Book Title; " *THE FORGOTTEN CHILD; A PRICE OF TRADITION" By Mrs. M.B Fatima.* This captivating book contains 3 different realistic fictions. First Realistic Fiction of the book; *JIBIR’s* *JOURNEY;* *A TALE* *OF RESILENCE.* *Episode 5* Jibir was his mother's only male child, and she hadn't seen him since he left for Almajiranci at the age of 4-5 years. He was now 9-10 years old, and almost 5-6 years had passed since his father, Haladu, had sent him away. Haladu often misused the Prophet's hadith, "Marry and have many children, for I will be proud of you on the Day of Judgment." He believed this justified his multiple marriages and divorces, ignoring his responsibilities as a father. He abandoned his children, leaving them to suffer in the Almajiranci system. Hauwa's eyes pleaded with Haladu, her voice barely above a whisper. "Please, Haladu, think about our children, Jibir and his brothers. They need you, they need a father's love and care." But Haladu's face was stone-cold, his eyes flashing with warning. "Hauwa, I warn you, never mention those children again. They are nothing to me, after all they are scholars in their various places, and if you continue to bring them up, I will divorce you without hesitation." Hauwa's heart raced as she nodded, fearful of his threat. She knew her parents had made it clear: keep the marriage at all costs, or face their rejection. She was trapped, with no escape. After divorcing his fourth wife, gone like a worn-shoe, Months passed, He had already set his sights on another, a Fulani woman from Adamawa state. The wedding day was fixed, and Haladu's three friends accompanied him to the ceremony, eager to celebrate their friend's new union. But fate had other plans. As they journeyed to Adamawa, a group of kidnappers lay in wait, their eyes fixed on the unsuspecting party. And among them was Yusha'u, Haladu's own son. At first Yusha'u did not see his father. The kidnappers beat Haladu and his friends mercilessly throughout the night, leaving them weak and helpless. Yusha'u recognized his father, sadly! Yusha'u, second in command of the kidnappers, his eyes blazing with a mix of anger and sorrow, confronted his father, Haladu. "You, you are the reason I am a kidnapper today!" he spat, his voice trembling with emotion. "You abandoned me, your own son, in a stranger's tsangaya, leaving me to suffer and fend for myself from a tender age. I was alone, a child, needing love, care, and guidance. But you left me to face the harsh realities of life, with no education, no support, and no future." Yusha'u's voice cracked as he continued, "I was forced to labor hard to feed myself, to steal and beg to survive. I watched other children go to school, admiring their luck, while I was left to rot in the streets. And now, at 23, I am a kidnapper, a criminal, all because of your neglect, your abandonment." Haladu cowered, his eyes cast down in shame, as Yusha'u's words struck him like a whip. "You are the cause of my problems, the problems of our society," Yusha'u accused, his voice heavy with pain. "If only you had cared for me, for my brothers, we would not be in this mess. But you chose to abandon us, to leave us to fate. And now, look at me, a kidnapper, and a product of your neglect." Yusha'u freed his father and his friends, but Haladu's regret was palpable. His abandonment of Yusha'u and Jibir had come back to haunt him, his conscience wracked with guilt. His physical ailments, a result of his age and betrayal, left him bedridden and helpless. His two wives, Rakkiya and Hauwa, took turns caring for him, while his third wife, Aisha, had left him, unable to bear the burden of his care. "Ni gaskia bazan iya ba, da yunwa zanji ko da wahalar kula da kai, kashi nan! fitsari nan, da kuruciya ta in zauna nima in tsofe da wahalar ka" Haladu's remorse was evident as he confided in his two wives, "I abandoned my sons, Yusha'u, Jibir and their brothers. I am the cause of their suffering." Hauwa, Jibir's mother, was overcome with grief, her tears flowing like a river. She vowed to find her son and bring him back home, remembering that he was taken to Keffi, Nassarawa State, and the name of their Mallam, Mallam Jamilu. Determined to find Jibir, Hauwa sold her valuables and used the money to fund her journey to Keffi, Nassarawa State, searching for Mallam Jamilu's tsangaya. After 3 days of searching, asking every Almajiri she see about Mallam Jamilu's tsangaya, she found it, but the Mallam denied knowing Jibir. A kind Gardi revealed the truth about Jibir's fate, and Hauwa was led to his grave. She also learned about her stepson's taken to Suleja. Hauwa returned to Mallam Jamilu, demanding answers about her stepson. The Mallam's indifference only fueled her anger, and she cursed him for his neglect and abandonment of her children. With a heavy heart, she returned to Bauchi, her search ending in sorrow She told Rakkiya about her son taken to suleja and no story further about him, lost and forgotten into unknown. Hauwa's eyes welled up with tears as she gazed at her husband, Haladu, lying helpless and bedridden. She couldn't help but regret her silence all those years, silenced by the weight of culture and the misuse of religion that emphasized a wife's obedience to her husband. She remembered the countless times she had wanted to speak out against Haladu's decision to abandon their sons, Jibir and his entire brother's out there, but had been silenced by the fear of being seen as disobedient and divorce. She had been taught that a good wife must submit to her husband's will, no matter how unjust or harmful. But now, as she saw the devastating consequences of her silence, she realized the true cost of her obedience. Her family was torn apart, her sons suffered, and her husband's regret was palpable. Hauwa's regret was not just for her own silence but also for the generations of women who had been silenced by the same cultural and religious narratives. She thought about the countless women who had been denied their rights, subjected to violence and abuse, and forced into submission. She knew that her silence had contributed to the perpetuation of a system that devalued women's voices and perpetuated gender-based violence. She vowed to break that silence, to speak out against the injustices and to fight for the rights of women and girls in her community. Hauwa's tears were not just for her family's tragedy but also for the collective pain of women who had been silenced for far too long. She knew that her voice, once silenced, could now be a powerful tool for change. ***** ***** Contact @07062100679 via Whatsapp or email; [email protected] for purchase the complete e-book/Softcopy. Don't forget your review and comment via the above WhatsApp number is fully welcome. Thank you 🤗