Deen Mashell Part 1 Book Compelet

Description

Translation (Hausa to English)

The next morning, early in the day, Junaid arrived at the house. At that time, their luggage had already been loaded into the car. There was a contract he needed to sign at his company in Abuja today, which meant he wouldn't be able to accompany them all the way to Katsina.

He found Umma and Jidderh in the parlour. He greeted Umma, Jidderh greeted him, and he responded with a smile. Then he asked, "Where is Angel?"

Jidderh replied, "Rumana is in the bedroom."

Without wasting any time, he headed upstairs. As he stepped into the corridor, he almost bumped right into Rumana as she was coming out. They both quickly jumped back at the same time, then burst into laughter.

He stood looking at her, the way she laughed only serving to enhance her beauty. She quieted her laughter slightly and said, "Good morning, Yaa Junaid?"

He replied, "Fine, Angel. Is that it, you're leaving and abandoning me?"

Immediately, she widened her eyes, put on a frightened expression, and then burst into laughter, saying, "I scared him, he got scared, hehehe."

He didn't stop looking at her, not even blinking, as she turned and started walking away. She was dressed in a bubu-styled lace outfit, her head tied neatly with a head-tie, and a shawl draped over her shoulder. She looked extremely beautiful.

Junaid followed her with his gaze, smiling.

She muttered softly to herself, "Gosh, he's annoying me. I'd better return to Katsina just to escape his endless questioning, which only ever brings me fear and heart palpitations."

Junaid hurried to catch up with her, grabbing her hand as he said, "Didi, stay, don't leave."

She said, "No, in a week Umma is traveling to Dubai. If I stay, where will I live?"

Junaid said, "In my house."

Quickly she said, "What?!"

Giving her a suspicious look, he asked, "Why are you so startled? What's wrong with you living in my house?"

She put on that frightened face again, burst into laughter, and stuck her tongue out at him, saying, "Ha, I scared him! He panicked!"

She turned and rushed downstairs, letting out a sigh of relief while holding her chest. "Alhamdulillah, I've escaped," she said.

Junaid stood still, remembering her face, a smile playing on his lips. He walked downstairs, but not finding them in the parlour, he headed out to the compound. Just as he stepped outside, they were preparing to get into the car.

He called out loudly, "Didi!"

He opened his arms wide as if to embrace her. Rumana widened her eyes, then made a frightened face again, burst into laughter while waving at him with her hand, and climbed into the car, slamming the door shut.

Junaid put his hands in his trouser pockets, watching the car until it drove out of the compound.

On the way, her phone started ringing. She picked it up, placed it to her ear, and said, "Wa alaikissalaam, Khairat."

Khairat asked, "Are you at home?"

She replied, "No, I'm on the way, returning to Katsina."

Khairat asked, "Is what I'm hearing true?"

Rumana asked, "What is that?"

Khairat said, "They say your parents are in Katsina, and you have no actual relation to Junaid."

Rumana paused for a moment before saying, "Yes, my parents are in Katsina, and I have no relation to Yaa Junaid."

Khairat said, "Goodness me, I just remembered back in school when we used to argue—some people said you two had the same nose, others said your eyes were identical. Turns out you aren't related at all; it was just the fair skin that tricked us into thinking that. Anyway, safe journey."

Rumana said, "Amen. Thank you."

They were driven straight to the airport, boarded a plane, and flew to Katsina. Inside the plane, Rumana closed her eyes, recalling Khairat's words. Every time she thought of Yaa Junaid's face, she felt something stirring in her heart.

She pulled out the photo they took at the dinner and stared at it. Throughout the trip, she was lost in thought, turning the conversation over in her mind. Finally, she shook her head and put the photo away, feeling like these thoughts made no sense.

At eleven o'clock, they arrived safely in Katsina.

Rumana barged into the parlour, but came to an abrupt halt upon seeing Uncle Al'ameen sitting there. They exchanged a look—his gaze filled with surprise at how much she had grown and changed, while hers was laced with mockery and mischief.

Jidderh greeted him respectfully and politely, "Good morning, Uncle?" He replied, "Fine, daughter."

He shifted his gaze to Rumana, raising an eyebrow as he asked, "Can't you greet people?"

Rumana tilted her head, giving him a look of utter disdain, and said, "I know how. Good morning, or is it good afternoon?"

He crossed one leg over the other, studying her closely, and said, "Well then, greet me."

She let out a soft, mocking giggle and said, "Alright, greetings to all the sick people at home and in the hospital, may God grant them health."

Imran, who was standing nearby, spun around quickly, his face flushing with anger. He barked at her, "Are you trying to pin madness on him or what? Go ahead and greet him properly before your body teaches you a lesson."

