Bakin Rijiya Book One Complete Hausa Novel
Bakin Rijiya Book One Complete Hausa Novel is a dramatic Hausa love story about Hafsat, a spoiled and fearless young girl whose life begins to change when her elder brother returns home. This English translation presents the story in a clean WordPress HTML format for Hausa novel readers.
Bakin Rijiya Book One Complete Hausa Novel English Translation
“Hafsat!”
Their teacher shouted her name loudly. The whole class became frightened by the shout, but Hafsat did not even react. In fact, she did not even raise her head to look at the teacher.
He walked toward her angrily and hit the table in front of her.
“How dare you? Are you stupid?” he asked in anger.
Slowly, she stood up from where she was sitting. With complete carelessness, she replied,
“No, sir, I am not.”
He shouted, “What? Repeat what you just said now.”
Calmly, without any sign of fear, she said,
“I just said I am not, sir.”
A wicked smile appeared on his face because he had been waiting for this moment. He was already full of anger toward her.
“Hafsat, look into my eyes and repeat after me, okay?”
She said nothing.
He continued, “Say that you are stupid.”
A strange smile appeared on her face, and she said,
“You! You are stupid!”
His eyes widened because that was not what he expected her to say.
“How dare you? Are you in your senses?” he asked.
She also looked at him with disrespect and copied his expression.
“How dare you? Are you in your senses?”
In anger, he raised his large hand and slapped her heavily. The slap made her dizzy. She held the place he had slapped and burst into tears.
The teacher was still breathing heavily in anger. Hafsat went straight out of the class and headed to the principal’s office, crying loudly like a pampered child who had never been denied anything.
Hafsat Reports the Teacher
When the principal saw her, he quickly stood up. He knew that if care was not taken, a teacher’s dismissal had just arrived.
“Hafsat, are you alright? Why are you crying like this? What happened to you?”
Still crying, she mixed lies with truth and told him what had happened.
The teacher was called immediately. After he apologized to her, she agreed that she would not report the matter to her daddy.
Her father was the owner of the school, and Hafsat was greatly favored from every side. No one could touch Hafsat Poojah and remain peaceful. Her father did not joke with her at all because she was his only daughter, apart from her elder brother, Shammaz.
When she returned to class, the boys began shouting,
“Poojah! Poojah! Poojah!”
One boy from a wealthy family, who seemed to be among the troublesome students in the school, said,
“Poojah babe, I hope you made sure that teacher was dealt with.”
His friend, who had the same kind of character, added,
“I did not even want you to report him. I wanted you to slap him back. How can he slap you when you are the owner’s daughter?”
Hafsat became annoyed because he did not seem satisfied with what she had done. So she had not impressed him after all.
She glared at him and said,
“I only did not feel like paying him back. You also know that if I had slapped him, it would have been one of my smallest actions. Just like you too, you are not above receiving a slap from me.”
He stared at her with his mouth open.
His friend, Wizkid, began shouting her name.
“Poojah! Poojah! By Allah, I like you.”
In her usual dismissive way, she said,
“Keep quiet. I am tired of all this useless noise.”
Immediately, both the boys and girls who had been standing quietly returned to their seats without saying a word.
Hafsat’s Life in School
This was Hafsat’s normal behavior in school. During exams, she could submit a blank sheet if she wanted, and any teacher who failed her would lose his job. It was not because she did not know what to write. She only wanted to show power, pride, and pampered stubbornness because the school belonged to her father.
Her father never saw her fault in whatever foolish thing she did.
At 1:50 p.m., school closed. From upstairs, she looked down but did not see her driver’s car. She walked without even looking ahead until she reached the stairs. The driver still had not arrived.
As she walked, she was already thinking of the punishment she would give Ayuba that day.
As soon as she reached the gate, he arrived. He quickly came, collected her bag, placed it in the back of the car, opened the door for her, and she entered angrily.
After entering the car, Ayuba began apologizing.
“By Allah, the tire got punctured. Please forgive me. Do not make me lose my source of livelihood.”
She replied coldly, “That is the biggest mistake you have made. I do not like you disturbing my ears with the word sorry because I am not going to forgive you.”
Sweat began to come out from every part of Ayuba’s body. He was the only support of his younger siblings and their mother. This job was what he used to feed them.
Hafsat Reports Ayuba to Her Father
She ran quickly to her daddy, crying.
“Is everything alright, Hafsat? Who touched you?” her father asked.
“Daddy, it is Ayuba. He left me until I reached the gate on foot.”
Her father said, “Subhanallah. Ayuba, how did this happen?”
Ayuba replied, “By Allah, Your Excellency, the tire got punctured. Please forgive me.”
Hafsat cried louder.
Her father said, “Wait, Hafsat. What do you want us to do now?”
