CINIKIN RAI BOOK 2 Complete Hausa Novel Document by CINIKIN RAI BOOK 2

Many people benefit from what they have, but for them, it's not what they expected. Sometimes, what is acquired can be used to cover up a wound—a wound that would otherwise plunge its bearer into poverty, not just a minor injury.  

"Xnooooooooo!" That was the name a group of deaf-mute youths called her. She opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling of her room. "Oh my God, I didn’t live like Cinderella, nor like some Barbie Queen, but today, I ended up in a slaughterhouse camp." She bit her lips as she opened her bedroom window.  

"Some idiot is calling me a hunter? Tell that man’s father that if I step out, you all better scatter before I do!"  

"May God darken your heart, you scorpion girl!"  

She blinked, closing her window, then headed toward the hallway leading into the house. Just then, there was a knock at the door.  

"Zenobia! Please open the door!"  

"Didn’t your father say yesterday that he doesn’t want to see you with me again?" she said sharply.  

"Mtseeeeeew! I brought you food!"  

"Not food—father of food."  

She passed by her drawer, picked up her toothpaste and toothbrush. The house was a large rented apartment with many rooms, including an attic. She lived on the third floor. She came out with a towel wrapped around her head—God had blessed her with thick hair. Slowly, her gaze fell on her bag.  

"Xno, I’m waiting for you."  

She picked it up and walked toward her task while she entered the bathroom to get ready. Downstairs, the house was like a marketplace of different tribes from every corner of *Gista*. From the second floor, people began to notice the "scorpion girl," and they started to scatter. She, like a hawk, never mixed with the rest.  

Two older women entered the bathroom, scrubbing the walls with disinfectant and foam before she arrived. They finished just as she got there. In response to her bucket, some young girls poured hot water on her, scrubbed it, and then walked past her into the bathroom.  

She entered the bathroom, staring at it.  

"Inna, did you write what wasn’t in this house before now?"  

"It’s done, blessed girl."  

She turned around. Today was the day she was supposed to start work, but she didn’t feel like working. However, Alfarman and Mr. Amjad had done enough for her to understand that her life was about to change.  

She smiled, looking at herself. Yes, she had finished secondary school, then college, and even earned a diploma in Business. Inna had encouraged her, saying, "Run so you’re not left behind." Yet, that didn’t stop her from realizing how much she struggled with English.  

"If you're looking for someone with broken English, no doubt, Zenobia would be the first to win an award for it." That’s why she focused on her craft. Many feared her outside, but inside the house, she chased people with slaps. Because that was her—that was her life.  

One day, she wouldn’t want to see them again. She knew their worth, which was why even death wouldn’t take her from their sight.  

She began her bath, hearing people’s voices but ignoring them until she finished and stepped out.  

She looked at a young man whose face was swollen and bruised.  

"Who beat you up, Abbas?" she asked, even though she was still behind him.  

He turned around, looking like a lost soul.  

"Abbas, who did this to you?"  

"I... I... I..." He stammered, holding his hand.  

"Tell me!"  

"I... I took milk to Hibba, and her siblings beat me up!" Tears streamed down his face.  

His mother couldn’t speak; she just wiped his tears.  

"They don’t deserve kindness. Everyone knows how much he loves Hibba—it’s not right to mistreat him."  

She held his hand. "What do you want me to do to them?"  

"Tell them to stop beating me up."  

She held his right hand, leading him to his mother’s room, where she was crying.  

"Mother, why are you crying? You should stop crying now that God has given him life and health. He’s a great engineer—big companies are looking for him. But seeing him like this, they might think he’s incapable. You should be his pillar of support. From today, no idiot will ever hurt Abbas again."  

She left the room, glancing at his weak mother.  

"Your father dragged you into this life. If he hadn’t pushed himself into it, nothing would have hurt you."  

Just then, Xno stopped.  

"What do you mean, Mother?"  

"Nothing, Zenobia."  

She blinked and walked away. She didn’t feel good, but today was better than most days. She entered her room, closed the door, and removed the towel again.  

"You just have no manners. Poor people like you should keep their heads down."  

She smiled and continued getting ready, ignoring Hafsah Ameen, who was in the room.  

A scar rested on her shoulder. She touched it and asked,  

"Hafsy? On the day you rescued me, was this scar already on me?"  

"Yes, we found you with this Oscar."  

"Hmm!"  

She finished dressing in an American-style suit, dark green, then draped some necklaces around her neck. Her arms looked like they belonged in a jewelry exhibition. She then put on a pair of outrageous high-heeled shoes.  

"Xno! Are you going to the office dressed like a madwoman?"  

She looked at herself in the mirror. "I’d rather be mistaken for madness than poverty."  

No one responded—not even a word.  

On the other hand, Xno didn’t care much for fashion. Not that it was her fault—her uniqueness gave her more charm than any makeup. She applied light powder and pink blush, then lip gloss. Slowly, she looked at herself.  

"I respect the man who will..."  

She turned and gave Hafsy a dismissive glance.  

"Watch your mouth," she said, cutting her off.  

"May God darken your heart, scorpion girl!"  

She smirked, then headed out. Hafsy followed her.  

"Please don’t start a fight. I don’t have money to pay for bail in two days."  

She turned and looked at her friend.  

"Give me my bag."  

She handed it to her.  

"May God grant you success on your first day at the office!"  

She gave a half-smile. "I don’t have time for you."  

She headed downstairs, wearing a grey palazzo pants outfit with a black top and the necklaces she had put on earlier. Her natural hair was neatly tied with a ribbon, and she wore a black turban that suited her beautifully.  

She descended the stairs slowly.  

"Good morning, Aunty."  

"Good morning, students."  

"Good morning, scorpion girl."  

"Good morning, Mr. Umar!"  

Once she reached the ground floor, she turned and looked at the magnificent house.  

"Anything new today?"  

Quickly, everyone turned to look at her, eager to see what new thing she wanted to know.  

"Nothing, Zenobia!"  

She blinked and said, "Where’s Abbas?"  

"He’s in his room."  

She smiled.