AAYAN

I am just coming home from work. Work has been hectic this month, with meetings with different investors all the time.

I  began working at Baba's company after I finished my degree when I was 23. Now 5 years later after I've finished my masters and Ph.D., I finally took over. I'm an architect, I graduated from the University of London.

I went directly to Ammiey's side. I met her reciting the Quran. I sat down on the ottoman waiting for her to finish. She recites beautifully, I remember when I was young she'll sit me down after each salah to recite with her.

"Aayan you're back." She stood up and sat on the bed after folding the prayer mat. "Come sit beside me."

"Good afternoon Ammiey"

"How are you? Have you eaten?" I shook my head. "Go, the food is ready and when you're through I'll like to speak with you".

I already have a feeling about what she wants to talk about.

I sighed. "Okay, Ammiey."

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Assalamu alaikum"

"Aayan Habibi, you're through. Yallah, come in." I sat down beside her on the floor.

"Aayan," she said seriously. "Don't you think it's time to settle down" I knew it "You're not getting younger, I'm not getting any younger either. I wanna see my grandkids. I wanna see you happy." Her voice cracked at the end. "Is it too much to ask for?"

I heaved a sigh "Ammiey, it's just.....I'm just not ready"

"That's what you've been saying for the past 5 years. When will you move on?" I don't think I can.

"Ma......" I cut her off before she could finish. "Ammiey please......don't"

"But it's the truth" I clenched my jaw. "Aayan at least give it a shot"  I kept quiet and looked away.

I heard her sigh defeatedly. "Okay." I love my Ammiey I really do, she's the most important person in my life. What she's asking for... it's just too much. "Can you please pick up Amal? Kausar has gone out with the driver."

"Okay." I hugged her. "I'm sorry." She smiled and kissed my forehead. "It's okay, just promise me you'll think about it." I nodded.

I arrived at Amal's school. She's the youngest, she's eight years old and has us wrapped around her fingers.

"Akhi" I heard her voice. Just then I saw her running towards me.  I bend down to pick her up. She's getting heavier day by day wallah.

"You came?" I know she's surprised I've never done this. "Yes Amira.I came"

"Nayi qawa today." I chuckled. Our Hausa is basically nonexistent. With Ammiey knowing little to almost nothing and Baba always traveling,we never had anyone to teach us. We know the basis tho. But I can see my sisters are trying to learn.

My sisters are also making friends I see. "That's good, what's her name?" I looked at her. She was watching a teenage girl with a girl and boy. "Look, there she is." She pointed.

The teenage girl turned around. It's Kausar's friend;Mammie's last born. What's her name? It's Jaw-something, right Jawhir. The kids are her siblings I guess.

"Her name is Nai'a and that's her brother Affan." She explained. "Ooh and that's her sister Ya Jaw jaw"

Jaw jaw? The name is cute tho just like her.ok what's wrong with me?.

"Isn't she pretty?" Amal sighed dreamily. I chuckled, silly girl. "Yes indeed, She is." Very pretty.

She acts with maturity, what most girls her age don't do, take Kausar as an example. It's remarkable

"Ooh there they are, let's say hi Akhi" I nodded and dropped her. We headed towards them, it seems like their car is faulty.

"Nai'a, this my brother, the one I've been telling you about." They talk about me? Strange.

"Ina wuni." Nai'a and Affan greeted me.

"Lafia , how are you?"

"We're fine." They responded.

Jawahir came out of the car looking frustrated. "Is there a problem?"

"No"she replied at the same time Affan said yes. She glared at him.

"What's the problem?" I asked Affan, I don't think she'll tell me. 

"The car won't start." Affan explained.

"What's the problem?" I said in the tone I use on Amal or sometimes Kausar when they are being stubborn.

"I think the key starter has spoiled" she replied.

"Can I see?" She nodded and moved aside. I tried starting the car but it won't budge.hmm it's really the key starter.

I came out of the car. "Yeah, it won't start till it's changed"

She groaned and mumbled something like nashiga uku. "Why don't you come with us and we'll drop you." Amal chimed in. That's actually a good idea.

"No, it's okay. I'll just call Ya Akram or we'll take a public transport."

"Why bother him when we are here? Beside it'll take time before he arrives. It'll also be hard to get a taxi"  I can see she's hesitant.

"I insist."

"Okay" She agreed softly. We headed towards my car, Amal, Nai'a and Affan quickly entered the back seat. Jawahir looked uncertain on where to sit.

"Ya Jaw jaw, Why don't you sit in the front." This girl.

