Ya Abdullah and Ya Abdulhafiz beamed at Farooq. They all moved closer to him, trying to access him. It's obvious they haven't seen him in a while. Hajiya explained their dorms were different as a result of their courses. She went as far as asking me not to cross paths with Farooq because he's the crankiest of all. I still thank her for that advice because I've never crossed paths with him, without him giving me a disapproving once over. It's like my presence itself annoys him.

"When did you get back home?" Ya Abdullah asked after shaking hands with him. I don't know why I was checking him out. He was wearing a black ripped jean and a black T-shirt. I would disapprove that dress sense when I see anyone wearing it, But Farooq pulled it off. His jaw tightened when he noticed I was shamelessly ogling him. He frowned and walked away. Not bothering to answer his brothers. Thankfully he had been the only one who saw me outrightly staring at him. I would have buried myself alive had it been any of the boys.

Everyone sighed, while I quickly got back to dicing the watermelon. I concentrated so hard in doing it, scared they might realize I irritated him away.
"Mama when will he stop behaving this way? It's really hard reaching out to him. He's blocked us all up. You can never concoct what's in his head. He would never visit our dorms, even after begging him a million times. When he sees us at school, he would either change routes or say a few words to us before vanishing like a shadow. I can fully say, he's ashamed of being called our brother" Ya Abdulhafiz stated popping a diced watermelon in his mouth.

I was cleaning up the kitchen island at this point. I have layered the fruits on each other in a large bowl and had taken it to the fridge. By the time we are leaving for the girls school, it would be chilly, if not frozen.

"Give him time. He's just not used to you guys. He talks to me and I didn't force him to. He's quite a talkative you know. Just give him time" Hajiya Asiya defended as she stires the stew slowly. I for one, has taken a notice of how Hajiya has weak spot for Farooq. She's always out to defend him. I've never heard her reprimanding him. It's always laughter with both of them.  The first time I saw him laughing, I felt goose bumps travel my whole body. He had these amazing dimples which I noticed is prominent in the Baqi family. He was telling her about some experience he's had. I should have stayed by the door and watch, but something pushed me into going in there to ask for the location of some seasoning cubes. His beautiful grin vanished immediately. He just stared at me with those cold grey eyes.

"19 years is enough for anyone to open up. It's enough for anyone to realize who actually loves him" was the last thing I heard. I h zoned out of their conversations with the thoughts of Farooq. Abdullahi walked out of the kitchen with his brother in suit. 
I saw Hajiya Asiya's shoulders slump in defeat. I realized she was deeply troubled by his attitude too. On bringing out food flasks to dish out the food, I heard Saratu's voice. I smiled happily. I don't know why I miss her. A few days I've spent with her around the house was divine. I've always wanted a sister.

"Assalamu Alaikum,  a very Good afternoon to you Baba. Hope you've been fine. I bought you popcorn" I heard saratu say cheekily. I heard Alhaji thanking his daughter. The perks of having a female child. They always think of their parents first. This goons came and chewed half the fruits I diced instead.

I heard her footsteps approaching the kitchen. "Yasi!!! How are you? Hope mama is not stressing the life out of you?" she said hugging me slightly before turning her attention to her mother. I could not reply because of how quickly she started talking again.

"My sweet Mama. How are you?" she said hugging Hajiya tightly.

"First of all, I'm not stressing her, secondly I'm okay. How are you my dear?" Hajiya asked drying the food flasks, I had just rinsed.

"I'm fine. This looks delicious. I've missed good food Mama. I will eat to my fill. Let me go get dressed, I wouldn't want Baba's trouble. Are the boys back?" She stated all at ones before running upstairs. To me, Saratu seemed closer to her dad than her mom. I believe all girls are like that, it's like law of nature. Sadly, I never met mine. Guess we'd have been a great duo.

"Yasmin, Go put on the grey gown I got you and use the black veil. I'll finish up here. Alhaji isn't very patient, he will honk the life out of his car." Hajiya instructed with a smile.

I made my way to the room. Luckily for me, saratu was already out of the bathroom. I slid in and bathed, performed ablution and prayed zuhr.

As I placed my veil on my newly adorned hair, the loud car honking startled making Saratu chuckle.
"That's how he behaves every single time we are going out"

Alhaji blasted the car horn. I could hear him yelling about how we will all meet him at the girls school. He further went ahead to say, he was going to go and come back alone if we did not come out. I ran downstairs to find Hajiya Asiya and Saratu going to and fro with the food and snacks prepared. I followed suit quickly.

Apparently we were packaging alot to him. I had almost forgotten the mat, which Hajiya termed important, so I ran as my dear legs could take me. On getting back, I heard Alhaji complaining.

"Must you to take a mat there?"
"Where do you expect me to sit?" Hajiya asked clearly irritated. Nigerians could answer any question with a question. It's a normal thing.

He always asks questions about the food and the mat. It's as if he doesn't get tired of bringing it up. The last visiting she totally ignored him, even as he kept asking the reason for including a mat in things they needed. He took no heed to her tone.

"In the car of course. It's not a picnic Asiya. You like being extravagant.  You'll attract attention to your children. Why not just....... "
"Bello!! Please and please leave me alone" she warned and he kept mute.

She was a ticking time bomb, it's obvious his incessant honking had riled her up already. After packing everything in the car, there was no way, we were going to fit in there.
It was just a sit, and no-one wanted to sit there, as saratu told me Alhaji was a troublesome driver. He would quarrel at every mistake a person makes on the road, sending them abuses and insults. She told me she's praying silently that he doesn't get to insult her in-laws at the rate which he's going. I remember laughing at the possibility.

