Madadi 1 Complete Hausa Novel

Baba Talatu held her hand and said,

“Naja’atu, be patient. Don’t bring trouble upon yourself.”

She let out a scream and quickly covered her ears, her body trembling violently.

“Baba Talatu, my ears cannot bear what you’re saying! Where has such a thing ever happened—a father marrying his own daughter? So you, Baba Malam, and even the one I call my father—you’re all pagans who know nothing about religion—”

Before she could finish, Alhaji Magaji slapped her hard and said,

“Compose yourself and come to your senses. We don’t want any nonsense or foolishness. Listen so we can explain how things really are.”

Startled, she sprang to her feet like someone ready to cause a storm and said,

“Baba Magaji, I won’t face this and I won’t calm down! I’m not an unbeliever. I swear I’ll kill myself if you force me to marry my own father. Haven’t you heard his name? He’s called Abban Naja’atu, yet you want to marry me off to him? I’ll report all of you to the Hisbah!”

She finished in a heart‑wrenching cry.

Baba Malam wiped the tears from his eyes and held her hand gently.

“My daughter, sit down. I will personally explain what you don’t know.”

She pulled her hand away, trying to push past him. Alhaji Magaji quickly blocked her path.

“Naja, don’t you listen? If you don’t take us to the Hisbah, then you don’t love God,” he said firmly.

She grabbed his hand, her body shaking.

“Abba Magaji, think carefully about this. Look at it well! How can it be that just because our mother died, they say they want to marry me to my own father? What kind of life is this?” she cried out in anguish.

He replied angrily,

“Who told you that Alhaji Abbas is your father?”

She went silent, staring at him in shock, her lips trembling. After a moment she managed to speak:

“Baba Magaji… I don’t understand what you mean,” she said, her voice shaking.

Baba Malam sat her down beside him, holding her hand tightly as he looked at her with deep pity. He knew she would fall into confusion and distress when the truth hidden for sixteen years finally came out. The man she believed to be her father was the one they were talking about marrying her to. Anyone who heard such a story would surely be shaken.

The room fell silent for three long minutes. Everyone felt uneasy—especially Naja’atu, whose heart pounded with fear ever since Baba Magaji declared that Abbas was not her real father. She kept glancing at them, her lips moving as if she wanted to speak but couldn’t find the words. Suddenly she burst into tears, looking at Baba Malam, who sat with his head lowered, wiping sweat from his face.

“Baba Malam, do you want me to die too? Do you want to lose me the way you lost my mother? My heart feels like it’s about to stop because of the shock you’ve thrown me into! Baba Magaji says Abbas is not my father—then tell me, who gave birth to me?” she finished, her voice trembling.

Baba Malam lifted his head calmly and said,

“Naja’atu, I am your father. I am the one who gave birth to you. Alhaji Abbas only raised you, and he is the husband of your sister, Halimatu.”

She stared at him in disbelief, shaking her head as tears streamed down her face. In a low voice she said,

“Baba Malam, how could this be? How could you play with my mind like this? I don’t believe you are my father. Abba Abbas is my father—that’s what I’ve always known. He fed me, clothed me, and supported my education. He is the one I want to give me away in marriage to the man I choose.”

She spoke with conviction.

Abba Magaji grew furious and was about to speak, but Baba Malam raised his hand to stop him.

“Don’t shout at her or pressure her. This is how it has to be—for her and for all of us. Death is what brought us to this moment. If Halimatu were alive, Naja’atu would have continued living as the daughter she gave birth to, even though she is actually her younger sister. For now, let her calm down. Tonight we will sit together again and explain everything that happened in the past that she doesn’t know.”

Abba Magaji sighed and said calmly,

“Alright. May Allah choose what is best.”

“Ameen,” Baba Malam replied. Then they both stood up and left together.