Description
NI KISHIYAR UWATA CE BOOK COMPLETE BY OUM HAIRAN
...going to school because all the others had graduated; she too was at a higher institution. By that time, the family members hadn't woken up yet. While she was doing the dishes, she felt someone behind her and turned around quickly. He was dressed in a black suit and tie, looking very handsome, holding a briefcase. The fragrance of his perfume filled the entire space. She stared intently at him; it had been two days since she last saw him.
He gave her a smile and said, "Good morning."
She averted her gaze and replied, "Good morning."
He nodded, stepped closer, and stood in front of her. "Have you had breakfast?" She turned away, refusing to answer him further, and continued with what she was doing. He gently turned her back to face him and asked, "What did you prepare for breakfast?"
She said, "It is over there in the dining room."
He replied, "Alright, scoop some for me and bring it here," pointing toward the kitchen's small dining area.
She said, "But I don't know how you prefer your tea."
"Prepare it however you think is best, but do not put too much sugar; just two cubes will do."
She muttered, "Uh-huh," and left the kitchen to prepare his tea on the table. When she returned to the kitchen, he was sitting at the dining table. He said, "Pour me some coffee, please." She made it, placed it in front of him, and was about to walk away when he pulled her back and made her sit on a chair. He said, "I usually don't eat breakfast at home on Mondays, but today I will do it because of you, because I want us to eat together."
As she was about to protest, he placed a piece of potato in her mouth and said, "Don't say anything to me." In this manner, Haiydar forced her, and they ate everything she had brought for him together. He even made her prepare tea for herself while he stuck to just coffee. Her heart raced constantly out of fear that Hajiya might come downstairs and catch them like this. Her face contorted, looking as if she were about to cry, and she said, "I swear I am full, I already had breakfast at home."
He stood up, looking at her, winked, and said, "Well, at least you ate. See you when I return. Make some ginger drink for me, my little sister." She simply nodded. He checked his wristwatch and walked through the garden to the garage to choose which car he would drive out.
As soon as she finished tidying up the breakfast area, Hajiya came downstairs accompanied by Pretty, who was complaining, "Mommy, has my brother left? I really wanted him to drop me off since the driver isn't around."
Hajiya replied, "I swear, baby, he didn't even say goodbye to me either. Go have your breakfast, then I will have Sumy drive you, since you are still afraid of driving." Aneesah curtsied and greeted them, then went upstairs to tidy their rooms and clean the bathrooms. When she finished, they piled up a mountain of laundry for her, and she washed them. She didn't finish the laundry until nearly two o'clock. By then, everyone had gone out and the house was empty. She went into the kitchen, exhausted, to cook their lunch before they returned.
By nearly three o'clock, she finished cooking and set it on the table. She remembered that Haiydar had asked her to make a ginger drink, so she quickly went back to the kitchen and began preparing it. As soon as she finished making the drink, she poured it into a jug and placed it inside the fridge. Turning around to leave the kitchen, she saw him leaning against the door frame, watching her.
He smiled and said, "Well done with the chores, little sister." She nodded, greeted him, and left the kitchen. He also came out and went upstairs. Meanwhile, Meenah was standing in the living room, speaking arrogantly to Aneesah: "Hey, why did you mix my white clothes with the colored ones in the laundry?"
Aneesah replied, "No, I washed the whites first. I didn't mix them with anything."
Meenah slapped her across the face and snapped, "You are lying, hypocrite! Make sure you wash them all over again before you leave this house today." After delivering the blow, she marched upstairs, hurling insults. Aneesah watched her go, tears streaming down her cheeks. Seeing Haiydar coming down the stairs, she quickly turned to leave, but he called her name. She stopped, and he walked up to her, asking, "What did you do to her?" She remained completely silent.
He loudly called out Meenah's name. She came downstairs, looked at him, and asked, "Yes?"
He narrowed his eyes angrily at her and asked, "What did I tell you to do for me yesterday before I returned?" She scowled and muttered, "Whatever, I forgot." He instantly slapped her twice... [truncated text]
Part 2 (Chapter 18)
Today, Friday, at exactly 8:30 AM, Aneesah arrived at her workplace, forcing herself to push through despite feeling unwell. Hearing Hajiya's voice in the living room alongside her children made her heart pound, and she hesitated to step inside. Realizing she was only wasting time standing out on the veranda, she took a leap of faith, silently reciting prayers in her heart, and quietly entered the living room with a greeting.
