Zinariya Hausa Book Compele

Description

Chapter 33-34

Weeks later, Amjad had fully recovered. His arm sling was now removed, he could use his arm properly, and he had returned to the office. Laila was far advanced in taking her exams. They were getting used to each other daily, except that since that day, she never let herself enter his room again, and whenever she needed to clean the room, she made sure he was not around.
At 8:12 AM, they were at the dining table having breakfast. They spent a few minutes in silence; neither of them spoke. He abruptly put down his spoon after looking at his wristwatch, took a single gulp of the coffee in front of him, and stood up. "Laila, I'm done."
She sat there simply nodding her head without saying anything. "Laila, no goodbye?"
She heard him but remained silent because she always had to deal with this; sometimes he wouldn't even get a goodbye, or sometimes she would wait until he was about to leave and then rush into her room.
As she sat with her head bowed down, unexpectedly she felt a kiss on her cheek. Instantly, the hairs on her body stood up. Before she could make any substantial movement, she felt another kiss on the other side. "Goodbye, my heartbeat."
She froze in her seat, unable to make another movement until he went out without her even noticing. She raised her hand to stroke her right cheek and then held her left cheek, finding herself smiling in a way she had not planned for. "Heartbeat," she repeated aloud in a soft voice.
She remained like that for a long time without even having a full breakfast, filled with thoughts of him. Realizing it was almost 9:00 AM, she stood up and took the plates to the kitchen. After rinsing them, she returned to her room, pulled out a handout, and started reading because she had an exam tomorrow. Step by step she began her studies, but before she knew it, she sank into thoughts—thoughts of Amjad. No matter how hard she tried to push him away, she couldn't stop; it was starting to bother her because she wanted to study but couldn't.
At 2:00 PM, she managed with difficulty to read as much as she could and closed the material. She began thinking about what to cook. At once, she felt she wanted to know his favorite food, but she felt she couldn't ask him. Just as she was about to decide what food to make, a thought crossed her mind, and she remembered when they were at the hospital and Mom brought him food; surely, if she remembered correctly, it looked like chicken spaghetti. Seeing this, she immediately started preparing pineapple juice and put it in the fridge, and afterwards, she began making the chicken spaghetti. Before long, she finished, neatly cleaned the kitchen, and it returned to its normal state.
As soon as she returned to her room, a text message came into her phone. When she checked it, she saw it was from "Canada":
"Hi my heartbeat, how is the day? Hope you're doing good. I love you."
"I'm doing good," she replied within a very short time.
While at the office, he smiled seeing that she had replied. He tried calling her, and to his surprise, she picked up on the second ring.
She remained silent without speaking after picking up. "Hello," he spoke.
"Laila, are you there?" he said, noticing her silence.
"Laila, talk to me."
"Uh... yes," she tried to say.
"Are you ok?"
"Yes."
"Have you eaten?"
"No," she answered.
"Why? Are you waiting for me?"
In all honesty, the answer was "yes," but she said "No."
"Sure?"
"Yes."
"Don't lie. Did you miss me?"
She remained silent and refused to answer him; he kept talking to her, but she refused to speak.
"Laila, you missed me, I knew it."
"No." As soon as she said that, she hung up the phone, unable to stop smiling.
When she opened her status, she saw he had posted a status. She opened it to read and saw he had left a note for her to read—it was about her, "heartbeat." His profile status was also about her. She put the phone down, unable to even chat as she drifted into thoughts, blushing. On Amjad's end, he stared at his phone smiling, concluding that the answer was simply yes, and she was just too shy to say it. He felt like the happiest person in the world: "She loves me."
15 minutes later, while deep in these thoughts, she heard the doorbell ring. She stood up, opened the window to peek, and saw his car parked outside. She began to wonder how he managed to return so early. Realizing she would waste time, she picked up her veil and draped it over herself. Just as she was about to pass by, she turned back to look in the mirror, dusted some powder onto her face, and re-applied her perfume (humrah). She decided her veil wasn't looking right, so she took it off and went out just like that, wearing a red Ankara top and skirt. Holding the door handle, she looked down at her outfit, feeling shy for a moment, and then opened the door.
Seeing him face-to-face, a wave of shyness washed over her. With a smile on his face, he walked inside and closed the door. He took both of her hands in his, softly rubbing them. "Laila, what are you hiding on your face? Let me see your pretty face."
"Laila," he called out again, seeing she refused to look up.
Slowly she lifted her head, but she refused to let their eyes meet. He took both of her hands and kissed them. "Did you know how pretty your hands look? I really love them."
