Inda Rai Book 1 Completed

Description

INDA RAI… BOOK 1

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"I don't understand what you are trying to explain to us, Tajuddeen. Are you asking for our permission to start courting my mother, or are you proposing to her? Or are you seeking her hand in marriage altogether?!"

He reached the end of his statement, locking eyes with Taj, remembering that Tajuddeen had not come with his parents. Looking around the parlor, he couldn't see anyone who could possibly be his parents, especially since he knew Taj was from Ethiopia, while these people were all strangers from his own country whom he didn't recognize at all. He then turned his gaze back to Taj as he heard him say:

"I am combining all three things into one place, Uncle Bello. If I can get all that you have asked of me and you hand Ishmah over to me, that is my goal and my wish. It is the only thing that will bring me peace. She is the only one who will fill the void and the gap of what I have lost, and she will be the shade under which I can find shelter."

With discomfort and a piercing, investigative look, Uncle Bello said, "And yet, I don't see your guardians or your elders."

Promptly, Sheikh Tijjani Taju Usman Bauchi cleared his throat. As the eldest son of Sheikh Taju Usman, he said, "Here we are; we stand as his guardians, his elders, and his full brothers."

Calmly, Abba adjusted his sitting position and broke into a soft smile.

Together, they turned to look at Sheikh Taju Usman Bauchi upon hearing him say: "I will personally represent his marriage, and I will conduct the wedding. I will also be very happy if you give him Ishmah's hand in marriage, and I will take charge of the whole matter and lead the way in everything, because his status is very high to me, and my status is legitimate to him."

With a feeling of relief, they let out a breath, then looked down at the floor as the elder spoke words that touched their hearts.

Slowly, they began to make a move to stand up upon hearing Sheikh Taju Usman Bauchi say, "Get up let's go, because the time for prayer has drawn close." From there, they stepped out and left the house...

Back inside the house, Ishmah was sitting in the parlor with two sets of luggage boxes before her—one set maroon, the other milk-colored. As they sat, she turned to look at Aunty Nana and let out a short hiss due to a cool breeze that was sending shivers through her body. For some reason, her heart felt at peace, and her entire physical being was embracing a strange sensation resembling a sense of peace and tranquility, the cause of which she did not know. Softly, she said:

"Aunty Nana, look, up until now no one has come. They knew we had an agreement for 3:00 PM to go and deliver the items so that we could be back home before 4:00 PM to observe the Asr prayer, and yet they still haven't arrived."

Aunty Nana turned to look at her and said, "By Allah, that is exactly what I was saying too! That is why you saw me cook a lot of food, thinking they would come and we would eat lunch here before leaving."

Maryam, who was just walking in, took over the conversation: "I even told you not to bother cooking or stressing yourself, because I knew it was unlikely they would arrive early, seeing today is Friday. And when we go there, I know they will give us things to bring back, and then we will eat properly here. That's why I didn't even enter the kitchen." She finished speaking and sat down beside Ishmah.

Rahama, walking out of the bedroom, laughed and said: "Oh Aunty Maryam, sometimes if someone calls you a miser, they aren't wrong—you are like a cloud when it comes to generosity, but other times when you speak, you sound just like a miser."

Maryam smiled and replied, "If you like, you can just call me a miser." Rahama burst into laughter and said, "Even if I say it, there is nothing you can do to me since I am the last-born (Autah). That's why I say whatever I please, and good night to you!"

They smiled, right at that moment hearing Garkuwa's greetings.

With joy and happiness, Ishmah stood up, answered her greeting, walked to the parlor door, and hugged her with a smile on her face, saying: "Welcome, you are the first person to arrive."

Garkuwa smiled and said, "Indeed, I am the first to arrive. I actually decided to wait until after the Friday prayer before coming." Ishmah took her hand, and they sat down on a two-seater sofa. Ishmah said, "Look, even you can see that up until now no one else has come. I was just complaining about it."

Garkuwa shook her head and said, "Well, you know how it is. Most of the time, during Friday prayer, many streets are blocked. I know that's what is delaying them from coming out; maybe right after Friday prayer they will start coming. You see, before they arrive it will be 3:00, then we will go." From there, they continued chatting...

Meanwhile, in Yola, at the Lamido Aliyu Mustapha Mosque, after the prayers were concluded, many people had already begun to stand up to leave. They heard the Imam announcing that there were wedding solemnizations to take place, and asked the congregation to please be seated. Because of this, many of them sat back down, while only a few with major emergencies departed...

