MAJANUNI COMPLETE HAUSA NOVEL BY BINTA

KANO STATE
GADAR SALGA is an independent neighborhood located near Kurmi Market, an old market with rich history in KANO State.
In the cluster of houses, a young lady around nineteen or twenty years old was sitting on a small stool, busy washing dishes in a large basket, working quickly as if she was in a hurry.
Suddenly, Saliha approached her and, without a second thought, shouted directly into her ears! Startled, she turned around, dropping the plate she was holding. Her eyes filled with tears as if she was about to cry. In a distressed tone, she asked, "Saliha, what is wrong with you?"
Rudely, Saliha replied, "If I didn’t do that, you wouldn’t listen. When will I stop exhausting myself calling your name? Only shouting works since your ears seem blocked!"
She just shook her head, lowered her gaze, and resumed washing the dishes in front of her.
In a fit of anger, Saliha said, "Oh, Shahida, so you think I’m mad, ignoring me when I speak? Fine, I’ll go and tell the person who sent me to call you."
She exhaled, wiped the sweat from her brow, and said in a tone only the mute would understand, "Saliha, you can see that I’m washing dishes, right?"
Saliha glared at her and said, "Why don't you leave the dishes and go when she’s calling you?"
Slowly, she put down the sponge she was holding, stood up, and pointed to the path, saying, "Let’s go." She nodded, visibly irritated, and walked on with Saliha following behind.
Baba Asabe was sitting in the shed, adding salt to a pot. When they arrived, Saliha immediately went inside, heading straight to the bed. Shahida, however, knelt in front of Baba Asabe respectfully and said, "Baba, I’m here; Saliha said you were calling me."
Baba Asabe set aside the salt, pulled out a wrapped sum of money from her bag, and said, "You’ll go to the hospital market to get some groundnut oil for me. It’s been out of stock since the day before yesterday." She understood Baba Asabe’s words, even though she spoke softly, often watching her mouth to fully understand her.
She responded quickly in her unique way of speaking, "I haven’t finished washing the dishes yet."
"Leave them; you can finish when you get back," she replied.
With an "Okay," she got up and went to fetch her hijab, only to find Saliha lying on the bed, engrossed in her phone.
Shaking her head, she opened her wardrobe, grabbed her hijab, and wore it around her neck, heading to the living room.
"It’s forty-four thousand naira for a gallon of groundnut oil and one gallon of palm oil," said Baba Asabe. "Before you arrive, I’ll call Garba to pick you up by the roadside and deliver everything."
She replied, "Okay, Baba, I’ll be back." Baba added, "Be careful with the money; it’s Friday, and the crowds will be overwhelming."
With the money carefully held, she responded, "I’ll be careful, Insha Allah."
She walked calmly to the roadside, crossed, and noticed the man sitting under an old car with his pile of belongings like a beggar. She shook her head, staring at him lying curled up on a worn-out sack, covered in rags. Since it was cold, his situation looked even worse.
She sighed deeply, feeling a strong wave of pity for him. If she had the means, she would have helped him find shelter instead of sleeping under a car in all weather conditions.
Just then, children’s cries and taunts made her look back. She saw many kids gathered around him, mocking and shouting at him, calling him names like "Baban-Baba the filthy! Baban-Baba with rags! Baban-Baba with dirty trousers!" He just watched them with a calm face, as he always did when children mocked him. He never tried to defend himself.
Her heart broke seeing how adults passing by ignored the situation. Without a second thought, she crossed the road and went straight to him, shouting at the kids to leave in her own mute way.
The children burst out laughing, pointing at her, saying, "We can’t hear what you’re saying. Aren’t you mute or deaf?"
Their mockery hurt her deeply. She raised her voice and warned them, "Yes, I am mute, and this is how Allah created me. If any of you can change that, go ahead."
The children laughed louder and kept mocking her. Unable to hold back, she crouched down beside him, crying bitterly. The envelope of money in her hand fell to the ground. Without hesitation, a young man who had been watching from a distance ran over, dispersed the children, and snatched the envelope, disappearing with the money.
She knelt next to him, with her head in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.
He watched her, feeling deep sympathy, though the purpose in his heart kept him from comforting her. For a long time, he had noticed how she looked at him with a mix of worry and pity, even though they never spoke. Her actions today confirmed her care for him.
After a pause, he said gently, "Please, calm down." She stayed silent, her head lowered. After a while, he took a small stick and lightly poked her.
Startled, she raised her head, her swollen, tear-filled face looked back at him. Seeing her like that made his skin tingle as he turned his gaze downward, playing with the stick in his hand.
She stood up, shaking off her hijab, her heart pounding hard. She looked around in every direction, then held her head and screamed, "Innalillahi wa'ina ilaihi raji'un!"
He quickly stood, watching her, about to speak, but the crowd gathering around prevented him from doing so.
Haladu, their neighbor, approached, saying, "Shahida, what’s wrong? What are you doing near this madman?"
She sobbed, "I came to chase away the kids bothering him, but someone stole the money, and it’s for Baba Asabe. She sent me to buy groundnut oil at the hospital."
He said, "Only you would be foolish enough to confront those kids who have been teasing this poor, clueless man forever. Look at the trouble you've caused! Don’t worry, I’ll tell her everything that happened."
She cried, pleading, "Please, don’t tell her." He hissed, adjusted the mat on his shoulder, and left without saying anything else.
Seeing this, the crowd dispersed. He sat back down with his arms crossed. She looked at him and asked, "Baban-Baba, didn’t you see who took my money?"
He shook his head, indicating he hadn’t. Tears welled up in her eyes again as she said, "Then can you check in your pile of things, just in case it somehow ended up there?"
Without argument, he began rummaging through his pile, empty bottles, and worn-out plastic bags.
Fearlessly, she squatted next to him, sifting through the bags, hoping to find the missing money.
He was amazed by her bravery; most children only dared to tease him from afar, and adults avoided coming too close. Yet, she had no fear, sitting right next to him despite knowing he wasn’t fully in his right mind.
He watched her with a mix of awe and affection, wondering at her lack of fear as she searched his belongings.