Soyayyar Kwana Daya Complete Book

Description

English Translation

A small, medium-aged young lady lay on the bed, talking on the phone and laughing heartily. It seemed the call brought her immense joy.

Mummy approached the bedroom, knocked, and received no response. Silence followed until she heard laughter coming from inside the room. Pressing her ear against the door, she realized she was on a phone call, catching some words while others remained unclear.

Realizing the call was endless, Mummy knocked again, but alas, she was too deeply engrossed to notice. In surprise, Mummy turned the knob and, to her luck, the door was unlocked.

She entered with a greeting before asking, "Muhibbah, are you alright? Who are you on the phone with? I've been knocking for a while, but it was quiet, as if you weren't in the room."

She startled and sat up upon seeing Mummy standing over her. Overwhelmed with bashful embarrassment, she asked, "Mummy, were you looking for me?"

Mummy cast a sharp glance at her before asking, "Muhibbah, who are you on the phone with?"

She stood up with a racing heart, yet managed to flash Mummy a smile and replied, "It's just a friend of mine. We haven't seen each other in a long time, and I missed her contact, so she called me today," while hurriedly hiding the phone behind her back.

Mummy looked at her, astonished by the lie, wondering what she was trying to hide, because the phone call clearly indicated she was talking to a man. Muhibbah interrupted her thoughts by saying, "Mummy, today I am going to make dinner for us. I learned a Jollof rice recipe on my phone, and I guarantee that when you taste this meal, your ears will nearly pop!"

"As for Daddy, when he eats it, he will surely reward me." Without waiting for Mummy's response, she rushed out of the bedroom.

Mummy smiled, saying, "May God guide this girl for me."

Mummy followed her into the parlour and found her sitting, watching MBC 3. She sat beside her, saying, "You, Muhibbah, even now you are no different from a child; all you do is watch cartoons."

Smiling, she replied, "Mummy, have I even grown up? I am only 17 years old, you see, I still have a long way to go. Since you don't have a younger sister, that's why you say that, but wait, soon I will give birth to a baby."

She pouted her face petulantly and said, "Haba, my Mummy, what kind of baby? Stop saying that before it comes true, or you'll have to take it to an orphanage!"

Mummy laughed and replied, "No, it's you I will take to the orphanage because you are the childish one." They both laughed.

They continued chatting happily. Muhibbah glanced at the clock hanging on the parlour wall—it was 1:30 PM. She jumped up quickly and said, "Mummy, school time is near; let me go and get ready." Without waiting for Mummy's reply, she dashed into her bedroom.

Straight into the toilet she went, took a bath, and performed Wudu. Upon coming out, she spread her prayer mat and performed the Zuhr prayer before heading to her wardrobe. Opening it, she took out her uniform; it took her no more than 5 minutes to get dressed: blue-black trousers, a white shirt, a blue-black hijab, a niqab, and her school bag. She came out, but not finding Mummy in the parlour, she headed to her bedroom and knocked, receiving permission to enter.

She found her seated on the prayer mat reciting the Holy Qur'an. "Mummy, I am leaving; I am getting late." As she turned to leave, she stepped back and said, "Oh, my Mummy, don't forget I said today I am the one making dinner." Before Mummy could speak, she rushed out of the bedroom. Mummy smiled and continued her recitation.

Upon coming out, she got into the car, the driver started the engine, and they drove away from the house. He parked in front of a massive school. She opened the door, stepped out, and just as she was about to enter the school, she turned back to the driver and said, "Please come back early because today I want to return home early; I have chores." "Tom, Madam, In Sha Allah it will be done."

She left him there and went into the school, while he drove back home. Upon entering class, she began chatting with Rufaeda. Hearing Malam Sudaes's throat-clearing, everyone rushed back to their seats and sat down.

They spent an hour and a half in class. Three teachers came in, each teaching them for 30 minutes: Al-Hadith, An-Nahwu, and Al-Arabiyya.

They performed the Asr prayer before returning to class for two subjects: Al-Mutala'ah and Al-Adab. At exactly 5:00 PM, school was dismissed. Upon coming out, the driver was waiting for her. Today she didn't waste any time; she got into the car and they headed home. Before he even finished parking, she quickly stepped out, entered the parlour with Salam on her lips, and finding no one in the parlour, she went straight to her bedroom to change her clothes.

She returned to the parlour, and as there was still no one around, she headed to the kitchen to start cooking. She began parboiling rice before blending the stew ingredients. Suddenly, she felt as though someone was right behind her. She turned quickly and, seeing Mummy, flashed her a smile. Mummy smiled back and asked, "Muhibbah, when did you return?"

"I came back a while ago, Mummy. I greeted people, but the house was quiet with no one in the parlour, so I hurried to start cooking lest Daddy return and find dinner unready."

"Truly, you've done well, Daddy's darling." She smiled again, showing her teeth, because in her life she loved being called "Daddy's darling." "So, what should I help you with?" "No, Mummy, go and rest; today I will do everything."

