Daughter of the Buried Truth

Chapter Four: The Suspicious

By 10:30 a.m., she stood before her mirror tying her headscarf. Since it was the weekend, she allowed herself a bit of makeup, nothing excessive, because she naturally disliked heavy makeup.

She wore a long green atamfa dress that suited her beautifully. Her headscarf also sat neatly, making her admire herself for a moment.

Nuratu was a modest beauty with Fulani features a medium-length pointed nose, a rounded face with a little fullness, and glowing brown skin. She had a medium-height figure with a graceful build, and her hair was of medium length, thick and black like typical Fulani hair.

Ameerah resembled her closely, but Nuratu was slightly taller and darker.

She was 32 years old, but her physique made her look no older than 25.

Anuwar, however, looked different, tall, strikingly fair-skinned, and sharper-featured. When you looked at the three of them, though, it was obvious they came from the same blood.

At 11:05 a.m., she finally came downstairs for breakfast after completing some chores. Everyone was already at the dining table, with Baba Rabi busy arranging the morning meal.

As she approached, they all greeted her warmly, except Anuwar, who was completely engrossed in his phone.

In an instant, she snatched the phone from his hand. He looked up, playful mischief in his eyes.

"Good morning, baby!" he teased.

She shot him a glare and knocked him lightly on the head.

"Ouch! Haba baby," he groaned dramatically, rubbing the spot. "Just because I called you 'baby' so you'd feel special, now you're breaking my skull?"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Nuratu rolled her eyes.

"You and nonsense are the same thing. Shameless boy."

Ameerah cleared her throat loudly, she signal that she had gossip. Nuratu turned to her:

"Bibi, it seems you have something to say."

Ameerah only hummed while glaring at Anuwar.

Nuratu looked at him again; he was also glaring at Ameerah. She smiled just as he grumbled:

"Whatever she wants to say is definitely gossip. You know this girl is a professional gossip."

Laughter erupted again.

Ameerah frowned.

"Yaya, must you always suspect me?"

Nuratu eyed them both.

"So the two of you are hiding something from me? Fine. Start eating."

They chorused, "Okay," and breakfast continued.

Afterward, they moved to the living room to watch a TV series.

Nuratu stayed focused on her laptop, working. Surprisingly, Anuwar was unusually calm, fully engaged in watching the love series unlike before, when he would complain until someone changed the channel.

Ameerah smirked teasingly.

"So Yaya now watches love series? Truly the world is ending."

He shot her a warning look, whispering sharply so Nuratu wouldn't notice.

But Nuratu noticed everything. She just pretended not to care, that was her way. If you didn't involve her, she wouldn't intrude. But when invited, she always exceeded expectations.

Suddenly, Anuwar grabbed a pillow and threw it at Ameerah.

Unfortunately, the pillow landed straight on Nuratu's face.

She looked up sharply. Before she could speak, he said:

"Ukhty, please separate me from this girl before I beat her in a way you can't stop forever."

More laughter.

Nuratu shook her head, amused.

"What kind of beating is that? the one I cannot stop?"

She then turned to Ameerah, still laughing:

"Come here. Is this about love?"

Ameerah burst out laughing and moved closer.

One thing about Nuratu, her mind was sharp. She could read intentions easily. That was why her siblings never lied to her; she taught them that lying was worse than any mistake.

Still giggling, Ameerah began:

"Ai Ukhty, let me tell you everything. Yaya keeps volunteering to pick us up from Islamiyya. But he's not going for us, it's because he sees Nawwar there. He likes her, and she doesn't know..."

The whole room erupted again.

Nuratu looked at him with playful shock.

"SubhanAllah! My brother has grown. Love? Why didn't you tell her yourself?"

Ameerah quickly added:

"He's scared! He said if anyone must tell her, it must be me. I told him wallahi I won't."

Nuratu turned to her.

"So how did you find out, Miss Gossip?"

Ameerah raised her hand.

"I caught him looking at her picture on his phone. I screenshotted it and used it to threaten him..."

Another round of laughter.

Then she continued the story:

"He even took us to check on her when she was sick... and he bought her all sorts of things."

Nuratu laughed so hard tears came out.

When they settled, she turned to Anuwar.

"So why not tell her yourself?"

He sighed.

"Well... since you already know, maybe you should talk to her first. She was supposed to come today, but she cancelled."

Nuratu raised an eyebrow.

"So I will be the one to tell her?"

He lowered his head.

She added gently:

"You don't propose to a girl through someone else. Say it yourself. That is what gives weight to your words."

He sighed again.

"Ukhty, wallahi I'm not scared to tell her. I just want her to meet you first. If she passes your standard, then I'll tell her myself. I don't want to bring someone you won't like."

The room fell quiet. The sincerity of his words softened their hearts.

Nuratu touched his shoulder, her tone warm:

"Don't worry, Anuwar. Anything that brings you happiness, as long as it's not harmful, I'll support you."

And with that, the conversation ended. Everyone went to their rooms for their usual weekend afternoon nap. Sometimes Nuratu would collect their phones so they could rest properly.

As always, she did the same today.

