Night walkers 🌚🌚🌚
Happy New month, guess what?
It's my birthday month 💃💃💃
I realized like a few minutes ago

So I like things happening in advance, that being said, my birthday gift, you can just comment and share and vote.❤️

The consistent ringing of his phone made Fahad get off the bed with an annoyed grunt, he’d wanted to ignore it- no he’d tried ignoring it but the person on the other line didn’t seem to get that he didn’t want to talk. He picked it from the side drawer and answered not bothering to check who it was.

“Hamma, where are you?” he heard Huda’s voice, not exactly panicked but a bit worried.

“What’s wrong? Did anything happen?” he asked instead.

“I’m not sure but baba and everyone have been looking for you and they said you weren’t picking your calls, I think someone broke into the house,” she whispered that part probably not allowed to tell anyone. That was why he never tells Huda secrets, she will blurt it out without knowing.

“What? How?” if there was any sign of sleep in his eyes it cleared up. When he’d prayed isha after spending the whole day lazing around he didn’t feel like driving so he ordered dinner and decided to pass the night there, he’d completely ignored his phone.

“I don’t know but I heard adda Zarah who overheard adda Jiddah and adda Aisha talking, that they entered adda Layla’s room and she was the one who notified abba.”

“Is Layla okay?” she hummed.

“Huda tell me everything you know,” he said running his hands through his hair.

“Well, I remember the lights went out for a bit then we heard a scream, at first I thought it was abba, he’s a scaredy cat but then it came again and the lights didn’t come back, I thought it was a bomb or something because really can you believe no light,” he rolled his eyes.

“Huda stay on track.” He was already in his car he picked the air pods from the glove compartment and put in one ear. Huda telling you a story or explaining anything was one of the worst things in the world, she’d tell you ten more stories in one.

“Oh right, well hamma Asad had just gotten back and yay he brought this marshmallows, they taste like heaven, I kept you a pack because you know you’re my favorite,” she made a squealing sound at the back of her throat, “Anyways, he left to go and check why the lights suddenly went out, wait did I say hamma Kabir was also with us, we were watching master thief again, so he decided to go and check you know instinct and all, then the lights literally came back and I was wowed because I thought it was hamma Asad that worked his magic, that’s beside the point though, I was told to wait downstairs with adda neena and the twins, can you believe them?! Treating me like a child.” He turned on the road that’ll take him to the Aliero’s street, he sent a little thanks to Allah, talking to Huda was a big waste of time though it kept him company.

“Noor, we’ll talk when I get back home,” she started to argue but he stopped her, “I’m almost there.” He removed the pods then hung up, he parked he car in the driveway then stepped out.

“Where have you been? Everyone was trying to reach you but-“-he nodded at Asad who was standing with some uniformed men, he moved to the side falling in step with Fahad.

“How is Layla? Nothing happened right?”

“Yes but she’s a bit shaken up, she’s with abba and baba in his section.” He nodded, Asad who looked like he wanted to say more turned to one of the man who needed his attention.

“We’ll talk later, I’m needed here.” Fahad absently nodded at him as he walked away, he couldn’t help but look around the Aliero manor, he saw all the security cameras and the security stationed at the gate, the only question on his mind was, how did someone break in?

He walked to Shaheed’s home office not really expecting him to be home, much to his surprise he saw him seated on the visitors chair and Layla was laying on the couch though her eyes were open.

“Where have you been?” Shaheed asked keeping the pen that was between his fingers.

“Millennium city, Huda called me with her tales, what happened?”

“Naseer,” Fahad looked confused for a second before he nodded in realization.

“How the hell? What did he do this time?”

“Ask her,” he pointed to Layla who was resting her back on the chair, taking a gulp of water, he walked and sat on the chair closest to hers, she turned to look at him with tired eyes.

“Lee, how are you?” she knew he didn’t just mean the first incident, everything that has happened since they returned from Abuja, the past day and that morning, everything because she looked so frail, so unlike herself.

