Abdurrahim Book 1 Complete Hausa Novel
Truly, every living soul shall taste death. Thus, the funeral rites for Malam Yahaya were performed, and he was laid to rest in his final home.
On the day of the seventh-day mourning prayers (sadakar bakwai), Malam Yahaya’s relatives gathered to offer prayers for his soul. After the guests departed, the deceased’s elder brothers requested a private word with Na’ima and her mother. After seating themselves, they extended their condolences to Na’ima’s mother once more. Then, the eldest brother spoke up:
“Mariya, today marks the seventh-day prayers for our late brother. Masha-Allah, may Allah bestow His continuous mercy upon him.” He paused before continuing, “Mariya, I know you are aware of the discussion regarding Na’ima’s marriage to Gali, right?”
Na’ima’s mother remained completely silent.
He continued: “Well, as we previously decided, Na’ima’s wedding to Gali will hold at the end of this month. That plan stands; we will not postpone it. We will take his remaining three bags of sorghum, sell them, and use the proceeds to buy Na’ima’s wedding bedroom furniture. I hope this is acceptable to you?”
At a complete loss for words, Na’ima’s mother simply nodded her head in silent submission.
“Well, if that suits her, let us be on our way,” he told his companions, and they stood up and left.
With only ten days remaining until the wedding as set by her paternal uncles, Na’ima sat close to her mother. She desperately wanted to address the forced marriage to Gali as time was quickly running out, but anxiety choked her words. Finally, gathering her courage, she whispered, “Mama!”
Her mother raised her head, looking at her attentively.
With a trembling voice, Na’ima began: “Mama, it’s not that I’m refusing to marry Brother Gali out of spite—I had already resigned myself to my fate. But I am keeping in mind what Baba said right before he passed away. He explicitly forbade me from marrying Brother Gali, even after his death! Yet I notice you’ve stayed silent about this while time keeps slipping away.”
“Oh, Na’ima, I swear it’s not that I want to stay silent,” her mother replied, her voice breaking on the verge of tears. “I’ve been silent only because I cannot find any way out! What do you expect me to do? Tell me, Na’ima.”
Na’ima went quiet for a moment before suggesting softly, “Mama… what if we sell this house and relocate to a place where they will never find us?”
Her mother looked up sharply. “Na’ima! Sell this house and move where, with all your younger siblings?”
Before Na’ima could reply, the arrival of Hassan offering a greeting of peace interrupted them. Delighted by his presence, Mama greeted him warmly: “Welcome, Hassan! Is that really you in town today? Na’ima, spread out a mat for him!”
Hassan chuckled, “I swear it’s me, Mama! I wanted to be here for the seventh-day prayers, but Allah willed otherwise.”
“No problem at all, Hassan,” Mama reassured him.
Hassan turned to Na’ima and teased gently, “Little sister, why haven’t you paid any attention to me since I walked in?”
Na’ima’s mother answered for her: “Na’ima is deeply troubled, Hassan—or rather, both of us are. I am so relieved you came back, because Na’ima and I are facing severe distress.” She then recounted their entire dilemma to Hassan.
Hassan sat in silence, evaluating the situation. He was well aware of the overbearing nature of Na’ima’s paternal uncles. After careful thought, he looked at Na’ima’s mother and asked, “Mama, are you just going to sit by and watch them force this girl to marry someone she doesn’t want?”
“What can I possibly do, Hassan? You saw how they acted like they had more authority over her than her own father did while he was alive! How much less me, whose voice means nothing to them?”
Hassan looked at her earnestly: “Mama, if you give me your permission, I will take Na’ima to stay with my aunt in Kaduna.”
Na’ima’s mother looked at Na’ima, then turned back to Hassan without hesitation, trusting him completely. “That’s fine, Hassan. I know you would never take Na’ima anywhere she would come to harm. I agree to let you take her. My only concern is: when they come for her, what am I going to tell them? Where will I say I sent Na’ima?”
