Around 10:00 PM in the town of Audarass, located in the Agadez region of Niger, a young, dark-skinned "Buzu" (Tuareg-descended) girl of about 13 was running frantically. Three large, brutish thugs were hot on her heels. She was running for her life; her entire body was in motion. Because she was physically well-developed, one might mistake her for a 15-year-old. She possessed hips that completely captured attention like a mature woman’s, while her breasts were just beginning to bud, though soon they would grow into large breasts capable of driving any healthy man out of his mind.
She ran with all her might, barefoot, crying with mucus dripping down her nose. In her sweet, youthful Tuareg-accented voice, she cried out, "Oh my God! I am doomed, I have no support, please help me, they are going to catch me... Oh my God, I have no one except Gaishina, who is in a critical condition and no one will help her. I came out to seek help, they chased me, for God's sake people come out so they don't harm me, oh please help me, people of Audarass, I must not lose her too, she is the only one left to me and she is also unwell!" She said this while clutching her hair, which fell all the way down her back and spread across her face, running aimlessly while the thugs chased her, unable to catch her yet, as she wept.
Throughout all this, not a single soul looked out to help her. She reached the door of Lailah’s house and almost stopped, but remembered her parents' warning never to get involved with their daughter's affairs.
She heard the voice of Sidi, Lailah’s older brother, calling out, "Ma'azzara.....!" But his mouth froze shut when he saw D'an Malle and his friends chasing her closely. He slammed their house door shut and bolted it.
Ma'azzara caught her breath, running fiercely as they began leaving the town proper, since they were already on the outskirts.
D'an Malle angrily said, "I'm going to deal with you. Right now we are going to enjoy these big buttocks," as he pulled out a slingshot, selected a stone, and aimed at her leg. Because the bright full moon illuminated everything, he released the stone at her leg. Instantly, Ma'azzara let out a sharp shriek, but she didn't stop; she continued running until she was very close to the edge of the highway.
D'an Malle shot another stone at her other leg, and she let out a terrifying, bone-chilling scream and collapsed to the ground.
D'an Malle burst into laughter and said, "By Allah, I must enjoy you. How can I leave such juicy goods like this? Who the hell told you to act up? I don't care about your orphan status, nor do I care about your sick grandmother—she can even die! What do I care? All you know is how to be promiscuous and insolent, looking down on everyone in town." He said this as he approached Ma'azzara.
Agali and the others burst into laughter.
Ma'azzara crawled backward while lying down, crying, "For God's sake, have mercy, don't disgrace me. Let me find someone to help my Gaishina so she doesn't die and leave me... I have no one except her." D'an Malle kicked her, unbuckled his belt while licking his lips, and said, "By Allah, I am going to do the job right now instead of waiting two years while I swallow my saliva over you." He bent down, licking his lips, thrust his hand onto her body, and yanked down her skirt, exposing her smooth, light-colored thighs.
Ma'azzara squeezed her eyes shut, crying, and began hitting him. D'an Malle slapped her hard across the face and said, "By Allah, I will mess you up if you ruin my Preet Night." He pulled down her skirt further and placed his hand on top of her buttocks, stroking them.
Agali and the others cackled with laughter.
D'an Malle said, "Keep watch for us so the night-walkers don't see us." He tore the front of her blouse, exposing her young breasts, and began squeezing them while trying to climb on top of her. She opened her eyes, which were as red as if pepper had been thrown into them, and with her body shaking, she thrust her hand into the dirt, scooped up soil, and threw it right into his face. By sheer luck, it got into his eyes so he couldn't see. He let go of her and fell forward onto the ground, letting out a scream. She bit him hard, pushed him off, and scrambled to her feet. Her blouse was torn, her breasts completely exposed, burning with pain from his rough squeezing.
D'an Malle’s scream caught the attention of Agali and the others, who rushed toward the spot because they had stayed back waiting for him to finish so they could take their turn.
In that state, Ma'azzara limped and ran toward the highway, exhausted, drawn by the headlights of an approaching car.
