ARIF 👆👆
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-Ameena-

Mama sat by the bed with a laundry basket beside her, folding some clothes and putting them by her side. If she heard me come in she didn't show any sign of it.

During my rebellious teenage years, there were times I totally faked an apology, shedding crocodile tears and putting on the most innocent look I could come up with. But today is different, I felt remorseful and appalled by what I did. Even though it was unintentional.

The hurt I saw in her eyes made me feel like a dagger had been stuck in my heart and I find it hard to breath.

I knelt down in front of her and weave my fingers in hers. It was then that our eyes met and I saw them soften as she saw the tears in my eyes.

"Maa...am sorry. Whatever I said...I didn't mean for it to come out that way. I am sorry for being a reason to make you sad. I am sorry for being an ungrateful brat who doesn't..."

"hey, heyy...its alright, don't blame yourself. Its not your fault...if anything, its ours for coming at you that way."

"No, I have no right to do what I did. Am sorry. Please, say you forgive me."

Mama untangled our fingers and used both of her hands to cup my face and lift it up bringing us to eye level and I saw a look in her eyes I couldn't read.

"I forgive you. I was not even angry with you to begin with. Its just that...whenever I look at you, I become afraid of what my eyes see."

She paused and inhaled, she looks like she's trying hard to say whatever it is she wants to say.

"whenever I look at you, I see lost hope...and broken trust...it pains me to know that I played a part in it...am so sorry..." her voice broke and she couldn't continue.

No Maa please don't say that... I know deep down in my heart, what Allah has taken from us...he has return it three folds. Can't you see? he knew you are the strongest among the two of you, that's why he chose you to be with us.

You are three times my hero: my mom, my dad and my friend...I will be ungrateful if I asked for more..." I said the last part almost in a whisper.

A lone tear escaped from her eyes. It was all I needed for my floodgates to open. I straightened and hugged her tight.

At that instant, it was unclear who was consoling whom as we both cried in the comfort of each others arms.

A little while later, she ask me to go find Deejah. It was her own way of telling me to go make peace with my sister.

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I woke up feeling rejuvenated. Its been a while since I slept in mamas room. Today, I felt special.

My only problem was how to avoid going to the picnic without hurting anyone's feelings. Nadiya was the answer. She's so witty she could come up with something smart in a matter of seconds.

When I peeked into their living room, I saw her seated on the sofa and I signaled for her to come out to which she vehemently shook her head.

Whats wrong with her? Where was the Nadiya who is so eager for gossips or latest as she calls it?

I walked in and nudged her whispering into her ear that I needed help and its urgent. Her sister fadila sat across the parlour typing away on her phone like its the end of the world.

"I am having a remote problem as you can see." she whispered.

"If your problem is so remote, I don't see any problem in it, as my own problem is colossal." I equally whispered

"dumbo, I didn't mean it that way...am having real 'remote' issues. Don't you get it? Am sitting on it as we speak. She lifted one of her brow and nodded towards Fadila's direction. "And I promise she isn't getting it for now. Its her punishment for making me watch 'keeping up with the kardashians' when I wanted to watch Vivah." she added.

It was only then that I understood what she meant. Ah, siblings drama and remote issues. I stifle a chuckle which made Fadila look up from her phone and glared in our direction.

I told her I was at her mercy at the moment, as only she has the brains to pull me out of my misery. If there is anything she liked next to gossip, its definitely this.

She didn't leave until she slide the remote and ask me to put it in my hijab. And we innocently marched out.

We found a secluded place between their flat and Antin Maryam's.

Nadiya listened attentively as I told her about Ahmad from when we met until yesterday, all the while shaking her head and urging me to go on whenever I stopped to catch my breath.

The way she shook her head and scratched her chin gives an onlooker the illusion that we were discussing rocket science or brain surgery.

"He called this morning and said Deejah asked him to come and pick me, you, Fatima and Maryam. So what do you suggest I do?" I asked

"You? You will do nothing of course. Leave everything to me. I already have a foolproof plan. Kin sanni ai." she said excitedly.

"All you have to do is come to our side when its about time. And you just leave the rest to me. When all of it is over, we will talk about how you kept this from me until now" she added.

After that my spirit lifted and I walked happily back to my room.
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Nadiya was esctatic as she got ready for the picnic. She loved these things mainly for the food and it serves as a platform for information gathering.

Always the colourful one, she chose a lime chiffon gown with chinked waist. She finished it up with a golden waist belt and stacked bracelets.

Todays outing isn't just an ordinary one. It was kind of special as she had a task to complete. She is going to prove her genius.

It's almost time and Ameena is not yet in sight. She grabbed her phone and sent her a text. A little later Ameena arrived in her usual boring garb of black top and sweatpants. Nadiya never gets why she chose to dress that way but she knew she wasn't going to win any argument about it.

"wow! You slay girl." Ameena complemented her.

" Sadly, I can't say the same for you. Sorry bae." she said looking disapprovingly at her.

"I will take that. You are welcome." Ameena laughed."

"I can't thank you enough for doing this sis." she added holding both of nadiya's hands.

"Mention not, just go to my room and get comfy. You can thank me later."

On her way to the gate, she started rapping, 'ain't no way ama let my coz marry a friggin yoruba nigga.' she smiled at her ability to turn words into a song.

She went towards the gate and sat by the ya kabir's and Salman's varender where she can have a clear view of the gate. She was not gonna take any chances with this. She kept looking at the time on her phone.

A little while later, she heard the honk of a car and in cruised a red porche Panamera. She got up and Straitened her dress. She approached the car and when he came out, all that came out of her mouth was, "holy shit!!"

As he approached her, all she kept repeating was shit shit shit...as if it was a mantra that will resolve her current predicament. When he removed his shades and smiled at her, she knew she was done for. But being who she is, she just said 'what the hell'.

"Salamu alaikum."

"Wa alaikumussalam." she answered

"I am..."

"I know who you are." she interrupted.

"You do?"

"Of course I do, come with me."

She led him to the two plastic chairs in the varender and asked him to seat.
He looked hesitant at first but she insisted.

"Look, just listen and let me explain."

She heaved a sigh and leaned in before starting. He was at lost. He tried talking but she keeps interrupting him.

"I know you don't know me now, but soon we are going to share a bond.

"We are?"

"Don't interrupt me. Uhm...as I was saying... I am Ameena's cousin Nadiya. This morning, we made a plan so she will skip the picnic because of you. But the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew that my plan has gone out the roof. She has told me about all your good qualities except the very handsome part'. Now that I see you there is no way am going to let you slip from us..."

Now he looked amused. Obviously, he is finding the situation funny and was listening with a smile on his face.

"...And for your information you and I are getting married on the same day"

"We are?"

"That's how its done in this house. We are age mates you see...not that I have a boy friend at the moment, but when I do find one, we will be married on the same day. So we better become friends from now."

I will go and make her get ready in some minutes. You just go inside and wait a bit.

She got up to go and he stopped her and handed her the small bag he had been carrying.

"Give this to her and tell her Ahmad asked me to give her as he will be running a bit late."

In her haste, she collected the bag and started before stopping right in her track, as it just dawned on her. She swerved wide eyed with opened mouth, afraid of forming the words.

"If Ahmad sent this, then who are you?"

"I am his friend, Arif."

HOLY CRAP!!

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