Chapter 3: NEW FAMILY, NEW HOME!

Meeno sat with his chin over her palm her gaze on Hilwa who was staring into space. Early in the morning Hilwa came to Meeno's house and told her everything. Meeno couldn't say a word after hilwa's long heart rending speech.

"So you are going to leave?" Meeno blinked after what seemed like forever.

Hilwa nodded absentmindedly.

"Forever?" Meeno gulped.

Hilwa quickly shook her head "Dummy how can i leave you forever? Ummi said i will come visit from time to time in shaa Allah"

Meeno sighed "I'm a little unbothered now"

A lone tear slipped down Hilwa's eyes and she quickly wiped it away "I'm going to miss you"

"Me too"

The girls hugged each other, tearing up.

Later, Meeno told her mother and stepmothers about hilwa moving to abuja.

They wished her good luck and even gave her some money. All in all, she got five hundred naira.

"You are lucky you'll finally go to Abuja, i wonder when i will be able to visit there, the luxurious life, the beautiful roads and buildings" Meena sighed dreamily as they walked to Hilwa's house.

"Hmmm... i no longer want to go there fah, i'd rather stay and die here" Hilwa shrugged.

"I wish we have that kind of camera, hassan mai hoto (photographer) has so you could capture everything for me" Meena eyes shone.

"Hmmm" Hilwa hummed again. She'd always wished to visit abuja but not anymore. As Meena continued to say her blabs about Abuja, she couldn't help but wonder what the family she was going to move in with was like. Are they really kind like alhaji abdullah? Would they be rude to her? How would she keep up with that fancy life?

She wished she could just wake up and find that everything was a dream. She'd be more than happy.

Before they knew it, they were already home. Ummi gave hilwa a black abaya her sister, Inna karima, bought for her from Saudi Arabia 3years back when she went for hajj. She only let her wear it on special occasions.

Before 12pm, she was all ready and set.

"Tell all our classmates in school and islamiyah that i left, don't let Binta bully you, don't let her bully you Meeno..." Hilwa was saying when she was cut off.

"Salamu alaikum" Na'im said as he gently walked into the house.

"Jabbama na'im, jabbama" Ummi welcomed him in and told him to sit on the weaved mat.

They exchanged pleasantries before ummi stood to bring him food.

"No Ummi.." he paused. Okay that was totally weird, but then that was what he heard helwa calling her. He couldn't possibly call her with her real name, it'd be so disrespectful.

He continued "I'm really not hungry, Thank you"

"No you should eat something, let me get you fura"

She quickly went into the kitchen and came out holding a tiny calabash bowl. She placed it in front of him and excused herself.

Na'im looked at the fura, it had some crushed ice inside it. He knows it but considering the fact that he'd practically spent his whole life in Birmingham, he'd never tasted it before.

Folding his legs, he scooped some with the spoon and brought it to his mouth.

Once he'd swallowed it down his throat, a small smile lifted the corner of his lips. It wasn't bad after all. He never knew it tasted like that.

He shrugged and scooped some more.

In the interim, Hilwa and Meeno were busy peeping at him through the room window.

"Ikon Allah!" Meeno laughed heartily "See how he's looking at the fura, as if he has never seen it before. Does he think ummi can poison him? Such a weird guy! He is so handsome though mashaa Allah, wait! Is he the one that came here last week?" She shrieked "It just clicked in my head, he is the dan gaye everybody was talking about. He looks like one of those what do they call them?? Um.. umm that beautiful black people we see on the television. No wonder he was the talk of the town" Meeno blabbered.

But hilwa wasn't even listening. She was thinking how the hell she was going to travel all alone with that scary man.

"Hilwa where are you?" Ummi asked as she sauntered into the room.

Hilwa and Meeno quickly left the window and pretended to be chatting.

"I'm here"

"Where's your bag? Na'im is here, you people should get going, stand up, don't waste his time" Ummi said. Hilwa looked at her she could see the sadness in her eyes.

Why did ummi agree? Hilwa pondered quietly.

"Please be a good girl, I know you Hilwa don't trouble them, respect them, do whatever they say unless it is against the teachings of islam, take this.." Ummi handed her a Qur'an "Always read your Qur'an like you always do here, please Hilwa i beg you do not cause any trouble, Alhaji abdullah is living peacefully with his family. I will speak to you through his cell in shaa Allah" She lectured and almost ended up in tears but she didn't let them cascade. She didn't want her daughter to see her like that, she'd definitely be broken. She wants her to leave with a happy heart.

