Ba A Boran Namiji Book 1 Complete Hausa Novel

Kyauta, where are you? Come out here! I swear, today it will be done in front of everyone. I am tired of your attitude.”

My heart sank, filled with fear. What kind of day is this? What is planned for me, Ummu Kulsumu?

I stepped out, trembling.

All the women in the house were standing, looking around like lions ready to pounce.

He thrust out his tongue and said, “Kyauta, is this how you manage the cooking pots?”

I wanted to respond quietly, but my voice was shaky. Why is he speaking like this?

He raised his hand angrily and shouted, “Just answer me! How come there’s no groundnut oil or instant noodles in this house?”

My heart pounded violently. I was already on edge because of his words. By my calculations, it had been only ten days since the 25-liter cooking oil was opened. As for the children, it had been three days since the big ones arrived. I had only cooked once because I didn’t see anyone else doing it. Yet today, nothing had been prepared. Surely, I had to argue; I saw no fault in him in this harsh life.

I spoke gently: “May God calm your heart, Sir. I honestly don’t know anything about this. And when the household grows, patience is required. We will manage, Insha’Allah.”

He sighed heavily. “You mean I should endure and watch over you while you make me sink into the misery of poverty? How much is a bottle of oil sold for, let alone a cooking pot? What you call misery—does it now want to appear?”

At that moment, my heart broke; tears filled my eyes. My voice trembled as I said, “Sir, with your mouth, you scold me and bring misery into your own house?”

Instead of softening, he got angrier. “I’m not only speaking with my mouth, but with my heart too. Because of this cruelty and misery, you are wasting my food supplies.”

I wanted to say “uff” but my heart was too heavy. So, I have to carry these food supplies… where should I take them?

He sighed and said, “Your whining is over, Kulsumu. Go fetch me the key to the cooking pot from your hands. I tried my best to respect you, but it failed. So when your meal is ready, you’ll hand it over to Nadiya.”

Before I could respond, Nafisa stepped forward: “If you’re giving her the key, then the cooking should be shared. But I certainly don’t trust her promises. I won’t let her take us for granted.”

Aliya, the bride, said, “I also don’t agree.”

My tears froze. I realized they had teamed up to bring me down.

But if they were to take control among themselves, not me, they would fight among themselves.

I bent low, inwardly proud of my courage. Even though I hadn’t borne a child in this house, even without a single fowl, I had unsettled them, planted fear in their hearts.

Anyone who plotted against me would bear the consequences. What annoyed me was that he neither favored me nor pitied me. In reality, someone was slandering me because they saw him treating me directly without delay.

Only Nafisa softened me, showing me respect—but even she had a reason, not because I favored her, but because I kept an eye on her children, especially Hajjaju. Even though the girl didn’t respect me, I bought her jewelry and makeup as she grew up. Every time I saw something she needed, I bought it for her. That alone kept her from resisting me. But whenever she wanted, she would ignore respect completely. Nafisa was quite the instigator, causing half the conflicts in the house, just because the master was standing there—she doubted him.

His words cut through my thoughts. He whispered, “Nafisa, do whatever you feel you must. I’ll give it to her. But if you see you can’t follow, you may leave. I won’t hold you back.”

She covered her mouth and cried: “Why do you show favoritism? You gave it to Kulsumu even though she didn’t do what you wanted. Now I’m the one following her. You didn’t give it to me, but to the one who came later, just because you fear her—her father is your husband!”

He became truly angry. “Mind your words, Nafisa! I swear, you will go back home. You know I told you I will no longer take your allowances. You are not lying—her father is my husband, just as I am the husband to your two brothers.”