Bello Shehu Baqi(meaning black) is a very rich man in Sokoto state, Nigeria. The family name Baqi was a result of the complexion in the family. They are all ebony or even darker. Surprisingly, they did not marry fair people, making them keep the family name successfully. Baba Baqi, who the name originated from, is the head of the family. He has 7 children, who are all married happily, other than a few mishaps marriages have. He's got 29 grandkids all from his children.

Alhaji Bello Baqi is his 5th born, an exceptional business man who has multiple shops in markets and multipurpose malls in town. His business made him popular as most people from Sokoto are aware of him and his siblings who are into one fancy business/trade or the other. Bottom line is the family is a wealthy family. Alhaji Baqi has a wife named Asiya, 3 sons namely Abdulhafiz, Abdullah and Umar farooq and 3 daughters Saratu, Anisa and Hadiza. 

Abdulhafiz and Abdullahi are in 400level in the prestigious Usmanu DanFodiyo University in Sokoto, while Farooq the youngest of the boys is in 200level, Saratu is in 100level, Anisa in SS2 and Hadiza in SS1 schooling in Federal Government College, sokoto. There wasn't much age gap between them so their school is cramped up. Abdulhafiz who is the first born didn't get into the University as a result of an illness he suffered for a whole year, when he got better Abdullahi was already through with secondary school. So they were both admitted together studying law and Medical laboratory science respectively.

Unfortunately for Farooq the 3rd born, he did not belong to Asiya-Alhaji Baqi's first wife, like all the other children. He wasn’t born dark, like his siblings. In fact he is as fair as an Arabian man and the silky soft hair didn't help matters.

Alhaji Baqi had married Farooq's mother from Katsina, A fair petty lady he had met during his numerous business trips. He went through hell to get approval from his family; most of them were not in support of the wedding because of Farooq's mother's complexion, a dumb reason if you ask me. They showed their displeasure but that didn't stop him. He had made up his mind and nothing was going to stop him. The story took a sad turn when she died while giving birth to Farooq. Farooq got the trait of his mother; the complexion, the silky hair, the gray eyes and of course the beautiful dimpled smile. Farooq is the polar opposite of the rest of his family. 

While growing up Farooq suffered stigma from his family. Being the only fair person in a large family was a lot to handle. He's always the last to be initiated in whatever fun thing going on in the family. Family time was torture for him. They even teased him by calling him Fari (fair), the opposite of his own family name. He even overheard his Auntys from Alhaji Baqi's family saying he was an illegitimate child. Farooq had it hard, because none of his immediate family members paid much attention to him. They did not notice how depressed he was becoming by the day. Farooq became totally withdrawn, no friends or family to call his own. It pushed him into removing Baqi(the family name) from his name in school. The silly questions he had to answer were equally vices that pushed him into it.

"Are you sure you're Alhaji Baqi's son?"

"How come you're fair?"

"You don't look like them at all"

"Were you adopted?" 

"I don't believe it" 

A teacher from his school once waited for their driver to come pick them up, so he could confirm his suspicions. At the age of 10, Farooq had turned cold, he neither laughed nor smiled, had a blank expression to anything and most of the time a permanent scowl. It became hard to approach him. He would lash out all the time, pull tantrums and cause a lot of trouble. He wasn’t liked by his teachers because he was always in trouble or the other. He came last in class, and in a blink of an eye, Farooq had turned himself into an ugly duckling. Whenever they were to go to their family house, Farooq would have to listen to things like;

"Abdulhafiz and Abdullahi, Masha Allah, you made sure you inherited your father's trait. You really are the children of your parents. You've made us proud" Mama Luba said laughing humorously. Mama Luba is Alhaji Baqi's sister, a very mean and dramatic one at that. Farooq knew where his praises were going. Hajiya Asiya on the other hand had started noticing how vile Mama Luba is towards her step son. She's never held anything against the little boy. His mother was the nicest human being she had ever met. Despite being the second wife, she did not misbehave towards Hajiya Asiya. In fact, she treated her as an elder sister. Had death not snatched her away from the little boy, she would have made the perfect mother. 

"Farooq is my model; he's the finest of my children. It is obvious girls would be dying for him" Hajiya Asiya chirped, trying to cheer the boy up, seeing how miserable his aunt was trying to make him. Farooq isn't hers but the love that showers him is the same as her children. Mama Luba sneered then hisses loudly. 

