Khadijah.

A lot of guests have arrived, from both Mama and Baba's sides of the family. It was overwhelming at times, with Mama's relatives speaking Fulfulde, while some Kanuri, and Baba's relatives conversing in fluent Hausa, clearly from Katsina. Among the throng, a few of them were my age mates, so they chose to stay with me in Ya Aisha's house.

I made fast friends with five of them; two were already married—Maryam and Qawwama—while one, Haajar, a twenty one year old, was a widow, and another was set to get married in five months. When I finally asked the last person, Jamila, aka Beauty, if she was getting married anytime soon, she replied with a cheeky grin, "Sai na gama cin duniyata da tsinken lollipop," which set off peals of laughter from everyone within earshot.

She was the life of the party, and they all got along superbly with Amna who by the way, was watching me with an expectant expression.

I, on the other hand, was deliberately stalling for time.

"For the seventh time, pick a dress," Amna ground out, her teeth bared in frustration, an intimidating sight that would usually have anyone else scrambling to comply.

But, I wasn't anyone else.

I shook my head defiantly. "Seven's not my lucky number; eight is! Now ask for the eighth time, and be nice to me, okay?"

I could feel her glare boring into me, along with the muttered profanities that slipped under her breath. "Khadijah, don't pick a dress. I actually pray that they arrive soon and see what their brother is marrying. Look at you, just take a good look at yourself!" She pursed her lips, assessing me with a judgmental squint before strutting haughtily out of the room, her middle finger shooting up behind her.

My eyes involuntarily flicked towards the mirror, and I fought back a wince at the sight reflected back at me. According to Amna's meticulously organized schedule, I was supposed to be taken to the hair salon today. However, Tahir's sister, Haifa, had called earlier and informed me so sweetly that they would be arriving after 1PM.

So, plans were forced to change.

My hair? Well, my brains were loosened earlier in the day—did I say brains? I meant my braids. I had combed my hair and twisted it into a bun that now resembled a four-day-old nest. I've been tugging at it for the past thirty minutes, desperately mulling over what to wear and how to present myself properly.

Safe to say, I really needed to brush my hair one more time and neatly pin it back in place to avoid looking like a wild lion when my soon-to-be sisters arrived.

"Amna, I'm sorry!" I shouted from my spot on the bed, fully aware that she wasn't far away from me.

That girl couldn't survive without me. She needed me close in order to breathe with ease.

Her head suddenly popped into the room, her brows raised in perfect arcs.

"I'll wear the purple dress with the lacy top and pleated skirt. You can please help wrap my scarf around my head, and I'll wear the veil of your choosing. Thank you!" I added the last part for good measure because no one really knew the right thing to do with the girl.

Her kohl-rimmed eyes could be enough to send anyone into a flurry of nerves; they made her look intimidating at times.

"Don't you feel like a real human now?" she asked, gliding over to the closet to retrieve my outfit of choice. As the one who had arranged everything, she found it promptly and handed it over to me without delay.

I slipped into the dress, gratitude spilling from my lips as she fussily worked on the adjustments—pulling up the zip and tying the belt around my waist effortlessly.

I adjusted the position of my bun, lowering it a few inches, while Amna, who hardly ever wore Ankara, carefully wrapped my scarf around my head in a beautifully intricate way that allowed some of my hair to show. It was a style we'd seen in our parents' old photo albums, one they had perfected and we had recently decided to adopt ourselves.

Choosing to add a touch of glam, I began to gloss up, applying the necessary bits just as my phone chimed with a notification.

Haifa: We're here. We saw Ya Mukhtar and he directed us to your sister's place.

"I don't think I can do this," I whispered, leaning in close to Amna. She read the message along with me and forgot to share in my anxiousness.

Amna rolled her eyes, struggling to suppress a smile. "Shut up. You're meeting them, not your husband. Suck it up, pull up those big girl pants, and let's get moving."

"I am so nervous," I admitted, feeling my heart racing in my chest.

