Wata Rana Da Daddare Part 1

Description

ONE DAY IN THE DARKNESS (A story full of mystery.)

Written by: Aishat Abdul-falalu (Rimin Kura)

KARAMCI WRITERS' ASSOCIATION (Mmn Humairat, May Allah grant Humairat mercy and raise little Humairat.)

Pages 1–2

This was the constant question Muhijjinatu asked her father, whom she called Abbu:

"Abbu, why do we live in the wild? Where is my mother? Abbu, where are our relatives, and where are your own parents?"

Every time she threw these questions at him, he would panic, losing his senses. His breathing would come in fast, shallow gasps (fat, fat). Grief would rise and block his chest, his eyes would turn blazing red, and sometimes he would even faint.

She, however, remained unbothered, sitting and staring at him fixedly without even blinking, waiting purely for him to answer...

He would be deeply frightened and confused whenever Muhijjinatu cornered him with her questions about why they lived by THE LAW OF THE WILD, and whether they had no family or relatives.

One morning, sitting together, he was roasting a large, meaty, bone-filled fish for them. They were cheerful and happy, living alone, neither of them knowing any trouble.

As soon as he finished roasting the fish, he handed her a piece in a small calabash. She took it and set it aside, waiting for him to fetch the salt he sprinkled on it...

Before long, he returned with the salt, also in a calabash. He sat down, took the fish placed before Muhijjina, began picking out the bones, and fed her piece by piece while she ate happily. They were having a wonderful conversation...

Until she was full—he made sure she was completely full before he began eating his own, because he never ate until he was certain his favorite daughter, Muhijjinatu, had eaten her fill.

After both had eaten, Muhijjinatu stared straight at him without blinking, locking her gaze on him. At that moment, trembling overtook every part and limb of his body.

"Abbu," she called him. "Yes, my darling."

She looked at him, fixing her beautiful eyes on him, and said, "Abbu, why do we live with just the two of us—you and me? Why don't we eat grains, when you say people eat grains? Are we even human beings? And how do you know stories about people in town?"

Muhijjinatu burst into bitter tears after rattling off these questions to her Abbu.

She stood straight up, walked right up to him, knelt down, and tightly gripped his hands. Even then, tears did not stop streaming from her eyes.

"Abbu, every day I ask you, but you refuse to answer me and won't tell me who we are... Give me my answer, Abbu!" she said loudly.

Silence. No response. "Abbu! Abbu!!" she cried loudly, shaking him.

Abbu had completely fainted, unresponsive. She burst into loud tears again, ran quickly to a nearby river, scooped water, and began splashing it on him.

He took a long, deep sigh and called her, "Muhijjinatu!"

She kept quiet and didn't answer, pretending to be angry with her Abbu—oh, the sweet workings of childhood.

Abbu forced a wide smile, trying to distract Muhijjinatu from her thoughts, while on her part, anger doubled heavily.

She stood up abruptly, ran toward the massive cave, stopped near it, and looked back at Abbu, who was watching her from a distance, thinking she wanted to drink water.

Before he knew it, he heard words from Muhijjinatu that, even in his dreams, he never expected his darling daughter Muhijjinatu to say to him:

"Abbu, I have begged you repeatedly to tell me who I am. What kind of creature are we, and why do we live by THE LAW OF THE WILD while you refuse to tell me? Every time I ask, you collapse and faint. Well, I am going to jump into this cave so the water carries me away, and then you can be free from seeing me..."

Before she could finish, his body began to tremble, and his mouth started twitching (kyaf, kyaf).

"Don't do that, Muhijjinatu! Save my life—you are my joy. Come back to me. Even if I die, I will tell you everything. Come back to me, my Muhijjinatu..."

"Are you really going to tell me the secret of everything?" He nodded his head to show happiness.

She ran back to him, hugged him from behind, and said, "I am listening, my Abbu. Tell me who we are, and tell me the reason for living by THE LAW OF THE WILD!"

He turned both her hands around to his front and seated her, his love and affection for his child multiplying in every corner of his body.

"Abbu, give me the answer to my question," she said, wiping away her tears.

"Muhijjinatu, wipe your tears. I will answer your question now, even though I alone know the kind of agony and calamity I feel inside. I will answer you, Muhijjinatu."

Surprised, she looked up at him and said, "Abbu, really?"

For the first time in their lives, he spoke gently to her after she cornered him with questions.

