Nihaad Book 1 Complete Hausa Novel

At night, Abba was sitting in his living room with his elder brother, Alhaji Abubakar.

Alhaji Abubakar said,

“Actually, you don’t even need to tell anyone anything. Tomorrow, once the marriage is conducted, everyone will find out on their own. I don’t think you owe anybody an explanation for this.”

Abba sighed and said,

“Alright then.”

Alhaji Abubakar continued,

“Yes, I think that’s fine. No need to explain anything to anyone for now. Where did you say they will stay? I mean, which of your houses are they going to live in?”

Abba replied,

“I don’t think I can keep her somewhere she will feel comfortable. I wish they could go back to their village and live there. If they don’t have enough money, if he wants to farm, he can employ workers there and I will even pay their wages. I want her to learn a bitter lesson in her life. I want her to know that there is another kind of life outside living in luxury.”

Alhaji Abubakar shook his head.

“No… there is no need for all that. Whatever you need to do for them, don’t stop doing it. Give them somewhere comfortable to live.”

After Alhaji Abubakar left the house, Umma entered Abba’s living room. When she saw that he had not touched the food she left for them, she said:

“Haba, Yallabai, you still haven’t eaten?”

Abba replied,

“Just make me some black tea.”

“Alright,” Umma said.

She took the food and left.

Not long after she left, Farooq entered the living room. He found his father on the phone, and from the way he was speaking it was obvious the call was about Nihad, and it was a friend of Abba calling.

Farooq lowered his head; his whole body felt heavy with worry.

Even after Abba ended the call and leaned back in his chair, he said nothing to him.

Slowly Farooq raised his head.

“Good evening, Abba.”

Abba responded.

Farooq said,

“I’ve been calling you throughout the day but couldn’t reach you.”

Abba said,

“Yes, I went out for a short trip. Is there any problem?”

Farooq replied,

“How was the journey?”

“Alhamdulillah.”

Farooq lowered his voice.

“Abba, I actually wanted to talk to you about Nihad.”

Just then Umma entered carrying the mug of black tea that was giving off a strong aroma.

Abba gestured with his hand asking what the issue was, but Farooq remained silent.

Abba asked again,

“What about Nihad, Umar?”

Farooq hesitated for a moment and then finally said,

“Abba… about this marriage they said they arranged… wouldn’t it be better if we reconsider and cancel it? If you want—”

Abba interrupted him immediately.

“If that is the reason you came here, you can go. I need to rest, Umar. You know I just returned home.”

Umma was sitting quietly on a chair nearby.

Pleadingly, Farooq said,

“Please listen to me, Abba.”

Abba replied firmly,

“I said I need to rest.”

Umma added,

“He said he wants to rest, so go.”

Farooq stood up and left the living room.

Umma turned to Abba and said gently,

“Please be patient, Yallabai. I wish you would remove this worry from your heart. Insha Allah everything will be alright. Don’t let this stress give you another illness on top of the high blood pressure you already suffer from.”

Abba sighed and shook his head.

“At least ten times a day I receive calls about Nihad. The video keeps trending more and more every day… What greater sorrow is there than this, Sumayyah? A reputable man like me… No. Nihad has tarnished the image of my household.”

Worried, Umma said,

“What can we do, Yallabai? This is what Allah has destined for us. All we can do is accept His decree. But there is a certain religious scholar… since the day this happened Hajiya Sukhaina suggested we speak to him so he can pray that the issue stops trending. They say if he prays, the matter will disappear as if it never happened. People will even search for the video and not find it.”

Abba looked at her.

“A scholar? What kind of scholar?”

Umma adjusted herself and said,

“I didn’t say a magician, Alhaji. But there are some pious scholars of Allah who—”

Before she finished, Abba stood up, picked up his mug of black tea, walked into his room, and locked the door.

The next day, Friday, after the Jumu’ah prayer, Abba traveled with his elder brother and two of his cousins to the town where Nihad’s marriage was to be conducted.

The dowry was fifty thousand, which Abba himself paid.

They returned home around late afternoon.

After arriving, Abba told Umma to begin preparations to take the bride to her husband’s house.

Umma stayed silent, full of sorrow. Then she sighed and asked,

“So which house will she be taken to, Yallabai?”

Abba replied,

“The house we just finished building in Rijiyar Zaki. It’s already furnished.”

Umma said softly,

“Allah sarki… What was wrong with the house near us? They would feel more comfortable there…”

Abba replied,

“I didn’t intend for that.”

Umma said,

“Well, the Rijiyar Zaki house is also good. May Allah reward you.”

She stood up and went to inform Nihad’s mother and relatives who were in another section of the house.

When she entered her side of the house, her first daughter Kamila was sitting in the living room with her second daughter Amina, along with two of her younger sisters who had come earlier from Jigawa.

Umma said,

“All of you should prepare. The bride’s marriage has already been conducted today.”

Kamila frowned.

“It has already been conducted? Umma, didn’t Abba tell you who she married? I keep feeling in my heart that it might be Hamid or Saif.”

Umma opened her mouth in surprise.

“Hamid? Hamid’s mother would have to be bitten by a mad dog before she would allow her son to marry Nihad! Or is Hamid crazy himself to agree to marry her? Even Hamid’s father who originally suggested the marriage would never allow his son to go through with it. The same goes for Innar. No… your father found some man in a village somewhere. That is the only way to cover this scandal after what happened.”

At that moment Amina handed Umma her ringing phone.

Umma saw that it was her youngest daughter calling. She answered with a smile:

“Hello my dear, today you finally noticed I’ve been quiet?”

Suddenly her expression changed as she frowned.

“Why are you coming here? Shouldn’t you be in school, Nihal? For what reason are you planning to come while you are still in the middle of your studies?”