Maradams Book 3 Complete Hausa Novel

Maradams Book 3 Complete Hausa Novel continues the emotional story of Adam, Maryama, family secrets, pride, and a love that appears at the wrong time. In this English translation, Adam finally comes face to face with the woman from his dreams, but the pain between them only grows deeper.

Maradams Book 3

A strange sensation began moving through the veins of his body. His heart was beating with such force that it felt as if it would tear through his chest and burst out.

There was no doubt. The face standing before him was the same face of the girl from his dreams.

While they were still in that condition, Some pushed open the office door and entered in a state of panic. Her voice trembled as she spoke with fear.

“Why do you keep causing trouble? Maryama Hussein, how did you get into this office after I told you that the boss does not want to see you?”

“Sir, please forgive me. I did not know when she entered,” Some said quickly.

He raised his eyes, which had turned red, and fixed them on Some, whose voice and body were shaking.

“Forgive me, sir. This girl is stubborn. I told her you did not want to see her. I am very sorry, sir.”

Maryama looked at her sharply.

“Madam, choose your words properly because they are making my brain feel strange. Did I enter by myself, or was I brought in?”

ATA removed his eyes from Some and returned them to Maryama. Their eyes met instantly. Eye to eye, they stared at each other. A strange electric feeling passed through his entire body.

He looked at her with a gaze that could steal the soul.

In her heart, Maryama wondered, “Why is he looking at me like that, as if he wants to devour me?”

Quickly, she removed her eyes from his because of the way her heart had started beating.

Maryama Defends Herself

He was completely lost in looking at her until Some began to suspect something about her boss. She had never seen him look at any woman the way he was looking at Maryama. In fact, he was not someone who loved looking at women at all.

Some turned and looked at Salim, who was also standing and watching ATA with worry all over his face.

Maryama’s voice brought them all back to their senses.

“You should know, or rather all of you should know, that Maryama is above humiliation. She is too valuable to work under people like you, people without manners and without mercy.”

ATA felt his heart fall in a terrible way, in a way he had never felt before that day.

He fixed his frightening eyes on her. Her words shook him deeply. He took two steps toward where she stood, while her body trembled. Yet he could not say anything. Even if he wanted to speak in that condition, his mouth would not be able to form the words.

Maryama continued, “It is because I am not above destiny that you have seen my feet again inside your company. By Allah, on my own, I would never have sent you an application for work. I already know your character, so I would never have come here to work.”

As soon as she finished speaking, ATA’s head began to ache sharply. He released a hot breath and placed his soft palm over his heart, which was beating quickly and violently. Since the moment she started speaking, his chest had been pounding beyond measure.

Her words kept repeating inside his mind.

“Maryama is above humiliation. She is too valuable to work under people like you, people without manners and without mercy.”

Maryama lowered her eyes, which had become red because of the shock she was going through. ATA was still standing there, staring at her with terrifying eyes. She turned her face aside and began saying what she wanted to say.

“This is the second time you have insulted me. What wrong have I done to you?” she asked, raising her face to him while trying to hold back tears.

“You do not want to see me in your life, do you?” she said, sobbing. “By Allah, I do not know why I allowed myself to come to a place where I would be disgraced.”

“Subhanallah,” ATA said quietly inside his heart.

He felt like taking the two remaining steps between them, pulling her into his arms, holding her gently, and giving her shelter against his broad chest.

Some suddenly spoke again.

“What the hell is going on? Why are you talking to the boss like that instead of apologizing so he may help you and employ you? Instead, you sit there talking to people like this. I cannot tolerate that.”

Maryama turned to her.

“Why should I apologize? What wrong have I done that I should apologize? What mistake should I correct? If you are joking, stop it. I will not apologize just because I want to work with you people.”

In deep shock, ATA pulled in a breath, then moved his lips slowly.

“Some.”

Some’s body trembled as she answered, “Yes, sir.”

“Leave.”

“Okay, sir. I am sorry.”

She quickly turned toward the door. When Maryama heard that, she followed behind her and tried to pass beside ATA to leave. As her body brushed close to his, something like an electric current traveled through his entire body.

His hardened face remained fixed on her.

Salim Tries to Stop Maryama

Quickly, Salim followed Maryama and blocked her path.

“Please, Maryama, stop. Calm down. Whatever you need inside this company, we are ready to do it for you. But give us a chance. We have something important to discuss with you.”

Immediately, Maryama’s anger rose again. Her heart boiled. She did not say anything to him, but her face became extremely hard. Calmly, she tried to pass beside him.

He blocked her again.

“Honestly, my patience is ending with what you are doing to me,” Maryama said. “My heart is beginning to boil. I am a very patient woman. Do not make me do to you what I have never done to anyone in this world.”

She continued, “What do you want to tell me? Or what will you people say after the humiliation and disgrace you have given me? I know that even ATA, who did this, does not know whether you…”

“Enough. Please, I do not want to hear anything. Move and let me pass. I do not need your help.”

She tried to pass again, but he blocked her once more. Anger covered her completely. She did not even know when she raised her hand.

A sharp slap landed on his cheek.

In shock, he held his cheek and stared at her with deep disbelief.