He said, "Calm down, Muhijjinatu. I will answer a few of the questions you asked me."

Her eyes widened, and her joy could no longer be hidden.

"Are you really serious, Abbu?"

He nodded to mean "Yes," before continuing.

His eyes turned extremely red as he said, "The ones I will answer you are the ones I have answers for; the ones I do not answer, I do not have answers for..."

"Abbu, I am listening..."

About the Book and Key Points

About the Book

Wata Rana Da Daddare (A Day in the Darkness) is a gripping, suspense-filled Hausa novel written by Aishat Abdul-falalu (Rimin Kura) under the Karamci Writers' Association. The story immediately plunges readers into an atmosphere of profound isolation, mystery, and psychological tension. Set against the harsh, enigmatic backdrop of the wilderness, it explores the fragile bond between a devoted father and his inquisitive daughter, operating under strict, unexplainable boundaries.

Key Points

• The Law of the Wild: The narrative centers around Muhijjinatu and her father, "Abbu," who live completely secluded in a dangerous, untamed forest, governed by an unspoken, rigid rulebook known as the Law of the Wild.
• The Burden of Unanswered Questions: Muhijjinatu reaches an age of awareness where she begins questioning their isolation, their lack of human contact, their unusual diet, and their very identity.
• Abbu's Mysterious Trauma: Every time Muhijjinatu presses Abbu about their lineage, her mother, or the outside world, Abbu suffers a severe physical and psychological breakdown—often fainting or losing his breath.
• The Secret of "One Day in the Darkness": Abbu hints at a deeply guarded secret tied to a specific recurring phenomenon: once a year, during a mysterious dark night, his memory unlocks, revealing who he truly is and allowing him to explain their existence.
• The Contrast of Worlds: The narrative later cuts to Abuja and Kano, introducing a stark thematic contrast between the pure, isolated survivalism of the wild and the modern, class-conscious, and morally complicated lives of urban characters like Alh. Bashir and his daughter Farida.

Hausa Impact

Wata Rana Da Daddare has made a significant splash in the contemporary Littattafan Hausa (Hausa literature) community, particularly among fans of suspenseful and emotionally charged fiction.

• Popularizing Psychological Suspense: Traditional Hausa popular literature often leans heavily toward romance, family politics, or cultural drama. By introducing a heavy psychological mystery—reminiscent of survival thrillers—Aishat Abdul-falalu expands the genre boundaries, keeping readers hooked through sheer curiosity and high stakes.
• Exploration of Parent-Child Devotion: The dynamic between Abbu and Muhijjinatu highlights deep themes of sacrifice, protection, and unconditional love. Readers deeply resonate with the emotional vulnerability of a parent trying to shield a child from a traumatic past.
• Community Engagement: Serialized across popular Hausa reading platforms and WhatsApp literature groups via the Karamci Writers' Association, the book has fostered active reader theories, discussions, and eager anticipation for subsequent chapters as fans try to decode the mystery behind Abbu's past and their true identity.

Reviews

• On Plot and Suspense: Reviewers and readers praise the author's ability to sustain tension. The physical reactions Abbu exhibits when questioned—the trembling, the fainting, and the cryptic references to a yearly "dark night"—create an immediate hook that compels readers to turn the pages.
• Character Dynamics: Muhijjinatu is celebrated as a bold, determined protagonist who refuses to accept ignorance, representing youthful curiosity and the innate human desire for belonging. Abbu, meanwhile, is viewed with immense sympathy; his fierce protectiveness clashes painfully with his inability to provide the truth his daughter desperately craves.
• Pacing and Contrast: The sudden transition from the quiet, isolated wilderness to the bustling, privileged lifestyles of urban Nigeria (Abuja/Kano) adds a layer of social commentary, contrasting the raw survival of the forest with the modern arrogance and detachment found in the city.

Conclusion

Wata Rana Da Daddare is more than just a typical wilderness drama; it is a profound exploration of identity, memory, and the lengths to which a parent will go to keep a painful truth buried. Through the compelling interplay between Muhijjinatu's relentless curiosity and Abbu's defensive secrecy, Aishat Abdul-falalu crafts a haunting narrative puzzle. As readers journey deeper into the forest and unravel the secrets of the "Law of the Wild," the novel cements its place as a memorable and thought-provoking contribution to modern Hausa storytelling.