Aminatu Complet By Amina Maaji Maman Khairat

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AUTHOR'S NOTE & DEDICATION

I give praise to Almighty Allah for giving me the strength to complete my book SAKAYYA. Today, I bring you a completely different style in this book, AMINATU. It is a story filled with compassion, the bitter reality of human cruelty, love, and the struggles of life—all contained within the journey of Aminatu.
To my readers, please enjoy this book. I dedicate it entirely to my dear sister, Hadiza Ma'aji. May the blessings of Allah be with you until the end of your days. I have no one like you; you have shown me true love for His sake, and may He love you in return.
The story of Aminatu is a work of fiction. I did not write it with any hidden motives or malice against anyone. If the story happens to mirror your personal life or experiences, I sincerely ask for your understanding and forgiveness, especially to those who bear the name Amina.

A Special Tribute: A respectful salute to the Gamayyar Marubutan Hausa (Association of Hausa Writers) group. I wish you all tremendous success and multiple achievements in the coming year. May Allah elevate the status of every single writer in Nigeria. Amen.
Thank you so very much for the love you have shown me, my dear fans of Aminatu. I wish you all the best wherever you are. I love you all too!

CHAPTER 1: THE CRUELTY OF INNA AISHA

"Aminatu! I told you a while ago to get up and cook for us, and instead, you are sitting there pouting! Do you want me to get up and beat you before you tell me where you learned this sheer disrespect?"
Aminatu was crying bitterly. She hadn't tasted a single morsel of food since morning. To make matters worse, she was suffering from a severe, splitting headache. She hadn't slept a wink the previous night because Inna Aisha hadn't given her a moment of peace, beating her until her skin was bruised and broken from sheer exhaustion.
"Inna, please forgive me," Aminatu wept. "I really can't get up. Please look at my body—everything hurts."
"I don't care what hurts, you must get up! You think you are special? Let me tell you, I will never go easy on you, you spoiled girl with big eyes like a jinn!"
Dragging her feet in deep pain, Aminatu managed to make her way to the kitchen. She set the pot on the stove and cooked, finishing around 3:00 PM. Meanwhile, Hanan just sat there watching her, without offering even a simple word of sympathy.
Later, Hanan complained, "Inna, this food is terrible, I can't eat it! She did this out of pure malice, she put way too much pepper in it."
All these harsh words were spoken right in front of Baba, who heard everything.
"Hey, Hanan! Didn't I warn you never to show her disrespect again?" Baba barked. "I will discipline you!"
"Haba Malam!" Aisha interrupted defensively. "Why are you getting so heated and taking it out on Hanan? Look, this girl Aminatu is living a very privileged life under your care. Just look at the clothes she was wearing when you found her; it's obvious her parents are wealthy and influential. Take note of that, because if you keep treating her like she's better than us, I might just leave you over her!"
A heavy silence filled the room.
"Lower your voice, Aisha," Malam said calmly. "I won't let you mistreat her anymore. Who even beat her like this?"
Aminatu burst into fresh, painful tears.
Malam turned to Aminatu and said softly, "Have patience. Today, and not tomorrow, I am taking you back to the exact spot where I found you. Perhaps Allah will guide you into the hands of good, compassionate people who will take you in."
"Please forgive me, Baba!" Aminatu cried out, gripping his clothes. "I cannot bear to be separated from you. You have shown me unconditional love since before I even knew who I was or where I came from. Please don't separate us! Let me stay with my Inna and my younger sister. Whatever hardships I face will pass one day."
"Malam, just listen to the girl," Inna Aisha chimed in, sounding pleased.
"Oh, Aisha," Malam sighed heavily. "Do you think Allah will just look away from everything you are doing to this child? Know that retribution can happen to you at any time. Your cruelty is not a sign of cleverness or wisdom."
"Haba Malam, why make a big deal out of this? Forgive me, I won't do it again," Aisha mumbled.
"You say that every single day," Malam replied sternly. "Mark my words, Aminatu will one day become a great wall of protection and blessing for you and your relatives, and only then will you be happy."
Inna Aisha fell completely silent, her heart burning with anger. “Is Malam really speaking to me like this today all because of Aminatu? This girl has completely brainwashed him. He never used to treat us this way,” she thought bitterly.

