Arnan Daji Part 1 Complete Hausa Novel

The Sinister Forest of Kuguru
 
Deep within the dense jungle of Kuguru, a community lived by one disturbing law: worship of a giant idol. Each year, five humans were sacrificed. Their blood was fed to the idol, and their flesh roasted and eaten during a grand feast of dance, burkutu (local brew), and fire. The people wore no proper clothing—only skins or leaves, with women exposing more once they came of age.
 
At the climax of every year, a mass marriage was held for young girls. If a woman gave birth to an albino child, the infant was boiled and its meat served first to the king, then the rest. The king of Kuguru was cruel beyond reason—his word was law, his heart without mercy.
 
Tenkwai's Disgust for the Culture
 
One sunny afternoon, Tenkwai was summoned by her foster mother Lamunde to fetch water from the river. Alongside her went friends Rama and Aduke. On their way, Aduke teased Tenkwai about Ja’e, the king's son, and his unrequited love for her. But Tenkwai loathed Ja’e and the very customs of Kuguru.
 
She detested the human sacrifices, the oppressive rules, and the unjust killings. "I dream of a different life," she whispered, "one where humanity matters." She hoped for a savior to come—someone to free the people from the grip of wickedness.
 
A Frightening Encounter by the River
 
While at the river, Aduke screamed as she saw a strange movement on the water. Tenkwai, fearless but tender-hearted, stepped into the water. What she found shocked her—a lifeless body of a man, unfamiliar and handsome, drifting with the current. His head was gashed, blood flowing freely.
 
Tenkwai dragged him to the riverbank, heart pounding, and pressed her ear to his chest. He was still breathing.
 
The Mysterious Stranger and Tenkwai’s Bold Move
 
With great effort, she dragged him into the forest, hiding him behind a tree. She used leaves to stop the bleeding and cleanse his wounds. He sneezed, then fell still again. Tenkwai prayed he would survive. She knew one thing: if the villagers found him, he would be slaughtered immediately.
 
Aduke, worried, ran back to the village shouting that Tenkwai had collapsed at the river. Panic ensued. Lamunde raced through the forest, found Tenkwai recovering, and begged for help from a local herbalist named Badu. He administered medicine and revived Tenkwai. But when she whispered about the man she found, Lamunde quickly silenced her. "Don’t tell anyone! They’ll kill him!"
 
Danger Grows, Ja’e Draws Close
 
Back at the river, Tenkwai returned, only to find Ja’e and his men approaching. She calmly faced him, hiding her panic. Ja’e interrogated her about the blood on her clothes. She lied—said a wild animal had attacked, but she killed it.
 
Not fully convinced, Ja’e barked orders for his men to search the surroundings. Tenkwai’s heart raced as one of the guards neared the stranger’s hiding place. Just then, Ja’e called them back. Tenkwai’s secret was safe—for now.
 
Love or Captivity? Ja’e Makes His Intentions Known
 
While walking her back, Ja’e proposed—again. "The yearly marriage is near. Only one groom is left to be matched. It must be me. You will be my bride, Tenkwai."
 
Her heart was elsewhere. She barely heard him. She could only think of the injured stranger, hoping he wouldn't wake and wander into town. She nodded absentmindedly, only for Ja’e to accuse her of mockery.
 
Furious, he reached out to slap her. But Tenkwai, full of courage, caught his hand. “Don’t touch me! I’m no slave. I said I’d consider, not surrender.”
 
Elsewhere: A Bizarre Ritual is Unfolding
 
In a distant town, Afra and her friend visited a powerful sorcerer. Afra wanted riches, respect, and revenge on those who belittled her. The sorcerer agreed—on one condition: “Return the child that was taken from the elder’s memory. Let their hearts forget him.”
 
He handed her a charm, promising it would erase the child from their minds forever. As they crawled away in fear, they ran into a familiar face—someone who shocked them to their core.
 
The Stranger's Fate and Tenkwai’s Turmoil
 
The stranger, still unconscious, lay hidden in the forest. Tenkwai returned and placed his head on her lap, examining his wounds. He looked nothing like anyone from Kuguru. He had soft features, calm breath, and skin too clean to belong here.
 
Suddenly, distant voices echoed—Ja’e’s soldiers had returned. Tenkwai panicked. She dragged him further into the forest, hid him beneath thick bushes, and returned to meet the patrol at the river as though nothing had happened.
 
Ja’e kept talking about their wedding, his eyes burning with desire and authority. But Tenkwai was no longer listening. She was plotting, planning, praying: How could she save this man? What if he never woke? What if he did—and was caught?
 
Ja’e touched her shoulder, snapping her from thought. She pulled away. “Don’t pretend you care about me, Ja’e. You only want control. I said I would speak to Lamunde, and I will.”
 
He scowled. “I’m the prince of Kuguru. I always get what I want.”
 
“Not this time,” she whispered and walked away.
 
What Lies Ahead?
 
Will Tenkwai succeed in protecting the stranger?
Will Ja’e discover the truth and unleash his wrath?
Who really is the man from the river—and why was he cast adrift?
 
Kuguru is bracing for its annual blood feast. But this year, something has changed. A new story is unfolding, one that might shake the very core of their belief, tradition, and power.