"Don't worry, Khadi! They're nice; they'll love you. This makes me cringe as hell, but you're fun to be with, and I know it comes naturally to you," she said, making a gagging face after speaking, her attempt at humor clear. She adjusted her veil and assessed me with a critical eye. "Come on, baby girl, let's go meet your sisters-in-law."

I rubbed my hands together, feeling the clammy sweat pooling in my palms.

With a little sigh, I moved my feet and snatched the veil from where Amna had dropped it on the bed, it was a lilac one that went well with the dress. Draping it over a shoulder, I stepped out of the room and together, we went in search of Tahir's sisters.

Thankfully, we didn't have to search for long. We found Ya Mukhtar on our way, who reached out to guide me by the arm. His eyes briefly flicked over to Amna as they exchanged friendly greetings.

"Haifa, Muna, and Sa'eedah are in the living room," he informed us, a reassuring smile on his face.

"Thank you, Ya Mukhtar. Khadijah's nervous," Amna quipped, her smile creeping into a mischievous grin.

He frowned momentarily, seemingly considering my anxiety. "You shouldn't be. Come on; let's get you to them. They're all lovely girls, you guys will get along—Amna and Muna especially. But I'm warning you, Haifa is the quiet one; don't make her uncomfortable with your endless stream of questions."

Amna and I raised our brows. Simultaneously we asked, "What do you mean?"

He turned to face us, alternating his gaze between our expectant expressions. "I know you well enough to know that you have plans to ask the twins how it feels like to have a twin."

Oh, well. That was actually a question I had been meaning to ask at some point. But now that he had brought it up, my curiosity about it only intensified.

"Trust us, Ya Mukhtar," Amna giggled, playing the part of the innocent one.

"Trust us," I agreed, making a 'lips sealed' gesture with my fingers crossed over my mouth.

He shook his head with amusement, muttering under his breath about how we would do that and more. Without another word, he knocked on the door to the living room upstairs before stepping in with the two of us right behind him.

The first sight I caught of them was all three girls laughing together. As they noticed us, their attentions shifted, and they all stood up from their seats, moving in sync towards us. They first hugged Amna and exchanged pleasantries before doing the same with me.

I'd met them in passing, not recently, but at the moment, I couldn't exactly say who was who; they looked very alike.

"Adda Khadijah!" the shortest in the trio sing-songed, her arms wrapping around me in a warm embrace that felt so good.

I had no idea when Ya Mukhtar walked out, but when she released me, it was just the five of us girls left in the room.

"I'm Sa'eedah, the nicest among the girls," she declared in a tone so serious that it elicited a giggle from me.

Sa'eedah was the twins' immediate younger sister and, according to Amna, she was sixteen years old, mates with Fawaz.

"Don't trust her, Adda Khadijah; she's a hellion," the chubbier twin interjected, earning an exaggerated eye roll from Sa'eedah, who feigned offense. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Muna, and the shy one next to me is my twin sister, Haifa."

They began bickering playfully, a lighthearted argument that was quickly interrupted by the reserved Haifa. Their faces would've been practically identical if Haifa wasn't slightly slimmer than both Muna and Sa'eedah. One could easily assume Sa'eedah was Muna's twin if they didn't know better, but they were all undeniably pretty.

"Amna, how have you been?" Muna asked, glancing over at Amna, who was quiet beside me.

"Good good, Alhamdulillah. How's Ammi and everyone at home?" Amna leaned slightly forward in her seat.

Muna's smile widened as she responded enthusiastically, "Oh, they're all good, thank you."

"We've been meaning to come over, but there has been so much to do in such little time," Haifa began, her hands neatly folded in her lap.

I nodded, understanding exactly what she meant because, hello! Bride here! I was on the verge of calling it quits at the moment. The torturous preparations they indulged in? I was convinced that's what they do to people in prison cells, I was dead sure of it. For her wedding, I was hundred and fifty percent sure Amna's going to be bridezilla, I can sense it already.