Maryama turned angrily and looked at ATA, who stood like someone planted in the ground because of shock.

“Tell him to leave my life. Tell him to move so I can go my way.”

The same way she stared at him with anger, ATA also stared at her without blinking. A strange type of shock moved through his entire blood. He had never felt guilt and regret the way he felt it that day.

“Tell him to let me pass so I can go my way,” she repeated, her voice filled with pain.

Slowly, ATA released hot air from his mouth. In a weak voice that sounded as if he had no strength, he said, “Salim, let her pass.”

After saying that, he turned his back on them.

When Salim heard him, he moved aside without saying another word. Maryama wasted no time. She adjusted her bag and left the office, hissing angrily.

With a weak body, she walked as if she did not even want her feet to touch the ground. She wiped away the tears flowing from her eyes and left the employees’ area while her heart kept beating violently.

Ammar Meets Maryama Outside

Maryama stood beside the staff gate, waiting for transport, when Ammar’s car arrived. One look at her was enough for him to understand that she was troubled.

Immediately, worry entered his heart. He ordered his driver to stop even before the car entered the compound fully.

Before the driver finished parking properly, Ammar stepped out and walked toward her. She was still wiping the tears that continued to fall.

“Maryama,” he called her name.

She raised her head quickly and stared at him.

“Are you okay? Why are you standing by the road crying?” he asked with deep concern.

“Is it not that rude owner of ATA Creation…”

Tears poured down again, and she could not continue speaking.

“Come, let us go inside. Explain to me what happened.”

She shook her head.

“Never again, Oga Ammar. My feet will never enter that company again.”

After saying this, she turned and began walking along the roadside.

Ammar quickly followed her and stood in front of her.

“Tell me who upset you,” he asked, wanting to confirm what he already suspected.

“The owner of the company himself, together with another man I do not even know. They joined together to humiliate me and disgrace me.”

“The owner of ATA Creation himself?” he asked in surprise.

She nodded yes.

He watched as she passed him and continued walking. He followed her with his eyes for a moment before quickly turning and heading into the company.

ATA Realizes What He Has Lost

Filled with heavy shock, ATA went around and returned to his seat, releasing hot breaths. Yet he could not sit. He took a file and began looking through it, but he was deeply disturbed.

Because he was a man of the world, no one could easily see what he was going through. But inside his heart, he was crying the kind of cry that had no escape.

Why was his life entering confusion? Why were these things happening to him? What kind of complicated shock was this?

“That girl is the same girl who was chased away in the previous messages,” Salim said.

“I know,” ATA replied shortly, dropping the file in his hand.

He moved again and stood in the middle of the office, placing both hands inside the pockets of his trousers. He felt an indescribable shock approaching his life. The pain in his head refused to stop and only continued striking harder.

Salim stood still, looking at him as if he was about to cry.

“You said you know?”

“Yes, of course I know. But I knew only now, after I had already ordered that she be sent away. I saw you speaking calmly, yet she is the girl from your dreams.”

“I know.”

Salim shook his head while looking at him.

ATA looked at him seriously and said, “Congratulations for receiving a slap while trying to stop her. If you had known better, you would have let her pass.”

He walked over and sat on one of the office sofas, placing one leg over the other and shaking it as if he was not worried.

Salim touched the cheek where he had been slapped.

“Honestly, I was slapped. That is two slaps I have received from her. She gave me one outside before I brought her in, and now she gave me another in front of you.”

ATA stared at him with eyes filled with shock.

More pain filled ATA’s heart because only he knew the condition he was in.

“For Allah’s sake, stand up and let us go stop her. If she leaves, you do not know where you will see her again.”

ATA fixed his terrifying eyes on him.

“Who will stand up?”

He pointed to his chest with his finger.

“Me?”

He asked again.

“You know me. You know my character. Everyone around me knows I am dying because of love for that girl. I have gone mad searching for her, but I will not act mad with love in front of her.”

“That is your problem,” Salim said. “Pride. By Allah, return to your senses early. For years, you have been searching for a girl. Now you have seen her, and you are still standing on pride?”

“You know, Salim, this is in my blood,” ATA replied.

After saying that, he stood up.

“Do you know something? I met her some days ago in this company, but she was wearing a niqab. I saw her and felt in my body that she was the one, but that thing she used to cover her face weakened me until I convinced my heart that she was not the one. I think that covering of her face is what made me suffer searching for her. Maybe if she had not been wearing it, we would have been married by now, and maybe even…”

He became silent, unable to complete his words. He hissed.

“Maybe even what?” Salim asked seriously.

ATA remained silent, biting his lip hard.

“Maybe you would have already made her pregnant?” Salim asked.

ATA only looked at him without saying anything.

“I know that is what you wanted to say.”

“That is your statement, not mine,” ATA replied.

Then he continued, “That drawing of me you have been talking about was drawn by her.”

He pointed to the drawing with his finger.

“Wow. Honestly, the girl is truly gifted. Now how will we know her house?” Salim asked.

ATA did not answer his question. Instead, he moved to another matter.

“Do you know that this girl is extremely disrespectful? She is the same girl we wanted to employ under Z and A. Even then, my body told me she was the one.”