She shrugged returning the cap of the bottle and screwing it in place, she kept it on the table and turned to him.

“Want me to tell you what happened?” she said with a hint of a frown, she has heard that more than ten times in the span of two hours and she was honestly sick of it, though she’d told them she didn’t want to talk about it just then.

“I should ask that yes but how about we go for a drive to clear your head.” She nodded and turned to her brother whose mouth was open ready to either object or give orders she didn't wait to find out, “And we’re not taking security?” she glared at him for added effect which he returned the favor but didn’t argue.

“You go and change, I’ll be in the car.” He nodded to her sweats and oversized shirt, she stood up and leave the office but first eyed Shaheed then muttered something under her breath before walking out.

“Cat and dog.”

“Shut up.”

After a few moments of silence Shaheed asked, “Where exactly did you go?”

“I told you millennium city.”

“Where exactly?” he shook his head and a look of remembrance crossed his features, “You seriously bought the house?” he said with disbelief, his eyes on his cousin. “Is that some new obsession I should be worried about or you’re thinking of real estate, that’s not how it’s done, you sell the houses after renovating it.” He said slowly, Fahad’s eyes getting redder with each word that left his mouth.

“Don’t get on my nerves Shaheed? I’m not in the mood.”

“I’m asking you a question, a simple question I would think.” Fahad ignored that and walked, more of stomped out of the office, making sure to bang the door closed.

“So help me God.” Shaheed mumbled to himself giving up on what he was trying to read, he shoved everything that was on the table down not flinching when a mug make contact with the marble tiles, the sound of it shattering resonated around the room.

Mamie who’d been on her way to the office encountered Fahad who was visibly seething and when she got to the door, the image of Shaheed’s upturned desk welcomed her, she stepped over the few broken vases, over the broken cup and walked over to the only inhabitant of the room who was quietly heaving, his eyes on the window.

She touched his shoulder but he didn’t react, “Shaheed, what happened?” she wanted to complete it to ‘between you and Fahad’ but stopped knowing he wouldn’t appreciate that.

“Mamie,” he started brokenly, “Do you believe a person can be punished for his inner thoughts?” she was taken aback by the question, she hesitated before speaking, any little thing could set him off, and well he vented in a different way.

“I don’t think we can call it punishment per se but when we are going through tests, it’s good to remember that Allah said he only test those whom he loves,” he nodded but didn’t turn.

She waited for him to say something or anything, when he remained silent she added, “And it’s good to remember that with every hardship comes ease,” she’d considered leaving since his breathing was back to normal which meant he was calm but something else came to her mind.

“Remember, Allah created us and everything, what meager problem do you have that He cannot solve? He said call unto me and I shall respond, that’s all I can do for you Shaheed, Tell Allah your worries, no one can help you but him.”

Like he wouldn’t talk, he squeezed her hand on his shoulder.

“Thank you mamie.”

“May Allah make it easy for you.” She pecked his fore head then turned to leave, “I’ll send someone over to clean this mess up.” She said on her way out.

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

“You’ve been holding her since morning, why don’t you go rest?” Khadijah only smiled at Kamla who was holding a bowl of what she assumed was the jellybeans you would always find her with, she’d rubbed off on Hanan and junior because you’ll always find them with it too.

“She’s so masha Allah, I can’t seem to stop looking at her.” She only smiled seeing how Khadijah was playing with the baby’s hands.

“Oookayy, umma sent pounded yam and egusi over that it’s your favorite and aunty Sadiya was craving it.”

“I’ll eat later.” She didn’t take her eyes off the baby in her arms.

“Alright, it’s in the dining if you change your mind.” Khadijah only nodded not bothering to look up.

She heard someone’s voice saying the salam and she adjusted her veil, not knowing if it’s a non mahram.

Her lips curved into an automatic when she saw Farhan with a leather bag in his hands, she greeted him enthusiastically standing up though he told her not to bother.

“How are you and the kids?” she learned he got close to Abdulrahman after they met in the hospital when they admitted her.

