My father, Alhaji Bashir, is a native of Kano, residing in the Kofar Na’isa neighborhood. His wife, our mother, also lives in the same area, and their houses are so close that they seem like family. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think they were related.
They grew up together from childhood until adulthood. Alhaji Bashir showed his affection for Fatima early on, and their parents were delighted. Their love blossomed, leading to a marriage filled with mutual respect and affection. They were blessed with a baby boy, whom they named Muhammad, though everyone called him Adnan.
Everyone who saw Adnan praised his good looks, as he was very handsome, resembling a true Fulani with his fair complexion. Both Abba and Mom were of Fulani descent.
Adnan was raised with care and good upbringing. After ten years, when all hope seemed lost, Mom became pregnant again. She carried the pregnancy to term, and one night, she went into labor. By the grace of God, she gave birth to a baby girl. Daddy, who was asleep, woke up to the sound of the baby’s cries. It felt like a dream when he saw Fatima had given birth. He picked up the baby girl, praised God, and commented on her beauty, saying she might even surpass Adnan.
The next morning, visitors came to congratulate them. Everyone who saw the baby girl marveled at her beauty. She had inherited the Fulani complexion and was even fairer than her brother Adnan. Her hair was thick and long, a testament to her pure Fulani heritage.
On the naming ceremony, the baby girl was named *Fatima* after her grandmother, Alhaji Bashir’s mother. However, she was commonly known as *Suhaima*. They were raised with care and good manners. Despite their parents' love, they maintained their discipline, and this upbringing made them well-mannered and respected wherever they went.
Alhaji Bashir had a close friend, Alhaji Abubakar. They had grown up together, and Alhaji Abubakar had a younger sister named Na’ima. Their wives had a cordial relationship, though Alhaji Abubakar’s wife, Hajiya Bilki, lacked good manners due to her husband’s wealth. This caused her to not interact much with Alhaji Bashir’s wife.
Despite being well-off, Alhaji Abubakar's wealth did not affect his strong bond with Alhaji Bashir. Alhaji Abubakar and his wife had waited three years for a child before finally conceiving. Their joy knew no bounds when she gave birth to a baby boy, who they named *Muhammad* but called *Safwan*.
Safwan was raised with love and care. There was only a few months' difference between his and Adnan's births. They grew up together, much like their fathers had, often visiting each other’s homes and attending the same schools. When they were in JSS 1, Suhaima was born. Hajiya Bilki did not have any more children after Safwan.
When Alhaji Abubakar came for the naming ceremony, he suggested to Alhaji Bashir that if God willed, they should marry Safwan and Suhaima. Alhaji Bashir agreed, hoping God would keep their children safe.
When Safwan finished school, Alhaji Abubakar paid for him to go to Germany for further studies. However, Hajiya Bilki refused to let Adnan go, so only Safwan traveled. Both studied medicine. After Safwan’s departure, Adnan got admission to BUK (Bayero University Kano) for his degree. At this time, Suhaima was in JSS 3 and was about to enter SS 1.
Three years after Safwan left, Suhaima started attending university, studying Law.
