JAWAHIR

"Banda rashin ji." Mama warned them. "Jaw if anyone of them misbehaves ring me up so that I can come pick them. And that'll be last time they'll go." Mama directed the last sentence at Nai'a and Affan, sternly.

"In sha Allah Mama they wouldn't. Right?" They nodded their heads vigorously. I chuckled internally.

We are here to get Nai'a and Affan the next day, like Aayan promised.

"Okay. Safe journey. The house will feel empty though." I smiled sheepishly at her. "Don't worry, Abu and Mammie will come back today or tomorrow in sha Allah." My parents travelled to Kano. One of Ya Nana's brother in law is getting married.

We hugged Mama and bid her goodbye. Aayan loaded their bags in the trunk and we drove to the AA's to get Amal.

"So are you guys ready?" Aayan asked my siblings. They answered affirmative, a bit shy. They haven't warmed up to him I guess.

Almost thirty minutes later we arrived at the AA's house opps mansion . We stepped out of the car and head straight to the door. Aayan opened the door with his keys. We sauntered inside after saying our salam.

"They are here, they are here." We heard Amal yelling mirthfully running down the stairs. "Oh you're finally here. I have been waiting for you all day." She sighed dragging her suitcase behind her.

She engulfs Nai'a in a hug, shook Affan's hand and hugged me too. "Ya Jawjaw, I cannot wait to start the holiday with you guys."

"Oh I see. Someone didn't even notice my presence." Aayan said, his eyes on his phone.

"Oh Akhi, so impatient. I was just coming to you." Amal told her brother.

He ruffled her hair when she stood in front of him, making her pout. We proceeded to the living room, taking our seats. Baba and Ammiey walked in hand in hand. Awwn.

We greeted them. Baba noticed Amal's suitcase. "So Amal you're that eager to leave, aren't you?"

"She woke around 7am, by herself. While I have to struggle to wake her up during school days." Ammiey said looking at her last born.

Amal smiled sheepishly at her parents. "Ammiey, Baba asif. I'm just so excited!" She squealed.

Aayan and Baba stood up to go to Baba's office, here at home, to do their usual business talks.

"Will you be able to handle them?" Ammiey asked after the kids left, going to Amal's play house outside.

"Of course Ammiey. They'll keep me company, the house gets quite lonely." I admitted.

"Aayan leaves you all alone?" She asked with concern.

"Ammiey you don't expect him to be with me 24/7, do you?" I asked with a laugh.

"Well if you put it that way. Don't worry habibty, it'll come to a time where he wouldn't be able to stay away from you, not for a single second." She smirked.

I ducked my head down, blushing. She chuckled at me.

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

"Ok, it's time to go." Aayan informed me as I finished praying. I nodded at him, still reciting my du'a. After I'm done, I neatly folded the prayer mat and placed it in one of the many drawers in Kausar's room.

"Why can't I follow them again Ammiey?" I heard Kausar's whiny voice as I descend the stairs.

"I'll smack you fah Kausar. Are you a kid? How can you follow them?" Ammiey scolded her.

Kausar can be a big baby sometimes, well most of the times. She has being whining and begging Ammiey to let her come stay with us ever since she found out that Amal will. But Ammiey didn't even hesitate in saying no.

And she has been insisting. "Ammiey mana, danallah, please."

"Why don't you get married yourself, then you can drag as many people as you want to spend the holiday at your house." Ammiey retorted. Hah! That did the trick, shutting her up completely. She mumbled something underneath her breath but didn't say anything again.

I stepped inside the living room announcing my presence. "Yawwa Zawjatu akhi, you're here, we've been waiting for you. Common let's go." Amal, literally dragged me towards the door.

"At least let her say goodbye, Amal." Aayan scolded lightly.

"Oh right." Amal laughed nervously. Someone is eager.

"Okay we'll take your leave now. Maas salam." I told my in laws. Baba patted my head lovingly. "Take care." He said before walking out.

I hugged Ammiey and said goodbye. "Remember what I told you. You are free to return them back home whenever you feel like they are becoming a handful, I don't want you tiring yourself out. Okay?"

"Sure Ammiey. In sha Allah." She caressed my cheek. "Goodbye kids. Behave and don't trouble your Ya Jawjaw." She warned them before also walking out, probably to her room or Baba's.

I waltzed over to Kausar, who's sulking. "You're not going to talk to me?" I asked hugging her from behind. She didn't answer. "You know I also want you to come. But Ammiey will never agree." She still didn't say anything. I sighed and turned around to leave. A hand on my wrist stopped me, I twirled to face her again.

She smiled. "I know. I love you Zawjatu akhi ."

Now that's the Kausar I know. "I love you too uktul zawj."

"Can we go now please?" We heard Amal impatient voice from the door. Giggling, we said our goodbyes.

"Finally." Amal sighed dramatically when I entered the car. I just smiled and shook my head.

"I cannot wait for you guys to see your room. You're gonna love it." I told them trying to start a conversation.

"Really Ya Jawjaw? Affan asked, excited. Good, he has been quite. I just hope he's not having second thoughts.

"Yes Affan, I promise."

"We cannot wait then." Nai'a added. And that's how the conversation flowed between the four of us, Aayan adding something occasionally.

Aayan killed the engine and we alighted the car. He instructed one of the staffs to bring in the luggages. He sauntered inside saying he had some pending work.

"Ok." I sighed rubbing my palms. "Do you wanna see your room?" I asked to which they nodded eagerly. I led to their room. "Okay close your eyes first."

They did as they were told. I opened the door and switched on the lights. It illuminated the whole room. "Can we open now?" Affan asked, almost impatiently.

I chuckled and told them to open.

