Chapter Five

Abdulrahim's POV

I finally got to Asad's house, away from that annoying girl.

I rang the doorbell, and their maid, Maryam, came to open the door for me.

“Assalamualaikum, Abdulrahim. How have you been? It's been a while since you visited,” she said.

“Wa'alaikum salam, Maryam. I'm good, Alhamdulillah. And yes, I have been in school. That's why I haven't been able to visit.”

“Ya Abdulrahim! Ya Abdulrahim!”

Rufaydah screamed as she came running towards me.

Rufaydah is Asad's younger sister, and she is five years old.

“Ahh, my Rufaydah! How are you?” I said as I carried her.

“I'm fine, Ya Abdulrahim. What did you bring for me today?” she asked in her cute baby voice as she stretched out her hands.

“Ohhh, I'm so sorry, baby. I didn't get anything for you today, but I promise next time I come, I'll get you a lot of ice cream and chocolate,” I said, holding my ear with one hand.

“Bad Ya Abdulrahim, but since you plomise, I'll forgife you just today, okay?” she said with a huge smile, revealing her two missing front teeth.

I laughed.

I asked her where Asad was, and she told me he was upstairs. I dropped her down and headed upstairs.

On my way, I saw Asad's mom in the dining area.

“Assalamualaikum, Mrs. Zakhir,” I greeted.

“Wa'alaikum salam, Abdulrahim. How have you been?” she asked.

“Alhamdulillah, good, ma. What about you?”

“Lafiya.”

“How are your parents doing? My regards to them,” Mrs. Zakhir said.

“They're good, ma. I'll definitely pass your regards to them.”

“Your friend is upstairs,” she said with a smile.

“Okay, ma. See you later.”

I got to Asad's room but didn't see anyone there.

“Asad!” I called out.

“Yes, who is that? I'll be right there,” he replied from the walk-in closet.

“Mumu, be quick with whatever you're doing. I'm waiting,” I shouted as I took a seat on the couch.

“Ohh, Abdulrahim, it's you,” he said as he came out of the closet.

I told him that I would be leaving for Kano tomorrow. Asad attended Baze University, so unlike me, he wasn't going back to Kano.

“So, Abdulrahim, have you finally found a girl for yourself?” he asked with a smirk and a wink.

“Asad, you know the kind of friend you have. You know I'm not interested in any relationship stuff right now,” I said without any emotion.

“Hmm, how could I forget? My friend's number one skill is attracting girls,” he said in an annoying voice.

I told him to drop the topic because I wasn't interested in talking about it, especially after having to see that annoying girl, Farah.

I mean, who gave her the right to call me a stalker?

Why would I want to stalk an ungrateful person like her?

After saving her from Khalid, she still had the effrontery to accuse me.

Like, who the hell does she think—

“Abdulrahim!”

Asad's voice brought me out of my thoughts.

“Yes?” I replied.

“Man, when did you start going into deep thoughts? Or have you impregnated a girl? Toh, no wonder you said you aren't interested in relationships,” he said, winking at me.

I quickly stood up, grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.

He started laughing and telling me it was just a joke before bugging me about what I was thinking about.

I eventually told him everything, including the cause of our fight and how we met again.

The only thing the fool picked out was the fact that I had been crying on the hotel corridor.

I just hissed, picked up my phone and started scrolling through it.

“Okay, man. Now, on a serious note, she actually has the right to be angry, though. She took you as her best friend, and you used her for a dare,” he said.

“Wait. First things first, are you my best friend or hers? Why are you taking her side? And also, were you deaf when I said I wasn't part of the dare?” I asked angrily.

“Easy there, tiger. Okay, okay, fine. You are not at fault,” he said, raising his hands in surrender.

“But wait. So you're telling me you guys are just going to forget each other like the other never existed just because of one fight? And from what you said, her mom and Aunty Hameedah are pretty close. One way or the other, you guys have to see each other because of your parents. So how long will this act last? You really think Aunty won't suspect anything?”

That was when it hit me.

I hadn't really thought about it that way.

But anyhow sha, when we reach that bridge, we will cross it.

And since I'm going to school in Kano, and I don't normally come home for holidays until my final exams, that should keep us apart for a while.

I told Asad we should forget about the matter.

Then he started telling me about a girl he met online.

Da Allah, Asad and girls ehnnn… just like jelly and jam.

It was already late, so I decided to take my leave.

I greeted Mrs. Zakhir on my way out, and Asad escorted me to my car.

—

Farah's POV

Immediately I got home, I took a shower, performed wudu and prayed my Maghrib prayer because I had already prayed Zuhr and Asr at Zara's house.

I was about to crash on my bed when I remembered I hadn't finished packing my things, and my flight was leaving at 9 a.m.

So I decided to finish packing.

By the time I finished, it was time for Isha prayer. I quickly prayed Isha and crashed on my bed.

“Farah! Farah!”

Mama's voice woke me up.

I groaned.

“Yes, Mom. I'm coming.”

I dragged my feet to the parlour and saw Mama sitting there.

She asked if I had packed all my things, and I told her I had.

I went back to my room and started scrolling through T****k.

My beauty sleep was interrupted by my alarm.

I was so tired that I decided to give myself another ten minutes. I set the alarm for ten minutes later and went back to sleep.

