Imagine sitting in a quiet house, minding your own business, and enjoying some sweet sugarcane. That is exactly how we first meet Kuluwa. She is just there, chilling, when her guardian, Goggo Ma'u, starts calling her name like the world is about to end. Goggo is one of those dramatic older women who always thinks the kids are ignoring her. When she finally finds Kuluwa, she starts acting like she’s going to cry because Kuluwa didn't answer her right away. But Kuluwa is such a character! She just looks at her and starts laughing. Then, she starts faking a cry too. When Goggo asks her what is wrong, Kuluwa just stops and says, "I was just trying it out to see if crying for no reason feels good." This part made me laugh so much because it shows how playful she is. She doesn't take things too seriously, even when Goggo is being a bit extra.
The story, written by the talented NuceeLuv, really captures that village vibe where everyone knows everyone. After the little drama with the sugarcane, Kuluwa goes to the kitchen to cook some rice and beans for them. But before she can even finish, her friend Rabi comes running in. Rabi is shouting Kuluwa’s name like she’s about to fly into the sky. She tells Kuluwa that "Mekyau" is waiting for her. Now, Mekyau means "the handsome one," and you can tell Kuluwa has a huge crush on him. She gets so excited that she literally turns off the stove, leaves the food half-cooked, and grabs her hijab to run out. She has to sneak out because she knows if Goggo catches her going to see a boy, there will be big trouble. You can find more stories like this on Taskar Novels if you love this kind of village drama.
When Kuluwa finally meets this guy, we see that he isn't just any regular guy. He is sitting there surrounded by men who look like security guards. It makes you wonder who he really is and why he is in their small town. Kuluwa doesn't care about the guards, though. She just walks up to him with a big smile. The way they talk is so sweet but also kind of funny because Kuluwa is very honest. She tells him straight to his face, "Mekyau, you get more handsome every day. You look like the person I see in my dreams every night." This is such a bold thing to say, right? But that is just Kuluwa for you. She is very open with her feelings. The guy, whose real name is Hafiz, just laughs. He thinks she is funny and a bit silly, especially when she starts describing the "aljan" or spirit man she sees in her dreams who is even more handsome than him.
While they are talking, Kuluwa is so happy, but then she sees a nightmare coming. It’s Goggo Ma'u! And she is carrying a big stick! Kuluwa doesn't even say goodbye properly. She just grabs her shoes and starts running as fast as her legs can carry her. It’s such a funny scene to imagine—a young girl flying down the road while an old woman chases her with a whip. If you want to download Hausa novels that have these kinds of funny family moments, you should definitely check this one out. Goggo eventually reaches the spot where Hafiz is sitting. She’s all out of breath and angry, asking him where that "stubborn girl" went. One thing the book says that I loved was when Goggo described her: "I swear this girl is just like a stubborn spirit." (translated from Hausa). It shows how much of a handful Kuluwa is for the poor old woman.
Hafiz is a nice guy, so he just smiles and points Goggo in the direction Kuluwa ran. After Goggo leaves, Hafiz gets into a big fancy car and leaves with his guards. This is where the story starts to feel a bit more serious. You realize that Hafiz is from a completely different world. He is from Abuja, the big city, and he’s only in the village for a short time. Kuluwa goes back home and tries to act like she was there the whole time. She cleans the whole house and finishes the cooking so Goggo won't be too mad. When Goggo gets back, she is surprised to see the house so clean and the food ready. She even prays for Kuluwa, which shows that even though they fight, they really love each other. It’s that typical relationship between a grandmother and a granddaughter that we see in the best Hausa novels today.
But the happiness doesn't last long. Kuluwa goes back the next day to see Hafiz, but he isn't there. When he finally shows up, he tells her he is leaving for Abuja. Kuluwa is heartbroken. She actually starts crying. She’s grown so fond of him because he listens to her and makes her laugh. Before he leaves, she tells him something very strange. She asks him that if he ever meets the handsome guy from her dreams in the city, he should tell him she says hello. Hafiz finds it funny, but he promises to look out for him. He even tells her his real name is Hafiz and finds out her name is Hauwa. He says it's a beautiful name because it’s his mother’s name. This moment is so emotional. You can feel the sadness as Kuluwa watches his car drive away until she can't see it anymore. She is left there standing in the dust, wondering if she will ever see her "Mekyau" again.
Now, this is where the story takes a very dark and scary turn. Suddenly, the scene changes, and Kuluwa is no longer in her village. She is locked in a strange room in a big house. She has been there for three days and she has no idea where she is or how she got there. She has cried until her eyes are swollen. There is a fridge full of juice and water, and someone brings her food every day, but she never sees who it is. She is terrified. She spends her time praying and asking God to help her get out of this mess. It’s a huge contrast from the happy girl we saw eating sugarcane at the beginning. You can read more about her struggle in Hausa novels online, but this part really keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The creepiest part is that someone is actually watching her. There is a man sitting in another room with a camera pointed at her. He is watching her every move on a screen. He says he wants her to stay there until she forgets about her home and her old life. He is waiting for the right moment to go into the room and talk to her. It’s so mysterious! Is it Hafiz? Or is it the "handsome guy" from her dreams? Or maybe someone completely different who has been stalking her? The way NuceeLuv writes this part makes you feel the fear Kuluwa is feeling. You can almost feel the coldness of that locked room and the silence that is only broken by her crying. It goes from a sweet village romance to a suspenseful thriller very quickly.
Kuluwa is such a strong character because even though she is scared, she doesn't give up. She keeps looking for a way out, even though the doors are locked. She thinks about Goggo Ma'u and how the old woman must be worried sick. Back in the village, everyone must be looking for her. The transition from the simple life of cooking and joking to being a prisoner in a big mansion is just crazy. You really feel for her because she is so young and innocent. She was just a girl who liked dreaming about handsome men, and now she is living in a nightmare. The mystery of who kidnapped her and why they are obsessed with her is what makes this book a page-turner. You just want to keep reading to find out if she escapes or if this mysterious man is actually someone she knows.
If you want to know what happens next to Kuluwa and if she ever finds her dream man or escapes that house, you have to read the full story. It is full of twists and turns that you won't expect. You can find the complete version of Kuluwa and many other interesting stories on Taskar Novels. They have so many books that will keep you entertained for hours. Just head over to Taskar Novels and search for it. Trust me, you won't want to miss the ending of this one!