“Alhamdulillah, they’re all fine, do you want to hold her? Her brother is upstairs let me go get him, they are total opposites.” They joy in her voice spoke volumes and with the smile on her face, he couldn’t help saying masha Allah under his breath.

“I don’t really know how to hold babies.” He started but she was already standing in front of him, he looked at her smiling face and found himself sitting well.

“Don’t worry, I’ll teach you.” She assured telling him to stretch his arms a bit forward, he complied and she gently placed the sleeping child, “Support the head, yes like that, see it’s not that hard.” She said with a small chuckle.

“Wow tabrakallah masha Allah, she’s so small.” He had a similar smile on his face as he looked at the baby, it felt surreal.

“You’ve never held a baby?” she asked keeping a trey of refreshments that seemingly appeared out of nowhere on the coffee table.

“Not exactly, I normally avoid them.”

“Why?” she sat on her folded legs on the chair she was sitting before.

“I don’t really see a lot of them and they cry a lot, I avoid that.”

“You don’t have siblings then?” she asked, this is the most they’ve talked since they met and he couldn’t hide the happiness he was feeling.

“Only son,” Normally he gets sad looks followed with that must be lonely but when he looked up she looked curious.

“What’s that like? I’ve always wondered what it would be like to not have siblings, it was fun right? Not having to share your room and all.” She laughed then added, “I mean I love my sisters but sometimes I just wonder you know.”

“I understand,” he nodded with a smile, his eyes drifted to the baby in his arms whose eyes were slowly opening, she was moving her arms around, he looked hypnotized watching her, “Look at how she’s curling.” He muttered in a daze like state.

“They do that sometimes, umma says it’s because they are used to being in the womb and like that.” He nodded thoughtfully at that.

“Assalamu alaikum” Khadijah looked up with a smile when she saw Layla walking into the living room a few seconds later, Fahad behind her. She walked up to where she was seated and hugged her. “How are you?” she asked in a whisper.

“Alhamdulillah.” She replied her smile still intact and turned to Fahad whose eyes were on the child in Farhan’s hold.

“Since when do you know how to hold babies?” he asked in good humor.

“She taught me.” He inclined his head in Khadijah’s direction.

“Oh my, look at her.” Layla cooed taking her from Farhan who tried arguing but stopped when Layla shot him a look.

“That’s not fair lee, she was just getting to know me,” Kamla entering stopped Layla’s retort.

“Oh,” she muttered seeing the people seated, she didn’t hear voices, she’d been trying to get Aifa to take a nap, Sadiya was fast asleep and Abdulrahman was with the other kids who still haven’t come to terms with not seeing Basra, she didn’t know where the elders were.

“Good afternoon.” She greeted meekly taking slow deliberate steps to Khadijah, “Can you hold him, I want to take a shower and I didn’t want to leave him alone?” Khadijah nodded taking the sleeping baby.

“Here if you want to hold him,” she said to Fahad whose eyes were on the baby in Layla’s hands.

“No don’t-“-Layla interrupted him.

“I’d rather give a baby than him,” he glared at his cousin.

“Shut up,” he turned to Khadijah who looked amused, “I don’t know how to hold babies.”

“That’s what he said and he did just great, it’s not that hard,” she tried to hand him the child but he literally jumped.

“They are so tiny, he’ll slip right through.” It took everything in her not to laugh but she respected his wishes and stepped back.

They sat and said a prayer for Basra and her parents, they were just finishing when Abdulrahman walked into the room with junior in tow, the young boy who was holding on to his father greeted them in a low voice.

“May Allah rest her soul and make her a forerunner and precursor.” They replied with ameen and he joined, Khadijah who saw his eyes drift to the child she was holding made an excuse and handed him the child, he smiled gratefully at her as he gazed at his son, who looked like his wife, it brought a small smile to his lips seeing how he looked peaceful, “Alhamdulillah.” He said to himself.

