"Happiness is a choice. Your circumstance can affect it, but you're still the one who decides your happiness."

Neenah's POV

"This is it. I can't take it anymore." Meenah sobbed.

"Meenah don't give up. This is a test we have to overcome together. This is something we have to fight for. Because this is life and nothing comes with ease."

"Life will drag us through storms and hardships. It'll drag us by our hearts through the toughest and hardest of moments. Pain will teach us lessons and our tears will probably dry. Life will break us down to the floor.But we must get back up again because we most learn to survive. We'll be fine and we'll be happy again. It might take a long time but it will get better. We just have to have faith in Allah."

"We were born to be strong, we shouldn't underestimate ourselves because of the hardships we are facing."

"That is so true. My sister can be a school teacher because you can so explain impossible situations." She said fake smiling. I gave her a questionable look and she sighed.

"Actually I'm not giving up. But i have a feeling I might give up soon. I don't know if I will be able to hold up with it, I don't know if I'm this strong Neenah."

"You are strong sis, we are strong. We will overcome this in sha Allah. It will come to pass." I mumbled as I hugged her. She is at the prick of tears and she needs my hug badly. I have never seen her this way, she was always the lively and carefree person. And now she's giving up, seeing her like this makes me terrified

"No No. Now the situation is out of hand. We got kicked out from school. Neenah?
This is so embarrassing Neenah."

"Nothing is permanent in life Meenah,Live itself isn't permanent. Nothing stays the same forever because life keeps changing and we keep learning and adjusting to what life offers to us. We don't give up Meenah. Allah knows best, He knows why he's testing us with in this aspect. Maybe something bad was to happen when we were rich, and Allah prevented it by making us poor. God forbid, but what if Abba didn't sign those papers and they killed him just so to usurp his properties. Meenah, Just think, if that was to happened what would we have done.? So maybe Allah made him sign those papers so his life could be saved."

I placed my cold palms on her cheeks and turn her face so she would look at me.She looks me in the eye. Her big beautiful eyes, red and tired. Her skin pale, her nose runny and her lips patch and dry. I looked at my reflection but in a sad mode version. Sadness was never something that bothers my sister. But, now as I looked at her I knew this journey wasn't going to be easy for her. But I will be her pillar, hold her up when she's falling and guide her from falling, because she's my other half, half heart, half soul and half physically and emotionally.

I said to her, making direct eye contacts with her. "In this journey, we would question why certain things have been removed from our  lives, we would be hurt emotionally, we would loose friends and relatives would turn their backs on us, but we will move on, keep moving till we get to our destination. Because as long as Allah is with us, we don't need to worry. As long as Allah wants something for us, nothing will stand in our way. So when we question our fate, know that it has saved us from something greater. Because, we can never make good out of something that was never meant to be for us. At the end, what will matter is our happiness, our contentment and our unity."

****

Meenah's POV

"Aunty Femi!" I exclaimed while rubbing my sleep deprived eyes. I just woke up and jogged downstairs to the kitchen to fix something for my rumbling tummy when I spot her stirring a pot of soup.

I thought Mum gave all the workers a break, then what is she doing here.

Anty Femi has been this household's caretaker since I was seven years old. Her husband left her for some rich old woman(old enough to be his grandmother) with three kids, Tosin,Olusa and the two years old toddler, Kabeer. She dedicated almost all of her time taking care of us, most times forgetting about her own little family. She's like a second mother to us.

"Uhm...I thought...Good morning" I stuttered, looking for a way to phrase my words. I want to ask her what she's doing here since Mum, so politely gave all our workers a 'short' break, which is another term for 'we don't need your services anymore'

"Good Evening" she said, tasting the salt and adding one more teaspoon. I look outside and gasp when I see the sun almost setting. I barely slept for few hours and it's already nighttime.

I peeked into the pot and was welcomed with a sensational aroma of chicken. It's been a month since I ate chicken.

But I know we don't have chicken in the house, we barely have food except for the big sack of beans that everyone seems to ignore.

"I brought it from the market on my way here" she speaks, answering to my thoughts. "It was so lonely when the kids left for school, So I decided to come and see how my girls are doing"

I grin at her when I feel someone's hand over my eyes, blocking my eyesight.

"Guess who" a girly squeal came from behind me.

Okay firstly, this girl here need to learn how to apply perfumes properly because she smells like she took a bath in a perfume tub. I cringe my nose because of her strong cologne.

It can't be my twin because I can sense her presence from a hundred meters.

I took her hands away from my face and turn to see who the hell she was.

My jaw dropped

My eyes bolted open

My heartbeat raced.

Adrenaline rushed through me.

"Nasara?"

Of all people in the world, it had to be Nasara that visits.

Hell! She's Naasar's elder sister!

Uncle Tahir's first daughter!

The man who is solemnly responsible for our miseries.

"I do hope she came alone"

***
Hello dearies, after a long time without updates. The thing is....erm..🤔okay the usual excuses, but true excuses. SCHOOL! BUSY! NO SCHEDULE TIME FOR UPDATE! and SORRY!😐
So I decided to update before I get busy with exams. Please do pray for me! I need your prayers.

Erhgmmm...back to Nasara.
Do you think Nasara will be nice as her brother? Does she know about the contract?

What'd you think? Do the Tahir's know about the brawl between their father and uncle?

Next chapter will elaborate on the Tahir Ahmed family.

Till then

Vote and share to friends❤️

Yours khamee🖤✍🏽

😘