RAMIN MUGUNTA

Description

At 2 a.m., the night is shattered by piercing screams and gunfire echoing through the town, followed by an eerie silence. Armed robbers, their faces masked, invade a prominent household, overpowering the guard and forcing him to lead them inside. They confront the homeowner, Alhaji Sa’ad, and his wife, Hajiya Zarah, demanding their lives rather than money. Despite Sa’ad’s pleas, the gang’s leader coldly shoots him as he recites the Shahada, and Zarah is killed moments later. Their daughter, Manal, witnesses the horror, collapsing in grief as she begs the robbers to kill her too, unable to bear the loss. The leader spares her, and the gang flees, leaving Manal and the guard in shock.

The brutal murder of Alhaji Sa’ad, a respected philanthropist, and Hajiya Zarah, known for her kindness, sends shockwaves through the community. News spreads rapidly across radio, television, and newspapers, with many mourning and condemning the act. Despite investigations, no evidence pins down the culprits. Manal, traumatized, faints repeatedly and is hospitalized, waking to overwhelming grief. Her uncle, Alhaji Bukar, and his family offer comfort, promising to care for her, but tensions arise over Sa’ad’s estate. Bukar reluctantly accepts a portion, though some suspect foul play.

Forty days later, Manal’s life deteriorates under Bukar’s roof. Once sheltered, she now faces hostility from Bukar’s daughter, Nabila, and his wife. Treated like a servant, Manal endures grueling chores—washing, cleaning, and cooking—while suffering verbal and physical abuse. Nabila mocks her, slapping her for minor mistakes and belittling her former privilege. Manal’s spirit crumbles; she sleeps in a guest room, wears tattered clothes, and barely eats. Haunted by nightmares of her parents, she wakes in tears, praying for relief. When Bukar demands documents tied to her inheritance, Manal complies fearfully, sensing his growing resentment. Alone, she laments her lost family and shattered life, pleading to God for deliverance from her suffering.

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