(No line in this chapter is defaming or insulting the practice of Islam in the south. Don't feel offended or attacked please)
Remember this is all to just pass messages.
SHUKRAN❤️💕

   Aa'yat's POV

I rushed downstairs to where Habiba was in a haste to share what I just heard from Inayat with her.

What's up? Why were you running? I can't bail on you babe. I haven't left yet. She teased as I got to her panting.

Lol crazy witch, wasn't scared of that at all. Plus you dare not! I grinned as we both laughed.

So got them huh? Sit down let's start now before it gets dark. She gestured with a smile.
I can't wait to touch your soft and lengthy hair.... She yayyed. If there is a word like that😂

What makes you think my hair is lengthy??
I queried as I rolled my eyes.

It is obvious of course baby girl. From your brows, from your veil, and those don't even matter. Plus, I saw ur hair like thrice remember?
When I came to call you for classes. She pointed out.

Oh yes, that is true. I smiled in defeat.

Well, guess what I just heard??? I queried in surprise.

What???? I love gists.... She chuckled as she answered.

My roommate just told me with proves that attachments aren't good on the hair as a muslimah. Can you believe I never knew. I am sure you are surprised too. Aren't you? I asked in surprise as I waited for her response.

Oh that, she answered casually as she sighed. So I heard but it doesn't really matter to me I do whatever I like, I live my life to please myself. She answered and I froze for seconds.

What??? So you even knew???? Lol you really are crazy. I laughed as she joined in.

So, don't tell me you aren't making the hair again. She rolled her eyes.

Yes of course, I am not anymore. I am scared of fire okay. Mum always told me that whoever disobeys Allah would enter Hell. I answered in fear as she kept on laughing.

Scaredy cat..... Just be yourself and that is all. The rest are just lies. She countered.

Wait but are you seriously not making your hair anymore??? I won't touch your hair that is? Stop being naive babe this is fashion!!! She added as she heaved a big sigh.

Stop being obessesed with touching my hair sis. I teased. I would still make my hair but without attachments. Please satisfy me bestie. I smiled.

Can't you just please me this once... I want it to come out so beautiful Aa'yat, just let do it this once okay. She pouted sadly.

I am so sorry babe, but can't. I am sure Junaid would have told me exactly what she  told me if he were here. I blushed as I mentioned "Junaid".

Habiba shook her head in an hashtag mockery and symphathy way as she pointed out. Junaid huh? Just say this is all about Junaid. This dude is really snatching and throwing away your personality from you bit by bit.

It is not that babe, I want to do this too. For Allah, for myself and for Junaid. We both chuckled as I mentioned Junaid.

It is okay, I have heard. I guess we just have to make it like that. She sighed in defeat as I thanked her with a yes! Smile.

Which hairstyle? She rolled her eyes.

Something simple. Just make it two steps.

Ahhh! Two steps?? Can't you make something more appealing?? Like shuku (a popular hairstyle made by Africans).

Okay fine. Anything you like ma'am. I answered with sigh in defeat.

Better little naive princess. She joked.

Okay my Queen. I teased as I took a bow before taking my sit. I sat on the long bench made from blocks while she stood as she began making my hair.

So which of them changed your mind concerning the attachment?? She queried.

Inayat. I answered with a smile.

What??? That Yoruba girl right??? She asked fiercely as she let go of the hair strands she held.
(Yoruba= one of the tribes in Nigeria. Mostly found in the southern part of the country).

Yes, such a nice girl or should I say sister. I smiled.

What??? Which nice girl? She hasn't done anything wrong to me but I don't like her! She vented out.

But she is nice.... I countered as I emphasized on the nice. Seriously, I really didn't like her at first. In short, I still don't. But I am on the process of liking her. I chuckled.

What is this one saying? Better make up your mind. You didn't even ask why I don't like her. She said.

Okay why? I asked.

Hmmmmmm where would I start from. She started as she continued making my hair.

Anywhere sis. I laughed.

Okay, when I was in 100 level.... No, 100 and 200 self. But it started when I was in 100 level. Yoruba sisters have always been after me. She paused.

After you? Why??? I asked rather confused.

Thank you. They want me to change my ways. She blurted.

You know 80% of them are among the MSS (Muslim students society) officials in this school right? She queried as I answered with an I don't know type of look.

Well, they are. She continued. I had three of them as Roomates whilst in 100 level. They always monitored my movements.
If I don't pray on time, they would ask why.
If I open my hair outside, they would start preaching.
If I wear something too tight, they would say something bad to discourage me. At a point, they even invited me to tafsir's at their masjid but I didn't attend.

