BAN FI K'ARFINTA BA COMPLETE HAUSA STORY By Aminatu

Slowly, I walked in my calm and captivating manner, but even so, I felt as though I was moving too fast due to the errand my mother had sent me to the market for. I didn't want to miss the tricycle that would take me, considering the nature of our neighborhood. Despite having three drivers in the mansion, or rather their mansion, my mother forbade me from using the cars to go where I needed. She insisted I maintain my place as the daughter of the housemaid to avoid humiliation, even though the drivers wouldn't dare disrespect me. Still, she feared the disdain we often faced from the lady of the house.
Only the master of the house and his eldest son treated us with leniency. Everyone else, including the servants and livestock on the farm section of the mansion, seemed to share the disdain the family held for us. The exception was three individuals: Ya Ameen, the first son; Afnan, the youngest daughter; and, of course, the head of the family, Alhaji Mustapha Dambulan.
Caught up in my thoughts, I suddenly bumped into someone due to the rush I was in and my effort to avoid being spotted by the drivers, as I didn’t want them offering to take me. Before I could fall to the ground, I felt someone pull me back firmly, and I ended up in a broad, imposing chest, his captivating fragrance clouding my senses.
"Subhanallah," I whispered as I quickly pulled away, but his grip on my arm remained firm.
"I'm so sorry, Sir…" I began apologizing hastily, but he cut me off mid-sentence.
"Shhhh 🤫," he said, silencing me with his usual authoritative and minimalist demeanor. Then, with effort, he spoke calmly, "It’s okay, but next time, be careful. It’s not good to walk while lost in thought."
His voice was low and barely audible to anyone else. Even if you didn’t know him, you’d think he was talking to himself, as only his lips moved slightly.
After releasing my arm, he walked past me as though nothing had just happened.
Shaking my head in disbelief, I struggled to steady my breathing. My heart raced uncontrollably, and I felt as though he had taken my breath away with him.
I turned to watch him walk into his modest but exquisitely designed apartment in the mansion.
As I resumed my journey, my thoughts were consumed with him, marveling at his composure. I silently thanked God that it hadn’t been Aunty Sauda or Nihal who bumped into him, as they would have made a scene, dragging both me and my mother into trouble.
"Oh, Allah loves me," I muttered to myself as I sighed deeply, making my way to the roadside to find a vehicle. I was determined to quickly deliver the goods my mother sent me for to avoid further mistakes after the trouble we had with Hajiya, the lady of the house, earlier in the day.
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Alhaji Mustapha Dambulan hailed from Katsina State, specifically from Kankiya Local Government. He was one of six children born to his parents, Alhaji Isuhu and Hajiya Zuwaira, who lived a modest life based on what God provided for them.
Alhaji Isuhu was a hardworking farmer and a wealthy figure in their village due to his farming and livestock ventures. Additionally, he provided capital for others to start businesses, sharing profits with them. He also traded cotton with a textile company in Lagos, selling both his own produce and that which he bought from other farmers.
Although Alhaji Isuhu’s formal education was limited, he was wise and forward-thinking. He was determined that all his children—male and female—would be educated, something he couldn’t achieve for himself. His daughters completed primary school before marrying their chosen partners, as he opposed forced or arranged marriages. His sons, however, pursued further education, and by God's grace, they secured good jobs in an era when even primary school certificates could land well-paying positions.
Mustapha was the fourth child, following his sisters Aisha and Fatima and his brother Auwalu. Years after his birth, his mother gave birth to twin girls, Hassana and Hussaina.
The entire family was known for their striking looks—light-skinned with sharp features. Aisha and Fatima married early, while the twins were nearing marriage age as well.
Auwalu and Mustapha’s success led them to leave the village for Katsina city, where Mustapha expanded his father’s legacy. He ventured into various businesses, including importing goods and later building a grand house in a prestigious neighborhood.
Alhaji Mustapha eventually married Kubra, the beautiful daughter of a wealthy businessman, Alhaji Nura. Despite her privileged upbringing, Kubra struggled with an air of superiority and disdain for the less fortunate—a trait Alhaji Mustapha often admonished her for.
Their union brought forth several children: Nafisa, Al-Ameen, Sauda, Nihal, Yusuf, and Afnan. Mustapha was a devoted father, ensuring his children excelled in both Western and Islamic education. When they were old enough, he moved them abroad to receive the best education possible.
Despite Kubra’s occasional arrogance, Alhaji Mustapha remained a man of integrity, treating everyone equally and using his wealth to uplift others. This generosity and humility earned him admiration and blessings from many around him. 
 
This was all she would say before taking her leave.
"Huh," he exhaled, shrugging. "That’s true, Umma. As you said, may the appointed time bring goodness." He said this aloud, gathering his mat as he stood.
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<h3>Who is Muhammad Al'Ameen?</h3>
The second son of Alhaji Mustapha Dambulan and the dearest to his heart. Perhaps it’s because he inherited his father’s business acumen, or maybe because he is the most compassionate, humble, and kind-hearted? He’s the only one who doesn’t succumb to the manipulative whims of his mother. Often, he advises her despite knowing their discussions rarely end amicably, hoping she will one day understand and change.
A strikingly handsome man, tall, confident, and impeccably dressed. A university graduate and a polished gentleman, he is obsessed with cleanliness, highly respectful, and devoted to his parents. A financially secure bachelor, his friends call him "the young man with money."
Known for his poise and reserve, he rarely speaks unnecessarily. Around women, he maintains an air of detachment. No matter a woman’s beauty or appeal, he won’t spare her a second glance. At 32 years old, talk of marriage often arises. His grandmother, Kaka Zuwaira, always says, "Leave him. Everything has its time." On the other hand, Alhaji Isuhu pressures him, while his mother, Hajiya Kubra, remains unimpressed with the women around him. She has yet to find one suitable to be her beloved son’s wife and a daughter-in-law worthy of the family.
Hajiya Kubra dreams of a daughter-in-law from an influential family, with wealth and global prestige. Not just any family, but one whose status rivals or surpasses theirs.