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JAWAHIR

The car ride was mostly quiet, but then Aunty dearest started speaking on somethings I do not wish to dwell on.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw Aayan clenching his jaw. He inserted a CD plate and Abdullahi Abba's voice flowed effortlessly throughout the car. That did shut up the duo thankfully. They do have the sense to not chatter when a Quranic recitation is playing.

After few minutes, Aayan was finally killing the engine and we all alighted the car.

"Dan'kari!!" I think I do not have to mention who said that. "Ji wannan makeken gidan, Allah kaidai yasan kudin da aka zubda, aka wula'kanta wurin gina gidan nan; see this humongous house, only God knows the amount of money that was wasted while building this."

"Wannan gidan ai yafi karfin mace daya, wannan kwatakwata ba gidan mace daya bane. Yo wai mema zata yi da dankareren gidanan." Aunty Hassatu continued her useless and annoying chatter.

"You good?" Aayan enquired. Since we were ahead of them, as they were busy gawking at the house, suna topa albarkacin bakin su, they couldn't hear us.

"Yeah I guess." I looked at him.

"You think you'll be able to handle them?" He used his keys and pushed the doors open.

"We'll just have to wait and see." I sighed.

The mother daughter duo walked in, with a guard dragging their huge suitcase. Their eyes roamed round the whole living room in one go.

The guard left the suitcase and nodded respectfully before walking out.

"Welcome.." I trailed off, not really knowing what to say.

"Show us our room." Aunty demanded.

"Right, this way." I led them as Aayan dragged the suitcase. I led them to one of the guests room downstairs. Thank god I had it cleaned recently if not I wouldn't know what to do. The room has a queen sized bed, a wardrobe, a vanity table and a joined bathroom. The color is pretty much neutral.

Aayan left the suitcase beside the bed and stood beside me.

"Do you need anything?" I nervously asked, this is the first time I'm having guests over to stay overnight, if you remove the time my siblings stayed for the holiday but with them I was wayyyyy more comfortable obvi, they are my younger siblings. But this, this is different, not only are they my in laws—they also don't like me which is pretty much obvious— so I have to try really hard and put on my good hostess pants.

"No." Aunt hissed with a roll her eyes.

"Good night then." I smiled a bit.

"Good night." Aayan nodded.

"Night Aayan." Aunt smiled softly at him. Oh look! she smiles.

"Night Ya Aayan." Binta purred, batting her fake lashes.

Back off bish!! I scowled mentally.

With that we left. As soon as we were out of the room, I released a huge breath. "Aayan..."  I called out nervously.

"Yes?"

"You do know that we have to share a room right?" I said calmly, even though I was freaking out.

"Why?" He whisper-yelled.

"Your cousin seems like the snoopy type, I'm sure she'll want to explore around tomorrow." I said air quoting the word explore. "And If she finds out that we don't share a room, she'll definitely start a rumor. Some thing like I have a deadly disease that's why you don't share a room with me or how you actually hate me and that you're disgusted by me that's why you can't stand my mere presence talk less of sharing a room."

"She'll actually do that?" He exclaimed, looking a bit terrified.

"Of course." I scoffed, patting his bicep. "I don't really care what they will think but I don't want them to spread useless rumors, It will be so uncomfortable during family gathering and events. I don't want to deal with side looks and whispers, please."

Been there and I absolutely despise it.

"Okay." He agreed as we stopped in front of his room.

"I'll go get my things." I said before walking to my room. I grabbed everything I know I'll need. I exited the room and locked it with my key, I don't want Binta or Aunty Hassatu to come snooping, which I know they will. But then they'll ask why the door is locked. Sigh, I'll just come up with something.

I quietly entered Aayan's room and I met him sitting on the bed in a white jallabiya.

"Uhh....... I'll change my clothes." I kept the clothes on the table and hurriedly made my way to the bathroom. I released a breath and changed into a long sleeved pajama dress, then put on a cap. I splashed my face with water.

"You can do this Jawahir. What are you nervous about? It's just Aayan." I said looking at myself in the mirror. After the little pep talk, I exited the bathroom.

I stood in front of the bed, playing with my sleeves. "Uh..uhm.. I'll take the couch." I informed Aayan.

"No." He raised from his seat. "I cannot let you do that, I'll take the couch."

I started shaking my head. "It's your room, you take the bed I'll take the couch."

Aayan sighed. "Why don't we all take the bed, I think it'll contain us."

"Okay." I said meekly looking at the floor. "Which side do you prefer?"

"The left side."

"Okay." I arranged my clothes in one side of Aayan's closet, then walked to the bed. I laid down slowly, as if the bed will attack me any moment from now.

