April 17.

Karaye, Kano.

Khadijah Daihaah's POV

"Daihaah hurry up!" Adda Anee said, tapping her feet impatiently on the tile floor.

"I'm coming!" I said quickly grabbing my phone on my bed where it was charging."I'm done!" I exclaimed running to the door where Adda Anee is waiting for me. Impatiently, might I add.

"Let's go. Also, let's pray Inna Nana won't say anything bad as she always does. Today I'm in not in the mood to tolerate her never-ending insults" Adda Anee said grabbing my hand dragging me to the living room where our whole family is waiting for us, including my aunts, uncles and cousins.

Yay!

Note the sarcasm.

I'm not a big fan of a huge crowd of people. Especially not my aunts who make it a tradition to throw insults at us.

We stopped by the door and gave ourselves a quick once over to make sure we look presentable enough to avoid Inna Nana's rude remarks. Though I highly doubt she won't find something to comment shadily on. There's always something wrong in that woman's magnifying eyes.

I took in a deep breath before we walked in and saw our entire family eating while talking about who knows what. It is just a moment of bonding and catching up on all that we've missed. As always.

Everyone turned to look at us, some gave us warm friendly smiles, while some—Like Inna Nana, flashed us cold icy glares. It's nothing new to me anyway, and neither is it to Adda Anee.

"Oh! Fatsuma, Kubra, you're here. Come sit next to me" Hajiya Kaka said patting the spot close to her.

We smiled and went towards her. I flashed my cousins, aunts and uncles warm smiles and exchanged pleasantries with them while passing by them. I sat by her right hand while Adda Anee sat by her left.

One of the maids whom I recognize as I'd seen her before placed the food warmers in front of us.

"Thank you" I said when she placed a plate in front of me.

She smiled warmly at me, before placing another plate in front of Adda Anee and Hajiya kaka. She was about to open the food warmers when someone interrupted her.

"Keh! Were you going to serve these two brats! Da Allah serve Hajiya Kaka only and head back to the kitchen" Inna Nana, Baffa Lamido's wife, hissed, glaring at both Adda Anee and I.

I stiffened knowing that she's about to start badmouthing Adda Anee and I. Adda Anee however, ignored Inna Nana and picked up her plate. She opened the food warmer before scooping the food and placing it on her plate shutting Inna Nana out. She was acting as if there's no one there but she alone.

Umma who was sitting with Aaliya, Hamma Abdul and Adda Bibah glared at Inna Nana "Nana mind what you say, don't you ever address my daughter as a brat again"

Inna Nana glared back at Umma up and down before hissing loudly "Ke kikasan wannan Kuma. Your eldest daughter is still 22 years old and she's not married. Uban me take miki a gidan in banda shegen yawaon duniya? Iye? She's there parading herself on social media and television up and down without settling down. It's a good thing that Baffa decided to get her married by the end of the week"

I stopped scooping my food midway, my eyes dilating slightly.

Excuse me. Did she just say married?

Adda Anee seemed to have frozen at the moment. The plate which she held in her hand fell thereby shattering into pieces. All attention turned to her as she stares at the now broken plate, I could see she's still in shock. Her hands trembled and her eyes well up.

She finally looked up to stare at Abba with a look of disbelief etched on her face. "Abba what is she saying?" she asked, her voice coming out low. The silence that followed as she anticipated Abba's response that never came irked her to no end, "What does she means by I'm getting married by the end of the week?" She asked again, her voice oddly calm.

Obviously, the calm before the storm.

I don't blame her honestly. Being casually informed by one of the people who despise you that you're getting married by the end of the week sounds entertaining right?

"Aneesa calm down. The decision had already been made"

By the looks of it, Abba doesn't want this too but then all the complaints his brothers and sisters kept throwing at him for having a 22-year-old model of a daughter must've taken a toll on him. Abba never wants to force any of us into anything but his family—Inna Nana in particular, believes otherwise.

"Why are you telling her to calm down, the decision had already been made by the elders. She has no say in this. She cannot object as we are the elders here and we choose what's best for her" Inna Balki, Abba's youngest sister said glaring at Adda Anee.

She, along with Inna Nana hates us to no extent. Why? Even I do not know. I'd say it has something to do with their hatred towards both Umma and Ummi.

"Nana! Balki! Keep quiet! I don't want to hear another word from any of you" Baba scolded.

"You can't do this to me" Adda's voice came out barely above a whisper.

Inna Nana snorted trying to stiffen her laughter; she is obviously enjoying seeing Adda Anee like.

Adda Anee stormed out. Inna Nana rolled her eyes and hissed. I looked at her in disbelief, just how cruel could she be? Doesn't she know that this is too much for Adda Anee to take in? I's honestly too much for any person to take in.

We made eye contact making her narrow her cat eyes at me "Miye kike kallo na?! Kema hakane wani shekara zamu aurar dake kuma baki isa kice komai ba"

I sighed and looked away "Hajiya kaka, I'll just check on Adda Anee" I said to her to which she nodded her head with a small smile on her face.

I stood up and head out ignoring Inna Nana's comments on how disrespectful I and Adda Anee are. Honestly, my life is full of rude women. First Umma, then there's Inna Nana and Inna Baki, I seriously wonder what I ever do to them to deserve such hatred.