"Samir and Jabir" Hilwa squatted in front of her brothers and hugged them. She'd spoken to
Adda salma over the phone through Ummi's cellphone and bade her goodbye.

"Don't trouble Ummi, kunji?.. " She stopped, trying to swallow the lump that formed in her throat.

"Adda hilwa, Bring us sweets when you're coming back" Said samir with a grin, revealing his two missing front teeth.

"And biscuits too" Jabir put in and she simply nodded.

Gwaggo came and they all escorted her to the car which was parked by the road. They were all awestruck by the car. It was so flashy and obviously expensive.

Ummi gave Hilwa a quick lecture again and made du'a for them before Hilwa got into the back seat. Her little box was placed inside the trunk.

Hilwa sniffled and waved them goodbye. With a bleeding and thumping heart, they left her hometown, the place she was born, which had so many unforgettable memories. Finally, she left everything in the hands of Allah, she prayed to Him to see her through and make this journey a khair for her.

◾️◾️◾️

Hilwa flickered her eyes open and was immediately met with the beautiful buildings of Abuja. She watched in awe.

She watched the street lights as they passed by them like lighting. Everything was just so beautiful, she silently thought to herself. How she wish Meeno was here with her. She'd love to see her stupefied look. When meeno is surprised, not only her eyes but her nose and even mouth would show that.

She thought she'd seen enough until they drove into alhaji abdullah residence. By Allah, her jaw almost dropped to the floor. She was amazed, shocked, scared... everything.

She never thought houses like these exist in this world.

Oh Allah!

"Come out" Na'im's voice brought her out of her daydream.

She didn't even know that they'd stopped and parked.

She got out of the car and tailed behind Na'im like a lost puppy.

She stopped when she saw a round thing, things which looked like taps to her pouring water into a basin. That left her in a complete astonishment.

Na'im turned to look at hilwa over his shoulder only to see her in front of the fountain.

What was wrong with that girl?

"Hey! This is not your village, if you let all of these things" He spread out his hands and continued ".. Carry you away, you will get lost, kina jina?"

Scared, Hilwa quickly bobbed her head and walked to where he stood, arms folded.

"Lets go" He told her and they both walked into the house.

As soon as they entered, they saw daddy descending down the beautiful spiral stairs.

"Mashaa Allah, you guys are here already" Daddy grinned happily.

She immediately squatted down and greeted him respectfully.

"How was the trip my child?"

"Good" She answered simply.

"Thats good" He patted her head.

Just then, Aunty, Basma, Layla and Feenah came down and met them.

With her head down, she greeted all of them. To say she was nervous would be an understatement.

Feenah engulfed her in a hug which made Hilwa uncomfortable "Welcome to our family Hilwa"

When basma's eyes locked with hilwa's, she waved at her with a little smile on her face and mouthed a 'Hello'

Layla's expression was neutral. She sees no reason why daddy would bring a stranger into their house to live with them. Argh!

"Take her to your room Feenah" Daddy instructed and Feenah enthusiastically held her hand and took her upstairs with her.

"This is my room, our room" Feenah grinned at her "Daddy got us brand new beds yesterday"

Hilwa managed to shot her a smile. She liked the bubbly girl already.

The room was vibrant with an amazing overall appearance. The pastel orange bedding provide the place with lively and beautiful note and draw the attention to the interesting artworks above the two beds.

"Feel free, what would you like to do first? Eat, pray or shower? Or sleep?" Feenah giggled.

Oh! This girl's so hyper.

Hilwas wants to pee so badly since in the car. But she was too scared to move an inch talk more of speak. She imagined the guy snapping at her. She was damn scared of him. That was why her body felt so numb, she could count the number of times she'd moved in the car.

"I want to pee" She said to Feenah, reluctantly.

"Oh ok, here's the bathroom" Feenah opened a door "I think you should just take your bath, let me get you a towel"

Feenah got her a fresh pink towel and hilwa entered. She slowly closed the door behind her, staring at the big toilet.

How could this be a toilet? It was half the size of their whole house back there.

She saw a tall thing, it has a glass door and was transparent. She cautiously walked towards it and slid the door open. She entered and saw a long thing which resembled a pipe and some other things she couldn't make out even if she tries to for she'd never seen such things before.

She saw something and her hand instinctively pressed it. She let out a scream at the same time with the pee she'd been holding as water came beating down on her from everywhere.

The toilet door swung open revealing a scared feenah.

"Whats wrong hilwa?" She asked, worriedly and pulled her out of the stand shower.

Tears filled hilwa's eyes "I just pressed that thing and water started to come out of those things"

Feenah's brows rose in realization "Ahh... its a stand shower, I will tell you how to use it but for now use this" She took a bucket and filled it with warm water. She showed her some few things and walked out.