Later, after Asr prayer, they gathered again for evening conversations, then dinner, and finally bedtime. This was their weekend tradition.

Even Anuwar, despite being a young gynecologist, respected this routine. He spent the whole day at home until nightfall.

THE NEXT DAY

On Sunday morning, the household woke up wrapped in joy and affection, spending the entire day together with the same harmony as always. Anyone who saw them would instantly know that peace reigned in this home.

Around 3:20 p.m., Nuratu was upstairs in the sitting room, alone, catching up on the w******p messages that had flooded her phone, she finally had enough time to check them.

Her phone began to ring.

Daddy appeared on the screen.

Respectfully, she answered and returned his greeting.

After they spoke briefly, Daddy asked her to come over; he wanted to see her before 4 o'clock. She checked the clock on the wall and replied:

"I'll be there, inshaAllah."

She got up and headed to her room to get ready.

After dressing up, she came downstairs wearing a maroon jilbab hijab, smelling softly of perfume. She walked into the kitchen since she didn't see anyone in the main living room.

There she found Ameerah and Baba Rabi preparing dinner.

Both of them smiled widely when they saw her.

Ameerah teased playfully:

"Ukhty, when you wear hijab like this, you start looking like an Arab woman."

Nuratu smiled.

"You and your teasing," she replied.

She turned to Baba Rabi.

"I'm heading out. Daddy called me. Please take care until I'm back."

They all prayed for her safe return.

As she left the kitchen and walked toward the exit, she spotted Anuwar and Junior in the small sitting room downstairs, deeply focused on their PS5 game. She greeted them and stepped out.

4:20 p.m.

Nuratu arrived at Daddy's house, where she found him and Ashraf just finishing salah inside the beautifully decorated private mosque in the compound, one of Daddy's habits that impressed everyone.

She went straight to the visitors' sitting room. It was empty, so she performed her prayers since she still had ablution.

Before she finished her supplication, Daddy entered with Ashraf. They sat and waited for her to complete her prayer.

When she finished, she calmly walked toward them, greeted Daddy respectfully, and deliberately avoided looking in Ashraf's direction. Then she took a seat and pretended to focus on the CNN news displayed on the massive wall-mounted TV.

Daddy watched her tighten her face and nearly burst into laughter, he knew exactly whom she was angry with.

He cleared his throat and asked:

"Nuri, do you know why I asked you to come?"

She turned briefly toward him.

"No."

"You came, sat, and kept quiet. Why?"

She shook her head.

"Nothing."

Daddy looked at Ashraf, who was pretending to scroll on his phone.

"Talk to her. Didn't I call her because you said you wanted to say something to her?"

Ashraf put down his phone slowly.

He looked at her for a second, then looked away again. She shifted her gaze back and forth between them, confused.

Daddy spoke again:

"Why are you quiet? Say what you brought her here for."

Ashraf adjusted his posture, looked at Daddy, and said:

"Daddy, you told us both to prepare so I could apologize... but look at her, she didn't even greet me. She doesn't even consider me worth greeting."

Daddy hid a smile. He knew Ashraf loved being dramatic. Still, he ignored it and replied:

"Did I say we should prepare? Or you begged me to call her so you could apologize?"

Ashraf scratched his neck, then finally turned to Nuratu:

"I'm sorry about what happened. It was a mistake. I didn't mean to upset you. I don't like conflict, that's why I chose peace. I'm sorry, again."

Nuratu forced a polite smile.

Her eyes showed clearly that she didn't believe a word he said.

She could see something else behind his sudden apology, something calculated.

The pure hatred she saw in his eyes the previous day...

And now this overly quick apology?

No.

He was planning something.

She felt it.

That was enough to keep her silent.

Daddy and Ashraf waited for her response, but she turned back to the TV and said:

"It's fine."

A short answer, and a cold one.

Ashraf didn't like it. He saw her distrust clearly.

But he had already decided:

Whatever she threw at him, he would swallow it.

He was determined to reach his goal.

Daddy wasn't surprised by Nuratu's response. He expected it. He knew her too well.

He also suspected Ashraf's intention, he could tell this wasn't a real apology. And knowing Suwaiba (Ashraf's mother), he was sure she was using Ashraf as a tool to dig for something.

But this wasn't Nuratu's first time facing danger.

She had walked through fire before: betrayal, traps, attempts to break her...

She had survived what stronger people had died from.

And once she learns a lesson, she never falls for the same trick again.

Daddy looked at both of them, each lost in their own thoughts, and finally said:

"Nuri, Ashraf wants to start overseeing aspects of the business. He says he's interested now. Honestly, he should have been involved a long time ago, but his unseriousness and recent health issues put him far behind.

And you also need support, you've been carrying too much alone.

So he will follow you, learn from you, and gradually take on responsibilities. We'll see how things go."

Ashraf didn't like this.

He expected his father to hand everything over instantly.

Instead, Daddy put him under her.

Under Nuratu.

But then he remembered his mother's warning that morning:

"No matter what favoritism you see, endure it. He adores that girl. You must move slowly and wisely."

So Ashraf swallowed his pride and smiled.

"It's okay, Daddy. I'll do my best, inshaAllah."

