Heeeyyyyy
Important author's note at the end, please read.

“No! We are going out and I’m not taking no for an answer.” Khadijah groaned then eyed Layla to show her annoyance, “Groan all you want, you’re coming with me, if you like moo like a cow you’re still coming with.” She mimicked Khadijah making grunting noises that made Kamla double over in laughter.

“You two are comedy gold,” Maryam, the daughter of Hajiya Amina who helped Kamla said with admiration.

“I can’t believe you’re all in support of this kidnapping,” Khadijah grunted again but stood up nevertheless and headed to her closet to look for what to wear before Layla decided she didn’t want to be nice again.

“Yes whatever, we are going out!” Layla declared with finality.

A few moments later, Khadijah walked out freshly showered wearing an Aegean and cerulean blue lace sewn into a peplum blouse and six pieces skirt, she tied the headtie in the ture kaga tsiya style but covering her hair that was plaited into knotless braids by Kamla, she picked a sapphire colored veil and wrapped it around her upper body, with a flint Chloe purse in her grasp, Layla made a hooting sound though it didn’t sound quite right to anyone but she didn’t seem to notice or care.

“Mehhnnn, babe you’re giving us a run for our money,” she gushed walking over to her, she pulled her into a hug and told her how beautiful she looked. “Forget yellow, no one rocks blue like you.”

“Okay okay, let me get my jewelry.” Khadijah said ambling towards the vanity.

“Who are you dressing up for?” Kamla asked wiggling her eyebrows.

“Myself,” she answered rummaging through drawer, she picked a Luxe water drop cubic zircon drop earrings and put it on and closed the jewelry box, she felt Layla’s glare which made her open it back, she picked the bracelet and ring then returned the box which still contained the necklace. She wore the ring on her right middle finger.

“You still have that your ring on.” Layla commented on Khadijah’s silver band that she’d loved right from secondary school.

“I had it resized,” she replied to Layla’s question on how it still fit.

“I love it though, it’s so simple.” Maryam remarked taking in the simple ring.

“Let’s go guys.” Layla clapped her attention on the two girls sitting comfortably, they both stared at her blankly. “You didn’t think you weren’t coming with did you?” she eyed them, they both stumbled rushing to get dressed, she turned to Khadijah who looked amused, “I’m driving.”

“I’m very happy about it.” She replied sitting on her bed.

“Well, how does twenty five feel? I’ve known for quite a bit.” She flipped invisible hair and smirked at her best friend.

“You’re so cocky.” She retaliated with a smile on her face.

“It’s got me this far,” she picked her phone and turned to Khadijah, “Here, I have to send a picture to Huda else she kills me”-she rolled her eyes-“She has been disturbing me since last night, I don’t even know how she knows it’s your birthday.”

“Her brother probably, he sent me a video of her singing a birthday song for me followed by a lot of compliments and a promise that I’ll love the gift she sent me.” Layla chortled, that sounded like Huda.

They left for Australia three weeks ago, she’d cried and begged to be left alone but she had to go back to school, she went on a talking strike that only lasted thirty minutes before she caved and started talking to her eldest brother, who left a week ago, done with his project.

“Oh, Huda’s gifts are always awesome, she’s gifted in that area.”

“Well I can’t wait,” she glanced at the clock and sighed. “I promised junior to come and see him, he also has a gift for me, he is so elated with having another male in the house, ya Sadiya panicked once when she saw him trying to make Adeel wrestle, albeit with a toy but still,” Layla laughed out that, junior was a mood, taking his mentor and big brother job very seriously, a little too seriously.

“We’re ready,” Kamla twirled loving her tengi two piece abaya, her face was bare of any makeup, the same with all the other ladies.

“This abaya is awesome, I’m so spending all my future money on them,” Maryam joked laughing, they stopped for a picture, which resulted in them taking multiple pictures, Khadijah who wasn’t a fan of camera left them after the tenth picture complaining of being tired of standing.

They all piled up in Layla’s grey audi RS3, she’d bought the car after driving Fahad’s own after he lost a guessing game she forced him into doing, her words were ‘I’m an audi person now,’ she was a car lover thanks to all her brothers and cousins, like architecture that was something that was common among them, the most common actually.

“So I know eating is kind of my favorite thing in the world,”

“Kind of?” Khadijah asked jestingly.

“Okay, it is my favorite thing after hanging out with you and annoying you that is,” they laughed at that while Khadijah rolled her eyes with a smile, “Anyways, since you planned this restaurant thingy for my birthday and it didn’t go well, we decided to do something you like.” She pushed the door to l’arte dei sapori that was decorated in silver, gold and cornflower blue, Layla had thought they didn’t really go together but she liked how elegant it looked.

“How you like it?” she asked Khadijah with a cheeky smile.

“I’m….wow,” Khadijah whispered looking around the dim lit restaurant, the white walls complemented the décor, she turned to Layla who was smiling ear to ear and pulled her in for a hug.

“Don’t ruin your makeup?” Layla teased hugging her back.

“Oh shut up,” they both chuckled.

Khadijah’s eyes swept over the whole place, a blue banner with silver cursive read “Dee’s big 25” hung on one end of the restaurant. The tables that normally contained white and gold serviettes were blue and silver and gold, the whole place looked magical to say the least.