She replied, “Daddy, I want him dismissed. I do not like him.”
Ayuba pleaded, “Please, for Allah’s sake, forgive me. Insha Allah, this will be the last time. I will not repeat it. This work is my source of food.”
She refused to listen to him.
Her father said, “Alright, we will bring you a new driver. As for Ayuba, you will now be taking Hajiya out and washing the cars in the house.”
Ayuba thanked him repeatedly. He was grateful to God because, despite Hafsat’s attitude, her parents were good people who understood the dignity of human beings.
Hafsat at Home
In the middle of the parlor, Hafsat threw her bag away. Then she removed her shoes on the way leading to the stairs. Whatever she held, she threw wherever she liked. She was clean, but she did not like seeing the house workers resting.
Mero, the house help, met her in the room. After picking the clothes Hafsat had thrown on the floor and placing them in the laundry basket, she put the school bag and sandals in their proper place.
Then she asked, “Daddy’s beloved, what do you feel like eating today?”
Hafsat did not even look at her. That confirmed to Mero that Hafsat was not ready to answer.
Mero was already used to Hafsat’s rude behavior. So she left quietly and prepared snacks with apple and avocado smoothie. She placed them on the coffee table in Hafsat’s parlor.
Hafsat was sitting and pressing the remote to change the television channel.
Mero said, “Hafsat, I have prepared your favorite for you.”
Hafsat looked at the food disrespectfully and said,
“I want grilled fish and chips, plus sugarcane and apple juice. Is it every day you want me to eat flour until I become fat and ugly?”
Mero was silent for a while before saying, “Please manage this a little while I prepare the other one for you.”
Hafsat glared at her.
“I said I will not eat it. Is it by force?”
Mero carried the food away and shook her head. Even with all this, Mero was the only house worker who got along with Hafsat, and she was also her closest companion because she cared for her.
Mero had been the childhood playmate of Hafsat’s mother from their mother’s side. She had been married off early in the village, but Allah caused her husband to pass away. She was not more than twenty years old, but she was very intelligent.
She had been in the house for almost ten years, since Hafsat was four years old, and they had grown very close.
Shammaz Returns
When Hafsat returned from school one day, she was surprised to see many people at the gate of their house. Most of them were relatives. She did not think much of it and was about to pass them when she saw Abba Haris.
She ran to him and hugged him, saying in a spoiled voice,
“Abba Haris, I want to follow you to Ummi’s place.”
He smiled and said, “Kulele, your holiday has not started yet. How many days remain? Seven days, right? I will not even send a driver. I will come myself to pick you up.”
She smiled and said, “Will you change my phone for me? Mine is no longer in fashion.”
He replied, “Of course, Lele. I must change it for you. I will buy you a BlackBerry Bold 4. The Curve is no longer fashionable.”
She jumped and hugged him again before running inside.
Shammaz, who stood nearby, twisted his mouth. This gathering had been arranged to celebrate his return after almost eight years abroad.
In his heart, he said, “Do Daddy and the others still pamper Hafsat like this? If so, then there is a problem with this girl’s upbringing.”
He had already noticed that she did not greet anyone among the many people there.
In the parlor too, she did not greet anyone except Aunty Surayyah, the only person she feared greatly. Whenever Aunty Surayyah was around, Hafsat’s stubbornness reduced.
Aunty Surayyah looked at her and said, “Hafsat, am I the only one you saw here? What about the others?”
Hafsat pushed out her lips slightly, turned to look at the people in the parlor, and said with great difficulty as if she would cry,
“Good afternoon.”
They answered her. Some of them laughed at her behavior, thinking it was childishness. Others knew very well that it was bad manners, but they kept quiet because they benefited from her mother, Hajiya Nasara, who did not joke with Hafsat.
With tears in her eyes, Hafsat went upstairs. On the way, she met Mero.
Mero looked at her and said, “Kulele, what happened? Who touched my big daughter?”
Hafsat threw her bag and said, “It was Aunty Surayyah. She said I must greet people, and in my life, I hate greeting everyone.”
Mero hugged her and said, “Come on, Daddy’s baby, be patient. No one will force you to greet people again. But you should know that greeting is important. If not, people will say you are not kind.”
Hafsat pulled herself away and left without saying anything.
Hafsat Embarrasses Mero
About an hour later, Hafsat came out wearing a vest and shorts that reached her knees. She was sucking a lollipop. Many people had left, and only close relatives remained.
Without looking at anyone, she went to the dining area. She saw many serving dishes there.
She stood where she was and shouted loudly,
“Mero!”
Most of the people in the parlor turned their attention to her.
Mero quickly came and said, “Lele, what happened?”
Hafsat pushed out her lips and said, “Since you love these people more than me, you left me hungry since I returned. I have been waiting for my food. Serve me.”
