ARNAN DAJI COMPLETE HAUSA NOVEL By Feedeen Bash

The town of Kuguru is a forest where some people live without adhering to any religion except the worship of a massive idol. Each year, they sacrifice five humans to it, letting the idol drink their blood while the townsfolk eat the flesh as part of their annual traditional festival. During this festival, they venture to the borders of their town to capture unsuspecting individuals who have strayed into the forest. These captives are tied up until the year's end, when they are slaughtered, their blood given to the idol, and their flesh consumed during the celebration.
The people of this town wear no proper clothing, using only animal hides or leaves to cover their private parts. Women sometimes accessorize with beads around their waists. At the end of every year, the town hosts a grand ceremony where young girls are married off, making it a huge event. The town chief is a tyrant with no conscience. If a woman gives birth to an albino child, the baby is cooked and eaten after being presented to the chief as a ritual.
"Tenkwai! Tenkwai! Where are you? Go and fetch us water from the stream. You know there’s no water in this house. Or must we wait until nightfall? You also know it’s risky to go to the stream because of the dangers along the way."
"Kai Lamunde, I’ll go. Let me call Rama and Aduke. Then we’ll go together."
Tenkwai carried her water pot, heading to the stream with Rama and Aduke, chatting about the upcoming festival as they walked. Aduke teased, "Tenkwai, why haven’t you considered Ja’e’s proposal? By now, you should have agreed to marry him. You don’t seem interested in anyone else."
Tenkwai replied, "I don’t want this kind of life we live in our town. Honestly, I hate the idea of sacrificing humans. It’s heartless. They even sacrifice our own men, our kind, right before our eyes. I hope one day salvation will come to this town. As for Ja’e, I don’t trust him just because he’s the prince. He’s just as cruel as his father. But I’ll think about it and discuss with Lamunde."
While at the stream, Aduke saw something moving in the water and screamed in terror. Tenkwai, courageous and kind-hearted, stepped into the water despite their warnings. She found something shocking—a strange man, unconscious, lying in the water.
Lamunde arrived, shocked to see the stranger. She helped Tenkwai hide the man deep in the forest, tending to his injuries with herbs. Tenkwai was determined to protect him, believing he might bring change to their cursed town.
Meanwhile, Ja’e, frustrated by Tenkwai’s resistance, vowed to marry her by force, as he had done with others. His tyrannical father had taught him to take what he wanted, regardless of consequences.
Elsewhere in the town, Jeddah, married to a wealthy man, plotted with her brother Yahuza to kill her husband and claim his wealth. She dismissed her children’s concern for their missing father, focusing instead on her schemes with Yahuza.
Tenkwai, unable to sleep, was captivated by the beauty of the stranger she had rescued. She felt an unusual connection, unlike anything she had experienced before. Lamunde promised to help Tenkwai smuggle the stranger out of the forest before anyone discovered him.
The tale unfolds in a cursed town filled with greed, tyranny, and human sacrifice, where Tenkwai’s bravery might become the light of hope for her people. 
She stood in utter amazement as he approached, gazing at her with a stern look. "Where are you heading this night? Or have you also come to take them away to be devoured like you did with Hayaki? You have no fairness." She began to cry, and her body grew cold. "I hate this situation even more than you. Do you think I’m okay with this? Because of the customs of your people, I lost my parents. At least you’re used to it. I came to meet them regarding the marriage ceremony being arranged. I beg you, don’t let anyone know I came. Help me cover this up."
"Fine," he said. "Go on; I’ll wait here until you come out. I don’t trust what you might do, but they have no one, so I won’t allow you to harm them."
She entered the house, seeing light in the room where they had kept the sick man they rescued. They were busy taking care of him, as he still hadn’t moved. They didn’t even greet anyone, let alone notice her presence. Without hesitation, she entered the room and saw them kneeling before the man, administering treatment. Alarmed, she exclaimed, "What am I seeing? What is this? You hid a man in your house, knowing people are searching for him. Don’t you know this is a serious offense?"
Startled by her voice, they turned around, frightened. They realized it was Ja’e's mother. Lamunde started crying. "Please, show us mercy. Help us. Badu helped you. We found him in the river, and out of pity, we brought him here, hiding him so he could recover before helping him escape."
Tenkwai stepped forward and narrated all the hardship they had faced, explaining everything to her. Her heart softened. "I accept your explanation, but I must be involved in this matter because I fear the consequences. Let me think about it. I came here for the matter of Tenkwai’s marriage to Ja’e, which the king has approved."
Tenkwai was stunned. She stood up, exclaiming, "Please have mercy on me! I have no one. My life is ruined. What do I do?"
"Calm down," her mother said. "No one can stop this. If you argue, they’ll kill all of you, and you know that. Be patient and marry him. After the marriage, no matter what, don’t let him touch you. Do whatever it takes until we find a solution."
"I know Ja’e lacks good character," Tenkwai replied. "I don’t want the kingship of this land to fall into his hands because he’ll bring no progress. Ja’e is even crueler than Kaho. Every day, I pray for a better future. Thank you, Badu, for helping us. I’ll do as you said. I won’t disobey you. I’ll marry Ja’e, but on one condition — I’ll stay by your side."
"Don’t worry, Tenkwai," she replied. "That’s easy. As for this man, I’ll figure something out. Let me go; it’s getting late."
She left, finding him half-asleep. "Get up! I’m done. Let’s leave." Reluctantly, he stood, regretting how he had treated her earlier.
<hr>
When they arrived in Kano, it was past five. Afra was dropped off at home first, followed by her mother. "Good night, Mama. I’ll send someone to you."
"Alright, my blessed daughter," her mother replied. Tenkwai drove home, where she found the driver dropping off Asra and Ansar from school. Seeing the children, her heart grew heavy. "Musa, stop. Take all their belongings and return them to Suhail’s house immediately," she ordered.
Shocked, the driver looked at her, but she insisted. She called out to Maryama, instructing her to pack Asra’s belongings quickly. By evening, all their belongings were loaded, and the driver had dropped them off. Ansar was crying for his mother, while Asra, used to being with her father, seemed indifferent. "It’s better for her to stay with Grandma," she thought, "since Hajiya takes better care of her."
Grandma looked at the driver, asking, "What happened? Why were they brought back?"
"Madam said they should return," the driver replied.
"Without explanation? Only Allah knows what’s happening. May Allah guide their mother and reveal their father’s whereabouts," Grandma said, consoling the children.
<hr>
Early the next morning, Rama brought Tenkwai’s father his work tools, saying Tenkwai wasn’t feeling well. Tenkwai emerged weakly, collapsing into Rama’s arms. "Rama," she sobbed, "my marriage has been arranged. Who will save me from this man? That man I rescued has taken over my thoughts. I realize that nothing troubles me but pure love for him."
Rama’s heart sank. She too had been troubled since seeing him the previous night. She hadn’t even been able to sleep, thinking of the man. What did this mean? Had they both fallen in love with someone they didn’t even know? A man who might live or die? Someone like them, but dressed differently, with a beauty that wasn’t of their land. What would they do?
"Calm down," Rama advised. "Take your worries to Badu. He’ll help you. Though he favors the king and his family, he cares for you. Just try."
Wiping her tears, Tenkwai remained silent, retreating to her room. There, she began working on something like a ritual. She prepared herbs, applied medicine to his head wound, wrapped him with a cloth, and surrounded him with incense while muttering words like an enchantress. Suddenly, they heard him cough and sneeze violently. They rushed into the room, bumping into each other in their haste, startled by what was happening.