Addininmu Book 1 Complete Hausa Novel

Abdul Jabar, who had shortened his name to A.J., said,

“Innah, government work leads to nothing. And since I want to become a famous rich man in this town, the only option left would be government work?!”

He went on, “Look, in this our country, when rich people are being counted, you’ll never hear the names of civil servants. It’s only businessmen. That’s why I’ll do business—just wait and see. Now let me give you an example. If I get a government job and they pay me fifty thousand naira, what will fifty thousand do for the three of us in one month?”

“Think about Nana’s school fees, clothes, and food. And it’s not even guaranteed that they’ll actually pay me that fifty thousand. But in business, in just one day I can make three hundred thousand naira, wallahi. So what’s the use of a government job?”

Innah looked at him in shock and said,

“Abdul Jabar, is it to a small child that you’re doing this kind of calculation? Fear God and the people in this world. Reduce your excessive love for money. You’ve abandoned all your childhood friends just because of your empty pride. Now you only associate with the children of the rich—today you’re at this one’s house, tomorrow at another’s. Abdul, do you even fear being disgraced by people?”

A.J. replied,

“So Innah, you want me to remain poor and keep friendships with poor people? No, that doesn’t make sense at all. When Nana returns, tell her to dry these clothes for me—I’m being called.”

Before Innah could say anything, he stood up, went to his room, removed his phone from charging, and picked up a jalabiya which he wore over his clothes. Then he looked at Innah and said,

“Innah, one day you’ll hear my story. But I will surely make money, in shaa Allah.”

Innah said,

“I will never stop praying for you. May Allah guide you, because honestly I fear that this cursed love of money of yours will throw you into serious trouble.”

As A.J. stepped outside, he saw her standing by the side of their house, looking around suspiciously. When he saw her, he felt a strange pleasure because he knew things were going as planned. He quickly walked up to her with a smile. Before he could speak, she grabbed his hand and pulled him into a secluded corner and said,

“A.J., I don’t get the money.”

He looked closely at her outfit: a sleeveless thin top and tight jeans that stopped at her thighs. One glance at her dressing told anyone she wasn’t a Muslim. Angrily, he said,

“What are you saying?”

She replied,

“I don’t have the money.”

Hearing that, A.J. turned to leave, but she quickly grabbed him again and said,

“Please, A.J., listen to me.”

He looked at her and switched to Hausa, knowing she didn’t understand it well. He said,

“If not for my love for money, what would make me keep standing with you? Look at how you’re dressed. If someone comes here looking for trouble and meets us like this, that’s the end. Just let me get what I want from you—wallahi, you’ll never see me again.”

Zarah said,

“What are you saying?”

He replied,

“No, it’s not you.”

That was when they continued in English, because she didn’t understand Hausa at all. Zarah said,

“A.J., Daddy almost caught me, and I know he now suspects that I’m the one stealing his money—and you’re the one pushing me to do it.”

Without fear, A.J. said,

“If I won’t get it, then let’s end the discussion. From today, I don’t have you anymore. I told you I want to change my phone—this one is small and people look down on me. Imagine me having you and still using this kind of phone!”

Seeing that he was angry, Zarah said tearfully,

“Please, I’m so sorry. I’ll bring the money for you tomorrow.”

Truly, Zarah loved A.J. very much, which was why she hated seeing him angry. As for him, he only loved her because of her parents’ money—he was simply using her to get cash. He quickly said,

“Alright then.”

She asked,

“So you’re smiling now?”

And indeed, he smiled. She ran to him and hugged him, saying,

“I love you so much, my A.J.”

He didn’t respond. His only concern was how to free himself from her embrace.

When Zarah got home, she started thinking about how to get the money to take to him, while her father was around. She quietly went to her mother’s room, but on getting there she found her mother sitting and eating, heavily dressed and made up like a bride. She stepped back and went to her father’s room instead, where she found him asleep.

She moved quietly to the place she usually took the money from. From the way she moved, anyone could tell she was guilty. It was a small drawer under his wardrobe. As Zarah gently pulled it open, she saw bundles and bundles of money—far more than she had ever seen before…