Maryam was in the kitchen making breakfast for herself when yasmin walked in, with ear plugs on and humming to a song. She peeped at the food that Maryam was making. "Ya maryam dan Allah zanchi." Yasmin begged.

"Bazaki ci ba." Maryam said without sparing her a glance. "Dan Allah mana" she begged but she ignored her.

"What should I help you with?" Yasmin asked looking around her trying to find what to help her with. Maryam looked at her and shrugged saying "Nothing, just go back to the living room and sit cause I ain't doing nothing with you." Yasmin came and stood beside her saying, "Dan Allah mana it looks so delicious, what are you going to make with..- she counted the eggshells on the counter that maryam had used and continued, "with 6 eggs?"

"Rolled omelette."
"And eat it with what?"
"Fries and pepper sauce."
"Please ya maryam, you know your pepper sauce is to die for, please make it with me." She pleaded and maryam looked at her and said, "Thanks for the compliment." Then she looked at Yasmin with a confused expression, "it's a compliment right? You know my English is slowly disappearing, rashin makaranta."
"Irin you have finished school dinnan, Wallahi I'm so jealous. Me I'm just starting university."

"it's just a matter of time before you also finish, kaman gobe ne." She said as she poured half the egg mixture in a pan. Yasmin rolled her eyes "yeah yeah kaman gobe ne." She said with a note of sarcasm in her voice. Maryam chuckled and asked her to help blend some veggies.

She finished making the breakfast for herself, mama and yasmin, put it in a plate, and gave mama hers before coming to the living room and settling on the love seat. She kept her plate, and cup of tea on the side stool, and grabbed her laptop from the center table. She turned it on, and went to YouTube to watch Lauryn doan's vlogs. She ate as she watched it. When she was done, she paused the video, and took the plate to the kitchen.

"Maryam." Ya Mubarak called her as he walked into the kitchen. "Na'am." She turned to find him opening the sauce pan. "Ba abinchi?"
"Yeah." She dropped the plate in the sink.
"What did you eat?"
"Chips and egg."
"And it's finished?"
"Yeah." She quickly washed her plate and kept it in the basket.

"Oh God, I'm so hungry." He groaned and sat on the kitchen stool. Maryam looked at him and chuckled saying, "I think we have some tuwo left with granny's soup."
"Yes! I was actually craving tuwo can you imagine?" She nodded her head saying, "yes I can, because you and mama are the only tuwo lovers in this house."

She then exited the kitchen and was on her way back to the living room, when she bumped into Ahmad; her stepbrother in his mini car. "Ya Maryam Ina kwana." He greeted. "Ahmad how are you?" He smiled revealing his missing tooth gap. "Fine." She nodded and said, "I see you have gotten your dream car." She pointed. He frankly nodded saying, "yes, mummy bought it for me yesterday."
"Madallah." "Ya Maryam where is fatima please, I want to show her my car."
"I don't know, maybe she is with mama." He thanked and they went their separate ways.

Maryam went back to the parlor and finished her tea while watching Arrow. She was halfway through an episode, when mama walked in. "Maryam bazaku tashi kuje kuyi abinchin rana ba?" Mama asked looking at Maryam. Maryam also looked up saying, "zamuyi."
"Oya get up and go cook the food now." She internally groaned, closed her laptop and stood up. "What should I cook?"
"I don't know, anything."

She turned and walked to their room where she found ya amma seated on the bed talking in hushed tone on the phone, and yasmin in front of her camera just blabbering. She and Maryam sometimes vlog and just keep the video I'm the gallery. "Yasmin go and cook something, I cooked the last time."

Yasmin quickly paused her video and looked at maryam. "What? please Adda, I'm kinda busy here."
"Okay, let me go and tell mama that." She turned and Yasmin was quick to grab her arm saying, "no, I will go make it. But what?" Maryam shrugged and push pass her into the room. She sat on her bed and grabbed her phone from the bedside drawer, only to find two missed calls from Aisha.

"Oh what is it?" She asked herself as she dialed the number.

