Life Partner Part 2 Complete Hausa Novel

Ummi’s Concern and a Mother’s Comfort
 
Ummi found her lying down and covered her with a blanket. Feeling the movement, she quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and sat up. Ummi sat beside her, full of worry, and said, “You haven’t eaten, dear.” She pouted and replied, “I’m full, Ummi.” Ummi kept quiet, watching how much weight she had lost, then sighed and asked, “So what will you eat?” She quickly shook her head and said, “I don’t want food.” Ummi asked, “Then what do you want, if not food? Or do you need tea?” She shook her head again. “Cornflakes?” Ummi asked. She shook her head harder and said, “I want awara.” Ummi replied, “Okay, I’ll ask Saudatu to get it for you. Get up, let’s go downstairs.” She shrugged her shoulders as if about to cry and said, “Ummi, I want to sleep.” Ummi held her hand and said, “You can sleep downstairs. You need to greet Mummy, and besides, I don’t want you staying alone.”
 
Very slowly, she followed her mother downstairs. Mummy, who was watching them, asked, “Is everything okay?” Ummi replied, “She wants to eat awara.” Rafi’ah sat beside Mummy and asked, “Mummy, are you going?” Mummy held her hand and said, “Insha Allah. I’m waiting for the driver, but I’ll keep coming to check on you until you fully recover. What I want from you is to stop crying. If Allah has destined something to happen, no one can change it. As for Yusuf, forget about him. Relax and stop worrying about him. Without your own kind of madness, would someone betray you like that and you’d still sit and cry over him?”
 
She wiped her tears and said, “I don’t love him. I hate seeing him. I don’t even want to see anyone who looks like him. What is making me cry is…” She burst into tears and couldn’t continue. Mummy gave her a side hug and said, “Is it the first time someone leaves a woman pregnant? Just take care of yourself and give birth to what you’re carrying. I’m waiting for the day he’ll come blaming what you gave birth to because it’s his child. Wallahi, nothing will separate me from him—I’ll humiliate him the way he humiliated us. I’ll make him cry in pain forever. And the child is not his—you are the mother and you are the father.”
 
Rafi’ah kept wiping her tears. After that, she slid down from the sofa, lay on the carpet, closed her eyes, and prayed. Deep inside, she felt pain and bitterness. In her prayer, she even asked Allah to let the pregnancy end so she too could rest from life. After ten minutes, Saudatu came in with a warmer. Ummi asked, “Did you get it?” Saudatu replied, “Yes.” Ummi lifted Rafi’ah and said, “Dear, your awara is here.” Slowly, she opened her eyes and said, “I’m sleepy.” Ummi replied, “I know. Try to eat, even a little—you haven’t eaten anything since morning.” She adjusted her position, leaned against the chair, opened the warmer, and Saudatu handed her a fork. She began eating. Ummi and Mummy watched her—it was as if she hadn’t eaten in weeks. Her mouth didn’t rest, and that made them happy. As long as she was eating, everything would gradually be fine. She ate almost half of it, then closed the warmer and said, “I’ll eat the rest later.” Ummi smiled and said, “No one will touch it.” She lay down and closed her eyes, and heavy sleep quickly took her.
 
Family Tensions and Bitter Words
 
Not long after, the driver came to pick up Mummy. On their way home, he told her that Jawad had returned. Surprised, Mummy asked, “They’ve already landed?” He replied, “Yes, Hajiya. Before I went to pick him, a friend had already taken him home.” Mummy said, “It must have been when he called me midway.”
 
Aunty Amina was sitting in her mother’s parlor drinking exotic juice, occasionally looking at Aunty Rahama, who kept trying Aunty Khadija’s number without success. Aunty Amina smiled and said, “Mama Leemah, what’s worrying you about Khadija? The day it happened, we spoke to her and she said they left the country.” Aunty Rahama turned and asked, “All of them?” Aunty Amina replied, “Yes. At that time my phone was dead, I didn’t tell you because I was admitted in the hospital.” Aunty Rahama said, “But she said she got married in Kaduna and left with her husband?” Aunty Amina laughed and said, “You know she wouldn’t leave him. A man who lost his senses and left his wife and grown children to marry her—where would she go without him? They’re just roaming from country to country. I don’t see why you’re worried just because you can’t reach her. Let our wish be fulfilled; then we’ll let her enjoy.”
 
