Yayan Miji Book One Complete Hausa Novel
Yayan Miji Book One Complete Hausa Novel continues with the foundation of Aisha’s life in Ja’afar Bello Danmaliki’s household. Brought in as an orphan, she finds kindness in Mami but faces coldness from some of the children, especially Farida and Mu’azzam.
Yayan Miji Book One Complete Hausa Novel English Translation
When Ummie and the others returned from school, they found Aisha in their room.
Farida placed her hands on her waist, looked Aisha up and down, and said, “Hey! Who are you, and what are you doing in our room?”
Farida was very sharp-tongued, unlike Ummie, who was more patient. Many times, when Farida behaved rudely toward Ummie, one would think Farida was the elder one.
Aisha smiled and said, “My name is Aisha, and from now on, I will be staying in your house. That means I am now part of your family.”
With joy, Ummie said, “So we will be staying in this room together? I am very happy about that. What about you, Farida?”
“Hmm,” Farida muttered, twisting her face.
She removed her school uniform and threw it in the middle of the room. Then she picked up another outfit, wore it, and left the room while calling loudly, “Mami, we are back!”
As for Ummie, she sat with Aisha and began asking her many questions. Aisha only smiled because she was not someone who talked much.
When Mami entered the room, they both raised their heads and looked at her.
Mami said, “Come and eat. Ummie, have you already trapped Aisha with talk? You have not even removed your uniform.”
Ummie quickly stood and said, “I will remove it now, Mami.”
Mami said, “Then remove it quickly and come out to eat. We are waiting only for you.”
Then she turned and left the room.
Aisha Joins the Dining Table
After Ummie changed from her school uniform into house clothes, they went downstairs to eat.
Ummie pulled a chair and sat down, then told Aisha to sit on the chair beside her.
Farida hissed because, for no clear reason, the stranger they called Aisha did not please her heart.
As for Aisha, she felt uncomfortable because she was not used to eating at a dining table, especially among many people.
Mu’azzam raised his head and said, “Mami, who is this one again? Why should she come and sit here with us? Does she not know that this place is for family? What brought an outsider among us?”
In a firm voice, Mami said, “Mu’azzam, keep quiet. Aisha is not an outsider. She is also part of this family. I do not want to hear such words from your mouth again. All of you, I hope you understand.”
They all replied, “Yes, Mami.”
After eating, they returned to the room.
As soon as they entered, Aisha began picking up the clothes Farida had thrown on the floor.
She asked Ummie, “Where should I put these?”
Ummie replied, “Take them to the bathroom and put them inside the laundry basket.”
Mami Discusses Aisha With Daddy
That night, Mami and Daddy were sitting in his upstairs sitting room when Mami said, “Earlier today, Hajiya came and brought the girl who will help me. She said the girl is the daughter of one of her late younger sisters. I am thinking we should enroll her in school instead of letting her stay like that. What do you think?”
Daddy remained silent and did not answer.
This habit of Ja’afar Bello often annoyed Mami. When he did not want to respond, no matter what she said, he would not answer. Because of that, whenever she spoke and he did not respond, she would not repeat herself. She would simply leave him. If he later wished, he would bring up the issue himself.
Seeing that he would not answer, she stood to go and prepare for bed.
She had almost reached the door when she heard him say, “Whatever you decide is fine.”
She smiled and said, “Thank you. Let me go and prepare to sleep because I am sleepy. Is there anything you need?”
In a deep tone, he replied, “Yes, only you.”
She laughed softly and said, “Hmm, Daddy.”
Then she turned and left the parlor gracefully.
He ran his hand over his smooth hair, closed his eyes briefly, and smiled.
As for him, Allah knew he loved Zainab deeply. After all these years, he still felt her in his heart as if he had only just fallen in love with her.
He stood and went to the room too, preparing to sleep.
The Next Morning
The next morning, while they were at the dining table eating breakfast, Daddy came down from upstairs. Mami was behind him, holding his briefcase.
She pulled a chair for him, and he sat. Then she pulled the chair beside his right hand and sat down too.
All the children greeted him, and he answered them with care.
Aisha also squatted and greeted him.
He only replied, “Fine,” then continued talking with his children.
Aisha felt humiliated.
She wondered whether the owner of the house truly accepted her presence among his family. The food suddenly lost its taste in her mouth. Still, she forced herself to eat.
After everyone finished, they stood and left. The children went to school, while Daddy went to the office.
Only Aisha, Mami, and baby Ruqaiya remained.
Aisha stretched out her hands and said, “Mami, give her to me.”
