Wani Haske Part 1 Complete Hausa Novel

Leaving the Church
 
She gathered her papers neatly into a black handbag, slung it over her shoulder, and headed toward the church door. She wore a tight black body hug top with jeans, her head wrapped with a wig braided into over two hundred tiny plaits. Her fingernails and toenails gleamed blue with polish.
 
As she stepped out, she bumped into her boyfriend, Promise, who was just about to enter. He caught her hand, smiling.
 
“Dear, are you leaving already?”
 
She nodded before replying, “Yes, I’m tired. I want to go home, but I know Ma won’t leave yet. Today is Thursday and there’s night service.”
 
Promise’s smile dimmed. “Please, dear, wait till later so we can go together. There’s somewhere I want you to follow me.”
 
She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Promise. I have work at home. Baba is fasting today, and since Ma isn’t around, I need to prepare his food for breaking fast.” She checked her wristwatch as she spoke.
 
Promise sighed, released her hand, and said, “No problem. Greet Baba for me. See you when you return.”
 
“Ok, bye-bye.” She hurried off, determined to get home early for her father.
 
Preparing at Home
 
By 5:30 p.m. she reached their house at State Low Cost. The house was empty. She dropped her bag and went straight to the kitchen. As she peeled yam while a gospel song — There is No One Like You — played from her phone, she heard a familiar voice.
 
It was their neighbor, Nura.
 
“Yes, come in,” she said joyfully.
 
He entered, pulled a plastic chair, and sat. “Where’s Ma?”
 
“She hasn’t returned from church. Baba is fasting, so I couldn’t stay long myself.”
 
Nura watched her quietly, admiring her father’s piety. Allah has truly blessed him, he thought, and given his family a special light.
 
Then he broke into a smile. “Goodness, I brought you good news.”
 
She laughed. “Nura, you’ve started again? You came to tease me, right?”
 
He shook his head. “Not today. I came to collect your credentials. A man I know is looking for someone with your qualifications. He wants to employ.”
 
Goodness screamed with joy. “Oh God, thank You! I’m so grateful!” She dropped the yam, dashed to her room, and rummaged through her things. After scattering the place, she returned with her documents. “Let me go and photocopy these!”
 
Nura offered to do it for her. She returned to her cooking, dancing and singing until he came back, handed her the originals, and left with a promise to update her.
 
Her heart swelled with hope. If I get this job, I’ll save money to send Baba to Mecca for Hajj, Ma to Jerusalem, and even Anty Bilkisu to Mecca. And I’ll go myself!
 
By the time Baba returned, she had finished preparing his food. Beaming, she welcomed him:
 
“Sannu da zuwa, Baba.”
 
He smiled warmly. “You seem happy today. What happened?”
 
“Baba, I’m about to start work! Nura came for my credentials earlier.”
 
“Alhamdulillah. May Allah grant you success. Where’s your mother?”
 
“She hasn’t returned. They have night service — maybe she’ll even sleep at church.”
 
Her father nodded and went to the mosque for Maghrib. By the time he returned, his food was ready, but Goodness had locked herself in her room with her Bible and church music.
 
The Big News
 
The next morning, before dawn, Goodness bathed, carried her Bible, and left for church. It was filled with people, men and women, young and old, all dancing and singing for hours before the pastor ended with prayers.
 
Outside, Promise held her hand. “Wow! Soon we’ll marry, since you’re starting work.”
 
She smiled. “By God’s grace, dear. Once I start this job, nothing will delay us.”
 
Later, as she walked with her mother, she shared the news. “Ma, Nura came yesterday to collect my credentials.”
 
Her mother frowned. “Goodness, how many times have I told you? Don’t associate with Muslims! Their religion isn’t ours.”
 
“Sorry, Ma. It wasn’t me. He came on his own. He said there’s a vacancy.”
 
“Even if there is, I don’t want you working under a Muslim. I want you in a Christian office to strengthen your faith. My dream is for you to become a pastor.”
 
Goodness laughed. “That’s my dream too, Ma. If I get this job, I’ll save money to take you to Jerusalem.”
 
Her mother finally smiled. “That’s my daughter.”
 
Nura Returns
 
On Sunday morning Nura came to their house but missed Goodness, who was at church. He returned in the evening and met Ma and Goodness returning home.
 
Ma wore a golden lace dress with matching head tie, looking radiant. Goodness wore a black English skirt and top.
 
“Welcome, Ma,” Nura greeted respectfully.
 
She replied curtly, “Thank you,” and went inside without a smile.
 
Goodness felt uneasy. Why did her mother despise Muslims, even though Baba himself was one? She turned to Nura. “Please don’t mind Ma. Her mood isn’t good.”
 
Nura waved it off. “Don’t worry. I just came to tell you — Monday morning, go to ABU AL’AMIN Company Ltd. They’ll give you your appointment letter and you’ll start work.”
 
Goodness jumped with joy, tried to hug him, but he dodged with a laugh. “Thank you, Nura. God bless you!”
 
She rushed inside shouting, “Thank You, God!” and fell happily on her mother’s lap. “Ma, I’ve gotten a job!”
 
Her father, listening quietly, smiled. “Allah bless you, my daughter. May this job be a light in your life.”
 
But Ma cut in sharply. “Papa Goodness, stop with your Muslim prayers! I told you, I don’t like it.”
 
Goodness frowned. “Ma, let him
finish, please.” Then she stormed to her room with her Bible, leaving the tension hanging in the living room.