“Congratulations,” Salim said.

“For what?”

“For finding her. She is beautiful, educated, and gifted with something not everyone has. I congratulate you because your time of happiness has arrived.”

“Stop celebrating, Salim, because she is a married woman.”

After saying that, ATA turned his back to him.

“What?” Salim shouted.

ATA could not turn around. He only struggled to breathe, like someone suffering from asthma. Everything he was doing was only endurance, the kind of endurance he was known for. If his chest were opened, people would find a mountain of shock inside it.

Ammar Reveals the Truth

Salim’s body trembled.

“You said she is a married woman?”

ATA remained silent, fighting with the breath that seemed ready to leave his body.

“What kind of married woman, Adam?”

Still, ATA said nothing.

“For Allah’s sake, turn around and explain to me so I can understand you. Is Maryama truly married?”

“Yes, she is a married woman, Salim.”

They heard a voice behind them and turned at the same time. They saw Ammar standing there, his face filled with worry. He wore a brown T-shirt and black trousers, holding some papers that showed he had come for ATA’s signature.

Slowly, ATA raised his hand and rubbed his forehead, biting his lip hard.

Salim quickly moved to Ammar and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“How do you know she is married?”

Ammar removed Salim’s hand from his shoulder and walked into the office until he stood near ATA.

“I know everything about Maryama. Just as you know ATA has been searching for her, I was also helping him search for her secretly, without his knowledge. Suddenly, I saw her at Z and A as a corps member. I tried my best to make them meet because I wanted to surprise him. But his stubbornness prevented it.”

Salim asked, “Why did you do that to him, Ammar?”

“Why would I not do that for him?” Ammar replied. “Why did he not ask to see her even once?”

“He will spend his life inside trouble,” Salim said.

ATA looked at Ammar with eyes full of shock, red like burning coal.

“Yes, keep looking at me like that. I told you that you have a problem. If not, you would have found her in your life long ago.”

ATA’s body weakened.

“Why could you not tell me she was the girl from my dreams? You could have told me, Ammar. By now, she would not have become someone else’s property.”

Ammar answered, “You know the proverb about using one stone to hit two birds? That is what I was trying to do for you. I wanted you to meet her before she became someone else’s property. But stubbornness, arrogance, pride, and showing power made you refuse to trust me. Because of your stubbornness, you lost her in your life.”

“By Allah, I believe that at the time you would have told Maryama you loved her, she would have accepted you with both hands. But now, Maryama is above your level. In fact, she hates you more than anyone else now. Where will you start?”

ATA became silent, sinking deep into thought.

Truly, Ammar had done his best to make them meet, but he had refused. Now, in their first real meeting, he had destroyed everything.

“Why did you do this to me, Ammar? Why did you not kill me before this day came? You could have killed me, Ammar.”

He spoke as if he wanted to cry.

Ammar released a breath.

“You know I cannot force you. One thing about you is that no one can pressure you. No one can force you into anything except what you choose.”

Adam Refuses to Cross the Boundary

ATA looked at him with deep anger.

“Okay, no problem. I have given up on her.”

Ammar looked at him angrily and spoke with heat as if he was the one in love with Maryama.

“You are lying if you say you have given up on her. That girl is your life. She is your success. She is your peace. If she is not in your life, anything can happen to you.”

“How can you tell me that when I have been with my success since I was born?”

Ammar replied, “First, your heart loves her deeply. Second, your heart needs to work with her. Third, you have lost her because she is married. Fourth, she hates you. These things will affect your health and everything about you. That means you have lost your success. So what now?”

“So I should die? Is that what you mean?” ATA asked.

Ammar became quiet and looked at him carefully before speaking slowly.

“Do you love her, or are you giving up only because she belongs to another man?”

“Yes, I love her so much.”

“Then if you love her, prepare a way to bring her back into your life, even if it is under you as your employee. Otherwise, you will continue torturing your heart and your life for nothing.”

“Do not worry about that. Do not worry about how much I love her. There is nothing I can do because she belongs to another man. That alone has destroyed everything I feel for her.”

“So you mean you have given up on her?”

“Yes, I love her deeply, but I have given up because I will not deal with another man’s wife. Just as I would not accept another man crossing the boundary of my marriage, I will not do that to someone else.”

“Give her a job under you.”

“I will not do that either.”

“Then you will enter trouble,” Ammar said. “The little respect you still have in people’s eyes will collapse because now is when you will truly go mad with love. You will see one trouble after another, especially if you discover the kind of love she has for her husband.”

Salim looked at Ammar in shock.

“What do you want him to do, Ammar, after knowing she belongs to another man?”

“I want him to show that he is a complete man. I want him to face her husband directly and take back his love from his hands.”

Salim shook his head, looking at him like someone without sense.

“How can he do that, Ammar? You yourself said she is a married woman, yet you want him to enter the boundary of Allah?”

Ammar spoke angrily.

“Do you know how far I went because of him? Do you know the wrong I committed just so he could find her?”

“Enough, Ammar,” ATA cut him off. “Limit your words because I will not do anything. And do not ever come to me again with this kind of advice. If you bring such words into my matter again, I will crush you. Yes, I love her more than anything, and she is my life, but I will not play with the right of Allah. I will not enter the boundary of marriage. Be careful, or we will have a problem.”