Mami handed Ruqaiya to her. Aisha tied the baby on her back and went upstairs to clean their room.
Aisha Begins Her Duties
Farida’s clothes were scattered all over the room. It was clear that Farida did not know how to remove clothes and keep them properly.
From the previous day until that morning, Aisha had already noticed that Farida was a careless girl.
After cleaning their room, she entered Mami’s room to clean it. But the room was already neat, so she turned and went downstairs.
She found Mami in the parlor watching The Doctors on MBC4.
“Well done, Mami,” Aisha said as she sat on the floor.
Mami replied, “Thank you, Aisha. Why do you like sitting on the floor? Stand up and sit on the chair.”
Aisha stood and sat on the chair.
Mami said, “Ummie and the others have gone to school and left you, right? I also want you to start going. I hope you had already started school in your village.”
Aisha replied, “Yes, Mami. I had started. I am in JSS2 now.”
Mami said, “Masha Allah. There is a school down the street. I will go and check it, insha Allah. By next week, you will start attending.”
Aisha squatted and said, “Thank you, Mami. May Allah reward you with goodness.”
Mami laughed and said, “Stand up, please. Why are you squatting like that? Do you still not take me as your mother? What is there to thank me for? It is our duty to care for you because you are a trust in our hands. Go and lay Ruqaiya down, then come back so we can enter the kitchen and you will help me cook.”
Aisha Starts School
Within that week, everything needed for Aisha’s school was completed.
She was enrolled in a private school within the neighborhood and placed in JSS2 because that was the class she had been in before. They tested her and saw that she was intelligent. Her only weakness was English, caused by not having access to quality education earlier.
Because of that, Mami arranged with her English teacher to give her extra lessons.
Even after Aisha started school, she did not stop helping Mami with the housework she had been doing, such as cleaning Mami’s room, cleaning their own room, and washing Ruqaiya’s clothes. Taking care of Ruqaiya also became part of her daily duties whenever she returned from school.
Mami was very happy with Aisha because the girl was not lazy. Whatever she was asked to do, she did it.
Aisha also enjoyed staying with Mami because Mami was kind and loved people. In everything, she treated Aisha the same way she treated Ummie and the others. Whatever she did for them, she did for Aisha too.
If Aisha had any problem in the house, it was Farida, who constantly made life difficult for her and refused to let her relax. Even if Aisha was playing with Ummie and Farida came near, Aisha would leave the game.
Mu’azzam also disturbed her, but not as much as Farida. As for Yaya Khalifa, he did not involve himself in their affairs.
The Playground Accident
One Sunday evening, after their Islamiyya teacher left, they went to their play area.
Everyone chose the kind of game they wanted. Ummie and Aisha went to the swing, and Ummie began pushing Aisha.
Farida and Mu’azzam were playing a running game.
Unfortunately, while Ummie was pushing Aisha on the swing, Farida came running with Mu’azzam chasing her. She accidentally collided with Aisha’s leg, fell, and injured her nose.
She screamed in panic.
They all rushed to her, comforting her when they saw blood coming out of her nose. Everyone became confused and frightened.
They all hurried into the house, while Farida continued shouting.
Mami rushed toward them, asking what had happened.
Mu’azzam pointed at Aisha and said, “There she is. She pushed her and made her fall and injure her nose.”
Ummie quickly raised her voice and said, “No, that is not what happened. Mami, I was pushing Aisha on the swing, and they were playing a running game. They ran into Aisha, and Farida fell and injured her nose.”
Mami said to Ummie, “Keep quiet. Must you speak so loudly?”
Then she turned to Mu’azzam and said, “Move aside and let me wash her wound. It is all your fault because I warned you not to play running games, but you never listen.”
Mami took Farida to the bathroom and washed the blood from her face. Then she gave her paracetamol and told her to lie down and rest.
That day, when Daddy returned and heard what happened, he became very angry. He even told Mami that if taking care of Aisha was going to cause problems, then she should be returned to Hajiya’s house because he would not tolerate carelessness around his children.
Daddy loved his children intensely and did not want anyone to hurt them. The only reason he had accepted Aisha in the house was because his mother, Hajiya, brought her. Otherwise, nothing would have made him agree.
Mami only kept apologizing to him because she truly enjoyed having the girl around.
Years Pass
Life continued like that.
Aisha became more careful about staying away from Farida and Mu’azzam’s affairs because she had realized that if she was not careful, staying in that house could become difficult for her.
She was enjoying her stay with Mami, and she was also receiving good education, both Islamic and Western. She did not want to do anything that would separate her from the house.
