Baba was coming back today. I really missed him. My baba,my world.

Every body in the house was busy preparing for baba's arrival. Khadija and Najmin our last born were dusting the furniture. Mama didn't like employing maids. She believed that we'll become lazy. Besides our house isn't that big. Just a three bedroom apartment. But sha it made us better people. Najmin was just ten years old and she could already cook. I was proud of the way mama and baba raised us.

I was just setting the trays for baba's food when I heard Khadija and Najmin shouting. Turned out baba had already arrived. Oh how I missed my hero.

"Assalamu Alaikum." I heard baba's voice

"Wa alaikumus salaam." I replied. Then ran to hug my baba with whom Khadija and Najmin were already clinging to.

I didn't care that I was a grown up,what I did care about was that my father was standing infront of me.

"Welcome Baba. How was your journey?" I asked as I released myself from his hold.

"It was fine Alhamdullilah, Ik Ik." Baba said with his personal nickname for me.

"Khadija and Najmin,oya leave baba to rest."

Khadija gave me her signature frown and Najmin didn't even pay me attention. Those girls.

"Ina mamanku?"(where's your mum)

"She's prayi...."

Before I completed my sentence,Mama came in.

"Darling,how are you? I missed you,the people in the village weren't taking care of me the way you do." Baba said smiling.

Mama was standing there blushing. My parents had been married for almost thirty years but they still acted like they just got married.

"Lafiya lau Baban Ahmad. Ya su Hajiya da mutanen katsina?"(Fine Ahmad's father,how's your mother and the people of katsina)

"They're all fine Alhamdullilah. They send their utmost regards. That reminds me, where's Ahmad?"

"He went to the mosque." I replied.

"Okay toh, yalla you girls should go and pray."

I called both Najmin and Khadija and they reluctantly left baba's side.

"You go first."

"No,you go first."

I heard Ikram and Najmin arguing. Argh,who wanna buy siblings. Siblings for sale.

"Before I count 5,one of you should go and perform ablution."

"Haba mana ya Ikram, tell Najmin to go first ,she's the youngest."

"I don't care. Let me not count to five and see you girls still standing there."

Before I could speak, they both ran to the bathroom.After waiting for them to finish. I entered the bathroom and performed my ablution and got ready to pray.

After praying, I raised my hand and prayed to Allah for guidance in all my affairs.

I folded my praying mat then went to the parlour. Turned out Ya Ahmad had come back. All of them were listening intently to a story baba was telling them. I stood by the curtain and smiled. I really loved my family.

I strolled over and ruffled ya Ahamd's hair. He glared at me and I stuck my tongue out.

"Mama, kin ga Ikram koh?" He complained to Mama. Ya Ahmad will never grow up.

"Ikram,stop looking for your brother's trouble."

Now it was his turn to stick his tongue out to me.

I rolled my eyes. Such childishness.

I zoned out completely from their conversation and started thinking about the direction my life was going. I was just  eighteen years old but I was already expected to bring a husband home. Ya Allah,where do I find one.

I had to stop distracting myself with  marriage and concentrate just on my  studies.

Studying archaeology was kinda difficult but hey,which course wasn't difficult?

Ya Ahmad always teased me about my course. Whatever, but I loved it. I loved learning about ancient stuffs and history. Going to museums,travelling around to discover new and interesting things.I was currently in my second year at Nile University. The fees was kind of expensive and I felt bad for baba. I knew we weren't that rich,but he insisted on giving us the best,he says we deserve nothing less,that all his hard work and all the fortune he built was all for us,for our comfort and to become great and better people in the future.

Did I mention how much I loved this man? Oh yeah I did. May Allah keep him for us Ameen. I silently prayed.

"Earth to Ikky." Khadija snapped her finger around my face.

"Uh-what were you saying?" I asked looking clueless.

Everybody including baba was laughing at me. I laughed awkwardly with them too.

"What were you thinking about?" Mama asked.

"Nothing mama, just school stuffs."

"Are you sure?" Baba asked.

"Wallahi baba,what could I possibly be thinking of?" I said with my most innocent face.