"This child looks like jinns, he cannot even speak properly without stammering and stuttering like some drunk, what girls would die for this thing?" Mama Luba retorted loudly, eyeing Farooq, as if he created himself. He snuggled closer to Hajiya Asiya, while clutching her wrapper tightly, tears cascading down his cheeks. 

Hajiya Asiya didn't mind the fact that Mama Luba is her husband's elder sister. She had had enough of the bullying so she yelled at her. She expressed how deeply annoyed she was by Mama Luba's statement. Not minding how rude she seemed. Mama Luba was taken aback by Hajiya Asiya’s response, never in her life had she ever thought her sister in-law would disrespect her in public "Asiya, you're calling me, Luba Shehu Baqi! a jinn?" she yelled, gaining the attention of most family members. They started leaving their various positions moving closer to the scene. She kept repeating it. Hajiya Asiya looked unshaken by her stunt. Mama Luba is known for her incessant drama, she would have made a very good soap opera actress if she decides to pursue that career.

Immediately Mama Luba saw Alhaji Bello coming towards the commotion, she started wailing and crying, hoping he would instantly take sides with her, yell and embarrass his wife. She rambled about how she's being embarrassed in front of her grandchildren. Her hands flaring in every direction as she allows her tears to gush from her eyes.

Alhaji Baqi took sides with his sister of course. It's expected of him to reprimand his wife for being insolent "Asiya, why would you call Luba, jinn for God's sake. Asiya......."

"Hold it... I will not let anyone call my son a jinn, because of his complexion. Was he the one who created himself?. Talk to your own sister, calling an orphan a jinn!... Haba, it's unheard of" Asiya yelled at her husband. 

Everyone's attention went back to Mama Luba who had stopped shedding her crocodile tears to see what her brother would do. When she noticed Alhaji Bello shoulder slumped, she hissed loudly before saying,

"So this is how she talks to you? This is how she gives you orders? She has turned you to her lapdog..... Bello you'll not say anything?" 

Some of the family members who are supporting her started murmuring, ignoring the fact that Hajiya Asiya had stated clearly that her son was being referred to as a jinn, his complexion being the vice for the unjustified insult. Her rants were cut off when Baba Baqi himself graced the premises with his presence. He had heard Luba's voice from afar, knowing his child to be one of the most dramatic members of his family; he decided to check out what had happened. 

"Luba..... Luba, why will you call my grandson a jinn? You should be careful of Luba. You don't respect yourself. You've gone to an extent where you get abused by your younger ones. All of you leave this place" he shooed them away leaving Luba to reprimand her better.

Their Father Baba Baqi was the only one who had supported his son's wedding to Farooq's mother. He stood beside him and made everyone attend. Luba tried her best to make Hajiya Asiya hate her husband so they'd have stories to tell in the future. But Asiya refused. She was sad her husband wanted to remarry; she refused to support them, because they were solely against the complexion of Farooq's mother.

"So if she was dark, they would support the wedding I guess?" her younger sister had reasoned with her when she had started buying the idea of hating Farooq’s birth mother. "See, leave them alone. Let your husband do what he pleases. Don't join forces with your husband's people. They are all hypocrites. They just want you to quarrel with your husband so they'd have stories to tell. Ignore them" her sister added.

After Baba Baqi left, making sure Mama Luba apologized to Hajiya Asiya, he moved back to his living room. Mama Luba wasn't pleased by his judgment. She was deeply angered by Hajiya Asiya's audacity to stand in for the boy who wasn't even hers to begin with. 

"I supported you when Bello wanted to marry that woman, I stood by your side, and you call me a jinni because of this ghost of a boy" Mama Luba seethed angrily at Hajiya Asiya.

"I didn't ask you to support me. All I know is you cannot make a child feel bad about himself and expect me to fold your hands and watch you" Hajiya Asiya retorted. Mama Luba nodded her head in disbelief. She scoffed and walked away. Hajiya Asiya held Farooq's hand and moved to Baba Baqi's living room. 

On their way home, Ahaji Baqi decided he needed to speak to Hajiya Asiya regarding how she had disrespected Mama Luba in front of everyone, and how she had made his father support her.

