Aa'yat's POV

You should make the first move in knocking. Junaid advised as he stayed put behind me while I tired knocking on my grandmother's door.

It has been months since I last saw them and by Allah, I miss them so much. But why do I feel nervous and unsteady???
Perhaps because I still don't know where to start from in introducing both my families to each other, and I am still not at rest concerning the divorce issue between Mum and Dad.

He obviously won't divorce her once he finds out she is expecting his babies, but still he really has to put a stop to his attitudes in general.
I have to do this, I have to mend my family, they were the ones who raised me after all. It is all going to be fine In Sha Allah.

Oh Ya Allah, see me through this tangled phase. Ameen. I thought all at once as I finally mustered the courage to announce my arrival.

Assalamualikum Mum, Ummu Anisa. I greeted as I kept placing slight knocks on the door.

Wa'Alaikum Salam, I heard my mum's voice answer after a short while as she opened the door almost immediately.

How are you my baby girl? She asked out loud with a smile as she caught a glimpse of me, but before I could answer, she dragged me in quickly and closed the door loudly behind me as if in a kind of shocking or surprising mood.

Why did you have to bring your fiance home today of all days??? Huh
Are you two official now???
Why didn't you tell me he was going to come with you???
Isint that Junaid??? Your crush at school?
And why must you introduce him to the family now?? She whispered surprisingly.

I am going to explain better to you mum, he isn't my crush okay, I mean well yes he kind of was, but he is my brother. I whispered back.

What??? Your brother??? She queried now understanding with her subconscious where I was driving at.

OMG! Subhanallah! Your brother??? She started as she covered her mouth in surprise.

Waw, Ma Sha Allah. What a twist this is.
But how??? Why??? When???? She poured out confusedly as I ushered with my hands for her to just open the door and let Junaid in at once.

She opened the door as ushered and cleared her throat loudly welcoming Junaid in.
"I am so sorry Junaid, I had to you know...., Just come in." I heard her say as she opened the door for him to come in.

Junaid on the other hand, just stood there with a smirk on his handsome face as he smiled back after saying it was no problem at all and he understood what was going on.

Bissmillah. She welcomed as he walked past her and through the door.

Hey big head!! He smacked my shoulder as he entered and saw me where I stood not too far from my mum.

You are a weirdo! I laughed back as he joined in too.

Waw, you both really are siblings😲😲. I heard my mum sort of confirm behind us.

Yes mum, we are. Junaid confirmed yet again as mum showed us our way into the living room.

Good afternoon Granny. I greeted as I ran over to where my grandma was seated and Junaid ran along without hesitation.

Good afternoon my darlings. Grandma welcomed as she placed both her hands around our backs.

I can see you have finally met with your family Aa'yat. My granny started.

Na'am granny but how did you???.... I mean, who told..... I stammered confusedly.

How did I know? who told me?? Well, no one in particular did, it is just that you and your mum both don't still know how to whisper silently enough for my ears not to hear. Granny said out as mum and I both sent chuckles round the house.

So true granny, our mistake. I laughed back at her answer.

We heard heavy knocks raining on the door and my mum immediately recognized it was maybe my Dad's.

He is here, I am sure he is. Mum called to our attention as we all took to our seats while she went to let him in.

Assalamualikum peace be upon you all, he greeted as he walked behind my mum aggressively.

Wa'Alaikum Salam and upon you too. We chorused.

I can see the family is whole for this meeting here today, he started and I could sense he was mocking the gathering.

Just then, my mum took her seat close to my grandma and by Allah, I could see my Dad's reaction very clearly as he saw mum's baby bump.

When did this happen?? How long have you being pregnant??? Whose child is it??? Talk to me woman! Dad raised his voice out angrily at mum.

Calm down Suleiman, you have to calm down. Grandma said as she held him still.

That is why we all are here, to talk about all this once and for all. Grandma started.

You Suleiman, you are so angry and determined to divorce your wife huh??? Why?? Because she brought someone else's child into your life right???
Answer me, is that not it??? Grandma furiously said.

This is the first time I am seeing grandma strict and not smiling.

Dad still kept mute, he didn't say a word.

I wasn't really expecting you to say anything, Grandma continued. Well, shame unto you now for your wife is pregnant with your children and almost due for delivery as you can see. She said out as she pointed at mum's belly.

Dad was speechless, he bursted out crying not long after and we were all taken aback by the current situation.

Wasn't he here to talk about the divorce?
Wasn't he just so determined to let mum go???
Or is he so upset that he can't let her go this early because of her present condition???