So Alhaji told Abdulhafiz to bring out the Toyota Matrix, apparently the 4 of us would ride in the matrix.

"Where is Farooq?" Alhaji  asked.
"He's not coming. He's not feeling too well " Hajiya quickly said making her husband cock a brow. He knows very well Farooq doesn't want to come. He's always isolating himself from family gatherings.

"Saratu go and call your brother" Alhaji bellowed making me shudder.
It's almost 4 o'clock already. We are getting late as he's said, but I feel like he does not care at this point. In time, Saratu jogged out with Farooq trailing behind her.

"Why are you inside? Are you too big to see your siblings or what exactly is your plan?" Alhaji said getting down from his car. Farooq kept mute and uninterested in what his own father was saying.. Sincerely speaking, Farooq is a brat to me.

"Get into the car, you'll be the one drivi......"

Just then a loud car horn was heard outside the gate. Well we were all curious to see who it was.
The gateman ran to the gate, opened the door slightly...
Then he exclaimed!

"Alhaji it's your sister" he had announced. I could hear everyone groan. Well that's not good. Hajiya Asiya hopped in to the car and banged her door. Alhaji turned his attention to Farooq who had the biggest frown I've ever seen.

"As I was saying, Abdullahi! Get down from the car, Farooq will be the one driving you all" Abdullahi didn't waste a second, as he did as instructed.

"Bello, where are you all going dressed up like that" came an older lady who looked alot like Alhaji Bello. Definitely the Aunty!
"Good afternoon to you too Luba. We are going to see Anisa and Hadiza, today is their visiting day.

"I will tag along then" she concluded without waiting for an invite.
"Asiya, did you not see me?" Mama Luba added angrily.
"I did not" Hajiya replied looking away. Well, mama Luba hissed, muttering profanities before hopping into her own car.

Her gaze shifted from each and every one of us, as we greeted her one after the other. Then it stopped on Farooq who was busy swiping his phone to even spear her a glance. She hissed again before turning her attention to Saratu.

"Saratu come and ride in my car" mama Luba offered. Saratu didn't look pleased but had no other choice. Mama Luba looked at me questioningly but didn't say anything.

    I got into the car when I realized I was the only one standing. Then we took off. It took 10 minutes to get to the school, but seems many parents were here to see their kids caused a traffic jam. Spent another 10 minutes trying to get inside, a total of 20 minutes all.

Throughout the ride, I looked down, playing with my fingers. The 2 chatterboxes kept sharing stories. Farooq only smiled or ignore them totally. Abdullahi would tease me and they'd laugh at me.

I've never been to a school, well just islamiyya. It looked so nice. The students were perfectly dressed in diffirent colors, green, yellow, blue and red, moving about smartly. Speaking English. I've always wanted to speak English but life had other plans.

"Mama! Baba!" two girls ran towards where Hajiya Asiya and saratu had laid the mat.
"My babies! We've missed you" both parents said hugging their kids. They hugged everyone around. Anisa who's my age mate wore the red one while Hadiza had the yellow color.

I noticed they were not too happy seeing mama Luba who had mounted the mat as though it was her idea to visit the girls. They didn't notice me as they started chattering. Hadiza was the first to pick notice in my presence.

She came close to me, touched my cheeks like some 5 year old then asked who I was. Mama Luba was the first to react.

"I've been meaning to ask since. Who is she? Asiya you bring everyone you meet into your home not knowing what they are capable of. Remember what happened the last time." she said confusing me. Everyone groaned. It's like they are all tired of listening to the same banter. Hajiya Asiya did not bother to offer her an explanation. Her attention was on her beloved Farooq.

Farooq stood up and left. The woman knew how to work the poor boy up I guess. Hadiza quickly followed him. Everyone kept mute, waiting for the ticking bomb.

"Who even told you to follow us. I've told you several times to leave my son alone. You always look for reasons to make him leave, you're always ousting him from his family. They are his siblings for God's sake. You know what you should leave" Hajiya seethed angrily.

Mama Luba blinked multiple of times, then she turned her attention to Alhaji who looked away. Then she started sobbing, picked up her car keys and left.
This family has alot of drama.
Well which family doesn't?

I got to know Anisa better since she was my age. Farooq didn't show up until 30 minutes to us leaving. Anisa hugged him and she started telling him all that had happened to her.

Just then, girls my age, definitely Anisa's friends came to greet the family.

"How are you?" a fair pretty one directed the question to me.
I looked at her dumbfounded. I have no idea what she was saying.

"She doesn't understand English" Anisa chirped in. I understood because she spoke Hausa.

They all started giggling, saying things in English as they took turns looking at me and giggling. I don't know what she was saying. But the giggles from the other girls confirmed they were talking about me.

I ignored them. Peering at my hands tears welling up in my eyes.
"Anisa, where is the brother?" the girl asked smiling sweetly at Anisa, who kept turning around, trying to pinpoint his location. The moment she saw him, she squealed.
"He's over there"

They all ran to Farooq. He looked tired and angry but it's like they don't care. Leaving the school was tad dramatic, Hadiza started wailing. She didn't want to get separated from Farooq. He promised to visit her, only then did we get to leave.

Saratu drove with her parents. I maintained my position in the car. For some awkward reason, Farooq and I kept exchanging glances through the rear view mirror. And whenever we did, I would feel heat crawling up my palms. My heart beat would pick up. My mouth dry. But for some odd reason I love the feeling. For the first time in my life, I wanted something.