The girls all chimed in about the frantic pace of their lives lately, and soon the conversation drifted towards outfits and fittings. Muna and Amna became increasingly chatty, swapping seats with Sa'eedah, who eagerly settled down beside me.

Refreshments were served, and we offered them the privacy to enjoy their snacks. As we stepped out of the room, Amna and I strolled along the corridor leading to our own room, my hands feeling less clammy now.

"It wasn't bad, right?" Amna asked, making a quick U-turn to face me, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Not at all. I like them, all of them, really," I admitted, my heart lightening with each word.

"Liking their brother won't be too hard for you then," she shot back, a mischievous twinkle in her eye as she raised her brows suggestively.

My fingers instinctively sought their way into my ears, shutting her off. "So not what I need to hear right now, and remember, this is going to be a theoretical marriage."

"We'll see about that. What I would pay to see you making googly eyes at Tahir in five months, Khadijah," she countered playfully, clicking her tongue.

"Dream on, darling. You're seriously delusional," I glared at her before playfully hitting her with my hip as we headed back to rejoin the girls.

They were the epitome of proper and polite—elegant yet friendly. My mom would absolutely adore them; I knew that instinctively, especially since they had not once felt the need to adjust their veils in what felt like a very relaxed and respectful manner.

Me? Well, let's not even go there. Haifa sat like a regal queen, I would've felt intimidated if Amna wasn't firmly by my side.

"Adda Khadijah, our youngest sister Noor wasn't able to come," Muna explained warmly, "She was at school when we arrived, but now she's absolutely bombarding my phone with calls. She can be quite loud—sorry about that." Muna winced slightly as she admitted that, genuine concern filling her tone.

I met Amna's gaze, exchanging a knowing look. Everyone has heard about Noor and her antics.

"It's no problem at all. You can call her back for me. Thank you!"

"It's actually thank you!" Muna replied cheerfully, handing me the phone with an eager smile.

It was a video call, and the first thing I saw was the beaming face of a teenager staring back at me, her enthusiasm palpable.

"You're so beautiful! Extremely beautiful! Hello, I'm Noor Ibrahim, I love you the most! And they cheated; they were supposed to wait until I was back from school before coming to see you. But don't worry, Ya Tahir promised me he'll take me to you soon!"

Now we've got the yapper! She had the unmistakable glint of a hellion in her eyes as well.

"Noor, hello! How are you doing?" I inquired, instantly charmed. "We'll have to do something about them cheating on you; I can't wait to see you!"

"Really? You can't?" she asked, suddenly bouncing up from whatever she had been sitting on, her excitement pouring out of her. She yelled out her mother's name in a fit of glee. Within seconds, I could hear the unmistakable sound of her voice in the background, full of enthusiasm, screaming and squealing that I said I couldn't wait to see her.

"Noor, we're all here with you!" Sa'eedah chimed in, her voice carrying from her spot on the chair, a hint of laughter threading through her words.

"I know, and I'm not talking to you, Sa'eedah. You cheated too! But anyway, Adda Khadijah, promise me that I'll be your favorite sister, I'm already Ya Tahir's favorite!" The declaration was loud, as if she were proclaiming a great truth to the universe.

The twins cleared their throats simultaneously, while Sa'eedah looked genuinely horrified by the assertion. "You're not!" she exclaimed with a mix of disbelief and indignation.

"You cannot be the judge of that!" Noor shot back defiantly, her spirit untamed and fierce.

"Why don't we discuss that when we get home?" Haifa suggested, her expression apologetic yet firm as she motioned for Muna to reclaim her phone from me.

Noor and I exchanged sweet farewells before the call ended, her enthusiasm left me laughing in delight. Amna chuckled appreciatively at Noor's spirited demeanor, and Sa'eedah took the opportunity to regale us with a few amusing stories about their youngest sister. They even shared her crush on Ya Mukhtar's friend, AA, with us.

I laughed hard, and as the minutes ticked by, my reservations slowly chipped away, replaced by the fondness of their company. I learned that Haifa and Muna were both in their second years at university, while Sa'eedah was on the cusp of graduating from secondary school in just a few months. Noor, the youngest of the bunch, was in her second year in junior secondary school alongside her twin brother.

