Baffa cleared his throat while looking at Baba and the others before speaking.

“Mallam Bashar, I know you already know this one,” he said while pointing at his son. “So there is no need to introduce him again. But I will introduce my brothers. These are Alhaji Surajo, Mallam Hashimu, Sa’idu, Mallam Shu’aibu, and Mallam Balarabe. This is your son here, Nuraddeen, my son. If Allah wills that one day you meet again, you will recognize him and he will recognize you. And the two you see here are my younger brothers from the same parents — Usman and Aliyu.

I hope that even if I am not alive someday, the friendship and respect between us will not end. I want it to be that whenever you meet each other you will greet one another and remember me in your prayers.”

“Astaghfirullah, Mallam Idi! Please don’t say such things,” they replied. “Illness is not death. Our prayer is that Allah gives you health and protects you and your family.”

Baffa stayed silent while looking at them one after another. Tears filled his eyes. He coughed, and the tears began to fall. Everyone started comforting him and encouraging him while he wiped his tears.

After the coughing stopped, he looked at his brothers and his son and introduced his friends to them. He even added that his friends were more than friends to him — they were like his own brothers. Therefore, he asked them to respect and honor them always.

Everyone felt uneasy because the way he was speaking sounded like someone giving his last wishes.

Then Baffa smiled and said,

“Do not worry about the words coming from my mouth. I am sure some of them will one day bring happiness to your hearts.”

He then turned to his son and said,

“Nuraddeen, stand up and go. May Allah bless you.”

Mallam Idris stood up respectfully and left the room.

After he left, Baffa turned to his brothers and said,

“Usman and Aliyu, I want you to ask for permission for Nuraddeen to marry Rashida, the daughter of Mallam Bashar, from her parents who are here before you, if she has not already been promised to someone else.”

Great joy appeared on their faces when they heard this — except for Baba and Aliyu.

Baba was happy and surprised that Mallam Idris wanted his daughter Rashida for his son.

But Aliyu felt angry and upset because he had hoped Nuraddeen would marry his own daughter, Muneera, who loved him deeply.

Usman said happily,

“Masha Allah. That is good and it will strengthen the family ties between us.”

They asked Baba whether Rashida was already promised to someone.

They all said that both Rashida and Nuraddeen were like their children, so they had no objection if the marriage happened that very day.

Baba smiled and said,

“I am extremely happy about this matter. I had already intended in my heart to give Rashida to Nuraddeen because of his good character and the respect I have for him and his family.”

Then Mallam Balarabe, Rashida’s father, said:

“Not only do I give permission, I give my daughter Rashida in marriage to Nuraddeen in this world and the hereafter. Whenever you want to fix the date and pay the dowry, we are ready.”

Everyone said, “Alhamdulillah.”

Baffa suggested that the dowry should be paid immediately and the wedding date fixed.

Aliyu objected, suggesting they should first ask Rashida if she agreed.

But Rashida’s father said there was no problem because he trusted his daughter’s upbringing and believed she would accept.

Eventually the dowry of 50,000 naira was paid.

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Conflict in the Family

Aliyu was very unhappy. When they returned home he went to Hawwa, Nuraddeen’s mother, and told her what had happened.

She became extremely angry.

She said it was impossible that Nuraddeen should choose a girl himself and that they would arrange the marriage.

She complained that in their town marriages usually happened within the extended family and that Rashida was an outsider.

Aliyu encouraged her anger, saying that his own daughter Muneera loved Nuraddeen and should have married him instead.

Hawwa angrily went to confront Baffa.

But Baffa firmly told her:

“Whether you like it or not, this marriage will happen because he loves the girl.”

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Rashida Learns About the Marriage

Later that day, Baba returned home happily and called Rashida.

He told her mother that the 50,000 naira dowry had already been paid and the wedding would take place in two weeks.

When Rashida heard this from the bathroom, the bucket fell from her hands in shock.

She quietly went to her room and cried.

At school later she was distracted because she was thinking deeply.

The problem was that although she respected her father’s decision, she had secretly developed feelings for her teacher.

She wondered how she could marry another man.

Still, she decided she could never disobey her father, so she would try to remove the love from her heart before the wedding.

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Meanwhile

Nuraddeen himself was very happy.

He even bought her a Tecno L7 phone so he could hear her voice often.

He woke up early the next morning, bathed, and went to greet his mother.