MATAR ABBANA Complete Hausa Novel Document by MATAR ABBANA

When the car suddenly stopped, the engine cut off, and the driver couldn’t get it to start again. He turned respectfully to Hajiya Kaka and said, "Hajiya, please let me find you another ride to take you home. I’ll call a mechanic to check the car—I don’t know why it stalled."  

Hajiya Kaka steadied herself and then glanced at her granddaughter, whose attention was glued to her iPhone. She said, "Alright, let’s go, you stubborn girl. You keep tapping on your phone like a princess. The car is broken, so we’ll get out and find another ride."  

The girl, who was no older than eighteen, didn’t even flinch at the situation. Without a word, she struggled to open the car door until the driver quickly came around and opened it for them. Then he pulled out his phone from his pocket and began calling a mechanic while his left hand gestured for a tricycle (Keke NAPEP).  

Hajiya Kaka didn’t hold back either—she too was waving down rides until, by God’s grace, someone stopped. Before the driver could speak, Hajiya Kaka called out, "Stop, stop! Young man, stop and take us!"  

The young man looked at the car parked beside them—a shiny Lexus RX 350, seemingly brand new. Instantly, he realized he had hit the jackpot.  

Hajiya Kaka stepped forward, and so did her granddaughter. The driver, slightly nervous from where the young man sat, said, "Take them to G.R.A."  

The young man glanced at Hajiya Kaka and said, "Hajiya, your fare is three thousand."  

Hajiya Kaka replied, "Go in peace, may God keep you safe."  

Their driver began fumbling to take out money to pay, but Hajiya Kaka stopped him, "Ladi, leave it. I’ll pay him myself."  

Ladi returned the money to his pocket and said, "Alright, Hajiya Kaka, I’ll be on my way. May God protect you on the road."  

Hajiya Kaka said, "Ah, Ladi, take one thousand and keep the rest for water."  

Ladi, the driver, smiled and said, "Ah, Hajiya Kaka, just leave it."  

Hajiya Kaka retorted, "So you’re disobeying me now, Ladi? If the car gets fixed, come straight to me before going to Alhaji Biniya’s house. They’re doing some roofing work there—ask for my share."  

Before Ladi could respond, the young man asked, "Hajiya, are you two done?"  

Hajiya Kaka replied, "We’re done, king of stubbornness. May God grant me patience in this life—it’s full of nonsense."  

Her granddaughter, standing beside her, folded her arms and glared at Hajiya Kaka. "Now that he’s gone, can you please keep quiet? It’s always you talking too much!"  

Hajiya Kaka fell silent, but her lips tightened in displeasure—her granddaughter’s attitude was not sitting well with her.  

They took their time walking when a man from the roadside called out, "Kabuga!"  

The young man replied, "They’ve already taken a ride." Then he continued walking.  

Hajiya Kaka said, "Well, we did take a ride, but since you stopped, how much is it to my daughter’s place? Just take us. After all, a Muslim is a brother to another Muslim."  

The young man said, "Alright, thank you." He looked at the passenger standing there, observing everything, and asked, "How much is yours?"  

The passenger said, "It’s five hundred."  

The young man said, "Truthfully, I don’t have change right now. Let me check." As he said this, he began adjusting his tricycle.  

Quickly, Hajiya Kaka interjected, "Wait, young man. Let me check for change. I think I saw my business partner earlier—he might have some."  

Her granddaughter, standing nearby, shot her a look. "Your business partner? Kaka, since when did you start this ‘young man’ business without us knowing?"