They spent an hour and a half before they began getting ready to leave. Haifa gently took my hand, urging me to a quiet corner in the room, while Amna was happily entertained by the other two, instead of the other way round.

"We've been meaning to ask if there's anything specific that you want concerning your house and the wedding itself," she said, her voice soft and encouraging.

My teeth found the insides of my cheek and I chewed softly on it, contemplating how to respond. I shook my head, unable to say anything just yet.

She giggled softly, sensing the hesitation in my demeanor. "You can be free with me, or either of us. We genuinely want to help."

"Is there anything being planned at your home?" I inquired, wanting to understand their side of the preparations.

"Nothing apart from the budan kai, and I'm sure you know about that already," Haifa replied, her expression reassuring.

I nodded, intertwining my fingers. "Yes, I do know about that. Thank you so much, but I don't think there's anything I need." I smiled, feeling grateful for their visit.

Haifa smiled back, stepping closer to envelop me in a side hug, one that I welcomed with open arms, feeling a sense of belonging.

"Ya Tahir is so lucky to have you as his wife; we can't wait to have you with us," she whispered softly against my ear.

If only the circumstances of our marriage were different.

...

Third Person's POV.

The girls spoke at the same time, their voices intertwining and overshadowing each other as everyone aimed to be the first to express their excitement.

"Did Noor go?" Tahir asked, his arm wrapped protectively around his youngest sister's waist as he regarded the four girls, curious about what version of themselves they had presented to her.

"I wasn't there physically, but virtually I was! She even said I was her favorite!" Noor cheekily grinned, her body practically shaking with excitement.

Sa'eedah rolled her eyes. "You dubbed yourself as that, more like."

"She's just jealous," Noor whispered, giggles bubbling from her lips afterwards like a bubbling brook.

"But she's so sweet, Ya Tahir! I can't wait for her to be here already!" Sa'eedah exclaimed, a dreamy expression lighting up her face. "We met Amna too; she was so funny and quirky."

Tahir nodded, tempted to say something along the lines of Khadijah having the same traits. But he knew better than to risk a knee to the ribs from Noor if she took it the wrong way. She was fangirling over Khadijah, whom she was yet to meet.

"They gave us a gift bag each, and Noor got a loom band collection. Super duper nice, Ya Tahir!" Muna recalled, smiling brightly.

Tahir felt a swell of pride that they had thought ahead for his sisters' visit. "That was nice of them. Noor, have you called to thank her?"

The person in question nodded vigorously. "Yes, I did! Am I following you tonight? Please, Ya Tahir, pretty, pretty please!" Noor clapped her hands together, her eyes wide and pleading as she adopted her signature puppy dog eyes.

"You must be crazy. Let him go alone tonight. Next time someone's going, you can tag along," Muna suggested, taking a firm hold of Noor's hand before she could throw a tantrum.

Haifa nodded in agreement, wrapping her arms around Noor's shoulders as the twins successfully pulled her away from their brother's grasp.

"Ya Tahir, before you leave, would you mind a word?" Haifa asked, heaving slightly while trying to guide Noor, who had suddenly decided to resist by dropping herself on the ground. Turning to Muna, Haifa commanded, "Take her legs; I'll take her hands."

"Done deal!" Muna agreed readily, executing her twin's plan without hesitation.

Beside Tahir, Sa'eedah laughed hard, waving at the reluctant Noor on the floor. "Don't let Ammi or Abba see you guys maltreating their daughter, or Lord knows what wrath you'll bring down on all of us."

Sa'eedah's warning elicited a chorus of responses from all three of them and Noor began yelling her mother's name at the top of her lungs, the sound ringing through the house like a siren.

Shaking his head at their antics, Tahir ruffled Sa'eedah's hair affectionately while turning to leave. "Wear your scarf, cover your hair," he reminded her, making his way toward the doorway.