"Amjad," she called his name.
"Uhm?"
Before he realized it, she quickly pulled her hand away, and before he could say anything else, she hurried upstairs and left him standing there. Entering her room, she closed the door and was panting heavily, holding her hands up in front of her and staring at them.
As for Amjad, he walked toward the kitchen and opened the warmer. Upon opening it, he saw his favorite dish. "Wow!" he uttered. Without wasting any time, he grabbed a serving spoon, heaped it onto a plate, and was shaking slightly as he took a single bite. Finding a place outside to sit down, he enjoyed the meal so much that he even took off his suit. After eating his fill, he stood up and went into the kitchen. Opening the fridge, he saw the pineapple juice, poured it into a glass cup, and washed it down.
20 minutes later, she heard a knock on her door. Hesitantly, she walked over and opened it. She saw him standing there holding a tray in his hand. "May I come in?"
She nodded her head to mean "yes," keeping her gaze lowered. He placed the tray on the bedside drawer and walked back to where she was. "Laila, you haven't eaten, and you're here alone; it's boring."
He took her hand and made her sit on the edge of the bed. Sitting right beside her, he picked up the plate of food. "Open up," he offered, handing her a spoonful filled with food.
"I..." Before she could say what she wanted, he put it in her mouth. She could only marvel at the power of God—she couldn't stop him from feeding her, nor could she stop herself from eating. She wanted to ask him if he had eaten the food, but she couldn't. "It's ok," she said after she was full.
"Sure?"
"Yes," she answered, nodding her head.
He poured the juice into a cup and gave it to her as well, and she gulped it down. "Laila, do you know my favorite food?" he asked after returning the cup.
"Yes," she answered, still refusing to look at him.
"How?" he pinned her with his gaze.
She remained silent and refused to tell him; no matter how much he coaxed her, she wouldn't tell him, only smiling. "Come with me." He took her hand after standing up from the bed, and without protesting, she stood up too.
With her hand in his, they walked out of her room. She walked timidly, realizing they were heading toward his room. Once inside, he didn't stop anywhere except in front of the mirror. She watched him open a drawer from the side and pull out a small blue box. He opened it to reveal a gorgeous silver-chained necklace with a blue stone pendant that sparkled brilliantly. After taking out the necklace, he placed the box to the side, adjusted the vanity stool, and turned to her. "Laila, sit," he said in a soft voice.
Without hesitation, she walked over and sat facing the mirror. Deliberately, he unfolded the necklace and placed it around her neck. It fit her neck so well that even she found the necklace extremely lovely. She relaxed and stared at it, then felt him rest his chin on her shoulder, smiling as he watched her through the mirror. Their eyes met, and she quickly lowered her gaze.
"For you only, my heartbeat."
"Now I don't care about anything, I am not afraid of anything."
"I want to split myself in you, dear."
"You've captured my mind, my heart, my soul on earth."
"My heart needs your heart, dear."
Ever since Amjad started speaking those words, Laila had drifted into another world. It wasn't until her thoughts returned that she noticed his arms wrapped around her waist, hugging her tightly from behind. When she looked at his face, she saw his eyes were closed. She moved, wanting to stand up, but she couldn't because she felt him tighten his embrace.
"Laila, stay with me, never leave me alone," she heard his voice, almost like a whisper.
A long time passed in silence, each of them lost in their own feelings. "Amjad, please let me go," she spoke in her tiny voice.
"Please be with me, I so much love you, I always want you by my side," he finished speaking, opening his eyes.
She thought he would let her go as she begged, but instead, she saw the opposite. Slowly, he began kissing her neck, inhaling her perfume. Instantly, her anxiety skyrocketed beyond measure. Almost crying, she began to speak, "Amjad, please let me go," using her hands to push away the arms wrapped around her waist.
Ring! Ring! His phone rang in his pocket. As if he wasn't going to answer, just as it was about to stop on the second ring, he slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out the phone. She didn't wait even two seconds; she quickly stood up and rushed without stopping straight to her room. Inside her room, she bolted into the bathroom, closed the door, and trembled. Her heart was beating as if it wanted to jump out, and she kept reviewing everything that had happened with wide eyes. She stared at the necklace, turning it around and seeing how wonderfully it suited her. Only then did she remember she hadn't even said thank you.
As for Amjad, after finishing his phone call, he looked at the stool only to find an empty space. He knew she had fled, and right now, no matter what he did, she wouldn't open her door. He simply smiled, walked back to the edge of the bed, and sat down thinking about her.

