CHAPTER 9: CHANCE.

It took Na'im years for him to actually believe that Abba was not his real father. And that, wasn't at all easy especially when Abba stood and cared for him more than he did before. That was the most difficult phase he went through in his life.

It was when he was 23 years of age, after his first degree graduation that his father, real father decided to show himself up.

Na'im laughed humorlessly "He wants me to go back to Nigeria and stay with him?"

Ammiey nodded "Actually he'd been bugging me for the past 3years, now i decided to listen to him"

"This is a sick joke" He ran his palm over his handsome young face "And you want me to go?"

"Listen Na'im, i know you don't like this man and you fairly have every reason not to but he's your father. This is a bitter truth. Sometimes we have to let bygones be bygones. Its high time you meet each other" Ammiey tried to reason with him.

"I'm not going" Na'im said with finality.

"Toh sannun alhajin marasa kunya" Ammiey glared at him.

He sighed "Ammiey come to think of it, I'm twenty three and this is literally the first time this man wills to meet me, Abba is more than enough for me" His eyes showed anger, hurt and pain.

"You know I won't tell you to do something that will hurt you ba? A lot of things happened between your father and I, if you leave me to my selfish self i swear i won't even let him set his eyes on you but then I'm trying to be fair here, he has his rights over you too. He couldn't face me all those years, he knew he have terribly wronged us and he's ashamed of himself.. well at least that was what he said and i somewhat do believe him"

She held his hand and gently squeezed it "Do you love me and your father.. i mean Abba?"

Na'im stared at her incredulously before nodding "You two mean the world to me"

Her eyes shone "Then do as I say, you're going back to your Motherland and meet your father"

"And you know how i can't stand that heat in Nigeria and oh Allah! Those annoying people"

Ammiey chuckled "Well remember you want to join the army which means you have to go back to Nigeria sometime or later, and you clearly know how army is, you better get ready for more heat and wahala"

And that actually cracked him up a bit but, he just couldn't stop sulking over the whole issue. Even after 2 months when he boarded the plane that would take him to Nigeria.

A small smile lifted the corners of his lips as he remembered their small happy family and all those happy/sad memories that would forever remain close to his heart. To say he'd miss them mightily would be an understatement.

He brought his camo headphones and was about to put them on when the announcement coming from the plane speakers made him stop.

"Ladies and gentlemen, my name is jasmine Charles and I'm your chief flight attendant. On behalf of Captain Abdullah bunza the entire crew...."

"What?" He yelled gaining weird glances from some people.

He sank back in his seat and sighed, burying his face in his palms "Okayyy..."

Xxx

"Mr bunza" A man tapped on Naim's shoulder which made him turn. He'd just alighted from the plane and was rolling his luggage to the departure lounge of Nnamdi Azikiwe airport.

"Salamu alaikum Mr bunza" The bald-headed man greeted.

Na'im nearly rolled his eyes at the name "Wa alaikumussalam, how may i help you?"

"I'm Captain's driver and I'm going to drive you home; Captain will meet us in the car in a jiffy" The guy informed.

Na'im raised his brows "Don't worry, i will take an uber"

"Sir, why would you take an uber when you have a driver?"

"Ai zaka iya kinkimana ka kaini motan (you can pick me up and take me to the car) I'm not stopping you"

The bald-headed man sighed helplessly "Sir.... please"

"Lets go" Na'im said making the man grin widely.

"I will help you with that luggage" The man took the handle of the box as Na'im removed his jacket. The heat was already getting too much.

They went out to the parking lot to the sparkling silver range rover evoque. Shortly after, Na'im spotted Captain Abdullah bunza, from the tinted window, clad in his uniform with a man rolling his luggage behind him.

He was undeniably handsome. And Na'im saw the resemblance again. Even the tall, majestic figure. He was almost Like his twin.

"Assalamu alaikum" Said Captain as he got into the other side of the car.

"Wa alaikumussalam" Naim shook Captain's stretched hand and removed his shades. Showing some respect won't hurt.

"How was the flight?" Captain asked smiling.

"It was okay, Alhamdulillah"

And nobody said a thing again till they reached home.

Three young girls appeared as soon as they walked into the mansion.

"Daddy!" They hugged Captain excitedly before noticing the unamused Na'im who was standing with his hands dipped inside his pockets.

"This is your big brother i have been telling you about" Captain introduced "And Na'im, these are your sisters, Basma the oldest, Layla then Nafeesah"

"Hey!" They said enthusiastically and he waved.

Aunty walked down the flight of stairs, dressed in an elegant abaya.

"Welcome back Captain" She hugged daddy and Na'im couldn't help but grimace.

"And welcome home son" She stroked Naim's arm, putting on her best smile "Come on don't just stand here, lets go in and eat, you guys should be famished."

Feenah being the jolliest one amongst the girls, took his hand and they walked to the dining area all together.

"I'm nafeesah but you can call me feenah, can i be your favorite sister? I will do whatever you say, can i call you Yaya Na'im? Or brother na'im? Which one do you prefer? But i think yaya na'im is nicer and fits you more"

Naim's jaw dropped at the way she just spoke, she practically spoke in one breath.

"You can call me Yaya Na'im" He all but said. It was what Khadijah and little zara call him with anyway.

Once they were all done with lunch, daddy told him to follow him to the other side of the house, which would be his part.

He showed him around the place and sat on the one seater couch in the moderately furnished living room.

"I'm sorry" Captain said, looking down at his intertwined fingers.

"For?" Naim nearly scoffed.

"For everything Na'im. I know you despise me and wallahi I don't blame you for that." Captain said ruefully "I'm ashamed of myself, all those years I tried to reach your mother but that guiltiness in my heart always stopped me. I'm sorry son, I'm very sorry and in shaa Allah i will make it up to you, its a promise."

Na'im who didn't know what to say or do only stared at the man, his replica, his father. Silence prevailed. It lingered in the air, thick and heavy, like a blanket. Painfully awkward, Naim thought.

"I hope that someday you will find it in your heart to forgive me" Captain said as he steadied his gaze on Naim.

Na'im still didn't utter a single word. And that made Captain more disturbed but then he knew it was pretty fair.

Months passed by at warp speed.

Amongst the sisters, feenah was the only one he got quite along with. She'd always come to his room and talk to him about, everything and nothing. The girl was bobbly, he realized.

What bothered him was how the sisters treat each other without so much respect. Especially basma and layla. It was one of those days they'd run around the house over something foolish, that he decided to set them straight. From then, whenever they knew he was around, they would avoid anything that would get them into a fight. Naim's types of punishment was something nobody would want to go through.

True to daddy's word, he does everything possible to make it up to his son. He had gotten him a new brand car, sewn and bought him so many apparels and whatnot. Naim was slowly cooling down.

And after mulling over, he decided to give his father a chance.

Salam,
How are you doing? Fine in shaa Allah?

Such a short and boring chapter, yeah? 😔 well... this is literally the end of the throwback. Lets get back to the main story.

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