The Hidden Seed

Chapter One

Kano, Nigeria (2012)

Agadawsawa, a neighborhood in the heart of Kano city, was an old settlement rich with history. Most of its residents were butchers, men who had inherited the trade from their fathers and grandfathers.

In a narrow, secluded alley stood a two-storey house with two large verandas, built in the traditional Hausa architectural style. It had been modernized, however, with cement blocks from the foundation to the top, neither overly impressive nor lacking in quality.

Inside the spacious courtyard, there was a wide open area with a large dum palm tree, five rooms at minimum, a traditional kitchen, a bathroom, and a staircase leading up to the top floor.

An elderly woman, no less than fifty-five or sixty years old, sat on a large mat spread neatly in the center of the courtyard, holding a wooden pestle as she stirred the maize flour for tuwo.

The courtyard itself was a pleasant sight, completely cemented, swept clean, and shining.

"Radiya, I'm waiting for you! Come out and go collect the meat for the evening meal. It's almost time for the five o'clock news!"

The elderly woman called out, directing her attention to one of the rooms surrounding the courtyard.

A young girl, no more than twelve or thirteen years old, came out, clearly annoyed, her lips pushed forward in a pout as she struggled to put on her hijab.

When she reached her, she glanced at the stirring bowl, her eyes widening in displeasure as she pouted even more.

"You're making tuwo?"

"Yes, I'm making tuwo. And then what?"

"I swear I won't eat it."

She declared this and stormed outside, stomping her feet and repeating herself. The elderly woman followed her with a look of irritation, hissed, and said:

"Because of you, I won't stop making it. Why should I? My heart wants it. If you don't want to eat, then sleep hungry."

Laughter drifted down from the top floor, followed by a voice:

"Umma, you know he won't let her sleep hungry."

A young woman, no more than twenty-two, spoke as she carefully descended the stairs, her steps slow because of the heavy pregnancy that showed on her body.

She came closer, sat beside the elderly woman, and took the pestle from her, continuing the stirring.

On her way, Radiya would stop here to tease someone, pause there to provoke another, and if she saw girls gathered, she would stay long enough to finish whatever gossip or argument they were engaged in. In this manner, she finally reached the market.

But just as she approached the exact spot where he sell dried spiced meat (kilishi) and shredded meat (dambun nama), her face tightened, and she frowned deeply.

"Rady baby, what's wrong? Why are you frowning? So it's only now you're coming to collect the meat? You finally finished all your drama on the way, ba?"

A young man, no older than twenty-seven, spoke to her teasingly.

"Yaya, didn't you tell her to stop making tuwo? Well, she made it again today, and I swear I won't eat!"

"Calm down, Rady baby. Go quickly and take the meat to her and come back so we can go buy something sweet."

She didn't wait for another word. She snatched the nylon bag of meat and took off, her heart racing with victory. When she reached home, she didn't offer a greeting; she dropped the bag and ran out again at full speed.

"Come... you won't even come back here?" Umma called after her, but before any further words could escape, the girl was long gone.

Annoyed, Umma turned sharply to the young pregnant woman beside her and said:

"Ummie, quickly call Abbas! I need to know what is happening."

"To, Umma," she replied simply, pulling out her Visaphone and scrolling through to find his number.

He picked up on the first ring, responding to her greeting. Then she said:

"What happened? Radiya just ran in and out again."

He chuckled softly and replied:

"I asked her to follow me to the neighborhood. You know how my little sister is everything with her takes time... In fact, she's just arriving now. We'll be going. Tell Umma we'll be back soon."

She smiled and said:

"Alright. May Allah protect your journey, come back with something nice for us."

She ended the call and began explaining the situation to Umma.

Just before the Maghrib prayer, Radiya and Abbas returned, their hands packed full of items. As soon as they stepped in, the call to prayer began. Abbas performed ablution and headed straight to the mosque.

After the Maghrib prayer, they all sat in the courtyard. Radiya began opening the items they bought, excitedly trying to show Umma everything.

"Umma, look at the books Yaya bought for me. He said he'll take me to school on Monday. Here are my new shoes and my bag, and we've already given out my uniform to be sewn,"

she said, pulling them out of the nylon bag.

Umma looked at her and said:

"I wanted you to be taken to a boarding school so we could rest from all your mischief, but your brother here keeps indulging you. At least you would've learned some sense there, useless chatterbox."

Radiya pouted. She turned toward Abbas, who was busy preparing tea for all of them. Just as he was pouring the milk, she said:

"Yaya, did you hear? She said it would've been better if I left."

"No, you're not going anywhere. We'll stay here and continue our mischief," he replied, signaling for her to come sit closer.

She laughed, glancing at Umma, then said:

"Yaya, this tea is too much for me. I swear I can't finish it."

She widened her eyes dramatically.

"Drink it and reduce the rest for me. Here's the bread. Should I prepare the fish for you too?" he offered.

Umma turned to him sharply and snapped:

"You're the one spoiling this girl! A child doing only whatever she wants? Is that how life works? She's a girl, she'll marry one day!"

