The rumble of the earth beneath him grew louder, signs that it was about to erupt. He leaned on the tinted glass of the car and flicked away the stub of his cigarette, then popped a fragrant candy into his mouth. One car door opened, letting the smoke that had filled the car escape. He then sprayed himself with a strong perfume, adjusting the fit of his expensive, custom-tailored outfit. Stepping out, he stood firmly, crushing the cigarette stub that hadn’t yet burned out. This was IBRAHIM ƊALHAT ABU ZAID, a young man blessed by God with extraordinary handsomeness that had driven countless people to ruin because of the attention it attracted.
The smile on his face added an irresistible charm. As he saw his friend and his family approaching, their tired faces showed signs of exhaustion.
With great joy, they embraced. The driver, who had been lingering at the side, moved closer, trying to lift their heavy luggage into the car.
“How was the journey? I see Madam and the kids are tired,” Abu Zaid said in a cold, almost emotionless voice.
“Leave it, Ibrahim. These children have troubled us enough,” his friend Nazeer replied calmly. Abu Zaid smiled slightly and greeted all the children.
They stood by as each person settled into their seat, closing their weary eyes. Abu Zaid then moved to take his seat.
Suddenly, a young girl, no older than 17, approached Abu Zaid as he tried to enter the car. Her clothes were filthy, her face gaunt from hunger.
“Please, help me! Even if it’s just work, I beg you! Please! Please! Don’t say no, I beg you, help me for God’s sake!” she said, tears streaming down her face, wiping them with the edge of her tattered scarf.
He raised one eyebrow, studying her carefully. His heart wavered slightly; he did not like to see anyone forced into desperation. After a careful look, he softened his expression, as he was not one to frown harshly.
“Who are you looking for? What’s your problem?” he asked, his face calm but stern.
“My parents are dead, and my stepmother has thrown me out. She said she couldn’t feed me anymore and not to return. I don’t even know where my maternal relatives are. I went to my father’s relatives, and they rejected me. Please, help me. I can do any work,” she said, letting out another pitiful cry, her whole body trembling.
“Don’t worry, I’ll help. What’s your name and where are you from?” he asked, folding his arms.
“My name is Hudayya. I’m from the village of Gwarzo,” she replied in a shaky voice.
“Gwarzo?” he repeated in his mind, keeping his gaze on her. Despite her dirt and hardship, she didn’t give away any sign of her origin.
“Hudayya, right?” he asked, studying her face. She quickly nodded.
“I don’t like lies. If I catch you lying, I’ll take you back to where I found you,” he said, his voice firm yet composed.
Before she could answer, Nazeer, unable to tolerate the situation and Abu Zaid’s generosity, stepped out of the car furiously.
“Abu Zaid, you’ve done enough charity already! But people like this cannot be trusted. Why would you bring a woman like this to your house and expect your parents to approve?” Nazeer said, his anger barely contained.
“Calm down, my G. I just want to help,” Abu Zaid replied softly.
“I understand, but never consult me on this again. I don’t approve of this girl. If she wants help for God’s sake, why not just give her money to return to her stepmother? Why bring her all the way from Gwarzo to Zaria, and then through Kano? Why not just stay at home?”
“Why all this anger, Nazeer? Even if my parents refuse, I have no choice,” Abu Zaid said, patting Nazeer on the shoulder.
“You know I will not ride in the same car with a stranger, right?” Nazeer said, glaring at Hudayya crouched to the side.
“You know I cannot drive at this hour, Nazeer. Your driver will take her,” Abu Zaid replied, adjusting his seat.
“I swear, Abu Zaid, I won’t ride in the same car as a stranger. I just want you to give her money so she can return to her stepmother’s house,” Nazeer said, glaring at Hudayya, whose red eyes reflected exhaustion and sorrow.
Abu Zaid studied Nazeer carefully, trying to gauge the situation. Despite not usually stopping for other people’s problems, he felt pity for Hudayya.
Nazeer’s wife, surprised by her husband’s anger at helping a stranger, observed with suspicion she couldn’t hide.
