Amani Book 4 Complete Hausa Novel

As he reached Ummami’s section, he kept thinking about what had happened between him and Amani a few minutes earlier. Mukhtar said to himself that the privilege of having parents is indeed a great thing for a person. If His Highness had not brought up the issue of his bride-price (sadaka), he wouldn’t have known the day Amani would regret her behavior and the things she had done to him. Even now, his body had not accepted Amani’s claim that she loved him. He heard her, yes, but he was puzzled. He was more inclined to believe that fear of a co-wife had confused her.

He didn’t even return home because he didn’t want her to start crying and causing trouble again. He only came back when he was sure she had fallen asleep. He didn’t want her to corner him again or quickly get another chance to weaken him emotionally. His heart had already been worn out today by Amani’s exhaustion, regret, and tears.

He walked quietly, almost guiltily, as he entered the sitting room that separated his space from hers. Then he slipped into his own room and locked it gently, even using the key, without Amani knowing he had returned at all.

He wanted her to truly love him sincerely—so much that she would miss seeing him. Perhaps if she stopped seeing him, she would begin to miss him. He had noticed a big change the day he returned from Burkina Faso.

Amani almost went mad when, even by the next day, Mukhy hadn’t looked for her, and his room was locked with a key. She couldn’t tell whether he had slept in the house or not. Her body told her that perhaps the bride-price had already been brought, and that he had spent the night with the new wives. But where exactly they had been settled, she didn’t know.

By dawn, if you saw Daddy’s daughter, you wouldn’t recognize her. She had become like provisions that were used up daily and running out.

Mukhy continued this disappearance for three days. She couldn’t even go to Ummami’s quarters now because she knew she would be asked what was wrong. Amani wasn’t used to being troubled in her life, so now that she was experiencing it, she couldn’t control herself. If someone asked her what was wrong, she would have nothing to say except that she missed Mukhy. She had set aside the matter of the bride-price and left it to them, but truly, not seeing him for three whole days was tormenting her in ways she never expected—emotionally and spiritually. She kept imagining him there with the new wives, enjoying himself, which was why she no longer saw him in her quarters at all.

As for Baba Sahura, whenever she came around, Amani wouldn’t even let her talk for long. She would tell her to leave and go to Ummami, saying she didn’t like Baba Sahura’s long lectures. Even Sugra and Tahirah noticed their mistress had entered a strange mood. She told them not to appear before her unless she called them. Baba Sahura only laughed and said that this is how Allah’s affairs are—this world turns; what is ahead can move backward.

Amani lay around constantly, sighing heavily, convinced that the bride-price had been delivered and that they had been given another house, and that Mukhy was there with them.

In the morning, Baba Sahura entered her room to check on her and found her sitting with her head on her knees, crying like an orphan. A strong irritation came over Baba Sahura. She shook her head and said:

“Indeed, marriage that disciplines a woman! My dear, you’ve become weak as if you’re no longer Tafisu Alhaji’s daughter. You’ve turned fragile. Even if the bride-price has been brought, this isn’t how you fight co-wives. If you sit here sulking, they will take him from you. You’re here filling buckets with tears, whereas you should stand up and be like Ummami when facing co-wives—no matter how many they are. Let the strongest woman win: the one with skill, intelligence, inheritance, and the ability to care for her husband.

“A husband like Maina is not one you leave for others while you sit aside crying. Honestly, you’ve become soft. All your power and dignity have left you, and at a time like this they’re needed. I prefer the Tafisu of before, not this one whose man is being taken away.”

It felt to Amani as if Baba Sahura had injected her with energy. Truly, jealousy and love for Mukhtar were about to destroy her if she wasn’t careful. He had melted Tafisu, destroyed her pride with his love, without even knowing she felt this way. He was there enjoying his youth with two beautiful young women. With the love that consumed her and the jealousy that tormented her, would she even hear Baba Sahura’s harsh words today or tomorrow? On the other hand, she longed to see his handsome, angry face that now haunted her.

So that day Tafisu poured out her heart and resolved that even if she had to stay awake all night, she would not sleep. She would find out where Mukhtar was spending his nights. They say persistence is stronger than pain.

But by Allah’s will, that same day he couldn’t spend the night at Ummami’s place either, because he had a slight headache. He was also tired of hiding from her and of confining himself in his room. He realized the strain he was putting on his own heart wasn’t small. Whether he liked it or not, he missed Tafisu’s beautiful eyes—eyes like pigeon eggs, or like almonds.

Her rare smile, which only appeared at the right moment.

Her walk, like that of a peacock—graceful, captivating, and able to draw a man’s attention.

Mukhy placed his hand on his head, which throbbed as if it would split in two. He said…