NI DA YAYA AL'AMEEN COMPLATE HAUSA NOVEL

They were driving in the car when she began to sob uncontrollably, as though she had been told her mother had passed away. From what I could tell, her crying had a tinge of petulance. He, however, despite hearing her sobs echoing deeply in his heart, didn’t stop driving or even attempt to console her. What had caused her to cry filled him with joy on his end.
Her continuous sobbing finally compelled him to hit the brakes sharply. Meenat, startled, nearly flung forward before settling back into her seat. The abruptness silenced her sobs immediately, and her eyes widened in fear.
Seeing how shaken she was made Al’ameen burst into laughter. “Why did you stop crying now? You should have continued, especially since it’s your Abbie who has ‘died,’” he teased.
She broke into another wave of sobbing, throwing light punches at him, but all he did was laugh. “Go on, Meenat, hit me if it’ll make you feel better,” he said, unable to stop chuckling.
She only stopped hitting him when her hands began to ache. Leaning her head on his shoulder, she sighed deeply and softly asked, “Yah Al’ameen, don’t you have any sympathy for me?”
He took a deep breath, lifted her chin to look into her eyes, and replied, “Meenat, why should I pity you when you’re crying over something that should make you happy?”
“Happy?!” she exclaimed, her voice rising in disbelief. “You’re telling me to be happy, Yah Al’ameen? How can I possibly be happy when the person I love has left me? We’ve been forcefully separated, and now you’re asking me not to cry?”
Al’ameen smiled slightly and replied, “Well, it’s because I know his mother never wanted him to marry you. She’s always been clear about her dislike for you. So now that he’s called to say his wedding to his cousin has been fixed, you’re crying over that? If you’d married him, would you have ever been happy? I’m actually relieved for you. It’s better he marries her and leaves you alone. His mother can keep her toxicity to herself, but not with my sister.”
Pouting, Meenat said, “But he loves me, and I love him too.”
Growing frustrated, Al’ameen restarted the car, saying, “Then go marry him! But I swear, if you bring up this crying nonsense again, I’ll stop the car and let you find your way home by taxi.”
Pushing her lips forward in a sulk, she replied, “Yah Al’ameen, you don’t understand love, that’s why.”
He pressed the brakes again and turned to her. “You say I don’t understand love? Look me in the eyes.”
Hesitant, she finally glanced at him. His piercing gaze unsettled her, as it always did, and she quickly looked away. “I don’t see anything,” she muttered.
He smirked as he resumed driving. “Liar.”
She rolled her eyes. “Your eyes are always like that—so intense that no one can stare into them for two full minutes.”
“Well, maybe it’s their intensity that makes you miss the message they hold,” he said, grinning.
“I have enough on my mind, Yah Al’ameen. Let me be,” she retorted.
Al’ameen laughed but said nothing, continuing to drive toward their destination.
They arrived at a grand house in the upscale Nasara GRA. As he honked, the security guard peeked out, immediately opening the gate upon recognizing Al’ameen’s car. He drove in, barely parking before Meenat jumped out of the car and dashed into the house, leaving behind the shopping bags they’d brought along. Al’ameen shook his head, watching her in amusement before properly parking and carrying the bags inside.
With a warm greeting, he entered the living room, where Ummi was seated. She replied with a smile, “Ah, my son, you’re back?”
“Yes, we’re back, Ummi,” he said, settling into a chair.
“Well, welcome home. But what’s wrong with your friend? She stormed past me without even acknowledging my greeting.”
Chuckling, Al’ameen explained, “Hahaha, Ummi, you know Meenat’s temper. On our way back, Salis called her to inform her about his upcoming wedding in two weeks. It upset her, and she cried the whole way here.”
Ummi clicked her tongue in disapproval. “She’s upset about that? It’s for the best. I’ve never supported her relationship with that boy anyway. His mother despises her, and there’s no way she’d let them be happy together.”
“I told her the same, Ummi. But love has blinded her.”
“Well, may Allah guide her,” Ummi said with a sigh.
“Ameen,” Al’ameen replied, standing up. “Here are the groceries. Please hand them over to her. I’ll head home now and check on her later when she’s calmed down. She won’t listen to me right now.”
Smiling knowingly, Ummi said, “She’ll come looking for you, I’m sure. Your bond with her is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Greet your mother for me when you get home.”
Al’ameen nodded, smiled, and left the room. His next stop was the adjoining house—a mirror image of Meenat’s family home, reflecting their closeness as neighbors. As he entered, his mother greeted him with her characteristic warmth. She asked about Meenat and laughed when she learned of her current mood.
Their shared concern for Meenat’s emotions underscored the depth of their bond. Despite their occasional teasing and frustrations, the family’s warmth and love surrounded her like an unshakable fortress. 
With a rush and greetings on their lips, they entered the sitting room where Meenat, Abby, Ummi, and other family members were sitting and chatting. The rest of Meenat's family watched them curiously, as this was not an uncommon occurrence. Abba was the first to speak, saying, “Al’ameen, when will you grow up and stop playing childish games with your sister?”