A Father's Comfort

Baba walked into his room, boiled some water, and brought it out. He told Aminatu to go take a warm bath and gave her a soothing ointment to rub over her bruised body.
"Do not worry, Aminatu," Baba comforted her. "Even after I am gone, I know you will find your real parents."
"It's nothing, Baba. You are a true father to me," she replied gratefully.
"That is true. But Aisha has no mercy in her heart at all. Her whole life is driven by malice, without a single fear of Allah. I wonder what kind of complicated, entangled life she is creating for herself."
"Please don't cry, Baba. You have given me every form of care and love, and I will never, ever forget you. Thank you for your love toward me."

CHAPTER 2: SCHOOL DAYS AND AN ILLNESS

The next morning, Aminatu woke up early and got ready for school.
"Ah, Aminatu, you are awake?" Baba asked.
"Yes, Baba, I'm heading out."
"May Allah grant you success. Amen. Here is your pocket money," Baba said, handing her twenty Naira. She accepted it with immense joy.
She didn't arrive at school early; it was almost 8:00 AM by the time she walked through the gates. Her teacher, Malam Mustapha, called her over. "Hey, Aminatu, why are you late today?"
"Inna made me do chores before leaving," she explained.
"Where is your father?"
"He's at home."
"Alright, when you return home, tell him I will visit your house this evening."
"Okay, Malam."
"Hurry along to class now."
Aminatu rushed to her classroom. She spent the morning chatting happily with her close friend, Aisha, until closing time. Since it was a public government school, teachers didn't always show up consistently, and that day, only the English teacher had taken them for a lesson.
When school closed, they walked home under the scorching sun. Aminatu was incredibly hungry and thirsty. She walked into the house and called out a greeting, which Hanan answered.
"Aminatu, you're back?" Hanan asked.
"Yes, Hanan. How was school? You guys closed early."
"Yes, we closed since 12:00 PM. Alhamdulillah. Where is Baba?"
"He went to the Bayamari market."
"Ah, okay. You know today is the town's market day."
"That's true. Where is Inna?"
"She went out for a social visit. Here is your food."
"Oh, thank you! It's like you knew I was starving."
"Hurry up and eat it before Inna gets back," Hanan warned.
Aminatu looked at the food—it was so small that it wouldn't even take three bites to finish.

