Gidan Uncle Sabon Salo Complete Hausa Novel

They were traveling in a luxurious, air-conditioned vehicle, moving smoothly along the road. There were five people in the car. Fatima sat in the front alongside a young man of about thirty-five years old—Shattima. He was youthful, a businessman, and also a government employee. He was a highly qualified doctor, a consultant at a well-known and reputable hospital in Kano.

Fatima was his only wife—very beautiful, fair-skinned, tall, slim, and youthful, not more than twenty-five years old. At the back sat a young unmarried girl of about fifteen to sixteen years old. She was neither fair nor dark; her complexion was chocolate-colored. Her body always carried warmth and freshness. One could almost say she strongly resembled the young man driving the car. Her name was Hudah—a calm girl who hardly spoke.

On her lap were two children: Adnan, the older one, about five years old, and Jiddah, about three. Both were resting comfortably against her. The journey was quiet, almost like that of the deaf—no one speaking, only the sound of their breathing filling the car.

Hudah raised her head and locked eyes with Uncle Shattima. Since they set out, half of his attention had been on driving, the other half on watching his niece. In the five months he had been away from them, he noticed no change in anyone except Hudah—she had filled out noticeably, and her appearance kept catching his eye.

He released a deep breath as they parked. Before anyone else stepped out, she quickly opened the car door and ran inside shouting joyfully:

“Ammi, where are you? My mother! I’ve missed you so much. Come out so I can see you and be happy!”

The elderly woman she called Ammi came out just as Shattima, Fatima, and the children were entering. She jumped in excitement, making Shattima quickly sit her down as Ammi laughed loudly.

“Honestly, Ammi, I want to come back and live here,” she said cheerfully. “Now even Uncle Fatah and Aunty Fati have children. Aunty Fati isn’t afraid anymore, right?”

Fatima shot her a sharp look and said, “I don’t understand why you always want to leave us, Hudah. Every time you talk about going back to Ammi’s house. If Ammi’s house is better for you than here, then fine—but let it only be for visits, young lady.”

Hudah sat down, glancing at Shattima, who had turned his attention to the news playing on Al-Jazeera. Quietly, she stood and walked toward a room on the other side of the parlor. He watched her go with a faint smile.

Ammi shook her head and said, “Please, I beg you both—take care of this orphan entrusted to you by Allah. Her mother, Khadija, gave birth to a baby boy last night. I was supposed to travel to Maiduguri today, but your father asked me to wait until tomorrow.”

Silence filled the room for a moment. Then Fatima stood up and said, “Ammi, let me go greet Ubaidah.” Ammi wished her well as the children followed her. Ammi then headed to the kitchen.

Seeing that no one else was around, he said, “Ammi, she’s been crying a lot these past two days. Let me find out what’s wrong.”