Ramadan Kareem❤

"Good morning Mr Barkindo, how may I be of help?" Fahad gave the woman a once over, not really looking at her and shook his head no, the only thing he wanted was to be left alone to reflect on his life and check the paperwork he has ignored for the past few weeks, it wasn't helping matters that he had a meeting with the board of directors and he wasn't ready for it, he could just reschedule the meeting, that's what he's been doing for the past week or just face them head on, he chose the latter because like his father says, 'you are a Barkindo, you're always prepared, even if you are not'.

With those words of motivation from his father, he dialed his assistant who he was sure would grumble all the way to his office seeing as she just left, "Yes, Mr Barkindo!" her tone was sarcastic and he refrained from rolling his eyes.

"Can you come to my office and bring the slides for the meeting with you?" it wasn't a request, she knew.

"What meeting sir?" the sir had an edge to it, "You have about five meetings today each of which you've postponed more than five times, the people are getting upset and I'm at the receiving end of it." she sounded frustrated.

"Aisha just do your job for goodness sake, I want the papers in five minutes." he dropped the receiver on the table, hard.

He wasn't in the mood to play boss and assistant with his cousin.

"Perfect timing, can yo-"

"Good morning sir." Salis, their private investigator greeted making Fahad groan, he couldn't suppress it any longer.

"Morning Salis, what do you have for me?" he crossed his hands on his paper littered desk.

"Like you thought, Mr Dikko is in their family house in life camp, the only time he leaves is for prayer, he hasn't used his credit card or any other thing, I don't think there are maids or any other persons in the house, apart from the security that is." he nodded, he didn't expect anything less, Jawad wasn't reckless.

"Thank you." he was dismissed, Salis looked at him like he wanted to say something but then changed his mind and said his farewell.

"Well, here you go." Aisha banged the folders on his desk with a murderous look on her face. "Do you want anything else sir?" she asked, not sounding the least bit courteous.

"No that's all."

She stood over him for a minute before she tsked and went out the door, making emphasis of her annoyance by banging it, hard.

"We feel the same Sis." he muttered under his breath, if he could vent his frustration her way, the ten stoery building wouldn't be on its feet.

He sat back and closed his eyes, he opened it back up and massaged his temples, he's always like that on that day, 27th of June, Layla's birthday, as much as he loves his cousin, other things are in the way for him to be happy on her birthday.

Though he wanted to be there for her dinner, he wanted to be on his bed more away from reality and the pain that comes with it.

With those depressing thoughts on his mind, he heard his phone ring, not lowering his head, he stretched trying to reach for it, he stood up abruptly when he felt liquid spill, he'd forgotten about his morning latte which was cold thankfully, the phone stopped ringing and he groaned, he still didn't find it and the papers he had Aisha bring were ruined, he'll hear it from her.

Like he couldn't run out of bad luck, the phone started ringing again, this time he paid attention and almost screamed when he heard the vibration from his pants pocket.

"You've got to be kidding me." his voice was muffled, begrudgingly he picked the phone and slid the answer button, he didn't pay attention to the caller, but he removed it from his ear and looked at the ID again when he heard the voice.

"Fahad, I need your help." Jawad's voice was small, his hands visibly shook as he tried to gather what was left of the papers, frustrated from the brownish liquid dripping from them, he took paper towels and cleaned his hand, then his trouser that was a bit stained.

"I'm on my way." he hung up, rushing out of his office he almost bumped into Aisha who was coming to inform him that members of the board have arrived.

"Where are you going hamma? They are already here." she yelled after him but he was already in the elevator and the doors have closed, "What the hell is going on?" she muttered to her self, with no idea what to do, she tried calling his one of his brothers but their phones were unreachable, she knew that was her last resort, their father was out of the country.

"Erm.....miss Aisha, where is Mr Barkindo, they look angry." an intern, she couldn't remember her name sounded unsure, she shrugged and made way to the conference room, it's a good thing she was the one that compiled the slides.

**** **** ****

"Jawad! JAWAD!!" Fahad all but yelled from the gate, his heart thudding against his chest, his blood boiling, drops of perspiration dotted his forehead, he almost tripped multiple times for not looking at where he was going, how he drove and arrived safely is beyond him.

Thankful he found the door open, he rushed inside and up the stairs to Jawad's childhood room, it was sparkling clean and exactly how he knew, it's been repainted over the years but the exact same color.

"Jawad? Come on man this isn't funny." he opened the door to the ensuite, it was empty, by then he looked like a mad person, his suit jacket had been thrown somewhere around the living room and the tie was loosened but not completely off, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up, his hair that was getting full was rough from running his hands through it multiple times.

