Dubu Jikar Mai Carbi Book 1 Complete Hausa Novel

It was a large compound comprising various sections, almost twelve units. In short, one could say it was an ancestral home that united grandparents, children, and grandchildren. The town of ?angwauro is one of the small villages nestled in the outskirts of Kano, blessed by God with farming, herding, and their markets. The home of Malam Muhammadu, the one with the long beard, was a well-known house within ?angwauro. From the street, if you asked for directions, you would be led right into the compound, because it was a large house, which sometimes earned it the nickname 'the house of many children'.

The house of the Long-Bearded One was full of people due to the shocking news of the death of this elderly man of many years; not only the house but the entire town of ?angwauro was shaken by the loss of this venerable elder of long standing. Yaya Babba and Inna Furai were the wives of this elder who had died a death whose impact had never struck them so hard.

According to Hausa custom on the day of death, people express their grief through loud wailing and crying, which often intensifies after the burial. This was the case at the house of the Long-Bearded One, for when his body was taken out for the funeral prayer, children and adults alike were crying.

On one side, Hali dubu was seen frowning, occasionally wiping her tears, but in her heart, she felt anger towards the people of the house because she noticed no one was paying her any special attention to console her, despite the intensity of the crying she was doing. She began observing them, planning what she would do to draw their attention to herself. After all, she felt she was more affected by the death, even if they had interacted more with the Long-Bearded One before he died; but he was her grandfather too.

Quietly, quietly, quietly, she got up, adjusted her hijabs, and headed towards the inner rooms of the house, looking around. When she reached the last room, she came out, Hali dubu placed both hands on her head and rushed back into the main gathering, crying, "Wayyo, God! Wayyo, I am ruined, I am utterly ruined!" Instantly, the attention of the people in the house returned to her. Quickly, questions were fired at her from all sides, demanding an explanation. Her heart sank, thinking that even if it was nothing, she would now be consoled like they were doing for Yaya Babba, being patient with her. Briefly, she stole glances at them, shedding tears again, but she remained silent. No one could get a word out of her despite all the questions people asked her. It was Baba Munkaila who entered, saw the crowd standing around, quickly made his way to the scene, and seeing Hali dubu sitting, he made a short, sharp sound and then barked at her, "Are you well, shouting at people like this?" Like a newly bereaved widow, she lifted her tired eyes and looked at him, then looked away, her gaze shifting fearfully towards the door as she shrank into herself with signs of fear and shock. As if on cue, they all looked towards the door seeking more information. She didn't respond to them except with cries, pointing towards the door with her finger. Baba Munkaila barked at her again, "What is it in there?" Hali dubu looked at the door again and broke down crying, saying, "It's Baffa!" In unison, they all said, “Baffa? Which Baffa?”

Without waiting for them, she just collapsed on the spot and started a kind of convulsion, saying, "Wayyo, Baffa has gone and spoiled things!" Frustration overwhelmed Baba Munkaila because he knew there would be commotion; he was sure that Dubulliya's crying was not in vain. Amidst the chatter, he started speaking to her, but she didn't budge an inch. From the corner of his eye, he spotted a livestock whip; without further ado, he started moving towards her with it. Feeling the sting of the whip, she got up and ran into the house.

Inside Yaya Babba's room, she entered and collapsed at the foot of the bed, crying. The anger of Baba Munkaila was evident as he pushed through the crowd. The whole world asked Yaya Babba what was wrong, but Dubuliyya was stubborn! She wouldn't talk to her. She just sat there because, in the whole world, nothing irritated her more than a crowd of people in her house. It wasn't a small annoyance she felt; the reason being that she felt people were disturbing her peace, or she simply detested noise like some demons. She was devising a plan to fall into place that would disperse the people from the house and cool things down, because she knew their family custom: upon a death, about forty relatives and a few other guests would stay overnight. Because of this, Baffa, the Long-Bearded One, had accustomed them to this when he was alive; if they gathered, he wouldn't let his kinsmen return home for about four nights. This plan of hers gave her no small pleasure, so much so that she almost smiled from happiness. Like someone pricked with a needle, she jumped up quickly and left Yaya Babba's room. Yaya Babba herself felt no small pleasure, since in the whole world there was no granddaughter she loved more than her, being that she was a widow with no children before or after.

As Dubu was leaving, she made a face as if she wasn't the one who had caused the crying scene. Then people began to gossip about her, some even saying she was honey that needed fire. Others said it was good he had done that to her, so she would separate and start her own life. She kept quiet; no one she talked to could gauge her response because she was weighing her words carefully, knowing the kind of judgment she would pass on her.

By the time Maghrib approached, Dubulliya had quietly begun gathering her things wisely and discreetly, without anyone understanding her state. Because it was a large house, everyone had a place to sleep since space was plentiful, which was why Yaya Babba wasn't worried when Hali dubu said she would sleep in Baba Munkaila's section that night.

LATE AT NIGHT

Late at night, the house was silent except for the chirping of insects and the sounds of small animals; nothing was stirring, save for the breath of sleep rising from the different rooms. Dubuliyya was in Baba Rufa'i's section, in one of the children's rooms. After sleeping deeply, she woke up in the dead of night, finding the house silent and everyone asleep. She stealthily got up, brought out the clothes of the late Baffa, put on his gown and large robe, even tied his turban, took his walking stick, and went out. The light of the full moon illuminated the path she took until she exited the main section. She went to the place where the late Bearded Baffa used to perform his ablutions and sat down. From a distance, if you saw Dubu sitting, you would swear to God it was Baffa. Then she turned left and right, cleared her throat, and began a deep, raspy cough, the kind Baffa used to make. Baba Sule, lying in his sleep, began to hear the sound of the cough, exactly like his father did every morning. Dawn was breaking as he rubbed his eyes; in this state, he heard the cough again, along with the kind of deep throat-clearing that Baffa used to do. He reached for his phone, looked at it, and saw it was two o'clock in the morning. Then he squinted his eyes and pricked up his ears again. Dubu, as if she knew she was being listened to, lowered her voice. You would swear to God it was Baffa speaking. She began saying, "Indeed, the life of the grave is sweet to her." Baba Sule opened his eyes wide, his heart pounding, as if to confirm. Even the animals in the house would have testified that they witnessed Baffa's words that night.