After saying that, he turned and began walking angrily.

“Why is her life entering confusion? Why are these things happening to me? What kind of shock is this? Why did she come as another man’s wife?”

“Ya Allah!” he said and hit the table in front of him with force.

The papers on the table scattered immediately. He closed his eyes tightly and clenched one fist. He held his breath because he wanted his breath to leave his body so that he could rest from this pain.

Salim spoke many words to him, but he did not move. Ammar also remained unmoved because he had intentionally said those things to make him feel pain over Maryama.

“Both of you should leave my office,” ATA said with authority.

No one moved except Salim, who was still trying to calm him down. Ammar did not care because he had done what he intended.

“What are you still doing here?” ATA asked shortly without looking at them.

Weakly, they began moving backward until one after the other, they left the office.

Ammar’s Hidden Truth

As soon as they left, ATA released a difficult breath. Slowly, he collapsed into a chair. His brain began searching for a way out because he knew he had to do something.

Could he take Ammar’s advice?

He said it aloud as sweat appeared on his forehead and nose.

Slowly, he began talking to himself.

“Adam, you must find a way out because your heart loves this girl deeply. When it comes to her, you are nothing. Remember that even when you thought you were waiting for her love, she had influence over your life, just as Ammar said.”

“So what should I do? What should I do?”

He asked himself questions no one could answer.

He became silent and closed his eyes tightly, feeling a painful heat scattering through his body.

Meanwhile, Salim and Ammar were discussing what had happened. Salim looked at Ammar beside him, still very worried.

“Honestly, Ammar, you did not do well. You were not fair to Adam. You know everything about him, from the beginning of his dreams to the shock he went through when they wanted to marry him to Maryam. You know that because of this girl, he refused to give chances to women who were dying for his love. Yet you did this to him. You should have simply taken her and brought her to him instead of trying to surprise him.”

“Please, you are worrying too much,” Ammar said. “The girl is not married now, but she was married before.”

After saying this, he continued walking quickly.

Salim rushed after him and blocked his path.

“Is that true, Ammar?”

Ammar smiled.

“By Allah, there is no marriage on her now.”

He then explained everything that had happened to her.

“Let me go and tell him,” Salim said, turning to go back.

Ammar held him back.

“Leave him for now. I will tell him myself, but only after I see the strength of his love for her. Did he not say he had given up? I want to see if he can truly give up on her the way he gives up on everything.”

Salim watched him with a smile on his face, thanking Allah again that Maryama was not a married woman.

Adam Tries to Move On

ATA spent almost thirty minutes seated, analyzing Ammar’s words, which his heart wanted to accept.

Slowly, he released a heavy sigh and looked at the watch around his wrist. He hissed softly. He did not know what to do.

If he accepted Ammar’s advice, what exactly would he do? Why would he even do such a thing? No matter how difficult it became, he would suppress what he felt for her. He would never enter another man’s garden.

If she had not belonged to anyone, he was sure that whoever tried to marry her would have had to do so over his dead body. But now, he saw nothing he could do except patience.

He had been patient when he could not find her in the past. Now, he had to be patient with this new destiny that had found him. He would not even allow any human being to know that this story existed.

He stood weakly, his heart wounded, feeling as if he would shed tears. He began walking around the office, breathing like someone who had run a long race. Slowly, he ruffled his hair, then returned to his chair and began working on his system.

ATA sat there working, but her thought refused to leave him. He felt it would be better to remove her completely from his heart and rest.

Maryama Returns Home Broken

Maryama returned to their neighborhood extremely exhausted. Her legs barely carried her into their compound. She went straight to Umma’s side of the house, where she found Umma and Hajiya Granny together.

When they saw the condition she was in, they jumped up in fear. They looked at one another in confusion. Umma looked at Hajiya, and Hajiya looked back at her. Finally, they focused on Maryama.

With difficulty, Umma opened her mouth and called her name.

“Maryama!”

She quickly moved closer because Maryama had no strength in her body. Maryama fell into Umma’s arms and burst into tears while calling her name.

“Umma…”

“What happened to you, Maryama?” Umma asked with a trembling voice.

Through tears, Maryama said, “They humiliated me, Umma. They disgraced me. In the end, they chased me away from work.”

She broke into fresh tears.

“That means I have lost my job again. I do not know what is happening to me. It is as if I am the only one in this world. What wrong have I done? Umma, tell me what my sin is.”

“No, no. Do not ever say that again,” Umma said. “You have done nothing wrong. It is a test.”

Hajiya also came closer, and they placed Maryama between them. They were all confused and worried. Umma stroked her head while Hajiya rubbed her back to comfort her.

“For what reason did they chase you away after they had already employed you?” Umma asked.

“Only because I rejected their work. That was the only reason they chased me away. I did not reject it because I did not want to work with them. I also wanted that job, but at the time, Suba’a needed it more than I did. Allah knows I did everything for His sake.”

Aunty Hasana, who had come out of the kitchen, said, “Have you seen? Allah has answered my prayer. Are you not the mother of needy people? See what your kindness has brought upon you, Queen of helping others.”

