Did you miss me?

Don't worry, I'm back...

❤️

❤️

Hajiya Binta walked inside Maryam's room, who is fast asleep - She wake her up with worry clouding her facial feature.

Maryam woke and sat up rubbing her eyes - leaning her back on the pillows resting on the headboard. "Mummy? What happened? What time is it? I'm late for work?"

"Wannan Abaan in, shine wanda ya kawo jiya a motarki? (Abaan? Is he the one that accompanied you yesterday in your car?)"

"A, Shine... Meh ya faru? (Yes, he's the one. What happened?)"

"Shukrah, ta ganku tare? (Have shukrah seen you two together?)".

"A, meh ya faru? (Yes, what happened?)"

"Hajiya Hauwa sai fada wa mutane take, wai Shukrah ta ganki da wani kuna hugging, (Hajiya Hauwa has been informing people that Shukrah has seen you with a man hugging)," replied Hajiya Binta, finally revealing what brought her to the room.

"Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un, Mummy, Wallahi karya ne, (Verily we belong to Allah and verily to him do we return. Mummy, Wallahi is a lie)," Maryam said, sitting more comfortably on the bed.

"Yanzu ki tashi, kiyi wanka zamuje wanja Aunty Jamilla, aiki Kuma a barshi yau, (Now stand up and take a bath. We'll go and see Aunty Jamila. You've to take a day off work today)"

"Mummy?"

"Na'am, (Yes,)".

"Kin yadda ne, da kikaji, (Did you believe it, when you heard?)"

"What do you think, of course not, with everything you are my daughter and I raised you, I know what you're capable of doing. I asked you wanting to know who's Abaan. And the man they are intending to invent the lie with,".

"Do you know that you are the best mother in the world, all I need is you believing in me and I don't care what others say,"

Abaan is sitting on the balcony looking at his phone and shifting his gaze down to the garden outside where a water fountain is in the middle with different kinds of flowers surrounding it.

He had a worried expression, when a fair lady wearing a long dress with her hair flowing down her shoulder, sat next to him.

"What are you doing? What's wrong with you?" She asked noticing his frow
expression as she snatched his phone, accidentally pressing the switch button - the phone turn off.

"Liya... I need my phone back,".

Liya handed his phone. "I'm here to see you because I miss you,".

Abaan looked at her with a serious face. "Liya, there's nothing between us now, we have broken up and are no longer together? Have you forgotten?"

"Abaan," She said with a sweet voice. "I haven't forgotten, but that doesn't mean we can't be friends, right? Let's go out and have fun,"

" Clearly is written on my face that I'm not in the mood to be going out, so leave me alone,".

"Do what you want?" She stood up annoyed and strode out of the balcony.

Abaan pressed the switch button and Maryam's portrait picture appear - She wore a blue scarf roll aroud her smooth face making a hijab, with a smile plastered on her lips, her eyes sparkling.

"What are my feelings for you Maira, Am I falling in love with you?"

"Assalamu Alaikum," Hajiya Binta and Maryam said walking into a living room - Hajiya Jamila's living room.

Hajiya Jamila is the eldest sibling of her father's family. A calm and collected woman, who does everything she can to see her family in peace and united - despite the personality of Hajiya Hauwa.

A small girl of seven years ran towards them and gave Maryam a tight hug. "Auntie,".

Maryam returned the gesture. "Pretty Amal... How are you?"

"I'm good," Amal answered, with a tiny sweet voice - full of excitement.

"Where is your mum?" Maryam asked.

"She's still in Morocco with Alma. They will be coming back next week,".

Amal and Alma are the twin daughters of Nihal, the second born of Hajiya Jamila.

"Where is your grandma?" Hajiya Binta asked.

"She's upstairs... Let me go and call her," Amal said, running as she climbed the spiral stairs in the middle of the living room.

Hajiya Binta draws a deep breath. "Let's have a sit,"

They sat on a two-seater, and Maryam's phone started ringing, Maryam glanced at the phone, the caller Id showed the name Abaan

"Take the call," Hajiya Binta said and Maryam's eyes darted from her phone to her mother who gave her a nod.

Maryam smiled and answered the call, holding the phone to her ear. "Hello,"

"Maira?"

"Na'am (Yes),".

"I'll call you later,".

"Okay," Maryam said, as she realized the call has already been called off.

Hajiya Jamila walked to them. "Sannun Ku (Greetings to you),".

Hajiya Binta and Maryam got off the sofa and squat in front of Hajiya Jamila as she sat on the sofa. "Mama, Ina wuni (Mama, good afternoon),".

"Lafiya Kalau. Dan Allah ku tashi (I'm good. For Allah's sake stand up),".

Hajiya Binta and Maryam smiled sitting back on the Sofa. "Kin dawo lafiya? (Have you come back safely?)" Hajiya Binta asked.

"Lafiya kalau... Yusuf yace kuna so kumun magana, ya fadamin komai kuma, (Great... Yusuf told me that you want to talk to me, and he has told me everything)," Hajiya Jamila said.

Hajiya Binta bends her head a little. "Yes,".

"Ke yanzu maryama, bakai san Yazid? Ko dan kadan (Maryama, you don't have any feelings for Yazid? Even a little)," Hajiya Jamila asked Maryam who has been looking at the floor.

