His mum will always intimidate me, that I know. She was so gorgeous and classy. She sat with a bowl of fruits on her thighs and the remote control in her hand.

I said my salaam and entered the sitting room. Did I mention that my heart is galloping?

I greeted her and she hugged me! Her floral perfume hitting my nose. I love this woman.

"Ya kike?(how are you)"

"Alhamdulillah mama"

"What about the unrest at your place a while ago?"

"We haven't heard anything since then Alhamdulillah. I think it was a robbery" I said

"Toh Allah ya kiyaye"

"Ameen ameen"

"Why are you just standing there smiling?" She asks looking over me my head, I was squatting.

"Nothing" Hammad says still smiling. I shook my head.

"Then leave. This is girls only" I don't know what this is but I'm panicking. Plus Hammad smiled and left. That's it, I'm doomed. I'm going to mess up!

"Ki zauna mana(please sit)"

I smiled and sat on the plush sofa. Ya Allah help me not to mess this up. My hands are shaking, I really need to chill. A lady, mid thirties wearing a chef suit walks in to announce that "she was done". with what? I have no idea.

Mama bolted up and told me to come with her. Is she going to make me cook? Subahanalillah. Salt go fall my hand.

The kitchen is everything. I've never seen anything like it. Its not unnecessarily massive but it was big. All the cabinets are made out of polished mahogany. The counter tops are white, the floor is made out of maple wood and everything else was silver: the sink, the cooker, the fridge and the light above the cooker.

There was a white marble dinning table with white chairs to the side.It was absolutely exquisite. Three freezers and two Samsung refrigerators walled the kitchen from the right. If I had a kitchen like this, I'll never stop cooking.

She washed her hands and got to it. I washed mine also, in case. I offered to help her do the actual cooking but she said no, telling me that lunch had already been prepared and this one was for "Baban Abbah" whom I'm guessing is Hammad's dad. I wonder who is Abbah though.

I love that she still cooks her husband's meals. That is true love right there. All I did was unwrap seasoning cubes and blend pepper.

She asked me a few questions here and there and we laughed occasionally. She told me about how Hammad loves bread and mayonnaise. How takes cereal, bread and tea every morning.

There is something fundamentally wrong with this guy. Bread, tea, cereal on top! How is he not fat? I laughed. She also told me about his pet pigeon that was cooked by the guards when he was eight.

"Wallahi he cried for days" she said. I resisted the urge to coo. I laughed. I'm so going to tease him about it.

"Mama, Baba na neman ki( Baba is asking for you) someone called from the door. I turned and saw a pretty girl. About fifteen, maybe sixteen. She had a pimply face and pouty lips. Puberty. Her black hair was braided. "Calabar" hairstyle, falling on her back. She never took her eyes off her ipad so I'm guessing she hasn't seen me.

"Aneesah!" Mama said firmly, startling her. She looks up and our eyes meet.

"Ina yini (good afternoon)" I smiled and greeted back. My smile wasn't returned though. She just turned and left. Rude much?

"Don't mind her. She's the last, you know how they are" mama says and I smiled. I truly do know.

It is obvious she didn't like how Aneesah behaved and she was going to scold her for it. I didn't want that though. I'm trying to get everyone here to like me and that is not going to favor me regarding Aneesah.

"Stir the soup from time to time. Ina nan dawowa (I'll be back soon)" I nodded and got off the stool I was sitting on to stir the soup. It was "taushe". I was staring the soup when Hammad spoke, startling me.

"Look at you, already taking charge of the place" he smirked, leaving his leaning position my the door to come in. He was wearing navy blue sweats and a white shirt. He looks relaxed and fine as fudge and he's not even trying!

"I'm just stirring the soup. Your mum did everything herself"

"You should be honored, she doesn't even let anyone in here when she's making the old man's meals." He says opening the fridge. Oooh that's one point for Sameerah! I laughed at my self. I put out the fire cooking the soup. Its been five minutes, I think that's enough.

I turned and saw Hammad taking out mayonnaise from one of the cabinets. A loaf of bread was already on the counter. I laughed a little.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"I'm hungry" he shrugged not looking away from his bread. You need to see the skill and concentration he is using to spread the mayonnaise on the bread slices. I never knew he could be this careful.

"You know launch is set right?" He shrugs again. I shook my head. He sat on the table in the kitchen with four slice of bread and fruit juice. Imagine, after food has been cooked. My mum will deal with you if you leave cooked food to eat "nonsense". I also sat at the table.

"So what did you and mama talk about?"

"None of your business. Its girls only"

He raised his eyebrows and nods threateningly making me laugh.

"Its like that abi, okay" Just then his mum came in hurriedly.

"Miyan ya kone ko? ( is the soup burnt?)

"No. Na kashe( I turned it off), about seven minutes ago" she sagged in relief and hugged me and I smiled. I helped her dish the food and she took it upstairs to "Baban Abbah" All the while, Hammad was smiling like an idiot.

"Stop doing that" I say and he smiles.

"I can't wait" was all he says. I reduced my eyes suspiciously even though I know exactly what he is talking about.

At about 2:30 pm, people started to gather at the table. Hammad, Abubakar, Aneesah, Ibrahim and three others I didn't know. There was a girl and two more boys. Wow. This is all one nuclear family and their parents aren't even here. We are just five in my house.

I stood by the dinning room door and watched them take their seats. I didn't want to sit on anyone's chair even though the table was big. They only occupied one half of it. Besides, they've not even invited me for lunch.

