Matar Shege 1 Complete Hausa Novel

On the seventh day of the month, in the year two thousand and sixteen, that was the day the book of my fate began to open, the day I entered into a worry I did not think I would ever come out of!

I was sitting in an adaidaita sahu, on my way back to the brigade from my elder sister’s house in the Hotoro neighborhood, completely focused on the call I was answering from my beloved, and today there were only two months left until our wedding.

“Girls, please, I’m going to stop here. I want to drop off something for my boss,” I heard the adaidaita sahu driver say.

I looked and saw the laundry place he was pointing out to me, and I said, “Okay.”

What is destined never misses its day; if I had known I would see what I saw now, what would have brought me out today? A black car was trying to park there, and though I don’t know much about the prices of cars, I knew this one was definitely not small. It took him three minutes to park; then he opened the car hood but did not come out. That made me gather all my attention again to watch this famous person.

Before my eyes, he came out of the car, and my heart sank just from one glance at him!

He was extremely fair-skinned, with big eyes, very white as though he had never cried before, not too long of a nose, and a properly shaped mouth on his round face.

He was wearing a black shirt and black trousers, and a black wristwatch that made his fair hand look very handsome.

He seriously shook my faith right then and there. I suddenly felt something strange in my heart and body, and I let out a tired sigh while continuing to stare at him.

I saw him frown, while running his hand over his hair that was shining, as though he had been grooming it until he got tired. Then he tousled his hair in a way that felt deliberate, because he looked even more handsome. It was as if he were not a Nigerian at all. Honestly, I had never imagined there were such handsome men in Kano.

He went back to the car; he did not even enter it properly, only stretched out his hand and took out a red face cap and put it on.

That happened exactly as my adaidaita sahu driver was returning, carrying a bag in his hand.

As I watched, the young man went into the place, looking annoyed.

“Excuse me, madam, I wasted your time,” the adaidaita driver said.

I gave a small smile as we passed the place and said, “It’s nothing.”

We had only gone a little way when I heard his voice. “His name is Salim. He’s the owner of that laundry place, and he’s also the owner of that seven-thirty food place. He’s not a good person, and he smokes cigarettes. They say he has a company in Sharada, which he personally manages, and that’s where his house is too.”

I was not surprised by what he said, because I knew it had something to do with the way he saw me staring at the one he called Salim.

“Hm!” I sighed before saying, “You don’t know anything else about him apart from that?”

“That’s all I know,” he said.

“You don’t have his number?” I asked, my heart pounding.

He laughed and said, “Of course not! Me?”

With excitement, I said, “Then please take me back there. If he comes out, follow him for me.”

The adaidaita driver turned sharply and widened his eyes before saying, “Please don’t expose me, I’m not prepared to die. Girls, I have a family.”

I also laughed a little and said, “Just following him will make you die?”

He said, “Then what won’t stop it? Even if I don’t die, I know I’ll suffer. You, maybe I’ll even end up in prison because of you.”

I just laughed and said, “That’s true.”

“Umm... you said he smokes cigarettes? How do you know that?”

I asked the question eagerly, wanting to hear the answer he would give me.

The adaidaita driver said, “Yes, I’ve seen him twice here smoking. It seems to be part of him, because he smokes in front of everyone.”

I nodded before saying, “May Allah guide him.”

Until we reached our neighborhood, I said nothing else, lost in thoughts about Salim.

I entered the house with the greeting of peace, and I found Mama Saude picking rice; the fire in the stove she had lit was producing smoke, and the whole house was filled with haze.

Mama Saude was my father’s wife. He had not been married to her for long, as a result of his separation from my mother, and I was the cause of that separation. Whenever I remember that, I become distressed; sometimes I even cry.

Mama Saude had no kindness in her at all. She never liked me; she was always trying to create conflict between me and my father. And he, too, believed everything she told him. He would get angry and sit down and keep insulting me. Even so, I don’t really blame him much, because my own faults were greater. I don’t talk back at all, which is why I hurried into marriage so that everyone could have peace.

Hmm! Later on, you will hear who I am.

I did not even pay attention to Mama; I went into my room, which did not have much in it, and tossed my bag as I lay down on my mattress.

It was the afternoon prayer call that woke me from the short sleep I had gone into. I went straight to bathe, came out, and performed ablution. Just as I was about to go into the room, I heard Mama’s greeting as she entered the house. I did not answer, only clicked my tongue, wondering at Mama Saude’s behavior. She knew very well that I was sleeping, yet she still went out, and she did not even shut the house door. What if someone comes in and steals from me now?

“May God make it better,” I said, trying to go into the room.

I had not yet gone in when I heard her voice: “Hey! Whose father are you saying that to?”

Ignoring her.