“Hasana, please,” Hajiya said. “What do you want this girl to feel? If you will not pray for her, then you should not speak to her like that.”

Aunty Hasana twisted her face.

“Whatever it is, since she has lost the job, my wish has been fulfilled.”

Umma said, “To me, this is a test from Allah, and He knows everything. I will go to that company myself and meet the owner.”

“No, Umma, do not go,” Maryama said quickly. “Do not trouble yourself by going there just for them to humiliate you the way they humiliated me.”

“No, they will not humiliate me. I will apologize to them, Maryama.”

“No, I do not agree. By Allah, even if you go, I will not return to that company to work. After humiliating me and disgracing me, after I had already started working, they chased me away without even trying to understand me. They said I intentionally refused to work with them. By Allah, I do not want that job. I will not allow you to go anywhere either. Even if I die without work, I will never return to that company.”

She said all this while crying and sobbing.

Umma held her tightly and comforted her.

“Be patient, Maryama. In sha Allah, you will find relief. Continue praying. The time of your hardship is close to ending, by the will of Allah.”

Aunty Hasana looked at them with mockery in her heart.

She thought, “You people should continue. If it is this cursed girl with bad luck, wherever blessings are, she will be chased away.”

Umma and Hajiya continued comforting Maryama until her mind became a little calmer.

“Umma, do you think one day I will come out of this suffering?” Maryama asked.

“Certainly, Maryama. You will come out of it. All of this is only a step toward elevation. But you must try to stop saying everything that comes to your mouth. No matter what calamity comes to a servant, it is not good to move around saying inappropriate things. What a person should say often is: ‘Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return,’ and the prayers of repentance and mercy. By Allah’s will, He will wash your heart with happiness.”

Maryama wiped her tears and sat properly between them. She felt her worry reduce. She held Umma’s hand in hers.

“By Allah, Umma, you did not see the company. Everything is well organized. I had been looking for work there for a long time, even when Yaya Sadam refused to allow me to work. It was necessity that made me leave that first job for Suba’a.”

“Do not worry,” Umma said. “I believe you will get a job better than the one you lost. Just hold onto Allah and prayer. Allah will support us.”

Maryama leaned against Umma.

“May Allah make it so, Umma. I love you, my mother.”

Umma smiled.

“I love you too, Maryama. In sha Allah, you will see light in your life.”

“Is it only your mother you love, Maryama? What about me?” Hajiya asked, tapping her head.

Maryama closed her eyes and laughed. They all laughed with her.

ATA Searches for Maryama Again

ATA was sitting and sending a message when his phone rang. He picked it up and placed it to his ear while closing his eyes.

“Yes, you are speaking with him. Okay, you need new design clothes? Fine, just a second.”

Immediately, he called for his secretary.

He continued what he was doing until she quickly entered and stood before him.

“Sir.”

After she entered, he ended the call but continued typing on his system.

“The man I just finished speaking with is a new customer. He needs clothes with fresh designs. Make sure you gather our best fresh designers so they can give us beautiful designs. I want something that will satisfy the new customer. I hope you understand.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Should we try the new employees and see?” she asked.

“Yes, that is good too, so we can see their skills.”

“Okay, sir.”

She left quickly.

“Maryama Hussein,” he said calmly, pressing the keyboard of his system with force. Then he removed his hands and leaned back against his chair, turning slowly.

“Who is her husband? Which area does she live in?”

He knew that if he did not take Ammar’s advice, he would lose his peace forever because he had confirmed to himself that he could not live without her.

Who was her husband? Where did she live? He needed to know everything. But he had to take everything slowly because of the respect of the marriage she had.

Still, he would look for Ammar because he wanted to know something about her before deciding what to do.

The New Designers Fail

Within a short time, the new employees gathered inside his office, each holding a design paper. With difficulty, he stood up and moved around, collecting the papers one after another and looking at them.

But none of the designs pleased him.

He hissed quietly, stood with his hands on his waist, and gave them a terrible look filled with two things: the pain he was carrying and the irritation that they had failed to produce what he wanted.

“Is this the limit of your skill?” he asked.

They all remained silent, their hearts filled with fear. His look alone could frighten a person, let alone when he spoke angrily.

“I did not employ you to pay you when you know nothing. I employed you because you claimed you had skill. Is this the end of your ability?”

His question shook them even more. They felt like running away but could not.

“By Allah, I employed all of you because of best designs, not nonsense,” he shouted.

Then he turned his eyes to his secretary.

“Some, can you see yourself? Where is the test you said you gave them?”

“Sir, they were all tested. Most of them…”

“Calm down, ATA!” someone said as the office door opened.

He stopped and raised his heavy eyes toward the entrance. When he saw Sultana, his anger increased. He closed his eyes and released hot air from his mouth. There was no brightness on his face.

Sultana came close to him, holding a white paper.

“I came with what everyone else failed to bring. Look here and see,” she said, moving her body and placing the paper before him. “Look at my skill. I know this is exactly what you need.”

He remained silent while his heart burned with bitterness.

“Listen. This is my last warning. Do not ever enter my office again without knocking. And when you call me, use respect. Call me sir.”