She and baby Ruqaiya became very attached. Most times, when Ruqaiya was with Aisha, she would refuse to allow even Mami to take her except with difficulty.
On Daddy’s side, he did not mention returning Aisha to Hajiya’s house again. Perhaps because, by then, Farida had reduced her troublemaking and had started leaving Aisha alone since Aisha no longer entered her affairs.
At that time, Aisha was in SS1, while Ummie and Farida were in JSS3.
Since Aisha came to the house, she had only gone to her village once for a three-week holiday. She wanted to go again during the current break, but because Mami was heavily pregnant, she had to give up the idea. At least, she could help Mami with household duties because by then there was almost nothing she could not do in the kitchen.
Most times, she could be found in the kitchen with Mami and the other workers, something one would never see Ummie or Farida doing.
Khalifa Returns Hungry
One day, Aisha and Mami were preparing dinner in the kitchen when Yaya Khalifa entered.
He said, “Well done, Mami. What can I get? By Allah, I am very tired and extremely hungry. Today, our lectures started at twelve and ended at six without any break.”
Aisha said, “Sorry, Yaya Khalifa. You are really trying. May Allah grant success.”
“Ameen, Aisha. Thank you. What did you cook in the afternoon?” he asked after sitting on one of the kitchen chairs.
She replied, “Your favorite, yam porridge. Let me serve you.”
She took a plate and served the food for him.
Then she asked, “Will you eat here, or should I take it to the parlor?”
He said, “Let me just take it with me. Thank you, Aisha.”
He collected the food and left the kitchen.
After they finished preparing dinner, Mami left Aisha in the kitchen to complete the cleaning.
Aisha felt great pity for Mami. Despite how heavy her pregnancy was, she still did not neglect the duties of her home.
Mami Goes Into Labour
That night, while they were sleeping, Mami entered their room and woke Aisha.
Aisha sat up and asked, “Is everything alright, Mami?”
Mami said, “Wear your hijab and come. We are going to the hospital.”
She left the room immediately.
Aisha hurriedly stood, tied a wrapper over her nightwear, wore her hijab, and went to Mami’s room.
She picked up the hospital bag Mami had prepared, and they went outside.
By the time they reached the compound, Daddy had already brought the car around. Aisha opened the front door for Mami to enter, then sat in the back.
When they arrived at the hospital, it was around 1:30 a.m.
Mami was taken straight to the labour room, while Daddy and Aisha found seats at the reception.
Aisha sat far away from Daddy. She felt very uncomfortable because she feared him. She had never become free with him, and he had never softened his face toward her either. Between them, there was only greeting.
They had not spent up to an hour there when a nurse came out and informed them that Mami had delivered a baby girl.
A bright happiness appeared on Daddy’s face.
Aisha was surprised because she had never seen him smile that way.
Not long after, Mami and her baby were brought out and taken to a room.
They followed them there.
Daddy held the baby and kept smiling while telling Mami, “Well done, Zainab.”
He stayed in the hospital for a long time before saying goodbye to Mami and going home. By then, it was almost 3:30 a.m.
Mami and Aisha barely slept because the baby kept them awake.
The only relief came in the morning when the doctor examined them and discharged them.
Not long after the discharge, Daddy entered the room holding a basket of food.
Aisha quickly stood, collected the basket from his hand, and greeted him.
He answered and went to sit beside Mami on the bed, comforting her and taking the baby from her arms.
They ate breakfast and returned home because the discharge process had already been completed before Daddy arrived.
The Baby Comes Home
When they reached home, all the children came out shouting joyfully.
They began competing over who would carry the baby.
Mu’azzam collected the baby from Aisha’s hands, while Aisha carried their belongings into the house.
In a short time, the house filled with visitors who came to congratulate them. Because of that, Aisha did not get the rest she badly needed because there was too much work to do.
Since Mami gave birth, their house had not been free of people.
Aisha could not even go to school because the work was too much. There was postpartum care to manage, and Ruqaiya’s care had completely returned to her hands.
The Naming Ceremony
On the fifth day after the birth, Aisha was seated in Mami’s room arranging the baby clothes she had washed when Mami entered with the baby.
She placed the baby on the bed and said to Aisha, “When you finish arranging those clothes, bring me kunu. Then come and pull that suitcase for me.”
After Aisha finished arranging the clothes, she went to the kitchen and prepared groundnut pap for Mami, then brought it to her.
She also pulled out the suitcase Mami had requested and opened it.
Inside were three lace materials, four Super Holland ankara fabrics, and three voile materials.