Ummi smiled and added, “Hmm, I doubt that day will ever come. He keeps growing older but still follows Meenat around, indulging in her antics.”
Al’ameen smiled sheepishly, scratching his head. He found a spot to sit and said, “Ummi, she’s the one who called me to accompany her.”
Ummi shook her head, replying, “And you just had to follow her running, right?”
He chuckled, “No, Ummi, she started running first.”
Abba interjected, “And you followed her, didn’t you?”
Meenat’s younger siblings burst into laughter, but Al’ameen frowned and said sternly, “Am I joking with you?”
Instantly, they fell silent, eyes wide, because they knew Yah Al’ameen didn’t play around. If provoked, he wouldn’t hesitate to reprimand someone. His playful and carefree attitude was reserved solely for Meenat. As for the other siblings, they were a little afraid of him.
Abba and Ummi stood and went inside, and soon Isma’il and the others followed, leaving only Meenat and Al’ameen in the living room. Meenat moved closer to sit beside him, and they continued chatting until 10:00 p.m. Al’ameen stood up, yawning, and said, “I’m heading home to sleep.”
Meenat stood as well and replied, “Okay, I’ll walk you out since I’m also feeling sleepy.”
He said nothing as he headed toward the door, with her following behind. When they reached the gate, she stopped and said, “Alright, good night, brother.”
He looked at her and said, “Good night, my sister. Tomorrow, be ready on time, so I’m not late for work.”
Meenat replied, “Okay, brother.”
He held her hand, kissed it, and said, “Dream about me. Bye.”
She smiled and turned to walk back, but after taking a few steps, she heard Al’ameen call, “Meenat!”
She turned to look at him silently. He stared back at her and said, “I just wanted to remind you not to forget your prayers.”
She smiled warmly and said, “Insha’Allah, I won’t forget, brother.”
With that, she turned and continued walking. Al’ameen waited until she entered the house before he left and returned to his home.
<hr>
The next morning, at about 7:40 a.m., Al’ameen came out, dressed for work. He greeted Ummi, who was sitting in the living room watching Sunnah TV. She prayed for his safety before he left.
Upon leaving, he went straight to Meenat’s house. Entering the living room with greetings, Meenat, who was seated at the dining table having breakfast, responded. Approaching her, he said, “So, you’re just having breakfast now?”
She stood up, grabbed her bag from the dining table, and said, “I’ve already finished. Let’s go.”
“Okay, where’s Ummi?”
“She just went upstairs not too long ago.”
Without saying more, he headed for the door, and she followed.
They walked to his car, which he had parked the previous day. He opened the door and got in, and Meenat did the same. Once he started the car and reversed toward the gate, Meenat said, “Good morning, Yah Al’ameen.”
He glanced at her and replied, “Morning. How are you?”
“I’m very fine, brother.”
He smiled as the gatekeeper opened the gate for them, and he asked, “What time do your lectures start?”
Meenat replied, “At 9:00 a.m.”
He checked his wristwatch and said, “There’s still some time.”
Neither of them said much else until the car reached the main road.
<hr>
While driving, Meenat chatted with him until they arrived at B.U.K (Bayero University, Kano). Al’ameen parked in the school’s parking lot and glanced at his watch. “It’s 8:35,” he said aloud before turning to her. “I’ll head to the hospital now. What time should I come to pick you up?”
She rolled her eyes playfully and replied, “I’ll be done by 2:00. Our lectures are from 9 to 11, then from 12 to 2.”
“Okay, I’ll come at 2:00.”
She grabbed her bag, got out, and said, “See you later. May Allah keep you safe on your way.”
“Ameen,” he replied, starting the car and heading back toward Zoo Road, where his hospital was located.
<hr>
Despite his busy schedule at the hospital, as soon as it struck 2:00 p.m., Al’ameen closed his office, got into his car, and drove to B.U.K. On arrival, he found Meenat standing at the gate with her friend Suhailat. She bid her friend farewell and got into his car, and they started driving.
While on the road, Meenat turned to Al’ameen and said, “Yah Al’ameen, I didn’t expect you to come because I know how busy you are at the hospital.”
Smiling, he continued driving and replied, “No matter how busy I am, I’ll always make time to take you home. You know I don’t like letting a driver take you anywhere, even if it’s just a short distance.”
She smiled, feeling deeply touched by his care, and said, “That’s why you hold a special place in my heart, Yah Al’ameen.”
He glanced at her briefly and said, “But Meenat, you still haven’t given me the place I truly want in your heart.”
Surprised, she looked at him and asked, “What place do you want that you don’t already have, brother?”
Turning slightly to look at her, he said, “Never mind. I’ll tell you later.”
Pouting in a playful manner, she said, “I want you to tell me now.”
Laughing softly, he said, “Meenat, always the troublemaker.”
<hr>
But really, who is this family?