By 7:00 PM, she completed everything and arranged them on the dining table before going to her room to perform the Maghrib prayer.

She took a bath to refresh her body before performing Maghrib. She sat on her prayer mat until Isha, then opened her wardrobe to fetch clothes. She walked over to the mirror, applied body lotion, and dressed within minutes: she wore a vest and a knee-length skirt. She tied her hair, though its tail still hung down her back. The clothes fit her perfectly, and she exuded a fragrance like someone preparing to welcome a groom.

She met the family at the dining table waiting for her to come out. She walked over to them with a bright face and said, "Daddy, welcome back." "Welcome, Daddy's darling," he said with a smile.

She opened the food flasks and began serving them Jollof rice with mutton and homemade Zobo. They had just started eating when she asked, "Mummy, where is Ya Anas? Is he still not back?" Before she could finish her sentence, he walked in with a greeting. They responded before he pulled out a chair and sat down. The aroma of the food hit his nose, and he said, "Wow, today this food is going to be delicious." She served him too. After taking just one spoonful, he said, "Wow, honestly, today this food is delicious!"

Muhibbah burst into laughter, saying, "So I actually know how to cook this kind of delicious meal?" "May God forbid that I eat your food! When did you learn to cook like this? Let nobody eat mine again!" he frowned, acting like a proud big brother. "Hey, I am just joking with you, or is it Daddy who said—?"

"What's happening again? You two never sit under the same shade without quarreling," Daddy intervened.

Pouting, she said, "He's just saying that because he praised my cooking and now he's acting up." "Truly, she spoke the truth because the food is very delicious, Daddy's darling," said Daddy. "Really, she cooked it herself?" Anas asked. Mummy answered, "Yes, haba! That's why I felt the food had a special touch; it didn't even lack Maggi." She frowned and said, "Mummy, you hear what Ya Anas is saying? He's acting like the food isn't good." "Ah, he's just teasing you; he knows very well it's delicious." They kept teasing each other while Daddy and Mummy laughed along, following their lead.

Her phone began to ring. Mummy saw the name "Ya Fu'ad" flashing across the screen and wondered why Fu'ad would call Muhibbah so late at night, especially since they didn't get along well. Earlier too, he had called. She handed the phone to Muhibbah. Seeing the name flashing on the screen made her eyes widen as she looked at Mummy. Their eyes met, and Mummy smiled and said, "Goodnight to you all." They exchanged greetings and she headed to her bedroom.

She lay down and began to wonder: could Mummy have sensed something between her and Ya Fu'ad? While she was thinking, her phone rang again. She placed the phone to her ear and said, "May the peace of Allah be upon my older brother." He responded with, "Ameen, to my wonderful younger sister." She covered her face as if he could see her and said, "You and your endless teasing."

"Where were you earlier when I called and Mummy picked up?" Her heart skipped a beat, and she asked, "Which time exactly?" "Around 7." She gave a smile that felt like crying and said, "I left it in the kitchen while I was in the bedroom praying." He said, "My wonderful younger sister, what did you ask for as a trust?" She let out a sigh of relief before saying, "So many things."

They spent about an hour on the phone before saying goodbye. She went into the toilet, brushed her teeth, performed Wudu, recited the sleeping supplications, turned off the bedroom bulb, and went to sleep...

(LOVE OF A SINGLE DAY - Based on a true life story, Written by Fatima A. Muhammad)

Summary

This story revolves around Muhibbah, a lively 17-year-old secondary school student who lives with her parents and older brother, Anas. Muhibbah is the cherished "darling" of her father and enjoys a playful, bickering sibling dynamic with Anas.

Throughout the narrative, Muhibbah navigates her daily routine—attending school (Ka'ab bn Malik Academy), interacting with her close friend Sumayya, cooking meals, and balancing family life. Complications arise around her relationships: she is pursued or connected to multiple figures, including a schoolmate named Mukhtar and an older relative/figure named Ya Fu'ad, with whom she shares late-night phone calls that raise her mother's suspicions. Despite her playful nature and teenage antics, Muhibbah deeply values her family's approval, particularly hoping her parents understand the purely platonic or familial nature of her connections. The story highlights family warmth, teenage lifestyle, and underlying romantic tensions.

Description

• Protagonist: Muhibbah (17 years old, cheerful, playful, dubbed "Daddy's darling").
• Key Characters: Mummy and Daddy (supportive parents), Anas (older brother prone to sibling rivalry), Sumayya (Muhibbah's close friend), Ya Fu'ad (an older figure/relative involved in secretive late-night calls), and Suhael (another family member returning from abroad).
• Setting: A lively suburban household and school environment in Nigeria.
• Themes: Family dynamics, teenage romance/friendships, sibling banter, parental vigilance, and cultural nuances of Nigerian home life.

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