Janaan

Packing was the first thing in Janaan's hating list. She hates packing but she doesn't like it if someone said he'll help her. She likes to do everything herself ever since the person she depended on leaves her to tend to herself. Since then, she despised depending on anybody, even her parents.

First, she started her business even though she asked her father for some money at the beginning but she returned it immediately after the business grew strong. She asked her Aunt- Daneen who live in Maiduguri (a town in Nigeria) to bring her their famous turaren wuta so she could start selling it. Knowing fully well that they have the best turaren wuta.

She started slowly and now, many people know about her business especially on social media. And now, she's thinking about adding hair oil. According to her Aunt's advice, it is also good and it's good for business so she agreed but till when she comes back from school. She'll be doing it in the holidays.

She made many turaren wuta and gave it to her mother so she could sell it for her when she's absent but she packed some with her so that she can use it there in their apartment. She mix the turaren wuta with so many things that you cannot guess what she used to do that and she sells bakhoor and humra most. The glass she package it alone is something to stop and look at.

Her father called her to his room earlier to talk to her about how independent she wants to be. It's getting too much. She doesn't even accept the smallest amount of money from any of them. He needs to talk to her before she gets out of hand. She can be strong headed sometimes.

"Janaan, you can't keep doing all these," he scolded when she pursed her lips ready to argue but he was not going to buy it this time around.

"But papi, I just want to be independent and Anne-her mother, said it's not a bad thing to be independent," she argued.

"It is good Jay. But yours is too much. You were talking about not accepting the money I gave you go to school with. That you have enough, but I don't want you to use your money. Use your money for business and business only. It's my right to give my daughter whatever she needs,"

"I can see your point papi, but please just let me. You know I have my reasons. You're the only one who knew all my secrets and fears so please just this once," she's using this to get to him but he wasn't budging.

"No," he said after sometime. She has so many fears and the person who turned her like this is still oblivion about all these and that's what hurts most. Her father is her best friend. She already has one, and that person left so taking another risk is not worth it. Her high school friends will forever be schoolmates and nothing more. She has even lost all the contact with them, only the two of them- Saphia and Anila.

The closest to her after her father is Fadila then Intisar, not her mother. She's close to her mother also but there are some things she couldn't tell her. Mostly, her love life, fears and her secrets. Her mother can make the mistake of telling her friends and she can't take that. Especially those pitiful looks she despised.

"Okay papi. Give me the money, I'll use it but please don't try spoiling my siblings," she jokingly smiled before kissing his cheek.

"C'mon, stop saying that like you don't know how I brought you up. Your mother was so jealous of me because I was perfect." he laughed.

"I know right and now we're jealous of her," she pouted.

"Yes, the kids like her more than us now. That's sad," he sadly mumbled with a grin.

"Yeah. papi, I'll be leaving tomorrow. What do you want to give me so that I can remember you everyday," she laughed at his expression- scrunched face.

He loves making her laugh, chuckle or even grin. After what happened those years ago, it was getting harder to see her smile and she was depressed as she grew older. And her only best friend was the only she talked to then, before he left with them not knowing why. Eventually, she came out of her hole with so much support and effort from her family. Closing herself in her room was very common for them and even if she'll come out, she'll not talk to anyone.

"Seni çok seviyorum kizim ve ben de seni özleyecğim (I love you so much my daughter and I'll miss you)," he mumbled trying to talk to her in turkish.

She shrieked when he said it correctly, without any mistake. "Papi, you just did it. Oh my Allah!" she hugged him tightly jumping up and down when she pulled away.

She once tried teaching him how to speak in turkish before but he said he couldn't do it so they stopped and now he's talking to her in turkish. She was so happy and that alone was worth his how much her suffered to learn those words. It has been long since he last saw her like this.

"Come here çiçeğim (flower)," he held her wrist and draw her to him. She smiled fondly at her father knowing fully well that he's planning something to make her last day with them- for a year, memorable.

"What's the plan papi," she wiggled her brows at him before settling next to him with her arms secured around his neck and her head on his shoulder.

"Let's talk in turkish at dinner. What do you say?" he grinned wickedly his mischievous button energizing.

"Yes papi, that's a brilliant idea," her face lit up, she kissed his cheek before standing up, "I have some packings to do for now. We'll meet later Dad," she hugged him and left.

Entering into her room, she laughed when she saw Fadila sprawled on her bed. She doesn't even know when she came. They'll be leaving together from here to the airport in the morning- six am. They're not using the private plane 'cause it is only used for a family trip or business trip not that this is not possible but they're not using private plane alone. And Janaan don't even want to.

Fadila was clasped in her favorite type of clothing, which is a black skinny jeans and a purple cute top with her jallabiya hanging on the rack next to Janaan's wardrobe door. Fadila is also fair in complexion which she got from both her father and mother. Her pointed nose stood like her father's, pouty lips like her mother's and the small eyes she got from who knows who. All in all, Fadila is beautiful.