I heard the door of the bathroom being opened so Aayan must have entered.

Relax Jawahir. Calm down, chill girl. I chided myself mentally. The door was opened again, and I quickly clutched my eyes shut, my back facing Aayan. The other side of the bed dipped, I guess he laid down.

"You know...." Aayan chuckled. "I'm not going to eat you. You'll fall off."

I said nothing but readjusted myself, scooting a bit more.

"Good night Tesoro." He called out softly.

"Good night." I whispered back.

*****

The next morning I woke up before Aayan. And no, I didn't wake up magically tangled in his arms, I was actually very far from him. One roll and I'll fall down from the bed.

I carefully made my way to the closet and chose my outfit for today. A multicolored laced sewn into a buba with wrapper. I ambulated to the closet, with my towel and clothes. There's no way I'm forgetting my towel for something cliche to happen, nah, ah no thanks.

I had a fifteen minutes shower, dried my body and put on my clothes before walking out. I met Aayan sitting on the bed, with his back against the headboard and legs stretched out.

"Good morning." I greeted, drying my hair thoroughly with a towel.

"You know, I like your hair very much." Aayan said looking thoughtful.

I looked at him weirdly. Oookkaayy...... that was random and weird.

"Thank you?" I said in confusion, the sentence sounding like a question.

And in a blink of an eye, he's standing in front of me. "Do you know how many times I had to drag your body from the edge of the bed so you wouldn't fall off?" Aayan laughed. "You were curled up as if as I was going to eat you or something...."

I ducked my head down, blushing. It's not my fault okay...... any other girl would have reacted the same. This is obviously the first time I'm sharing a room with him, how do you expect me to behave?!

I took a seat in front of the vanity table to blow dry my hair. I was about to switch on the hair dryer when it was suddenly taking out of my hand.

"Why?" I asked, looking at Aayan through the mirror.

"I'm going to dry your hair." He declared.

I burst into a fit of laughter. "You." Laugh. "are." Laugh. "going to..." even more laugh. "dry my hair?"

Aayan glared at me. "It's nice to see you trust me." He rolled his eyes. "But seriously I'm going to surprise you."

"Ohh please.." I rolled my eyes. "I'm not about to let you burn my scalp."

"Just trust me, okay?"

"Fine, I trust you."

And I really and utterly do.....

"Good." He nodded and got to work, he squirted some oil in my hair and used his hands to spread it, massaging my scalp and boy did it feel good. I closed my eyes in ecstasy and resist the urge to moan out loud. It feels so good.

When he stopped I wanted to whine 'don't stop' but decided against it. He then started blow drying my hair like a pro. Wow! Who would have thought....

"Aren't you suppose to be in the office by now? You did say you have loads of work this week."

"Ehh, they wouldn't mind...." His concentration was solely on my hair. "And even if they do mind, I'm the boss." He smirked, our gaze meeting through the mirror.

I laughed a small laugh. "I can see...."

"Mhm." He nodded. "Being the boss has it's perks."

Aayan kept working on my hair and at one point I think I feel asleep—it was that good, his hands are blessed— because a hand was stroking my cheek to wake me up.

"Hey wake up." Aayan whispered, his face awfully close to mine.

I blinked a little and looked at myself in the mirror, turning a bit so that I can see the back of my head. Oh my Allah!! How did he learn to freaking do that? When he said he'll make my hair, I honestly expected some sort of messy ponytail or something easy, I didn't expect that. I didn't expect something that could be classified as professional, heck it is something professional. I've seen the DIY tutorial times without number, but wasn't able to get it, talk less of that perfect.

Aayan styled my hair into a perfect rose braid/bun.

This is not her hair, her hair is black, very very black.

"So... you like it?" He asked, smiling smugly.

Why and how did he know how to do that?!

"OH MY ALLAH!!!" I squealed. "How....wow..just wow...." I was speechless.

Aayan smiled smugly. The smirk definitely says 'I told you so!' "You like it?" He asked again.

"Like it? I love it. It looks....." I trailed off, looking at myself in the mirror again. "Beautiful." I breathed.

"How did you know how to do that?" I asked, facing him.

"A magician, or hairdresser in this case never reveals his secret." Aayan responded, tapping my nose with his index finger.

"Well it's amazing. Thank you."

"No need to thank me, I did tell you'll be surprised.

"I'm blown away actually." I replied, still looking at myself, my hair precisely in the mirror.

"I'll let you gush over it." Aayan pecked my forehead and then walked into the bathroom.

Now if only I could saunter round like this, with my hair open I mean, sadly I have guests.

Bummer!