A Cold Evening Errand

Later that afternoon, around 4:00 PM, Inna Aisha walked into the house.
"Aminatu!" she called out.
"Yes, Inna. Welcome back."
"Thank you. Has Malam not returned yet?"
"No, Inna, he hasn't."
"Well, we don't have anything to cook for dinner yet. Let's wait for him to return." She looked around. "Where is Hanan?"
"She's sleeping."
"Go and wake her up! She does nothing but sleep. What kind of useless girl is she?" Then she paused and glared at Aminatu. "Wait, you stubborn girl, did you intentionally defy me? Didn't I tell you to go to Fanna's house to collect my package? Is this why you let Hanan sleep, so you could avoid your errands? Hanan, wake up!"
"I'm sorry, Inna. I just fell asleep," Hanan mumbled, waking up. "Can Aminatu just go collect it for you?"
Aminatu looked outside anxiously. "Inna, Maghrib prayer time is very close. Please let me go tomorrow so Baba won't get angry with me for being out late."
"Whether you die on the way or not, you are going tonight!" Inna snapped.
Aminatu quickly grabbed her hijab and set out on the long road toward Bulama Saleh's neighborhood. The distance between their houses was not small at all.
Shortly after she left, Baba returned home and greeted the house. Hanan answered. Noticing how quiet the house was, Baba asked, "Where is everyone?"
"Baba, Inna sent Aminatu to Fanna's house," Hanan replied.
"At this hour? Why didn't she send her earlier during the day when she returned from school? Aisha, do you have even a single drop of human kindness in your heart?"
"Haba Malam! Is it a crime for me to send Aminatu on an errand without you throwing a tantrum? After all, I am the one taking care of her!"
"Shut your mouth!" Baba snapped. "If you want us to live under this roof in peace, you better change your ways. I will deal with this."
Baba dropped the goods he bought from the Bayamari market, walked out, and boarded a commercial motorcycle straight to Bulama Saleh. When he arrived at Fanna's house, he asked if Aminatu had been there, but Fanna said she hadn't seen her yet.
As they were speaking, Aminatu walked in. She was shocked to see him. "Baba! When did you return?"
"Not long ago. I was told your Inna sent you out late, so I came to fetch you so the darkness wouldn't catch you alone."
Aminatu greeted the woman, "Good evening, Fanna."
"Good evening, Aminatu. Here is the package." Fanna handed it over, and Aminatu left with her father.
On the way back, Baba kept apologizing to her for the unfair treatment. "It's nothing, Baba," Aminatu said gently. "This is just how life is. I don't take anything Inna does to heart, because I know one day all this will be a thing of the past."
Baba gave her some words of advice until they reached home. His face was thunderous with anger. He didn't say a word to anyone; he simply grabbed a plastic kettle, performed his ablutions, and left for the mosque.
Aminatu went into their room, took off her hijab, performed her ablutions, and stood up to pray. As she finished, Inna called out, "Aminatu! Come over here and watch this food on the fire, I want to go pray too."
That entire night, Baba refused to speak a single word to Inna Aisha. The tense silence deeply rattled her. Around 10:00 PM, Inna went and knelt before Baba, begging, "Malam, please forgive me..." But he didn't even acknowledge her presence. After talking to herself for a while, she got up and went to bed.

Crisis at School

The following morning, Aminatu woke up feeling terrible. Her head was pounding, and a severe fever was washing over her. Despite feeling sick, she forced herself to go to school.
Just as the first lesson began, the fever struck her with full force. She collapsed, resting her head heavily on her desk.
Malam Mustapha noticed her. "Hey, Aminatu, what is wrong with you?"
"I have a terrible fever, sir."
"Go to the school clinic and get some medicine, okay?"
As she stood up to walk, a wave of dizziness overcame her. She managed to sit down but suddenly began vomiting violently. Seeing her condition, the other teachers quickly rushed her to the NGaidam Primary Health Care Center (PHCC).
When they arrived, they met a female health worker on duty. Malam Mustapha quickly explained the situation. "Bring her in, I'm coming right now," the health worker said. She immediately attended to Aminatu and put her on an intravenous drip. Malam Mustapha and Malam Abdul stayed by her bedside.
Malam Mustapha turned to the health worker, "Thank you so much, madam. What is your name?"
"My name is Asta. You're very welcome," she replied smoothly.
Aminatu remained unconscious, breathing shallowly due to her fragile state, until about 2:00 PM. When she opened her eyes, the teachers smiled with relief. "How are you feeling, Aminatu? May Allah grant you quick recovery."
"Amen," she whispered weakly.
Malam Mustapha then left for Aminatu's house to inform her family. He arrived just as Baba was walking out of the house.
"Ah, Malam, is everything okay?" Baba asked, surprised. "I didn't see Aminatu return."
"Yes, she is at the hospital. A severe fever took over her at school, so we had to rush her there."
"Subhanallah! Aminatu? Which hospital?"
"The one close to the NGaidam motor park."
"Let me inform her mother so we can get ready and go right away."
Baba rushed inside. "Aisha! Get dressed quickly. Aminatu is in the hospital, she is very sick."
"Which Aminatu?" Aisha asked blankly.
"Do you have any other Aminatu in this house?!" Baba barked.
Inna quickly grabbed her hijab.
Back at the hospital, Aminatu woke up to find Baba sitting close to her. "How are you feeling, Aminatu?"
"I'm feeling a bit better, Baba."
"May Allah grant you full health."
Seeing tears in his eyes, she said, "Please stop crying, Baba. I will be fine, I promise."
"How can I not cry when the doctors just told me that your heart is under so much stress it could trigger a heart condition? Please, just let me cry."
Witnessing the gravity of the situation, even Inna Aisha’s cold heart softened with pity that day. They spent three days at the hospital, receiving exceptional care and love from Nurse Asta.