“Well, Mama, right now I believe this is our easiest and safest way out.”
After a moment of quiet reflection, Mama said, “Alright then, Hassan. May Allah make this the best outcome.”
Early the next morning, as planned, they prepared Na’ima to travel to Kaduna to stay with Hassan’s aunt. Since Sabon Yalwa isn’t far from central Kaduna, the trip took just about an hour by commercial transport. Hassan led them straight to his aunt’s house. Because Na’ima and the aunt already knew each other, she received them warmly. After offering them water and exchanging pleasantries, Hassan explained the reason for their visit and their desire to lodge Na’ima there.
“Oh, dear! Death is truly a revealer of hardship,” the aunt said compassionately. “Don’t worry about a thing; I will look after Na’ima until the time is right for you.”
Na’ima’s mother thanked Hassan’s aunt profusely. “Oh, don’t mention it, we are family now,” she replied. After saying their goodbyes, Na’ima’s mother and Hassan departed, leaving Na’ima in the care of Hassan’s aunt.
Na’ima’s mother returned to Sabon Yalwa, filled with heavy anxiety over what she would tell her late husband’s brothers whenever they arrived to check on the wedding preparations.
By her second day staying with Hassan’s aunt, Na’ima had taken over nearly all the household chores, quickly earning a special place in the aunt’s heart. One afternoon, after finishing the dishes, Na’ima remained seated by the washing area, resting her chin in both hands in deep thought. Worries about her mother weighed heavily on her—how she would handle her late father’s oppressive brothers, and whether her family back home even had food left to eat.
Hassan’s aunt patted her shoulder gently: “Please, stop resting your chin like that, Na’ima. It’s not good to sit in sorrow.”
“Oh Gwaggo, it’s just getting too much for me,” Na’ima confessed. “I keep worrying about how Mama will face my father’s brothers, and I don’t even know if they have anything to eat back home.”
Gwaggo paused for a moment, then asked, “Na’ima, would you be willing to do domestic housemaid work like the job I do?”
“Very much so, Gwaggo! That way I could earn money to support my family!”
“Alright then. The woman I work for asked me to find a housemaid for a friend of hers. If you want, I can speak to her so you can start working.”
“I would love that, Gwaggo! Thank you so much!” Na’ima responded joyfully.
When Gwaggo went to work that day, she informed her employer (Hajiya) that she had found a maid for her friend. Hajiya immediately called her friend to share the news, and the friend agreed that the girl could start the very next day.
Upon returning home, Gwaggo told Na’ima to pack her bags, explaining that she would be living at her employer’s residence. Though Na’ima felt nervous about living away in a stranger’s house, she hid her apprehensions and expressed deep gratitude.
The next morning, Gwaggo and Na’ima went to Gwaggo’s workplace together. Hajiya Suwaiba instructed one of her house staff to accompany Na’ima to the home of Hajiya Rahina, her new employer. When they arrived, he asked Na’ima to sit in the living room while he notified Hajiya of her arrival.
Na’ima waited a long time before Hajiya Rahina finally came downstairs. At first, Hajiya walked right past Na’ima without noticing her presence.
“Heyyy!” Hajiya called out. But Na’ima was lost in deep thought and didn’t hear.
Raising her voice sternly, Hajiya Rahina shouted again, “Hey! Are you deaf?!”
Startled back to reality, Na’ima apologized hastily, “I swear I didn’t hear you, please forgive me! Good morning, ma’am.”
Hajiya stared at Na’ima silently for a moment before replying, “Good morning. What is your name? Are you from here in Kaduna?”
“My name is Na’ima. We live in Sabon Yalwa near Jaji.”
Hajiya nodded and asked, “Do you know what duties you’ll be doing for me?”
“No, ma’am, I don’t.”
“Alright. You will be responsible for sweeping, mopping, and washing dishes. I will pay you fifteen thousand Naira (₦15,000) every month. Does that work for you?”
“Thank you so much, Mommy, that works fine!” Na’ima replied gratefully.