It was a magnificent, pure white 2020 Venza driving smoothly down the highway toward which Ma'azzara ran. The driver was a calm young man of about 26, fair-complexioned; at a single glance, you could tell he had foreign blood. Even his eye color showed he was half-white and half-Buzu—a person of mixed heritage. He was a handsome, sturdy, wealthy, handsome, and youthful man, dressed in a fresh maroon-colored shadda outfit. Beside him was a beautiful young woman about 23 years old; one look would tell you she also had foreign blood. She was slender, fair-complexioned, and looked strikingly like the young man. They wore matching shadda outfits. She was resting comfortably against him, fast asleep, while he drove with one hand and stroked her head.
His phone rang. He glanced at where it was, smiled, touched it with his soft hand, answered the call, and brought it to his ear. Bending down, he placed a soft kiss on her cheek and said in his sweet, soothing, melodious voice, "Wake up, Bebena, Ummee is calling us." After exchanging greetings, whatever was said to him on the other end made him petulantly say, "Alhamdulillah Ummee, we have entered, here we are at the edge of town." Whatever was said next made him flash a radiant smile and say, "Bebe is sleeping, right now I will—"
The rest of his words got stuck in his throat as he felt a heavy impact in the middle of the highway. Quickly, he slammed on the brakes within two seconds, crying out, "Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un!"
Husaina jerked awake, opening her eyes and saying, "La ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, mon trésor, we have committed manslaughter! I think it was a human being, not an animal."
She finished speaking, bursting into tears and hugging him tightly.
Adamsy hugged Husaina tightly against his body, patting her back and saying, "Mn Bebeta, hush, your crying upsets me more than anything." With a choked sob, she pulled away and said, "Mon trésor, let us go check on her condition." Quickly, he unlocked the car, got out, and she followed. They hurried toward where Ma'azzara lay motionless in the middle of the road. Full of fear, they approached her. He knelt quickly and reached out to lift her, but recoiled in shock, turning his face away with a sinking heart. He stood up, pointing at her, and said, "Mn Bebeta, please help cover her body."
Quickly, she rushed over, felt her face, took off her own head-tie (gyale) to cover her bare chest, and looked at him in panic, saying, "What do we do now? I think she's not breathing."
A strange feeling struck his heart. He hurried back, placed his finger under her nose, listened for a moment, and said, "She is breathing. Get up, let's take her to the hospital."
Trembling, Husaina tried to lift her into her arms. He helped her, and they carried Ma'azzara and laid her in the back seat. Husaina got in beside her, resting Ma'azzara's head on her lap. Adamsy quickly ran around, got into the driver's seat, started the car, sped off powerfully, and headed toward the town.
They rushed her to a major private hospital in town. Upon arrival, she was immediately received and taken into the emergency room. From the moment she was taken inside, Adamsy could not find peace of mind; he paced restlessly back and forth outside the door. With a heavy heart, Husaina took his hand, put on a pitiful expression, and said, "Mon trésor, Insha Allahu nothing will happen to her, calm down..." as she rested her head on his chest.
He stroked her head and said, "Mn Bebeta, I don't want her to suffer any harm because of us." Burrowing deeper into his body, she said, "Insha Allahu nothing will happen to her, okay?" Holding his hand, they walked over to a bench, sat down, she rested her head on his shoulder, and they kept their eyes fixed on the emergency room door.
They sat for about thirty minutes before a doctor emerged from the room and headed toward them. Adamsy quickly stood up and rushed to the doctor in panic, asking, "Doctor, how is she... has she regained consciousness?"
The doctor nodded and said, "She was simply terrified, which is why she fainted. Additionally, something shocked and frightened her greatly, and she is carrying a lot of emotional distress. So all these factors hit her at once. But Alhamdulillah, she has now regained consciousness, and her breathing has normalized. She is about to be moved to a rest room, so you can go in and see her." Finishing his speech, the doctor shook his hand and turned toward his office.
