If you are looking for a story that will keep you glued to your phone, then you really need to check out this book called AZAL by Sajida. Let me tell you, the drama in this story starts from the very first page. You know how some stories take time to get interesting? Well, this one hits the ground running. It starts with a guy named Ishak who is in a car with his friends, driving through the streets from Sabon Gari to an area called Jeune Cadre. Ishak is trying so hard to call this girl named Rauda. He has her picture and her number, and he is trying to impress the big man sitting in the back of the car, Yusef. But the problem is, Rauda is not picking up. Ishak is getting frustrated because he was told that Rauda loves talking to men, but for some reason, she is playing hard to get this time. When she finally picks up the call, she doesn't even say hello. She just stays silent while Ishak is trying to be all smooth on the phone.
One of the most intense moments right at the start is when Rauda finally reacts to the call. The book says — "She gave a very loud hiss and then cut the call. That hiss went through the whole car and even into the brain of the man sitting in the back." (translated from Hausa). You can just imagine how embarrassing that was for Ishak! He was trying to show off, but this girl just shut him down completely. This is the kind of drama you find when you download Hausa novels to read in your free time. The story makes you wonder why Rauda is acting like that and who this Yusef guy really is. Yusef is the type of character that doesn't talk much, but you can feel his presence. He is rich, he is calm, but he also seems like he has a lot of secrets hidden behind his cool face. He just gets out of the car and walks into his big house without saying a word to Ishak, who is left there feeling like a fool.
The story gets even deeper when Yusef’s brother, Rislan, comes into the picture. Rislan is the complete opposite of Yusef. While Yusef is out there living a life that seems a bit wild or disconnected from family, Rislan is the one trying to hold things together. He is like the moral compass of the family. He goes to meet Yusef in his house to talk some sense into him. You can tell they have a complicated relationship. Rislan is worried about their family name and their religion. He tells Yusef that their grandmother, Hajia, who is actually the mother of the King (Mai Martaba), had an accident. She fell during the rain and broke her bone. Rislan is begging Yusef to go and visit her, but Yusef is just so cold about it. It’s like something happened in the past that made him turn his back on his own people. If you enjoy family tension like this, you should also check out ABBANA or maybe NEEHAL because they have that same kind of emotional pull.
Yusef’s reaction to his brother’s plea is really harsh. He tells Rislan straight to his face that he has nothing to do with that woman anymore. One part of the book says — "Don't you ever try to beg me for something that isn't a must for me! I have cut my ties with her." (translated from Hausa). This shows you just how stubborn Yusef can be. He doesn't care if she is the mother of a King or his own grandmother. To him, that relationship is dead. Rislan is almost in tears because he sees how his brother is changing. He sees the people Yusef hangs out with, like Ishak, and he knows they are leading him down a bad path. The author, Sajida, really knows how to write these brothers so that you feel for both of them. You feel Rislan’s pain as a brother who cares, and you feel Yusef’s anger, even if you don't fully understand it yet. You can find more stories with this kind of deep character development on Taskar Novels.
The conversation between the brothers moves to the topic of marriage. Rislan tells Yusef that their father wants to see him settled down. He wants Yusef to find a woman he loves and get married. But Yusef has a very strange view of love. He calls love for just one woman "AZAL", which is like a kind of destiny or fate that he doesn't want to be trapped in. He tells Rislan that he doesn't hate women, but he doesn't want to be stuck loving just one. He even jokes that if he is ready, he will just marry four wives at once so his father can be happy. It’s a very cynical way of looking at life, and it makes you wonder if someone broke his heart before. For those who love reading about complicated love lives, DR SAHEEB and TATTALIN SO are great choices to read alongside this one.
As the story goes on, you see the lifestyle Yusef and Ishak are living. It’s a world of fast cars, expensive houses, and girls. But underneath all that luxury, there is a lot of emptiness. Ishak is busy calling girls and trying to arrange things, while Yusef just seems to be floating through life. Rislan tries one more time to talk to him about the beauty of love. He says to Yusef — "Is love destiny? Love is the sweetest thing in the whole world, and anyone who doesn't want it hasn't truly enjoyed life." (translated from Hausa). This part is so touching because you can see Rislan is trying to save his brother’s soul. He wants Yusef to feel something real, not just the temporary fun he gets from his current lifestyle. You can find many best Hausa novels that talk about this struggle between a wild life and a settled one on the site.
What I love about AZAL is how it shows the reality of some big families. Sometimes, behind the palace walls and the big mansions, there is a lot of pain and broken relationships. Yusef is a prince, basically, but he is living like he has no roots. He is trying to run away from his destiny, but the title of the book suggests that you can't really run away from what is meant to be. The drama with Rauda is also just beginning. She isn't like the other girls who jump at Yusef because of his money. Her pride is going to cause a lot of issues, and I can already see a big clash coming between her and Yusef. If you want to follow this story and see if Yusef finally changes his ways or if he stays cold forever, you can find Hausa novels online very easily. You might also like to read MUHIBBA or AKWAI SILA if you enjoy stories about fate and finding yourself.
Sajida really did a great job with the dialogue in this book. It feels very real, like people you actually know. The way the brothers argue, the way Ishak tries to be a "big boy," and the way the girls talk — it’s all very relatable. The tension keeps building up, and every chapter makes you want to know what happens next. Will Yusef go to see his grandmother? Will Rauda ever give him the time of day? Is Ishak really a friend or just someone using Yusef for his wealth? There are so many questions that keep you turning the pages. It’s a story about family, pride, and that thing called fate that catches up to all of us eventually.
Anyway, I don't want to spoil the whole thing for you! You really need to read it for yourself to get the full vibe of the story. The emotions are high, and the writing is simple but very powerful. It’s the perfect book to read when you just want to relax and get lost in some serious drama. You can get the full version of AZAL and many other amazing stories on Taskar Novels. They have a huge collection, so whether you like romance, family drama, or stories about royalty, you will definitely find something you love there. Go check it out and start reading today!
