The sky was so dark that 5:30 in the evening looked like the middle of the night. A massive storm was gathering over the city, and everything was turning pitch black. You know those types of clouds that make you want to run home as fast as you can? That is exactly how it was. People were rushing everywhere, trying to get off the streets before the rain started pouring down. Right in the middle of all that rush, a big, dark blue Jeep was speeding down the road. It was shiny and looked really expensive. The driver was clearly in a hurry to get home before the heavens opened up. The street was quiet because it was one of those fancy neighborhoods where people stay inside their gates. When the Jeep reached a certain house, the driver honked the horn, and the gateman quickly opened the gate for him. The car pulled into the parking space, and an old man came running out to meet it. He was bowing and greeting the person inside even before the door opened. This is how the story of Ana Dara starts, and it immediately makes you wonder who this important person is.
A very handsome young man stepped out of the car. He looked to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. He was wearing blue jeans and a white shirt with a collar, and he looked very sharp. Even though the wind was blowing hard, you could smell his expensive perfume from a distance. The old man, Malam Mudi, was busy trying to take his laptop bag and papers, but the young man was kind. One part of the book says — "Malam Mudi, haven't you found a place to hide from this rain yet? Don't get yourself soaked and get sick, you know how fast rain moves." (translated from Hausa). He didn't want the old man to suffer in the rain just to carry his bag. He took his things himself and headed inside just as the heavy rain started to fall. Inside the house, things were a bit different. He could hear music playing loudly, and it didn't seem like anyone was bothered by the storm or the fact that it was time for prayer. He went straight to his part of the house, which was already clean and smelling nice because his mother, Ummi, knew he loved everything to be perfect. If you want to download Hausa novels that have this kind of family drama, you should definitely check this one out.
After he took a shower and prayed, he went to see his mother. On his way, he saw his younger sisters sitting in the living room. They were just relaxing, listening to music, and acting like they didn't have a care in the world. They didn't even realize he was back until he was standing right over them. When they saw him, they were terrified. He is the kind of big brother that doesn't play around. He looked at them with those serious eyes of his, and they started stammering. He shouted at them, asking why they were sitting there listening to music when it was time for prayer. The book says — "Shut up, stupid girls! Even with this rain, you can't be serious? Prayer time has passed and you are all just sitting here." (translated from Hausa). He didn't even wait for their excuses; he just pointed toward their rooms, and they ran off as fast as they could. You can tell he is the one who keeps order in that house. He then went to see Ummi, who was sitting on her prayer mat. She was so happy to see him and told him she was just thinking about him. They started talking about his trip from Jos and how the weather was.
But then the conversation turned a bit serious. Ummi started talking about their father. She told him that the father had changed lately. He wasn't happy anymore, he wasn't talking much, and he had stopped being close with the children. She was worried because she didn't know what was bothering him. She wanted the young man, whom she calls Alhaji Karami, to wait until the father came back from his trip so they could talk. She hoped he could figure out what was wrong. But work didn't give him much time. While they were talking, his phone rang. It was a work call, and he had to leave for Lagos the very next morning. Ummi wasn't happy about him leaving so soon, especially because his job is dangerous. She feels he is too young for the kind of risky work he does, but he told her he had to go. He didn't even have time to eat the food she offered; he just said he would drink some tea and go to bed because he had to leave at 5:30 in the morning. This author, Zainab Idris Makawa, really knows how to show the pressure of being the eldest son in a big family. If you enjoy stories with deep family connections, you can find many best Hausa novels on the same site.
The next morning, he was off to the airport. By 10:00 AM, he was already in Lagos. His colleagues were waiting for him because they were already running late for whatever mission they were on. Lagos is nothing like Kano. As they were driving, they got stuck in a massive traffic jam, what people call "go-slow." It was raining there too, but in Lagos, the rain doesn't stop people from doing their business. The street was full of cars and people walking everywhere. While they were sitting in the car, a young girl approached the window. She was completely soaked by the rain, but she didn't seem to care. She started knocking on the glass, begging for money. One of the men in the car with him said these beggars are everywhere and they use the traffic to get money. But the girl didn't give up. She went to the other side and kept knocking. She was saying "Wahidu oga, give me something oga, even small. Allah will reward you." (translated from Hausa). Alhaji Karami was annoyed. He felt like these people were just bothering everyone.
His colleague decided to give her some money just so she would leave them alone. He reached into his pocket to bring out some cash. He intended to give her two thousand naira, but he accidentally pulled out about four thousand. Before he could even blink, the girl snatched the money from his hand and disappeared into the rain. Alhaji Karami was shocked. He couldn't believe how bold she was. He looked at his friend and said that girls like that are the ones who cause trouble in the city. He thought she was just another street kid with bad manners. But you can feel that this encounter isn't just a random thing. In stories like this, these small moments usually lead to something much bigger later on. The way she looked at them through the rain and the way he reacted shows there is a lot of drama coming. It makes you want to keep reading to see if they will ever meet again in a different situation. Reading Hausa novels online is so much fun when the plot starts building up like this.
The story really makes you think about the different lives people live. On one hand, you have this rich, clean, and serious man who has everything. On the other hand, you have a young girl begging in the rain just to eat. The contrast is very sharp. Alhaji Karami is a man of principle and religion, but he also seems a bit cold toward people he doesn't understand. His interaction with his sisters showed he is strict, and his interaction with the beggar girl showed he is a bit judgmental. But you can also see he cares deeply for his mother and his father's well-being. There is a lot of mystery surrounding his father's change in behavior, and I have a feeling that his job in Lagos might be connected to it somehow. Zainab Idris Makawa has a way of making you feel the tension in the air, whether it's the tension of a coming storm or the tension between family members.
As the story goes on, you see more of his life in Lagos and how he handles his work. He is a professional, but his mind keeps going back to his family and the weird things happening at home. And that girl from the traffic? You just know she is going to pop up again. The title "Ana Dara" suggests that a game is being played, and in games, you never know who is going to win until the very end. The drama is just starting to heat up, and the way the author describes the scenes makes you feel like you are right there in the car with them, feeling the humidity of Lagos and hearing the sound of the rain on the roof. It is a really good read for anyone who likes a mix of action, family secrets, and a bit of romance hidden beneath the surface. I spent my whole afternoon finishing the first few chapters because I couldn't put it down.
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