Kaddarar Rayuwa Complete Hausa Novel

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

First page

He was sitting in his office, even though he had a lot of work in front of him, and it did not stop him from thinking about his elder brother Maina’s behavior. He was amazed at how he shut his eyes and kept disobeying his Lord. He did not eat even horse meat, let alone to the point of drinking alcohol or committing adultery. In fact, he could not even lower his eyes to look at a woman, except his younger sister Ubaedatu or their elder sister Zuhra, even though they had come out of the royal house of Katagum.

The ringing of his phone brought him back from the world of thoughts. He picked up the phone and put it to his ear with full respect and obedience, because it was clear that someone older was calling.

“Yes, Abba. Oh no, there is no one at home with the key in your hands. Wait for me, I’m coming to open it for you, please, right away.”

He stood up, his body trembling, and said:

“I’m Mashkur, I swear if Abba finds Maina with that girl, then…”

He took the car keys, started the car, and left quickly. His soldiers followed behind him. He frowned and raised his hand to them; they turned back. He got into the car and left the Air Force base in Gubi town, in Bauchi State.

He was driving very fast, as if he were about to take off into the sky.

By the pen of blackness, His Highness the Emir of Katagum, Alhaji Husaini Muh’d, and his entourage had arrived at the officers’ residences on the Maiduguri bypass. They had already parked and saw Maina’s car at the front of the house, so they went straight in. He headed toward the room—may God help him—he went to Maina’s room, while the rest were in the sitting room.

When he reached the corridor that would connect him to Maina’s room, he began to hear their cries and their breathing. Sorrow and bitterness overwhelmed him, but he did not give up; he pushed the door open. As he lifted the curtain of Maina’s room, he saw him on top of someone’s daughter, while she lifted her leg and struck him in the face, and he was laughing.

He shut the door and staggered backward as if he were about to fall. Then he felt someone holding him from behind. The scent of that person’s perfume told him who had stopped him...

Mashkur supported him and took him to his room, seated him on the edge of the bed, then went back to the fridge, took him a bottle of water, opened it, poured it into a cup, and handed it to him respectfully, with his head bowed, because that was exactly what he feared, and it had happened. Mashkur felt as though the ground had split open and swallowed him, because of the intensity of his shame. Abba refused to lift his head, then finally went out of the room and entered Maina’s room. When he got there, he found them still at what they were doing. He turned away and, in a calm voice, said:

“When you finish what you are doing, come to your Abba in my room. You will die having never been born from any woman and never walked the earth. Then you will know where you came from. Yet here you are, openly committing adultery because of your own desire. If what you want is marriage, Maina, there are women in our family, and there are women in other noble and dignified royal houses—not those hyenas of immorality who will take you and disgrace you, if it is women you want....”

He spoke so calmly, you would think it was a woman speaking. He left the room furious.

Maina himself began trembling, because this was the second time his father had caught him with a woman....

He went into the bathroom, took a bath, then put on shorts, and turned and said with a stern face:

“Do not dare leave the place I did not tell you to leave. Do you hear me...”

He left the room and went into Mashkur’s room. The Emir was sitting there, leaning slightly, his head bowed, his hands holding the cup of water as he slowly stirred it.

In a calm voice, Mashkur said:

“Abba, please forgive me. Insha Allah, this will not happen again, Abba...”

He raised his hand, then cleared his throat and said:

“It’s not you who did wrong, and he too did not do wrong. The fault is ours. If only from the beginning he had been set on the right path, then we would have married him off then. But no, we were not thoughtful. In fact, we followed our desires, because we wanted our children to study and become somebody. I do not know what sin I committed for Allah to test me with a fornicator. I have never drunk alcohol, never sought women. In fact, I was given a marriage arranged for me, me and your mother, Maina. Among all my children, you are the only one who has gone astray among my children. I do not know the sin, but it does not matter. Each of you should prepare; in two weeks your weddings will take place. I would not want to catch you with a woman again for the third time. The one I saw was enough. Whether you prepare or not, I will marry Ubaidatu to…”

Mashkur suddenly raised his head in shock; fear and confusion spread across his face. He turned and looked at Maina, who was leaning to one side, and his heart was filled with pity for his sister. No matter how much he wanted to hide his distress, he could not. In the end he lowered his head, his heart burning, feeling deep pain. How could a perfect woman be given to a corrupt, immoral man like Maina? While he was still thinking, he heard Abba say:

“And you, Mashkur, will be married to Zubaidatu. I know she loves you; that is her wish, you Mashkur. So each of you should prepare—within two weeks...”

As soon as he finished saying that, he stood up and left, and they followed behind him. When he reached the sitting room, he said, “Let’s go home today.”

Without argument, his companions stood up and all went out. He turned back, looking at Maina, shook his head, and said:

“May Allah guide you. The guidance of the religion of Islam—I will not advise you further—but I warn you about life; if you continue, you will meet your match...”

He finished speaking.