"Asiya, you shouldn't have spoken to Luba like that. You know how she is. She must seek vengeance in one way or the other" Alhaji Bello said to his wife on their way back home. Hajiya Asiya turned around, noticing all the children were asleep. She didn't want to have the conversation while her children listened.

"I am not going to be going to your family house for any break. I'll stay at home with Farooq. This boy is suffering. They don't involve him in anything. If he tries to help them, they shoo him away. When was the last time you saw Farooq smile? You haven't noticed any of this. Don't forget children do not forget things" Hajiya Asiya said sadly. 

"I didn't notice, I've been so preoccupied with my life. Baba told me everything. I can't believe Luba does that. I believe she's going through some challenges. May Almighty Allah reward you and give you the strength to overcome any hurdle. You're a good person Asiya" he said, smiling at her. He used his hand to squeeze hers supportively.

Unknown to them, Farooq was wide awake. He heard everything. He realized it was his skin color that was causing the entire ruckus. Had he been dark, they wouldn't have been mean to him. True to her words, whenever there was a family gathering or function, she'd leave him with the neighbors, go see what's happening, then come back home almost immediately. If they want to visit Baba Baqi and his wife, they'd make sure no one is at home with them before going. Mama Baqi would have to behave herself. The only time Farooq couldn't escape scrutiny is when a family member dies. He'd have to go. The good thing is he keeps his distance to avoid being abused or insulted. Hajiya Asiya became Farooq's only friend. 

He had a major quarrel with his dad Alhaji Bello when he was being registered for WAEC, he told his dad he wanted to remove Baqi from his name. The name which was making his life a living hell, he never asked to be born in this family. Alhaji Baqi refused saying Farooq was trying to throw away his heritage. Farooq said he won't be registering for WAEC if his demands were not met. They had to take Farooq to Baba Baqi for major counseling and persuasion before Farooq agreed to add Baqi to his name. 

Farooq became distant with his father. He only greets and runs errands for his father. He would only meet Hajiya Asiya and tell her his needs while she talks to her husband. It bothers his father but due to the fact that he is a stubborn person, they don't see eye to eye with his son. A thing or the other must come up. Successfully ruining whatever remains of a good day.

**"

"Farooq came back home from the hostel, he is broke. Everything of his has finished" Hajiya Asiya told her husband while massaging his shoulders softly. She knew talking about Farooq tends to rile up his father so she decided it was best if she did it while massaging him.

"Well, he does have an account. Why didn't he just call?" Alhaji Bello stated getting irritated already. 

"You know how hostels are, they are crowded and not very comfy, maybe he just wants to stay at home" Hajiya Asiya defended by placing a kiss on her husband’s nape.

"He's not staying here! His brothers are in the hostel. They don't even bother coming home like he does. And I've told you Asiya. That boy will not go to school from home" Alhaji Bello said, shrugging her hands off him and then he glared at her. Alhaji Bello knew what she was trying to do; he had stayed with her for so long her prowess was defective. The problem with Asiya is that she doesn't give up easily. Alhaji Bello has no idea why she loves Farooq more than her own children. She had pampered the boy so much that she cannot do without him. Alhaji Bello is very sure she was the one who told him to come back home. Even Saratu, his younger sister, is still in the hostel. 

"The toilets are so dirty and they don't get regular showers......."

"Asiya stop it. I'm not changing my mind. He will stay in the hostel and that's it. Stop making a scene out of it. Your son needs to be independent. I don't want to hear about it" he said, yanking himself from her grip. It's obvious he's lost interest in the massage. Hajiya Asiya sighed softly. 

"You should learn to control your temper. I don't understand why you're getting all worked up because I am trying to persuade you into allowing Farooq to stay home. You could easily tell me you don't approve of it and I would rest my case" she defended knowing how untrue she was being. Alhaji Baqi scoffed loudly. He knows his wife. If he had said no peacefully, she would police him until he got frustrated and gave into her demands.

"Asiya! I know you. I want to sleep. If you would, please allow me to rest. I've been stressed today" he grumbled sliding into the bed. Hajiya Asiya stood perplexed, wondering exactly what she had done wrong. "Switch off the lights when you're done, woman. Goodnight Asiya '' he added switching off the bedside lamp.