KAREEM'S POV

"Cupcake not to rush you or anything but at this rate we're going to be very late."I said to Diana standing on the other side of her bathroom door.

"There's nothing wrong with being fashionably late, you can't rush perfection. And besides why are you in such a rush to get there anyway, it's not like you're looking forward to the whole experience."She retorted silencing me immediately.

She was right, I was not excited to be going. I was only doing it because I needed to set my heart free of all I'd been holding in. Talking to Diana about my life had been freeing. I'd never told another soul my life story like that, just bits and pieces. Half of me had expected Diana to run after learning of my ugly past but she stuck around holding my hand as I told her about the ugliness of it all. Her advice to face my family was the only reason I'd agreed to call my mother and inform her we were attending the family gathering. My mother had been elated, little did she know what was about to happen in a few hours when we met. Jamila had been reluctant to go but I had managed to convince her by stealing a few lines from Diana's advice to me.

"Ta da."Diana said in a sing song voice as she opened the bathroom door.

"Perfection indeed."I commented giving her a once over.

She looked really beautiful in a knee length off shoulder short sleeved dress with a lace floral patter and a v-neck design. She wore gold heels to match, her hair was in a fancy updo and her simple make up only added to her natural beauty.

"Let me take you out to lunch instead and show you off. We don't want to waste that look on my family."I commented pulling her into my arms.

"I didn't wear it for them, I wore it for you."She replied with a coy smile.

"You are one wonderful woman."I replied kissing her cheek so as not to mess up her lipstick.

"And you look dashing yourself."Diana complimented straightening the collar of my jacket.

I was wearing a blue suit but I'd simplified it by wearing a white t-shirt and sneakers instead of a button down and loafers.

"We still have to pick up Jamila and Nuru so we better get going."I said.

"Okay let's go."Diana replied taking my arm.

She grabbed her purse from the bed on our way out and soon we were on the road to my sisters apartment.

"Why are we dressed so officially anyway? This gathering is for family only and its during the day. If it were my family we'd be dressed in shorts and t-shirts."Diana asked.

"That's because your family is normal where as mine is everything else but. You'll see for yourself."I answered.

"I wish I could say I'm looking forward to it but from what you and Jamila have told me, all I want to do is cut and run."Diana said with a nervous smile.

"Honestly I'm surprised you're still here, I wouldn't fault you if you bailed. My family are not people I would wish on anyone but I'm really happy you're here. You'll keep me grounded and sane while we are there."I replied.

"I couldn't let you face them alone, we're a team now."Diana said taking my hand and kissing the back of it.

She had no idea how much her presence meant to me and since I couldn't tell her with my words, I decided to show her with my actions.

"Do you have the shade of lipstick you're wearing in that purse?"I asked her as I pulled up in front of my sister's apartment building.

"Yeah why?"

I didn't reply instead I pulled Diana closer and kissed her relaying all the emotions I was feeling in that one kiss. I didn't know if she could tell but she kissed me back with the same fervour.

"I love you."I whispered caressing her lower lip with my thumb after we pulled apart.

"I love you."Diana echoed pecking my lips lightly.

Oh yeah we had also confessed our love for each other which had me on cloud nine. I still couldn't believe Diana felt the same about me. I had sort expected her to wait a while before saying the words back but when she confessed her love for me, everything in my life at that moment made sense. With Diana's love I could do anything, live through the worst of the worst and conquer all. All that was left to do was marry her but that topic would have to wait a little longer before I chased her off by coming on too strong.

While Diana reapplied her lipstick I texted Jamila that we were outside. They joined us a few minutes later taking the back seats of the Hellcat.

"You guys look beautiful."Diana complimented turning around to face them.

I agreed with Diana, Jamila was wearing a black long sleeved chiffon dress with heart patterns all over it while Nuru was in a grey checked dress with a pink belt matching her pink headband.

"Thank you and you two look like a celebrity couple. Diana, good job on dressing him in anything other than jeans and a hoodie "Jamila commented.