I knocked on the door and waited for Adda Anee to open it, or at least give me permission to open it. We both share the room but at the moment I know I have to respect her privacy. Also, I could hear her sniffing from the other side of the door.

"Go away!" She said; her voice hoarse.

"Adda Anee, open the door please" I pleaded.

When I didn't get a response I knocked again" Adda Anee please open the door. You know I'm here for you if you ever need me right?" I said in a small voice but I knew she heard me.

I waited for a few minutes but I didn't get any response.

Just when I was about to give up, the door knob twitched and she slowly opened the door. There she stood in front of me with red swollen eyes, puffy face and trembling lips. Her shoulders were slumped down signifying how exhausted she is.

"I know" she whispered.

I engulfed her in a warm hug and she didn't waste time in hugging me back before breaking into another series of sobs. I hate seeing Adda Anee like this. She's the closest to me amongst my siblings, she's also my best friend, we go through everything together and seeing her break down like this hurts.

A few minutes later we ended up with me sitting on her bed and her head on my lap as she lay on the bed. She stares at the ceiling with her swollen eyes while I stroked her hair.

"Is this how you feel whenever Umma treats you badly?" She asked out of nowhere breaking the silence.

I smiled sadly "Yeah, but when you grow used to it. It's not that bad" I shrugged.

She stared in to my eyes with a guilty look. "I'm sorry, I don't know why Umma is like that to you. She's not that bad you know. Besides, I don't think you can grow used to all this, I mean the feeling sucks!" She said throwing the pillow she held in her hand away.

"Yeah it's the worst" I agreed chuckling to which she joined.

A minute of silence passed before she spoke again "I'm going miss this" she sighed.

"Miss what?" I asked dumbfounded.

She smiled "I'm going to miss spending time with you, bonding. I mean newsflash! I'm getting married to a stranger by the end of the week. Doesn't it sound like the perfect happily ever after every girl dreams of?" She said with fake enthusiasm, sarcasm dripping from her tone.

"Yeah, the perfect Disney Happily Ever After. I should get you glass slippers for your wedding" I joined her sarcastic remark, except that I was mocking her trying to lighten up the mood.

She glared at me "I hate you" she said turning to look away hiding the smile on her face.

And apparently it worked.

"I love you too"

She sighed and stare at the bright painted walls of our room "So, what type of guy do you think he is?" She asked me her voice barely above a whisper.

"Honestly, I don't know. But knowing Abba, he probably chose a really nice man. You know he'll never marry off his dearest Aneesa to a bad person" I said.

"That's true." She sighed again "I just hoped that they at least let me choose the man I want to marry"

I eyed her knowingly and hummed "Oh really now? So tell me, do you have someone you want to marry?" I asked her with a smirk on my face fully knowing what her answer will be.

She stared at me for a while and a smile made its way on her face. She shook her head and laughed lightly "Nah I don't. You know I never take any relationship seriously" She said a wide smile etched on her face.

"That's what I thought" I joined her and laughed whole heartedly."What type of man would you want him, as in your future husband, to be like?" I asked after another minute of peaceful silence.

"I don't know really...." she smiled a bit, "I guess someone that will love and understand me more than any could ever. Someone's that would not be ashamed to tell the world that I'm his wife because believe me or not, in the type of world we live in, having a model for a wife is not highly accepted, it's just tradition, we're northerners after all. Also, someone who will love me for who I am in the inside and not what I look like on the outside. I really don't hope for the richest and handsome man alive, even if it's every girl's dream, but I just want a simple life"

I smiled in admiration; my sister really knows how to give a heart touching speech. "That's really beautiful" I said. "Adda Anee, whoever is going to be your husband sure is lucky, I have a feeling he will love you so much" I said looking at my sister who was still staring at the now attractive wall. To her that is.

"You really think so?" She asked, and I could sense a hint of uncertainty in her tone.

"Of course he will! Besides, if by any slight chance he doesn't treat you right, always remember, your sister is here and I sure can put some sense into his thick skull with my beloved, trust worthy slippers"

She laughed "Of course, I'll always remember that"

Soon enough, the laughter died down and she seems nervous "I hope his family will like me though. Honestly I don't want his family to be anything like mine, well, except for having loving siblings like you "she said looking at me.

I smiled teasingly "I know you love me, just admit it. Tell me the truth, I'm your favorite sister right?" I wiggled my brows.

She glared at me, sat up and held a pillow in her hand raising one of her perfectly arched brow "Say that again, I dare you" she said hiding the smile on her face.

I knew what she is insinuating and I'm also prepared for that. "You know you lo--"

She cut me mid way by throwing a pillow at me which hit my face. I knew from the beginning that this was what she wanted to do, so I threw the pillow that was in my hand at her and it caught her off guard. I smirked.

She took another pillow that was on the bed, aimed it at me and threw it, luckily I dodged it this time.

I picked up my own pillow and yelled "Pillow fight!"

Trust me, sometimes we're kids trapped in adult bodies.

****

Rewritten: 27/06/21.

Complete book is currently and only available in Okadabooks. It will not be completed on this app so head there to read it. If you've bought it before, you don't need to buy it again to reread the rewritten version. It will automatically be updated in your Okadabooks library.