CHAPTER 3: THE RETURN OF IBRAHIM

Following her discharge, Baba strictly forbade Aminatu from doing any chores for two weeks to allow her to fully recover. Hanan was forced to handle all the household errands.
As she was recovering, Baba brought her some exciting news: "Aminatu, your older brother Ibrahim is returning from Kaduna tomorrow."
Aminatu was filled with joy. Ibrahim’s return meant she would get a massive relief from Inna Aisha's torment, because Inna was deeply afraid of Ibrahim. He never allowed anyone to oppress or treat Aminatu unfairly.
The next morning, around 10:00 AM, Ya Ibrahim arrived. Aminatu joyfully prepared all the refreshments Inna had put together for him, given that he was Inna's firstborn son.
"Aminatu, look at you! Have you grown taller?" Ibrahim teased as he walked in.
"Haba Ya Ibrahim, what do you mean grown taller? It's just because it's been a long time since you last saw me," she laughed.
"Kaduna has been great, honestly. You know what? Next time, I should definitely take you back to Kaduna with me."
They both laughed happily. Just then, Baba walked in. "Ibrahim! You're finally here?"
"Yes, Baba. I hope I meet you all in good health?"
"We are all doing well. How is your uncle over there?"
"They all send their warmest regards."
"Alhamdulillah. I was actually planning a trip down there for some traditional medicine work, but since you're here, it's all good." He looked at them. "Are you two just catching up?"
"Yes, Baba, with our blessed Aminatu. Where is Hanan?"
"She's in the room with Inna. May Allah bless you all."
"Amen, Baba."
"I need to quickly step out to Jinmbam. I'll see you later," Baba said, heading out.
The moment Baba left the house, Inna Aisha stormed out of her room, glaring at Aminatu. "Hey, Aminatu! What is the meaning of this? Did you give birth to him? Ever since he stepped foot in this house, you've glued yourself to him!"
"Haba, Inna!" Ibrahim intervened. "We were just having a normal conversation. Why are you so fixated on causing trouble? Look at Hanan over there; why don't you guys join us instead of isolating Aminatu? Isn't she your daughter too?"
"Yes, Inna," Ibrahim continued firmly. "I don't separate the love I have for both of them. Please, for Allah's sake, stop trying to plant hatred in their hearts. Let them be."
"Shut your mouth! I want to speak with you alone," Inna snapped at Ibrahim.
Aminatu quietly left the room and walked to a quiet corner where she cried her eyes out. “O Allah, I know I must have siblings out there. Please unite me with them, even if it's just once before I die. I am so tired of how Inna treats me,” she prayed.
Later, she performed her prayers, and shortly after, she heard Inna's voice calling out, "Come and collect your souvenir!"
To her surprise, Ibrahim had bought her a beautiful long gown, identical to the one he bought for Hanan. He had also bought her a hijab and a necklace. To avoid Inna's bitter complaints, he had bought the exact same items in pairs for both girls. Aminatu thanked him immensely, her heart bursting with happiness.
The next day was Saturday. Aminatu took her bath and proudly wore her new gown. Ya Ibrahim walked into the room and smiled. "Wow, Aminatu, look at you! If there was a beauty pageant for queens, I would definitely pick you. The clothes look stunning on you."
"Gaskiya, it's your good taste that made me look beautiful since you bought them for me. Thank you so much, Ya Ibrahim."
During the two weeks Ibrahim spent at home, Aminatu enjoyed a life of luxury. Inna didn't dare assign her any hard labor because she didn't want Ibrahim to find out how much she typically tormented the poor girl.
However, the day Ibrahim was set to return to Kaduna, Aminatu wept bitterly. She had never cried this hard during his past departures.
"Have patience, okay?" Ibrahim comforted her, wiping her tears. "One day, I will pack all of you up and we will move to Kaduna together, Insha Allah."
"Ibrahim, stop entertaining Aminatu's childishness and start heading out before you miss your transport," Inna cut in coldly.
"Alright, Baba, I'll call you when I arrive safely," Ibrahim said, ignoring his mother.
"May Allah protect you on the road and grant you a safe journey. Amen," Baba prayed.