I moisturized my skin and bathed myself with Aayan's perfume. Now I'm going to smell like him all day, score!

I tied my head tie and went downstairs. I walked straight to the kitchen, but you have to pass through the dining room to get to the kitchen. And.. unfortunately for me, Aunt and Binta were seated there.

"Hail the lord! Our queen has woken up!" Sarcasm dripped off Aunt's voice heavily.

"Good morning Aunt." I said meekly.

"What's good about the morning huh? Is this how you treat your guests? Leave them to starve, do you know how long we've been awake? And there's no cook!" She slapped her forehead with her palm. "What do you feed that poor child of mine? Do you even know how to boil water?" She continued to eat off my ear.

I kept quiet as she scolded, what can I do? But I smirked mentally when she said the last sentence. I think the person you should be asking that is your daughter. All she knows how to do is cake her face with makeup, chew gum noisily, mess with her phone 24/7 and wear clothes that aren't appropriate, not one bit. How can you come to a married woman's house, my house, and wear such revealing clothes? Doesn't she have any shame? I'm all about women being confident in their appearance but as long as it is modest. But those clothes aren't one bit modest. And seriously, it's just 7'o'clock, don't you think it's too early for all that.

I'm pretty sure they never wake up this early, they just did to create a scene.

"Are you going to cook or just stand their like a dummy?" Aunt snapped and I scurried away to the kitchen.

What should I cook? I pondered. I'll make something that will shut her up for good. Nothing classy or complicated. I decided to make a spicy roasted potato with vegetable scrambled egg and strawberry ice tea.

I've already told Na'ima to peel and boil the potatoes for me when I woke up to pray subhi. So all I did was roast them, then the eggs which were super easy and didn't take time, like wise the ice tea.

Na'ima helped me set the table, she's a really nice and sweet girl. I was cooking one day and she expressed her desire to learn, if I'll let her. Which of course I said yes, no matter how much I don't like working with other people, every chef needs a kitchen assistant/assistants. And I learned my lesson during Yas's birthday party, I tired myself to the core which led me to collapse and since I'm gonna start a business soon in sha Allah, I need to get used to the idea of people helping me out. It's a win win situation but mostly for them, they'll observe and learn, from my mistakes sometimes and all and I'll pay them for their services.

I walked in to the dining room with the last dish the same time Aayan did.

"Good morning Aayan." Aunt exclaimed merrily.

"Sabahul khayr Ya Aayan." Binta chimed in, sitting properly. What the hell is she trying to do?

Aayan frowned a bit, maybe because of her clothing or the fact that she spoke in Arabic. I'm gonna say both.

"Morning." He replied nonetheless.

I met his gaze and smiled brightly, not saying a word. I served Aayan and myself then took a sit beside him, Aunt sat at the head of the table. Binta frowned and glared at me discreetly(I still noticed), then served herself and her mom. What?! Oh God, she didn't expect me to serve them right?

We had our breakfast in complete silence but I wasn't able to eat. I'm so nervous, I'm afraid I'll puke if I eat anything. Why are you nervous? Uhm because I'm going to be left all alone with them. I grew up with distasteful relatives you'll think I'm used to it by now but no.

"I'll get going." Aayan announced standing up.

No please. I started to panic. I quickly stood up to go with him.

"Good luck." Aunt said.

Aayan nodded and we walked outside. He halted when we reached the door, then turned around. "You didn't knot my tie today." He pouted, complaining like an adorable three year old.

I chuckled while shaking my head. "I don't think Aunt would have appreciated the PDA."

A grin tugged at his lips from my teasing. "Who cares?" He hooked an arm around my waist, pulling me into him. "We are newlyweds after all."

"It's save to say we're way past that phase," I snorted. "Common you should go." I said half heartedly, the last thing I want is for him to leave. I want to be with him all day long.

"You'll have to compensate for not knotting my tie today." He said boyishly.

"With what?" I asked in mild amusement.

"I'll have to think about it, I'll send it to you." He glanced sideways and sighed. "Looks like we have an intruder."

I swiftly turned around just in time to see a figure quickly drawing the curtain shut.

Binta.

"Promise to come back early." I said with a petulant pout.

"I promise." He grinned swooping down to smother the pout with brazen of small kisses.

I giggled, pushing him away. "What are you doing? What if someone sees us?"

Aayan shrugged indifferently. "It's not like we're doing anything wrong."

"Just go." I pushed him.

"Okay okay, I'm going." He raised his hand in surrender. "Try not to miss me much." He winked before going into the car.

I waved at him with a smile hovering my lips. When his car was out of sight, I turned around and walked back inside. Binta was sitting down in the living room, when our gaze met she glared at me then hissed.