Abubakar looked at me then nudged his brother. Hammad twisted his neck upwards, looking at me upside down. I laughed a little. He's absurd.

"Zo mana(come)" he says, causing all his siblings to look in my direction. I suddenly felt uneasy. Mama came back just then and saw me.

"Amma kunada shurme. You have a guest and she's standing there while all of you are already seated" I smiled as they all scramble but only Hammad stood up.

"Even the silly boy that brought her" she continues and smacks his chest in the process. He's way taller than she is.

"Ow!!" He whines. Someone needs to tell this uncle he's old. He escorts me and pulls out a chair next to him and opposite Abubakar.

"you see I'm a gentleman" he whispers and I smile.

"Indeed"

"So I'll start from Oldest to the youngest. There's Abubakar, there's me, then there is Abdul-Hameed, Muhammad, Aisha, Ibrahim and Aneesah" I smiled. What do I say now? Damn all of them are fine. Muhammad and Abdul-Hamid's have darker skin tones. Aisha looks exactly like her mum, Hammad and Abubakar look very much alike, the last two look like their dad I'm sure. A beautiful family, literally.

"I'm Sameerah. Nice tomeet you guys". They chorused "you too"

"You have no idea how much we have heard about you. He never stops talking Wallahi" Aisha says and the boys laugh. It was like a thunder clap. Five grown men laughing. Well, four because Hammad was not laughing. He was trying to kick Aisha under the table. Their Mum also laughed and I smiled.

"I'm very hurt. Family lunch without me?" We all turn and see Kabir. I roll my eyes, smiling.

"Guy who invited you?" Hammad asks, you could hear the mirth in his voice.

"So I need invitation to come to my mother's house? Something is wrong with your head" I laugh at their childishness. Kabir joined and Aisha stood up to get an extra plate. Mama is very fond of Kabir, this woman has no problem at all honestly.

The table was rowdy. People chatting softly, Chinaware and glasses clinking. It was like in a movie.

Aneesah and Ibrahim were having a foot wrestle under the table, Hammad and Kabir were taking turns to steal my food while their mum kept telling them to quiet down even though she was enjoying every bit of it. We had finished and I was helping Aisha clear the table when the door bell went off.

"That person has a foul luck. Just when the good stuff finished" Abdul-Hameed says. We all laugh.

I came out of kitchen to find Aisha greeting Mama. I roll my eyes. What is she doing here?
She looks up and sees me then glares while I blankly stare at her. The room was pin-drop silent. The tension in the room is asphyxiating.

"What are you doing here?" Ibrahim asks rolling his eyes. Ooh so Ibrahim is team Samy. Me likey

"Why would talk to her like that?" Aneesah bites back. Team ishmad. gag

"Kai. Banason Hauka( I don't want madness) your father welcomed Aisha here, she cam visit whenever she wants. She's like his daughter and she didn't say she came because of Hammad so cut it out!" She says firmly and everyone fell silent again.

"Muje(let's go)" Hammad says standing up from his chair and grabbing my hand. His mood has soured suddenly. I stood up as well and we left for the sitting room.

The others followed shortly and soon, we were all in the sitting room. Including Aisha. I totally ignore her presence. She and Aneesah were giggling and whispering. We watched random shows and talked about random things till it was almost six.

"I should go" I whispered to Hammad.

"But your curfew isn't until eight"

"Doesn't matter, I've been here for hours" he rolls his eyes.

"Fine, let me put some clothes on" he says and leaves.

His Dad came into the room and my breathing became slightly more difficult.

"Inayini Baba" I greeted, followed by all the others.

"Sannun ku. Ah ah, Aisha ya kike( Aisha how are you?)" He totally ignores me, again! It stung honestly but I almost rolled my eyes. She replied with more cheer than necessary. Mama looked at me and smiled after shaking her head. I smiled back. He left the house after that.

When Hammad came back, he noticed that the place was not as chirpy as before.

"What happened?" He asks

"Baba" Muhammad spoke. He rarely spoke. He is the silent sibling.

Hammad sighed.

"Mama zan kai Sameerah gida (I'm taking Sameerah home)"

"Toh Allah ya kiyaye. Sameerah thank you for coming" she says and hugs me. Aisha also hugs me. Aisha not ishmad. So I'm guessing she's also team Samy. I waved at the boys and we left.

I was upset. Sucks that an amazing day had to end like this. We arrived like twenty minutes later because Hammad was driving at fifty per hour. He wanted me to talk but I didn't.

"Sameerah don't be like that, I told you it doesn't matter if he likes you or not"

"It does to me! So just stop" I was about to cry so I just kept quiet. He parks the car but locks the doors.

"Hammad let me go please" my voice was breaking already.

"Not until you calm down. You are not leaving me upset" I sighed and tried to calm down.

"My mum likes you, I love you so my dad will have to warm up to you. Majority carries the vote" I laugh a little. So its an election then. I looked at him and he smiled.

"Thank you" I say.

"You're welcome my puffer fish/ Love of my life" he says and smiles. From that moment, I knew all I wanted was for him to smile and call me the "love of his life"

Gahhh I love this fool...

A/N
Heyyyy this chapter is dedicated to Fatima Farouk Yahya Nupe bida And Fatima Usman Bunza and Rafiah ummi gilmi😹.
I love you girls! Keep the good energy coming.

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