Gidan Gandu Part 1 Complete Hausa Novel

Sameerah hurried away from the place because, from the way she saw Sameemah’s anger boiling, there was nothing she would not do to her out of spite and disrespect. What pained her most was that such a small girl had become a burden and a torment to them. To make matters worse, they had already spoken on the phone with her suitor, Saminu, and he said he would come and take her along to his friend’s wedding in Kaduna. She had been so happy about it, but now she knew she would most likely have to go without even taking a bath, just to avoid meeting Sameemah that day. She knew that if Sameemah did not calm down, she would surely carry out what she had threatened.

She did not stay long in the bathroom before coming out. Her face still had no trace of cheerfulness because of the quarrel she had just had with her elder sister Sameerah a short while ago. They shared the same father. She entered their room and went to where her belongings were. Although they all shared one room with the other girls in the house, each person had her own corner. Sometimes, when one of them got something nice, they would sit together, eat, laugh, and chat. But if Sameemah ever came in with food in front of them, she would eat until she was full and then give the leftovers to her dog, Bingo.

She brought out some skin-lightening lotions and rubbed them all over her body. Then she took out a loose outfit, the kind hunters wear, but styled in a feminine way, with a top and trousers.

After dressing, she applied powder, then took black lipstick and rubbed it over her small lips. She also lined her eyes heavily with kohl, above and below, until her eyebrows nearly seemed to meet her eyelids. She turned around in front of the mirror, then picked up her veil, draped it over her shoulder, and came out of the room.

At the doorway, as she was leaving, they ran into a boy from their neighborhood carrying Inna Larai’s daughter on his shoulder. The little girl, who could not have been more than seven years old, was crying nonstop. Sameemah was the first to notice him and asked:

“What happened?”

“Ah, Seemah Jar Wuyah”—that was what everyone outside called Sameemah—“I swear, I found her lying by Ilu’s shop with blood coming out of her. When I asked her, she said it was Labiru, her elder brother Manu’s friend, who did this to her.”

“Ahh, okay. Well done. Can you go now?”

After he left, Sameemah carried the little girl and took her to Inna Larai’s door.

“Inna Larai! Inna Larai!! Inna Larai!!!”

Amid sarcastic exchanges, while both she and Inna Karima were standing at their doorways, Inna Larai came out and said:

“Hey, what is it? Why are you shouting my name as if you want to finish me off?”

“Yes, that’s exactly it,” Sameemah replied as she placed Hanifa in front of Inna Larai. “Here she is, your useless little daughter. A certain street loafer has messed her up—or let me say he has opened up her private parts. So come and pour hot water on her instead of standing there making noise. From the look of things, her greed has pushed her into this line of behavior before her time.”

“Really, Sameemah, is that what you have to say? Which cursed boy did this?”

“Who else if not Labiru, your son Manu’s friend? Aren’t you the one always pushing her toward him because he buys her tea in the morning? You people have no work except shameless greed. Just pour hot water on her so she will recover—or if she wants to continue that business, let it at least be with full strength. I’m off now. When I come back, I’ll bring a hen for her so she can recover the blood she has lost. And if I don’t return, then forget it. Here, take this and buy her ibuprofen for the pain.”

she said, handing Inna Larai fifty naira.

Inna Larai jumped wildly and slapped the money out of Sameemah’s hand before hurling hot curses at her.

Meanwhile, Inna Karima stood by the side laughing so hard as if her throat would fall out from sheer wicked amusement. The insults then turned toward her as well, and in anger Inna Larai lunged at her. They grabbed each other and started fighting, with Inna Larai shouting curses at the top of her voice for the whole neighborhood to hear.

When Sameemah saw that the people in the compound were beginning to understand what had happened, she insulted them and stormed out of the house.

As soon as she came outside, she found Burgu waiting for her on a motorcycle. The moment Burgu saw her, he started the bike. She climbed on, and they set off. He began telling her about what had happened between them and Alhaji Sama’ila, but she paid no attention to anything he said. Instead, she simply gave him an order in a low voice:

“Tell those Dodo’n Dawa boys to capture Labiru for Malam Sule. Let them take him to Karangiya’s place and rough him up a little before I come deal with him tomorrow.”

“Boss Reza, what did he do?”

“That doesn’t concern you. Just do as I said.”

“So today Labiru has really seen trouble. Tabb!”

After that, until they got to their gang’s house, Burgu said nothing more because he could see how tightly his boss’s face was drawn with anger.

It was a ramshackle place, with two mud-block rooms and a small courtyard.

Without even offering greetings, they entered, and everyone rose to welcome her back. She went into the first room and sat down authoritatively on a chair placed before a table, while the others sat on the remaining chairs in the room.

“Uhm, uhm…”