Mahaukacin So Part 1 Complete Hausa Novel

The Wealthy Man and the Grieving Household
 
A wealthy man named Alhaji Muktar sat in a spacious living room in Kaduna, reading his newspaper peacefully. Just then, an elderly woman entered. Her presence was calm but serious. She stood watching him for a moment. Noticing her, Alhaji Muktar removed his glasses and asked softly, “Hajiya, is everything alright?”
 
She scoffed and replied, “It’s the world.”
 
He smiled, “Typical of you, Hajiya.”
 
Her eyes drifted to a photo on the wall—one of two women who looked very much alike. She stared, lost in thought, until a voice brought her back.
 
"Okay Mama, I’ll be going now. May Allah grant them mercy and give us the strength to bear the loss," a woman said.
 
"Thank you, Zuwaira. May Allah reward you," Mama replied.
 
The Orphaned Child
 
Nasir, standing nearby holding a baby girl, was gently rocking her. Mama looked at him and said, “Nasir, you’re doing well caring for her, but once her family arrives to take her, you’ll be free.”
 
He frowned. “Mama, they’re not taking this child. They shouldn’t even come.”
 
Mama glanced at her daughter Ummi, then turned back to Nasir. “What do you mean? She’s just a baby. Do you intend to breastfeed her yourself?”
 
Nasir sighed deeply and walked away.
 
This was Mama’s household. Her husband had passed long ago, and her sister, with whom she lived, had recently died too. Now, Mama lived with her three children: Ibrahim, Nasir, and Ummi.
 
Three days earlier, Ibrahim and his wife had died in a car crash, leaving behind their infant daughter, Laila. Since then, Nasir had refused to hand over the child to the wife’s family, insisting she stay with them.
 
Struggles of Love and Grief
 
One afternoon, Nasir sat feeding Laila with a bottle. But she kept crying. He tried singing to her, “Lailo Lailo troublemaker… enough with the crying,” but she only cried louder. Mama entered, clearly upset.
 
“Nasir, what are you doing to this baby? She cries all day, and she’s already lost weight. You must give her to her mother’s people.”
 
Nasir pleaded, “Mama, please. I can take care of her. If you won’t, I will.”
 
Frustrated, Mama shot back, “Then go ahead and feed her if you have milk!”
 
“She’s five months old. It’s time to wean her anyway,” he argued.
 
Mama fell silent, staring at him, lost in disappointment. Just then, a friend of Ummi entered and greeted.
 
A Visit From Inna
 
The next morning, Inna, an elder from the child’s maternal side, sat outside, chewing on a stick. Frustrated, she spat it out and called for her daughter.
 
“Bahijja! Let’s go get that baby before they kill her with negligence. Maman Nasir has no control, and that boy refuses to give her up.”
 
“Inna, please leave her with them,” Bahijja begged.
 
“No, Bahijja! None of you know the pain of childbirth. Laila is my granddaughter too. I have a right to her, and we’ll take her back today.”
 
Meanwhile, at Mama’s house, Nasir was shouting for Ummi, complaining that the baby wasn’t ready. Ummi ignored him. Mama, exhausted from the stress, said nothing.
 
Then came a knock at the door.
 
The Confrontation
 
Nasir took Laila from Ummi and asked her to open the door. She did. It was Inna and Bahijja. Ummi welcomed them politely, but she noticed Inna’s face was stern.
 
Mama welcomed them and offered them a seat. Bahijja greeted respectfully. Nasir greeted too, but Inna didn’t return it warmly.
 
“Bring her,” she said firmly.
 
Nasir hesitated, then looked at Mama. Reluctantly, he handed Laila over. Mama tried to keep the peace, “How are your people? We hope you’re bearing the loss with patience.”
 
Inna snapped, “We’ve been trying, but look at the child—she’s wasting away from suffering. That’s why we’re here to take her.”
 
Nasir protested, “But we are the father’s family. We have more right to her.”
 
“You want to be rude?” Inna flared. “I’ll slap you right here!”
 
Mama intervened, “Please Inna, no need for that. We’ll give her to you.”
 
Nasir turned sharply, “Why should we give her up?”
 
Mama yelled, “One more word and you’ll regret it!”
 
Inna turned to Ummi, “Bring her things.”
 
Mama stopped her, “Don’t bother. I’ll bring Laila myself tomorrow.”
 
Nasir’s heart sank.
 
“Fine. We’ll be waiting,” Inna said, handing Laila back.
 
Mama offered them drinks, but they declined and left.
 
Nasir’s Desperate Decision
 
As they left, Nasir whispered to Mama, “They don’t have any right over Laila. I’m all she has now.”
 
Mama warned, “I don’t want trouble. We’re giving her back tomorrow, even if she stays with them for just two years.”
 
“I can raise her for two years too,” Nasir insisted.
 
Mama snapped, “Are you mad? Since this baby came, you’ve lost your senses. I’ll put an end to this tomorrow!”
 
She stormed off.
 
Nasir, holding Laila tightly, shed silent tears.
 
That night, he didn’t eat or sleep. Ummi and Mama slept with Laila. Nasir sat alone, overwhelmed with worry, thinking of how to keep Laila.
 
The Disappearance
 
The next morning, Inna sat relaxed at home, expecting Laila’s arrival. Back at Mama’s house, Ummi noticed something was off—Laila and Nasir were missing.
 
Panicked, she woke Mama, who rushed to Nasir’s room. His things were gone. She checked Laila’s trunk—only two dresses remained.
 
“Innalillahi! Ummi, I think Nasir has run away with her,” Mama gasped.
 
Ummi’s heart pounded. She checked again and found a folded note. With trembling hands, she read aloud:
 
> “Mama, forgive me. I’ve taken Laila. Don’t look for me. If fate allows, we’ll meet again. —Nasir.”
 
 
 
Mama dropped her hands to her lap, devastated.
 
“Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un,” she cried. “What kind of madness is this? What has this boy done to us?”
 
Ummi sat down beside her in silence, overwhelmed by the sorrow Nasir had left behind.