Have you ever met someone so addicted to reading that they forget the real world exists? That is exactly how Zahra is in the story Bahagon Tunani. This book, written by the team of Badeeyerh Beauty Queen and Fauziyya L. Ammany, really hits home for those of us who just can't put our phones down when a good story is loading. Zahra is a girl who spends all her time on social media and reading online stories. She barely cares about her schoolwork or even her daily chores. Her younger sister, Nana, is the complete opposite. Nana is always trying to study and get her life together, while Zahra just wants to chat and scroll through her feed. It is honestly so frustrating to watch her, but you can’t help but keep reading to see what happens next. If you love stories about modern life and the struggles we face with technology, you should definitely check out Taskar Novels for more.
The drama starts early. Poor Nana is just trying to get her sister to eat and focus on school, but Zahra is too busy with her phone. In one part of the book, Nana begs her sister to pay attention, and Zahra just snaps at her. It says — "I didn't stop you from eating, so why are you bothering me? I don't want any nonsense, just eat your own food and leave me alone until I'm finished." (translated from Hausa). You can really feel Nana’s pain there. It is tough having a sibling who is so lost in their own world. Zahra’s guardian, Gwoggo, also has a hard time with her. She is always complaining about Zahra’s behavior, especially when it comes to her boyfriend, Aminu. Aminu is a decent guy who works as a teacher, but he doesn't have much money. Zahra likes him, but she is also obsessed with the fancy, unreal lives she reads about in her novels.
Things take a weird turn when Zahra goes out one day. She is so busy on her phone that she almost gets hit by a car. The man driving stops, and instead of just moving on, he ends up giving her his expensive iPhone after hers gets a little damaged. This is where the story gets really juicy. Zahra is so excited about the new phone that she doesn't even stop to think why a stranger would be so generous. She is just caught up in the excitement. She even tells her sister, "Look at this, someone just gave it to me as a gift, I swear." (translated from Hausa). It is clear she is walking into a trap, but she is too happy to notice. If you want to dive into more stories like this, you can always download Hausa novels to keep your collection growing.
The way the authors describe Zahra’s obsession with these stories is so real. It’s like they are looking at all of us who spend hours on Hausa novels online. Zahra’s life is basically split between her real, simple life with Aminu and this fantasy world she finds in her stories. Aminu is a good man, he prays for her and tries to make her see reality, but Zahra is just not listening. She wants the glitz and glamour she reads about. You can tell she is going to regret this, especially since she is now taking gifts from random men who seem a bit too smooth for their own good. It is the kind of story that makes you want to reach into the pages and shake the character to wake her up.
The writing style of this book is very easy to follow. It feels like you are just sitting in the room with Nana and Zahra, listening to their arguments and watching them go about their day. You really feel for Nana because she has to put up with so much while trying to do the right thing for her education. Meanwhile, Zahra is just drifting further away from her family. Will she realize that the "prince" from her stories isn't real before it's too late? Will she lose Aminu because of her own pride and her love for the flashy things she sees on her phone? You have to keep reading to find out how her choices change everything.
For those of you looking for the best Hausa novels to pass the time, this one is a great pick. It’s not just a story about a girl reading novels; it’s a story about choices, about the dangers of living in a dream world, and about the people who actually care about us. The authors did a great job showing how easy it is to get distracted by the internet and forget about the real people standing right in front of us. It is a cautionary tale, but it is also very entertaining. You can find this book and many others on the platform where everyone goes for their favorite reads. Just head over to the website and start exploring their huge library. There are so many stories waiting for you there, and you will definitely find something that keeps you hooked just like Zahra is hooked on her phone.
