Imagine a busy morning at a university campus. The air is fresh because it is the rainy season, and everyone is rushing to get to their lectures. Siddiqa and her best friend Shamcy are in their hostel room, and things are a bit tense. Shamcy is the type of person who hates being late, especially when they have a class with a strict teacher. Siddiqa, on the other hand, is busy making sure her pink shawl is wrapped perfectly. She wants to look good, but Shamcy is almost losing her mind with worry. One part of the book says — "Hurry up so we don't get late, you know how Professor Hussain is with his rules and regulations, so please be fast." (translated from Hausa). Siddiqa just gives a small smile and continues what she is doing. She tells Shamcy that she is too much of a coward and needs to relax. They finally leave the room, laughing and teasing each other as they walk down from the upstairs part of the hostel.
As they walk through the school compound, they are just having a normal conversation. They don't know that their day is about to be ruined. Suddenly, a big black Mercedes Benz comes flying past them. Because it had been raining, there was a big puddle of dirty water on the road. The car didn't even slow down. It just splashed that muddy water all over Siddiqa and Shamcy. Their nice clothes and Siddiqa’s pink shawl were covered in dirt. Most girls would just cry or walk away, but not Siddiqa. She was so angry she started fuming. Shamcy tried to stop her, telling her to just let it go and that maybe the person would meet their match another day. But Siddiqa wasn't having it. She pulled her hand away and said she wouldn't take that kind of disrespect from anyone. She followed the car all the way to the administrative block to confront whoever was inside.
The car parked, and out came Haidar and his friend Saleem. Haidar is the kind of guy who thinks he is the king of the world. He is the son of the Deputy Governor, and he walks with so much pride. He didn't even look back to see the mess he caused. Siddiqa marched right up to him. She didn't care about his expensive car or his handsome face. She looked at him with so much anger and said — "What kind of foolish person are you? You splashed mud on us and just passed without stopping to apologize?" (translated from Hausa). Haidar was completely shocked. In that university, everyone is afraid of him because of his father's power. He is used to people bowing to him, not shouting at him. He was so mad that he actually raised his hand to slap her. Thankfully, his friend Saleem caught his arm. Saleem told him to calm down because if he hit a girl in public, it would cause a huge scene and make them look bad.
Siddiqa didn't even flinch. She told him that if he had slapped her, he would have seen a level of madness he never expected. Shamcy finally caught up and dragged her away before things got even worse. Haidar just stood there, frozen. He couldn't believe what just happened. He felt so embarrassed and insulted. He looked at the direction she went and said — "I swear you will pay for this, rubbish ugly girl." (translated from Hausa). He was so upset that he didn't even want to go to his lecture anymore. He told Saleem to find out everything about that girl—who she is, where she stays, everything. He then jumped back into his car and drove out of the school at a crazy speed, leaving Saleem standing in the dust. You can find out more about his reaction when you visit Taskar Novels to see how the drama unfolds.
The author, Meryerm Abdool, gives us a deep look into who Haidar really is. He isn't just a random rich kid. His father, Alhaji Muktar, is a very good man who helps the poor, and his mother, Hajia Asma'u, is very kind too. Haidar has an older brother named Umar Farooq who is an engineer. Umar is the calm one, very respectful and hardworking. Haidar is the opposite. He is arrogant and uses his father's name to get whatever he wants. He also has a bad habit of smoking cigarettes whenever he is stressed or angry. Even though he is a bit of a rebel, he really loves and respects his big brother. There was a time Umar caught him smoking in his room. Haidar tried to hide the stuff under the bed, but Umar already saw it. Instead of reporting him to their parents, Umar just talked to him with love. Haidar promised to try and stop, but it’s a big struggle for him. He feels a lot of pressure being from such a famous family, and smoking is how he deals with it.
While Haidar is dealing with his anger at home, we get to learn about Siddiqa’s background too. She isn't just a regular student either. She is actually a princess from Argungu! Her father is the Emir, a very powerful and just ruler. Siddiqa comes from a house where there is so much peace. Her father has two wives, but they live like sisters. There is no fighting or jealousy like you see in other big houses. Siddiqa is the most beautiful girl in the family. She has this long face, beautiful eyes, and a very fair complexion. People even compare her beauty to Indian movie stars. But she isn't just a pretty face. She is very brilliant and has already memorized the Holy Quran since she was seven years old. She is brave because she was raised to know her worth. That is why she wasn't scared to face a guy like Haidar. If you want to download Hausa novels that have strong female characters, this is the one for you.
After that day at the administrative block, Haidar couldn't stop thinking about Siddiqa. It wasn't because he liked her—at least not yet. He was just obsessed with getting revenge. He felt like she stepped on his pride, and he wanted to show her who was boss. But the more he tried to find things out about her, the more he realized she wasn't like the other girls who chased him for his money. Siddiqa didn't care about his Benz or his designer clothes. Every time they crossed paths in school, the tension was so high you could feel it. Haidar would try to intimidate her with his presence, but Siddiqa would just give him a cold look and walk past. It was driving him crazy because he was used to getting his way with everyone. You can read more about their school clashes on Hausa novels online.
The story also shows the beautiful friendship between Siddiqa and Shamcy. Even though Shamcy is scared of Haidar and his influence, she never leaves Siddiqa’s side. They go everywhere together, and Shamcy is always there to remind Siddiqa to be careful. On the other side, we see Haidar and Saleem. Saleem is a bit of a bad influence because he is the one who introduced Haidar to some of his bad habits, but he is also a very loyal friend. He is the only one who can talk to Haidar when he is in a bad mood. This mix of friendship, family loyalty, and the big rivalry between the two main characters makes the book very hard to put down. It’s like watching a movie where you are waiting to see who will blink first.
As you read further, you start to see that maybe Haidar’s anger is actually turning into something else. He starts noticing how beautiful Siddiqa is, even when she is angry. He starts wondering why she is so different from everyone else. And for Siddiqa, she begins to see that behind all that pride and the cigarettes, Haidar might just be a lonely guy trying to find himself. But there is still a long way to go before they can ever be friends, let alone anything more. There are so many secrets and family expectations that stand in their way. It’s a real emotional rollercoaster that shows how two people from different worlds can clash and maybe, just maybe, find a middle ground. To follow their full journey, you should check out the best Hausa novels available right now.
If you are looking for a story that has everything—royal drama, school life, rich boy vs. brave girl, and deep family roots—then you need to read this book by Meryerm Abdool. The way she describes the scenes makes you feel like you are standing right there on the campus in Kalgo or inside the Emir’s palace in Argungu. It’s a story about respect, love, and learning that money can’t buy everything. You can get this novel and many more like it on Taskar Novels. They have a huge collection that will keep you busy for a long time. Go and check it out today!