We all just kept on looking and staring at each other as silence filled the room.

Honestly, I never wanted a divorce. Dad started.

What??? Mum queried in surprise.

But, I mean but your friend's wife Mrs Rasheed told me when we met at the supermarket last week Wednesday. That aside, you sent a text concerning it too this morning.
So what exactly are you saying?
Quit confusing us Mr. She completed.

Dad sighed sadly before answering back.
Rasheed and I were having a talk a day prior to when you met with his wife, He asked after you and why he hasn't really been seeing you. And that was when I told him you took a long vacation to clear things and breathe in peace.

After having said all those, he then brought up the issue of divorce and how he left his first wife for the same reason. He added that why would a wife just leave her husband alone for that long without even turning back or feeling remorse.

He then lastly advised that I do the needful and just let you go, because that honestly seems like what you need.

Waw, just waw. If not that I did my things for the sake of Allah huh, I remember when I was very hospitable to that so called friend of yours, and now he of all people wants me gone.
Subhanallah

Well anyways, haven't you agreed to it? Didn't you file for a divorce???
Isn't it what you have always wanted? Mum asked calmly.

No, by Allah I didn't agree to what he said. I disagreed immediately and rejected the idea. I can't let you go, I love you. Dad said all out and Junaid and I stared wildly at each other.

Love??? What?? You love me?.... Please Suleiman, your love for me died ever since you knew the whole truth. You always treated me like a villain, you always made me regret the very first day Aa'yat came into our lives.
Mum cried out and I became teary too.

Na'am, I was a living witness to that, Dad always made her feel guilty and always treated her wrongly. Mum really endured a lot.

I know Rukayah, and I am very sorry. I have come to regret everything I once did. For the past 6 months, you haven't been picking my calls or replying to my WhatsApp messages.
You even unfollowed me on IG!.

Whatsapp you said huh??? I uninstalled my WhatsApp the very first day I stepped into this house. Why because I know you to be a coward.
Yes Suleiman. You would want to just keep messaging me or calling me endlessly all day long without mustering any courage to even check up on me.

I knew if I didn't reply to your messages or pick your calls you would have no other choice but to come and see me physically.
But what did I get in return????
Divorce! You are here all because of the divorce issue! Oh ya Ilahi!. Mum cried out uncontrollably.

After everything Suleiman, after all your promises and all we have been through, I still find it hard to believe you can ever let me go. But Alhamdulilah, Almighty Allah cannot give to a soul more than it can bear. Mum finalized.

Stop it Rukayah, stop it please for Allah's sake. I don't want to and would never In Sha Allah ever think of divorcing you. My coming here today is to take you back home with me Allah knows. The text is sent to you was just to startle you a little, as a payback for not replying my messages and returning my texts. Dad said and Junaid and I exchanged shocking glances.

Junaid looked calmer than I expected, he really knows how to switch in between being childish and matured when ever the time comes.

Yes Rukayah. Dad continued.
If you had been reading my texts, you would have known the whole truth and how things really went.

Really, and how was that???? Mum fired out angrily.

Abu died. Dad said out.

What? Abu???. Mum asked back. Innalilahi wahina Ilahi Raji'un.

Innalilahi wahina Ilahi Raji'un, My Grandpa had died. I never expected it.
May Allah forgive all his shortcomings and save him from the punishments of the grave.
Ameeen. I muttered softly as Junaid pinned my right hand down on the sofa as a way of expressing his condolences.

And why are you just telling me suleiman?? Mum continued.
Oh ya Allah, forgive this man all his sins and Grant him Jannah. Mum cried out and we all muttered an Ameeen.

Grandma was just silent, she just wore a sad expression and kept on listening as they both spoke.

Na'am, we lost Abu. It was barely two days after you left the incident occurred.
I got a call from my younger sister in the US at around 3pm saying he died of cardiac attack. He was so old and still working hard you know, all for the growth of the family business.

Dad's family runs a very big and popular fashion store in the US. Grandpa was heading the store but of course he didnt really do the work, he was just the C.E.O of the organization.
Dad never wanted to be part of the business as he just wanted to work in a company and own an office.
His only younger sister is married and settled in a part of the country, with a job of her own and her family to take care of.

Cardiac attack???? Subhanallah. Mum said out yet again.

Alhamdulilah for him though, My Dad quite aged a lot. Dad appreciated.

Na'am my Grandpa while I was in the US was already 80+ if I can recall.
Waw Ma Sha Allah.