She pouted like a little child who had just been scolded, stepping back slightly, and said, "Aminu, good morning?"

Uncle Al'ameen widened his eyes in genuine shock this time, surprise written all over his face as he muttered, "Aminu?!"

She nodded, showing zero remorse. "Yeah, isn't that what you were named?"

He shook his head, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he marveled at the girl's audacity. "You will call me Uncle Al'ameen."

She rolled her eyes, her heart boiling with annoyance, but she forced herself to comply, if only to avoid getting slapped by Yaya Imran. She cleared her throat slightly and said, "Good morning, Uncle Al'ameen?"

He crossed his leg over the other arrogantly and said, "I didn't hear you."

She clenched her eyes shut and repeated the greeting, this time much louder: "Good morning, Uncle Al'ameen?"

He said, "Fine, daughter."

She turned away, muttering under her breath in a voice so low almost only she could hear, "Daughter my foot."

She turned and headed for the staircase, walking with that carefree, indifferent swagger. Then she heard his voice behind her: "Rumana."

She paused for a moment before turning around slowly. Crossing her arms over her chest, she said, "Uncle Al'ameen."

He crossed one leg over the other, bouncing it slightly, and said, "Get me some water."

She pointed at her own chest with her finger, shock evident on her face as she asked, "Me? You want me to get you water?"

Keeping his eyes locked on her, he said, "Yes. Or am I not worthy of having you do it?"

She cast her eyes aside, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "Pretty much."

Without waiting for him to reply, she spun around quickly and raised her voice to call the maid: "Marka! Bring a bottle of water and give it to Uncle Al'ameen."

Arrogantly, he said, "I told you to get it for me."

She opened her mouth to argue back, but then swallowed the words. She turned slowly toward the fridge, a sly smile creeping onto the corner of her mouth. She picked out a bottle of ice-cold water and dumped it right in front of him.

Arrogantly, he looked at her and said, "Pour it into a cup for me."

She felt like screaming, but realizing he wanted to make her lose her temper, she choked back her rage. She turned, grabbed a cup, and plotted a cold, quiet way to teach him a lesson—no screaming, no drama, just sweet retribution.

She squatted down and filled the cup with water that was freezing cold. She curtsied and handed it to him politely. As the guy reached out to take it, she cleverly tilted her hand, spilling the water all over him.

He widened his eyes, shivering from the extreme cold. "Rumana, what is the meaning of this?" he cried out in alarm.

She feigned absolute shock, her voice trembling as she said, "Sorry, Uncle... Ayyah, sorry, Uncle!"

On purpose, she knocked the water bottle on the table so it fell over, spilling even more water all over him. Putting on a fake frantic act, she cried out, "Oh dear! Let me go get you a towel."

She turned, grabbed a towel, and came back to hand it to him. As she handed it over, she leaned in very close and whispered softly in his ear: "Aminu, if you're going to eat dirt, at least chew it properly. Rumana is way out of your league. If I start playing dirty with you, you'll suffer terribly."

Then she stepped back as if nothing had happened, turned around without sparing him another glance, and headed up the stairs as cool as a cucumber. She left him sitting there in absolute silence, completely stunned and speechless.

The next day, she and Jidderh went to Alhaji Baffah's house. When they arrived, they first visited the other sections of the house to greet everyone before heading to Hajiya Attuwa's quarters. There, they found Uncle Al'ameen sitting and watching TV.

Rumana looked at him, rolled her eyes, and looked away.

Jidderh, however, greeted him: "Good morning, Uncle?" He responded cheerfully, "Fine, daughter. May God bless you."

Because Hajiya Attuwa was right there, Rumana forced herself to greet him against her will. She said briefly, "Good morning, Uncle?"

He looked at her and said, "Fine, daughter. How are you?"

She replied curtly, "Fine."

He cleared his throat, looking at her, and said, "You are supposed to say 'Fine, thank God'."

She said, "Fine, whatever."

With a certain air of arrogance, he said, "Go and dish my food."

In her heart, she thought, God willing, it's soup, so I can dump it all over your clothes.

Eagerly, she headed toward the kitchen, her mind plotting how—if it was soup—she would take out all her frustration on the pristine white shadda he was wearing. Luckily, she found some tuwo and soup. She scooped up an extra generous amount of soup, plotting how she'd splash it right onto his white attire.

What she didn't know, however, was that he had a secret plan of his own.

She came out eagerly, walking with a spring in her step to execute her plan, but before she realized what was happening, he stuck out his foot. She stumbled, took a clumsy tumble, and hit the floor hard. The food bowl flew up into the air, and the soup splattered all over her head and body.