"Will do! Have fun with your future wifey," Sa'eedah winked, bursting out laughing at his response—her playful teasing made his brows shoot up in surprise.

He walked the path to the driveway where he had parked his car, aware that his night was far from over. After returning from Kaduna and learning from his sisters that they had paid a visit to Khadijah earlier in the day, his first thought was to do the same and get it over with.

Ironically, he had no idea where to start, or how to start. All he knew was that, they had to talk before the wedding, and with the ceremony just a week away, time was ticking away.

He heard the sound of footsteps behind him and turned around to see Haifa wearing a pair of bright yellow flip-flops and a serious expression on her face.

"I asked if there was anything she wanted," she began, falling into step beside him.

Tahir nodded, encouraging her to continue. It had been his suggestion to ask Khadijah if she had any specific requests or requirements at all.

"She said everything was good. She was truly accommodating, Ya Tahir. Nervous at first, but you know your sisters; they wore her down easily."

"Not surprising at all," he agreed, unlocking his car.

"One more thing," she added, chewing thoughtfully on her lower lip.

Sensing her own nervousness, Tahir turned to fully face his sister. "Yes, Haifa. Talk to me."

"I was thinking maybe you should get her a gift—something she likes, anything," she suggested, shrugging slightly as if uncertain about overstepping her boundaries. However, recalling how Khadijah had handed them tote bags filled with girly items during their visit gave her newfound confidence.

Tahir nodded, understanding where she was coming from. "Alright then, I'll do that, In Shaa Allah. Thanks, Haifa. See you later."

She waved goodbye as she walked back into the house, and he put the car in ignition, driving out of the driveway.

While driving, Tahir pondered Haifa's suggestion, racking his brain for the perfect gift for Khadijah. His thoughts veered in a completely different direction as he recalled his reaction to learning that Khadijah Abubakar Bello, Mukhtar's sister, was the same Khadijah he was set to marry.

To say he was shocked would be an understatement; he found the entire situation utterly absurd. Mukhtar had assured him that he had nothing to do with it—that it was all their parents' doing.

All sorts of thoughts flooded his mind, filled with every piece of information he knew about the girl, and he wondered how she had reacted to the news.

His mother had sat him down to emphasize the importance of the decision during the last week he had spent in Kano. After returning to his room, he had been engulfed by varying emotions: aggravation, frustration, and bewilderment. But the one that struck him most was agitation. To quell the rising tide of feelings, he had poured himself a hot cup of tea and eventually drifted off to sleep, deciding that she could have been someone worse.

Accepting that there was no way out, he ultimately submitted to his parents' decision. His sisters, however, took his acceptance for something else entirely. They began to push him into seeking Khadijah's approval to visit her, clearly relishing the idea of their new sister.

Tahir realized that getting married not only meant committing to Khadijah, but also meant his sisters were gaining another sister. He feared they would swoop in like a flock of hens, hovering over her at every turn.

And so, he took everything in stride, choosing to focus on the bright side of the situation.

With the skies growing darker ahead of him, he turned into a gift shop, mentally checking off all the suggestions from his sisters that included flowers as he browsed—they had sent him text messages with suggestions on what to get her. Wanting to make sure that his intentions were clear—he didn't want to send her any mixed signals, but he also didn't want to come off as unfeeling or indifferent.

Selecting a lovely perfume collection and a thoughtfully arranged chocolate gift box, he knew that she loved the latter, and it was a well-known fact that all girls adored the former. Contented, he headed toward the checkout, hoping his gesture would be appreciated.

Driving straight to her home, Tahir was welcomed by his friend.

"Can't imagine myself getting married to someone Khadijah's age, bro," Mukhtar teased, guiding him toward Ya Aisha's house with an amused smile on his face.

Shaking his head at Mukhtar's jab, Tahir ran the pad of his thumb across his lower lip, considering his friend's words. "Your turn will come, and you'll eat your damn words," he retorted.

Mukhtar chuckled as he knocked on the door. "Seriously, Tahir, it won't be easy."

