Dan Makaho Part 1 Complete Hausa Novel

Idle Bench Conversations at Eskaley’s Shop
 
As usual, they sat on the bench near Eskaley’s shop at the beginning of the street, whiling away time after the late-afternoon prayer. Beside him, Haruna was smoking a cigarette.
 
Haruna stretched out the cigarette, almost burnt out, toward him. He accepted it, raised it to his lips, and just as he was about to take a puff, his eyes met the gaze of someone whose presence embarrassed him in front of the whole world. Quickly, he shoved the burning stub up the long sleeve of his shirt, turning his head away as though nothing had happened.
 
The newcomer reached the shop and greeted them. Only Haruna returned the greeting and exchanged pleasantries, while Eskaley remained focused on business. The embarrassed one simply avoided eye contact.
 
He pulled out a hundred-naira note from his front pocket and said to Eskaley:
“Good afternoon! Give me Star seasoning and the white Maggi.”
 
Eskaley collected the money, packed the items, and handed back twelve naira as change. Instead of taking it, he asked him to add a recharge card with the remainder. He greeted them again and walked down the lane toward his house.
 
The Burned Hand
 
Haruna noticed his friend sweating and poked him with his hand.
“What’s wrong, Mankas?” he asked.
 
Quickly, the one called Mankas slipped his hand into his long sleeve and pulled out the cigarette stub, tossing it to the ground and crushing it with his foot. Then he rolled his sleeve back up.
 
Haruna, astonished, said:
“Mankas, are you even thinking straight? You shoved a lit cigarette up your sleeve? Tss! Look— it even burnt your skin.”
 
Mankas turned his head away, ignoring the sight of his own pale skin now reddened and blistered from the burn.
 
Eskaley tossed some powder over.
“Wet it a little and rub it there,” he instructed.
 
Haruna tore open the small sachet, dampened it with water from a plastic bag, and tried to apply it on Mankas’s hand. But Mankas pulled away, muttering with effort,
“Leave it. It’s nothing.”
 
Troubled, Haruna insisted:
“Come on, Mankas, stop being stubborn. Hold still.”
 
Finally, Mankas extended his hand, and Haruna gently rubbed the powder over the rising blister.
 
Soon, their other companions—the neighborhood’s notorious “bench-sitters”—gathered, and Eskaley’s corner erupted into its usual noisy arguments.
 
Returning Home
 
When he reached home and greeted, Ameera and Sabit ran to their father, clinging to him:
“Welcome back, Baba!”
 
He patted their heads.
“Good, good. How was school?”
 
They answered happily.
“Welcome back, Yaya,” Labeeba also greeted him. Smiling at her, he asked:
“How was school, Labeeba?”
She replied with a smile, “Alhamdulillah.”
 
She went inside, brought a mat, and spread it for him. He removed his shoes and settled down. Sabit sat on his father’s leg while Ameera leaned against him, answering his gentle questions.
 
Aunty Asiya emerged from the toilet with an ablution kettle in her hand.
“Welcome home, Baba Amira,” she said.
 
They exchanged such a warm smile that, if not for the children, they might have embraced. With a look of affection, he asked:
“Asee, how’s the house and the children?”
“Fine, all well. How’s the market?”
“Alhamdulillah. You know, I only left the market because I saw your message. I even stopped at Eskaley’s shop on the way to buy seasonings.” He handed her the small bag.
 
She smiled.
“I used up the last Maggi for lunch, that’s why I texted you.” She took the bag and headed to the kitchen.
 
There she found Labeeba arranging her brother’s food on a tray. She took over and told her:
“Go break the ice in that bowl.”
“To,” Labeeba answered, opening the fridge, breaking the ice, and pouring it into a jug.
 
Though Sabit and Ameera had already eaten earlier, they still sat with their father, eating again from his meal.
 
Family Evening
 
“Why didn’t you go to Islamiyya today?” Baba asked.
“Baba, today is Thursday,” Ameera replied.
“Oh, pardon me. Where’s your homework then? Surely you were given some.”
“I’ll do mine tonight,” Ameera said.
 
“No,” Baba insisted, “do it now while I can supervise. Don’t wait until night when the power goes out.”
 
Aunty Asiya added:
“Go bring your books. Aunty Labeeba will help you.”
 
The children rushed off to fetch their books. Baba turned back to Labeeba:
“So, how was school?”
She sighed:
“Yaya, it’s tough. The distance is exhausting, and the sun is unbearable.”
 
Aunty Asiya laughed:
“She comes home acting like she’s about to collapse.”
He chuckled:
“Haha, you’ve just started. You’ve seen nothing yet!”
“Oh God!” she exclaimed, and they all laughed.
 
Still, Labeeba missed home—her mother, her siblings, and especially her father who had raised her. Yet she found comfort here with her elder brother’s family, who cared for her deeply. Even her sister-in-law treated her with warmth, and the children adored her. Her loneliness melted away as she tutored Ameera, then patiently guided Sabit with his tracing homework.
 
Evening Prayers
 
At 6:35 pm, Baba rose, performed ablution, and called to Sabit:
“Mallam Sabit, shall we go to the mosque?”
 
Overjoyed, the boy leapt up, hastily performed his ablution—though imperfectly—and grabbed his father’s hand.
 
Poking his head into the kitchen, Baba said:
“Asee, we’re off to the mosque. We’ll be back after Isha, inshaAllah.”
She wished them well. Labeeba also bid them farewell. Father and son left, hand in hand.
 
Back at Eskaley’s bench, the gang still sat idly even after the Maghrib call to prayer.
 
Passing by on his way to the mosque, Baba stopped, turned back, and scolded them:
“Blind ones! You hear the call to prayer yet still sit here? Fear Allah!”
 
Tero scoffed:
“Mallam, the prayer is already over. We’ll pray later.”
 
Baba frowned:
“I saw you had no intention, that’s why I reminded you. Later? What are you doing now? Do you even know the punishment for abandoning prayer, for delaying it, for missing congregation?”
 
Master sneered:
“Mind your business. If you want to pray, pray. Don’t involve us.”
 
Dan Makaho struggled to his feet, his clouded eyes narrowing:
“We’re going now.”
 
Baba looked at Master.
“I’m not the one accepting your prayers, just giving a reminder. May Allah guide you.”
 
He took Sabit’s hand, crossed the street, and entered the mosque.
 
Tension at the Bench
 
Master spat:
“Mankas, why do you keep defending that guy? Leave him be—he looks at us like we’re infidels.”
 
Dan Makaho hissed and said:
“Eskaley, give me two sachets of pure water.”
 
Eskaley handed them over. Dan Makaho moved aside and began ablution.
 
Haruna spoke up:
“Master, you were too harsh. I don’t see anything wrong with what he said.”
 
Tero added:
“Those busybodies from the neighborhood, always interfering. You did right, Master.”
 
Haruna ignored him, fetched his own water, and joined Dan Makaho in ablution.
 
But Master and Tero stayed, smoking, until Eskaley shut his shop. Finally, the three of them—Dan Makaho, Haruna, and Eskaley—headed toward the neighborhood mosque known as Sharp-Sharp.