"Insha'Allah a good man will marry my little sister. No one will trouble her. And whoever he is, I'll warn him in advance. I'll tell him clearly that he's marrying a spoiled princess, just like this," Abbas replied.

They all burst into laughter.

Ummie, who was stuffing spoons of tuwo into her mouth despite her big pregnant belly, looked at him teasingly and said:

"Because that's exactly what they told the woman you married, right?"

He turned to her with playful annoyance.

"It's your elder brothers' fault for not warning me. And to be honest, what kind of pampering do I NOT do for you?"

She lowered her head shyly and said:

"Alhamdulillah. May Allah reward you with Jannah."

"Ameen," everyone responded, except Radiya, who was busy stuffing bread into her mouth, while Abbas fed her fried fish.

Ummie turned to Radiya with playful irritation.

"Rady baby, no manners at all? Give me some fish."

"But you're the one who said you don't like the smell of fish. Yaya, did you hear your wife?"

she said, looking up at him.

"Leave her. Just eat your own, okay?"

They continued chatting and laughing, while Umma was completely absorbed in her radio. Eventually, she began dozing off.

They kept talking until it was time to sleep, then everyone said their goodnights and went to their rooms.

The next morning, around six, Umma came out, preparing to light the charcoal stove so she could start breakfast. To her surprise, she heard Abbas calling for her from the top floor. She rushed upstairs immediately.

Ummie was kneeling on the floor, groaning in pain, soaked in sweat. All she could utter was the remembrance of Allah.

Umma hurried toward her, held her, and said:

"Subhanallah! She's in labor! How long has she been like this? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Abbas lowered his head and replied:

"Since around midnight. I wanted to wake you, but she refused. Even now, she barely allowed me to call you."

"Haba Ummie, childbirth isn't something you hide! We should've gone to the hospital since yesterday. Go and find transport immediately, we have to go to the hospital,"

Umma said firmly.

Abbas stood up at once and ran outside.

His trip lasted barely fifteen minutes before he returned, rushing up the stairs. But the moment he reached the top, he froze.

A newborn lay on the chair, wrapped neatly in a cloth. Umma was busy cleaning the place, while Ummie lay on a large mattress, resting.

He hurried into the room, stunned, and looked at Umma.

"Umma... she has already delivered?"

Umma smiled at him and replied:

"Oh, you're surprised? I already knew she was close, that's why I chased you out. The moment you stepped outside, before you even reached the gate, she gave birth. And it's a boy."

He lowered his head, embarrassed. Then he turned toward Ummie, whose shyness made her pretend to be asleep. But even that didn't hide the smile on her face.

He too felt embarrassed. He stood up and said to Umma:

"Even so... we still need to go to the hospital, right?"

"Yes, of course. A visit to the hospital is necessary. Even though she delivered safely, both she and the baby should be checked. Let us finish tidying up, then we'll go,"

Umma replied, continuing to clean the blood-stained area.

He slowly walked toward the baby and peeked at his face. Shocked, he looked back at Umma.

"Umma... he looks exactly like Radiya..."

Umma laughed and said:

"Wallahi, we both noticed it. I also said this child looks exactly like your little sister."

He laughed, looked at the baby again, and said:

"I swear he's lucky, Radiya has been waiting for him for days. Let me go wake her."

He stood up and rushed out. Umma watched him leave and muttered:

"He's going to wake her now... she'll come and disturb all of us. The little rest you would've gotten, she will not let you."

She said this while looking at Ummie, who just smiled silently.

He entered room quietly. She was sprawled across her bed, deep in sleep. He walked over and tapped her foot.

"Radiya, wake up. Anty Ummie has given birth..."

She jerked up instantly, pouting first in confusion. When he repeated himself, her eyes widened. She rubbed them vigorously, then without a single word, jumped off the bed and dashed out. He followed, laughing loudly.

She ran down the stairs so fast she almost tripped. Umma turned sharply and exclaimed:

"Bismillah! And here the ones with no sense!"

Radiya sped into the room, grabbed the baby, and hugged him tightly. Her smile was so wide she seemed lost in joy. She didn't even know what to say.

Then she turned to Ummie:

"Sorry, Anty Ummie. Is it a boy or a girl?"

Ummie smiled and glanced at Umma who was walking out of the room laughing, and replied:

"It's a boy, Radiya. And he looks exactly like you."

Radiya beamed with delight, gently placed the baby down, and ran outside again. Umma called after her:

"Radiya, come do your ablution!"

But that meant nothing, she was already gone, off to announce the news to the neighbors.

Before eight o'clock, the house was filled with well-wishers. Radiya had gathered half the neighborhood. Umma had to struggle to catch her, make her perform ablution, and pray the Fajr prayer properly.

***********************

Two days after the delivery, they were sitting together in the courtyard. This time, the Ummie was upstairs, and her older sister had come to stay with her. Abbas turned to Radiya and said:

"You told me you want to host the naming party with your friends. How much do you need?"

She smiled, then looked at him and said:

"Yaya, you've already spent too much. Leave it, Anty Ummie and Yaya Hajjo will give me. You should rest. Besides, maulidi is coming soon, and you'll still spend more money."