With calmness, dignity, and courtesy, the Imam cleared his throat and announced the first wedding, and after that marriage was solemnized, the Imam adjusted his microphone and said with joy: "Now, by the will of Allah, there is another wedding ceremony to be conducted, and we can say we thank Allah for this matter."

At that exact moment, Bappa Kawu adjusted his seating position, as he was one of the people inside the mosque...

Ethiopia

Adaya was lying beside the bed, covered in a blanket due to a fever that had struck her the night before yesterday and had not yet subsided. Slowly, Ummey reached out her hand to touch her neck. Feeling the intense fever, Ummey opened her eyes, which felt heavy, and closed them again. A thin tear trickled down the side of Ummey's eyes.

Asina, sitting beside her, let out a sigh and said, "Take heart, Adaya. May the Almighty Allah grant you health." With the soft voice of someone struck down by fever, she replied, "Ameen." She finished speaking with a smile—the kind of smile that showed satisfaction at the fulfillment of a goal.

As for Ummey, with a soft and weak demeanor, she stood up and went back to her bedroom.

Adaya, enduring the fever with inner strength, turned to look at Asina. With worry, Asina said, "That man did not treat us well, Adaya. He wasn't fair to us; he left a scar on us that we will never forget. He came, he left, and he has left us with something that will never leave our lives until we die."

Adaya smiled and said, "As for me, he completed everything for me since he gave me the divorce papers. Even for what he did to me, I feel nothing about it now since I brought it upon myself. By Allah, it is not his fault; it was my own doing. I did it because my goal was for him to divorce me so I could get the opportunity to achieve my ultimate ambition: to win the global dance competition for our entire country. And Alhamdulillah, since he divorced me, he has completed everything for me. I thank him. Even though he disrupted my life, by Allah, I know it is not his fault."

Asina nodded, exhaling a breath, and said, "Truly, that is what I was thinking too, to find peace in my heart, because already before he left, he dropped the divorce papers for us. You see, now as you recover, we can continue with our activities. And now I am confident that Abpu himself will no longer have any desire to force you into any more forced marriages, seeing firsthand that you were married, and the husband came, divorced you, and left."

With happiness, she slightly closed her eyes, then stood up and leaned her back against the bed because she was feeling a severe, agonizing fever burning from deep inside her bones ever since Taj's visit shook her to the core. She had been feeling this back pain accompanied by a fever that still wouldn't let go... Softly, she said, "This shows that, by God's will, I have luck and a share in winning this competition for my country. Insha Allah, I am going to crush India this year!"

With joy and excitement, Asina said, "Absolutely, because by Allah, even I—when I see how you and I twist our limbs as if we have no bones in our bodies—feel that Insha Allah, victory is ours!" She closed her eyes tightly and said, "Did you see how I completely captured everyone's attention?" They smiled at each other and clapped their hands.

Over on Ummi's side, she was weeping inside her bedroom at the moment when Aminullah, Adaya's younger brother, entered and found her crying and distressed. He sat beside her on the floor and gently placed his hand on her knees. Slowly, Ummi raised her eyes to look at him. With softness and deep sympathy, he said: "Ummi, please take heart. Every difficult situation, I am confident, Insha Allah, comes with relief. Stop crying. If Allah wills and decrees, we will find happiness. Aunty Ada's problem, Insha Allah, will become like something that never happened. Let's continue to pray for her guidance. And as for the man who did this, let's harbor good thoughts towards him; we do not know his reasons for doing this. And Ummi, even beforehand..." "I was bound to suspect that this would happen, because any man of honor and dignity—once he investigates Aunty Ada—I know he would definitely divorce her, even if the marriage took place. Even you and I know, the whole world knows, Aunty Ada has no one above us, and we have no one above us in this world except her. But we ourselves can testify that her habits are not good, even though she is not an adulteress—that God knows, and we know she is not an adulteress. But she does have traits that will naturally make people loathe her and think ill of her."

Ummi closed her eyes, feeling a burning pain deep in her heart. Aminullah softly continued: "And you know that Aunty Ada herself was trying to sabotage the marriage that Abpu was arranging for her. So this man is not to blame in this matter; it's something Abpu himself said earlier, acknowledging that Aunty Ada's cunning tricks were bound to be the reason this man of God divorced her."

