Theft

The story starts with Raya’s family disagreeing about her marriage to Bakari Abba, who ends up being controlling. She has a son named Karim but leaves her husband and returns to her parents when he is three. Karim is primarily cared for by his grandmother and becomes friends with his half-brother, Ali. Raya eventually leaves her hometown with another man, Haji. Karim moves in with Ali after his grandmother’s death.

Karim goes to the University of Dar es Salaam, occasionally visiting his mother and her husband. In his second year, he moves in with them and Othman, the somewhat mysterious father of his stepdad.

The story introduces Badar, a young man sent to work as a servant in Raya, Haji, and Othman’s home. Badar is related to Othman and has a complicated family history. Karim recognizes Badar’s intelligence and befriends him, leaving him detective novels to read.