Chapter 35-36

Knock! Knock!
She heard it at her door. Thump-thump! Her heart raced. Part of her wanted to open it, and another part was afraid. With difficulty, she forced herself to go and open it, but she found the hallway completely empty. She stepped out to look toward his room, thinking to herself, "Did he go back to his room?"
Her heart felt heavy, and with a gloomy face, she returned to her room and locked the door. As she turned around, she saw a person standing there with arms folded, watching her. In astonishment, she dropped her jaw, staring at him. "When did he come in? Is he a genie?"
"Surprised, huh?" he said with a smile, walking closer to her. Before she could lower her gaze as she usually did, he cupped her chin. One glance was all she managed before lowering her eyes, which were beautifully adorned with eyeliner. Unexpectedly, she felt a kiss land right on her eyelid, causing her eyes to squeeze shut tightly while the hairs on her body stood on end.
"Your eyes are great," he uttered.
"Uh... lunch is ready," she tried to say to prevent anything else from following.
"Laila, stop pretending."
A wave of shyness made her wish she could sink into the floor. "I'm not pretending."
"Ok, let's go." He took her hand.
They walked all the way to the dining table like that, and he pulled out a chair for her to sit, then took his own seat. Today too, he fed her with his own hands while she remained overwhelmed with shyness.
After finishing the meal, she returned to her room. When he suggested she sit and watch TV, she said she wanted to study. Upon returning to her room, she didn't even look at the handout; instead, she just lay down—not because she was sleepy, but because she started thinking, closing her eyes tightly. Only around Asr time did she manage to study, and she didn't come out even after Maghrib.
At 9:00 PM, she went down to the kitchen. Seeing that he wasn't downstairs, she sighed in relief. She just drank some cookies and Hollandia milk and returned to her room. She stepped into the bathroom to take a bath, but the shower handle jammed completely, and she couldn't turn it off. When she gave up trying, she stepped out, slipped into her sleeping gown, threw a short veil over herself, and went to his room to inform him. She didn't even step into the room; she spoke from the doorway before turning back to leave before he could come out.
When he entered the room, she was standing off to the side. Slowly, he walked to the bathroom, looked at the shower running water, and tried his absolute best, but he failed. "Laila, come over and help me with thi...s," he finished haltingly.
"Uhm?" as if she hadn't heard.
He signaled with his hand for her to come closer. Slowly, she walked over to the bathroom. "Something is on your face," he touched the top of his eyebrow.
She raised her hand to touch the spot, but she felt nothing, and shook her head to indicate there was nothing there. "Very close to your hand... you're almost there..."
He kept teasing her mind like that until he finally said, "Come over." In her usual soft, sluggish manner, she walked to where he was. "Close your eyes."
"My eyes?" she furrowed her brows.
"Yes," he answered her.
She closed her eyes just as he said. He cupped water from the running shower in his hands and sprinkled it on her face. Quickly, she opened her eyes and fixed them on him with a scowl on her face. Without wasting any time, she also opened the sink tap, filled the palms of her hands, and retaliated by splashing water at him, turning to run away. He grabbed her hand from behind, and she fell right into his chest, struggling and squirming, but she couldn't break free.
He stood right under the stream of the shower so the water hit both of them. The small veil on her head slipped off, and her hair fell loose and wet, clinging to her and revealing its dark color. They stayed like that for almost 5 minutes, after which he picked her up like a baby. He didn't put her down anywhere except on the bed. Her body was completely soaked and dripping wet. Because of the cold AC, she began shivering slightly. He grabbed a towel, placed it over her, and began drying her hair while she couldn't make any move. As he dried her hair, his eyes focused on her lips, and he completely lost control of his mind. Before she knew it, she felt his lips land on hers...

Chapter 37 onwards (Opening snippet)