The Torment Returns

Barely two days after Ibrahim's departure, Inna Aisha reverted to her cruel ways. One afternoon, she forced Aminatu to pound grains (surfe) until her hands were covered in painful, fluid-filled blisters. Aminatu's skin was naturally fragile; the slightest hard labor left her bruised and bleeding.

CHAPTER 4: THE BACKSTORY (HOW AMINATU WAS FOUND)

Let us take a step back to understand who Malam Abbakar really is.
Malam Abbakar was a native of Dapchi town, where his parents and entire extended family resided. He had one wife, Aisha, and three children: Fandau, Ibrahim, and Hanan.
One Saturday, because Malam Abbakar was a well-known traditional herbalist, a patient was brought to him from Gashu'a town. After examining the patient, Malam said, "I am sorry, I don't have the remaining herbs required for this cure here. I have to go to the Guba Dafso forest to harvest them. I will go later today, so you can return tomorrow to collect the medicine."
"That's completely fine, Malam. We just want a permanent cure," the patient's family replied.
Around 10:00 AM, Malam boarded a commercial vehicle to the outskirts of Dapso. He walked deep into the wilderness to harvest his roots and herbs. Just as he finished and turned around to leave, his eyes fell upon a little girl sitting all alone in the dense forest, weeping bitterly.
"Good Lord!" Malam gasped. "What is a little girl doing out here? Who brought her to this jungle?"
There was no one around to give him an answer. He quickly recited some protective prayers, walked up to her, and asked gently, "Little girl, what is your name? Who brought you here?"
The girl could only shake and cry in terror.
"Whoever left you in this wilderness is truly a wicked soul," Malam muttered compassionately. "But don't worry. No matter how you ended up here—even if you were kidnapped—Allah will make it right. Every human action yields a lesson." He looked at her again. "What is your name?"
"Aminatu," she sobbed.
"Where is your hometown?"
"I don't know."
"Incredible," Malam whispered.
He picked her up, carried her out of the forest, and took her into Gashu'a town, straight to the Gangarandi neighborhood where his close friend, Mohammed Gambo, lived. Fortunately, Gambo was home.
"Ah, Malam Abbakar! Welcome! What brings you here under this hot sun?" Gambo greeted him. Then he noticed the child. "And who is this?"
Malam sat down and explained everything, including how he discovered Aminatu wandering in the deep forest.
"This is a serious matter," Gambo said gravely. "The best thing to do right now is to go to the police station, report the incident, and let them document it."
"That's true," Malam agreed. "But I really need to return to Dapchi today because I have patients waiting for me. What should we do?"
"Leave Aminatu with me until Monday," Gambo suggested. "I will handle the initial documentation and introduce her to the neighborhood head (Mai Anguwa), then you can return on Monday so we can finalize everything at the police station."
Malam agreed, leaving Aminatu in the safe hands of Gambo's family, who took excellent care of her. On Monday morning, Malam Abbakar returned to Gashu'a. He found that she had been given a proper bath and clean clothes. Together, they went to the police station.
The officers documented all the details. One of the policemen looked down at the little girl and asked, "Aminatu, can you recognize the people who took you? What did they look like? Which town did they bring you from?"
Aminatu couldn't provide any answers. Whenever she was questioned, she would only repeat, "My name is Aminatu." By God's grace, the police officially handed Aminatu over to Malam Abbakar under strict legal guidelines.
That same afternoon, Malam returned to Dapchi with the girl. The moment he walked through the door, his wife, Inna Aisha, stared in disbelief. "Malam, who is this?"
"I found her," Malam replied simply.
"Oh my God! A stray child? From where? Malam, what is the meaning of this?"
"Let me sit down first, Aisha," Malam said wearily.
After resting, he explained the entire backstory to her. "Aisha, if you know you cannot live in peace with this child under my roof, tell me now so I can make alternative arrangements for her."
"Haba Malam, why would you say that? Don't worry, she can stay," Aisha replied, masking her resentment. "May Allah give us the strength to raise her. Amen."
At the time he found her, Aminatu was roughly ten years old. Because Malam was a poor man, he did his best to provide for her, showing her immense love and protection. However, whenever Malam was away from home, Inna Aisha’s absolute cruelty would manifest. One day, Aminatu made a minor mistake, and Inna beat her so brutally that the poor girl fainted. She grew up in constant hardship, sometimes without even a pair of slippers to wear on her feet.
Despite their poverty, Malam enrolled her in Central Primary School, which was close to their neighborhood. Aminatu proved to be exceptionally brilliant—no student in the entire school could match her intelligence.
Whenever things got too unbearable, she found comfort in Ibrahim, Fandau, and Hanan (who took after her father's kind nature). Meanwhile, Malam Abbakar never stopped searching for Aminatu's biological family, praying for them every single day out of deep empathy for her situation. This was how Aminatu came to live with them.

