Chapter Thirteen: Deceit

Talatu was worried. It had been two weeks since the incident with Fantah, and her husband had been avoiding her. He left home very early and arrived home late at night. He avoided any intimate contact and left his food untouched too. She knew he was upset about the whole episode, but never knew to what extent until it dawned on her that Fantah was not just any pretty girl, but one that meant a lot to her husband.

Very early the next morning, as her husband was about to mount his horse, she quickly ran to him, knelt, and held his leg, crying and begging for forgiveness.

"Iam sorry, Allah rene. My jealousy got the best of me," Talatu said.

Arabian Ceiling

"I promise I will never do anything of that nature again," she continued, looking at him earnestly. "Please, Allah rene, do not avoid your wife like that. It is not Islamic and certainly not befitting your status. I am begging you. Please forgive me."

He softened up, then pulled her up to stand. "Ok, I have heard you. Forgive me too. I promise I will come back to your bed again. But I need to go out now as I have some urgent work to do."

She also persuaded her uncle, the Waziri, to intercede on her behalf. Hayah was at the stalls, tending to his favorite horse when the Waziri arrived.

"Salamu Alaikum, Allah rene," the Waziri greeted Hayah.

"Alaikum Salaam, Waziri."

"Allah sabbine. Allah Wadu Barka." He showered him with praises. "What can I do for you, Waziri?" Hayah was getting impatient. He could read him like a book, and he was aware that the Waziri was a two-timing snake.

"I just had a little chat with my daughter..." He started, nervously. "She had been crying because she thought that you were angry with her. Hahaha. Silly girl... you know how women are. Ha ha...." He laughed again, nervously. "I told her that you could never be angry with her. She is your precious wife and could never do wrong in your eyes. Hahaha."

"Actually, she could, and she did," Hayah said without looking at him.

It was all well again. For the next three months, while waiting for the Sharo festival to take place, Hayah visited Fantah several times. Sometimes, he spent the night in their house, and at other times, his visits were brief.

He loved the time he spent with her, and fortunately for him, there were no royal assignments for him to carry out at such times. Whatever threats existed, especially from the indigenous tribes, had been successfully neutralized, giving him time to relax and plan his marriage in detail.

At home, his wife had become extra nice and had been going the extra mile to make him happy. She genuinely seemed sorry about what she did and was doing everything in her power to get him to forgive and forget, which made him feel good.

He didn't know that it was all an act. The Waziri had not given up and was still planning for his downfall, using her. He had been supplying her with concoctions of various kinds and even took some of Hayah's personal items to a witch doctor to charm him.

One day, while he was out, the Magajiya came to see Talatu with the latest batch of concoctions.

"This one was brought all the way from the city of Kano," the Magajiya said, holding out a powdery substance wrapped in a piece of cloth. "It is called Manta Uwa. And this other one is called Bita zoi-zoi. Make sure you soak a little of each, mixed, and leave it for at least half a day. Then drink it. Afterward, make sure you have sex with him. I promise you, he will be all you will think of after that."

Talatu looked at her sceptically.

"Trust me; it is the secret that powerful Hausa women use to control their husbands. Use it, and you will have him eating from your hands in no time."

[End of Chapter Thirteen]