Duhun Daji Part 1 Complete Hausa Novel

Riya’s Life by the River and the Panic in the Village
 
She was a young girl, not more than ten years old, sitting by the riverbank. She dipped one foot into the water while tossing stones and moving her leg inside the stream. Suddenly, she felt a strange movement—like someone walking in the water. She quickly jumped up and ran a little distance to her hut. She picked some leaves, spread them on the ground and sat quietly, lost in thought. After the movement stopped, she returned to the river. She stayed there until night fell without realizing it; she loved the water deeply.
 
Late at night, a dog came near her. She stroked its head and said, “Nashir, you’re back. Look, I’ve been here resting for long.” The dog rubbed against her—clearly tired from roaming around.
 
Meanwhile, elsewhere…
 
“Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un! Alhaji, is it that after you became a senator, they’ve started kidnapping my child? Oh my God, my only son! Please help me—send them the money they asked for so they won’t kill him!” she screamed, collapsing into Alhaji’s arms.
 
The neighbors felt great pity for her. They consoled her: losing a child is unbearable. Alhaji said, “In sha Allah, Mahammud will come home. Keep praying. Don’t panic. Please, calm down,” he said as he gently rubbed her back.
 
For three days the child was missing. Then the kidnappers called again, demanding five million naira or they would kill him. When Ummi heard this, she cried loudly. “Please, don’t involve the police! I’m scared—let them not touch my son! Alhaji, please!”
 
He replied, “Calm yourself. In sha Allah, your son will sleep at home tonight.”
 
At dawn, like every day, Riya came out of her hut and went to where Nashir lay. She touched his head; he opened his eyes. They exchanged a look and she lifted her head to signal they were leaving. She carried a small bag filled with hunting tools and entered the forest without fear. She chased a rabbit—missed the first shot—but ran after it until she caught it, hung it around Nashir’s neck, and patted the dog proudly.
 
By 3 a.m., they returned the stolen boy. Ummi was overwhelmed with joy as they rushed him to the hospital. He was perfectly fine. Everyone celebrated with them. Alhaji even brought soft drinks for everyone.
 
Later, Riya heard people talking nearby. Fear struck her. “Nashir, let’s go,” she whispered, grabbed her bag, and they ran so the people wouldn’t see them.
 
Who is this girl in the dark forest?
To know who she is, follow the next page…
 
Riya and the Hidden World of the Forest
 
Nashir always carried whatever she hunted around his neck as they walked. She didn’t know where she was going; she just followed her hunter’s instinct. When they reached a tree, she told him to stop. She heard voices nearby. Suddenly, the giant tree split in two—and they entered.
 
What her eyes met shocked and frightened her. They were not humans. Their feet were cloven like animals—some black, some white, some red, some even blue. She knelt before an old woman with white hair, praising her in the manner spirits are praised.
 
The old woman touched her head and said, “Riya, you’ve become more beautiful. You never get tired of visiting us, do you?”
 
Riya smiled, revealing teeth that didn’t look human. “Great Zulga, I heard people approaching, so I told Nashir we should go back to hunting.”
 
The old woman stroked Nashir’s head. “You did well.”
 
Riya sat down quietly, her face filled with worry. Zulga wondered if Riya was beginning to miss the human world. Riya herself didn’t know who she truly was. Zulga had adopted her long ago—she had no children then. She raised her and named her Riya. Now that she had children of her own, she gave Riya her own space to live near the river, pairing her with Nashir so she wouldn’t be lonely.
 
Meanwhile, the returned boy stayed indoors ever since he came home. Even school was now online. He felt imprisoned in the house. He sat pressing his computer keys, waiting for Mummy to go out so he could sneak outside. Abba had traveled for political meetings.
 
Elsewhere, a devastated mother cried:
 
“You see someone like Zarah? Please tell me where she is. I swear I will go anywhere—even if she’s in the spirit world. I will bring her back!”
 
Ten years had passed since she lost her daughter. She had changed so much—health failing and heart weakening.
 
A nearby woman doing dishes said, “Baraka, are you sure? You really recognized her? The child was five when she was kidnapped!”
 
She quickly replied, “No—I’m not saying it was exactly her. I just saw someone who looked like her. I even saw her at the station, traveling in a vehicle.”
 
Mama Zarah felt chills run through her body. Ten years searching… could this be real? But Biba, hearing she might not be the girl, relaxed slightly—fear of being exposed loosened its grip.
 
She placed her hand on Riya’s shoulder. “Riya, are you okay? You look worried.”
 
Riya’s Nature and Biba’s Hidden Fear
 
Who is Riya?
 
She was a girl of about thirteen. She grew up living deep in a dark forest—one so thick that even daylight could not pass through. She was half human, half spirit. She loved hunting, always accompanied by her loyal dog, Nashir, who helped her catch birds and small animals. If she wasn’t in her hut, she was by the river or hunting. She knew very few humans; that was why she was given a private place to live, alone.
 
Back to the story…
 
She wrapped a small cloth around her chest down to her thighs before bathing. Her back was strange—something you wouldn’t want to look at twice. Nashir followed her to the river as she bathed. Afterward, she wiped him with a wet cloth and sprayed something like perfume made from herbs. She dressed using leaves shaped like a skirt and another set like a top.
 
She opened a pot filled with many small creatures and served them into a bowl—she and Nashir sat and ate happily. She nodded her head as she enjoyed the meal.
 
Meanwhile, Biba—hearing rumors of someone resembling Zarah—panicked. If that missing girl was truly found, her own evil secret would be exposed. She stepped out quickly, telling them she would go somewhere and return.
 
Biba carried a burden of guilt in her heart. Only Allah knew the truth she hid. Malam didn’t care for her; she had manipulated him. She stayed in her marriage only to avoid being a widow, living with patience, no cleverness or confidence—just surrendering her affairs to Allah.