The alarm rang again.

I was about to smash it on the floor when I remembered it was my phone, not an alarm clock.

I had no other choice but to get out of bed because I was going back to school that day and still had to prepare.

It was 5:50 a.m.

I performed ablution, put on my hijab, spread my prayer mat and prayed Subh.

By the time I finished praying, saying my adhkar and reciting Quran, it was 6:20 a.m.

I quickly went to the kitchen and met Mama there.

“Ina kwana, Mama,” I said while hugging her from behind.

“My beautiful, ya kike?” she said, dragging my cheek.

“Lafiya kalau,” I replied. “Mama, what are you cooking?”

“Why? I see you haven't had your bath. When you have had your bath, you can come and see what I'm cooking, eh?” she said as she pinched my nose.

“Zan ci abinci, Mama,” I said, pouting.

“Mama, I want to eat.”

“My answer hasn't changed. Once you have your bath, we can talk about food,” she said sternly.

“Toh,” I said, exiting the kitchen.

After having my bath, I put on a brown and blue flared Ankara skirt with a white long-sleeved top and a blue veil.

I checked my phone and saw a message from Asma.

Asma: Farah, why didn't you tell me you're going back to school today? How come I'm finding out from Zara? Well, even if you didn't tell me, I'll be coming to your house to take you to the airport whether you like it or not. Bye. See you by 8:00 sharp.

Hmm.

Typical Asma, always so dramatic.

Asma knew Zara because they both attended Nile University. I was the only one who went to Bayero University, but at least Zinat was there with me.

Speaking of Zinat, I couldn't wait to get back to Kano to see her.

I quickly replied.

Me: I'm so sorry, my dear Asma. Sure, no problem. Thanks for offering me a ride to the airport. Love you.

I was scrolling through T****k when I realized it was almost 7 a.m.

Innalillahi.

I still had things to do before leaving for the airport.

I quickly ran downstairs and met Mama still in the kitchen.

“Mama, aren't you done with cooking yet?” I asked.

“I am. I'm just putting the fura I made in the fridge. I'm done now,” she replied.

“Mmmm, Mama, you know I love fura. Bad you didn't tell me you made some,” I said with a pout.

“See this silly girl ooo. I made it so you can take some with you to school,” she replied.

“Awwn, Mama. Thanks so much.”

I engulfed her in a hug.

“It's okay now. Leave me and have your breakfast. Let me get ready to take you to the airport,” Mama said.

“Oh, Mama, I forgot to tell you. Asma is taking me to the airport. She offered to take me, and she'll be here by eight,” I explained.

“Oh, that's good. And I already took an excuse from the hospital that I won't be around today. Well, free day for me then,” Mama said, laughing.

“Okay, Mama.”

I had my breakfast and went back upstairs to finish packing.

When I was done, I brought my luggage downstairs so it would be easier when Asma arrived.

Since I wasn't doing anything, I decided to go to Ya Nadia's room to spend a little time with her before I left.

When I got there, I didn't see her, so I went to Mama's room.

“Mama, I went to Ya Nadia's room and I didn't see her. Where did she go?” I asked as I sat beside Mama on her bed.

“Oh, Kinji. She didn't tell you that she had to go for her NYSC camp today?” Mama asked.

That confused me.

“But I thought it starts next week.”

“Yes, but unfortunately, she had to go today. I guess she couldn't tell you because you came back late from Zara's house yesterday,” she said.

“But I was at home this morning. Why didn't she tell me she was going? It's not fair,” I said, almost tearing up.

“Baby, don't be upset. She had to leave. You should understand.”

“Yes, but at least she should have informed me.”

“I understand. You see, even you, you'll go without telling Zafeer goodbye, and he'll also be sad.”

“But Mama, that's different. He already knows I'm going back today.”

“Okay, okay. Enough of that. I want to ask you something.”

Her tone suddenly became serious.

“Okay, Mama. What is it?”

“Farah, I want to know if you still have nightmares.”

“No, Mama. I'm perfectly okay now. I don't have nightmares anymore. Don't bother yourself about it.”

“I know it isn't easy for you three. I know that very well. But I want you to know that I will always love you three, no matter what happens. Even if he wasn't a good father to you, I'm filling the space he left. We certainly don't need him in our lives. See how happy we are without him.”

Mama's eyes filled with tears.

“Mama, please don't talk about that man again in this house. He is dead to us, and there is no use remembering someone who caused us a lot of pain,” I said, wiping a tear that escaped Mama's eye.

“My baby, you have grown up so fast. I'm so proud of you and your siblings. May Allah continue to protect you all for me.”

“Ameen, Mama. So stop crying, or do you want me to cry too?” I said, hugging her.

“No, my dear. I don't want you to ever cry. Only tears of joy should be shed from your eyes.”

“What is going on here? Am I not invited to this hug?”

We heard a voice from the door and turned to see Asma.

“Come here, my dear,” Mama said, extending her hand for Asma to join us.

“Drama queen,” I said as Asma joined the hug.

She stuck her tongue out at me.

“Okay, now that's enough. You should both get going. It's already 8:10 a.m., so you don't want to miss your flight.”

Mama packed some fura for me and Asma, then bid us farewell.

We hit the road to the airport.