"Wow!" They exclaimed, their eyes lightened with awe and excitement. Happiness radiating off them. They squealed out loud and ran into the room, Affan to his and the girls theirs.

"I want the top bunk." Amal declared, already climbing the stairs. Nai'a, who's already siting down on the lower bunk agreed. Something about her being afraid of heights. And she tends to toss around a lot, I just pray Amal doesn't, so she wouldn't fall down.

"We love it Ya Jawjaw. Thank you." I smiled at them. "You should thank Aayan, he did all this." I told them not wanting to take credit.

"We will in sha Allah." Nai'a nodded. I left them to gush over their room, I headed into the kitchen to cook something for us.

"Hey Laura." Laura came back a few days ago.

"Hey! Mrs." She greeted back. I smiled back at her. "You don't have to. I've already cooked dinner." Laura stopped me as I opened the cupboard to bring out a pan.

"Oh you didn't have to."

"When I saw that you'll be returning late I cooked, I thought you might be too tired tired to cook when you get back."

"Well thank you. Since you cooked, I'll set the table."

"I'll do that." Laura insisted. "That's what I'm basically payed for Mrs." She added, giving me a knowing look. It makes feel old whenever she calls me 'Mrs.'

I exhaled knowing that she's right. Cooking is the only I do here. I think I'm getting fat, ugh! And lemme tell ya, I hate exercising. Cooking is the only way I move around.

I left Laura setting the table, to go call everyone down for dinner. I ambulated to Aayan's office first, he's definitely in there since he said he has work to do. I knocked and his velvety voice asked me to come in.

He took a quick glance at me before shifting his gaze back to the file he's looking intently at. "Marhaba, is there any problem? Do you need anything?"

"No." I shook my head. "I'm just here to tell you that dinner is ready."

"Okay." He said distractedly, his attention solely on the file in his hand. And Ammiey says that I'll be more important than his work. Impossible. I left his office to go call the kids.

We were almost through with dinner when Aayan walked into the dinning. "Sorry, I got carried away." He apologized taking his seat at the head of the table.

I made the attempt to get up and serve him. "La tuqaliq; don't worry, I'll do it myself."

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

"Good night." I wished them, placing a kiss on each of their foreheads.

"Night Ya Jawjaw." They chorused. I made them recite the du'a for sleeping before I switched off the lights, closing the door quietly behind me.

I walked back to my room to take a shower. After taking a shower and putting on a fresh set of pajamas I went downstairs to get water. I tend to get thirsty late at night. I saw light streaming from the opened fridge. Who left it open? There's no one here, right?

Unwanted memories kept rushing through my head. Ya ilahi! This isn't happening again. Make it stop. Sounds of footsteps kept getting closer. I didn't know when a painful scream left my mouth.

"Jawahir." I heard Aayan's voice. Help, I wanted to scream but couldn't. It was like a cloth has been pushed down my windpipe, choking me, making it hard to breathe. I kept struggling, rubbing my throat. Tears clouding in my eyes.

Seeing the condition I'm in, Aayan kept the cup of water he's holding, on the counter and rushed towards me. "Jawahir." He called out again, the fear clear in his voice.

I attempted to speak but it resulted into a coughing fit. I coughed so hard I thought I will puke out my intestines. Aayan hurriedly picked me up and placed me on the kitchen counter.

He looked as confused as a chameleon in a bag of Skittles. Not knowing what to do, he rubbed my back repeatedly in a soothing manner. "Jawahir I need you to take a deep breath, do you think you can do that for me?" His voice so gentle and calm.

I nodded and took a deep breath as I was told, and the coughing began to subside. "Good. Now I need you to do as I do. Breathe in." He inhaled deeply and I did too.

"Now breathe out." He said exhaling. I did too and my breathing steadied, returning back to normal.

"Here." He said, giving the cup he was holding earlier. I collected it. When I didn't make the attempt to drink it, he wrapped his hand on top of mine that was holding the cup and guided it to my lips.

"Thank you." I said licking my lips.

"Hal anti bikhayr; Are you okay?" He asked to which I just nodded.

"What happened?" I opened my eyes to look at him and noticed our position. He's standing in between my thighs, his hands placed on either side of my hips. Not touching but quite close. .

I ducked my head down, blushing. Now is not the time to blush Jawahir. Think of something to tell him.

"Uhm..w-well. I-I uh..." Real smooth Jaw, real smooth. I mentally rolled my eyes.

"Yes?" He urged, his black orbs gazing deeply into my brown ones. My throat suddenly went dry, I quickly picked the cup again to take a sip.

I placed the cup back on the counter and played with the sleeve of my pajama. "I saw a cockroach?" But it sounded more of like a question.

"A cockroach. Really?" He straightened up, raising a brow at me. "That's why you screamed out loud and had a mini panic attack?"

Dayyam. "Just so you know, I'm really scared of them, they are gross and that wasn't a panic attack, I just choked." I argued.

"Choked? On what? Your saliva?" He mocked.

Smh! "Yes." I said unsurely. "Okay Goodnight." I said hopping off the counter before he could say anything else. I sprinted to my room.

Closing the door behind me, I slide down, resting my head back on the door.

He'll surely ask questions I'm not ready to answer. I mean no sane person screams for no reason and have a mini panic attack, like he said.

Who else is afraid of cockroaches?😂😂 I defs know that habiibarh is so terrified of them. I have this video of hers😂😂😂 What do you think Mss_haliematou should I share it with them?

What do you think is the reason that Jawahir has panic attacks and nightmares???!!

Hmm leave your thoughts in the comment section.

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bcuz you love me. You don't?😧😢

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😁😁Don't mind me. Do as above please. And it's true even if you don't like me, I do like you so very much because you took your time to read my book 😭❤️❤️ Thank you 🙏 good bless 💫✨

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