I rolled my eyes and walked to the kitchen. I couldn't careless about her. I met Aunt in the kitchen, she seemed startled when I entered. She instructed me to pack the leftover breakfast for her with an indifferent expression but I knew better. I couldn't help but feel smug, she dared to question my cooking abilities? Haha, in her face.

The rest of the went uneventful, except when Binta came to the second floor snooping around like I expected. I just let her be, I couldn't careless about her. Surely, she wouldn't think of entering our— I mean Aayan's room.

Aayan didn't keep his promise, he still hasn't returned and it's past eight. Aunt made me cook rice and stew for lunch, tuwo miyan kuka for dinner. She claimed that she wouldn't eat—I quote, abincin nan naku na yan 'karya me bata ciki. I merely scoffed at that, internally of course, I don't have the guts to do that and Mammie thought me better. Anyway, she thought she could fool me when she was literally licking her fingers over and over again in the morning. Scoff, yeah right.

I finally retired to ou—Aayan's room. Aunt is too troublesome for her own good wallah, her and that daughter of hers. They've been sending me back and forth all day long, I haven't sat down for good twenty minutes all day. Jawahir do this, Jawahir do that.

And I'm kinda bummed that Aayan didn't return early as he promised. Who am I kidding, I am very bummed.

I'm sure he must have been busy Jawahir.

I smothered a sigh, I walked into the bathroom to take a shower then changed into my pajamas. I kept my hair as it is, I just cannot find it in me to loose it. After wearing cap, I exited the bathroom.

"Ya Allah." I yelped, looking at the figure in front of me m. "You startled me." I said placing my hands on my chest.

"Sorry." Aayan smiled sheepishly. He was standing directly in front of me, just a few steps away. I can touch him if I stretch my hand.

"Whe...." I started to say then kept quiet, remembering the promise he failed to keep. I walked pass him to the bed.

"Tesoro." He called with a sigh. "Is it about not returning early?" he moved forward and stopped behind me, his breath caressing my neck, the hair at my nape stood up. "Or because I didn't text you?"

Hmm, so he knows his offenses.

"I came with my compensation." I twirled around to face him, one of his hand was holding a bouquet of red roses and ferro rocher.

Aayan thrusted to bouquet to me. "This is for not coming back home early. And this," he brought out his left hand that was hiding behind him, and the hand was holding a bouquet of Oreo. "is for not not texting like I said I would."

Aayan grinned when he saw my expression. "I'll take that as you like it."

"It's not fair," I collected both bouquets. "You do know I can never decline chocolate or biscuits."

Aayan smiled cheekily. "I know."

I inhaled the scent of the roses deeply. "Soothing." I murmured, I then kept the Oreo bouquet on the bedside. That I'll eat tomorrow, as for the roses, I put them in a water filled vase beside my bed.

Aayan has gone to the bathroom to freshen up. He came out as I was settling on the bed. He's in his usual night attire, a white jallabiya. He also got into the covers.

"Let me go get your food." I informed while standing up.

"No," he called back. "Don't bother," he waved a dismissive hand. "I'm not hungry."

"You sure?" I asked skeptically, because he never eats outside. He nodded.

"Okay then." I laid back on the bed, opening a ferro and throwing it into my mouth.

"You do there's a saying that says 'sharing is caring' right?"

"And who said I care about you?" I reflexly retorted. I realized a little bit too late how bad that actually sounded. I quickly glanced at Aayan, his expression was almost pained.

"Okay that didn't sound right." I admitted with a sigh. I picked a chocolate from the bedside table and stretched my hand out towards him.

Aayan's gaze lingered on my palm before snapping back to mine, I sucked in a breath when I saw the plain anguish in his eyes. "Please don't ever say that." He croaked.

My heart clenched, I swiftly moved closer to him, wrapping my arm around him. Since he was laying down halfway, his head was leveled with my chest. I cradled his head closer to me. "I'm sorry." I murmured into his hair. "I'm sorry. I care about you, Aayan, very much." I brushed a kiss along the temple of his head, running my fingers through his hair.

And I love you too. I added in my mind.

Surprisingly, I have nothing to say. *sigh*

Ohh wait! Sooo this ASUU people have called off the strike🙆🏻‍♀️........ I am having mixed feelings about this tbh🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️
I don't know if I should be happy or sad 😩😭😭

Don't come @ me okay😂😂🤣🤣 I just honestly said how I felt.

If I do start school 💃🏻😩 know that updates will definitely come to a still for a while. Till I settle down and everything...... I just pray it doesn't take long 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Anyhow, Allah bamu sa'a🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

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Yours truly
Memzyb✨🌹