Hajiya was seated with Sumy resting her head on her lap. Meenah was applying something to her face while holding a mirror. Meanwhile, Haiydar was sitting at the dining table writing, with Pretty close by his side. Aneesah knelt down quietly and began greeting Hajiya, her heart thumping in her chest.
Hajiya barked at her, "Is this the time you show up for work because you have completely disrespected me? I swear by Allah, you will learn your lesson today!"
In a weak, vulnerable voice, Aneesah explained that she was unwell. Hajiya jumped to her feet and lunged toward her furiously as if to beat her, yelling, "Unwell? You dare tell me you're unwell? What business is your illness of mine? Did I inflict it upon you, curse you?!"
Seeing this unfold, Haiydar walked over to the living room area, found a place to sit, and looked at his mother, saying, "By the way, Mom, about that matter I said we should discuss earlier..." He then turned to look at Aneesah, who was crying, and said, "Hey, get up and leave the room." She looked at Hajiya, who was still standing over her menacingly.
Hajiya barked at her, "Blast you, isn't he speaking to you? You're standing there staring at people with wide eyes like a water pot, you witch!" Aneesah quietly stood up, left the living room, and walked toward the kitchen.
Hajiya sat back down and said, "Alright, I'm listening, son. What is this matter we need to discuss?"
He scowled slightly, stood up, and said, "Actually, let's leave it for later. I am quite busy right now." He walked back to the dining table and resumed what he was doing.
Sumy hissed softly and muttered, "What a petty guy."
Hajiya snapped at her, "Have you no manners? If he hears you and beats you now, you'll start blaring your mouth like a loudspeaker!" Sumy stood up, stomping her feet in a tantrum because she had been reprimanded, and marched upstairs to cry. Hajiya quickly followed her, coddling, "Oh dear, what is there to cry about, Sumy?" Meenah followed closely behind them.
As they went upstairs, Haiydar stood up and handed his laptop to Pretty, instructing her to take it to his room and tidy it up for him. As she headed upstairs, he made his way to the kitchen, where he found Aneesah peeling potatoes. He knelt down in front of her, filled with pity, and asked, "What is wrong, Aneesah?" She shook her head and said nothing. He placed his hand on her forehead and felt how burning hot it was. "Subhanallahi, what's wrong, Aneesah?" Still, she refused to say a word, only weeping silently. He stared at her with deep compassion, at a loss for words. Finally, he stood up and said, "Just boil water for their tea, nothing more. Leave these potatoes."
She shook her head and said, "I will do everything."
He frowned and said firmly, "I am giving you instructions, not options." She slowly stood up and looked at him. He nodded, "Yes." He stood right there in the kitchen until she did exactly as he commanded. She laid the items on the dining table.
When the family came out for breakfast, they stopped in utter shock, staring at the table which only had plain Lipton tea, bread, tea accessories, and Blue Band butter. There were no eggs, no potatoes, no plantains, and no pepper soup.
Hajiya bellowed, "What on earth am I looking at here?!" Aneesah stood nearby, her heart hammering, completely speechless.
Haiydar came downstairs dressed in a white Shadda, walked over to the dining table, and sat down. He pulled a cup closer and began pouring the Lipton tea. He raised his head, feigning complete innocence and surprise, and asked, "What is the matter, Mom?"
Hajiya, who was still standing open-mouthed, pointing at Aneesah, said, "Look at what this bastard of a girl served us today, Haiydar!"
He replied, "Oh, actually, I was the one who told her to do this because I am in a hurry to go out and wanted to have breakfast beforehand. I realized frying things would waste my time. Just because you didn't eat potatoes and eggs for one single day, you are all standing around looking like a squad of soldiers."
Meenah spoke up angrily, "But brother, what do we care about your going out? Couldn't you just come into the kitchen, make your own tea, leave, and let her fry our food for us? Just because you're going out doesn't mean we shouldn't eat what we are accustomed to eating!"
He gave her a savage glare and barked, "Yes, you won't eat it, blast you! Go into the kitchen and fry it yourself if you want potatoes and eggs so badly. Are you not a woman?"
Sumy burst into tears and cried, "I swear I won't drink plain tea like some beggar child!"
Meenah also burst into tears, crying, "Me neither, I swear!" They stormed away from the dining table and went upstairs.