Lost, that's how he felt with no idea where to start looking, he stood in the middle of the threshold his hands on his waist akimbo, he ran his fingers through his hair and tugged. Like a slap on the face, he went back to the door he'd ignored on his quest, a door he hasn't stepped foot in in over ten years, with the last bit of energy he had, he pushed it open and he saw him there, sitting on the yellow bed with something in his hands, he couldn't make out the object from where he was, with another sigh, he stepped in and everything came rushing back like a blow to the gut, he would never get over that, and he realised

Time doesn't heal wounds embedded in the soul.

**** **** ****

"Calm down she'll be alright." alhaji Tafida assured his wife for the millionth time in the span of two hours.

Khadijah sat solemn playing with her fingers, Waleedah was beside her with her phone in hand, she looked like she was using it more for distraction than leisure.

"How can you be sure? Heavens knows what she took," she shook her head and added in a broken voice "It's all my fault."

"No, it's not, it is nobody's fault okay, just please stop crying." he tried again rubbing her back soothingly.

They were all sat in the reception of the hospital, they have been there for the past two hours or even more since they rushed in.

Khadijah knew the lifeless image of her best friend wouldn't leave her for a while, that is if it ever does. She blinked remembering what happened.

"Layla!" she didn't know who had screamed, maybe it was her but she couldn't be sure, it felt like an out of body experience because she didn't know what was happening.

Kabir who'd been the first to recover from the shock rushed forward and took Layla's pale hands in his, her fingers were curled, he didn't pay attention to that desperately trying to find a pulse, satisfied when he felt the low but steady rhythm, he uncurled her fists and small pills fell out, another gasp was heard, this time from hajiya Fatima.

"What's that?" her voice was a small whisper.

He shook his head meaning he had no idea, he was no doctor.

Kabir took Layla in his arms, easily since she was almost lightweight to him, with hajiya Fatima who Khadijah was helping stand upright in tow, they made for the stairs and out to the drive in where alhaji Tafida already had a car ready, the drive to the hospital was a haze to Khadijah who kept praying under her breath.

She could hear the thudding of her heart in her ears, it wouldn't be a surprise if Kabir, the designated driver could hear from the front seat, she was sitting and supporting Layla's limp body in the Sienna, hajiya Fatima in the middle row with Waleedah beside her, alhaji Tafida in the passenger seat, the car was dead quiet everyone lost in their thoughts.

Khadijah's head snapped up when she heard the doctors voice addressing Layla's parents, since Waleedah's mother, Dr Sakinah, alhaji Tafida Aliero's second wife worked in the hospital, he pretty much owned the hospital but that's besides the point, the emergency room was prepared before they arrived so they didn't waste time rushing Layla in.

"She's stable and currently asleep, she has been moved to a private ward." she released a breath she didn't know she was holding, maybe since they left the Aliero's residence.

"Thank you Dr Shariff," Alhaji Tafida shook his hands, he looked like he wanted to add something, after a few seconds of internal battle, he voiced what has been on his mind since his wife rushed into the room always in tears telling him Layla has locked herself. "What did she take?"

Alhaji Tafida froze for half a second because it felt all too familiar before recovering, he calmly stood up and helped her out of the office, in the most reassuring and strong voice he could muster, he told her to go back and see what was happening while he got a car ready, he didn't care what the situation was, he knew the first thing they had to do was take Layla to a doctor.

Dr Shariff cleared his throat before starting, "We ran multiple tests to see if there was any damage but thankfully she is fine because she didn't take anything, she passed out because fatigue and lack of food, she'll be fine." he reassured seeing the distressed look hasn't left hajiya Fatima's face.

"But what were the pills? I don't think I've ever seen them in my life, and it's not part of her prescription." the doctor nodded turning to alhaji Tafida.

"Sleeping pills, Trazodone specifically, it's a good thing she didn't take it, seeing her medical history, it can be addictive." he nodded at the end, alhaji Tafida absentmindedly thanked him then asked if they could see her, he replied with yes but they shouldn't crowd the room.

He said something to hajiya Fatima and she nodded then turned to Khadijah, "Khadijah dear," her voice was soft but it had the motherly tone to it, "You can go see her if you want."

"No, Mamie don't worry about me, I have time, she'll want you to be with her." her voice sounded melancholic. She wasn't a fan of hospitals, seeing as she's seen a lot of them in her early life, but one thing she knew was she'd always wanted her mother by her side, though she was never there but she never stopped craving her mother's presence, it didn't matter if the whole world was with her, her mother's presence was the only thing that could keep her calm.

Hajiya Fatima nodded and stood up and walked to the direction of the stairs with her husband beside her.