CHAPTER 5: THE MYSTERY OF POTISKUM

"Hey, Aminatu! I don't want to see those hypocritical tears anymore!" Inna Aisha shouted. "Just because Ibrahim left doesn't mean you will sit around crying. Get out here and finish your chores!"
"I'm coming, Inna," Aminatu wiped her tears.
She washed a mountain of clothes for Inna, and as night fell, she cooked dinner. All this while, Inna wasn't even home; she had gone out to sell the wrapper cloths (Atamfofi) she traded in. Hanan had also gone out to play since afternoon and didn't return until Inna came back around 9:00 PM.
Hanan came running into the house, and Inna caught her, beating her until her skin was bruised. Baba tried to advise Hanan gently since he was a peaceful man who hated shouting. "May Allah guide you, Hanan. You are giving me severe headaches with this reckless behavior, and I don't know why."
"I am sorry, Baba. I won't do it again, Insha Allah," Hanan wept.
"May Allah bless you. Amen. Learn to be reserved and calm, and stop wandering around the streets," Baba added. Aminatu looked at her younger sister and felt a deep wave of pity for her.
Time flew by seamlessly. Before long, Aminatu was in her final year of Junior Secondary School (JSS 3), with just a short time left to graduate.
One afternoon, she returned from school. "Inna, where is Baba?"
"He's in his room. He has some guests who traveled all the way from Potiskum," Inna replied.
The moment the name left Inna's mouth, something clicked in Aminatu's mind. "Potiskum... Potiskum... Potiskum..." she repeated inwardly.
"Inna, I feel like I know that town. It sounds so familiar, as if I lived there or heard it somewhere very important," Aminatu said, her heart racing.
"Oh, matching logic as usual," Inna dismissed her. "Just wait until they leave, then you can talk to your father."
Aminatu kept whispering the name Potiskum over and over in her heart as Baba walked his guests out of the compound.
When Baba returned, Inna approached him. "Malam, right when you were inside with your guests, something strange happened."
"What happened?" Baba asked.
"I told Aminatu that your guests came from Potiskum, and she looked completely startled. She looked like she recognized the name of the town and it deeply shook her."
Malam's face grew serious. "Call Aminatu for me right now."
Aminatu walked in respectfully and knelt down. "I am here, Baba."
"Aminatu, what is troubling you?" Baba asked gently.
"It's nothing, Baba. I just heard Inna say you had guests from Potiskum, and I wanted to know if they were truly from there."
"Yes, they are from Potiskum. Do you know the town?"
"Yes, Baba... I feel a very strong connection to it," she said, visibly shaken and confused.
Baba looked at her trembling form. "Alright, you can go back to your room. We will discuss this later."
Aminatu returned to her room, her mind completely shattered. No matter how hard she tried to dig deep into her memories to find a specific face or event tied to Potiskum, she couldn't piece it together.
Back in the main room, Baba turned to his wife with a look of sudden realization.
"Aisha," Baba said softly, his voice trembling with hope. "In my heart, I strongly believe... Potiskum is the hometown of Aminatun."