Hajiya let out a long sigh and said, "Haiydar, since they wanted it, you shouldn't have stopped her from making it. She could have made your tea and then fried our food."
He looked up at her and said, "Even now, I don't see any harm done, Mom. Since they have the audacity to speak insolently to me, I swear she will not fry a single thing for them in this house today. Let them go into the kitchen and cook for themselves, since they claim to be women who will eventually get married." Pretty pulled out a chair, sat down, and began preparing her tea. Hajiya said nothing more to him; she headed upstairs, casting a vicious glare at Aneesah.
He slowly turned to look at Aneesah, who quickly turned around and hurried into the kitchen. After about thirty minutes, while he and Pretty were sitting in the living room as he showed her something on his phone, Hajiya came downstairs. She looked at him in surprise and asked, "Oh, are you just leaving now, Haiydar?"
He replied, "No, I'll leave later. I changed my mind for now."
Part 3 (Chapter 19)
Hajiya said nothing more to him and went back upstairs, utterly furious. Once inside her room, she hissed loudly; this was pure humiliation that Haiydar was subjecting them to in this house. She had no choice but to call the driver, give him money, and send him to an eatery to buy food for them, since the girls had refused to drink the tea.
By twelve o'clock, they had all dressed up and left the house, but not before Hajiya gave Aneesah strict instructions on what to cook before they returned, and Meenah piled up another mountain of laundry for her to wash, dry, and iron. Haiydar watched them until they left the house; no words were exchanged between them. Pretty remained at home since she didn't have any lectures that day. The house was left with just Haiydar, Aneesah, and Pretty.
Haiydar went outside and found Aneesah by the tap, filling buckets for the laundry. He asked, "Why aren't you washing these in the washing machine, Aneesah?"
She turned to look at him and said softly, "They said their clothes shouldn't be washed in the machine."
In sheer anger, he snapped, "To hell with them! Go gather everything, throw them into the machine, and let's see if they ruin. Are you their slave?" She stood silently, looking at him. He added, "Am I not speaking to you? I am not joking."
She quietly replied, "Alright." He turned and left the garden upon hearing Pretty calling out to him.
Entering the house, he found Pretty standing and waiting for him to help zip up her dress. He zipped it up and asked when she would be back if she went out. She replied, "Oh, I'm not going anywhere, brother. I bought a new cartoon, and I want to watch it now."
He frowned and said, "Didn't you tell me you were going to your friend's house today?"
She shrugged and said, "I changed my mind, brother. You're usually the one who hates me going out, so why are you insisting I leave today?" He fell silent, saying nothing more as he checked his phone.
Aneesah walked past them heading upstairs with the laundry. Pretty watched her and called out, "Hey, where are you going to wash those clothes?"
Aneesah replied, "Upstairs."
Pretty snapped, "Didn't they tell you they don't want their clothes washed in the machine, or are you daft?"
Haiydar looked at Pretty and intervened, "That's enough chatter from you. Go get your veil so I can drop you off wherever you want; I am heading out to the mosque for Friday prayers now anyway."
She replied, "Alright, big brother," and ran upstairs. He also went upstairs to his bedroom to change into his Friday prayer attire. He came out and found Aneesah standing by the washing machine after loading the clothes. He said, "That's more like it, little sister. I don't like you arguing with me, understand? Now tell me where it hurts so I can buy you medicine on my way back from the mosque."
She shook her head and said, "Nowhere hurts."
He glared playfully and insisted, "Come on, don't be like that, little sister. Tell me, for God's sake." With great effort, he finally got her to admit that her head was aching. He promised to buy her medicine on his way back.
Downstairs in the living room, he found Pretty waiting for him. He took her hand, and they walked out to the garage, picked a car, and drove out of the estate. He dropped her off at her friend's house, handed her five thousand Naira to take a commercial drop when she was ready to return later...
By two o'clock, he returned to the house. By then, Aneesah was in the kitchen cooking their lunch after finishing the laundry. She was feeling so dizzy that everything was spinning, wishing desperately for time to pass so she could go home and lie down to recover. He leaned against the kitchen door frame with his arms crossed, watching her. Sensing the scent of his perfume, she turned around quickly.
He smiled and said, "Well done with the cooking."
She nodded and said, "Thank you," before greeting him. He accepted her greeting, stepped into the kitchen, stood behind her, and asked, "What are you cooking for us?"
She quickly moved to the side and said, "It is rice with chicken stew, and a cream salad."
