Babu So Book 1 Hausa Novel Complete
They locked eyes for a fleeting moment before she quickly looked away, a sharp jolt of unease hitting her chest.
“Please, Beauty, just share your details,” the young man said softly. She responded curtly, her tone unyielding. The driver suddenly started the car with such force that the young man, startled, released the hood and leapt aside, narrowly avoiding injury.
Anam, overwhelmed by fear, instinctively grabbed his hand. Without thinking, she clung to him while pulling the door shut on her side. Tears streamed down her face as she called out for Mamie and Abie, her voice trembling with despair. He remained calm, though his focus was entirely on the car pursuing them. As the vehicle sped down the road, the sunlight revealed the face of the man they had left behind.
He bit his lip, his jaw tightening as he recognized the man. His eyes widened, and he slowed the car deliberately, his movements calculated. When the other driver tried to match his speed, he swerved onto the roadside, forcing him to stop. With a sudden burst of anger, he revved the engine and sped off again, as if delivering a slap to his pursuer.
The young man behind them was furious, locking his steering wheel in frustration. He let out a heavy sigh, muttering under his breath, feeling abandoned and defeated as he gave up the chase.
Moments later, their car pulled into the parking lot. Anam hurriedly opened the hood and stepped out, her movements rushed and frantic. He shot her a piercing glare, his frustration evident, before shutting off the car and stepping out.
Inside, he sat down beside Abba, who was engaged in lighthearted conversation in the living room. Despite his apparent anger, he silently hugged Anam, his hands briefly brushing hers. Her face lit up with a smile, as though she had never been crying moments ago.
“Jazakallahu khairan, Yaya Shareff,” she said warmly, her tone filled with gratitude. She then shared how Abba and others had overlooked her distress, but he had noticed and acted.
Yaya remained indifferent, his expression neutral, though something in her fierce gaze seemed to unsettle him. His younger brother often appeared suspicious of him at home, but the fear Anam displayed was something new. Even so, she had grown distant from him ever since their paths had crossed with Aysha’s.
Before leaving, he offered a respectful sallama to Abie, whose rare smile softened the room. Anam gaped in disbelief at the change in his demeanor. Abie’s face was usually tense, void of warmth, as if frozen in perpetual dissatisfaction.
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The next morning, Aysha struggled to rise from bed. Exhaustion weighed her down, and though she managed to freshen up, she remained dressed in casual pants and a shirt, with no intention of leaving the house. The intense Nigerian heat made wearing an abaya unbearable, yet societal expectations left her no choice.
Embarrassed and visibly uncomfortable, she reluctantly tied on the abaya after Mamie’s firm warning. Though Aysha hated the garment, she endured it, knowing her more modern clothes were inappropriate for the environment.
Meanwhile, Mommy’s group approached Aysha and Anam, but Aysha shyly declined to join them. When they entered the living room, they only found the maid tidying up. Anam greeted them cheerfully, but their interaction was brief. Ladi was the only one causing a stir.
The group made their way to Mommy’s bedroom, where she sat before the mirror, twisting her hair. Aysha, nervous, offered a tentative greeting, but Mommy barely acknowledged her. Anam greeted her as well, but Mommy ignored her entirely.
Aysha’s patience began to waver. “Where did you sleep last night?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
“In Mom’s room,” Anam replied softly.
Aysha hesitated, wanting to say more but holding back. It was clear she expected comfort from Mommy, perhaps even a hug, but instead, Mommy remained distant, brushing her off.
Frustration bubbled over in Aysha. “What a shame,” she said sharply. “She doesn’t even realize her own pain.”
Before Aysha could say anything further, Anam stormed out, bewildered and shaken by Mommy’s coldness. The tension in the room lingered long after she had gone.