"I dressed myself thank you very much."I retorted.

"Look at you being such a big boy."Jamila mocked in a baby voice making Diana laugh.

"Okay enough, let's get going before I leave you all and go alone."I threatened driving back into the main road.

"As if you'd ever."Jamila retorted sarcastically but she was right, I'd never face my family alone.

I wasn't scared of them, not in the least, I was just afraid of the damage my mouth would cause if left to run free unchecked. That's another reason why I was taking Diana with me, she would make sure I didn't say anything I would regret later on.

Jamila and I had told Nuru about our family but only the basics. Them having left for Egypt actually helped with our story since it explained their absence. We would tell her the ugly truth when she was older but for the sake of the visit we had filtered out a lot of details for her sake. She was too young to have her heart filled with hate for a family she didn't really know. They weren't worth knowing but she would have to make up her own mind about them.

"Are you sure we're heading in the right direction?"Diana asked looking around.

"Yeah, I'm sure."I replied knowing exactly why she was asking me that.

"So exactly how rich are your parents?"Diana inquired.

"You'll see for yourself."I replied with a shrug.

"Pro tip Diana the family is very huge so don't bother catching their names, we probably won't be here for long."Jamila advised her.

"Okay got it but you guys shouldn't be so negative you never know, maybe they'll surprise you."Diana replied.

Jamila met my eyes in the rearview mirror and we had the same look on our faces, unbelief.

"Don't get your hopes up, once a snake always a snake."I commented unable to keep the icy tone out of my voice.

I wasn't expecting much from my estranged family, all I wanted was peace. We would go in there, speak our minds, unburden our souls and leave knowing that we were finally free.

A few minutes later I started pulling up a familiar drive and the huge palatial style mansion we had grown up in came into view.

"You've got to be kidding me, you guys grew up here? Kareem when I took you home, you acted as if my parents house was paradise, this is....." Diana exclaimed but I cut her off before she could finish.

"Prison. Your parents house exhibited warmth even before I walked through those front doors. This might be bigger and more prestigious but believe me that's all there is to it."I said with a frown on my face.

Diana didn't reply after that, just looked at me sadly probably feeling sorry for me. To me the mansion had never been a place of love from family unlike Diana's home where you could feel it's warmth before you walked through the door.

I parked closest to the door and in such a way that would allow a quick get away. There were a few more cars outside, all great machines but none as exotic as mine. We all filled out and stood in front of the car facing the house.

"Woah, it's huge."Nuru commented her child like innocence making us all laugh.

"Understatement of the year."Diana muttered next to me.

She was right, it was huge and intimidating but we were all together so we would be okay.

"Let's get this over and done with, the sooner we go in, the faster we can come out."Jamila commented and I murmured my agreement.

Diana looped her arm around mine and I wasn't sure if it was for her support or mine, either way I was glad to have her by my side. We walked up the steps into the house and the door was wide open. A lot of memories bombarded me the closer we got to the house and none of them were any good. We had barely walked in when my mother came barreling towards us with a smile on her face.

"Welcome, welcome."She greeted excitedly.

None of us said anything at first, probably trying to come to terms with what we were about to face. Diana squeezed my fingers and I derived strength from having her by my side.

"Um, thanks. This is Diana my girlfriend and the little one is Nuru."I introduced finally finding my voice.

She looked at Diana with a smile, giving her a once over as she held out her hand.

"It's nice to meet you Diana, I'm Kadija, their mother."She replied.

"Thank you for having us, you have a lovely home."Diana complimented politely shaking her hand.

"Thank you and hello, Nuru, it's a pleasure to finally meet you."She cooed at Nuru bending slightly to shake her hand.

"Nice to meet you."Nuru answered timidly hiding half of her face behind Jamila.

My mother's eyes lit up and she looked like she wanted to pull Nuru into her arms but she held back.

"You're all welcome, come in."She said finally stepping aside to let us in.