The door got opened by a sheepish-looking Amna who greeted both men cheerfully before stepping aside to let them in.

"Amna, how's school?" Tahir asked, walking beside Mukhtar.

She smiled cheekily. "We're on break right now," she said. But then her smile fell slightly. "But in two to three weeks, we'll have to return, and I loathe it," she muttered, the last part barely audible as she rolled her eyes in frustration.

From the corner of his eye, Tahir noticed Mukhtar shake his head slightly as they both settled onto separate sofas in the living room.

"Let me go get Khadijah," Amna sing-songed, making her way out of the room.

Mukhtar glanced at the door, shaking his head for the second time. "This really feels odd, not gonna lie."

"Tell me about it," Tahir replied, releasing an audible breath.

Both men were silent for the next couple of minutes, then the sound of voices coming from the door reached their ears and Amna walked in, followed closely by Khadijah, who looked skeptical, clearly hesitant about joining them.

"Assalamu Alaikum," the girls said in unison.

Tahir looked up, his gaze briefly shifting to Khadijah before focusing on Amna, whose grin was so broad he couldn't remember ever seeing such a wide smile on her face.

Silence filled the room following the exchange of pleasantries. In a hushed voice, Amna suggested that Mukhtar step outside with her, citing an emergency that required both their attentions.

As Amna and Mukhtar left the room, Ya Aisha's maids presented Tahir with an assortment of drinks and delicious food. He thanked them graciously, turning his full attention to Khadijah, who seemed on the verge of bolting out of the room; she barely appeared seated properly, her posture tense.

"How are you doing, Khadijah?" he asked, addressing her directly for the first time since Mukhtar and Amna had left.

Khadijah cleared her throat, her eyes fixated on her fingers as if they held the answers to her apprehensions. "I'm fine, Alhamdulillah. How are you?"

"I'm good too," he responded, taking his gaze off her. "You're shy?"

"I'm not," she retorted instantly, her lips pulling into a stubborn pout.

"You're too quiet then. If you're not shy, could you possibly be afraid of something?" he asked deliberately, seeking to capture her attention and draw her out of her shell.

"I'm not shy, neither am I afraid of anything. Unless there's any reason for me to be..." she replied, her words trailing off as uncertainty flickered briefly across her features.

One side of Tahir's lip curled up as he detected the hint of spunk in her tone. He'd known Khadijah long enough to recognise that she had always been outspoken and carefree, unafraid to voice her opinions.

"So, about our wedding," he began, urging her to meet his gaze. When she finally did—her brows raised in question—he continued, "Do you have any plans I should know about?"

Khadijah pursed her lips, finding it difficult to concentrate under the weight of his intense attention. His eyes bore into her, and she gulped, searching for her voice. "No, there isn't going to be anything. Baba decided on it, that's my puni... oh freakin' hells," she muttered the last part beneath her breath, tugging her lower lip between her teeth.

Her lips glossy.

Tahir raised his brows, intrigued. "That so?" he asked, choosing to ignore the last part of her sentence, the part she obviously blurted out by mistake.

Looking away from him, she nodded, "I'm good with it."

He nodded in response, shifting his gaze thoughtfully to the space on the wall just a few inches away from her. He was acutely aware that she had dressed up for his visit—just as he had donned the kaftan he was wearing to make a good impression. For the first time in his life, he allowed himself to look at Khadijah differently—not as a sister but as the girl he would soon be spending the rest of his life with.

The idea, though still foreign to him, no longer bothered him. Instead, he felt a hint of appreciation well up within him. She was undeniably beautiful—that was clear. But beyond her beauty, she also possessed an innocence that captivated him. It was evident that she wanted to appear strong, yet he could sense her nerves from the distance between them; the tension was far too palpable to not be felt.

She glanced at him, then stared. He felt everything, sensed her every movement, and chose to act unaware, allowing her to look her fill.

A few moments later, he decided to break the silence. "Khadijah," he uttered her name softly, meeting her gaze directly. "I only stay in Kano on weekends. Will that pose any problem for you? You'll be at home with my sisters close by."

