I came down slowly placing my hand on my mouth yawning as I walked to the kitchen. I was very thirsty, my throat felt like sand paper. I grabbed the water and pour it in a cup before gulping everything down. Closing the fridge, I turn back to leave when the light from the study stopped me.

"Abba? I called out walking towards him

He raised his head to meet mine "Humaira it's 2am in the morning. What are you doing?

"I was thirsty" I sat next to him and looked at the sketches in front of him "what are you doing?

He looked away from me back to the sketch pad in front of him

"Ohh this, I have been sketching and planning about the company. I wasn't sleepy so I decided to do that"

"Can I see it?

He moved the pad to me and my eyes surveyed it

"It's really beautiful" I whispered "Formal with minimalistic touch"

"It is" Abba nodded looking at it

"I can help with some recipes. You know I make amazing juices both traditional and modern" I mused and he smiled

"Yes I do. And we will use your recipes later on. When the market is high" He replied winking and I nodded.

"But Abba" I cocked my head to the side "Will it take time to complete it?

"No it won't. The investors doesn't want us to spend much time on building it" He sighed and closed the pad "The one thing I'm taking time to refine is the recipes.

I reached out to his hands "I know it will be the best. Everything will work out just fine. The only problem is workers, finding a faithful one is kind of hard"

"It is" He nodded removing his eye glasses " But I will be employing my two brothers and some faithful acquaintances as the heads of my governing board. They will never betray me" He finished off standing up

Not wanting to say anything, I nodded as I switched off the study light and trailed behind him.

"Goodnight Indo" He smiled and I smiled back

"Goodnight Abba"

___________________________________

"It is not fair" I said laughing hearing his own laugh on the other line

I came to school early today because I had 8am classes. When we were done, I came to the cafeteria to have something when Hafeez's call entered. We had a bet, I said Inti will be out of class first and he said Yusrah will. Whoever looses have to do something for the other person.

"It is. If you loose you will make me something and if I loose I will take you out"

"I know you will demand something difficult to make"

"So? You are a good cook"

"Good cook" I scoffed rolling my eyes " I'm not"

"You are"

"I'm not"

"You are"

"Humaira" The voice of one of my friends interrupted my reply and I groaned

Why does he have to win?

"Why are you here Yusrah? I snapped and heard hafeez's chuckle

"What do you mean? I'm here to eat" Yusrah muttered rolling her eyes and taking a seat opposite me

"Where's Inti? I asked as she looked back at me

"On my head" She glared at me and added "Obviously, I don't know"

"Stop venting your anger on her Humaira" Hafeez said and I ground my teeth. I hate my competitive sides during times like this.

"What do you want? I questioned getting a bit irritated

"Whatever you make is fine by me. I'm sure it will be amazing" He replied and my body went slack.

Well there goes my anger

"Alright then"

"I will meet you later to collect it" He added and I replied with an "okay" before the line went dead.

____________________________________

"Humaira, you have a guest" Zahra shouted as she came into the kitchen eating the chocolate cookies I made yesterday. She already finished what was to last for three days in three hours.

"Rahrah I didn't specifically made this for you" I scolded as she grumbled "Grumpy cousin" under her breath.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed the bowl of apple cinnamon fritters I made him before grabbing my veil and leaving

"Tell Mami I will be back soon please" I shouted out to Zahra who pretended to ignore me.

As soon as I walked out of the gate, I saw his car parked with him inside. He killed the ignition and came out grinning.

He wore a simple shirt and trousers, his hair laid back, free and frizzy, sideburn trimmed and watch hooked on his wrist. He looked clean and so breathtaking.

"Sabahun-noor Humaira" He greeted and I smile

"Sabahun-noor. I sometimes forget you are half Arab" I joked and he raised his brow

"Well except the features" I added and he laughed

"Here, fritters" I said handing it over to him

"Masha Allah. Smells amazing, Thank you. Jazakillahu Khairan

"Ameen wa iyyakum"

"Ohh I almost forgot" He exclaimed walking back to his car. He kept the bowl and came out with a bag

"Don't open until you are inside" He warned playfully and I nodded smiling.

"I thought you won and I get to do something? I asked

"Well it's just a gift. However if you don't--"

"No I do" I cut in clutching the bag to my chest

"Okay then, I better get going" He added as he took a step back

"Well thank you for this" I said raising the bag as he waved me off

"See you soon" He said one last time and entered the car before zooming off

___________________________________

"We will miss you" I whispered hugging aunt leema. She's leaving today and our moods are all down but Zahra was blatantly not feeling anything.

"I need to breathe for a while and mother's departure is the only way" Was Zahra's words when I accused her.

"I will miss you too darling but don't worry I will be visiting often insha Allah" She smiled as we broke the hug

"When you are busy jumping from Nigeria to UK for business" Mami said as she slightly hugged her

"Haaa! Aunt lemma laughed "Business business sister in-law" She added and they laughed.

I adore their relationship. You will think they are friends and not in-laws.

"Okay then. I better get going before I miss my flight.

"Goodbye leema take care" Mami said just as I said

"See you soon aunt"

Hafeez's behavior is rubbing off me.

She waved at us and got into the car that came to pick her. After watching their car leave, we walked back into the house.

I went into the bathroom and was washing my hands when I heard Zahra's screams., I rushed out and met her on the bed grinning up at me.

"Zahra what the hell is wrong with you? I shouted

"Look at all he had gotten you" She squealed raising the bag hafeez gave me earlier

"So? I should take poison and die then? I asked angrily going to sit next to her.

"You sarcastic girl, you should be happy" She replied and I raised a brow

"Because I ain't screaming like a bewitched newly bride then I am not happy?

"Shut up" She screamed throwing a pillow my way and I dodged

"Anyways what is in the bag? I asked trying to act nonchalant when I know it is otherwise.

There was that feeling in my stomach. You know that feeling when you are all fuzzy from the inside but trying to act like you really don't care much about it? Yup that feeling.

"Jot pads, notebooks, two huge diaries, calligraphy pens and some of your freaking poems framed" She squealed and I smiled grabbing a frame and observing it

And maybe one day

I'll write In exactly the language

That my heart speaks

Maybe one day

I'll face a mirror

And see a Poet

~humaira

I smiled looking at it adoringly, this was one of my early amateur poems. Yet, looking at it now, it's so beautiful. I always consider my works beautiful even if it wasn't. There was a quote I once saw by a fellow writer

"Darling, your first motivator is Yourself" ~ Khayr souf

And the fact that it motivates others and me is amazing.

"I will surely call Hafeez to thank him" I whispered as I hung the frame

___________________________________