The house looked basically the same as it had when we left, with a few slight improvements. A jasmine scent floated around us bringing up a lot of memories both bad and slightly bearable.

"Everyone's out in the yard."My mom informed us leading the way.

"Why is it so cold in here?"Diana whispered.

"A reflection of all the cold hearts it houses."I retorted making her laugh softly.

"Be nice."She scolded squeezing my arm.

We finally got to the backyard and everything stopped in a sequence after one person spotted us. We stood like statues in a single file looking out to the backyard filled with our estranged family. Even the kids stopped playing looking at us like strangers, which we were. Our father and siblings detached themselves from the rest of the family and approached us. My dad looked different, older, like the years had finally caught up to him. He still had the domineering aura around him that always had me cowering back but I was older so I stood my ground. He had an impassive look on that made it had to decipher what he was actually feeling. My siblings also looked older and more mature, all in traditional Muslim clothing.

"Would you like to do the introductions Kareem or shall I?"Dearest mother inquired.

"I'll do it."I replied firmly trying to be as confident as possible.

"Everyone this is Diana my girlfriend and Nuru my niece. Diana, Nuru, this is my father Emir, my brothers Salim and Yusuf and my sisters Hasnaa and Zainabu."I introduced pointing at each person individually.

No one shook hands, just bowed respectfully in acknowledgement.

"Welcome home."My dad said and those words set me off.

Diana must have felt the shift in my mood because she held me back and squeezed my arm in warning. I stopped both what I was about to say and do but I was still seething. How dare he utter those words? Welcome home my foot. He had kicked us out and written us off yet he dared to welcome us back home. It wasn't our home and never would me.

"Diana you're not Muslim?"My sister Hasnaa asked.

That question took my by surprise because anyone could tell that Diana obviously wasn't a muslim. Was she asking that to embarrass Diana or make me mad?

"No, I'm Christian."Diana replied politely.

"Oh."Hasnaa replied looking disappointed but luckily for her, I didn't care about her opinion.

I wasn't Muslim anymore either but they didn't know that, yet.

"Jamila, you're not wearing your hijab and the little one isn't either."Zainabu commented joining Hasnaa in the criticism department.

"Because we're not muslim either, I converted when I got married to Ezekiel so Nuru was born christian."Jamila replied in a clipped tone.

"But when I saw you, you were wearing your hijab."Our mother pointed out.

"I still wear hijabs from time to time and so does my daughter but there are more for fashion statements than following religion."Jamila replied with a shrug.

That statement clearly offended everyone but they were bound to find out sooner or later.

"Yes Hasnaa, I'm Christian too."I replied when I saw her look at me and open her mouth to question me.

I was proud of my faith, it had given me comfort and refuge when Islam had turned its back on me.

"Wow, this is a revelation but why don't we all sit down first."My mother declared and we all disbanded.

There was a long table laden with food and drinks and chairs on both sides. The four of us sat together, Diana next to me with Nuru sandwiched between Jamila and I.

"So far so good."Diana mumbled.

"Nothing was good about that, I think I threw up in my mouth at some point."Jamila replied.

"Well it can only get better or worse from this point but we'll be ready for anything."I said praying to God that no blood would be spilt unlike the last time.

"Would you like anything to drink?"My mother asked.

"Juice please for all of us."Diana replied when the rest of us failed to answer.

I felt so out of place with them and was still trying to come to terms with my father's words. He had welcomed us after kicking us out all those years ago. Did it mean he wanted us back in their lives or was he just being polite? Then there were my sisters crude comments about our change of faith. What did they expect from us? That we'd keep following a faith that turned its back on us. Christianity offered us a sanctuary when Islam turned its back on us so that's where our true faith lay.

Drinks were delivered to us by one of the helps serving everyone their hearts desire in the backyard. Who needed help during a family gathering? Everyone should have been chipping in their own effort but that wasn't the case with this family.

"Your dad looks really familiar. Do I know him from somewhere?"Diana whispered next to me looking at my dad discreetly.