He laughed, pulled her closer, and said:

"That's why I love my little sister, she has a soft heart. Thank you, okay?"

She nodded, smiling. But suddenly her smile vanished as she glanced toward the entrance. Quickly, she clung to Abbas and whispered:

"Yaya, please tell him not to beat me. don't let him hit me."

A young man, no older than twenty, walked in. His face was hard, showing no sign of playfulness. He headed straight toward them, grabbed a slipper, and raised it as if to strike her.

Abbas immediately held his hand, trying to snatch the slipper away while shielding Radiya behind him.

"Hey! What's the meaning of this? What did she do that you want to beat her? If you dare beat her, you'll be in trouble..."

"Yaya, did you hear the insults this girl hurled at my ear? Just because they separated her from a fight. She has no job except gossiping and causing trouble. Wallahi, I swear I will beat her today."

He ended his statement by flinging the slipper aside and marching angrily into his room. Umma, who was sitting nearby, joined in:

"Yes! Wait until he's not around, then beat her properly. She doesn't listen, shameless girl."

Crying, Radiya turned to Abbas.

"Wallahi, Yaya, when you're not here, Yaya Sadiq beats me every day. Allah knows..."

He wiped her tears and said:

"I swear, if he beat you, I'll deal with him. Leave matters to me."

But Umma cut in sharply:

"What is wrong with you? What are you trying to turn her into? You've spoiled this girl completely. She listens to nobody except you!"

Abbas sat properly and faced her.

"Umma, you know this girl is an orphan, no mother, no father. She deserves kindness."

"Not this kind of kindness," she snapped. "You're raising her to be rotten. That is corruption, not compassion."

She stood up angrily, muttering as she walked away. Abbas listened silently, not because he agreed, but because he respected her.

Radiya tugged his sleeve and said softly:

"Yaya, you're my father, right? And Anty Ummie is my mother?"

His voice softened, full of sympathy.

"Yes, Radiya. But why are you insulting people? Haven't I warned you?"

She lowered her head. Gently, he began correcting her, this time with wisdom, and it was clear the advice touched her.

When he finished, she looked up and said:

"They keep calling me Rady baby, and I only reply that only you are allowed to call me that. They don't listen."

He laughed again, pulled her to his side, and said:

"My Rady baby."

They all burst into laughter together.

The day of the naming ceremony finally came, and it was celebrated in grand style. Abbas put in tremendous effort to make sure everything went perfectly, and may Allah reward him for it.

Radiya and her friends had their own lively party, but as always, it ended in a fight, because she never tolerated mockery from anyone.

Abbas barely managed to separate them. When he came to ask what happened, he learned that one of Radiya's friends had been gossiping, claiming Abbas wasn't the one who fathered Radiya.

That alone was enough, Radiya fought her fiercely, beating her soundly. Abbas had to drag her into the house to end the fight.

The moment they stepped inside, she burst into tears. Radiya was brave, she never cried in front of her friends. Slowly, Abbas pulled her into his chest and wiped her tears, soothing her. Then he looked at her and said:

"You are not an orphan. I am your father. Don't you see you look exactly like Muhammad?"

Through her tears, she looked up at him and said in a soft, spoiled voice:

"But that day you told me I was an orphan... that I had no parents."

He held her tighter and said:

"I made a mistake, and I won't repeat it. As long as I live, you will never know orphanhood again, Radiya. Do you hear me?"

She nodded quietly. He continued rubbing her back until she fell asleep. Gently, he turned her face toward him and stared at her.

He didn't know why the sight of her always filled him with such deep compassion. He hated anything that could hurt her.

Maybe it was because he understood the pain of losing parents. He remembered the suffering they went through after their father died.

He exhaled heavily and renewed the promise in his heart:

As long as he lived, Radiya would never lack anything. Whatever she needed, he would provide. Whatever path was required to secure her future, he would follow it.

With that, he stood up, laid her carefully on the bed, and stepped outside.

He climbed the staircase to his own section. There he found Ummie changing the baby's clothes. She had just bathed him, and the room was neat, filled with the warm scent of incense.

Quietly, he walked closer and sat beside her on the bed, gazing at the baby's face. Then he lifted his eyes to hers. She gave him a soft smile, and he returned it. After a moment, he said:

"Every day, this child looks more like Radiya. I can't explain it."

She chuckled and replied:

"That's the power of blood. It always shows itself. And since I've kept trust for you, of course I gave birth to someone who resembles the girl you cherish most."

He smiled, clearly pleased by her words. Then he stood and entered the bathroom to take a shower.

After all the naming celebrations were over, Radiya began secondary school for the first time.

Abbas made sure she gained admission into one of the top unity schools in Kano city. She should have gone to boarding school, but she firmly refused, and since he didn't like sending her far away either, he worked hard to secure another alternative for her.

As with every school, there were formalities to follow. Abbas prepared everything and took her there on his Lifan motorcycle.

After her interview and assessment, Radiya was confirmed as one of the students who would be admitted into the school.

Because aside from her stubbornness and troublemaking, Radiya was exceptionally intelligent.

This was the first time she stepped into that school.

The school that marked to start her fate...