"Okay"

XxXxXxXx

"Thank you" Jawahir appreciated softly. I smiled. "You're welcome"

Affan and Nai'a are already out.

"Won't you come in?"

It's like she's afraid to look at me because her head is always down when she's talking to me or is she shy?

I checked the time. " No we can't actually, next time in sha Allah."

"Okay, rihlat amina; safe journey." She turned to Amal. "Bye Amalili," She smiled broadly at her. "Bye guys" Amal replied.

I'm not surprised she speaks Arabic. Her Mom is from Kuwait or something like that, I'm not really sure.

"Ya Akhi can we go have ice cream please?"

"I don't know............"

"Pretty pleeeeaaaaaseee with a cheery on top" . This girl can be persistent.

"Okay okay but we'll have to wait for Uthman to bring me some files"

She agreed.

Uthman is my best and only true friend. Yes I have friends but they are not with me genuinely, either because of my wealth or father's position. Anyway, I met him during my first year in uni, he was the only Nigerian I met, from Kano. He was studying Civil Engineering. Now he works at our company. He's basically the brother I never had. Of course I won't tell him that, it'll inflate his ego.

We went to Cold stone creamery at Wuse 2. Amal was being indecisive on which flavor to have between two, so I bought her all.

The signature Oreo

And Sprinkleberry kid's ice cream

With a bag of Jelly belly,

And I decided to have the banana split decision.

I also bought some for everyone at home.

"Aayan!!!" I heard my name. I turned around and saw Uthman walking towards us.

"Amalllll!!!" He squealed in a high pitched tone.  Have I mentioned he's a child trapped in a man's body? No? Well he is. There are some things he does that still renders me speechless.

"Ya Uthman!!!" She handed me her ice cream and ran towards him, he picked her up and swirl her around making her giggle loudly.

He turned to me after dropping Amal. "Salam brother."

"Wasalam, hey thanks for coming. Is it ready?"

"Yeah, no problem. It's ready you just need to review it before signing."

"Jazakallahu khairan, we'll be going now. My regards to Aunt and everyone."

"Sure. Bye! Ka gaida Ammiey and everyone too"

"In sha Allah"

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"Where have you guys been?"

"We went to get ice cream after dropping Ya Jaw jaw, Nai'a and Affan" Amal explained.

Kulthum looked at me as if asking really? I nodded.

"Okay. Now where's my ice cream?" She asked excitedly.

"It's here" I showed her the bag I was holding.

I dropped it on counter as I entered the kitchen. She hurriedly got a spoon and took a cup from the bag.

"Uhm yummy!" She moaned.

"Where are Humaid and Yasmeen?" I inquired, referring to her kids.

Kulthum is married to Rayyan. They met to England when he came for a project about 8 years ago. They got married 3 years after. He hails from Katsina same as our dad. They have two beautiful kids Humaid who is 4 and Yasmeen who is 2. And Ammiey keeps asking for grandkids. She's already a grandmother to two wonderful kids.

"They are with their Dad, sunje wurin kakanin su;they have gone to their grandparents place." She said with a mouthful.

Out of all us, Kulthum speaks Hausa efficiently after Baba, because she associates with her in laws a lot. She and her in laws all reside here in Abuja, Gwarimpa.

I raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing her then?"

"I'm also here to be with my family duh"

"Whatever you say" I said walking away. I swear she's always here, sometimes I forget that she's married.

XxXxXxXxXx

I went to my room to take a shower and rest a bit, I'm so tired wallah. As soon as my head hit the pillow, there was a knock on my door.

I groaned. "Who is it?" I yelled.

" it's Kausar Akhi. Can I come in?"

"Yallah"

She came in and sat beside me.

"What do you want?"

"About the bet......"

"Your time is up, you're late remember?"

"But I was thinking of something reasonable." She whined.

I inhaled a breath then exhaled." Okay shoot"

"I want to take Jawahir and some of her friends shopping, and outing maybe, depends on what we decide" She grinned.

"How many friends are we talking about?" I don't want to go bankrupt. I know girls and shopping.

"Three. Akhi, just three. She has very few friends."

"Okay, when?"

"Tomorrow in sha Allah"

"Allah kaimu then."

She smiled widely and hug me. "Thanks bro. I love you."

I hugged her back and kissed her on her forehead. " I love you too darling. Sweet dreams"

"You too."

I went to bed with a smile on my face. My last thought was I love my family. Before I drifted into a deep slumber.

Salamu alaikum
How was the chappie??Do lemme know what you think.

We've met Aayan properly 💃🏻💃🏻.

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Yours truly
Memzyb✨🌹