Hilwa quickly took her bath and performed ablution before coming out.

She crossed her arms over her chest feeling uncomfortable as feenah was still in the room and she was only in the towel she gave her earlier.

Feenah sensed her discomfort so she entered the bathroom saying she was going to pee just to give her some space.

Hilwa quickly put back her black abaya and prayed on the mat feenah had spread for her.

Feenah came out of the bathroom when hilwa was almost done praying and sat on the bed to wait for her.

When she was finally done, feenah led them downstairs to the dining area where they met all the family eating.

"Sit here" Feenah said as she pulled out a chair.

Obeying her, hilwa sat and shifted uncontrollably as all eyes were on her.

"You are doing a great job feenah" Daddy nodded his head at feenah who'd settled down right beside hilwa.

Feenah grinned and started to serve herself and Hilwa.

Hilwa chewed her food slowly and gently. To say she was feeling comfortable would be the biggest lie on the whole wide world.

She looked up and her eyes met with na'im's. She immediately choked.

"Subhanallah, Feenah give her water" Aunty said as she stared at coughing Hilwa worriedly.

Feenah quickly filled a cup with water and passed it to her.

Hilwa became so embarrassed after she calmed down, she wished the floor could just divide into two and swallow her up.

She looked at her food and realized she no longer has an appetite. So she played with the it until everybody was done.

"Feenah dear, Take her back to the room, she must be knackered. She should sleep." Aunty said as the maids packed the plates and food warmers.

"Okay, lets go hilwa" Feenah held her hand and they went back to the room.

"The bed by the right is mine while the one by the left one will be yours" Feenah explained and hilwa nodded meekly.

Hilwa laid on the bed, drew the soft duvet over her and noiselessly observed every single thing in the room. She couldn't help but remember their own bedroom back there. There was only that worn out mattress, old drawer and a mirror which had cracked a long time ago. She missed ummi and most especially Meeno. She wondered what the crazy girl was doing right now. Ha! She was finally free from binta's unending craps, and that idiot, dan jummai.

She smiled, as she remembered their last fight with binta.

Feenah who was sitting on her bed reading a novel, looked up and saw Hilwa smiling.

"Why are you smiling?" She found herself asking bringing hilwa out of her trance.

"Ahh nothing.." She quickly answered.

Feenah smiled not believing her "Missing home I guess?"

Hilwa furrowed her brows then slowly nodded.

"What is your real name?" Hilwa found herself asking too.

"Nafeesah, but my friends and family call me Feenah"

"Oh.. nice name"

"Yours is nicer and unique, i like it" Feenah grinned at her.

"Thank you" Hilwa muttered, coyly.

Silence fell in the room but Feenah soon broke it "Do you read books?" she asked waving the novel she was reading earlier.

"Yes" Hilwa's eyes lit up "I love to read, i still have my primary school readers back at home, i read them over and over again whenever i had time. One day, i want to become like one of those amazing writers in shaa Allah. Writing down my thoughts is one of the things i enjoy doing."

Feenah grinned, extremely happy at how the girl was beginning to open up.

"Thats awesome, i love reading too but i want to become a lawyer" Feenah said proudly.

"Wow" Hilwa's eyes popped out.

Feenah chuckled at that "Daddy told me you have three siblings?"

"Yes, Adda salma, samir and jabir.. what about you?"

"Yaya basma, Yaya layla then my stepbrother Yaya na'im" Feenah listed and continued "Yaya basma is nice and outgoing. Just do as she says and you two would be cool... Yaya layla is nice but honestly not all the time, she's loud sometimes and gets angry quite quickly... then yaya na'im, that guy has terrible mood swings, he would be kind to you this minute and rude the next. He hates noise and you will hardly see him around people. He's soon going for the army BCT (Basic combat training) he wants to be a soldier, so make sure you don't annoy him or anything. But I'm cool with him, he said I'm his favorite sister here" She squealed at the end.

Her little explanation made hilwa scared especially Na'im's part. So he wants to become a soldier? no wonder he doesn't smile.

"Feel free around us" Feenah smiled.

Hilwa nodded.

"You are beautiful by the way, so so beautiful mashaa Allah"

"Thank you" Hilwa smiled at her "You are beautiful also"

They continued to chat and when hilwa started to get so sleepy, Feenah turned off the lights except the lamp on the side bed so she could continue reading.

Hello babes,
How you doing and your families? I hope you all had a lovely Friday.

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Lots of love💕💕

Ruru❤️