Abadan Book 1 Complete Hausa Novel
Hindatu arrived home after offering the traditional greeting of peace, looking respectable in her school uniform consisting of a brown skirt and blouse topped with a neat white hijab. A school bag was slung over her shoulder. As she was kicking off her shoes and socks, she looked at Maryam with genuine surprise. “Sister Maryam! Why are you home so early today?” she asked with concern.
Maryam massaged her temple softly. “I managed to finish my work early, and to be honest, I haven’t been feeling very well today.”
Hindatu’s expression turned deeply worried as she sat on the edge of the sofa near Maryam. “I’m so sorry to hear that. Should I go get you some medicine?” she offered immediately.
A gentle smile touched Maryam’s lips, revealing a row of perfectly straight white teeth. “Don’t worry, Hindu. It’s too late now. Which pharmacy do you expect to find open under this blazing sun?”
Hindatu raised her brow in realization. “Yes, you’re right, Sister. I forgot about the heat.”
Maryam signaled toward the bedside locker. “Check the locker by my bed. You’ll find some paracetamol there; take two. Also,” she continued softly, “Mama is currently praying, so when she’s finished, bring her food. You barely set foot inside before getting into a row with people in the yard, didn’t you?”
Hindatu looked away slightly, a bit sheepish. “Oh, Mama! It’s not like that. See, we just finished our prayers, didn’t we?” She sat up a bit straighter. “Mama, who was Sister arguing with this morning? Was it that disrespectful brat, Isyaku, again?”
“Yes, it was,” Maryam’s mother, Mama Amina, replied wearily.
Hindatu stood up abruptly, her face etched with anger. “Mama, please just let me go! I swear I will humble that boy today! He has truly crossed the line with Yaya Maryam. Disrespectful little brat!” she spat.
“Hindatu, do not ever think of crossing over to their side. I swear I will make you regret it if you do,” Mama warned firmly.
Though deeply unsatisfied, Hindatu sat back down, realizing arguing was futile. She huffed and retreated to their room to change out of her uniform. She soon returned carrying a large serving tray laden with food—rice with stew and a fresh salad that Mama Amina had prepared. She set the food on a low table, and the two sisters dug in together.
Hindatu paused after a few bites, wiping her brow. “I wish we had some cold water. I swear, the heat outside is truly unbearable today.”
Maryam’s face brightened with a warm smile. “By God’s grace, as soon as I receive my next salary, I will buy us a small refrigerator.”
Hindatu’s eyes widened with excitement. “Oh, I swear, Yaya! That would be amazing!”
Mama Amina paused her eating and looked directly at Maryam, her expression serious. “Maryam, when are you going to get a grip on yourself?” she asked quietly. “You aren’t discussing marriage or settling down—your priority is buying us a refrigerator instead? Do you truly not care about all the nasty gossip people spread about you, as if you’re a completely detached woman?”
The food suddenly tasted like ashes in Maryam’s mouth, and she quickly lowered her gaze. Allah alone knew the deep, excruciating pain she felt in her heart. She knew her mother wasn’t criticizing her out of malice, but from a place of genuine, albeit misplaced, concern and love. If anyone were to pierce her heart at that moment, they would find only emptiness and sorrow.
Maryam sat comfortably in their neatly arranged living room, which was moderately furnished. The room featured comfortable sofas—a single-seater, a two-seater, and a three-seater—all within a reasonable price range. The floor was covered with cream-colored tiles that matched the simple, elegant curtains. A television set sat atop a DVD player. Everything in the room was modest yet well-kept—a direct testament to Maryam’s dedicated salary and hard work to create a beautiful home for her family.
In fact, this entire compound contained no other dwelling that came close to matching the cleanliness of this room. It was always spotlessly clean and fragrant, smelling sweetly of either burning charcoal incense or fragrant incense sticks. This stark contrast was a constant source of envy and intense jealousy between Mama Amina and the other wives in the complex.
Maryam was dressed casually in a Pakistani skirt and blouse; the blouse reached down to her knees, paired with a matching head wrap. Her focus was entirely on her smartphone as she was searching Google for some new cooking recipes. The total silence in the room and the compound only added to her enjoyment and understanding of what she was reading.
Suddenly, the traditional greeting of peace echoed from the courtyard, capturing her attention. She set her phone down and quickly responded to the call. “Please, come inside!” she added as the visitor approached the living room door.