Aunty Rahama agreed. Aunty Amina added angrily, “What annoys me is that girl who got pregnant. At least they’ll link the child to Yusuf.” Aunty Rahama gave her a look and said, “That sister of mine won’t allow it. When we went with Yah Muhammad to Yusuf’s house, she picked up a knife, searching for him room to room, saying she would kill him. I know even if it was anger, she won’t let him claim what Rafi’ah will give birth to. Honestly, I’m surprised—I didn’t think that stubborn girl would get pregnant so quickly, while some women have been married for five years with no news.”
 
Aunty Amina frowned and said, “Please spare me this pregnancy talk. Isn’t it Allah who gives children? I’ve tried treatments until I got tired, with no result. And you too, you married at 22 and gave birth to only one child.” Aunty Rahama replied, “At least I gave birth to one. So you too should be patient—even if it’s a disabled child.” Aunty Amina stood up angrily and said, “Then you give birth; we’ve already seen you give birth to a sick child.” Aunty Rahama threw a cushion at her in anger and said, “Watch your mouth, Amina. Don’t ever call Ikleemah sick.” Umma came out, pulled Aunty Rahama aside, calmed her down, then returned to pacify Aunty Amina too, saying it was shameful for them to fight and that they should unite. Aunty Amina only pursed her lips and continued drinking her exotic.
 
Jawad’s Return and a Shocking Revelation
 
He entered the parlor with a smile. Mummy turned and said, “The people from Cyprus.” He rubbed his hair and said, “Good afternoon, Mummy.” She replied, “I’m fine. Have a seat—so you’re back already?” He said, “Yes, about an hour ago. I hope you’re all fine.” She said, “Alhamdulillah.” He stood up and said, “I need to answer a call.” She replied, “Alright.”
 
He went into his mother’s section, greeting them. Abi was seated beside Mami, with Ikram sitting on the carpet. Jawad bowed slightly and said, “So you’re back. I thought you’d call me to pick you up.” Abi replied, “You didn’t need to worry. Since you were traveling, Sadeeq picked me up.” Jawad sat and watched TV. Abi looked at Mami, who looked displeased, and asked, “Why didn’t you go today?” She replied, “She was discharged and returned home. Do you expect me to go there every day?” Abi sighed and said, “You have to go—hospital or home, just go. Don’t make me repeat myself. Go and check on her.” He stood up and left; Mami followed him with a strange look.
 
Jawad asked, “What’s going on, Mami?” She clicked her tongue and said, “Do you know about Rafi’ah’s marriage that happened two days after you traveled?” His heart skipped. He looked at her. She pursed her lips and said, “She’s divorced.” Shocked, he said, “Divorced?” She replied, “Yes—one talaq.” He kept saying “Innalillahi” as he stared at her. She continued, “It was a humiliating divorce. He handed her the papers and left the house with his wife. Till today, no one knows where he is. He left her pregnant. If you see her, she’s so thin you could blow her over. I even suggested terminating the pregnancy—she’s not even 18. When I went, my Ikram was already over a year old.”
 
Jawad couldn’t stop staring, especially when she mentioned the pregnancy. Mami adjusted herself and said, “I think he left because of her illness. These days, who marries a woman with heart disease? Every month they buy expensive drugs. If not for her father’s wealth, they wouldn’t even have a place to live.” Jawad stood up and went to his room. As he closed the door, his eyes filled with tears. He forced a smile, picked up his car keys from the mirror, and turned when the door opened. Mami said, “We’re talking and you’re leaving without an excuse?” He replied, “I just remembered I have somewhere to go.” “Where?” she asked. He rubbed his head and said, “Work. I need to submit some papers I brought.” She clicked her tongue and said, “Always work. If you marry, you’ll leave this court and find another job.” He replied softly, “Okay, I’ll be back,” and left the room.