Trembling with emotion, Husaina hurried toward the room with Adamsy following closely behind. She pushed the door open and entered. Ma'azzara lay on the bed, covered with Husaina's head-tie, with an IV drip attached to her hand. Her eyes were closed in sleep—a sleep that clearly stemmed from severe trauma and absolute distress.
Gently, Husaina pulled a chair up to the bedside, sat down, took Ma'azzara's hand in hers, and felt deep pity in her heart. Slowly, Adamsy also stepped over and sat at the edge of the bed, gazing at Ma'azzara's beautiful face, half of which was covered by her messy, scattered hair.
Adamsy looked away from Ma'azzara, turned his gaze to Husaina, sighed, and took her other hand (the one not holding Ma'azzara), rubbing it gently in his palm. Husaina closed her eyes, opened them, and pouting with tears welling up, she softly said, "Mon trésor, by Allah, I feel so sorry for this girl. Whatever her trouble is... look at the dirt on her body, it's as if she has no one to care for her. How does she live in such filth?" she asked, letting go of Ma'azzara's hand.
Adamsy pulled Husaina up so she stood, then drew her down to fall right onto his lap. He hugged her tightly against his chest, brought his mouth close to her ear, and spoke in his melodious, captivating voice that melted every limb in Husaina's body and filled her with yearning for his love:
"Mn Bebeta, by Allah, I don't like your distress. Please don't cry. What do you have to do with her that you should worry yourself? Though even for me, my mind is only now at peace knowing she wasn't hit or injured. I hate killing even an insect, let alone a human being. Alhamdulillah since she is fine now, she has no fractures and wasn't hurt. Alhamdulillah, Bebeta! Oya, smile, don't make me waste my tears over this dark girl. Who knows, maybe she's one of those street kids, blind to morals, roaming the night when Allah made us hit her?" He kissed her ear, drawing her closer into his body.
Husaina melted against Adamsy, lifted her head, stared into his eyes, and placed her soft hand on the well-trimmed sideburns and beard that framed his handsome face.
Pouting, Husaina said, "Mon trésor, please hasten to seek forgiveness. I feel in my heart that this girl is not wayward. Look closely at her face—it bears deep sorrow. Please, when she wakes up, mon amour, let us ask her questions and help her. Please, mon trésor, you are mine and mine alone, okay?" She buried her face in his chest, breathing in his sweet fragrance.
Adamsy twisted his face, exhaled a breath, wrapped his arm around her back, stroking it, and said, "Mn Bebeta, I don't meddle in things that don't concern me. The only help I can offer is to pay the bill for the medicine, the drip, and the hospital bed she used. I will pay, take her to her neighborhood, and apologize—after that, nothing will connect me to meddling in affairs that don't concern me. So mind your own business, Bebeta, okay...?"
Husaina burst into tears and hugged him tightly.
Adamsy said, "Oh mon dieu, Bebeta, you hear your own stubbornness? Just like that, getting involved in things that aren't your business. Okay, hush, my sister, my wife, my source of pride. Oya, get up and climb onto the back of your big brother, your husband, and your only love, let me carry you." He pulled her up, bent down so the slender Sakoto-bred girl climbed onto his back, and walked around the room carrying her.
Husaina stayed quiet, keeping her eyes closed and refusing to laugh, because she knew her man: unless he saw she was genuinely upset, he wouldn't agree to help the girl.
Adamsy's phone, which was in his trouser pocket, began to ring. He slipped his hand in, pulled it out, and walked over to the bedside with it.
He pulled a chair over, set Husaina down on it, sat on the edge of the bed, answered the call while holding Husaina's hand, brought the phone to his ear, and exchanged greetings.
From the other end, Ummee said, "Bature! You said more than 2 hours ago that you entered Audarass, so where are you stuck? Or are you lying, still lounging in Agadez and haven't traveled? Where is my Husaina? Give her to me so I can hear her voice."