“Why are you avoiding helping her? Did I offend you, or do you feel no one deserves aid?” Surayya asked sharply, her voice reflecting the tiny whimper she had heard.
Abu Zaid didn’t respond verbally, but held her hand, kissed it, and directed her to the car, while he moved to the driver’s seat, signaling that Hudayya would go but not in the same car with Nazeer. He smiled faintly, readjusting his seat.
Hudayya’s eyes were wide with nervousness as the black Sienna XLE sped off with Nazeer and the driver, leaving her far behind. She closed her eyes, relieved.
Even the driver looked at her suspiciously, noting her beauty and resilience.
As they approached Abu Zaid’s house, Hudayya feared how his family would receive her. Would they reject her as everyone else had?
-
ABU ZAID
BY SASAAL
CHAPTER 2
At the parking lot, Nazeer entered the house, expressionless. After parking, he stepped out, with the children calling “Abu Zaid, take care, Uncle!” He smiled faintly. Surayya, unable to restrain herself, approached to assist.
Abu Zaid went ahead to help Hudayya inside. She was careful, trying not to attract attention, fearing the reaction of Abu Zaid’s family.
Inside the living room, Hudayya glimpsed Abu Zaid’s relatives: his father, siblings, and mother. No one noticed her at first until she reached a seat and revealed herself.
“Subhanallah! What is this?” his sisters exclaimed. Hudayya fell slightly, her face partially veiled.
Abu Zaid explained to them that she was from Gwarzo, looking for her parents, and thought his aunt might help. His natural composure reassured some of them.
Though his father, Alhaji Ɗalhatu, was stern and strict, Abu Zaid’s kindness toward Hudayya surprised them all.
Hudayya, relieved to meet someone familiar with Gwarzo, followed Abu Zaid to his aunt’s house, where she would temporarily stay before being reunited with her own parents.
---
If you want, I can also do a more polished, narrative-style English version that reads like a proper novel rather than a literal translation. This would make it easier to publish or read fluently.
The rumble of the earth beneath him grew louder, signs that it was about to erupt. He leaned on the tinted glass of the car and flicked away the stub of his cigarette, then popped a fragrant candy into his mouth. One car door opened, letting the smoke that had filled the car escape. He then sprayed himself with a strong perfume, adjusting the fit of his expensive, custom-tailored outfit. Stepping out, he stood firmly, crushing the cigarette stub that hadn’t yet burned out. This was IBRAHIM ƊALHAT ABU ZAID, a young man blessed by God with extraordinary handsomeness that had driven countless people to ruin because of the attention it attracted.
The smile on his face added an irresistible charm. As he saw his friend and his family approaching, their tired faces showed signs of exhaustion.
With great joy, they embraced. The driver, who had been lingering at the side, moved closer, trying to lift their heavy luggage into the car.
“How was the journey? I see Madam and the kids are tired,” Abu Zaid said in a cold, almost emotionless voice.
“Leave it, Ibrahim. These children have troubled us enough,” his friend Nazeer replied calmly. Abu Zaid smiled slightly and greeted all the children.
They stood by as each person settled into their seat, closing their weary eyes. Abu Zaid then moved to take his seat.
Suddenly, a young girl, no older than 17, approached Abu Zaid as he tried to enter the car. Her clothes were filthy, her face gaunt from hunger.
“Please, help me! Even if it’s just work, I beg you! Please! Please! Don’t say no, I beg you, help me for God’s sake!” she said, tears streaming down her face, wiping them with the edge of her tattered scarf.
He raised one eyebrow, studying her carefully. His heart wavered slightly; he did not like to see anyone forced into desperation. After a careful look, he softened his expression, as he was not one to frown harshly.
“Who are you looking for? What’s your problem?” he asked, his face calm but stern.
“My parents are dead, and my stepmother has thrown me out. She said she couldn’t feed me anymore and not to return. I don’t even know where my maternal relatives are. I went to my father’s relatives, and they rejected me. Please, help me. I can do any work,” she said, letting out another pitiful cry, her whole body trembling.