He nodded with a smile and said, "Alright, serve mine once you are finished." She nodded and continued preparing the salad under his gaze. When she finished, she set his food together. He instructed her to lay it out on the carpet in the center of the living room. She did as he asked, and as she turned to leave, he caught her hand. She pulled it back quickly.
He stared intently at her. "Aneesah, is it just the headache making you this defensive and hot-tempered? Please tell me what is truly wrong, I don't believe it's just a headache."
She waved her hand dismissively and said, "I swear I don't even know myself, I just don't feel well."
He took her hand again, led her to sit in front of the food, and sat down facing her. "Sit down, let's eat together, then I will give you the medications I bought for you." As she was about to protest, he placed his finger over her lips, locking eyes with her intensely. "Don't say a single word to me."
She quickly lowered her head. He served the food and began feeding her. Softly, he asked, "Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are, Aneesah?" She remained silent, offering no response. He scooped another spoonful and brought it to her mouth, but she turned her face away. He stared at her silently. When she turned back to look at him, he smiled and said, "I'm sorry, I won't do it again, little sister." He brought the food to her mouth once more; she slowly opened her mouth, and he fed her.
Quietly, he asked, "Aneesah, what kind of work does that uncle of yours do now?" She was silent for a moment before replying, "He is into politics." He nodded and said, "Good. When was the last time you saw him?" She lowered her eyes and said nothing until he repeated the question. She then tearfully related the story of what her uncle had done to them that fateful night, and how Yusuf had reacted in the end.
Haiydar smiled and said, "There is nothing to cry about, Aneesah. Just set your mind at ease, I don't want you stressing yourself over this." He pulled out a handkerchief, wiped the tears from her eyes, and looked deep into them. She stared back into his eyes. Just then, the main living room door swung open, and someone walked in. She jumped up in absolute terror, crying, "I am undone!"
Part 4 (Chapter 21)
Meenah scoffed, turned toward the stairs, and muttered, "This dramatic nonsense is getting out of hand. One would think she's a demon." She dashed up to her room and slammed the door shut.
Hajiya said, "You need to have patience with your younger siblings, Aliyu. They are just children who don't know any better until they are corrected guided."
He stood up and retorted, "Oh, really? Are they infants? Were they born just today? I swear, if I catch anyone causing trouble in this house again..." He trailed off with a threatening grunt and walked over to the dining room. Pretty stood up and followed him.
Hajiya added, "God will ensure you never lay a hand on them." She then personally went over to serve their food and sent Pretty to call the girls down to eat. Shamelessly, they came downstairs and sat around their mother in the middle of the carpet to eat, since the master of the house was occupying the dining table. After eating, they sat around watching TV while Sumy chatted away. Haiydar and Pretty remained at the dining table, looking at something on his phone.
Sumy remarked, "Is that maid still not done ironing upstairs? I need to send her to the supermarket to buy me some bathing soap, mine is completely finished."
Hajiya said, "How should I know? Hey, Haiydar, is she still not done ironing? She needs to prepare fish pepper soup for us before she leaves."
He acted as if he hadn't heard a word, completely absorbed in the phone with Pretty. Meenah hissed, stood up, and said, "Let me go check on her. The miserable girl probably got too comfortable in the air conditioning and fell asleep."
Haiydar instantly stood up and roared, "What?! Dare to step foot into my room, and you will see exactly how a person gets obliterated today! Go ahead, try it! I swear by Allah, if I don't beat you to unconsciousness, I will break your bones today!"
Hajiya jumped up, screaming, "Oh my God, I am undone! Aliyu, they are your siblings, why do you treat them with such intense hatred? What is the big deal if she wants to check on the maid? What kind of twisted life is this that you live?!"
He shrugged dismissively, completely indifferent to her words, and said, "The problem is your children lack basic upbringing."
Sumy sneered and said, "I don't care how late it gets, I swear she must go buy my soap. Laundry or not, she must even scrub this room if necessary, she has to go to the market for me."
Meenah added, "Me too, I swear! No matter how late it gets, she must iron my clothes before she leaves this house today."
Haiydar stood up and began walking down from the dining platform. Terrified, they all screamed and scrambled behind Hajiya. Hajiya quickly stood in his way, yelling, "For God's sake and His Prophet, leave my children alone in this house, Aliyu! I swear by Allah, I will humiliate you, I will report you to Alhaji Usman! What kind of madness is this?!"
