Majnoon Littafi Na Daya Complete Hausa Novels

Love and Pity for Majnun

She walked slowly, as if she did not want her feet to touch the ground. She was a young lady of about twenty years old, dressed modestly in Hausa attire — an atamfa blouse and wrapper, with a large hijab that flowed down to her feet. In her hand, she carried a small food flask.

At the corner of a street, she heard children from afar singing mockingly, “Here comes Majnun, son of Tanbele!”

A sudden fear ran through her body. She quickly hurried over and dispersed the children. Lowering her voice, she said, “Haba! What is this? You’re standing here dancing while children are mocking you?” She paused and looked at him until he finally raised his head. Then she added, “Or do you want me to cancel our wedding?”

Majnun quickly shook his head. “No, no, I won’t do it again,” he said, then hurriedly sat down, lowering his head in embarrassment.

She smiled, moved closer, and handed him the flask she brought. “Here is your food. Hurry and eat so I can take the flask back home before my father returns.”

He eagerly grabbed the flask and struggled to open it. Finally managing to do so, he found rice with meat inside. He simply dusted his hands and began eating hungrily.

She watched him with deep pity. Before she realized it, tears filled her eyes. She felt something unusual in her heart toward him. One side of her heart whispered that it was love; another insisted it was pity. Even she could not answer herself — was it love or pity?

Lost in thought, she didn’t notice when he finished eating and handed her the flask. “Take,” he said.

His voice pulled her out of her thoughts. She startled slightly, forced a smile, and asked, “You’ve finished already?”

“Yes,” he replied shyly, playing with the edge of his shirt.

She stood up, and he followed. Smiling at him, she said, “I’m going home now. I’ll come back later in the evening.”

Majnun tilted his head and shoulders childishly. “I don’t want you to go. Stay, let’s talk,” he murmured.

She laughed. “Alright, when I come later, we’ll talk. For now, I have to go.”

“Okay… okay… when will we get married?” Majnun asked, biting his shirt.

She smiled at him and said playfully, “Tomorrow.”

He jumped excitedly, shouting with joy. “When we get married, I’ll carry you in an airplane and take you to India!”

She laughed loudly until she noticed he was getting overly excited. Then she calmed herself and said, “Alright, I’m leaving now. See you later.” She walked away, and even after going some distance, she remembered what he said and burst into laughter again — as if she too was slightly mad.

She turned back once more and saw him still jumping happily. A deep wave of pity filled her heart for Majnun. Shaking her head, she continued walking.

When she reached the entrance of her street, she noticed a black car reversing forcefully. Her heart skipped.

“Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un,” she whispered unconsciously.

Rumaisa and Fahad

Her eyes widened as if she was about to cry. She began reciting prayers until she calmed down and continued walking.

As she approached the car, she heard someone call out, “Rumaisa!”

Her heart pounded. Without turning back, she kept walking.

He quickly stepped out of the car and blocked her path. Their eyes met. With a pitiful expression, almost as if he would cry, he said, “Haba Rumaisa, why don’t you have mercy on my heart? Please stop and listen to me — even if it’s just for two minutes.”

Tears gathered in Rumaisa’s eyes. Whenever she saw him, a strange sadness overwhelmed her heart.

Her voice trembled, barely holding back tears. “What have I done to you that you keep following me and denying me peace? Please, leave me alone!”

Fahad remained silent for a moment, listening to her cry. His heart burned in pain. He hated seeing her cry; whenever she did, he felt like crying too. His voice shook as he said, “I love you, Rumaisa. My heart has drowned in the ocean of your love. My eyes desire no one but you. You are always in my dreams. Please, Rumaisa, love me.”

She wiped her tears and clicked her tongue angrily. “Even if you were the only man left in this world, I would never love you. Not even for a second have I ever felt anything for you. Stay out of my life. Let me pass.”

She tried to push him aside, but he kept blocking her way, repeatedly saying, “Please, Rumaisa…”

When she saw he had no intention of moving, she pushed him and passed. But he quickly stepped in front of her again. “Please, Rumaisa, you’re the only one in my heart. I promise I’ll change if you accept my love. Look at me — just this alone shows I’ve struggled for you…”

Before he could finish his sentence, she gave him a resounding slap.

“I don’t love you, and I hate seeing you!” she said angrily as she walked past him.

He stood there like a dry tree, holding his cheek and feeling the sting of her slap.

After she had walked a short distance, he called out to her again. She turned back. Wiping his tears, he said, “I can’t give up on you because you are my destiny. I have chased you gently, but you refused me. So today, I will kidnap you.”

With that, he entered his car and drove out of the neighborhood.

“Madman!” Rumaisa muttered, her face tense. She hissed and continued walking until she reached her house, her heart pounding at his final words — that he would kidnap her.