Why?? Were you busy??? I asked with concern laced in my voice.

Which busy... I just didn't attend. All those gatherings that you would attend and they would be making you feel like a sinner as if you are the worst on Earth. I blurted.

But it isn't like that with my new Roomates babe. I think Inayat is the only Yoruba amongst us. The twins are Kanuri, her friend Sabeerah is hausa, and I am also hausa. And they are all hijabis me excluded. I exhaled.
So you see.....

Plus, during my 100 level and 200, we also had sisters like that as Roomates. And they weren't Yoruba. The one in 100 level was Igbira, the one in 200 was Hausa, and the one in 300 was Babur. They always told us what they felt was true. But I also didn't pay attention to them then. I laughed.

But now, I am willing to pay attention so far as it is the truth with authentic proves. I smiled.

You, just say it is Junaid that is worrying you. She blurted as we both chuckled.

No but seriously, I am just seeing sense in all what they have been saying. Better listen babe the earlier the better. I laughed as she pinched me faintly on my back.

This one is different Babe, if they were practicing the religion this way in their various states, it would have been better. But they hardly do.
It is only in the south you would see a matured lady walking around, wearing a tight mini gown and a short hijab lying just on her chest. She said out as we bursted out laughing.

Subhanallah sister, Quit saying that. A sister interrupted and made it known we were being a little loud in our discussion.

And what is your own? Habiba stood as she queried the sister in the process.

It is just a piece of advice sis. What you are doing is slander and has its own consequences too in Islam.

Consequences again huh?? Everything to you guys does have a consequence I guess. She spat out irritatingly.

Yes it does. Anything bad or good you do has it's consequence and it is never too late to turn to Allah.

On the Authority of son of Abass (may Allah be pleased with them both), from the Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), among the saying he related from his Lord  (glorified and exhaled be he) is that He said:
    "Allah has written down the good deeds and the bad ones. Then He explained it by saying that he who has intended a good deed and has not done it, Allah writes it down with Himself as a full good deed, but if he has intended it and has done it, Allah writes it down with Himself as from ten good deeds to seven hundred times, or many times over. But if he has intended a bad deed and has not done it, if one seeks for forgiveness before sleeping, Allah doesn't write it down. But if one doesn't ask  for forgiveness before sleeping, Allah writes it down as one bad deed. It was related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.

So sister, better think about it and seek for forgiveness. She concluded as she left.

Habiba was speechless. I don't know why though, but I guess she felt it a little too.

You see huh? That is how they always do, who seeked for her opinion. She hissed faintly as she finished the cuttings left in making my hair.

****************************

I went back to my room and met them all cheerfully doing their activities.

I brightly smiled as I entered with a salaam which they also returned back with a smile.

Welcome back, how was it? Let me see your hair... They all chorused as I sat on my bed.

Why are they all talking to me now? We have always avoided each other. Ohhh Inayat must have summarized all what happened to them of course.
I guess this is it! Let's begin the steps to being a better person Aa'yat! I cheered with my subconscious.

I opened my hair for them to see and they all praised and appreciated in their words.

I observed all the solats that day starting from Asr, to magrib and Isha. They really are a good influence to me. I suddenly feel like the air around me smells of positivity.

Later that night, My Roomates and I chatted a lot about things happening around the school, our experiences so far.
Everyone also talked about where they would be having their mid semesters.

They are all going to spend it at home. Inayat's and sabeerah's at kaduna and the Twins at Kano.

What about you?? Husseinah my bunkie queried.

I would just stay with my uncle here in Zaria. He lives in the staff quarters somewhere inside the school. Area something I guess... I laughed as they joined in with a smile.

I really don't want to go home now... I want to fix my broken pieces and fulfil the promise I made to my mum and uncle Bilal at all cost.

I went through my WhatsApp messages and saw Junaid was online. I queried about where he would be spending his too and he answered saying with Mansur at kaduna.

I guess majority lives in kaduna. I smiled as I rounded up the chats and went to sleep.

Everyone don't forget to say your Duas. Inayat reminded as I heard them all mumble some words in Arabic.

Tell me too, I want to say it. I faced inayat as she spelt it out slowly to me and I repeated.

I first recited 'Aa'yatul kursiyu as it was the second thing my mum thought me besides how to pray.

Before lastly muttering;

"Allahumma Bismika 'amootu wa 'ahya"

In your name, O Allah, I die and I live.
(Here, dying and lying are metaphors for sleep and wakefulness).

See you next time Allah's willing❤️💕😍

Yhu_so_shy