Adamsy made a pouting face, squeezed Husaina's hand (she had moved her chair closer, resting her head on his knee and staring at Ma'azzara with astonishment at what kind of parents could abandon their child like this).
Adamsy said, "Ummee, please forgive me. By Allah, we entered, but an accident happened—I slightly hit a young wayward girl, but Allah has brought relief. She didn't take long; I'm just waiting for her to wake up so we can be discharged and come over to you."
From the other end, Ummee exclaimed, "Subhanallah! Why didn't you call? Well, since she wasn't injured, what are you waiting for? Just come over! Those street kids don't listen anyway; if not for mischief in the middle of the night, what are they looking for outside? Where is my Husaina? Give me my girl so I can hear her voice."
Adamsy cradled Husaina's head, pressed the phone to her ear, leaned down, planted a kiss on her lips, and said, "Mon Bebeta, oya, Ummee is speaking..."
Right at that moment, Ma'azzara opened her eyes, let out a loud scream, thrashed around, and cried out, "Uncle, where are you? They are going to harm me! Oh Gaishina, don't die, by Allah I love you!"
Husaina yanked her body away from Adamsy's, stood up, and rushed to Ma'azzara, whose head-tie had slipped off, exposing her young, budding breasts.
Husaina held her down, saying, "Hey, calm down! Who are you? Look, you are in a hospital," while trying to cover her exposed body.
Adamsy turned his face away, twisting his face in disgust at the girl.
He brought the phone back to his ear and said, "Ummeena, you hear mon Bebeta, her anxiety is through the roof over this dark, repulsive street brat, pitch-black as she is..."
Hearing Adamsy's voice made Ma'azzara's eyes pop wide open. She stopped thrashing, stared directly at him, pushed Husaina away from her grip, and struggled to pull out the IV drip from her hand. Bursting into tears, she cried, "Uncle! Finally I get to see you face-to-face! You promised me you would help me no matter how long it took, and here you have come! For God's sake let's go, take me to Gaishina before she dies!" She yelled this as she yanked out the drip, jumped off the bed, blood bleeding from her hand, and rushed toward Adamsy.
Husaina stared at her, thinking she might have gone mad, and ran after her to stop her from touching Adamsy, knowing his temperament—he would treat her harshly now.
Adamsy's eyes popped wide in utter disgust. He stepped back quickly, his face grim, and shouted angrily:
"You little brat! In whose father's house do I know you?!..." ✍🏻
Real Ladingo is here 😅
2. Summary
In this excerpt from the Hausa novel Bani Da Gata, a young 13-year-old Tuareg girl named Ma'azzara is frantically running through the streets of Audarass (Agadez, Niger) at midnight, fleeing from three brutal thugs led by D'an Malle, who intend to assault her. While running desperately and pleading for help for her ailing grandmother, Gaishina, she is ignored by locals (including a neighbor named Sidi who shuts his door in fear). D'an Malle shoots her in both legs with a slingshot, corners her, and attempts to rape her. Ma'azzara manages to blind him temporarily by throwing dirt in his eyes and biting him, then escapes toward the highway.
Simultaneously, a wealthy young mixed-race man named Adamsy (along with his beloved wife/partner Husaina) is driving a white Venza 2020 while traveling to see family. Distracted by a phone call from "Ummee," Adamsy accidentally hits Ma'azzara with his car. Stricken with guilt and empathy, Husaina insists they save the girl. They rush her to a private hospital, where a doctor confirms she only fainted from trauma and shock.
While at the hospital, Husaina shows immense compassion for Ma'azzara, whereas Adamsy is annoyed, disgusted by her appearance, and eager to leave. When Ma'azzara wakes up, she recognizes Adamsy, crying out that he is her "Uncle" and her savior from her dreams who promised to protect her. She rips out her IV drip and lunges at him for comfort. Shocked, disgusted, and bewildered, Adamsy angrily rejects her and barks a furious demand asking who she is, abruptly ending the chapter on a cliffhanger.
3. Character Descriptions
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