Nabila’s Outburst Against Abbu
“You pathetic old man, Deen! When on earth will you stop embarrassing me in front of my friends? I am thoroughly sick and tired of this habit of yours. Every day, you do nothing but drag your wretched lineage of poverty around. What if you end up rubbing your poverty off on them?!”
(Hmm, my dears… imagine her claiming he’ll rub poverty off on them! What utter nonsense, right? What do you all think, my dears?)
“Alright then, you’ve just left us to suffer in this life!” she concluded furiously, looking as though she was about to strike him.
Deen’s Intervention and Abbu’s Patience
Deen remained completely silent, as he had grown far too accustomed to Nabila’s toxic behavior. He looked over at Abbu and said gently, “You can go now. Furthermore, I am giving you two weeks of leave, and your salary will still be paid in full.”
“Alright,” Abbu replied simply, having long grown used to the humiliation and disrespect Nabila routinely subjected him to. Seeing Abbu leave the spot, Deen also walked away without uttering another word.
Sympathy Among the Household Staff
Upon leaving the area, Abbu headed straight to the kitchen to collect his meal. One of the household workers looked at him and said sympathetically:
“Baba, please bear with Mrs. Deen. She only hesitates to do worse to you because of how immensely Mr. Deen respects you. But honestly, sir, our boss did not get lucky with a good wife at all. Such a decent man, but as for his wife… sigh.” He finished speaking with a heavy heart.
Abbu offered a calm, knowing smile and replied, “Ah, Hafeez… may Allah guide us all, because this matter is far beyond my control.”
“Baba, I can’t help but feel deeply sorry for the boss,” Hafeez continued, praying for him. “I sincerely pray Allah looks into his affairs. I feel so much pity for him—his mother passed away and left him, he gets no care or devotion from his wife, just her useless, cursed jealousy.” He concluded, his heart aching with sympathy for his employer.
Key Highlights from Deedeen Book 1
- Character Dynamics: Highlights the sharp conflict between Nabila’s arrogant disrespect and Abbu’s quiet endurance.
- Emotional Themes: Explores filial respect, toxic marital relationships, and the bond between a good boss and his staff.
- Cultural Context: Captures traditional Hausa values of patience (haƙuri), respect for elders, and reliance on faith during trial.