Daddy nodded in approval, then looked at Nuratu.

Her face was still stiff.

"Nuri, you're quiet. Any problem?"

She forced another smile.

"No problem. InshaAllah, I'll handle everything.

But talk to him, tell him to drop his pride and his temper, and follow office rules.

He's reporting to work starting tomorrow."

Daddy burst into laughter at her tone.

Even Ashraf frowned, her confidence irritated him.

Daddy added:

"You heard her. Follow the rules."

Ashraf smiled tightly, stood, and left the room.

Daddy watched him leave with a knowing grin.

Then he turned back to Nuratu:

**"I know they're plotting something.

Don't panic.

Everything will go according to plan.

Suwaiba is using him, she wants to expose us. That's why she pushed for his return.

But I trust your discipline, your training, your mind.

You'll never fail me.

Just stay alert."**

Nuratu shifted in her seat.

"Daddy, I thought he only wanted to understand your wealth. Whatever Mummy did, she's right, it's nothing serious. He deserves to know his father's assets..."

Daddy cut her off sharply:

"I built my wealth with my own sweat. I inherited nothing.

And I'll spend it as I choose.

Remember: everything I have is for Junior. No one else."

She looked up, startled.

She truly hated when he said that, it made her uneasy.

She followed quickly, apologizing:

"I'm sorry. We'll do whatever you say.

But please, Daddy, stop saying your wealth belongs to Junior alone.

If anyone overhears that, we'll face even worse problems."

Daddy looked into her eyes, nodded once, and left.

She sighed deeply and headed home.

Ashraf had actually heard every single word they discussed after he left, because he slipped out quietly and stayed hidden until he sensed they were coming out. Only then did he leave the area.

His entire body began to tremble as Daddy's words echoed in his head:

"My wealth belongs to that boy."

His mind froze.

Completely.

He could no longer understand what he was feeling.

With Mummy far away, and anxiety twisting his chest, he dragged himself into his room with great effort and collapsed onto the bed, his heart pounding with a thousand questions.

Then another thought struck him sharply:

"What if Daddy is not even my real father?

Wallahi, I have doubts."

He jumped up, grabbed his phone, and dialed Mummy's number.

She answered on the very first ring.

His voice trembled with panic as he burst out:

"Mummy, please... please tell me the truth.

Is Daddy really my biological father?

Please, Mummy, don't hide anything to me!"

He could barely breathe.

His chest rose and fell heavily with each frantic word.

Hearing the desperation in his voice jolted Mummy into fear. She quickly asked:

"Who told you that? What happened?

If it's someone else, wallahi I'll take them to court.

But if it was your father who said it, tell him I said he's lying."

Her tone softened, turning into the soothing voice only a mother could use:

"Stand in front of your mirror.

Look at yourself properly.

You are your father's exact copy, no doubt, no question, no argument."

Only then did Ashraf begin to calm down.

He had forgotten how closely he resembled his father, the same features, the same presence.

He lowered his voice and explained everything that happened.

Mummy gave a dry, bitter smile on the other end and said:

"This is a sign of victory, Ashraf. We're getting close.

Everything will reveal itself soon.

For now, calm down. Think with your brain.

Remember you're not in perfect health, don't stress yourself.

I'm on my way home."

She continued to speak to him gently until he relaxed, and then he ended the call.

Ashraf moved to the mirror and studied himself closely.

He was an exact replica of his father, everything from facial structure to demeanor, except for the difference in complexion. His father was a pure fair-skinned Fulani man, while Ashraf carried the deeper tone of his Kanuri mother.

He was tall, undeniably handsome, with a sharp nose, long angular face, and bright eyes just like his father's. His beard, mustache, and neatly trained facial hair lay smoothly against his face. His walk, his speech, his voice, his confidence, everything matched his father perfectly.

The differences were only two:

Skin tone.

And his well-built, athletic physique, a result of his constant exercise routines for medical reasons.

When Mummy returned home, she continued to reassure him, painting grand pictures of the future victories they would achieve. Her words softened him completely. Then she added the final spark:

She fed his heart with deeper hatred and resentment toward Nuratu and her son.

By the time she finished, Ashraf had made a deadly vow:

He would destroy Nuratu and her boy, even if the child truly was Daddy's biological son.

He would never allow that boy to rise.

Never.

Nuratu's Side

Meanwhile, Nuratu returned home and lay down, her mind spinning with thoughts and predictions about the new challenges she would face starting tomorrow.

She knew, she absolutely knew, that she would not break.

She would not fall into anyone's trap.

Her life had always carried a bitterness that returned just when things began to settle. Every time peace approached, a new storm would rise.

But this time?

She would not show a single weakness.

Not even a c***k.

She would do exactly what Daddy instructed, not that she ever disobeyed him, but she would also keep reminding him of the importance of his only child, the only son he brought into this world.

She knew the truth was on her side this time.

Still, she wouldn't be careless.

She had already seen signs of revenge in Ashraf's eyes.

So she would fight wisely:

With discipline.

With strategy.

With prayer, her strongest weapon, her secret strength, her shield against every enemy.

With these thoughts, sleep slowly washed over her.