"Mama, ni a matsayin dan uwa na dauke shi, (Mama, I only take him as a brother)," Maryam replied.

"Kina da wanda kikeso ne? (Do you have someone you love?) " Hajiya Jamila asked.

A shy smile crossed Maryam's face

Hajiya Jamila laughs a little. "Akwai kenan (There is then),".

"Mama... Akwai wani mumunar magana ne daya taso, yana ta zagawa har yazo kunena (Mama, There is an unpleasant talk that came up, and has been circulating, that I even heard)," Hajiya Binta said.

"What are you talking about? What kind of talk will that be? I hope all is fine," Hajiya Jamilla asked, worriedly.

"Gaskiya abinda Hajiya Hauwa takeyi bai dace ba, Kullum kana shiru yanzu ya dawo kan yar'ka, har tana cewa wai yarta shukrah taga Maryam tana hugging wani na miji... (The truth is what Hajiya Hauwa is doing is not fair, you are always silent and now it's back to your daughter. She is saying that her daughter Shukrah saw Maryam hugging a man), "

"Kay... Wa'iya zubillah, Ni ya zanyi da Jidda ne, yanzu abinda ta pillo dashi kenan, Zan mata magana, Maryam karki damu, ni da kaina zanje har gidanta na mata magana. Koh na mata ma baji take ba (What will I do with Jidda? Is this what she comes up with now, I'll talk to her. Maryam, don't worry, I will go to her house myself and talk to her. Even if I talk to her she doesn't listen),".

"Shine nace muzo mu sameki, (That's why I said we should come to you,)" Hajiya Binta said.

"Maryam, kiyi hakuri, zan mata magana, Daman akwai abubuwan da nake so muyi magana da ita, harna Yazid ma zan Mata magana, har Yazid inma, Allah ya shirya, (Maryam, I'm sorry, I will talk to her, because there are things I want to talk to her about, even about Yazid, I will talk to her. I'll talk to Yazid too,),".

"Amin, Mun gode (Amin, Thank you)," Hajiya Binta said

"Maryam ya aiki? (Maryam, how's work?)"

"Lafiya, Alhamdulilah, Mama (Great, Alhamdulilah, Mama,),".

"Bara mu wuce, (we will take our leave)," Hajiya Binta said.

"Ohh... Har zaku tafi, (ohh... you're leaving so soon)," said Hajiya Jamila.

"A Wallahi, akwai abubuwan yi ne (Yes, There are things we've to do)," replied Hajiya Binta.

"Karku damu zan mata magana. Gashi har zaku tafi baku sha ruwa ba, (Don't worry, I'll talk to her. You haven't even drunk water and you are leaving,)" Hajiya Jamila stood up and walked towards the stairs.

Seeing Hajiya Jamila is out of sight, Hajiya Binta asked. "What did Abaan say?"

"Nothing, Mummy. He just said he'll call me later,".

Hajiya Jamila walked to them and sat down, handing an envelope to Maryam. "Gashi, koh wani abun sai ku siya (Here have it, you can use it to buy something),".

"Aa, mama... Ki barshi, (No, Mama... leave it)," said Hajiya Binta, with a smiled.

"Ba na hanaki ba, karbi Maryam, kya yi amfani dashi, (Haven't I prevented you, accept It Maryam, you can use it),".

Maryam squatted and collected the envelope. "Thank you,"

"Karku damu, zanje na mata magana, nima abunta ya isheni, (Don't worry, I'll go and talk with her. I'm also frustrated with her behavior,),".

"Sai anjima, (We'll leave)," said Hajiya Jamila.

"May Allah help us," Hajiya Jamila said.

Maryam and Hajiya Binta arrived home - Maryam driving the car and they found a car in front of their house.

"Meh ya kawo ya Yazid? (What brought Ya Yazid?)"

"I know he came to you, don't talk to him, or show him anything - I know he knows nothing about what's happening. Park the car in front of the house, I'm going inside, when you're done you can bring the car in,".

Maryam parked the car behind Yazid's - She slid out of the car with Hajiya Binta.

"Mummy, ina wuni (Mummy, Good Afternoon,)" greeted Yazid, squatting in front of her.

"Lafiya kalau, Yazid, (I'm good, Yazid)," answered Hajiya Binta, walking towards the gate.

"Ya Yazid,".

"Maryam, I want us to talk about something very important," said Yazid as a look of concern crosses his face.

🦋

I'm done with my exams *Alhamdulilah*, the update will be stable now (Yipee). Every weekend ♡

This is the longest chapter ever since I started writing this book... Don't you think I deserve some comments, if I see a lot of comments I might update during the weekdays?

Because I deserve some rest after the exams but here I am. Because right now I'm suffering from exam fever.

I made a book trailer for Maira, it's on my Instagram page, check it out and tell me your thoughts, and I'll be glad if you share it in your Instagram.

Do you need free writing tips, you're always welcome and you can check out my Instagram page *writerslifeweekend* where I share everything about writing on weekends.

Please tag as many people as you can in this chapter - tag people that will be interested in reading the book.

What do you think Yazid wants to talk about?

You've all met Liya, she'll play a vital role in Abaan and Maryam's life.

Bye...