*"Was she even among the children?"*
Yusuf stood up and said, _"Ah, she’s not awake yet, Alhaji. If she wakes up, I’ll tell her to call you."_
Alhaji, trying to be patient, said, _"It’s not your fault. I don’t have any other business. I just want to see her. If you get the chance today after Isha prayer, I want you and Dubu to come to my house."_
Respectfully, Yusuf replied, _"Okay Alhaji, In sha Allahu we will come."_
After that they said their goodbyes. He put the phone back where it was and turned around, only to see Sadiya standing there with teary eyes.
He was startled, then quickly smiled and said in a soft voice, _"Oh, so you were eavesdropping on us? Or did you hear your name and wake up?"_
She smiled, but before she could say anything, he had already gotten up and stretched his body.
He reached out one hand to help her up, and with the other he pulled her gently to his chest and rested her head on his shoulder for a moment, saying, _"God, I’m up now. I can hear you clearly from my chest."_
Then he looked at her and asked, _"Who called?"_
She was still playing with his fingers and said, _"It’s really Alhaji."_
He raised an eyebrow and said, _"Alhaji who? After I woke you up from my chest?"_
He laughed, then got up and held out his hand to her. She took it, stood up, and he opened his arms. She walked into his hug and returned his greeting.
His voice was low as he said, _"It’s that other Alhaji. The one after your Alhaji. He’s the one who called and said he wants to see me and you. Today and tomorrow."_
She felt uneasy in her body, but there was nothing strange about it. She knew what was going to happen — the one to blame now was the woman.
Just last month she went and told Alhaji what happened between Ma’u and Rahila.
By God, it wasn’t intentional, but I have proof of why Alhaji is calling.
A little while ago, before bed, I was the only one awake in the house when I heard Ma’u on the phone with her mother.
Since we were kids, she’s always been jealous of me because my uncle loved me, and she made sure I never won.
Even now, everything that’s happening between us — I’m the one being set up.
She hugged him tighter and rested her head on his chest, saying, _"What happened?"_
She clung to him like someone afraid he’d be taken from her, then before sleeping she whispered, _"Good night, my Sadiya."_
He hadn’t even looked at her yet, but he could hear the smile in her voice before he replied, _"Good night, my darling Sadiya."_