Aisha picked it after 3 rings with a salam. "Hy Aisha, how are you?" She asked. "I'm good, how is everyone?"
"Fine Alhamdulillah, so you still coming?"
"Ohh, that's actually why I called you, I won't be able to make it." Maryam twisted her lips and said, "oh why, I hope everything is fine."
"Yes actually -Aisha stayed quiet for a few seconds before continuing, "ya Muhammad is ill and has just been discharged from the hospital, so I'm needed here at home."
Maryam's eyes widened, "what's wrong with him, I mean is he okay?"

"Yes.. yes he is I think ok now, I don't know what's wrong with him."
"Allah sarki ya muhammad. Insha Allah I will call him."
"Alright toh, take care."
"Bye." She then disconnected the call.

"What's with ya muhammad?" Ya amma asked. Maryam looked at her, she was now just lying on the bed, doing stuff on her phone. "Aisha says that he is ill."
"Allah sarki May Allah grant him good health."
"Amin."

——————
Muhammad was in daddy's living room, getting scolded by daddy and mummy. His head was set down. "Muhammad look at me." Daddy bellowed in anger. Muhammad looked up and met his the eyes. He looks a lot like daddy, like a lot.

"Do you even realize how serious this is? Do you know how worried we all were?" Muhammad nodded which earned him a snarl from daddy. "if you nod your head again, I'll break that neck. Talk!"
"Yes daddy."
"Do you know you being sick doesn't just affect you but all of us, the whole family." He was about to nod his head yet again when he remembered daddy's warning. "Yes."

Daddy looked at him and just took a deep breath to calm himself. He turned and retook his spot next to mummy. "You knew what was wrong with you, didn't you?" He said rather calm this time. "No daddy, I didn't." -"well I had my doubts, but it didn't make sense to me, so I didn't take it seriously."
"What do you even take seriously other than your work?" Daddy asked more like said.

Muhammad couldn't say anything else. He just lowered his head and listened to daddy. "I'm going to give you one chance, only one chance to get married to a woman of your choice, or I'll get you married myself. To whoever I like and that too as soon as possible."
Muhammad's eyes widened, "But.."
"No buts, get out." He looked at mummy to say something, but she just looked away. He got up and slowly walked out.

This isn't seriously happening to him, is it? Arranged marriage. He hates that idea, and insha Allah it shall not happen to him.

———————

"Ya muhammad please mana, you know I'm out of cash and I really need it." Abdallah gave muhammad a pleading look. Muhammad looked at him with an accusing eye, and leaned his arms on the sofa. "What I just want to know is what you are going to do with that amount of money."

Abdallah scratched his chin and said, "actually, there is this new game that has just been released.."
"Game?!" He asked horrified. Abdallah chuckled and quickly said, "no please listen." He stopped to make sure Muhammad was listening, and when he was sure, he continued, "its a good game I swear, and we all.. I, ruslan, Muhsin, bilal and Mahmoud, I am speaking on their behalf."

"Ah lallai, so I'm now your bank. This has all been planned beforehand. Why don't you all gather money and buy it."
"Haba yaya, where would we find that money, I even asked mummy and she refused, - he then lowered his voice as he says, "and you know Aunty nafisa doesn't do charity works."

Muhammad laughed and said, "oh sai ni nine mai kudin banza ko?" "Haba no." Abdallah shook his head also laughing.

"You want to finish my money even before the person I make it for gets to enjoy it."

"Who?"
"My wife mana dummy."
Abdallah laughed saying, "better get married dai and rest. Karkayi kwantai." Muhammad glared at him, "see who is asking for a favor."
"I'm sorry, what I meant was I also can't wait to see my lucky sister-in law."
"Don't.." he started, but was interrupted when a knock sounded on the door.

"Come in."
Maryam pushed open the door with a salam. She looked breathtakingly beautiful in a lilac silk embellished with golden embroidery gown. Even though she had zero to no makeup, she still looks beautiful. Her eyeglasses sat on her nose perfectly.

"Ya Muhammad, ya Abdallah Ina wuni." She greeted with a bright smile. "Maryamu yau kece a gidan namu(is it you in our house today)?" Ya abdallah said. She pouted and glared at him saying, "wai maryamu, sai kace wata tsohuwa(you say maryamu like an old woman)." Muhammad looked at her adorable face and smiled saying, "Don't mind him, come and take a seat."

.
Fatima🥀