Mami said, “Give them to me so I can look.”
Aisha stood and handed them to her.
Mami lifted the fabrics and looked at them.
She said, “So these are the outing clothes Daddy bought for me, as if I am a young girl. I already told him I am not holding any grand naming ceremony.”
Aisha lifted the clothes again and looked at them.
She said, “Mami, the clothes are very beautiful. May Allah reward Daddy with goodness. But Mami, why do you not want to hold a naming ceremony?”
Mami laughed and said, “Aisha, naming ceremonies are for young women. This is my fifth child, so what kind of ceremony should I do? Daddy’s own surprise is that he even named the baby after me. I begged him to name her after Hajiya, but he refused.”
With happiness, Aisha said, “May Allah preserve her. What will we call her?”
Mami replied, “You will call her Zainab. I do not want that name to be hidden.”
Mami then asked, “Where is Ruqaiya? I have not seen her today.”
Aisha replied, “She is with Lami. Since I bathed her, Lami took her and tied her on her back. I think she is sleeping because it has been quiet.”
On the naming day, the baby was named after Mami, Zainab.
Because Mami did not hold a large ceremony, the house did not become too crowded. Still, close relatives came, and the work became heavy for Aisha and the house workers because they kept cooking and serving food.
Aisha was already wishing for night to come so she could lie down and rest.
Aisha Prepares to Visit Her Village
Two days after the naming ceremony, they were all sitting in the parlor, chatting, when Mami told Aisha that when the school holiday came, she should prepare to go to her village and spend a few days.
Aisha was very happy, though she also wondered how Mami would manage if she left, considering the amount of work in the house.
She did not say anything because she missed her father and wanted to go see him.
She smiled and said, “Alright, Mami. Thank you. May Allah increase your greatness.”
Ummie looked at her and said, “Aunty Aisha, so you are happy to leave us? You do not even pity us, even though you know we will miss you so much.”
Farida hissed, twisted her mouth, and said, “You are the one who will miss her. As for me, whether she is here or not, it is the same. I live my life as if she does not exist in this house.”
Aisha only smiled and looked away.
She did not know what she had done to Farida in that house. If Aisha did not speak to Farida first, Farida would not speak to her. Even when Aisha spoke, Farida might not answer. Still, that never stopped Aisha from greeting her.
After Mami spoke about the village visit, Aisha began preparing. She sorted many of her clothes that she wanted to give to her relatives in the village. Mami also packed many children’s clothes for her to distribute there.
The night before her journey, Aisha was sitting in the middle of their room, arranging her things in a suitcase, when Mami entered holding a black Viva leather bag.
Mami sat on the edge of the bed and handed the bag to her.
Aisha collected it while looking at Mami with a question on her face.
Mami said, “These are for your father and your stepmother. Also, take this to your father from Daddy. Go and thank Daddy for it.”
She handed Aisha an envelope.
Aisha bowed slightly, collected the envelope, and said, “Thank you, Mami. May Allah reward you with goodness and increase your provision.”
After arranging her things, she went to Daddy’s parlor to thank him for the kindness he had shown her father.
She stood at the door and greeted. Only after he answered and permitted her to enter did she go in.
She squatted, greeted him, thanked him, then stood and left.
Ruqaiya, who was playing in the parlor, followed her and insisted that Aisha should tie her on her back.
That night, Aisha slept only halfway because she was excited to see her father.
Aisha Travels Home
After praying Subhi, Aisha did not return to sleep. She bathed and dressed in medium Holland ankara sewn as a blouse and wrapper.
After dressing, she cleaned all the parts of the house she usually cleaned.
When she finished, she entered Mami’s room.
She did not find Mami there, so she began cleaning the room.
While she was sweeping, Mami came out of the bathroom, clearly having taken a bath.
“Aisha, you are already dressed?” Mami asked as she sat on the stool in front of the dressing mirror.
“Yes, Mami. Good morning.”
“Good morning. Did you even sleep with all this excitement?”
Aisha laughed and said, “I slept, Mami. I just did not return to sleep after praying. What should we make for breakfast? I noticed we have not followed the timetable for two days.”
Mami replied, “True. I want to make a new timetable, but I have not had time to sit and do it. Peel yam and boil it. We will make yam and egg sauce, along with the spicy organ meat we made yesterday. It is in the fridge; just warm it. Also make tea. Start before I finish dressing and come to the kitchen.”
Aisha gathered the dirt and went to the kitchen to begin the work Mami had given her.
She had almost finished preparing breakfast before Mami entered the kitchen and helped her complete it.