"No problem with that. I'll be busy with school too," she replied, nervously fiddling with her hands as she stared straight ahead, avoiding his gaze.

Tahir nodded twice, acknowledging her point. "We'll be good then?"

"Yes, In Shaa Allah," she confirmed, her voice steadying slightly.

"Anything you want to tell me, feel free to be open with me, Khadijah—any stipulations you have?" Tahir asked, raising a brow in question, encouraging her to speak her mind.

Khadijah parted her lips to respond but then closed them again, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. Tahir studied her closely, pondering what might be keeping her from sharing her thoughts. He appraised her with a critical eye, choosing not to disrupt her contemplation.

Several minutes passed in silence before Khadijah suggested in a small, tentative voice, "Anything that comes to my mind, I'll let you know over the phone."

"You're sure?" he asked, wanting to ensure she felt comfortable.

"Yes."

Paying heed to the awkwardness and tension enveloping them, Tahir chose to let her be, refraining from pressing further. Not long after, Mukhtar and Amna rejoined them, Mukhtar wearing a chagrined expression while Amna playfully made faces at her friend, dissipating the tension in the room.

Ya Aisha and her husband joined them several minutes later, exchanging warm greetings with Tahir, who was just about to leave. Khadijah and Amna walked closely behind him while Mukhtar strode alongside him as they made their way to his car.

"Khadijah, a word please, if you don't mind?" Tahir asked, ignoring the look Mukhtar kept sending his way.

"Okay," she drawled, stepping up beside Mukhtar while Amna distracted him.

Tahir retrieved the gift bags from his car, turning around to face her once again. "Thank you for today. Thank you for entertaining my sisters," he said sincerely.

The mention of his sisters made Khadijah's face brighten, and she accepted his gift with a small, grateful smile. "Thank you. I loved having them. They were all so nice and kind."

"They said a lot about you too. I'm afraid you'll be dealing with an obsessed Noor; she had to be forcefully removed from my side before I was able to leave," he joked lightly, chuckling at the memory.

"You should've come with her," Khadijah replied, feigning indignation as her lips curled into a teasing smile.

"Next time," he promised.

Khadijah nodded in agreement, accepting his terms. He held her gaze for a moment before turning away. As he did, Khadijah released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, stepping back slightly to find her place beside Amna.

"Goodnight Khadijah, Amna. Mukhtar, we'll talk later," Tahir said, getting into his car and starting the engine.

"Goodnight!" Amna exclaimed enthusiastically after him, while Khadijah waved, feeling a flush of warmth in her neck.

"See you girls tomorrow morning. Count me in for breakfast, I miss your cooking Khadijah, Amna, double share for me." Placing two fingers on the side of his head, Mukhtar sent a mock salute their way before walking off.

"Goodnight, Ya Mukhtar!" they called out, hurrying back toward Ya Aisha's house. Tahir had parked closer to Khadijah's parents' residence than to Ya Aisha's, but thankfully, the distance between the two wasn't long.

Once inside, Khadijah dropped the gifts she had received from Tahir onto the bed and hurried to the bathroom. As soon as she was in, she slapped her back against the door, wondering what on earth had just happened. More specifically, why she hadn't been able to voice her stipulations when he had given her the opportunity.

"I'm such a fool, the biggest, dumbest fool!" Groaning loudly, she banged a fist against the door in frustration.

The sound of Amna's voice coming from behind the door pulled her back to reality. "Careful there, Taz. Don't go about breaking doors! I'm checking what Tahir got you, by the way," she paused, the unmistakable sound of her nosiness reaching Khadijah's ears.

"Girl, we got white and dark chocolates! You better get the hell out, or I'm eating everything—wham-bam!"

Realizing this was her cue to leave, Khadijah quickly wiped her hands over her face, shaking off her worries.

She couldn't afford to miss out on the delightful treats no matter how big a fool she was.

...

Hello Assalamu Alaikum. I hope we're all doing well? Mashaa Allah.

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NanaAmiinah
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