So having said that Rukayah, I left for the US immediately I heard of the news and had stayed in that country for six months plus.
I took over grandpa's position of course after tendering my resignation letter via mail.

I am free now Rukayah, I quit being a jerk and Allah knows.
I arrived back here in Nigeria just a week ago since you refused to listen to me via messages and all.
I was planning for a comeback and how to face you, I mean look at you in the eyes because I have always been unfair to you.

Last week huh??? What if I had remarried?, What if I had died or gone missing???. Mum queried angrily.

No, Alhamdulilah that didn't happen. I was always watching you Rukayah, I was always there with you somehow. He cleared his throat before he continued.
Ummu Anisa was my informant. He said out.

What? Grandma?

What? Mum?. Mum and I asked all out.

Na'am my sweethearts, he called me immediately he lost Abu and how he was going to spend sometime in the US. He apologized for all he has done and told me to always be supportive and understanding towards you till he returns to take you back.

No day passed by that he didn't call or send us money.
Just what do you think I was feeding you and your babies with huh??? She turned to mum.

Mum just kept mute and was surprised.
Grandma really does know how to keep secrets.

Why did you now act all surprised and ignorant when you saw my baby bump. Mum queried again.

It was all part of the plan Rukayah, I had to. I had to make it look like I was letting you go and then take you back.
Please come with me my wife, I have come to take you with me to the US.
You, I, my babies and of course my lovely first child Aa'yat. He sadly said out.

I was moved, I started crying almost immediately.

Yes Aa'yat, I am so sorry. Please you have to forgive me too. I have accepted you too since the very first day I contacted Ummu Anisa. I am here to take you all with me. Dad said yet again as he stood to where mum sat and hugged her tightly.

Mum hugged him back and though I could sense she really was caught off guard from all that just happened. But Alhamdulilah, it was worth it.
I am so glad I had to leave this loving family whole. Alhamdulilah they both made up before I finally left for my own family.

Just then, a ring on my phone and it was Dad.
Look Junaid, it is Dad. I called to his attention as I showed the caller ID to him.

I excused myself outside where it was much calmer and wiped my tears before answering.

Assalamualikum Dad, where are you now???

Wa'alaikum Salam, I am outside the house you described.

Outside where? But I can't see you.

I am almost there sorry Astagfirullah. He chuckled.

Okay Dad. I smiled back.
His car came to view minutes later and I ran to welcome him. I ushered him in and just as we entered, my Dad threw the question at me.

Welcome back Aa'yat, I was asking this young man here why he came with you and if he was your suitor and he said he wasn't. But, he keeps saying he is your twin brother which I don't really get.
Your mum and you grandma wouldn't tell me anything either.
Have you met with your family?

I looked at grandma and mum and they both flashed cute smiles at me. I finally gulped down my nervousness and answered.

Na'am Dad, he is my twin and this is my Dad. I pointed at my real father, my biological father standing behind me.

Assalamualikum, peace be unto you all. Dad greeted and he was immediately offered a sit by everyone.
He just chose to sit close to Junaid, his son in order to make things easier for everyone.

He introduced himself and thanked everyone, starting from Mum, my very own mother who raised me with love. To Ummu Anisa, my ever supporting grandma and lastly Dad.
He showed and expressed his gratitude with lastly saying anything he gives to them wouldn't really count well as Allah (swt) is the best of all rewarders.

Mum agreed to move to the US with Dad, Ummu Anisa also decided to finally move in with one of her children outside kaduna. My father is going back to Saudi Arabia in 2 days while Junaid, Mansur and I have to return back to school tomorrow.

I must admit it was really sad and teary to let them all go at this juncture.
Ummu Anisa especially since she hasn't really decided which of her children to stay with.
As for Dad and mum, I still have the address of our house in the US and can go visiting either alone or with my family once a while because for me, they will always be family and I can sense it is vice versa.

Alhamdulilah at least, I am with my family now and everything is complete. I smiled as I turned to Junaid while he in turn winked at me and held me close by my waist.
Truly, people meet and part ways, but Allah's plans are always the best of all plans.

Who is ready for lunch???? Mum called out as we all mumbled our answers.
But one thing is sure certain, we all are hungry.
Mum stood to the kitchen while Ummu Anisa and I trailed behind leaving the men to tend to themselves.

Welcome back readers, it's been quite a long break or was it short?❤️💕💕🌹🌹

Alhamdulilah for everything ❤️💕🌹

I personally feel this piece would be coming to an end soon. Don't you feel same???😂💕🤭❤️💕🌹

See you next time Allah's willing❤️💕

Yhu_so_shy❤️💕