You know how sometimes you pick up a book and from the very first page, your heart just starts heavy? That is exactly how I felt when I started reading The Regret by Pending Amarya. It is one of those stories that makes you want to reach into the pages and give the main character a big hug because life is just hitting her from every side. The story starts back in 2004 in Nigeria, and we meet this young girl named Ikimat. When we first see her, she is lying on her bed, just staring at one spot, and you can tell her mind is very far away. Her eyes are full of tears and her face is swollen, which tells you right away that someone has been putting their hands on her. It is so heartbreaking because she is only 17 years old, but she has already been married for four years. Imagine being a bride at 13 and having to deal with the kind of darkness she faces every day in her husband's house.
Her husband is named Nabil. He is about 27 years old, and honestly, the way the author describes him, he sounds like someone who has everything on the outside but nothing but coldness on the inside. He walks into her room not with love, but with this mean look on his face. Ikimat is terrified of him. She even tries to beg him because she is pregnant again. This is where the story gets really dark. One part of the book says — "Brother Nabil, I promise I won't disobey you again, but please understand I can't get rid of this baby in me, for God's sake have mercy and leave me with what is in my womb." (translated from Hausa). Can you imagine the pain? She is literally begging for the life of her unborn child, but Nabil does not care at all. He just slaps her and tells her he is not ready to be a father for another three years. He thinks because he is rich, he can just play God with her life. If you want to see how this drama unfolds, you can download Hausa novels like this one to get the full experience.
What makes it even sadder is that Ikimat feels like she has nowhere to go. She thinks about going back to her parents' house, but she knows they will just send her back to Nabil. They rely on her to help them get food and survive because Nabil has money. So she is stuck in this golden cage where she is being abused, but she has to stay so her family can eat. It is a terrible position for a young girl to be in. She is only 17, but she says she has already lost five pregnancies because of Nabil's heartless demands. This one she is carrying now is the sixth one. She cries out to God, asking for a way out, but she feels so lost. You can find more emotional stories like this when you look for best Hausa novels online today.
Nabil takes her to a hospital to see a doctor who is actually his friend, a man named Doctor Hafiz. Even the doctor is starting to get worried. He looks at them and tells Nabil straight up that this is the very last time they can do this. He says if she gets pregnant again, she must have the baby because her body cannot take any more of this. You would think Nabil would feel some guilt, but he just gives Ikimat a scary look that makes her go quiet immediately. The book says — "She looked up and her eyes met Nabil's, she started crying real tears, and in her weak voice she said 'Brother Nabil please for God's sake don't let them take this one, at least once let yourself be called a father'." (translated from Hausa). But Nabil doesn't budge. He is just cold. After the procedure is done, he doesn't even let her rest properly. As soon as they get home, he tells her to go into the kitchen and cook pounded yam and vegetable soup for him. The girl is in physical and emotional pain, but she has to stand over a stove just to please a man who doesn't even like her.
One of the most frustrating parts of the story is how Nabil acts when other people are around. When his family or relatives come to visit, he turns into the perfect, loving husband. He sits with Ikimat, they laugh, they joke, and he treats her so well that no one would ever believe she is suffering. He is such a good actor that even if she tried to complain, nobody would believe her. They would think she is just being ungrateful because her husband is rich and "kind." But the moment the guests leave, the monster comes back out. He even beats her for things she said or did while the guests were there, even if he was the one encouraging her to be playful. It is a total nightmare. If you are looking for where to read more about these kinds of life struggles, you should check out Hausa novels online.
The story then jumps forward two years to 2006. Things have not changed much, except Nabil has gotten even richer and more arrogant. He has a new Mercedes Benz and lives a very big life. Ikimat is still there, surviving day by day. One Friday morning, she wakes up feeling very sick. She is dizzy, she is vomiting, and she can't even stand up straight. She is at the sink in the dining area when Nabil comes downstairs looking all sharp in his expensive white clothes. He sees her vomiting and instead of asking if she is okay, he gets angry. He is worried that she is pregnant again after the doctor's warning. While she is struggling to breathe, she accidentally vomits on his clean white clothes. Instead of helping her, Nabil just loses it and slaps her so hard that she falls to the ground and passes out. He doesn't even check to see if she is breathing; he just goes back upstairs, changes his clothes, and leaves the house in his fancy car.
This book by Pending Amarya really shows the reality of what some women go through in their homes. It is called The Regret because you just know that sooner or later, Nabil is going to realize that all the money and power in the world cannot fix the damage he has done. You find yourself rooting for Ikimat, hoping she finds the strength to leave or that justice finally catches up with Nabil. The way the author describes her pain makes you feel it in your own chest. It is a story about patience, but also about the limits of what a human being can take. You can find this book and many other amazing stories at Taskar Novels. It is really a place where you can get the best Hausa stories that talk about real life issues, love, and the struggles we face. Go there now to get your copy and see what happens to Ikimat in the end!