“I know you don’t like balloons so I avoided that, but I have a lot of confetti because why not.” She jumped giddily. 

Kamla who she hadn’t notice was no longer beside her walked in from one end of the restaurant holding a large cake that had 25 at the top.

“I’m your number one favorite person so I get the first bite of the cake, but before that, let’s eat because I’m famished.” They sat on one of the booths where Kamla kept the cake.

“Sorry we’re late I had to give junior special instructions on baby friendly activities.” Sadiya pecked her sister’s cheeks after hugging her, “Happy birthday baby sis, you’re all grown I can cry.” She gushed pulling her in for another hug.

She was glowing with radiant happiness that made Khadijah’s heart flutter. After basra’s forty days prayer, Abdulrahman thought it would be good for her to have a change of environment so they went for umrah and since hajj wasn’t until a month and half later, though he still wanted to go, she returned refreshed and happy, that made Khadijah happy.

“It means you’re getting old too ya Sadiya.” She winked smiling evilly.

“Well I’m aging quite well I heard,” she said pointedly at her husband who was looking anywhere but at her.

“Happy birthday Khadi na,” he smiled at her handing her a wrapped box, “The kids said they’ll give their gifts personally.”

“Thank you and I look forward to it,” he waved her thanks off with a smile and made a comment about spoiling his baby sister.

Baraka who arrived not long after Shaheed who was forced to attend because she was his adviser and accomplice in killing Fahad for betraying him, he haven’t forgiven him for ditching him and thrusting him into their mothers’ matchmaking hands, no claws.

Major and Afnan wished her on behalf of the other children who were together with Sadiya’s children and their babysitter and Manal, Baraka’s second daughter had classes that day, she hated it.

Layla who forced them to play games and then have a photo shoot looked more than happy, there was an air of satisfaction around her that made the whole environment joyful.

“Okay I’m sure most of you haven’t heard how we met,” she stopped for dramatic effect which gave Kabir the opportunity to tease her.

“We all do, in fact I’m sure we have a tape of you telling us a very detailed explanation of it, but if it makes you happy, tell us again,” he ignored her glare and gave his food his hundred percent attention.

“Now that the haters have shut their mouth, I’m not pointing fingers,” she looked pointedly at him, he looked smugly at her bringing his cup to his lips just to annoy her, “Well it was my second day in my new school that ya’ll didn’t go to because you were scared,” again she looked pointedly at Kabir who shook his head, “When I say she’s my hero believe me because she has been fighting for me since day one,” she blew her a kiss, she skipped the story they have heard a million times much to Kabir’s relief and started her speech that she’d wanted to write and have it framed but decided to just leave it and let it flow with the heat of the moment.

“I’m sure I’ve told you this a million times already but I love you, so so much, you’re more than my MVP, you’re the strongest person I know, you fight your battles and fight everyone else’s too, it doesn’t matter what you’re going through you’re always there for everyone, I’m still surprised you aren’t tired of my annoying self, multiple times I think you would just up and realize I don’t deserve your friendship but then you call me and tell me how much of an idiot I am, and how I’m your favorite haiwan, all those nick names you’ve stopped calling me that I pretended I hated but deep down I look forward to hearing them, I’ve known you since we were ten, you were more mature since then,” she stopped to laugh, “and you saved me from a lot of reckless decisions, you’re always in my thoughts, and I hope you get the best of the best because you deserve it and so much more, to twenty five and many more years of being my Dee, I love you girl.” She made a bow when they clapped, she looked at her phone, “Oh god, I didn’t say anything I typed, you know what I’ll just send it to you.” That made everyone laugh;

They were all sharing their favorite memories of her when Layla’s phone rang, “sup hamma?” she said into the phone after telling them to quiet down, “ugh alright,” she picked her tablet and face timed him like he requested, more like commanded.

“Happy birthday dee,” Huda screamed from somewhere in the background the second the call connected, Khadijah thanked her with laughter in her voice.

“I told hamma to fly me but he refused, he isn’t my favorite now.” She sat beside her him and collected the phone, they saw him roll his eyes before her smiling face came into view. “Hey everyone, I’m Huda if you don’t already know and I’m dee’s best friend right,” Khadijah nodded with a smile mirroring Huda’s own.

They talked for a while with Huda who didn’t let her brother talk at all, she joined the lunch via face time, even getting food to feel among, they all talked about Khadijah and her absolute selflessness before calling it a day.

“We’re cutting the cake together.” Layla announced making her siblings groan, “Haters I tell you.” She muttered ignoring them, and like she promised she had the first bite.

••••••••

Assalamu alaikum, *hides face* I'm not dead yeah and I'm not going to bore you with why I didn't update early, just know that I'm really sorry about it.

How have you all been? Fine I hope.

Well Dee is twenty five, sigh, were getting old

I saw all your messages and I'm so overwhelmed, thank you all so much, it means a lot, a wholeee lottt and as a sort of present though more for me than you, well for us, I've finally created the IG account, and by that I mean my account that was dormant is finally coming to use, so you can check it out, I'll put the link in my bio but if that is too much stress you can just search #ameeeyrahh_(take note of all the e's😂😂) and tap the follow button and all follow back, because I love all my wattpad people.

Enough noisemaking let me leave you all for now.

Please vote comment and share, remember we're trying to get to 20k reads in seven chapters.

Much love, the new and improved social me,

Amyrah