"If you say so then."

Technically I didn't lie. I was thinking about school and erm..marriage.But they didn't have to know that. Ya Ahmad would scar me for life and I wasn't looking forward to that at all.

I turned and concentrated on their  conversation.

They were talking about where Ya Ahmad would be going for his masters. He graduated this year from Bayero University Kano. He studied International relations or something like that. Can't remember.

"I still have to do my NYSC." Ya Ahmad was telling baba.

"It's better to  start preparing early. Have you bought your NYSC form?" Baba asked him.

"No,but I'll buy it tomorrow in sha Allah when I drop Ikram and the rest at school."

"Okay,Allah ya kaimu." He prayed.

"Ameen." We all chorused.

I excused myself and went to the room to speak with my best friend Zahra. Me and Zahra were total opposites. While I was the calm,cool and collected person. She was a bubbling babe,talkative and a 100% extrovert. We met on our first day at the university. I could remember our first meeting vividly.

♡Flash back♡
It was my first day at Nile University. Baba and Ya Ahmad just left after they helped me finish my registration process. Immediately they left,I felt alone and nervous. Even though I knew I wouldn't be staying on campus and I'll be going home in the next maybe five hours,that realization did nothing to calm me down. I looked at the map of the school trying to figure out where my lecture room was, but I just couldn't . I turned and turned the map,but it was just useless. I felt frustrated and wanted to cry when someone walked up to me.

"Hey,are you okay?"

I looked up and saw a girl my age. She was really beautiful. She had big round eyeballs and from the way she dressed, she screamed MONEY. I noticed she was looking at me ,then I remembered she asked me something.

"Yeah I'm fine I guess."

"You don't seem fine to me. Do you need help with anything?"

She seemed nice.

"Yeah actually, its my first day here and I can't locate my lecture room and this school map isn't helping at all." I said nearly in tears.

She took my hand and said. "Come on,let's go. I'll take you."

"Really? Thank you. I'm having history now. Any ideas?"

"History? I'm having history too." She grinned from ear to ear,clearly pleased. I smiled back at her.

"Are you studying archaeology ?" I asked her.

"Yeah,what about you?"

"Me too." I squealed.

She laughed. I could see us becoming great friends.

"I'm Fatima Zahra by the way. But you can call me Zahra."

"Nice to meet you Zahra. I'm Ikram."

"What a beautiful name."

"Thank you." I said smiling at her.

We were so caught up in our conversation that we didn't notice we've reached the lecture hall. We quickly made our way to some empty seats. The lecturer came in just in time. He started by introducing himself as Mr Richard Collins. Then went on and gave us the scheme of work for the semester.The whole class introduced themselves and he dismissed us for the day.

We exchanged numbers with Zahra and promised to meet up in school the next day. And the rest is history.
♡End of flash back♡

"Hey Zahra'u, what's up." I knew she didn't  like me calling her Zahra'u but she knows better that when she tells me not to do something, that's exactly when I want to do it to provoke her.

"Ikram,how many times have I told you to stop calling me that. You make me feel old. Say it with some class gurl." I chuckled. There she goes again.

We spoke for some while,mainly about school. After we finished our surutu (chattering ). I said goodbye and promised to meet her in school tomorrow.

Argh. That reminds me ,school. I couldn't  wait to just finish once and for all.

I didn't even notice when Khadija and Najmin came inside and were soundly sleeping. I changed into my spongebob PJ's. I was a big fan of spongebob.

I went over to mama and baba's room to tell them goodnight. After telling them goodnight. I hopped onto my bed,prayed and then fell into a deep slumber.

***

I heard the buzzing of my alarm. The time showed 4:30am. I set the alarm to wake up for tahajjud. What better time to pray when you need guidance from Allah. I felt reluctant to wake up, but shaitan won't have his way. I said the prayers for waking up and went to the bathroom to perform ablution. After performing my ablution, I laid down my praying mat,took my maroon hijab and started praying.

