Rahima Part 1 Complete Hausa Novel

Habiba entered the house greeting loudly from the corridor, but no one heard her until she got close to the bedroom door. Both girls responded to her greeting and said,

“Ah Umma, when did you come in?”

Rahima quickly collected the bag from her hand and said,

“It’s all Maryam’s fault. She has been talking nonstop without a comma or a full stop, not even an exclamation mark.”

Maryam jumped in and said,

“But you still didn’t answer the question I asked you, did you?”

Habiba removed her hijab and said,

“So that’s how it is? You push your younger sister forward just to keep teasing her?”

Rahima said playfully,

“Ever since you left the house she opened the recording of Rabiu and kept playing it until my head started hurting.”

Habiba pulled a chair and sat down before saying,

“She isn’t even ashamed. When exactly will she start calling you ‘big sister’?”

Rahima secretly mocked her without their mother noticing and said,

“That’s exactly what I’ve been telling her.”

Maryam playfully hit her and said,

“I don’t understand why they want to force this ‘seniority’ on me for no reason when she is only three months younger than me.”

Habiba replied,

“It’s your body size. Anyone who sees you would think you’re three years older than her. I don’t know what you will do with this big body of yours.”

Rahima rolled her eyes at their mother playfully and said,

“She’s about to get married, Umma. Just now she was telling me that Abbas has been pressuring her about marriage.”

Maryam jumped up again and said,

“Rahima, please stop it! Umma, she’s lying about me.”

Habiba looked at them seriously and said,

“Indeed, you girls are truly children of this modern age. Openly sitting down discussing your marriages without shame or hesitation. May Allah guide us. In our time, such matters were spoken about quietly. So tell me, have you put the soup on the fire or have you just been chatting about boys?”

“We already put it on the fire earlier, Umma,” they both answered together before heading to the kitchen to check the food.

Habiba watched them and thought to herself, If Abbas is truly ready, then it would be best if both weddings are held on the same day so we can rest.

Their father returned home carrying bags of snacks he usually bought for the children. Rahima and the others rushed out and knelt respectfully saying,

“Welcome back, Baffa.”

He responded happily and said,

“Where are your younger siblings? I haven’t heard any of them.”

Maryam replied,

“Wallahi Baffa, they’re upstairs watching TV. If they had heard your voice they would have come down already.”

“I’ll go call them,” Rahima said.

She ran upstairs, turned off the TV and said,

“O kings of watching TV, Baffa is back and he’s looking for you. If you’re able, please come downstairs.”

They were about to start complaining that their TV time had been cut short when they heard their father’s voice. Knowing he usually returned home with sweets and snacks, they quickly rushed downstairs shouting,

“Baffa! Baffa! What did you bring for us?”

Maryam opened the bag and began distributing yogurt and biscuits to them. Rahima opened another bag containing roasted meat and shared it among everyone. Before giving Maryam her share, Maryam reached into Samunu’s portion, took two pieces and put them in her mouth.

The child began to cry.

Rahima looked at her and said,

“Maryam! What is that?”

Umma glared at her and said,

“That’s pure greed. Can’t you be satisfied with your own share?”

Maryam laughed and said,

“Wallahi it was my mouth that betrayed me, Umma.”

Rahima said,

“I know how to solve this,” and she split Maryam’s share into two and gave half to their younger brother.

Maryam got up protesting that she wouldn’t accept that. She turned as if to grab Rahima’s portion instead. Rahima ran into the room laughing, and Maryam chased after her.

Their parents watched them with affection and sympathy.

Alhaji Mamman sighed deeply after drinking the water Umma brought him along with his food. Looking at her lovingly, he said,

“Do you know what is troubling me?”

She shook her head and said,

“Tell me, Alhaji.”

He cleared his throat and said,

“I feel sad thinking about how these girls will soon be separated. Rahima’s wedding is only nine days away. How will her sister cope?”

She replied,

“Hmmm… you mean the longing they will feel for each other. But honestly, I feel more sorry for Rahima and I don’t even know why.”

He said,

“You know she is an orphan who grew up in our hearts. Naturally you will keep remembering your sister now, especially since this marriage has come to ease our burden. If Allah also sends a husband for Maryam and she gets married as well…”