"You always know what to say and do don't you?" Waleedah stated.

Khadijah opened her mouth to reply but she didn't have a suitable answer so she closed it back up and shrugged a bit.

"It's really cool of you though, Layla's lucky to have you." she nodded to her twin brother then stood up and excused herself, Khadijah had forgotten about him.

Kabir has to be the most private Aliero, he was mostly never at home and when he was, he was always in his room, he's the friendly version of Shaheed because he could compromise but Shaheed couldn't, wouldn't, He didn't like people and nothing would make him compromise socializing.

There were two other people in the reception apart from them, it was then Khadijah noticed, she'd been dead worried about Layla at first to even register them. She checked the time on her phone and sighed, it was barely 1pm and she was already done with the day.

She felt her luck couldn't get any worse when her phone rang and Abdulmalik's name flashed on the screen, she hissed and little and contemplated silencing it but thought better of it, he would only drain her battery by calling relentlessly, he doesn't get a simple message, with the plan to end it as soon as possible she answered and put the phone to her ear.

"Hope you're alright, it took long before you picked." again, she hissed but this time lower.

Out of all the annoying men in this world, it's this one umma thought would be okay. Glaring at the hospital floor she muttered with disdain.

"I'm busy."

"Okay I don't want to intrude, I'll call you later when you're done, okay?" he didn't wait for a reply, though she wasn't planning on giving any, and even if she was, it's would've been along the lines of 'I won't be done.' it was at the tip of her tongue.

"Kabir where's your father?" she heard Dr Sakinah ask her son, she turned to the dark woman, she had a calm aura that makes you calm down, maybe that's why she's a doctor.

"They went to see Layla."

"Is she awake yet?" her eyes were curious, she'd talked to the doctor, it was too early for her to be awake because of the sedatives.

"No." she nodded at that.

"Why don't you go home and rest hmm?" Kabir looked up at her like he was thinking then shook his head, he wanted to see Layla open her eyes before he would be calm.

"Okay, Khadijah please go and rest, I'll make sure to call you if anything comes up." Khadijah didn't want to defy the woman but she also didn't want to leave, Dr Sakinah sighed giving up. "I'll have someone prepare something from home." her voice was lively when she said that.

Layla needed to know she had people who would go to the moon and back for her, and seeing her son and Layla's own friends' actions, she felt satisfied, with a smile she walked to the direction her husband and cowife left.

**** **** ****

Abuja, Nigeria

"Hey." His voice soft, Fahad walked further into the room till he was beside Jawad, though he made no move sit.

Jawad looked up with tired eyes sullen, his beards have grown out and his hair also needed a trim.

Fahad's eyes drifted to the photoframe in Jawad's heard and his heart squeezed in his chest.

"Do you ever wish we could go back to when we were kids?" Jawad asked not looking up from the picture, he kept caressing the face on it.

"Doesn't everybody." Fahad asnwered with a small laugh, a ghost of a smile appeared on Jawad's lips, but it was gone almsot as soon as it appeared.

"Do you think you can feel contented like you did then? No worries, we were just fine," he drew in a long breath "We all had one goal..." he left it at that, Fahad knew what he was talking about so there was no need to complete.

"It'll be fine it has to be, and if it doesn't, then what's going on now is fine." he sighed, a tear slipped from Jawad's eyes and he exhaled a shaky breath, "It's okay to cry you know, bottling things up doesn't help anybody." he added in a small voice, and Jawad did just that, heavens knew he'd held it all in for far too long.

Assalamu alaikum, iftar Kareem lovelies, here's my dates for you😂😂

About the you know, disappearing thing I keep doing, don't blame it on me, I don't have excuse just don't blame it one me, please.

That aside, it's Ramadan, we all need to focus on making ourselves better and our Deen even better and this will sort of be a distraction so I'm taking a break from writing until after Sallah, and also I'm writing exams(yes during this heat and Ramadan (I hate school) whoever thought it's a good idea, they're sadists)

Don't worry though, you'll see me when you see me, and with a vengeance too, and yes I mean back to back updates depending on how fast I can write(i want to be done before my birthday which is in August) and how much you guys motivate me by voting and commenting and sharing and just telling me your opinions, please please please vote and comment.

We're almost at 7k reads and 2k votes and I can't believe it, thank you guys sooooo much, each and everyone of you for voting and commenting, for each chapter and paragraph you comment and vote on, this is for you thank you so much.

And well the silent readers, just this, I seeeeeeeeee you, and in saying that in an eerie voice.

Forever yours(not really, just me and my baby (wherever the hell he is anyways))

Amyrah