Imagine falling asleep in the middle of a serious class and having the most intense dream ever. That’s exactly what happens to our girl in this story. She isn't dreaming about money or fancy clothes like most people her age. No, she’s dreaming about a royal guard, a Dogari. In her head, he’s wearing this bright red robe that’s just glowing, and his turban is wrapped so perfectly it covers his forehead. She’s there telling him how much she loves him. One part of the book says — "My guard, I love you, I love you enough to die, just look at how my love for you brings me to the path you walk every day." (translated from Hausa). It’s so real to her. She feels like she’s finally found the one, especially since in her dream, they are already married. This is how the author Sajida starts us off in this drama called Dutse. It’s not your regular love story at all.
But then, reality hits hard. Just when she’s begging him not to disappear or change back into a regular person, she feels a sharp slap on her face. Imagine the shock! She opens her eyes and sees everyone around her laughing. It’s so embarrassing. Her friend Amina is the one who woke her up because class was over. Amina is just done with her. She tells her to get up and stop this "unlucky sleep." Our main girl is so confused, she even checks herself to make sure she didn't accidentally do something embarrassing because of that slap. She’s just standing there, looking at the blackboard, trying to figure out if she’s actually losing her mind. Another moment in the text says — "Could it be that I have really gone mad without knowing it?" (translated from Hausa). You can really feel her confusion there as she tries to snap back to the real world.
As they walk home, Amina is really giving it to her. She’s like, "If you weren't crazy before, people are going to start looking at you like one now." She’s tired of seeing her friend shaking and begging for the love of a palace guard in her sleep. But the girl doesn't care. She explains that to her, the Dogari is the closest person to the King. They are the ones who help the King onto his horse, hold his umbrella, and know all his secrets. To her, marrying a Dogari is like becoming part of the royal family. It’s a strange dream, right? Most girls want the prince, but she wants the man standing next to him. If you like stories about deep secrets and family issues, you should definitely check out KURMAN ƘADDARA while you are at it.
Anyway, they keep walking and talking. The girl has these very unique eyes. They are described as being dark blue with a bit of black in the middle, and when she gets emotional, they fill up with tears and look almost magical. Amina tells her she needs to focus because this obsession with royalty is getting out of hand. She knows every history of every kingdom like it’s on the palm of her hand. But our girl just shrugs it off. Everyone has their own thing, she says. Some people love food, she loves the idea of the palace. She even tells Amina that if she ever gets married to a Dogari, Amina might just drop dead from jealousy. They are just typical friends, bickering and moving on. It reminds me of the vibes in AAMINAT Bazawara, where life just happens to you in the most unexpected ways. You can find more best Hausa novels like this one if you look around a bit.
Now, here is where it gets interesting. You’d think a girl who looks a bit messy from school would be going to a small, broken-down house. But no. She walks straight into this big, beautiful mansion. The security guard doesn't even stop her; he’s just there smoking his cigarette. She goes to the kitchen area first, looking for her food. There are other women there eating, but they don't even look at her or offer her anything. When she finds out her portion of food is gone, she gets really angry. She goes into the main living room, and it’s huge. But instead of being happy, she’s furious. She drops her school bag and starts shouting, telling whoever is hiding to come out because she’s ready for a fight. If you want to download Hausa novels that have this kind of family drama, you are in the right place.
Her younger sister tries to walk past her, and our girl just loses it. She grabs her and almost chokes her! She’s angry because she spent her morning cleaning the whole place, and now it’s a mess again. This is where the stepmother comes in, screaming and clapping her hands in shock. She starts insulting our girl, saying she’s trying to ruin her daughter’s skin. The stepmother is really mean. She tells her that she’s just like her mother and that she should go and live her "half-man" life and keep her "palace guard madness" to herself. It’s so toxic! It makes you think of the struggles in ALLAH GATAN BAWA. The drama in this house is just too much for one person to handle.
The girl doesn't even fight back much with the stepmother. She just goes to her own mother's room. And guess what? Her mom is just there sleeping soundly while all this shouting is going on. When she finally wakes up, she doesn't even ask her daughter if she’s okay or if she’s eaten. Instead, she gets scared of her daughter’s eyes! One part says — "Oh my God, these eyes of yours that you inherited are just too scary." (translated from Hausa). Imagine your own mother saying that to you. She calls them "cat eyes" and says they are a gift but also a curse. She even mentions how she used to take her daughter to traditional healers when she was a baby because she thought she was a witch or something. It’s really sad when you think about it. If you enjoy stories about mysterious family backgrounds, DABAIBAYI is another one you should look at.
The mother then starts complaining about her own life and how the husband doesn't give them enough. She refuses to give the girl any food and even asks her for money. She asks if she’s still seeing that boyfriend who gives them money. It’s clear that this girl is carrying the weight of the whole family on her shoulders, even though she’s still in school. She has to deal with a mean stepmother, a lazy mother, and her own weird dreams. This kind of heavy atmosphere is something you often find when you read Hausa novels online. You can see why she wants to escape into a dream world where a handsome Dogari loves her. She just wants to be part of something bigger and better than her messy home life.
What I love about how Sajida writes this is how she makes you feel the girl's loneliness. Even in a big house full of people, she’s all alone. Her only escape is her "madness" for the palace. It’s not just a crush; it’s like she’s looking for a place where she belongs. The way the author describes her eyes and her behavior makes her seem so different from everyone else. Is she actually special, or is she just reacting to a hard life? That’s the big question that keeps you turning the pages. If you’re into stories that deal with mysterious characters and deep secrets, you might also like MALAMIN BOGI. It has that same gripping feeling where you don't know who to trust.
The story really pulls you in because you want to know what happens next. Will she ever meet a real Dogari? Will her family ever treat her right? And what’s the deal with her eyes that everyone is so afraid of? The drama in the house is just the beginning. There’s so much more to discover about her life and the secrets her mother is hinting at. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to keep reading until the very last page. For those who love a mix of tradition, royalty, and heavy family drama, this is definitely for you. It’s a bit like TSINUWAR UWA in the way it handles mother-daughter relationships that are a bit complicated and full of pain.
You can find the full story of Dutse and many more like it on Taskar Novels. It’s really easy to get your hands on it there. If you want to download Hausa novels or just read Hausa novels online, that’s the best spot to visit. There are so many great stories waiting for you, and honestly, once you start reading about this girl and her palace guard dreams, you won’t want to stop. Go check it out and see for yourself why everyone is talking about these characters!