Khadijah walked out a few seconds later for fresh air, Abdulrahman was engaged in a conversation with Fahad while Layla and Farhan were arguing over whose turn it was to hold the baby next, she only shook her head at that, there was something about the image that made her smile.

She walked to the gazebo behind the house where she was sure would be quiet, she sat on one of the chairs with her eyes closed, it’s been long since she sat there, there was a level of peace and calmness it exudes that she found she craved.

She remembered Basra thought it was a large playhouse and would always drag her when she had the chance, an image of Basra and Aifa trying to play hide and seek in the little place brought a smile to her lips which disappeared just as soon as it came. She let out a shaky breath and tied to blink back her tears.

Khadijah opened her eyes and let out a small sound when she felt a presence behind her, she sat in a way that the person coming wouldn’t see her face, and she couldn’t see them either.

“Sorry I didn’t mean to scare you.” Fahad apologized looking at her with scrutiny.

“No problem, I get frightened easily,” of course he knew that but he didn’t comment. He watched her wipe her tears discretely.

“How are you holding up?” she only shrugged and he didn’t pester her even though his eyes were studying her every move, she would ever so often wipe at her eyes, even though she wasn’t making any sound she couldn’t stop the tears. He heard her mutter something along the lines of, ‘Stupid tears.’

“You were close?” he didn’t know how to start talking but she needed to talk and so help him god he’ll try his best. She nodded with a sad smile.

He almost thought she wouldn’t talk but she started, “The day she was born, I was failing at teaching Aifa how to play a video game,” she let out a small chuckle, she’d stopped trying to wipe the tears. “At first I didn’t notice her gritting her teeth, her EDD was in a week so we were calm thinking it was just the false labor and all,” she took a deep breath, “It was when her water broke and she let out a small whimper that I noticed, I panicked and tried calling ya Abdul, I haven’t been behind a wheel in more than a year I didn’t want to take a risk, their driver then would leave immediately he brings the kids back from school so it was just me.

“It would take ya Baraka plus or minus thirty minutes to get to the house and another thirty minutes to get to the hospital, ya Abdul whom I called stupidly was in Lagos for their NBA and even if he could get a flight, he wouldn’t come in time, she forced me to get the keys, she wasn’t in the position to drive, she could barely move, she looked me in the eyes and said, “It’s either you drive me or you deliver this child.” and I panicked, I certainly wasn’t in the right state of mind to see something like that, I really couldn’t,” she took another deep breath then looked up at him, her eyes were clouded like she was reliving it.

“I started to panic at some point but when Aifa started crying she was two and a half then, I had to snap out of it, Karima god bless her gave us the hospital bag and handed me a bottle of zamzam for strength she said,” she stopped and chuckled, “By Allah’s will I safely drove us to the hospital, I’m sure the nurses thought I was crazy, she was the one in labor but I was the one in tears, I managed to convince them to let me be with her in the labor room because it would’ve been ya Abdul but he couldn’t make it, it wasn’t long after she was taken, all the sweat, the fear, everything was gone, it literally disappeared when I heard her cry.

“Ya Sadiya had this smile on her face, and she said to give me the baby, my whole world, I would give everything to feel what I felt when I held her, it feels like yesterday.

“And when ya Abdul arrived, he said to pick the name since I was her mother.” She had a smile on her face, a total contrast to the tears she was shedding.

“You don’t have to keep going,” she nodded and tried to catch her breath.

She breathed through her mouth and exhaled, she’d realized she was testing waters she’d never once tried to breach before.

“I wanted to name my daughter Basra, Rabi’atul Basra, I didn’t know why I liked the name but it had a sense of calm to it and it kept me going then when I lost her,”

“Who?” he couldn’t help himself, the way she stopped made him realize there was more to it, she’d said she couldn’t have children.

“My daughter.”

•••••••

Assalamu alaikum, how is your weekend going?

Please vote comment and share, PS I'm pretending I didn't drop a bombshell rn💃

Byeeeee

Amyrah