Mero looked at her and said, “Daddy gave me work to do. Please forgive me. What should I serve you?”
All this happened in front of Shammaz.
Hafsat did not even look at her. She put the lollipop back into her mouth and sucked it while folding her arms.
Mero understood that she was looking for trouble. So she took a plate and served snacks and pepper chicken. Then she turned and offered it to her.
Hafsat collected the plate and poured the food on the floor with disrespect and pampered stubbornness.
“Did I tell you this is what I wanted? I want shredded chicken.”
Before she realized what was happening, a heavy slap landed on her face, almost stunning her.
She held the place and burst into tears. Everyone in the parlor stood up, pleading with Shammaz. Mero quickly came and held Hafsat, trying to calm her down.
Shammaz threw Mero a sharp look and said angrily,
“Maryam, by Allah, I will slap you too. Leave her now. She must clean up this mess she made.”
Mero’s body trembled as Hafsat bent down and began gathering the food while tears fell from her eyes.
When she finished, Shammaz said, “You must eat that food, rude girl. She asked you what you wanted, and you were acting stubborn. Now that food was served to you, you poured it on the floor. Were you told food is dug from the ground?”
Hafsat turned to go upstairs with the plate in her hand, crying.
He raised his voice and said, “Come back here now. You will sit down and finish it in front of me.”
She came back, pulled a dining chair, and sat down crying while eating until she finished everything.
Her mother said nothing, but in truth, she was not happy with what Shammaz had done to Hafsat in front of people. In her mind, it looked as if he did not love his sister.
Bakin Rijiya
Bakin Rijiya: Ba Wurin Wasan Makaho Bane
Love Story 2018
Written by Billy Galadanchi.
Haske Writer’s Association.
Dedicated to Ummie Aisha.
Page 2
After Hafsat finished eating, she went upstairs, locked her room door, and cried loudly. She kicked her legs and broke anything she found because she believed she had a strong temper.
Her mother and others tried everything to make her open the door, but she refused. Instead, her crying became louder.
Even Aunty Surayyah came and scolded her, but for once, Hafsat did not listen.
Aunty Surayyah called Shammaz.
He came to the door and said loudly,
“Hafsat, by Allah, if I find you inside that room without opening this door, you will regret it badly.”
In fear, she opened the door and stared at him.
He held her hand, took her out, and led her to his section of the house. He made her sit facing him and said,
“Hafsat, up till now, have age and sense not entered your head? Is Mero your age mate? And this wild crying you are doing alone in your room, who are you doing it for? You know my character very well. I can beat you cleanly. Do not think that because I just returned, I will not discipline you. I will discipline you well.”
He continued, “If I see you crying like this again, even if I see one tear in your eyes, I will punish you. Even now, you will personally clean up the damage you caused in your room.”
He added, “And from today, every two days, you will come and clean this section of mine. You will sweep, mop, and arrange everything. Do you hear me?”
She quickly nodded.
In her heart, she said, “As soon as I finish my exams, I will run to Abba’s house. By Allah, I will not stay here for this wicked man to kill me.”
Outwardly, she thanked him and left the room.
The Next Morning
The next morning, Yaa Sham sat on one of the chairs decorating the house compound. He was reading a newspaper while holding a cup of hot mint leaf coffee and sipping it slowly.
When he saw Hafsat coming out, he quickly and surprisingly looked at the wristwatch on his hand. Then he saw the driver open the car for her, and she entered the back seat.
He called the driver, who quickly came and squatted before him, waiting for what he would say.
In his usual calm but serious voice, Shammaz asked, “Where are you going by 9:30 in the morning?”
With his head lowered, the driver replied, “Sir, I am taking Hajiya Karama to school.”
Shammaz repeated in his heart, “Hajiya Karama?”
Then he asked aloud, “What time are you supposed to take her to school?”
The driver replied, “Sir, it is supposed to be in the morning. Every day by seven o’clock, I am already here, but Hajiya only comes out whenever she wants.”
Shammaz was surprised.
“So Hafsat goes to school whenever she feels like it? Go and call her for me.”
When the driver told Hafsat, she came out of the car and began crying. Then she ran inside.
Shammaz stood up angrily and followed her.
Daddy and Mommy were sitting at the dining table when Hafsat ran to Daddy and held him.
Before either of them could speak, Shammaz entered angrily.
Mommy quickly asked, “Shammaz, are you alright? What happened between you and your sister that she is crying like this?”
Shammaz looked at Daddy and said, “Daddy, for Allah’s sake, are you watching Hafsat go to school at almost ten o’clock? What kind of upbringing is this? No discipline, no correction. A girl goes to school whenever she likes. This is not love.”
Daddy remained silent because he knew Shammaz had spoken the truth.