Ummi let out a hot sigh and shook her head, saying: "Aminullah, I myself suspected this. I thought of it. I know who Adaya is; I know she knows every single way to ruin this marriage. That is why I was filled with fear and apprehension, constantly praying to see the marriage solemnized and her moved into her home." Slowly exhaling a hot breath with tears continuing to flow, she said: "Today when we met that guy as they were going out, I was so filled with joy, but then look at what happened! Your father doesn't know the groom, doesn't know his face! And to make matters worse, even the security guard he found at the house didn't see his face. Adaya herself, sitting right there with him, says she doesn't know his face because she didn't look at him closely enough. Even if they were to kill her, she wouldn't recognize his features because she's so reckless."

Aminullah lowered his head, feeling a deep ache at the bottom of his heart. He wanted to see his older sister reform her life, return to being a grounded, dignified woman, and abandon her wild lifestyle. He raised his head as he heard Ummi continue: "He came, the world witnessed her marriage being solemnized, and now the world continues to see her sitting at home, yet going out, partying, dancing, traveling near and far. This matter hurts me, it burns my soul, Aminullah. Adaya's situation hurts me."

With strong determination, Aminu said: "It is okay, take heart. Don't let this overwhelm us. Look at how Abpu is struggling—today he is fine, tomorrow he is not. And Aunty Ada's issue has further worsened his poor health, especially hearing about this divorce." He paused briefly before continuing: "At first the doctor himself said he would be discharged, but hearing what happened caused his condition to relapse, so his discharge date had to be postponed. For God's sake, calm your heart so I don't lose my mind! Where would I find comfort? Should I go to her and look at the unpleasant life Aunty Ada has chosen, or look at our father who is unwell, and remember that our mother has passed away, and you are the one standing in her place? If you fall sick, what will I do? For my sake, cast this worry from your mind."

Softly she replied, "Insha Allah, Aminullah, I will persevere. I will continue to pray for Adaya that the Almighty Allah brings her relief and guides her back for us." "Ameen Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum," he answered.

Nigeria

Outside Ishmah's house were eight cars parked in a row, clearly indicating that some small celebration was taking place, while inside the parlor it was packed with people who had gathered for the delivery of Adam's wedding gifts to Yola. Most of them were Ishmah's aunts (Ummoms), their children, and her friends. At exactly 3:00 PM, they had finished getting ready and delivered the items. After delivering the items and returning, they all performed ablution, prayed, and then unpacked the items sent back as reciprocal gifts (tukuici).

Aunty Hauwa let out a sigh and said, "My word, these people really tried!" Garkuwa smiled and said, "Well, Aunty Hauwa, of course they had to try! Even the items we took to them—we tried our best too, and there were no substandard items among them at all."

Ishmah smiled and said, "Even so, they really tried. The reciprocal gift (tukuici) they sent is way too much." Aunty Maryam nodded and said, "Truly, the gift is a lot—imagine, a hundred thousand naira for a tukuici!"

Garkuwa chimed in, saying, "Indeed, they did well. A hundred thousand naira as a tukuici in this current economic climate, and all their items are of high quality." She finished speaking as she opened a cooler containing paper chicken, followed by donuts, cake, and other things, alongside cartons of juice, bottled water, and so on.

Aunty Nana turned around upon hearing Ishmah say, "Aunty Maryam, someone should bring out plates and serve everyone so they can eat." She nodded. Aunty Nana quickly said, "Here is my food as well; before you eat theirs, you must eat mine!" She finished speaking, headed to the dining area, grabbed the food warmers, brought them to the center of the group, and set down air fresheners and plates. She served Aunty Hauwa separately, and then served Hajia Aisha—who was Daddy's eldest sister—with great respect, saying, "Here is your food."

Ishmah smiled and said, "As for us, if Allah wills, we are getting close to that stage where we will go to our in-laws and they will give us everything of our own too! Aunty Nana and Maryam, if not for wickedness, what are you two doing to us in this house?!"

Maryam burst into laughter and, understanding the mutual banter, said, "Well, of course we have to treat you well! You are our husband's younger sisters. Just wait until Adam gets married—that is when you will gain real power since you will start acting as his senior wives!"

They all burst into laughter. Garkuwa patted Ishmah's shoulder and said, "Ishmah, calm your heart. How many days are even left before Adam's wife clears out and gives you your own separate days?"

Right at that moment, Adam walked in, and they all chorused: "The Groom! The Groom!! The Groom!!!" He widened his eyes and said, "Which groom?! Who is grooming here? I am just a handsome guy (angoge), not a groom!"

