Dangina Part 1 Complete Hausa Novel

A Difficult Request
 
They sat in the living room, and by looking at them you could tell they were discussing something important. Her fingers were locked into her sister’s, she looked at her again and said:
 
“For God’s sake, Hafsat, please accept my request. We have no other way out of this, nothing else we can do to wipe away our shame except through this means. Please help us.”
 
“Truly, Hafsat, what Zuwaira is telling you is the truth. I also beg you, see me now kneeling on my knees. For God’s sake, accept our request.”
 
Hafsat pulled her hand away from her sister’s fingers, picked up her handbag, looked at them silently, and hurriedly left the house. They called her name, but she neither turned back nor listened. Zuwaira’s husband looked at her and said:
 
“We shall keep trying, God willing, one day she will accept. You know we must excuse her, right now she is in a difficult state. I don’t even know how I can face Hafsat again. But we shall continue striving, God willing, one day she will accept.”
 
Zuwaira wiped the tears streaming down her face and said:
 
“Oh Hafsat, please give me a chance, give me a chance to erase the great scar we inflicted on you. Accept this so we can take you out of the distress and sorrow you are in.”
 
She broke down further in tears as she said this. Her husband hugged her tightly to console her.
 
Hafsat’s Confusion
 
Meanwhile, Hafsat got home safely. After parking her car, she came inside and found her mother sitting and reciting the Qur’an. Removing her glasses, her mother looked at her and said:
 
“Hafsat, are you well? Your entire countenance has changed, what is troubling you?”
 
Hafsat lay her head on her mother’s shoulder. Clearly, this was her biological mother. She said:
 
“Honestly, Ammi, I don’t know what to do. Zuwaira has completely set herself against me over this matter of hers. But I honestly don’t even know where to begin, and to agree? No, I can’t even start, because surely she herself will one day regret what she is asking of me.”
 
Ammi sighed and replied:
 
“Hafsat, let me not hide it from you. You know I am your mother, I would never advise you wrongly. In my view, and what is appropriate, I too advise you to accept Zuwaira and her husband’s request. That is the only solution for you.”
 
Hafsat suddenly rose from her mother’s shoulder and stared at her.
 
“Oh Ammi, even you? So now you are among those who will support this matter? Well, since you said it’s advice and not a command, let me tell you plainly—I will never agree to this request.”
 
With that, she hurried upstairs. Ammi put her glasses back on and muttered:
 
“She’s still a child, may Allah guide you as He has shown me the benefit in this matter.”
 
Pressure at School
 
The next day, she had a lecture at 8:00 a.m., so she prepared early without even eating breakfast. After greeting Ammi, she left for school. As she approached the hall, she heard her name called softly. Turning, she saw it was Zuwaira. Checking her wristwatch, she realized she had no time to waste, so she ignored her and walked straight inside. She resolved to listen to Zuwaira only after class.
 
Meanwhile, Hafsat herself could not concentrate because of all the things being said to her. Her head felt locked, her mind blocked. She decided to abandon all that talk and focus on her studies. The lecture was tough, so by the end she was exhausted. But as she stepped out, she bumped right into Zuwaira waiting for her.
 
“For God’s sake, Hafsat, I will not tire, I will not give up, nor will I back down until you accept my request. What wrong did I do to you? Why do you hate me so much? Why do you despise me? Are you running away from me?”
 
“Oh Zuwaira! What brought such talk? When did I ever run from you? Just because I refused your request doesn’t mean I despise you or hate you. Please, forgive me. Don’t forget how we grew up together like siblings, how deep our bond and love used to be. You must know I care about you even more than about our brother. But you should also know, if your request succeeds, it may destroy our relationship, even with our brother. If possible, let me leave this matter to God. Let Him choose what is right for me in this life. Please don’t interfere with God’s will.”
 
Zuwaira fell silent, lost for words. Then she burst into tears.
 
“If only you knew the goodness I foresee, you would never have spoken these words.”
 
“What goodness do you see that I cannot? Please, allow me to rest. I don’t want this stress.”
 
Without waiting for her reply, Hafsat walked to her car, got in, and drove off. Zuwaira, dejected, left the school, wondering how to break through to her friend.
 
Ammi’s Firm Decision
 
At home, Zuwaira hurried to eat because hunger was tormenting her. But midway through her meal, old memories of her happier life returned, making her lose her appetite. She went to her room, showered, prayed, then tried to sleep but was restless.
 
By 3:00 p.m., Hafsat woke up, refreshed as always after bathing. She went to the living room where Ammi was receiving a massage from their maid, Nanna. Hafsat hugged her mother and said:
 
“Ammi, today was tough, that’s why I didn’t come to see you immediately.”
 
“I know. I even checked your room and found it locked, so I knew you were asleep. But now I want you to fetch your veil and take me out.”
 
“Ammi, should we not wait and pray Asr before going?”
 
“We’ll pray in five minutes, don’t worry.”
 
Hafsat agreed and went to make ablution. On her way, she spoke briefly with Nanna, an elderly, learned woman in the house. Hafsat wanted to confide in her about Zuwaira’s proposal but was interrupted by the call to prayer. She promised to return later to share the matter.
 
After prayers, they set out in the car. Hafsat asked:
 
“Ammi, where exactly are we going?”
 
Smiling, Ammi replied:
 
“To Zuwaira’s house.”
 
Hafsat’s face hardened. She parked at the gate and said:
 
“Ammi, I won’t go in. Please, you go alone.”
 
Before she could finish, she felt the sting of a slap across her cheek. She turned in shock, staring at Ammi in disbelief.
 
Inside, they all sat in the parlor. Ammi adjusted her glasses and addressed them:
 
“Abdulmalik, whatever has happened, let us take it as destiny from Allah. No one can harm you except by Allah’s decree. Everything that happens in this world was already written in the Divine Book. So, let’s not blame anyone. Only Allah has the power to do as He wills; people are just a means, and through them they too face trials. We are all Muslims, so let’s forgive one another. I don’t want any of you looking at your brother with resentment again. Zuwaira, I admire your decision, it shows wisdom. Let’s conceal each other’s faults, and this matter should remain our secret forever.”
 
As Ammi spoke, Hafsat’s tears flowed. She realized her mother wanted her to accept Abdulmalik. But could she ever marry him? How would she look at him daily, with the scar he inflicted still etched in her heart? After Ammi finished, they thanked her. She took Hafsat along, insisting that whether she lived or died, her marriage to Abdulmalik must take place within six months after her graduation.
 
Back home, Hafsat locked herself in her room, crying bitterly. She didn’t want to remember her past, but being forced to marry Abdulmalik would keep reopening that wound. Just then her phone rang. Seeing her beloved elder brother’s name, she smiled through her tears and answered.
 
“My darling bro,” she sobbed.
 
He began consoling her, as he always did whenever she was distressed. She almost told him everything, but held back, fearing it would agitate him and provoke a reaction against Ammi. She chose instead to endure silently. After their short chat, she felt a little relief, though deep inside she knew the storm was far from over.