ABOUT THIS BOOK
Description
An Unexpected Collapse
The girl continued her strange murmuring until she collapsed, unconscious. Nuraim, frozen for a while, rushed to carry her into his car and drove home at high speed. Upon arrival, he headed straight to Mommy’s section of the house, cradling her limp body. Finding the sitting room empty, he laid her gently on the couch and called Jabir. When Jabir picked up, Nuraim simply said, “Come quickly,” before hanging up and rushing upstairs.
Recognizing the Face of the Past
Upstairs, Mommy sat chatting with Hameed and Hameeda. She looked up, surprised.
“Son, what’s wrong? You look shaken,” she asked.
“Mommy, I’ll explain everything. Just come with me,” he urged.
They descended together. From a distance, Mommy saw the girl unconscious and instantly felt her heart drop. When she approached, she froze. Pointing at the girl’s face, she exclaimed, “Sajeeda! This is her face! Nuraim, where did you find my sister’s daughter?” she cried, hugging the girl tightly.
“Mommy, calm down. This isn’t Sajeeda. Please look closely, she’s just a girl,” Nuraim tried to explain.
“No, Nuraim. If she isn’t Sajeeda, she’s definitely her daughter!” Mommy insisted.
It took time, but Nuraim managed to calm her. Moments later, Jabir arrived.
“Where’s Baba?” Nuraim asked immediately.
“He’s outside,” Jabir replied.
The Arrival of the Wise Elder
Nuraim rushed out and found Baba—a dignified old man dressed in white. They exchanged greetings, and Baba was led inside, where he observed the unconscious girl solemnly.
“Innalillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un,” Baba began. “This girl has been deeply afflicted. A powerful dark spirit clings to her. Removing it won’t be easy.”
“What’s the solution, Baba? I’ll do whatever it takes to help her,” Nuraim pleaded.
“I need to investigate further,” Baba responded. “In the meantime, keep this ice safe—it's crucial. The spirit might attempt to retrieve it. It’s key to weakening the dark powers tormenting her.”
Baba handed Nuraim a special water and instructed him to apply it to her forehead when she awoke. Though they urged him to rest, Baba insisted on leaving.
A New Awakening
Upon Baba’s departure, Nuraim applied the water on her forehead three times. Gradually, the girl stirred, opening her eyes weakly. She tried to pray but found her tongue heavy. When she finally looked around and spotted Nuraim, fear filled her heart.
“Where have you brought me again? I told you to stay away from trouble!” she snapped.
“Calm down, dear. Bathe and eat first. Then he’ll explain,” Mommy said warmly.
The young woman nodded and stood. Hameeda introduced herself with a bright smile.
“I’m Hameeda. What’s your name?”
“Raihanatu,” she responded.
“Wow, beautiful name,” Hameeda said, hugging her.
“You’re not taking her to clean up?” Nuraim teased. Hameeda pulled Raihana upstairs.
A Connection Beyond Blood
Raihana wandered the room, surprised by the strange comfort she felt. The woman reminded her of her late mother. She took a bath, performed ablution, and dressed herself in a black abaya and long hijab. Despite the physical pain of prayer, she completed her Salah with great effort.
Descending the stairs gracefully, she caught everyone’s attention. Nuraim couldn’t look away. Jabir nudged him playfully. Mommy’s eyes welled with tears, the girl's presence stirring memories of her sister, Sajeeda.
“Come sit by me, my daughter,” Mommy said. Raihana smiled and sat close.
Nuraim’s Revelation
Mommy turned to Nuraim, “Now tell us how you found this girl.”
Nuraim shared how for the past two years, Raihana appeared in his dreams, pleading for help. Eventually, the dreams became so intense he could no longer ignore them. He began seeing her in a mysterious forest, guided by a strange old man who refused to reveal his identity but offered aid.
Nuraim concluded, “By Allah’s mercy, I found her. I followed my dreams and it led me to her.”
As he spoke, Raihana was overwhelmed. She silently cried, touched by how God sent help when she had lost hope. She turned to Nuraim and said, “What you’ve done—I will never forget. I tried to push you away, fearing you’d get hurt. But now, I’ll stand by you and fight the dark powers within me.”
Uncovering Her Identity
Mommy and Nuraim exhaled deeply, moved by her words. Mommy then asked, “Can you tell us about yourself? I need to confirm what I feel in my heart—you are my sister’s child.”
Startled, Raihana looked up. “Are you... Yaya Fatima? The one Ammi used to talk about?” she asked. Then she fell into Mommy’s arms, crying in joy.
“I finally found my mother’s people,” she whispered.
“It’s enough now, my daughter. This is a time for joy, not tears. I’ll take your mother’s place now,” Mommy assured her, stroking her back gently.
Nuraim smiled. “Alhamdulillah. So all this time, we were so close. But where is Ammi now?”
Tears returned to Raihana’s eyes. “Ammi is no longer with us. She passed away...”
“No! Please don’t tell me Sajeeda is dead,” Mommy cried.
“I’m sorry,” Raihana replied, sobbing again.
Hameed asked, “Can you tell us your story—and what happened to Ammi?”
A Family’s Dark History
Raihana nodded. “My father was from Niger. His parents, Safiyya and Usman Toro, were known for dark magic and blood rituals. My grandmother Safiyya was a powerful sorceress, and she married Toro because of his status in the occult world. They had several children—Baba Sa’adu, Baba Sharu, and then Abba (Nuraddeen), my father.”
Toro married another woman, Aishatu, also part of their occult group. Between Juwala and Aishatu, they had several children—Modibbo, Khabir, Nazeer, and my father, Nuraddeen.
But my father and Modibbo refused to follow the dark path. Aishatu supported them and enrolled them in school. Meanwhile, her own daughter Saddiqa embraced the evil ways.”
She paused, gathering herself before continuing.
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