Ignoring both her and her daughters completely, he walked right past them and went upstairs. About five minutes later, he came back down with Aneesah following closely behind him. Hajiya was still standing there, with Meenah and Sumy hiding fearfully behind her, Sumy actively crying.
He barked at Aneesah, "Go on, head home! You are done with your work for today." She looked pleadingly at Hajiya, who gave her a venomous glare. He roared at her again, "I said leave, are you deaf?!" Dejectedly, she walked out of the house at exactly five minutes to four o'clock.
He walked back and sat down. Hajiya fell silent, watching him before adopting a pleading tone. "Come now, Aliyu, do you want this girl to lose all respect for us? This is totally unacceptable. I am paying her wages, yet you constantly interfere when she is supposed to be working for my children, which is the sole reason I brought her to this house."
He replied, "The day they change their rotten attitudes is the day I will change mine." With that, he went upstairs.
Meenah hissed loudly and muttered, "Good for nothing brute. May Allah forgive me, but I absolutely despise this loathsome man returning to this house."
Sumy added, "Tell me about it! He is nothing but a massive obstacle to us in this house." Hajiya just stood there watching them, completely speechless.
Pretty stood up, hissed, and said, "Insolent brats. You are the ones who are good for nothing!" She ran toward the stairs. Meenah chased after her, catching her just as she tripped, and began slapping and beating her viciously. Pretty screamed at the top of her lungs.
Hearing the commotion, Haiydar dashed down the stairs. Meenah turned to run, but he grabbed her, dragging her upstairs. Hajiya ran after them, screaming, "I swear by Allah, let go of my daughter! Do you even know what Pretty did to her?!"
He completely ignored her, dragged Meenah into his bedroom, and locked the door from the inside. That day, he beat her ruthlessly with a belt. Hajiya and Sumy stood outside the locked door, weeping and wailing bitterly, but he refused to open the door until he had thoroughly beaten her. He then threw her out onto the hallway and locked his door again.
When Aneesah returned home early, Ammi asked her in surprise what brought her back at that hour. Aneesah smiled and said, "I told her I wasn't feeling well, so she told me to go home and rest."
Ammi smiled and prayed, "Glory be to God. May Allah increase their blessings, that woman is truly kind-hearted." Aneesah smiled and went into her room, thinking to herself that the woman was indeed "very kind."
When Aneesah went to work the following day, she didn't see Haiydar. She faced severe hardship that day, as the sisters and their mother took out all their pent-up anger from the previous day's events on her. Pretty said nothing, merely watching them silently. They sent Aneesah to the market three times that day entirely on foot. Afterward, she had to iron their clothes and clean all their rooms. By three o'clock, they ate lunch and left the house—Sumy, Meenah, and Hajiya—leaving only Pretty behind.
Before leaving, Sumy brought out a pile of shoes, instructing Aneesah to wash the washable ones and polish the others. Aneesah simply complied. Only after they had all left did Pretty finally speak to her. She brought out the medication Haiydar had bought the previous day and told her that he had explicitly instructed her to give it to her. Pretty then helped her finish up the remaining chores before her sisters and mother returned.
Technical Analytics & Structural Insight
Linguistic Register & Tone Shift
The narrative utilizes a common stylistic device found in contemporary Hausa popular literature (Adabin Kasuwa): code-switching. Characters like Haiydar switch to English expressions ("Gud mrnin", "jez cube biyu yyi", "am givin yhu instructns, nt options") to denote their high socio-economic status, corporate background, and authoritative position within the household. Conversely, the antagonist dialogue utilizes highly dramatic, culturally loaded insults ("mayya kawae", "uban meye wnn") to emphasize familial toxicity and classist aggression.
Character Archetypes & Motifs
- The Protector (Haiydar): Acts as a structural foil to the primary antagonist of the larger story (Baffa Shehu). While the uncle abuses his biological patriarchal power to exploit orphans, the employer's son uses his status within his household to shield the vulnerable protagonist.
- The Passive Ally (Pretty/Zainab): Represents the subset of wealthy individuals who possess basic empathy but are initially paralyzed by peer/familial pressure, eventually breaking compliance to offer covert assistance.
- The Oppressive Household: The dynamic between Hajiya, Meenah, and Sumy mirrors the classic Cinderella motif adapted to a modern Nigerian urban setting, where domestic workers face systemic class exploitation and physical vulnerability.