Imagine walking into a house where the air feels heavy, even when the windows are open. That is exactly the kind of vibe you get in the home of Alhaji Sani. This story, written by Zainab Idris Makawa, takes us deep into the lives of three women who are sharing one husband. It is a story full of what we call "kishi" in Hausa, which means that burning jealousy between co-wives. You have Hajiya Jummai, who is the first wife, and she is always on edge. Then there is Hajiya Maryam, the second wife, who is very clever and knows how to stir the pot. And finally, there is Maimuna, the junior wife. If you enjoy stories that show the real drama of big families, you should definitely check out Taskar Novels to find more books like this one.
The story starts on a morning that should have been peaceful, but for Hajiya Jummai, it was anything but that. She was walking through the house, and you could see the fire in her eyes. She is so jealous of Maimuna that she can’t even hide it anymore. She saw Maimuna and their husband together in the room of "Amma," who is the husband’s mother. Jummai is convinced that Maimuna is using the old woman to get closer to Alhaji Sani. She thinks Maimuna is just playing a game of being the "good wife" while the rest of them look bad. It reminds me of the intense rivalry you see in AUREN HUCE HAUSHI, where every move a wife makes is seen as a threat by the others.
Then you have Hajiya Maryam, the second wife. She sees Jummai looking all angry and decides to start teasing her. Instead of trying to make peace, she adds more fuel to the fire. She tells Jummai that she is just now realizing how Maimuna operates? Maryam is the kind of person who will see you struggling and instead of helping, she will make a joke about it just to see you get even more upset. They both feel like Maimuna is taking over the house and making them look like outsiders. It’s the kind of family politics that makes you want to download Hausa novels and read until the very last page just to see who wins.
One of the most interesting parts is when Maryam drops a proverb to warn Maimuna. She said, "A dai rage fakewa ga sabara a harbi barewa don a idon mujiya ake komai." When you translate this to English, it means, "Stop hiding behind the bushes to shoot the deer because everything is happening in the eyes of the owl." She was basically telling Maimuna that they are watching her every move and she can't hide her tricks behind being kind to the grandmother. This kind of sharp talk is what makes the book so real. You can feel the tension in the room as if you were standing right there with them. For more stories with this kind of deep dialogue, you can browse Hausa novels online anytime.
Alhaji Sani is caught in the middle of all this. He is a busy man, a trader, and he just wants his home to be calm. But how can it be calm when his wives are always watching each other like hawks? He comes out of his mother’s room in a hurry because he has work at the market, but he stops to check on his wives. He tries to be nice, but Jummai gives him a look that shows she is not happy at all. He mentions that he is planning a trip to Bauchi because some goods have arrived. He wants Maimuna to come along because she has a daughter there she needs to see. But as soon as he says this, you can imagine the explosion that happens inside Jummai’s heart.
Jummai is so upset about the idea of Maimuna going on this trip that she threatens to stay home. She doesn't want to share the same road or the same car with her co-wife. She tells him plainly, "Don Allah kadama ka hada muna tafiyan mu don ba zani ba sai dai a fasa." This translates to, "For God's sake, don't even think about joining our trips together, because I won't go, it's better to just cancel it." She is so stubborn that she would rather miss out on her own plans than be near Maimuna. This level of "kishi" is something many people face in real life, and it’s captured so well here, just like in the novel ABNAL.
While all this shouting and arguing is going on, Maimuna is inside with the grandmother, Amma. She is busy stirring the "kunu" for the old lady’s breakfast and helping her with her things. Amma really likes Maimuna because she is always there to help, day and night. But in a house full of jealousy, being the favorite of the mother-in-law is like putting a target on your back. The other wives see it as a strategy, not as real kindness. It’s a sad situation where even doing something good is turned into something bad. This reminds me of the struggles characters face in KANINA NE, where family members turn against each other.
The story also shows us how this fighting affects the children. This is the part that really makes you think. Jummai has taught her children to stay away from the other kids in the house. She tells them that everyone else is an enemy. So, even the children are growing up with walls between them. Alhaji Sani tries to bring them together and tell them they are all one blood, but the mothers have already planted seeds of hate in their hearts. It is a very deep problem that Zainab Idris Makawa explains so well. If you like stories that deal with how parents' actions affect their kids, you should read DAMA TAA on the same site.
Maimuna feels the loneliness of being the one everyone is ganging up against. She even says to Amma that she is worried because her kids have no one to play with except when they are in Amma’s part of the house. Outside that room, they are treated like strangers. It’s heartbreaking to see how a home can become a place of war instead of a place of love. This book really makes you feel for her. You can find the best Hausa novels that touch on these emotional family issues if you look through the collections available now.
As the day goes on, the drama doesn't stop. Maryam goes back to her own part of the house and starts making phone calls to her relatives, complaining about the husband and Maimuna. She is already planning how to handle the trip to Bauchi. The way the story is told, you can see that something big is about to happen. Every conversation is like a puzzle piece leading to a bigger explosion. It has the same kind of gripping energy you find in DUNIYARMU Book 1 or even KOMAI RINTSI.
The title of the book itself, which talks about a chain that falls and gets tangled, is the perfect way to describe this family. One small problem leads to another, and before you know it, everything is a mess. If you want to know if Alhaji Sani can finally bring peace to his house or if the jealousy will destroy everything, you have to read the whole thing. It is a great book for anyone who loves a good story about human nature and the complications of love and marriage. You can get this amazing novel and many more just like it on Taskar Novels. It’s the best place to find all your favorite stories and keep up with the latest drama.