They all turned to look at him and asked, "What do you mean by 'angoge'?" He smiled with pure joy and intense radiance that showed his overflowing happiness, saying: "The groom is outside! Can't you smell how the house is radiating fragrance, with the bride right beside you?"

In surprise, Garkuwa asked, "Which bride?" Still with a smile on his face, he said, "Your protegée, Aunty Ishmah, of course!" In shock, they all chorused, "Ishmah?!" He nodded with certainty and said, "Yes, Ishmah!"

Before they could say another word, Yah Muhammad walked in. As he entered, he knelt before Aunty Hauwa, Hajia Aisha, and Aunty Amina (Daddy's younger sisters, and his older aunt). Tears of joy began to stream down his cheeks. Aunty Hauwa quickly asked, "Muhammad, what is it?" With overwhelming joy, he said, "Aunty! Allah has decreed it! Allah has destined that today Ishmah's wedding is solemnized! Today Allah willed for Ishmah to get married!"

With immense shock, they chorused, "Ishmah?!" As for Ishmah, she slid down and sat stiffly on the floor, as though she had been frozen solid. She turned to look at Adam, who was repeating, "Indeed, Alhamdulillah."

With astonishment, Aunty Hauwa said, "Muhammad, don't play like that with me. What kind of talk is this? Tell me the truth, by Allah!" With utmost sincerity, he said, "By Allah, Aunty Hauwa, Ishmah's wedding was solemnized right after the Zuhr prayer. We didn't return earlier because we stayed back for the Asr prayer."

In shock, Aunty Hauwa exclaimed, "Innalillahi! Did Uncle Bello come?" With a sinking body and a weak, heartbroken demeanor, Ishmah asked, "Did Uncle Bello come, Yah Muhammad? Who is Uncle Bello? Who connected me with him?" She finished her sentence with tears welling up in her eyes.

Yah Muhammad shook his head, and right at that moment, they heard the greeting of Abba himself. As Abba entered with a smile on his face expressing supreme joy, Aunty Maryam and Aunty Nana quickly stepped aside upon seeing their father-in-law...

He looked at his wife's younger sisters and said, "Hauwa." Softly she replied, "Yes, Ya Abdullahi." With his face beaming with supreme joy, he said, "Alhamdulillah, today Allah has destined your daughter to become a married woman. A'isha Mamana's wedding was solemnized today; she too has entered the shade of marriage."

In overwhelming joy, Aunty Hauwa turned and fell into Sujudus Shukur (prostration of gratitude). Garkuwa leaned back against a cushion, her face wearing a smile of pure joy, repeating, "Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah." As for Ishmah, with a feeling akin to fear and wonder, she stared at them.

Abba, his face still smiling, walked further into the parlor. He bent down slightly towards Ishmah and said, "Mamana, let's go." He finished speaking joyfully.

As for Ishmah, trembling and feeling a cold sensation washing over her, she tried to stand up, but her legs failed her. Seeing this, Garkuwa supported her to her feet. He took her hand, and they turned and walked out.

Only then did Aunty Hauwa rise from her prostration of gratitude, and she looked at Aunty Amina, who was saying, "Ya Ali, you haven't told us who the groom is." He smiled and said, "Your son will tell you." He finished speaking and walked out of the parlor.

Ishmah, feeling weak and subdued, followed closely behind him straight towards the BQ (Boy's Quarters).

Slowly he pushed open the door and entered. Her eyes landed on Taj, who was sitting in the middle of the parlor, leaning his head against the back of the sofa with his eyes closed, facing the direction of the Qibla, since the parlor door faced the Qibla. Seeing him made her open her eyes in extreme shock. At once, she felt a cool wave wash over her from the roots of her feet all the way to her soles. Abba kept pulling her hand until they reached the middle of the parlor, right in front of Taj.

Ishmah's heart beat with a ferocious, intense force. It wasn't seeing Taj that frightened her; rather, the extreme weight loss she saw in him shocked her deeply, and the distressed, chaotic, and troubled state she found him in completely shattered her nerves and scrambled her senses. With a trembling mouth and a trembling voice, she whispered: "Tajjjjj..." The words came from the very bottom of her heart, getting stuck right at the edge of her lips.

