"Maami" I shouted running down the stairs

"Addah am" Maami turned and hugged me and I started tearing up

"Stop being a baby. I'm here now" She laughed patting my head

"More of I'm here" I replied as we broke the hug while I stared at her

"You look beautiful Maami" I exclaimed and she laughed

"You don't look bad yourself" She replied

"Ohh please Maami. I know I look skinny, dark and ugly" I said shaking my head

"Yeah she does" Zainab answered behind the couch

"She definitely do" Daadi added as she dug into whatever she's eating on the dining table

"Where's Zahra? Maami asked looking around

"She's sleeping" I replied suppressing a yawn but clearly Maami saw it

"Well go sleep too. We will talk tomorrow, it's late" She said pushing me towards the stairs

"Fine I'm going" I replied waving at them a goodnight before heading to the room.

Instead of sleeping, I went directly to the gram, viewed stories, liked post and sent Hafeez sister a Dm saying a simple "Hey, how are you doing? It's Humaira" before dropping her the one million dollar question "Where the hell is Hafeez? I'm really getting worried, this is now beyond being busy. Two days!

I switched off my data, lay my head down, prayed and slept. And for the first time after these turbulences, I slept peacefully knowing this place where my head rest, is a peaceful resting place.

Not just my head, but my body, heart and my whole soul is at ease.

______________________________________

"I see the beauty Queens are up" Daadi said coming out of the kitchen dressed in her signature bubu gown in the colour of a cobalt blue with a plumpy woman trailing behind her whom I'm guessing is a chef based on the apron on her

"Good morning Daadi" Zahra greeted sitting on the dining table

"Good morning my darling" Daadi replied grinning as she helped the chef set down food

"Good morning Daadi" I greeted next coming to sit next to Zainab

"Good morning Maimai" She replied smiling brightly

"Good morning Addah" Zainab said beside me

"Morning Abulle" I replied hearing her puff knowing she hates the name

"So today I decided to grace you all with my amazing chef's food. It's absolutely divine" Daadi said serving us the Fritters which by the scent is cinnamon with apple cider drippings

"Woah" Zahra exclaimed "These type of food are the ones you only read in books or see in movies. I mean durh, we are in Nigeria" Zahra exclaimed and I roll my eyes

"And you are supposed to be the chef"

Zahra ignored me and started serving herself. 

" Making fritters is not hard and definitely not expensive either and apple cider isn't expensive also. All in all what you will eat won't even be up to the money you spend on Irish potatoes. So in a way, it's you saving money in a modern way" Daadi explained with a proud smile on her lips

"Ohh Daadi" I said laughing and biting into the fritter. "And it's really good" I added looking over to the chef

"It's chef Asee (Asiya)" She smiled and I smiled back

"Daadi I told you I'm not eating these kind of food" Maami said as she descended down the stairs

"Yeah yeah. Your yam porridge is ready" Daadi said rolling her eyes

"Good morning Daadi" Maami greeted before sitting down

"Morning. You do know your in-laws are coming over today right? She asked turning her gaze  serious

Mami ighed "Yes I do Daadi. I do"

"Don't worry, I told your siblings and they are also coming"

"All four of them? She asked surprised

"No, three. Aliyu is already here remember" Daadi replied

"So now what do I do, what do we do" Maami look over to me as chef Asee served her, her food

Maami muttered a "thank you" just as Daadi sat right next to Zahra

"Just say what's on your mind. What you really want and they have to go with it. We are capable of taking care of a hundred times the size of your family and you know it. And also your father's friend offered you a job yesterday didn't he?

"How did you know? Maami's eye widen

"I was passing by and overheard it" Daadi shrugged innocently

"Halima said I shouldn't worry, but I don't know if that's a cue for me to worry" Maami said taking a spoonful of her food

"Halima will support whatever your opinion is. I trust her to stand up for you" Daadi replied turning to face Zahra and whispered to her "I love your mother" to which Zahra laughed

"It's not about that Daadi. No one stands up to Hajja" Maami said taking a sip of her tea

"Well we are about to break that record" Daadi retorted slightly smirking

"I trust you like I trust my instincts" I said and she sent me a wink

Now, I have a grandmother!

_______________________________________

After breakfast, we helped the maids with the house chores, watched movies, pray and helped in the kitchen before deciding to go change since there will be visitors. I took a quick bath and changed into an A shaped Ankara before heading off to Maami's room. I salam-ed and entered then saw her sitting by the vanity table

"Are you okay Maami? I asked slowly

"No" She replied after series of silence

"You are afraid of facing them?

"I'm afraid of how they will take my decision"

"Then why are you making this decision Maami?

She took a deep breath "For you, for Zainab and for me" She replied turning to face me

"I don't get it. How is denying us what's supposed to be ours work in our benefits? I asked throwing my hands around

"If you get everything back so what then? She asked looking at me dead in the eyes

"What do you mean?

"If everything is handed over to you. Then what, what do you do?

"I run the company, I make it successful"

"Then that is not your success" She replied standing up

"What do you mean? Again"

"If you want success, start from the scratch. Just like your father did" She replied walking to the wardrobe

"Maami what they did isn't right"

"Then let them face Allah's wrath" She said taking out her veil

"This is our own right"

"Your first right is right to live. Do you think it won't be tampered with after getting this properties back? You are graduating soon and maybe even before that get married. My family have enough wealth even more than the assets to take care of Zainab's education and even if I don't want them to do it then the money they gave, no matter how little it is will be enough for her education. I'm getting a job and already our lives is maintained. Now if the company is back, who will handle it? At least before you are done with school. Who will be responsible for it? How will you juggle life, family and this?

"Maami, Addah they are here" Zainab said peeping through the door

"We are coming" Maami replied and wrapped her veil

"If you want success, start from the scratch. Think through things before making a decision. Sometimes a delay or the lose of things is a better way to bigger things"

And with those word, Maami confidently left the room certain about her decision with me trailing behind not even knowing what I want anymore.

_______________________________________