After saying this, he turned quickly to leave, but she quickly said, “Okay, sir.”

She smiled at him with her eyes, but it did not move ATA’s heart at all. Instead, it increased his dislike for her.

“My design,” she said in a tempting voice while looking at the white paper in her hand.

He turned sideways, snatched the paper from her, and fixed his troubled eyes on the drawing. She kept moving her body and smiling, watching him, but her heart was beating fast.

He almost laughed because what she proudly claimed to have drawn looked like nothing more than a childish mess to him. But he held himself back because laughter did not suit the condition he was in. Still, anyone looking at his face could tell that the drawing nearly made him laugh.

Sultana felt happiness fill her body. She adjusted her posture and waited to hear what he would say.

Calmly, he began squeezing the paper until it was crushed completely. Then he gave her a terrible look, turned to the trash bin, and threw the paper inside.

Facing her angrily, he said, “What is your name again? Sultana or what? Is this the result of what you draw?”

After saying that, he turned and began walking toward his seat.

She released a heavy breath and called his name.

“Ya Adam!”

He shouted, “What do you want from me?”

“So your desire is to humiliate me in public?”

She exhaled and said, “Why?”

“Do you want to know whether I have the power to humiliate you or not?”

She stayed silent, looking at him.

“Then stop entering my affairs. Stop attaching yourself to anything that concerns me. Stand only where you have been placed. Stay away from me, Sultana. Now leave.”

He pointed to the door and glared at her.

Stammering, she called again, “Ya… Ya Adam.”

“I said leave,” he repeated, pointing toward the exit.

ATA Rejects Everyone’s Designs

He turned to Some.

“Some, I already told you to employ professional designers, not people who only claim to draw. I do not see any real designer here.”

He hissed deeply.

“Sir, please forgive them. Each of them is trying hard to draw something that will impress you.”

“Shhh!” he shouted. “They cannot even produce a simple design. It would be better to dismiss all of them and find me others.”

“Please, sir. But why don’t we look for Maryama Hussein? I know she will give you what you…”

“Stop!” he shouted. “Just stop, Some. Do not make the mistake of bringing that girl into a different matter. Do you understand me?”

She quickly nodded.

“I do not need that girl. She will never step her foot into this company again. Not only this company, but every company with work in its name for the rest of her life.”

After saying that, he breathed and looked at them one by one.

“Listen to me carefully. I will give you another chance.”

Then he began describing the kind of design he wanted.

He spoke of a girl sitting calmly with her eyes fixed on a white paper, drawing a long bridal gown and groom’s outfit. The front of the gown had shape, while the back flowed down beautifully, joined with a woman’s long hair.

As he explained, his mind was on Maryama. He could see her in his eyes with deep love. He closed his thick eyes.

“This is the kind of design I want you to follow, step by step, carefully and neatly. I hope you understand.”

They all answered together, “Yes, sir.”

“Go quickly and do it.”

One of them looked at him and said, “Please, sir. In sha Allah, I will give you what you want.”

“Very good,” he said and returned to his seat.

He sat and turned slowly in his chair. Then he picked up a glass cup filled with water, took a sip, placed it down, and rested his hand on the arm of the chair while continuing to rotate slowly.

Sultana Plans Another Trick

As for Sultana, she returned to their office filled with shock and anger over what ATA had done to her.

She was on the phone with Aunty Abida.

“Did you see how he humiliated me, Aunty? In front of his workers, after he finished disgracing the design I suffered to draw. By Allah, I will not accept it. Aunty, I will not endure this humiliation.”

Aunty Abida replied, “I know his character. He is extremely harsh and can do worse than this. Do not worry. What you should focus on is how to start capturing his attention.”

“But Aunty…”

“No. Stop and listen to what I said. Do exactly what I told you. Do not argue with me because I am doing all of this for your own benefit.”

Book Three Begins

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

This book is a paid story. Anyone who wants to read it after completion will pay the stated amount to the author’s account. After payment, proof should be sent for confirmation. For listening to the author’s books, readers may contact the Hausa Bakwai channel on YouTube.

Page Two

After Sultana ended the call, her eyes fell on the drawing Maryama had left on the table.

She became silent, holding her phone while looking at the design. The drawing was extremely beautiful and attractive. It was a drawing of a woman wearing a stunning wedding gown. Maryama had drawn it with full concentration, even drawing the woman’s hair down to her back as if it were a real person.

A smile of happiness appeared on Sultana’s face. With excitement, she picked it up and continued staring at it.

“This is exactly the kind of design Ya Adam wants,” she said to herself. “Surely, if he sees this drawing, he will be pleased. Let me take it to him and say I drew it.”

She quickly turned and headed toward his office.

At that time, his ear was pressed to the phone as he spoke with one of his business partners. Both of his hands were busy typing on the keyboard. His secretary stood beside him, holding a blue file and checking through it.

“Yes, we have more than what you imagine. Yes, certainly. There are important details in the message I sent you. Try to check it,” he said while continuing to work.

About ten minutes later, he stood up with his system and moved to where his secretary stood. He showed her a message and explained how he wanted the business to proceed.