Instantly, she was unrecognizable; her head and face were completely covered in soup, making her look like a cartoon character.

Uncle Al'ameen burst out laughing, pointing at her with his finger. He bent down slightly and whispered, "I am out of your league. Between you and me, you're going to suffer terribly."

She bit her lip, frustration eating away at her heart, but she couldn't say a word.

He stood up and walked away, laughing.

Hajiya Attuwa watched him go, muttering, "Is this one quite sane?"

Jidderh chuckled under her breath and said, "These two? Tom and Jerry have nothing on their drama."

Rumana was left speechless, her heart filled with anger and humiliation all at once. She stood up and left the parlor without another word. She went to the room where they were staying; her clothes were ruined, and she hadn't brought any spare outfits. She grabbed her phone, ordered an abaya online, and sat on the edge of the bed pouting, the leftover soup still smeared across her face.

Uncle Al'ameen sent her a text message: 'Just behave yourself, or I'll make you cry real tears.'

She replied: 'Wait and see. If I don't pay you back for what you did, my name isn't Rumana.'

He sent her a laughing emoji. Enraged, she let out a scream. Jidderh rushed into the room, asking, "Sis, what's wrong?" Rumana twisted her face and said, "Nothing. When the abaya I ordered arrives, just leave it on the bed."

She stood up and walked into the bathroom, turning on the shower to wash the soup off her body while grumbling like someone who had been deeply violated. The frustration inside her robbed her of any peace. She felt that if she didn't get her revenge, she would never find rest.

She stepped out wrapped in a towel, found a gown on the bed, put it on, and sat down resting her chin in her hands, plotting how she would retaliate before leaving the house—a payback so brutally petty that he would live to regret ever messing with her.

Rage filled her heart, denying her any peace. Without wasting time, she grabbed her phone and called Yaya. When he picked up, she said furiously, "Yaya Junaid, I need you to come to this town, drop off your shoes, and if Uncle Al'ameen crosses you, have your security guards beat him up terribly. And if anyone asks later, just say you don't know him!"

Yaya Junaid widened his eyes in amusement and asked, "What happened now?"

She flared her nostrils and said, "He's acting so arrogant! Yesterday he told me to get him water and even had the nerve to ask me to pour it into a cup like I'm his maid. Today he told me to bring him food, and then he tripped me so I spilled soup all over myself. So, I swear, you need to call and warn him before I have him beaten black and blue and let everyone talk!"

Yaya Junaid asked, "Wait, he's just a young guy, right?"

She replied quickly, "He's a young man."

Immediately, he burst into laughter, saying, "Well, I suppose you'll have to beat him up while he's sleeping, right?"

She flashed a wicked smile, plotting her ultimate revenge, and said, "Wait and see... and make sure my security guards are sent back."

Yaya Junaid shook his head, laughing. "No, I'm not sending them back. Go ahead and break your uncle's bones so people can start talking about me."

She said, "I'll pretend he's not my uncle, I'll have them pound him like yam in a mortar, and afterwards I'll just say I didn't recognize his face."

Yaya Junaid laughed even harder and said, "May God soothe Didi's heart, the queen of her brother's heart."

She tilted her head and said, "Only when I get my revenge will my heart find peace. Wait and see."

With that, she hung up the call, her blood boiling as she planned her next move against Uncle Al'ameen.

She scoffed and said, "I'm sleeping in this house tonight, and tomorrow I'll execute my plan on him. He'll wish he never crossed paths with me."

In the evening, Jidderh prepared to leave for home, but Rumana couldn't care less—she just sat right where she was.

Jidderh looked at her and said, "Let's go."

Rumana replied, "No, you go ahead. I need to serve some payback first," she finished, glaring in the direction where Uncle Al'ameen was sitting.

He raised his head and looked at her. "Against whom are you plotting payback?" he asked mockingly.

She shrugged indifferently and said, "Who knows."

He flashed a mocking smile and said, "I fear you'll bite off more than you can chew."

She shot him a challenging look and said, "You'd better mind your own business, because I don't take disrespect lying down."

Jidderh looked at her, wanting to intervene, but thought better of it. Rumana handed her car keys to Jidderh and said, "Take the car with you; when I'm done here, I'll call for someone to bring it back."

Jidderh took the keys and walked out to the compound, marveling at the endless drama between Uncle Al'ameen and Rumana. Meanwhile, Rumana sat back, watching Uncle Al'ameen with a quiet, calculated look in her eyes.

