HUSNA

Chapter9

In the heart of Kano State, under the golden heat of the northern sun, stood the proud lineage of the Danbatta family ....a name that carried weight, respect, and quiet authority.

Alhaji Abdulhamid Danbatta, a man of deep voice and calm strength, once held the title of Governor of Kano State. His reputation went beyond politics; he was known for his fairness, generosity, and the way he carried his turban....neatly folded, always with dignity.

It was during one of his diplomatic meetings in Somalia that fate tied his story with Hajiya Maimuna, a young woman of Somali and Nigerian blood. Her beauty was soft and striking, the kind that made people pause mid-conversation. At just seventeen, she carried herself with grace far beyond her age. Abdulhamid was twenty-four then young, ambitious, and captivated by her simplicity.
Within months, he brought her home to Kano, introducing her to a culture that soon became hers.

The city welcomed her... the sound of drums at dusk, the call to prayer echoing from minarets. And in time, she became not just his wife, but the heartbeat of their household.

Their first child, Aliyu, was born under the quiet hum of harmattan winds...healthy, bright-eyed, and adored by everyone. Three years later, his brother Yusuf came along, completing the small, joyful circle that filled the Danbatta home with laughter.

The boys grew up in comfort and discipline....their father's pride, their mother's joy. By the time they turned twenty, Alhaji Abdulhamid sent them abroad to study.

Aliyu went to Egypt, where he studied Business Administration, while Yusuf pursued Public Administration in Italy. Both brothers thrived sharp minds, polished manners, and an unshakable sense of purpose.

At twenty...six, they returned home, degree and masters certificates in hand, ready to build legacies of their own. By then, their father had retired, leaving behind a legacy that still spoke through the walls of their home.

Aliyu started small....a modest trading firm that sold imported goods. But with time, strategy, and a tireless drive, he expanded into drinks processing, water production, furniture manufacturing, and later computers. His company's logo soon became a familiar sight across the country. The boy from Kano had turned into one of Nigeria's most respected businessmen....Alhaji Aliyu Danbatta, a name now synonymous with success

His younger brother, Yusuf, wasn't left behind. He established his own chain of businesses in Kaduna, focusing on real estate and transport. Both brothers supported each other like twin pillars....steady, loyal, and proud of their shared name.

It was during a wedding in Yola, Adamawa, that Aliyu met Halima, a Fulani doctor with gentle manners and intelligent eyes. She was everything he didn't know he needed...calm where he was fiery, and thoughtful where he was driven. They married soon after, settling in Lagos, where Halima began her career at Eko Hospital while Aliyu's empire continued to grow.

Yusuf, on the other hand, married Zainab, a kind and soft-spoken Hausa woman from Kaduna. Together they raised their children with warmth and discipline, staying close to their roots.
Tragedy, however, doesn't send a letter before it arrives.

Years later, Alhaji Abdulhamid and Hajiya Maimuna died in a plane crash on their way to Somalia. Their loss was a wound that healed, but never truly closed. The brothers mourned deeply, but as their father used to say...Life must go on, ko da zuciya na rawa."

Back in Lagos, Halima gave birth to their first child, Maryam, fondly called Ya Mimi... a reflection of her grandmother's grace and her father's quiet strength. At twenty-eight, she was already married to Usman, with a little boy named Affan, and worked proudly at CBN in Abuja.

Their second child, Abdulhameed, carried his grandfather's name and spirit. From a young age, he dreamt of flying...not just in imagination, but above the clouds. His fascination with planes began the day one flew over their Lagos home and he ran outside, eyes lifted to the sky, shouting, "Daddy, I want to drive that bird!"

He grew into a calm, focused young man. His education took him from Lagos to Baze University, Abuja, and later to Aviators Flight Center, Cyprus, where he trained relentlessly to become a pilot.

Years later, Captain Abdulhameed Danbatta became one of Cyprus Airlines' youngest and most disciplined pilots. His best friend, Faisal Abdulmalik Zannah, was his companion through every stage from childhood to flight training.

Unlike most men his age, Captain Abdulhameed wasn't one to chase love. He had no time for fleeting social media attention or fake glamour. In his words:

"I've never met a woman who could hold my heart ..not yet."

His mother often teased him, calling him "my shy pilot." But everyone knew he was the kind of son every parent prayed for ...respectful, calm, and deeply loyal.

When he was five, his mother gave birth to twin girls, Muneera and Bahijja, now students of Medicine at Nile University in Abuja. The bond among the Danbatta siblings was enviable laughter, late-night calls, secrets, and stories. They didn't just love each other; they liked each other, which is rarer than most people think.

And so, life moved on....smooth, structured, blessed. But destiny, as always, had its own plans waiting quietly beyond the horizon...

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