From the other end, someone replied, “Calm down, Sen. You can’t send someone to prison without solid charges.”
“Didn’t I tell you he attacked me in my own house?” Sen snapped.
“That alone isn’t enough to put him away for life. The court decides that.”
“I don’t want a long process,” Sen said harshly. “What can we do now?”
The voice replied, “Leave it to me. I’ll frame him in a way he won’t escape. Your name won’t be mentioned. We’ll plant cocaine on him, release him, then alert NDLEA to arrest him. Once they pick him up, I’ll ensure he’s charged as a cocaine trafficker. Your name stays clean.”
Sen scoffed. “Lock him somewhere first. Make sure he’s beaten so badly he won’t even lift a finger. Teach him a lesson that will make him forget whether he’s in this world or the next. As for the other two, let them go — I want them to spread the message that Tiger will never return to Kano again.”
He ended the call and turned to find Mum staring at him.
“I warned you from the beginning not to connect my daughter with a thug,” Mum burst out angrily. “But you refused to listen. Now look what you’ve caused. A man like that came into our house and boldly declared his love for our daughter because you gave him access!”
Sen lowered his voice. “I made a mistake. I didn’t think it would come to this. But I’ll fix it.”
“Fix it? The damage is done!” Mum fired back. “Now what about Narma? I’m sure he used juju on her. How else would she be this obsessed after just riding in a car with him? Look at her condition — heartbreak, spiritual manipulation, even the slap you gave her earlier.”
“I’ll send her to London to rest,” Sen said firmly. “And we’ll revive Ashraf’s proposal. She always liked him before. That boy must have bewitched her. Once she recovers, I’ll marry her to Ashraf.”
Mum shook her head in frustration. “He’s ruined her reputation. Saying he loves Narma — just imagine!”
Sen’s voice hardened. “I’ll make him regret ever saying ‘I love her.’ I’ll show him I’m not weak. I’ll make him taste the pain I’m feeling. I’ll make him suffer for what he’s done.”
“Why not eliminate him entirely?” Mum said bitterly. “If he’s dead, he’s gone.”
Sen shook his head. “Death would be too easy. If he dies now, I gain nothing. First, he must suffer.”
Silence fell between them — both lost in regret and fury.
Narma’s Defiance
The next morning, their faces were still clouded with distress. Narma stayed in her room until she heard them in the living room. She walked out slowly, fragile and pale. She had lost weight overnight, no longer the vibrant Narma they knew.
Her father held her hand and seated her beside him.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Dad, I love Faruk just the way he is,” she replied softly. “I want to live with him. You can change him however you want — I don’t care about his status. He’s the one I love and the one I want to marry.”
Sen was convinced she had been bewitched. “Daughter, stop this. You’re not well. Let’s talk when you recover.”
“I will never recover if you don’t agree,” she insisted. “I was the first to say I loved him. Slowly, he loved me too. Why can’t I marry him? Please, Dad, don’t let them hurt him…”
He hugged her as she cried, stroking her back with pity, believing it was not her true will but spiritual manipulation.
Nabil muttered angrily, “He must pay for the juju he used on her.”
Narma lifted her head. “He didn’t use juju on me. I chased him until he loved me. I love him on my own.”
Najwa shook her head. “That’s exactly how you’d think. You won’t realize it’s juju because you believe it’s real love.”
“Dad, do you hear them?” Narma cried. “He didn’t bewitch me. I still love him. If I can’t marry him, I won’t marry anyone. I’d rather die. Dad, where did you take him?”
Instead of answering, Sen said, “Najwa, prepare. You’re going to London this week.”
“I’m not going anywhere!” Narma protested. “I won’t leave Faruk in Nigeria. If you stop this marriage, you could lose me!”
No one could argue. They pitied her deeply.
Mum calmed her, gave her tea and medication, and laid her down until she finally fell asleep, still murmuring his name.
Afterward, Mum turned to Sen with tearful eyes. “Find whoever bewitched her and undo it quickly before it’s too late.”
Sen remained silent — but he was determined to act.
Meanwhile in Kano
In Kano, Didi had been restless since the previous night. Omar had not returned home. She called his phone repeatedly — no answer. She called Bashir and the others — nothing.
By midnight she was wide awake, startled by every sound, glancing at the door each time, hoping he would walk in.
She knew Omar well — no matter how late it was, he always came home. He never slept elsewhere.
Now there was no sign of him.
And fear slowly tightened around her heart.
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