Taj, at that moment, managed to raise his head. Even though he had answered their greetings earlier, he hadn't lifted his head because his head felt so heavy in his life as he relived many of the things that had battered his existence over the past few days. The thing that troubled him most was: How would Ishmah receive this new reality and this strange marriage alliance that had been tied without her permission or knowledge? He slowly raised his head and saw her standing there with Abba. Softly, he stirred.

Abba first shook his head at him, saying, "Stay seated." Without argument, he remained seated. Abba sat on the 3-seater facing Taj, pulled Ishmah's hand so she sat on the floor, positioning them both right in front of him. Slowly, Abba took Taj's hand and opened it, then took Ishmah's hand and placed it on top of Taj's. Then he let out a deep, heavy sigh. He felt his mind filled with a sweet, profound joy—today he had laid down the heaviest burden weighing upon his heart. Today, Ishmah's marriage was the sweetest thing in his life; for over ten years, he hadn't felt joy like this.

At the exact same time, both Taj and Ishmah let out a deep, heavy sigh as their hands touched...

Summary

This chapter captures a dramatic turning point centered around Ishmah's unexpected marriage, contrasting family dynamics in Nigeria and Ethiopia.

In Nigeria, Ishmah and her family are preparing for Adam's wedding delivery (tukuici) when a bombshell drops: Yah Muhammad arrives with the shocking news that Ishmah herself has just been married off by "Uncle Bello" following the Zuhr prayer. As her family rejoices—especially her mother, Aunty Hauwa, who falls into a prostration of gratitude—Ishmah is paralyzed by shock and confusion. Abba leads her to the BQ, where she finds a visibly gaunt and distressed Tajuddeen. Her father places Ishmah's hand into Taj's, sealing a union arranged without her initial knowledge, bringing a profound sense of relief to the elders while leaving Ishmah overwhelmed by the emotional whirlwind.

Simultaneously in Ethiopia, Adaya is bedridden with a severe fever following Taj’s recent visit. Despite her physical illness and the heartbreak she caused, Adaya is oddly at peace because Taj divorced her, believing this clears the path for her to pursue her ultimate dream of winning the international dance competition. Her family—including her mother Ummi and brother Aminullah—grapple with the fallout of her reckless behavior, which has severely impacted their ailing father's health, though they try to find solace in prayer.

Description

The chapter is rich in cultural and emotional imagery, highlighting traditional Northern Nigerian wedding customs (such as exchanging reciprocal gifts/tukuici, family gatherings, and expressions of gratitude like Sujudus Shukur) contrasted with the stark, tense atmosphere of foreign emotional turmoil in Ethiopia. The author employs vivid sensory details: the cool breeze of destiny sweeping over Ishmah, the fragrant aroma of anticipation in the Nigerian household, the physical toll of regret and ambition on Adaya in her Ethiopian bedroom, and the poignant, silent emotional release when Ishmah and Taj finally touch hands.

Analytics

• Pacing & Conflict Resolution: The narrative skillfully braids two distant plotlines (Nigeria and Ethiopia), bringing Taj's mysterious actions to a head. The sudden revelation of Ishmah's marriage acts as the narrative climax of the sequence, shifting the tone from domestic routine to breathless astonishment.
• Character Psychology:
  • Ishmah: Moves from playful frustration over delayed errands to paralyzed shock and deep emotional vulnerability.
  • Taj: Depicted as physically and mentally drained (rama), carrying the burden of an unorthodox, forced reconciliation/marriage designed to heal past wounds.
  • Adaya: Represents extreme single-minded ambition, rationalizing her toxic choices and divorce as stepping stones to a global dance title, highlighting a stark lack of remorse compared to her family's grief.

Comments

The chapter offers a compelling exploration of agency, sacrifice, and unexpected destiny. While the forced nature of Ishmah's marriage might raise ethical questions regarding consent in traditional romance tropes, the emotional weight given to both characters' internal states—particularly Taj's visible suffering and Ishmah's profound bewilderment—makes the resolution deeply gripping. On the flip side, Adaya's storyline serves as a cautionary tale of unchecked selfishness juxtaposed against the quiet dignity of her grieving family.

Conclusions

Ultimately, this chapter bridges loose narrative threads by finalizing a transformative union. For Ishmah and Taj, a chapter of uncertainty closes as their hands meet, symbolizing a forced yet fateful entanglement meant to mend broken pasts. For Adaya, freedom from marriage fuels a self-destructive pursuit of glory, emphasizing that choices carry heavy consequences.

Would you like me to translate or analyze any specific paragraph or character arc from this excerpt in greater detail?