That night, Rumana went to sleep filled with annoyance and anger, her mind replaying what Uncle Al'ameen had done to her. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw his laughing face, and this only fueled the fire of her determination for revenge. In her heart, she decided she wouldn't let this slide.

The next morning, as dawn broke, Uncle Al'ameen was sitting outside in the compound enjoying the fresh, quiet morning breeze.

Up on the balcony, Rumana stepped out and spotted him. Without wasting a second, she quickly retreated inside.

She hurried to fill a bucket with water, adding a generous amount of Omo detergent to create thick, bubbly foam. Lifting the bucket with a mischievous laugh, she rushed back out to the balcony. In her heart, she thought, You're about to get the morning bath of your life.

She lifted the bucket and dumped the water down from above. The soapy water cascaded all over him, soaking him to the skin.

Uncle Al'ameen froze, completely drenched in soapy water, with foam dripping from his shoulders and face. He closed his eyes in sheer shock and sudden coldness.

As he looked up and saw it was her—which he had actually suspected—he stared at her with a mix of surprise and mild annoyance. Soapy water dripped from his body, but his focus remained entirely on her, marveling at her sheer nerve.

Rumana burst into laughter, clapping her hands and saying, "That's what we call payback—hotter than the original offense!"

He pointed at himself, his voice tight with disbelief: "I am your uncle."

She pointed proudly at herself with zero fear: "And I am Rumana, a force to be reckoned with!"

Uncle Al'ameen offered a crooked smile, shaking his head. "You're running up a debt, and I'll make sure you pay dearly for it."

Arrogantly, she retorted, "You'd better have money to pay up, because I come from a wealthy home. I wasn't born into poverty."

She burst into laughter, breaking into traditional praise-singing: "Ayyiriri ahayye nanaye, Promo Max morning bath!"

Uncle Al'ameen turned and walked back inside the house, completely soaked in foam. As he stepped into the parlor, Hajiya Attuwa looked at him in shock and asked, "What happened?"

He replied, "It was Rumana, but I'll get her back."

Hajiya laughed her typical elder's laugh and said, "Honestly, serves you right! Yesterday right in front of me you tripped her so she poured soup all over herself, and then you stood there laughing at her."

He walked off to his room and headed straight to the bathroom to take a shower, but thoughts of Rumana refused to leave his mind. The way she had stood on the balcony, boldly dumping soapy water without an ounce of fear—a smile involuntarily slipped across his face.

He shook his head, trying to brush the thought away, but the smile returned anyway.

RUMANA

Back inside, Rumana began gathering her things. She picked up her phone and called Ammi. "Ammi, please send a car to pick me up today."

Ammi was silent for a moment before saying, "Just take a Keke Napep."

Rumana widened her eyes in horror. "A Keke Napep?!"

From the other end, Ammi said, "Absolutely, unless you're too high and mighty for it."

Rumana groaned, "Oh come on, Ammi, I don't even know how to ride in one!"

Ammi said, "Fine then. I'll have the driver bring the car over."

Rumana went around the house to bid everyone farewell, then returned to Hajiya's quarters, grabbed her luggage, said her goodbyes, and stepped outside.

Just as she stepped out, she accidentally slipped on a banana peel. Her foot slid out from under her, and she took a hard, undignified tumble onto the ground, crying out, "Oh, my waist! Oh, my hips! Oh, my back!"

Uncle Al'ameen, standing nearby, burst into laughter, watching her with amusement. "You haven't seen anything yet," he said.

Rumana glared up at him, biting her lip. "Since you're enjoying this game so much, I'm going to make sure I drive you crazy with it."

He pointed at himself and shook his head. "I am your uncle. Have some respect."

She pointed at herself in turn. "And I am Rumana, daughter of the wealthy. Know your place."

He walked over to where she was sitting, slowly extending a hand as he asked, "Can you stand up, or do you need help?"

She ignored him completely as if she hadn't heard a word.

He smiled and said, "Fighting a jinni is no fun."

She snapped, "Well, I'm about to show you a real-life jinni!"

With much difficulty, she pulled herself up while holding her aching waist and limped back inside the house. Hajiya looked at her in surprise and asked, "Did you forget something?"

Rumana replied, "No, I canceled my trip today. I'm staying a few more days."

Uncle Al'ameen laughed, saying, "I pity the severe misery coming your way."

Rumana smiled out of the corner of her mouth, arched an eyebrow at him, and said, "You'll see misery with your own eyes. Once I start playing mind games with you, you'll be kneeling on the ground begging me to spare you."

The next morning, like every other morning, Rumana went around greeting the women of the house. She made her rounds until she reached Hajiya Murja's quarters, where she found Uncle Al'ameen sitting with one leg crossed over the other like royalty.