Before he could finish speaking, he heard a voice from the door, followed by knocking.

“May I come in?”

His eyes, hidden behind white glasses, fixed on the door. He remained silent for five seconds before speaking.

“Yes.”

Slowly, she pushed the door open and entered, swaying her body.

When he saw her, he hissed and returned to his chair. He joined both hands on the table and bit his lower lip. A hot breath escaped from his mouth, and he turned his face aside just as she reached his side and placed the white paper in front of him.

“Do you have anything to say about this design?” she asked.

From the corner of his eye, he began noticing the beautiful drawing. Calmly, he turned fully and all his eyes fell on the design.

“Have you seen Sultana’s kind of design? I have told you many times that I am very skilled in drawing, but you always think I know nothing. Now what will you say about this design, sir?”

ATA remained silent, looking at the drawing. A terrible fear entered his heart before he slowly stood, still looking at the design. With a weak body, he reached out and took the paper she had placed before him. He fixed his eyes on the design.

He released a heavy breath.

“The drawing is very beautiful, truly. But Sultana…”

He stopped and studied the drawing deeply.

“You see? It suits you, doesn’t it?” she asked. “I have always told you that if you see some of the drawings I make, you will be surprised. This one suits you, doesn’t it?”

“No,” he said calmly.

Then he continued, “This is not your drawing because this is not the first time I have seen your useless designs.”

Sultana became silent. Her body began shaking because of the way he was looking at her.

He took two steps until he was very close to her. He bit his lip and lowered his voice.

“Are you saying you drew this?”

“Yes, sir. I drew it myself.”

He nodded and returned to his chair. He looked again at the drawing while rotating slowly and shaking his head.

Then he raised his head and looked at her carefully.

“You said it is your drawing?”

She nodded yes, though her heart was beating hard.

“Fine, Sultana. Since you drew it, I need you to draw exactly the same thing for me now.”

In panic, she stretched her hand to collect the paper from him.

“Okay, give it to me so I can go and draw it.”

He pulled the paper away, shaking his head. He closed his eyes for two seconds, then opened them fully on her.

“Sit there. The tools are here. Do what I asked you to do here.”

Sultana stood in fear and shock, staring at him in disbelief.

In her heart, she said, “This man is truly a dangerous man of the world. So he wants to expose me completely?”

When he saw that she could not move properly and stood like someone planted in the ground, anger began boiling in his heart.

He shouted, “Sit down and do your work. I know you can do it since you are sure the design is yours.”

With fear, she answered, “Yes, sir.”

He shook his head and went around to where his secretary stood. He continued explaining the things he wanted her to do, while Sultana remained standing in extreme fear.

He gave her a terrible look and glared at her.

With sudden speed, she found a place and sat on one of the chairs facing him. She picked up a pencil and held it, wondering where she should even begin.

Immediately, she entered a deeper fear than the one she had already been in. Sweat began forming on her face and body. One look at her was enough to know that she was extremely frightened.

“I am finished. I have fetched the water to cook myself. Where will I even start?” she asked herself while her stomach trembled.

Sultana Is Exposed

His secretary brought a green file and handed it to him. He collected it and said without looking at Sultana, “Sultana, are you done?”

Her voice and body shook as she answered, “No, sir.”

He nodded.

“Today you will know you are not clever if you fail to do what I said,” he said quietly in his heart.

His phone rang. Some quickly picked it up and handed it to him. He answered and placed it to his ear while checking the file in his hand at the same time.

He clearly understood the fear Sultana had fallen into. He breathed, dropped the phone, and returned his attention to his secretary. They continued discussing for about thirty minutes while Sultana remained seated in serious fear, unable to do what he asked.

He stood again, holding Maryama’s drawing in his hand. He moved around until he reached where Sultana sat. When she felt his breath land near her neck, she turned in panic, her body shaking.

“I already knew you did not draw this,” he said. “This is not your drawing at all. Or are you still insisting that you drew it?”

He stepped back two steps and waited to hear the next lie she would tell so he could deal with her as he wanted.

With fear and stammering, she said, “Yes, truly, I did not draw it. But please forgive me.”

Her entire body shook like someone connected to electricity.

“Even if you had not said it, I knew. This could never be your drawing.”

He fixed his troubled eyes again on Maryama’s design. Slowly, he began walking while still looking at the drawing, closing his eyes slightly until he stopped behind Sultana. Immediately, she entered another wave of fear.

“Why did you lie to me?” he asked.

She remained silent, unable to answer. Her whole body trembled more.

“Why did you lie to me?” he shouted.

“For Allah’s sake, forgive me.”

“Enough. Where did you get this design? Who drew it for you?”

“No, sir. No one drew it for me.”

“Where did you get this design?”

“Uhmm… actually, the new staff member who was dismissed earlier, Maryama Hussein, drew it and left it on the table in our office.”

Immediately, his heart began beating faster. He looked at the design and felt a kind of pleasure spreading through his body and veins, something he had never felt for any creature except her.

He closed his heavy eyes, then slowly moved his lips.

“How can people like you draw something like this?”

Then he called her harshly.

“You.”

She stood very still before him.