Before ten o’clock, Aisha and Mallam Adamu, the driver, set out.
Ruqaiya cried badly when she saw Aisha leaving without her. Aisha herself shed tears when she saw how Ruqaiya was crying.
Aisha Reaches Her Village
They reached the village around eleven o’clock.
They did not meet her father at home because he had already gone to the market. They met only Goggo and some of her grandchildren playing.
Aisha was warmly welcomed.
Mallam Adamu drank only water and returned, leaving Aisha behind. He would come back after two weeks to take her.
After eating and resting, Aisha went around the neighboring houses to greet people.
Every house she entered, people expressed surprise at how much she had grown and how refined she had become.
She did not return home until close to Maghrib.
When she got back, her father had returned.
He was very happy to see her.
Only after Isha prayer did she bring out the gifts she had brought for them. They were very happy and prayed for blessings for her.
After that, she sat with her father and they talked.
He asked many questions about her stay with Mami, whether she had any problem there. Though he saw no sign of trouble in her appearance, he still wanted to hear it from her mouth. She assured him that she had no problem, and only then did they continue talking about different things.
It was then that he told her he would like her to marry after completing secondary school if she found a suitor and brought him home. He said the honor of a woman was in her husband’s house. In their village, people had already started talking about why she was not yet married, though her absence from the village reduced the gossip.
Aisha enjoyed her visit home greatly. She went around to greet relatives from both her mother’s and father’s sides, strengthening family ties. Because of that, the two weeks passed quickly.
On the morning she was to return to Kano, she had already prepared before Mallam Adamu arrived. All the gifts she would take back had been packed in one place.
Her father did not go to the market that morning because he wanted to see her off.
Before noon, Mallam Adamu arrived. Without delay, she said goodbye to everyone in the house, then came out with tears in her eyes and entered the car. They began the journey back to Kano.
Aisha Returns to Kano
As soon as they joined the main road, Aisha fell asleep.
She did not wake up until they arrived home and Mallam Adamu told her they had reached.
She woke with salat on her lips and looked at the compound. It felt as if she had left the house only that day, even though she had already gone and returned.
She entered the parlor with greetings, but no one was there.
So she went straight to the kitchen because she knew that at that time, Mami would likely be there.
Mami was very happy to see her back.
After they greeted each other, Aisha went upstairs to drop her belongings.
When she came down, she asked Mami where Ummie and the others were.
Mami said they were at Hajiya’s house and would spend the day there.
Aisha asked, “Mami, did even Ruqaiya go to Hajiya’s house?”
Mami replied, “No. She is in my room sleeping. She had only just slept when you entered.”
When Ruqaiya woke and saw Aisha, she clung to her and would not give her any space. Anywhere Aisha stepped, Ruqaiya followed. Perhaps she feared that Aisha would leave again.
Ummie and the others did not return until around eight o’clock at night.
At that time, Aisha was alone in the parlor because Mami was upstairs with Daddy.
When Ummie saw Aisha sitting there, she ran and hugged her joyfully.
She said, “By Allah, Aunty Aisha, we missed you so much. Every day, Ruqaiya cried that we should take her to her Aunty Aisha. Anything we did to her, she would say she would tell Aunty Aisha when you returned.”
Aisha herself was happy to see them because she had missed them too.
Farida looked at her with mockery and said, “Hmm, truly village life does not suit someone. I thank Allah that I have nothing to do with village life. No matter how someone goes to the village and returns, she must change.”
Mu’azzam burst into mischievous laughter, then said, “This body weight you are melting over would have made more sense if you were taken to the village so you could become used to it. Who can imagine Farida in a village?”
He laughed so hard that he held his stomach.
Farida said, “Yaya Mu’azzam, you have wronged me. Even if I came from the village and got the chance to leave village life, nothing would take me back there, let alone me, who has nothing to do with it.”
They continued with their teasing and arrogance, while Aisha heard them but behaved as if she did not know they were talking.
About Yayan Miji Book One Complete Hausa Novel
Yayan Miji Book One Complete Hausa Novel continues with Aisha’s early years in Mami and Daddy’s household. Though Mami welcomes her with kindness, enrolls her in school, and treats her like a daughter, Farida and Mu’azzam show resentment toward her from the beginning.
This part of Yayan Miji Book One Complete Hausa Novel also shows Aisha’s loyalty to Mami, her bond with Ruqaiya, the birth of baby Zainab, and her emotional visit to her village. The story highlights orphan care, family jealousy, education, class difference, patience, and the hidden beginnings of future conflict in the house.