Hajiya Murja let out a hearty elder's laugh, noticing the palpable tension and bickering between Uncle Al'ameen and Rumana. "Rumana, I don't understand this stay of yours," she said. "One day you say you're leaving, the next you cancel it. And you keep tormenting my son Al'ameen. Could it be that you're in love with him? If so, speak up so we can make it official!"

Before Rumana could answer, Al'ameen raised his head, leaning back against his chair, and said, "If she's in love with me, someone should help her confess."

That remark made Rumana burst into exasperated laughter. She laughed so hard she clapped her hands, shaking her head. "Oh please," she laughed, "If I married you, I'd be ruining my own life! The kind of severe misery you'd suffer at my hands would make you wish you never crossed me. Airplane lanes and car lanes are two completely different things!"

He said, "Rumana, don't look down on me like that. I'm not broke—I've got your bride price sitting right in my account."

She retorted, "Sure, the bride price is in your account, but you definitely won't get me."

She stood up, adjusted her head-tie, and said, "Grandma, have a peaceful day."

She walked out of the quarters. Al'ameen watched her until she vanished, a smile spreading across his face.

At noon, Uncle Al'ameen was sitting at the dining table, watching the video he took of Rumana tumbling to the floor the day before, laughing at it like it was a comedy sketch.

He muttered, "This comedy is a joy to watch."

She shot him a side-glance and said, "Today you're going to see a comedy starring you. If I don't drive you crazy, my name isn't Rumana—I'll change it to BINTOTO ƘARANGIYA!"

He raised his head and said, "Daughter, dish my food."

Mocking obedience, she curtsied and said, "Oh, of course, I must show respect and suck up so maybe you'll delete that video."

He burst into laughter. "Look at her—she folded so fast! I guess her threat of payback was just a fake bluff."

In her mind, she thought, Today you'll see a real bluff.

She brought the food over to the dining table, dishing it out for him while glancing at her phone, still burning with annoyance at how he had turned her into a laughingstock. She said, "Uncle, delete that video so we can live in peace, or else I'll give you a show you won't forget."

He ignored her completely, going back to his phone and laughing harder. "This comedy is just too good," he said gleefully.

Rumana smiled a wicked smile. "Oh, you're going to—"

Summary

The story follows the playful, fiercely competitive, and turbulent dynamic between Rumana (affectionately called "Didi") and her uncle, Uncle Al'ameen. After parting ways with Jidderh's brother Junaid—who has feelings for Rumana—she returns to Katsina, where she frequently crosses paths with Uncle Al'ameen. Their relationship is a constant battle of wits and pranks: he trips her, spills soup on her, and records her embarrassing moments, while she retaliates by dumping ice-water on him and soaking him with soapy water from the balcony. Despite the constant bickering, teasing, and mutual frustration, an underlying tension and growing affection hint that their sparring matches run much deeper than mere annoyance.

Description

A vibrant contemporary romance and family drama rich in cultural nuances, witty dialogue, and classic "enemies-to-lovers" tension. Set across Abuja and Katsina, the narrative highlights themes of pride, playful banter, familial bonds, and the subtle shift from stubborn rivalry to undeniable romantic attraction.

Analytics

• Character Dynamics: The relationship between Rumana and Uncle Al'ameen is built on symmetry and defiance. Both refuse to back down, matching each other's stubbornness and pride step-for-step.
• Tone & Mood: Lighthearted, humorous, and mischievous, juxtaposed with moments of romantic undercurrents (especially regarding Junaid's lingering presence and Al'ameen's secret fascination with Rumana).
• Conflict Progression: Escalates from verbal sparring and minor annoyances to elaborate physical pranks (spilled soup, soapy water, tripping), creating a high-energy comedic rhythm reminiscent of classic comedic tropes (like Tom and Jerry).

Comments

• The narrative style relies heavily on vivid situational comedy and witty Hausa cultural expressions.
• Rumana's character stands out for her resilience and refusal to be intimidated, while Uncle Al'ameen serves as a delightfully frustrating foil who secretly enjoys her fiery spirit.
• The transition of Al'ameen from an arrogant authority figure to someone amused and charmed by Rumana's antics drives the romantic tension effectively.

Conclusions

The ongoing war of pranks between Rumana and Uncle Al'ameen serves as a classic psychological precursor to romance. Beneath the layers of stubborn pride, retaliatory pranks, and verbal sparring lies a growing mutual fascination. Rather than genuine animosity, their rivalry acts as the catalyst that brings them closer, suggesting that their fiery dynamic will inevitably transform into a deep emotional connection.