Binta Yar Jagaliya Complete Hausa Novel

In the land of lemon in Kura town, from the edge of the town, he saw a crowd of politicians, for it was election season and the polls were near.

He adjusted his large robe, made entirely of shiny shadda fabric, which had become soft from sitting in the sun. He wasn’t engaged in any trade or profession—he wandered around begging. He looked down at his feet.

The sack tied around his foot had been dug out from a hole. His heart sank further when he noticed the crowd of politicians, already lively, as if they had just finished their meeting.

He removed his shoe because he thought it was slowing him down. He put it back on quickly and ran, saying:

“It’s better I run, for by Allah, I won’t endure two losses! That rogue boy, a young man with many eyes, is causing all this fuss in politics. Alhaji Datta, the one who put him in power….”

Alas, before he could get far, the other thugs, each in their own way, blocked him. Sweat poured down as he headed toward his house’s wall, which had no real barrier—just pieces of broken wood scattered on the ground. From his front gate, he could already see the line of the politicians’ path. Even as he tried to control his breath, he realized the row had ended, and the people he saw were merely chatting. Relief spread across his face, and he said:

“Oh me! Since that reckless girl left me with the burden in my house, I stopped expecting anything. When there’s a chance, I see loss. By Allah, truly, the princess has eluded me and left me with hardship.”

She had died, leaving him with eye pain and a heavy heart. Seeing Binta, the feisty young girl, caused his eyes to burn—her sharpness had become a torment to him, keeping him awake. She was a strong girl, almost like no woman, a fierce young woman.

Hearing a knock, he turned, frowning. The visitor said:

“Malam Lawandi, I told you, if you touch me, I noticed you’re also trying to catch this sickness.”

He brought his hand close to Labahani’s nose and said:

“By Allah, I started touching you as soon as I realized you were involved.”

Seeing Lawandi was serious, he rushed into the house. Every item he bumped into, he cursed. A woman came out, clutching her chest, saying:

“Hey! Enough, Malam, can’t you walk carefully? Look at the things you threw at me, all over you—did the foolish girl display you?”

He had already placed the items down, relieved to see the combo of Binta, the bold young girl, in the corner of their house, which had become like a small fortress. Sweat poured down, and he thought:

“Truly, today I have confronted a giant monster.”

Ignoring the conversation, he said:

“Uh… I will find something to place at the prayer mat, right?”

“Hmmm… where will you find something when you didn’t provide it? Today, she gave it and said she’s tired.”

Uhmm… he said he found a small chair, squatted, and sat, wiping his sweat, for worldly matters had begun for him since early morning. Throughout the day, he and six of his companions went to the house of the one with many sharp eyes. They had roasted gyaɗa (a local delicacy). Malam Shehu said he distributed money daily to the poor, ever since his father had accumulated wealth and passed it on. Now the boy, may Allah bless his bones with prosperity, gave nothing to thieves, only to the needy.

In the morning, he went out, recognized them, and gave charity. His greedy wife complained, saying:

“Leave me this, now that the money has run out, she said. When the sun rises, she will wander, maybe Allah will guide her to give charity.”

She looked east, then west. Since morning, she hadn’t gone out until night when she washed her feet and went out. Politics was everywhere—you know now, it was the wife of the congressman. Yesterday, Lado Cemin had arrived in a black car from the land of lemon. You know, the young man came to campaign in this town, hoping to win the election. Where will we vote? The doors were white, no one said… it was said the jinn married him. A grown man, wealthy, unmarried.

Hearing the sound of a room opening, I quickly looked toward the room, for ever since entering the house, the room had caught my attention. Someone said:

“Kanbura, father, surely today there’s chaos in this house. Which rogue did this to me, throwing my shoes?”

They stared at each other, exchanging glances, between the woman and Labahani…