"He was the Cabinet Secretary of Foreign Affairs when we were in high school."I replied making Diana gasp.

"Oh yes, now I remember. Why didn't you tell me? You'd told me your family was rich but you downplayed it, by a lot."Diana scolded.

"It's not my money but theirs so...." I trailed off with a shrug.

Diana was right I had always down played the wealth of my family but only because I honestly didn't care whether they were the richest family or living in the dirt. Fact was that with all that money, they had kicked us out to suffer and fend for ourselves. Were it not for me getting into selling drugs, Jamila and I would be living a totally different life. Honestly I don't regret using drugs all those years back, they were the stepping stone to the life I currently had and that life taught me so many lessons. I wouldn't trade my past for anything because it made me the man I am and showed me the true colors of our so called family.

"So Kareem what are you up to nowadays?"My brother Yusuf asked the question I had been expecting.

"I'm an automotive engineer, I work at Riverside Autoshop under Vihaan Mbati."I replied confidently.

"He's the leading car assembly dealership in Kenya, you've done well for yourself."My dad commented.

"Thank you."I replied curtly not that I needed his approval.

"What about you Diana? You look educated and very sophisticated, where did you run into the likes of Kareem here."Yusuf asked phrasing it like a joke but I heard the hidden jab in that statement.

Diana tightened her hold on my hand, her silent way of asking me to keep it cool. Were it not for her I would have blown up on Yusuf for his not so subtle insult.

"Kareem and I met at the book cafe that I own when he came to buy a book for Nuru. It wasn't love at first sight since we already knew each other from our college days but he wore me down eventually and we started dating."Diana answered looking at me fondly with love filled eyes.

I pulled her hand to my lips and kissed the back of it. She was the only reason I was still sane and playing it cool.

"You work at a bookstore?"Hasnaa asked, her voice filled with contempt.

Diana didn't need me to jump in and defend her, she could handle my sister well on her own.

"Actually I own it, it's one of the largest bookstores in CBD. My dad bought it for me as a graduation present but my best friend and I made it to the successful business it is today."Diana replied confidently without batting an eye.

I was so proud of her for sticking up for herself.

"That's nice."Hasnaa mumbled embarrassed.

"Jamila what are you up to nowadays sweetheart?"My mother shifting the conversation from Diana to Jamila.

"I have my own business, I make sweets and distribute them to different customers and businesses around the city."Jamila replied confidently.

"Seriously? Sweets?"Zainabu asked with a laugh.

I could see Jamila's jaw tick meaning she was getting angry but she didn't let it show.

"Yeah sweets, it's a lovely business, I get to work for myself, create my own hours and actually have fun while at it because it's something I enjoy. I'd been going through a rough patch but then I met Diana and her best friend who have been helping me grow it. Soon I'll be doing country wide deliveries."Jamila replied confidently making the smug look on Zainabu's face to fall.

It went silent for a few minutes and I thought they were done interrogating us until dear old dad asked a question that set me off. Not even Diana could have helped me calm down.

"Where's your husband Jamila? Couldn't make time to join us today?"Dad asked with a condescending look on his face.

"How dare you?!"I yelled slapping the table so hard that it shook spilling juice from a few glasses.

I shot up from my chair so quickly that it fell behind me. Everyone around the table went silent as they all looked at me with shock filled faces at my outburst. I'd had enough of their snarky comments and them trying to belittle us. Jamila was holding back tears and that just made me angrier. Asking about Ezekiel was taking it a tad bit too far and it was time to give them a piece of my mind. I was not going to sit back and let them walk all over us like they were better than us. Diana didn't even try to stop me because she knew even they had crossed too many boundaries with us.

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

I felt disconnected while trying to write the last half of this chapter so if it's not up to par please forgive me, I'll try to be better in the next one.

Writer's block is a bitch my darlings but I'm really trying. I'm hoping to complete this book before the end of the year but I'm lacking the motivation.

Please vote, share and comment to keep me going, I'll appreciate it.

Love@Lyssah.