Imagine you are all alone in a bathroom, holding your breath because the pain is just too much to handle. That is exactly how Halima’s story starts in this book. She is there, squatting on the floor and sweating like crazy, trying her best to bring a new life into the world without any help. It is such a scary and intense moment. But when the baby finally arrives, all that pain turns into a little bit of joy. The book says — "She smiled until her teeth showed because she saw what she always desired, which was a baby girl." (translated from Hausa). It’s a beautiful moment, but you can’t help but feel worried for her because she is so weak and all by herself.
After the baby is born, things don’t just get easy. Halima is so exhausted that she can’t even stand up. She has to use a brand-new razor blade to cut the umbilical cord herself. Think about how much strength that takes! She then has to crawl on the floor, dragging her body and her new little baby back into the bedroom. Just as she is struggling to get herself together, her children come home. They aren't very old, but they can tell something is wrong when they see the blood and their mother on the floor. Her oldest son, Saifu, runs to find his father, shouting that there is blood in the room and a new baby has arrived.
Her husband, who everyone calls Abba, rushes in and he is terrified. He had told Halima many times that he didn’t want her giving birth at home because he was afraid of something going wrong. He loves her so much and seeing her like that breaks his heart. They have to rush her to the hospital because the bleeding won't stop. This part of the story really shows you the kind of bond they have. While they are at the hospital, the doctors say she needs blood right away. Without wasting a second, Abba tells them to take his blood because they have the same blood type. If you like stories about deep family love, you should really look for best Hausa novels like this one because it shows how a husband stands by his wife.
The author, Feenart Jafar, really knows how to make you feel what the characters are feeling. While Halima is recovering, her sister Fatima comes all the way from Kano to help look after the house and the kids. When they finally get to go home, the house feels warm again. There is a very sweet scene where the whole family is together on one big bed. The three boys — Saifu who is six, Amjad who is four, and little Nass who is only two — are all hovering around the new baby girl. They are so excited to have a sister. They even joke around with their dad, telling him there is space for him on the bed too. It’s one of those moments that makes you want to download Hausa novels just to see more of these happy family vibes.
But even with all this happiness and the naming ceremony coming up, there is a dark cloud hanging over Halima. She has this deep, heavy feeling in her heart that something bad is going to happen. One night, while everyone is happy, she just starts crying. Her husband Kabir notices and asks her what is wrong. She finally opens up to him about her fears. One part of the book says — "I am afraid of the day death will separate us and my children will suffer if I am gone." (translated from Hausa). It’s so sad because she is looking at her beautiful family and wondering if she will be there to see them grow up. Her husband tries to comfort her, telling her that they will be together for a long time, but you can feel that Halima’s health is still not 100% okay.
As the days go by, the house starts getting busy. People are coming from different places for the naming ceremony, which they call the 'suna'. Halima is trying her best to be a good mother and a good wife, but she is still feeling a lot of pain in her stomach. She drinks hot water to try and dull the pain, and she tries to keep a smile on her face so she doesn't worry her husband or the kids. You can really see the strength of a mother here. She cares more about her children’s happiness than her own pain. If you enjoy reading about real-life struggles and family drama, you can find many Hausa novels online that talk about these kinds of things.
The relationship between the kids is also very touching. Saifu is trying to be a big brother, promising his mom that he will help feed his younger brothers and the new baby. The way they all call her "Maman Saifu" is so local and sweet. Even though they have a lot of love, you can tell the story is building up to something big. The way the author describes Halima looking at her family photo, with tears in her eyes, makes you feel like you need to give her a hug. She is so scared of leaving them behind in this world. It makes you think about how precious life is and how quickly things can change.
Kabir, the husband, is also a character you will grow to love. He isn't just a husband who provides money; he is actually involved in his kids' lives. He plays with them, tells them stories, and treats his wife like a queen. He even jokes with Halima about how she has spoiled all of them with too much love. He says that the house feels empty and boring whenever she isn't around. It’s rare to see such a supportive husband in some stories, and it makes the drama even more emotional when you see them facing health problems together. You can find more stories like this on Taskar Novels if you want to see how different families handle life's challenges.
The story is not just about the birth of a baby; it’s about the fear of the unknown. Halima keeps thinking about the future and what it holds for her kids. She tells her husband that she wants them to learn how to do things for themselves, just in case. It’s like she is preparing them for a life without her, even though everyone else is busy planning for a big party. This mix of joy and sadness is what makes this book so hard to put down. You want her to be okay, but you also feel that something is about to shift in their lives. The way the author writes makes it feel like you are sitting right there in the room with them, watching the kids sleep and hearing the parents whisper in the dark.
If you want to read the full story of Halima, Kabir, and their children, you should definitely check out Matan Uba. It is a story that will make you smile one minute and make you want to cry the next. It’s perfect for anyone who loves a good family drama with a lot of heart. You can read this novel and many other amazing stories by visiting Taskar Novels. They have a huge collection of books that you can read or download whenever you want. Go check it out and see what happens to Halima and her beautiful family!
