When my mother called and told me she was at Idris' gate I didn't believe it until I went out and saw her leaning by her car. I was so surprised, how on earth did she know the address of the house? I had to ask her and when I did, she told me it was Ya Salim that texted her the address. Well, I ushered her in and told her to have a seat while I headed to the kitchen to check the water I was boiling. When I returned back from the kitchen I saw her still standing, scrutinizing the parlour.

"Any problem, Mama?" I said.

"Where is he?" She asked sitting down in an armchair. "I would like to talk to him please"

"Actually," I cleared my throat and continued. "He recently went out to buy tea stuffs for us"

"Okey" She said looking straight into my eyes. "So you truly love him to this extent, Manal?"

I literally did not grasp what she was talking about until I discovered that she had seen the ring Idris gave me. Thus, I sank the hand into my sweater's sleeve. "I love him, Mama" I said.

"But he is not Hausa, why can't you look for a Hausa man? Or at least Fulani?" She queried.

"It doesn't matter, Mama. We are all human beings, and most of all we are Muslims. Idris is a good Muslim, I tested him in many ways but he didn't fail..." I uttered lowering my gaze.

"Okey, your father didn't come yesterday" She apprised making me to quickly glance at her.

"Huh? He never cared anyways!" I said.

"No, he's sick" She said.

"Sick? Well, he will get better" I snapped at her.

"Hmm, Manal..." She was saying when Idris walked in with a Salaam. He was surprised.

"Welcome back" I walked over to him and collected what he bought. "Mama is here"

"Okey..." He said and greeted her while I headed to the kitchen to make breakfast.

After that, I served everyone in the dining and found my way to Amani's room. She had been sleeping, maybe it was because of the trip they had a day prior. "Wake up, my baby" I patted her. "Wake up, it's your second Mummy" I kept patting her until she eventually woke up...

"Mum?" She rubbed her puffy eyes.

"Yes, it's me" I pecked her on her forehead.

"Mum, I miss you" She said embracing me.

"I miss you too, baby na" I held her warmly until my stomach grumbled. "Lets go and brush your teeth, okey? Breakfast is waiting in the dining room" I sad averting from her.

"Okey, mum" She yawned.

Hence, after brushing her teeth I bathed her and changed her into a thick sweater since it was cold. Thus, we headed to the dining room.

"Amani, is this you?" My mother said but the girl didn't even respond to her. She extricated from my grip and sat right next to her father.

"Amani, can't you greet?" Idris queried her.

"Good morning" She coyly said.

"In Hausa!" Idris shouted at her, and since she was the type of girl that cry easily she began sobbing like a small baby. I had to cuddle her.

"Hey, and... why must she say it in Hausa?" My mother said making me to glare at her. I knew she was literally the one that caused everything, I knew she had provoked Idris with the issue of our ethnic differences...

"Her mother was Hausa" Idris muttered.

"Okey, but you're not Hausa. Your parents are Nupe and Igala respectively" She uttered and guess what? Tears rolled down Idris' cheeks.

"But I can speak Hausa..." Idris sniffed wiping the tears in his face. "More than some Hausas"

"Really...?" She said.

"Mama, stop it!" I yelled at her.

"I am sorry" She said withdrawing from the dining table. "I already ate at home so, I will be in the car outside waiting for you - Manal"

"Waiting for me? I never said I am going back with you, mama..." I uttered as Idris intruded.

"You have to" He said not looking at my face.

"What have you done, Mama!" I glared at my mother. Yes, she might have hurt him badly.

"She has done nothing" Idris smiled and that made me to be confused. "Absolutely nothing"

"Huh?" I wrinkled my brows and thus my mother smiled as well. "What is going on?"

"Nothing, just don't keep me waiting" She said and then left, literally rendering me speechless.

Idris and I ate in silence, with Amani minding her own business as well. And immediately we were all done I cleared the table and asked Idris one more time what was going on but he embraced me and whispered - just follow her, okey? - into my ears. Hence, I obeyed him.

I prepared and bade them goodbye with my backpack. Amani didn't cry, I wasn't expecting her to cry though - she was now a big girl and was becoming more fat and beautiful. She for sure would have men dying for her when she grow up, but wait! Would I even let her expose herself to those wolves? I certainly would not!

I walked out of the gate and stormed into my mother's car without a word. I wasn't happy at all, I didn't want to leave Idris' house at that moment. His presence completed me and I was becoming so very attached to him already.

As soon as we reached grandfather's house I alighted from the car with my backpack without saying a word to my mother. Thence I went inside and greeted my grandparents before storming into the room I was occupying. While about switching on my mobile data my phone buzzed. It was a text message from Hilwah.

"Manal, I am pregnant"

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Thank you for reading #InsideArewa

For those reading this book on WhatsApp, you are going to stop at chapter 35 while those on Wattpad will continue till chapter 39 or 40, In Shaa Allah. This is to appreciate all their votes.