Maryam set her phone aside completely and stood up, a genuine smile spreading across her face, bringing out the lovely dimple on her cheek. “Radiya! Welcome back! When did you return from South Africa, you travelers?” she asked excitedly.
The woman, Radiya, threw a feigned glare at her. “Hmm, don’t even try, Maryam. You have absolutely no defense for yourself. In fact, I’m not even here to see you—I just brought Mama’s grandson for her to see him!” she said with a huff.
“Oh, Maryam! I swear my offenses never seem to end. What have I done this time?” Maryam laughed, raising her hands to her head.
Radiya glared at her again, although a smile touched her eyes. “Maryam, you know perfectly well what you’ve done. I’ve been back in the country for a whole week now, and yet I haven’t even seen a single hint of you! I texted you immediately upon arriving, and you didn’t even bother replying.”
“Please, I swear, forgive me! Out of love for the Prophet, please sit down first!” Maryam pleaded, turning toward the kitchen. “Mama isn’t here right now; she went to get her hair braided.” Radiya sat down as Maryam lifted the beautiful baby boy, Fadil, from her friend’s shoulder. Maryam sat near Radiya, her gaze fixed entirely on the adorable child. “MashaAllah, la quwwata illa billah, Fadil!” After cuddling him briefly, she went into their kitchen and brought back some cold water and hibiscus juice (*zobo*) from the refrigerator—the very refrigerator Maryam had worked so hard to persuade Mama to agree to buy.
“Please, help yourself,” she urged after pouring Radiya a glass of juice.
“I’ll just finish my juice and head out,” Radiya replied.
“Oh, come on, sister! Don’t be like that, especially under this scorching sun.”
“You’re the one who caused this, you know!”
“By Allah, I swear I never saw your message. Please believe me; I truly haven’t had a single spare minute lately, except on weekends, because of work.”
Maryam finally managed to persuade Radiya to stay a bit longer after promising to visit her this coming weekend. They soon caught up on everything that had happened during their long separation.
Radiya set her empty glass down and looked seriously at Maryam. “Maryam, what about the question of marriage? Still no news?” she asked gently.
Maryam sighed heavily and shrugged. “Hmm, just let it be, Radiya. Finding a truly good husband these days has become such a rare blessing. The men of today are all so complicated; most of them aren’t even serious about marriage when they approach you.”
Radiya considered this. “Perhaps, Maryam. But I can’t forget the sheer number of serious suitors you had back in school.”
Maryam offered a sad smile. “Radiya… just forget all of that. I’m telling you, most of them don’t love you for the right reasons. They were probably just testing the waters or trying their luck. I swear, sometimes I feel like I’m the only one facing this kind of misfortune. You know what, Radiya, just remember me in your prayers,” she finished softly, her voice beginning to tremble slightly.
Radiya reached out and squeezed her friend’s hand. “I swear, Maryam, I will not fail to include you in my prayers. Everything has a beginning and an end.”
Slowly, they slipped into other conversation topics until Mama Amina returned home and found them. Mama was delighted to see Radiya and immediately scooped Fadil up, only allowing him to go when it was time for them to leave. Mama gave Radiya two large bars of traditional *sabulai* soap and some fragrant incense. Radiya accepted the gifts warmly and offered her genuine thanks.
Maryam walked Radiya out to the main gate. “Wait, did you say you came with Nasir?” Maryam asked.
Radiya nodded toward the street. “Yes, he’s in the car.”
Maryam shook her head in disbelief. “But you have absolutely no manners! Leaving that poor man waiting in the car all this time while you sat inside talking to us!”
Radiya simply waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about him; we were having a small argument, and he was seeking an opportunity to apologize, which is why he agreed to wait.”
“Allah guide you, Radiya!” was the only reply Maryam could manage as they arrived at the car.
Radiya climbed into the passenger seat and took Fadil onto her lap as Maryam greeted Nasir. “I swear we are truly upset, Maryam!” Nasir said with a good-natured smile.
Maryam offered a warm, apologetic smile. “Please, I truly apologize. Now that I’ve managed to redeem myself, I promise to come visit you next Sunday, InshaAllah!”
“May Allah bring us to that day,” he replied.
They offered farewells and Maryam watched them drive away, Radiya huffing one last time, reiterating that Maryam must keep her promise.