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Stop entering my affairs. Stand in the position you have with me, a position I do not even consider important. Do you understand what I mean by that?”

She quickly nodded.

“That means the family connection between us.”

She nodded again as her body continued trembling because his entire behavior had frightened her.

“Good. Now leave my office.”

She turned quickly and rushed toward the door.

Adam Holds Maryama’s Drawing

He returned and sat on his chair, his chest beating with great force. Calmly, he kept looking at the drawing. He could not stop looking at it.

A new wave of love for Maryama rose inside him and began moving through his blood.

“My love, my affection, my happiness, my life. You are everything to me,” he said aloud.

He stood and moved to the long sofa with the drawing in his hand. He sat there, seeing the drawing as if Maryama herself was in his palm. He could see her beautiful face moving inside his eyes.

After a short while, he stood again, closing his eyes. He felt the exact place where his heart was attached in his chest beating hard. He placed his hand there and shut his eyes.

He knew for certain that if he did not do something about his matter with this girl, he was close to developing a serious heart condition.

But what could he do since the girl belonged to another man?

Slowly, he moved his feet while thinking of a way to save himself.

“Adam!” his heart called loudly.

“Try your best to possess this girl by any means. Use your strength and take her, just as Ammar told you.”

He shook his head.

“She is a married woman.”

“Then bring her close to you. Seeing her near you will give your life a little peace.”

“I chased her away myself, and I should bring her back myself?” he asked his heart.

“No, I cannot take that risk.”

He became deeply lost in thought. Then he returned to his seat and rewound the security footage from the morning. He watched from the moment she entered until the moment they left. He stopped at the part where she slapped Salim.

He watched where they stood inside his office until she came out into the corridor and turned back to look at his office, her face full of tears.

He released a heavy sigh when he reached the part where Salim received another slap from her.

A cool smile appeared on his face. He touched his beard and continued smiling.

“I knew you would surely be troublesome, princess.”

ATA Considers Calling Maryama Back

With a weak heart, he picked up his phone and called his assistant. She answered on the first ring.

“Come,” he said shortly, breathing through his nose.

He removed his eyes from the small television he had been watching when someone knocked. He gave permission to enter while picking up Maryama’s drawing again.

His secretary entered and stood before him with respect.

“Sir, I am here.”

“This drawing belongs to Maryama, right?”

“It is hers, sir. When you told me to go and dismiss her, I found her drawing this design. I think because of the shock she found herself in, she forgot it. But it is definitely hers.”

“This girl truly has talent. She has the exact skill that matches my taste, but my heart chased her away.”

“Sir, should we call her?”

He quickly raised his head and looked at her seriously.

“Sir, I mean because of the progress of your business. She will give you everything you want. Keeping her with us will bring two profits: drawing skill and business understanding.”

He remained silent and did not answer, even though what she said was exactly what his heart and body needed. Still, he did not understand why he could not give the order.

She stood before him for almost thirty minutes without him saying anything. When her legs began to weaken, she opened her mouth carefully.

“Sir, may I leave?”

He gave her permission with his hand.

He spent that day in deep thought. Wherever he moved, he felt Maryama in his body and heart. Seeing her that day had increased the fire of her love inside his heart.

He called one of his boys and ordered that cigarettes be brought to him because in the condition of worry he was in, that was the only thing he felt he needed.

Within a short time, someone knocked and asked permission to enter. He allowed him in. James placed the cigarettes on his large table and quickly left.

Maryama Falls Sick

Just as ATA was deeply troubled about what had been done to Maryama, Maryama herself was also troubled by the calamities following her life.

She cried throughout the day. By six in the evening, her body had become hot like burning coal.

Umma stood over her, wiping her body with a wet towel after giving her medicine. Then she sat beside her and held her palm with pity.

Umma did not want to lose Maryama the way she had lost her Sadam. Because of the love she had for her, whenever she saw Maryama in distress, she also became deeply worried.

She could not understand why things kept turning against Maryama. What should she focus on? The hatred from people in their house, or the test that kept following Maryama’s life?

Slowly, Maryama opened her eyes and looked at Umma.

“Sorry, Maryama. May Allah give you health.”

“Ameen,” Maryama replied.

“Do not worry. Everything passes, and everything happening to you is with the knowledge of Allah. Hold firmly to prayer. Whoever says ‘Allah,’ Allah will be enough for them. In sha Allah, you will not go out again looking for work or anything like it. Instead, work will follow you home by the permission of Allah.”

“May Allah show me that time,” Maryama said with a trembling voice.

“Take heart, Maryama. You will be happy in your life. As for Mr. ATA, let him go and keep his job. You were not living by his job before. We are here. Work will come to you.”

Maryama released a heavy breath and closed her eyes.

If there was anything she hated at that moment, it was the owner of ATA Creation.

And yet, far away from her, that same man could no longer remove her from his heart.

Their lives had become tied together by pain, pride, misunderstanding, and destiny. Adam had finally found the girl he had searched for all his life, but he had wounded her before he could even hold her close. Maryama had left his company broken, humiliated, and sick, while Adam remained trapped between love, regret, and the fear of crossing a forbidden boundary.

What neither of them knew was that the truth about Maryama’s past marriage could change everything.