"Fads," Janaan smiled softly before crawling on the bed next to Fadila who was chatting and grinning.

"Who are you talking to?" Janaan is not always curious but she couldn't stop herself so she asked. Her friend-cousin is blushing and grinning which was something they hardly see- blush.

"Oh it's only Ya Hamal," she dropped her phone before propping her head on both her crossed hands at the back of her head.

"Oh!" Janaan mumbled before lying down on her back like Fadila. Even though she was bewildered about the blush, she didn't want to talk more about it.

"Are you excited to go to America?" Fadila asked after some minutes of silence.

"Not very much. I wanted Yale but Harvard won't be that bad either." she smiled even though she knew that that was a big fat lie. With Hamal, nothing will not be bad for her.

"Yup, the place is amazing. And there is this Alqasim guy that's dying to meet Jay Istanbul," Fadila laughed at Janaan's face. Janaan scrunched her face hearing the stupid nickname Fadila gave her some years back.

"I hope you didn't tell him anything embarrassing," she said under her breath but Fadila heard her.

"Nop. Nothing embarrassing only when you fell down in a pig's pee in Brooklyn," Fadila rolled on the bed laughing with tears streaming down her face.

Janaan had a horrifying look on her face. She could believe that her cousin had told a total stranger about her stupid clumsiness when she was seven and Fadila didn't forget that. She let nothing slide if it has anything to do with embarrassing Janaan.

"Why Fads!" she whined placing her face on her pillow with a groan. Fadila's laughter died down and Janaan stood up to finish her packing.

Most of the clothes inside her huge bag were Jallabiyas and native wear with hoodies, sweats, Bali pants then kimonos. Nothing like leggings or even skinny jeans but her mother forced her to take some leggings so she could use in there apartment when she doesn't have classes.

"You're so what you are Jay. Can't you pick just a few skinny jeans?" Fadila glared at her cousin.

"You know I don't like them so please," Janaan said not sparing her a glance.

"What about those turaren wuta? Did you pack some for us? Yes, and the hair oil. The whether there can cut people's hair especially mine. Be happy that yours is natural," Fadila asked and said.

"Yeah, I packed enough." Janaan's short answer was followed by silence.

At dinner, Anwaar and Janaan did just as they planned. They kept on talking in turkish even though Anwaar doesn't know most of the things she was saying, but they keep up with it like they were experts which in reality, she's the only expert.

When her mother, Kydah was tired, she finally talked. "That's enough both of you!" she scolded, her eyes narrowed looking back and forth between her husband and her daughter.

A part of her was happy that her daughter was talking like that but she was still irritated that she is closer to her father than her. She was happy, and sad at the same time. Her daughter is leaving, to another country and they didn't bond like she wanted but she'll still try her best and do it from here.

Janaan, Fadila and Akira stood up after the dinner to clear up the table. Once the table was cleared, Adnan and Afnan orchestrated the table with their dessert which was pancakes whipped with date syrup. None of them can say no to that especially if Kydah is the one who made it.

After the dinner, they all retired to their rooms wanting to sleep early because they're accompanying the girls to the airport early in the morning. Fadila who is also sleeping in Janaan's room, stripped to her pajamas after their long packing, just then Akira walked in.

"Ya Jay!" she mumbled, her face stained with dried tears. Janaan's heart broke. They are not the best of friends nor do they have the best relationship as siblings but they still love each other dearly. Sometimes, words are not of use in siblings relationship but action. And now, Akira was crying because she'll miss her partner.

"Akira," Janaan walked to where her sister was standing- in the middle of her room. She hugged her tight, her eyes prickling with unshed tears but she held herself back. She's not the one to cry over a little things or even crying in front of anyone not even her mother but once in front of her father and the rest was to her ex best friend. Crying is not for the weak but to her, she will still look weak when she'd do it.

"I'll miss you so much Ya Jay!" she choked out with her head on Janaan's chest.

"Same here baby sis, same here." She whispered back in her ears, rubbing her back in an emollient way.

"I knew you'd be going soon but you didn't give us much time to talk and do some girly stuff together," she hiccupped.

"I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you when I'm back Inshaa Allah," she ran her hand in Akira's scalp.

"I hope that'll be soon. You know what? Today, yes today, it's already fifteen minutes to twelve. Today is Adnan's birthday. Mom asked us not to tell him but she's going to surprise him witph two huge homemade pizzas." Akira rambled, her mood already changing.

"Really?" Fadila scrambled up from the bed when she heard pizza being called.

"Yup. Now let's go," Akira dragged Janaan's wrist and they left the room to their parents'.

•••
Assalamu Alaikum!
I can't believe I'm already dropping chapter five while convolution is there waiting for me. Ugh, I have to go back to my Fantasy book abeg.
But I'm liking this book more fah. Can't wait for the actual bomb to start smelling!😁

Okay bye!
Fi amanillah!!

Much love💕💕