6:03 AM
"Laila, I said I'm sorry, please let me help..."
"I don't want it!" she spoke with her face buried in the pillow.
"Laila, please." He reached his hand toward her shoulder, and she let out a shriek.
"What do you want now?" he spoke in a soft voice.
"Leave."
"Ok, but you need to get up. I can't leave you like this, you know."
For over 30 minutes, he struggled with her like someone trying to cure a stubborn illness, but she still refused to lift her head, let alone sit up. Whenever he tried to touch her, she would scream. Eventually, he stood up, walked around to her side while she swatted at him, and carried her into the bathroom to help her take a bath. Her eyes felt heavy; she refused to let their eyes meet even once. When he draped the towel over her, she braced herself to walk. Though he supported her shoulder, she shoved him aside and stepped out of the room, staggering and walking with great difficulty. "Cruel man, you did what your heart wanted," she muttered to herself inside her heart, tears streaming down as she sobbed.
She pulled out a long gown from the wardrobe, slipped into a massive hijab, and performed her morning prayers with great difficulty.
Seeing that she wouldn't answer even when he spoke, he left the room to give her space. As soon as he left, she climbed down from the bed, locked her room door, and lay back down. Within a short time, sleep overtook her.
At 11:34 AM, she woke up from sleep tormented by extreme hunger. Slowly, she stood up, reached the doorway, and stopped. Recalling last night, she remembered everything that had happened—how she had pleaded with him in every possible way, but he wouldn't let her go until he had done what his heart desired. "Cruel," she said aloud, tears filling her eyes.
She walked back to get her phone, opened her contacts to call Mami, but another voice in her heart said, "What is she going to do for you?" As if about to cry, she put the phone back down.
2 minutes later, a text message came into her phone. When she checked, it was him: "Heartbeat, please come down and eat something. I love you, my wife."
"I refuse to come down!"
She continued to sit there while hunger gnawed at her. Realizing that if she didn't save face and go downstairs to eat something, she wouldn't regain her strength, she stood up, slipped on her hijab, and went out. Finding that he wasn't downstairs, she saw the dining table filled with different kinds of food apart from the one she had chosen. She adjusted a chair, sat down, took what she could eat until she was full, and then returned to her room, completely ignoring the plates she had dirtied.
When Amjad came back down after she returned to her room, he found that she had eaten. Personally, he cleared away the dirty dishes and washed them.
Only this time when Laila returned to the room did she notice that the bedsheet wasn't the same one as before. She burst into a fresh round of sobs, weeping to herself as she sat propping her chin in her hands.
That day passed with her hiding and avoiding any encounters with him. The next day too, she refused to come out; he brought her breakfast right to the door, but she took it from the doorway without even letting him step inside, nor would she let their eyes meet.
Amjad was starting to get tired of her behavior. She was truly determined not to speak to him ever again, refusing to pick up his phone calls, and even going to school on her own. Today at 10:12 PM, while she was studying, she heard the door being pushed open. When she looked up, she saw him standing there. Just as she was about to stand up, he walked right in and locked the door behind him.
"What are you doing here again?"
She spoke in Hausa, because lately, she had even stopped speaking English to him.
"Do I have to explain myself?" he said as he walked closer.
"This is my room," she said shortly.
"And this is also my room." He walked around to the side, lifted the blanket, and sat down.
She said nothing as she gathered her handouts lying on the bed...

Summary

The story revolves around Amjad and Laila, whose relationship deepens amidst emotional tension, shyness, and undeniable affection. Following Amjad's recovery from an accident, he showers Laila with romantic gestures, pet names ("heartbeat"), gifts like a custom necklace, and home-cooked meals. Laila struggles internally; while she reciprocates his deep feelings and enjoys his attention, her immense shyness and modesty cause her to put up defenses, retreat to her room, and attempt to ignore him.
The emotional peak leads to a passionate encounter between them that leaves Laila feeling overwhelmed, vulnerable, and initially resentful of his persistence. Despite her cold treatment—avoiding eye contact, refusing to speak, locking herself away, and skipping meals—Amjad remains patient, attentive, and deeply affectionate, continually trying to win her over and care for her. The excerpt ends with Amjad stepping uninvited into her room while she studies, signaling that the emotional standoff between the two is far from over.

Description

This excerpt is a quintessential contemporary Hausa romantic fiction ("Soyayya") scene characterized by domestic intimacy, emotional push-and-pull, and traditional modesty clashing with intense modern romance. It explores themes of:

• The "Grumpy/Sunshine" or "Shy Bride/Persistent Husband" Dynamic: Laila's overwhelming bashfulness (kunya) and stubborn withdrawal contrasted with Amjad's unwavering devotion, playfulness, and romantic pursuit.
• Domestic Romance Settings: The narrative heavily utilizes domestic touchpoints—shared breakfast tables, cooking favorite dishes (chicken spaghetti, couscous), modern communication via text messages and status updates, and cPanel/campus routines—to ground the emotional drama in everyday reality.

• Internal Conflict: Laila's battle between her strict modesty, fear of vulnerability, and her genuine, growing love for Amjad.

  Analytics

• Literary Genre: Contemporary Hausa Romance / Domestic Fiction (Littafin Soyayya).
• Pacing: Moderately paced, blending fast narrative transitions (time jumps like "weeks later" or "15 minutes later") with micro-detailed emotional reactions and internal monologues.
• Character Arcs:
  • Amjad: Transitions from a recovering patient dependent on care to an assertive, deeply romantic, and attentive husband determined to break through his wife's shell.
  • Laila: Evolves from a quiet, submissive housemate to a conflicted young woman torn between deep affection and protective modesty.
• Key Motifs & Symbols:
  • The Necklace: A physical token of possession and devotion ("For you only, my heartbeat").
  • Food: Acts as a love language—Laila cooks chicken spaghetti remembering his hospital stay, while Amjad cooks elaborate breakfasts to coax her out of her shell.
  • The Door / Locked Room: Represents Laila's boundaries and her attempt to shield her vulnerability from Amjad's overwhelming presence.