In my last sujood, I took my time and prayed fervently to Allah. I prayed for my parents,my siblings,my studies,a good husband and righteous kids and for all the people in the world suffering from any kind of misfortune. I concluded my prayer and felt a kind of inner peace. Like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulder.

I heard the call for the subhi prayer and I rose to make my salah. After praying, I took my Qur'an and recited for like thirty minutes before I stood up to start the home chores. Since there was nobody to do it for me. I shook Khadija and Najmin to wake up for prayer and start preparing for school. They didn't even budge. I spanked Khadija and she quickly sat up.

"Stand up and pray. You have school today. When you come out of the bathroom,wake Najmin up."

She nodded sleepily and made a move to lie back down but I spanked her again. Now she was giving me her full attention.

"I said go and pray."

This time she stood up. That's my life urgh. I had to deal with waking these two up every week day.

Luckily enough, my class was by 11. So I didn't need to rush. I went to the kitchen to start preparing breakfast. I decided to just fry yam and egg sauce.

I peeled the yam and cut it into pieces. Then went further to put it inside the already hot oil.

I started slicing the onions and pepper for the sauce. Then I proceeded to make the sauce. By the time the sauce was almost done, the yam was already ready so I served it and went back to serve the sauce too.

I didn't notice when time went by. It was already after seven. I went to the room to call Khadija and Najmin so that they could eat and go to school. Thankfully,they were ready.

Ya Ahmad too was already eating. Mama and Baba were still sleeping. So I decided to fry their's for them later. Besides,since mama was diabetic,she doesn't eat much carbohydrates,so I'd probably cook something else for them. Khadija and Najmin waved me and they left.

I went to the room so I could start preparing for my own school. I took my bath and dressed up in a plain but beautiful abaya. I then put my books in my bag and decided to go and cook for mama and Baba. They were already awake by then.

It was already 10:30 when I finished mama and baba's food. Served them and got ready for school. I waved my parents and hopped into the car to wait for ya Ahmad. He appeared and we left.

The car ride was silent. A comfortable silence. I decided to break the silence .

"Ya Ahmad, what time are you coming to pick me?"

"I don't think I can make it. You know I have to go to the NYSC head office."

"Alright no problem. I guess I'll catch a ride with Zahra."

Did I mention me and Zahra lived kinda closeby?

"Hmm..Zahra?" He said deep in thought.

"Yeah Zahra. What's the problem?"

"Nothing." He quickly replied. I was suspicious but I just decided to drop it.

We arrived at the school gate and that's when I saw Zahra's family car. I wonder why she didn't come with her's. While ya Ahmad was looking for a place to park. I noticed a tall,fair,handsome guy come out from Zahra's family car after her. They were having a deep conversation and I wondered who it was.

Zahra noticed me and jogged over and gave me a bone crushing hug.

"I..can't....breathe." I wheezed.

She rolled her eyes at me.

"Stop being dramtic." She said.

"Who's the overdramtic one?"

We continued bickering before we heard someone clear their throat. It was that same guy I saw with Zahra. He looked familiar.

Where did I know him from?He was drop dead gorgeous and I was shamelessly checking him out,before Zahra nudged me. She was smirking.

"Ikram,meet my elder brother that I've been telling you about,Adnan. And ya Adnan,meet Ikram my best friend."

"Hi!" I greeted raising my hand,making a short wave.

He nodded with a bored expression on his face.

That's when ya Ahmad cleared his throat. I totally forgot he was there. He and Adnan did the bro handshake and Ya Ahmad left.

"Zahra,I'll be here by 3 sharp. Don't keep me waiting."

"Whatever. Bye"

He turned and left without acknowledging me anymore. How rude. I turned and noticed Zahra smirking at me.

"Your crushhh is baccck." She said in a high pitched voice. I shushed her and made sure Adnan was out of hearing range before I turned to look at her and said.

"Young lady, you have a lot of explaining to do."

Hey readers. So chapter two is up. Over two thousand words. I tried sha.💅
So we finally met Adnan and surprise,he's Zahra's brother.

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Comments and votes will really motivate me to continue writing.
Until the next chapter♡