The silly sound of Abdulrahman's phone ringing woke Jidda, she sat up and looked at her husband who was sleeping without worrying about the annoying sound his phone was making. It kept ringing and she wasn't ready to interrupt his precious sleep, he needed it so much, he was really tired when he got back from work yesterday.

It kept ringing continuously and she checked to see the caller, the call was from the hospital so she was left with no option but to wake him up.

She patted his shoulder gently and he opened one eye "morning already?" She looked at the nightstand clock, it was just 4:32am, she ignored his question.

"Your phone have been ringing for the last ten minutes, in fact it woke me up from my wonderful sleep." she pout then passed him the phone, "the call is from the hospital."

He sat up quickly and Hauwa shook her head sadly, the hospital was his biggest priority. The caller called again and after clearing his throat, he picked the call.

"Morning."

"Don't worry, it's alright, I'm already up."

"I'll be there in the next 20-30 minutes Insha Allah, get everything ready."

"Thank you." He smiled then ended the call.

Hauwa sat staring at him "an emergency came up so I'm needed urgently."

"Yes I know." He noticed that her mood had changed and she looked gloomy, that was him and her every time he had to leave very early to the hospital.

He pulled her, placing her head on his chest "what's wrong Jidda na?"

"When was the last time we had breakfast together with you and the kids? At least spend some time before we all leave for work, Abdul can you remember the last good time?" He saw pain in those loving eyes.

"Please Jidda it's okay, I can't remember the last time, but I'm really sorry, you know how that work is, it's not my doing, moreover y....."

"But others can also do it efficiently, it mustn't always be you, even Mansur can." Mansur was his half brother who worked in the hospital with him.

"You won't just get it, I will always have to be there." He looked into her eyes and she wiped away the tears.

"I'm sorry okay, I know the attention I've been giving you and the kids recently is not enough, I'm sorry."

"It's alright but wallahi I won't hide it, I missed us." She laid emphasis on "us." Abdulrahman looked at her apologetically before she got up.

"Bath and I'll quickly make breakfast for you." she opened the door and went to the kitchen.

He looked at her as she went out, he missed spending time with them too, but these days, work was hectic and he couldn't avoid that, after all it was all about helping and saving lives.

Hauwa escorted him out holding his bag and food flask, after collecting them, he pecked her cheeks "tell the kids I missed them a lot, but I'll come back early Insha Allah since there's no Islamiyya today, we can go out and spend some time together, kiss their pretty faces for me and I love you all."

She chuckled "I'll deliver your long message Insha Allah." He got into the car and started it.

"Please eat your food and pray before you start anything, may the almighty guide and protect you for me."

"Ameen dear wifey, kin san daga keh ba wata because you're all I need, four wives in one kikeji, may Allah bless you."

She laughed wholeheartedly "ameen, keep saying that, the day you marry another wife koh, be sure I'll drive her away."

"Kishi koh?" They laughed together and after saying goodbyes again, he started the car and drove out.

**********

Adda Maryam mama said you should wake Ahmad and Zahra" she was the actual person sent to do that but she was not ready for their trouble.

"Okay." Maryam got up and pulled the duvet they were covered with "wakey wakey, it's another pretty morning."

Zahra was the first to open her eyes, she looked at Maryam, frowned then let out an ear piercing scream that made Maryam jump in fright, she shook her head and wished she didn't wake them.

Ahmad knew what his sister meant so he screamed too, Hauwa who was in the kitchen came into the room in no time followed by Kubra who was laughing wickedly. They met the dou crying.

"Ya salam! What's wrong darlings?" She pulled them to her body lovingly. Zahra pointed at Maryam at the same time with her brother.

"Big for nothing, me ki kai masu? Ke har yanzu you don't know how to treat your younger ones."

Maryam bent her head sadly, her mother would always back the two no matter what.
"I didn't d......"

"She woke us up from sleep and shouted in our ears." Ahmad interrupted.

"It's a lie."

"Maryam don't ever do that again." Hauwa scolded and Maryam wondered the former or the latter.

"Mama where is baba, is he sleeping?" Ahmad asked.

"No, he left for the hospital very early." Zahra started crying and Ahmad joined her.

"Yau na bani! What's wrong kuma?"

Zahra pout "we want to see baba." She made her mother chuckle.

"Come on my loves, he said he'd come back early since there's no Islamiyya." They stopped crying.

"He said he missed you all and he loves you guys so much."

"We love him too."

"Here." She kissed Ahmad's forehead, Kubra's, Maryam's then Zahra's.

"From baba to his dearhearts." she smiled at them affectionately, the love she felt for these kids was so much.

"Thank you baba." they chorused.

They finished eating then picked their school bags and went out to wait for Hauwa in the car, she would drop them then proceed to work, those morning lectures were sometimes annoying.

She came out of the house and locked the front door, she walked to where they were standing and stood "Let's take the other car, this one has faults sometimes." She pointed at the one they they standing beside.

"No mama, I want this one." Zahra stamped her feet then pout, tears were threatening to start flowing from her eyes.

"What's even there to cry for?" Maryam and Kubra asked each other and Hauwa eyed them.

"My baby gets whatever she wants so let's go." They entered and their mother started the car then drove out of the house, the gateman waved at Zahra and she waved back.

Ahmad was bored so he pinched Kubra and he knew very well she wouldn't let that slide, she eyed him and he pinched her again and she didn't hesitate to knock his big head and he started crying.

"Ahmad and Kubra behave yourselves or else I stop the car and deal with you two." They knew she was capable of doing that so they kept mute.

"But he started it fah mama." Maryam informed her mother.

"Then she would have ignored him ai, is he not the younger."

"Yes." Maryam said looking at a fuming Kubra.

They haven't gone very far when the car stopped on it's own, Hauwa tried to start the engine again but it was to no avail, she tried and tried but all in vain so she got out and opened the bonnet, there was nothing wrong there too. Seeing time was going and they'd all get late she told them to come out.

She stopped a Keke-Napep by the road, told the man the direction of the school, after paying him, the kids entered waving at her, she smiled and waved back at her heartbeats.

Hauwa returned to the car then called their mechanic who came to meet her sharply, after telling him the problem, he collected the key. She was already late so she boarded another Keke-Napep and quickly left for work.

Thanks for reading.
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JaddahBaba
09/11/18