Mommy said in annoyance, “Shammaz, I have noticed that since you returned yesterday, you have been troubling this girl. Hafsat sleeps deeply in the morning. What do you want us to do?”
Shammaz looked at Mommy angrily and said, “This is not love. If I see her misbehaving and leave her, that is lack of love. What I am doing is pure love. And this stubborn girl, does she not fear punishment? With this kind of lateness, she deserves punishment every day.”
Mommy said, “She attends her father’s school, so she does whatever she likes. No one pressures her.”
Shammaz hissed and said, “By Allah, no one will spoil my sister while I am alive. Daddy, did you raise me like this? What kind of excessive softness are you showing Hafsat, as if she is your first child? By Allah, when she finishes this JLC, I will change her school.”
Mommy wanted to speak, but Daddy stopped her.
Daddy said, “Whatever you do is correct, Shammaz. I have removed my hands from Hafsat’s matters since her guardian has returned. Hajiya, you too should be careful. If you keep stopping him, you will make her disrespect him. And you know he has authority over her. I have told you many times that you will destroy Hafsat’s life if you keep following her desires. This girl is very intelligent. We can even say she is gifted. But if you do not show her the importance of education, she will throw it away.”
Mommy remained silent, though she was not happy.
Daddy lifted Hafsat and left the house entirely.
Shammaz took Hafsat to the car himself and called the driver.
He said, “From today, she will open the car door herself and enter. Also, do not ever call her Hajiya Karama again. She will be the one to greet you, not you greeting her. A girl who is the age of your daughter should not sit and receive such obedience from you. Every day, if she does not come out by 7:30 and you are not already on the way to school, come and inform us.”
Hafsat cried as they left for school.
One Month Later
Since Yaa Sham returned, Poojah’s life had completely changed. Even at school, they noticed it. She had become very quiet.
She hated Yaa Sham and feared him greatly. By now, she avoided anything that would make him scold her. If she was in the downstairs parlor and he entered, she would run away immediately.
He himself noticed it, and truly, he did not like seeing her unhappy around him. He also noticed that Mommy had changed toward him because she saw him as someone hurting her daughter.
That day, as usual, Hafsat was sitting in the parlor watching a Barbie cartoon series when Yaa Sham entered. He did not look at her. He simply sat down.
When she saw him, she stood to run away.
While pressing his phone, he said, “Hafsat, come here.”
Immediately, tears began falling from her eyes. She returned and squatted before him, wiping her tears.
Before he could speak, his phone began ringing. He answered and looked at Hafsat, whose head was lowered.
He wondered what had happened to her to make her cry so much.
In a soft voice, he said into the phone, “My Haleema, what happened?”
On the other end, he heard Haleema crying in a spoiled voice.
“Come on, boo. You have been in town for days, but you have not come to see me. By Allah, if you do not come today, I will leave for Sokoto very early tomorrow, and I will not come back until you come yourself.”
He lowered his voice further and said,
“Come on, Leemah dear. I will come today, insha Allah. Besides, today is the day of the new phone I promised you. I am already on my way. Expect me around 7 p.m., insha Allah.”
After that, they ended the call.
He looked at Hafsat again and said, “Lele, come and sit beside me.”
She raised her head in surprise and looked at him, but she did not move until he said again,
“Come and sit here. We need to talk.”
Weakly, she came and sat beside him.
He looked at her and said, “Come on, Daddy’s Lele. What is this crying for? I will not do anything to you. I am your elder brother from the same mother and father. Why should you fear me this much? From today, we are best friends, okay?”
She smiled gently and said, “Alright, thank you.”
He continued, “It is about school. You will be going to Premier, and the interview is tomorrow. You will do their SS1 interview.”
She only shook her head at him and said, “I am going to pray. Tomorrow then.”
She stood up.
He asked, “Get ready. We will go out together to visit your elder sister. Or are you not going?”
Her smile widened and she said, “Of course I will go. To the woman you will marry, right, Yaa Sham? Aunty Leemah?”
He smiled and said, “Yes. At exactly 6:45 p.m., after Maghrib prayer, meet me in the car. I do not accept African time as an excuse.”
She turned away smiling, still wondering how her brother had changed so suddenly. But even with that, she had clearly seen that he was serious, especially when it came to education.
About Bakin Rijiya Book One Complete Hausa Novel
Bakin Rijiya Book One Complete Hausa Novel introduces Hafsat Poojah, a pampered young girl whose pride and stubbornness control almost everything around her. Because of her father’s wealth and influence, she has grown used to getting whatever she wants.
This part of Bakin Rijiya Book One Complete Hausa Novel shows how Shammaz’s return begins to change Hafsat’s life. The story blends family discipline, school drama, spoiled upbringing, sibling conflict, love, fear, and emotional growth.