“Don’t worry, I’ll help. What’s your name and where are you from?” he asked, folding his arms.
“My name is Hudayya. I’m from the village of Gwarzo,” she replied in a shaky voice.
“Gwarzo?” he repeated in his mind, keeping his gaze on her. Despite her dirt and hardship, she didn’t give away any sign of her origin.
“Hudayya, right?” he asked, studying her face. She quickly nodded.
“I don’t like lies. If I catch you lying, I’ll take you back to where I found you,” he said, his voice firm yet composed.
Before she could answer, Nazeer, unable to tolerate the situation and Abu Zaid’s generosity, stepped out of the car furiously.
“Abu Zaid, you’ve done enough charity already! But people like this cannot be trusted. Why would you bring a woman like this to your house and expect your parents to approve?” Nazeer said, his anger barely contained.
“Calm down, my G. I just want to help,” Abu Zaid replied softly.
“I understand, but never consult me on this again. I don’t approve of this girl. If she wants help for God’s sake, why not just give her money to return to her stepmother? Why bring her all the way from Gwarzo to Zaria, and then through Kano? Why not just stay at home?”
“Why all this anger, Nazeer? Even if my parents refuse, I have no choice,” Abu Zaid said, patting Nazeer on the shoulder.
“You know I will not ride in the same car with a stranger, right?” Nazeer said, glaring at Hudayya crouched to the side.
“You know I cannot drive at this hour, Nazeer. Your driver will take her,” Abu Zaid replied, adjusting his seat.
“I swear, Abu Zaid, I won’t ride in the same car as a stranger. I just want you to give her money so she can return to her stepmother’s house,” Nazeer said, glaring at Hudayya, whose red eyes reflected exhaustion and sorrow.
Abu Zaid studied Nazeer carefully, trying to gauge the situation. Despite not usually stopping for other people’s problems, he felt pity for Hudayya.
Nazeer’s wife, surprised by her husband’s anger at helping a stranger, observed with suspicion she couldn’t hide.
“Why are you avoiding helping her? Did I offend you, or do you feel no one deserves aid?” Surayya asked sharply, her voice reflecting the tiny whimper she had heard.
Abu Zaid didn’t respond verbally, but held her hand, kissed it, and directed her to the car, while he moved to the driver’s seat, signaling that Hudayya would go but not in the same car with Nazeer. He smiled faintly, readjusting his seat.
Hudayya’s eyes were wide with nervousness as the black Sienna XLE sped off with Nazeer and the driver, leaving her far behind. She closed her eyes, relieved.
Even the driver looked at her suspiciously, noting her beauty and resilience.
As they approached Abu Zaid’s house, Hudayya feared how his family would receive her. Would they reject her as everyone else had?
-
ABU ZAID
BY SASAAL
CHAPTER 2
At the parking lot, Nazeer entered the house, expressionless. After parking, he stepped out, with the children calling “Abu Zaid, take care, Uncle!” He smiled faintly. Surayya, unable to restrain herself, approached to assist.
Abu Zaid went ahead to help Hudayya inside. She was careful, trying not to attract attention, fearing the reaction of Abu Zaid’s family.
Inside the living room, Hudayya glimpsed Abu Zaid’s relatives: his father, siblings, and mother. No one noticed her at first until she reached a seat and revealed herself.
“Subhanallah! What is this?” his sisters exclaimed. Hudayya fell slightly, her face partially veiled.
Abu Zaid explained to them that she was from Gwarzo, looking for her parents, and thought his aunt might help. His natural composure reassured some of them.
Though his father, Alhaji Ɗalhatu, was stern and strict, Abu Zaid’s kindness toward Hudayya surprised them all.
Hudayya, relieved to meet someone familiar with Gwarzo, followed Abu Zaid to his aunt’s house, where she would temporarily stay before being reunited with her own parents.
---
If you want, I can also do a more polished, narrative-style English version that reads like a proper novel rather than a literal translation. This would make it easier to publish or read fluently.
Do you want me to do that?