KWARTON MANYA BOOK 2 COMPLETE BY MAMAN TEDDY

“Today, Umma was the only one in her usual state… It was time for the Isha'i prayer, and Zainabu performed her prayer and then went to Umma’s bed where she usually slept.
That night, Zainabu kept waking up repeatedly because of a dream about Habab. Whenever she closed her eyes, she would see him—the one she nicknamed ‘the one with Jewish eyes.’ Out of fear, Umma held her tightly and kept praying for her. They stayed like that until morning… then a deep sleep finally overcame her.
“I swear to God!!!”
“Hey, Hajiya Luba, what kind of oath is that? At your age, swearing like a child? Even if a child did that, it would deserve correction,” Alhaji Ahmadu said in a firm, mature voice, stopping Hajiya Luba from her repeated swearing.
“Well, you heard what I said! I will never agree for Habab to marry any girl except Sobreen. And if it comes to it, then he should marry both of them together. I even thought Habab would love Sobreen because of how deeply she loves him. And if not for anything, Sobreen’s status with me matters—her mother and I share the same parents.”
Before Alhaji Ahmadu could respond, Habab’s voice—who was sitting on the carpet—cut in with an unexpected answer:
“Abba, I agree. I will marry both Sobreen and Zainabu together.”
“You will marry both?” Adda Raliya said in shock.
“Yes, Adda Raliya.”
“Then prepare everything necessary—the bride price and all. Abba, please don’t delay it too much.”
“Alhamdulillah, Habab, I thank God! So I will live to see you become responsible with your family… Masha Allah. Raliya?”
Abba called her name, filled with joy at Habab’s decision. Meanwhile, Habab himself was lost in thought, repeatedly thinking about Zainabu and imagining how he would treat her. He barely heard what they were saying until he caught Raliya’s voice:
“Insha Allah, Abba, tomorrow I will book my ticket to India. We might find better and more beautiful wedding items there.”
“Alright, Raliya. May God bless it.”
“Ameen, Abba.”
“Give us some space, I want to speak with Hajiya Luba.”
They both stood up. She held Habab’s hand and they left just as Abba called his younger brother, known as Baba Iblo.
Adda Raliya didn’t even look at Sobreen as she walked toward Habab’s section. Although she was upset about Sobreen’s marriage, one part of her felt relieved that Habab had agreed to marry Zainabu as well.
He sat on the sofa, and she sat beside him, continuing to calm him down.
Sobreen, unable to hold back, entered the room quietly. She was afraid of Adda Raliya, knowing how strict and hot-tempered she was. She had also heard Hajiya Luba arguing that she would not allow Habab to marry any girl other than Sobreen.
As soon as she entered, Adda Raliya stood up with a stern face, gently touched Habab’s head, and said: “I’ll take my leave now. I’ll come back later.”
“Okay, Adda,” he replied calmly.
She left.
Sobreen stood there for a long time before finally walking over and sitting beside him. She held his hand, playing with his fingers as tears rolled down her cheeks. He didn’t look at her, but she didn’t mind. She knew he wasn’t the type who knew how to comfort a woman—he had never really done that, no matter how much she needed it.
He stood up and walked toward a small corridor where there were books and coloring materials, including an art board. She watched him from where she sat.
Slowly, she saw him pick up crayons and his drawing tools and begin to draw something she couldn’t understand.
She remained silent, watching him, tears still flowing from her eyes. Then her mind began to recall fragments of something that had happened years ago…
“My name is Habab Ahmad…”