Hidden Seed

Chapter Two

WHO IS RADIYA?

She was the daughter of Alhaji Hamza Gaya, a well-known wealthy businessman in the town of Gaya. Her father was a trader who dealt in dried spices both within and outside Northern Nigeria.

Before his death, he had three wives. Among them was Radiya's mother, Salamatu, who passed away just one month after giving birth to her.

Her older sister, Maimunatu—who was married and living in Kano—took Radiya in and continued caring for her from infancy.

Six months after Salamatu's death, Alhaji Hamza also died in a motor accident on his way back from Kebbi. He left behind nine sons and six daughters, including little Radiya.

Despite her own struggles, Maimunatu shouldered the responsibility of raising Radiya. Her husband had also passed away, leaving her with four children of her own.

Abbas was the eldest, followed by Fatima whom they called Hajjo, then Bashir who died shortly after their father's passing, then Sadik, and the youngest among them.

Maimunatu continued taking care of them through hardship and ease. Since she couldn't afford to buy milk for baby Radiya, she had no choice but to breastfeed her herself.

Years passed as the children grew. Hajjo eventually reached marriageable age and got married. Abbas prospered in his business of selling kilishi and dambun nama, becoming financially stable enough to stand on his own—after all, his late father had been a butcher.

Time moved on until Radiya herself began to grow older. Abbas cared for her deeply. From her infancy, he was the one who carried her everywhere—even to the point of backing her while she slept. This created a strong emotional bond between them.

Even after two years of his marriage, his love and concern for her never changed. His wife, Ummie, was also a kind, gentle woman who took Radiya as her own, especially after seeing how much Abbas cherished her.

Throughout the years, none of Radiya's paternal relatives ever came forward to help them. No one ever offered support or even visited to ask about her. They only saw them when Maimunatu took Radiya to greet them during ceremonies.

But the cold attitude from her relatives didn't bother them. They were managing well enough with what Allah provided, and her family were not people who disclosed their struggles to outsiders.

Life continued smoothly for them until the day Radiya became old enough to attend secondary school—and that school would change everything about her life.

⸻

FOUR YEARS LATER

Her knees pressed to the ground at the principal's office doorstep, Radiya lifted her hands and closed her eyes under the scorching afternoon sun. Her face was stiff—showing neither regret nor exhaustion.

From inside her office, the principal watched her in disbelief. She wondered at the strange stubbornness and hard-heartedness Radiya displayed. She shook her head slightly and turned to the teacher sitting beside her desk.

"This girl's matter is starting to scare me. Honestly, we need to inform her family so they can come and hear what is happening."

He nodded, adjusted his seating, and said,

"Honestly, Hajiya, I'm surprised you endured this long without involving her guardians."

The principal shook her head with a sigh and looked again at Radiya.

"Wallahi, I feel sorry for that brother of hers. Every day he brings her here early in the morning without fail. He never gets tired. I don't want to stress him, but since this matter has gone too far, we have no choice but to inform him."

She picked up her phone and dialed Abbas' number. After greeting him, she told him they needed to see him whenever he had time.

Abbas' heart skipped heavily at her words. He wanted to wait until tomorrow when he came to drop her off, but he couldn't. His worry wouldn't let him rest, so he closed his shop and rushed to the school.

The moment he entered the school premises and saw Radiya kneeling under the blazing sun, his entire body trembled. He hated to see her suffering in any form.

He parked his bike with frustration and hurried toward the principal's office. Radiya didn't even notice he had arrived until a teacher called her inside.

The moment she walked in and saw Abbas, she burst into tears—not out of guilt for what she had done, but because she couldn't bear to disappoint him. Her weakness was always Abbas.

He closed his eyes and watched her silently, saying nothing, while his heart prayed to Allah for protection from hearing something terrible she might have done.

They all sat quietly until the principal pulled out a long sheet of paper and handed it to Abbas.

He exhaled.

It wasn't as terrible as he feared.

Then he looked up and asked:

"This is a love letter, and it's Radiya's handwriting. Who is it meant for?"

The principal sighed and replied:

"These are almost ten letters she has been caught giving—or attempting to give—to one of our teachers. Sometimes she slips it into his notebook, sometimes inside her test script, and sometimes she hands it to him directly without shame.

"We've tried everything—punishments, scolding, even flogging—but she refuses to stop. Instead, it seems to encourage her more. So we decided it's time to involve her family.

"We've suspended her for two weeks. Take her home and discipline her properly."

This time, Abbas raised his head to look at her—his face serious and disappointed—then turned back to the principal and said:

"Please, Hajiya, don't suspend her. I'll do everything I can to make sure she never repeats this. I don't want anything that would interrupt her education."

The principal shook her head firmly.

"I'm sorry, Abbas. This decision wasn't made lightly. It's for her to learn self-control. Radiya is very intelligent, but her biggest problem is stubbornness, disobedience, and a kind of boldness that no one can bend.

