Fauziyyah refused to come out. She locked herself in the room and sulked like a spoiled little girl angry with her parents. Barirah noticed her behavior but ignored her and continued with her work.

After finishing cooking dinner, Barirah served Fauziyyah’s food and placed it in the parlor. She did not even call her, let alone wait for her or expect thanks. Before Shehu returned, Barirah prayed, bathed, and dressed in simple but elegant clothes, radiating beauty and fragrance. She went to the kitchen, packed their food, took it to the room, arranged it neatly, and then sat down to read her Qur’an.

Even when she heard Abbas shouting from the courtyard, she did not stop reading. Instead, she raised her voice slightly so she would not hear what he was saying. She had already decided that neither Fauziyyah nor Abbas deserved her attention. After all, no one owed them any explanation; the only thing Abbas did was spend money on his wife, which was her right.

Filled with anger, Abbas shouted again at Fauziyyah:

“Hey! I’m talking to you! Who told you to open your mouth and tell Hajiya that you don’t have a washing machine, an iron, and a blender? Do you think I have useless money to buy all those things you listed?”

Trembling, Fauziyyah replied softly:

“My king, why are you treating me like this? Do I deserve this humiliation from you? I didn’t tell her anything. She thought of it herself and told you what she wanted you to buy for me. Besides, it would actually be my money you would use to buy them, not yours. I was only trying to protect our dignity…”

Before she finished speaking, Abbas angrily slapped her so hard that blood came out of her mouth. Pointing a finger at her, he said:

“So now you’re mocking me by saying they’ll be bought with your money? Fine! I will buy everything Hajiya mentioned. But I swear, living in this house will become worse for you than death. You’ll regret ever making me buy those things. If some foolish woman is encouraging you, I’m close to throwing that prostitute out of this house. I’m tired of the nonsense she keeps doing in my house.”

Hot tears of pain and anger rolled down Barirah’s cheeks as she listened from her room. If not because she feared Shehu might return and hear she had fought with someone else’s husband, she would have gone out and confronted Abbas directly. But instead, she wiped her tears, closed her Qur’an, and began praying silently.

Fauziyyah continued crying after Abbas left the room. Her head throbbed as if someone was hammering it. Her chest felt heavy, and she struggled to breathe. Slowly she stood up, switched on the fan, and lay down staring at the ceiling.

Meanwhile, Abbas sat in the parlor, opened the food Barirah had served, and ate until he was satisfied. After drinking some water, he stretched on the long chair and turned on the TV. He switched to a channel showing dancers from southern Nigeria, watching half-naked women dance while nodding his head like a lizard. Soon he fell into a deep sleep.

When Shehu returned, Barirah told him everything that had happened. Instead of praising her, he scolded her. He said she should not have interfered, because by trying to help Fauziyyah she had only caused her to be beaten and insulted by a man like Abbas.

Barirah immediately regretted letting her emotions push Hajiya to confront Abbas. Now the poor girl was suffering because of it.

That night, heavy rain fell and the weather became very cold. Abbas slept in the parlor, unaware that Fauziyyah was in the room burning with a terrible fever. The poor girl cried helplessly, but he did not hear her. Before dawn, she lost consciousness and lay motionless until the call to the Fajr prayer sounded, when she finally drifted into a deep sleep.

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The next morning, Barirah woke up early and prepared breakfast. After finishing, she heated water for bathing and served food for everyone. While taking the food to the room, she noticed Fauziyyah’s door was open and assumed Abbas had gone to the mosque.

Smiling, she murmured:

“Oh, today must be special. Usually he behaves like worship annoys him. When he’s calm he goes to the mosque, but when he’s angry he can stay away for months.”

She went toward the room but suddenly heard Abbas snoring inside. She quickly stepped back and said under her breath:

“God guide this servant of Yours.”

Later, when Abbas finally woke up around nine in the morning, Barirah entered their room and found Fauziyyah lying down with a swollen mouth. The baby lay sleeping beside her. When Barirah touched Fauziyyah’s hand, it was burning with fever.

Feeling pity, she picked up the baby and said gently:

“Get up and bathe. The water is almost getting cold. I’ll bathe the baby. After that, eat and take your fever medicine. May Allah give you healing.”

With a weak voice, Fauziyyah replied:

“Thank you, Aunty.”

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The story then continues with:

Fauziyyah struggling with her abusive husband Abbas

Barirah and Shehu trying to secretly support her

Preparations for the baby’s naming ceremony

Abbas’ continued cruelty and humiliation

Hajiya suddenly collapsing and being rushed to the hospital

The chapter ends with suspense as everyone waits anxiously to know what has happened to Hajiya.

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At the end, the author asks readers several questions:

Who really is Fauziyyah?

How did she meet Abbas and marry him?

Why does Abbas hate her so much?

Who is Abdullah in her life?

Where are her parents who left her suffering like this?

What will happen to Barirah and Shehu for helping her?

What kind of future awaits Fauziyyah, her husband, and their daughter Muhseenah?