Birth...the beginning of life, accompanied by a clear slate with an invisible destiny written onto it.

She stared at the mousy face of her nephew and wondered at the beauty that radiated from the little heart shaped face. A new creature, so pure and innocent, untainted, unscarred by the fireballs life throws at us and oblivious of the pains of this world. She silently made a prayer for life to be easy on her two day old nephew.

Family members have been coming in to see the baby. News of their dad's return had already made rounds and relatives who had either known him or had a faint memory of him, were eager to see what he has become.

Late in the evening, after the visitors have left. Ameena sat on the chair next to her sister's bed and played with the baby's delicate fingers.

"Are you happy?" Deejah asked as she came out of the bathroom and sat on the bed.

Ameena didn't need further explanation to understand what she meant.

"I don't know...I don't know how I feel about all this."

"Whatever it is, you know we have each other right?"

"Yeah, and mama and this little guy here." She said softly.

"I wonder if he was the one who asked the woman to stay back or she herself didn't want to come?"

"Maybe she weighs 500 pounds and can't fly anywhere at the moment." Ameena replied.

"That's plain mean."

They laughed and held their hands while they stared at the baby.

Deejah had given birth six hours after their dad's arrival. The shock of his sudden appearance had barely settled in when they had to rush her to the hospital.

The next day, he visited early before they were discharged. He came along with the mixed race boy and Deejah been soft hearted as she is, cried when she saw him.

"Good morning uh...sir." Ameena said feebly

"Good morning..." Deejah trailed off not knowing what to say

"Morning, how are you...doing."

Ameena mumbled something inaudible while Deejah answered fine.

And so,the most awkward greeting between an estranged father and his daughters took place.

He had cried when he held the baby and cried some more when he hugged her. Ameena had watched the show unfold like an outsider preferring to keep her distance by standing in the corner and pretendeding to be a statue.

The mixed race boy was also looking as if he wants to be anywhere but there. Until his father spoke to him,

"Rashad, come over and say hello to your nephew."

The boy took a few hesitant steps and stared at the baby.

Their dad couldn't bring himself to stare into the eyes of his girls. He had hurt, failed and betrayed them. They watched his every movement with hawk eyes, stealthily catching every move he or the boy made.

After some more awkward silence, they excused themselves and left.

"Uh...that went quite well, I guess."

"Yeah right." Deejah replied with a trace of sarcasm.

______________________________________

Later that evening, 'the boy' as everyone calls him, was feeling bored. He had been asked to wait here while his things were moved from the hotel to the house. His father had insisted that they both stayed at the hotel but his uncle managed to convince him to allow the boy stay here among his family.

Boredom got the better of him as he started towards the rooms, he wanted to see what his sisters were like.

The first room was locked, luckily the second room was not.

He walked slowly taking in the new surrounding, there was a small sized bed neatly made with a purple duvet on it. On the bookshelf was a complete collection of the Bourne series, books by Dan brown, Grisham, Harold Robins, and more but what caught his eye was amid those masculine books, he saw a copy of a book called p.s I love you.

On the wall above the bed hung a replica of Star wars lightsaber.

Above the book shelf was the most unlikely combination ever; a barbie and Darth Vader.

He lifted the Darth Vader and whistles

"Is this a boy's or a girl's room?"

"Try hermaphrodite."

He heard a flat voice answer and he swerved, he didn't hear her approach. His eyes met Ameena's cold ones and he replaced it back to where it was.

She had come to pick her things for she is staying at Deejah's until after the naming ceremony.

"Sorry I uh..."

"You shouldn't be snooping around other people's stuff." She cut him off.

"I know, I just..."

"Leave my room...now!"

He was taken aback by her rude behavior and so he left without saying a word.

She sat on her bed and sighed. What has she turned into? She wondered. Was she always this bad or is it as a result of the recent happenings? She immediately regretted how she had acted.
____________________________________

It's two days to the naming ceremony but the way the house is filled, one will think it's today itself.

Even ya Yusuf wasn't allowed some alone time with his wife ever since the arrival of the baby. He always leaves early and comes back when he's sure the women are gone.

Adda Mona came with Bintu because she had no school and Ameena has been doing her best to avoid the little girl. The girl is eleven but is too smart for her age.

To her disappointment, she walks into the kitchen and met the girl tapping on the island with a distant look on her face.

She had lighted up when she saw Ameena.

"Hey Bintu."

"Hello Anty Ameena."

Ameena began washing some fruits hoping the girl will leave.

"Anty Ameena um...how old do think one should be, in other to be able to hire a lawyer?"

"What do you need a lawyer for?"

"I want to sue a film company." She huffed.

"And what had warranted such action, if I may ask?" Ameena asked.

"I am suing on behalf of Belle...for ruining her image."

"Belle who?"

"Oh Belle from beauty and the beast you know."

The way she said it, one will assume Belle is an actual human being who had been genuinely wronged.

"Can you imagine I was watching this series and disgusting Rumpelstiltskin is dating belle!"

"Ewww, that's gross." Ameena said holding back her laughter.

"I know right? You should see him when they were making out...eww." She scrunched her nose

"Hey where did you hear that word?"

"Am eleven, not a baby."

"Ah...I see. They sure deserve to be sued on behalf of innocent belle and all her fans. But tell you what? Talk to your mom about it, she can help."

"Nooo, she had warned me not to watch that series...said it was for grown ups. Seriously, how old can someone be to be considered a grown up?"

"Uh...twenty?"

"Eww..that's old."

"Really? What will that make thirty?"

"Very old."

"Forty?"

"Older than very old."

"Haha Bintu kinfi karfi na. I will see what I can do, now run off and find other kids your age before I change my mind and tell your mom."

"OK, alright." And she skipped away.

Ameena walked out with the fruit platter and bumped into ya Salman. What the hell was he doing amidst hundreds of women? When all men his age visit in the early hours or late when there are less women around?

He grinned and said hi earning himself a dirty look from her as she walks pass him. A little while later she heard Hajiya Adda call her name.

"Your brother wants something cold, go and bring him a drink."

She glared at him and he smirked. His mom caught all that transpired between them.

She came back with an orange juice and found him alone. She winked at him before handing him the cup.

He held the cup and suddenly he doesn't trust its content anymore. What made her wink while she was shooting him daggers just a little while ago? Something was not right. He stared at the drink and that instant he had never felt more afraid of any liquid in his entire life.

After he saw the baby and left, Ameena took the cup and smiled before drinking it.

"I saw what you did!" Bintu appeared out of no where.

"What did you see?"

"that face you made to scare uncle Salman from drinking that juice, so you will drink it yourself. "

"What do you want?" Ameena asked, sensing blackmail.

"That lawyer, am serious, get him for me and no one will hear about this."

"You got yourself a deal kiddo, now scoot!"

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Hello lovelies. Sorry about this chappie, I know its just a filler, u guys shld bear with me. InshaAllah next will be better.

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