"That's why we reached this decision. Take her home for two weeks, and discipline her very well. We don't tolerate such behavior.

"Honestly, if not because of you—how dedicated you are to her—and because she represents our school in competitions due to her brilliance, I would have expelled her entirely. So please, correct her before she returns."

Abbas expressed his gratitude, then told Radiya to stand so they could leave.

As soon as they stepped out of the principal's office, Radiya began apologizing to Abbas, pleading with him desperately. But he didn't even look at her. He adjusted his motorcycle, she climbed on, and they left the school silently.

On the way home, she continued begging him, but he didn't respond. This was the only way he punished her — complete silence. When Abbas refused to speak to her, the whole world felt like it had rejected her.

They first stopped by Muhammad's school to pick him up, then headed home. Abbas dropped them at the gate and immediately returned to the market while they entered the house.

The moment she got inside, she didn't speak to anyone. She performed ablution, prayed, then prepared herself again. Later, she and Muhammad left for Islamic school.

By nightfall, after dinner, they were all gathered in the compound as usual — Umma and Ummie chatting softly.

Radiya didn't join their conversation. Her mind was still troubled because Abbas was angry with her. Umma had made tuwo, but she couldn't eat. Abbas had not returned yet, and he hadn't brought her anything as he usually did.

She waited in silence until around 10:30 p.m., but he still didn't come home. She eventually gave up, stood up quietly, and went to her room to lie down.

She had barely entered her room when Muhammad rushed in with a nylon bag in his hand.

"Here," he said, stretching it toward her. "Abba said I should give you this."

A relieved smile spread across her face. She looked at him and said gently:

"You haven't slept yet? Go to bed. You have school tomorrow."

He nodded and ran off.

She sat with her chin resting in her palm, staring at the nylon bag. Tears suddenly filled her eyes.

No matter what she did...

No matter how serious her offense was...

Abbas never let her go to bed hungry.

She wiped her tears, opened the bag, and found roasted bread and skewered meat inside. She ate until she was full, drank water, and soon after, sleep finally overtook her.

The next morning, Umma woke her for school, but she refused to get up, telling her she wouldn't be going today. Umma was surprised; Abbas always woke her himself, but today he didn't. Only Muhammad had been taken to school, because sometimes Abbas was the one who woke her up.

Umma simply pressed her lips together without saying a word and continued preparing breakfast.

Around nine o'clock, Ummie came downstairs, greeted Umma, then lifted the curtain to call Radiya, who sat with her head in her hand, unable to even sleep properly.

Ummie instructed her to follow, and she obeyed quietly, climbing up to the sitting room upstairs.

She found Abbas seated, eating breakfast after returning from dropping Muhammad at school. Radiya knelt to greet him, but his face remained expressionless. She greeted Ummie too.

With concern, Ummie asked,

"Why didn't you go to school today?"

Radiya glanced at Abbas and noticed his expression change. Fear tightened inside her, but she forced herself to look at Ummie and said:

"I'm not feeling well. When I feel better, I'll go back."

Ummie frowned sarcastically.

"This your fearless, bold eyes that stare directly into people's faces when you speak... wallahi it's beginning to scare me. And this is your idea of being 'sick'? Are you going to tell me the truth, or should I call Sadiq?"

"Aunty Ummie, ask Yaya. I told him yesterday that I'm sick. I'm just sitting here..."

But Abbas shot her a deadly glare that shut her up instantly. She thought he would defend her in front of people like before — that he would hide her mistakes. She had assumed he would cover for her again, but clearly not today.

Abbas then turned to Ummie and explained everything that happened at school in detail.

Ummie gasped and began reciting prayers in shock. She examined Radiya carefully; instead of guilt in her eyes, she saw something else — boldness, maybe even confidence. This angered Ummie even more.

"So this is what you've been doing in this world, ehn?" she snapped. "A man you claim to love — and he's your teacher, and everyone knows already?

Shameless girl with no manners! No wonder you insulted all the decent boys in the neighborhood who tried to talk to you. And your brother kept covering for you saying you're not interested, meanwhile this is where you ended up! Wallahi, Radiya, your tricks have become useless!"

Radiya clenched her jaw.

If this had been any other woman outside, Ummie would never have spared her. It was only because she was Abbas' wife that she tried to restrain herself.

Abbas interrupted sternly,

"What boys are you talking about? She's just a girl, I want her to study deeper, she hasn't even turned seventeen yet."

"And you want her to study deeper like this?" Ummie cut in sharply. "You better plan to get her a husband once she finishes secondary school. Radiya is not the type of girl you leave freely to go far in education. Let her marry and save everyone the stress!"

Abbas fell silent, looking at Radiya. The situation was beginning to frustrate him, so he stood up and prepared to leave for the market.

Radiya remained seated, staring at Ummie with a heart full of unspoken words. She couldn't say them aloud — not here.

But one thing she knew clearly was this:

There was no turning back regarding the person her heart desired. Even if it cost her life, she would claim the love of her life...