Because Baba Inu was watching, Larai grudgingly increased each portion slightly. When she asked if he wanted his served, he said curtly,
> “No, you all eat first.”
She smiled, added the leftovers to her own plate, and continued eating.
Later, as the smell of the soup filled the air, Baba Inu asked her to bring his portion to the bench. Larai, craving the food, begged,
> “Please, husband, just a little of your soup—I’m craving it badly.”
He glared and said,
> “Will you die if you don’t eat it? You’re jealous of my portion, yet I need strength to keep providing food for all of you.”
Larai swallowed hard and stepped aside silently.
He tore a piece of bread, dipped it in the soup, and ate, while everyone watched hungrily. Then he drank milk mixed with an energy drug he had bought earlier.
---
Meanwhile, Baba Saleh had packed his medicines in the car to travel for his herbal trade. But when he entered his room, he found his little son Dan Bishir crying loudly. Alarmed, he grabbed the boy and asked,
> “Who hurt you, my son?”
Dan Bishir sobbed,
> “Inna hit me on the head! Oh, my head!”
Shaking with anger, Baba Saleh turned to Uwale, the boy’s mother.
> “How many times must I tell you to stop hurting this child? What kind of mother are you?”
Fuming, Uwale pointed at a water jar and snapped,
> “This isn’t love—it’s spoiling him! He poured soap and oil into our drinking water! And now because I tapped his head you insult me? I’m tired of this!”
She hit the boy again. The child screamed, and Baba Saleh, furious, smashed the water jar to pieces.
> “You’ll ruin my son over a jar of water? If you’re not careful, I’ll ruin you just like I ruined that jar!”
He scooped up the boy, cuddling him and glaring furiously at Uwale.
> “What do you want to eat, my son?”
“Meat!”
“Alright, I’ll get you some chicken,” Baba Saleh said and left.
At the gate, he met Sani, a fellow barber, who mocked him for stealing customers. They argued briefly before Baba Saleh left to buy meat from Sadau the butcher.
---
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