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Aidah

We had already spent three days in Spain and were headed for a family bonding trip in Andalusia, Marbella. Marbella is like the Miami of Spain, with its beautiful beaches and all the fun places to explore. As we rode the bus toward Andalusia, I was dressed in a white body-con dress with a gray kimono on top, paired with my Dior slippers and a matching Dior bag. I also wore sunglasses and a fedora hat to complete the look.

We had hired a family catamaran cruise, a really big one. I was seated with Khalifa, and next to us were Ya Ummi and her husband, Ya Umar. I had purposely brought my camera to capture every moment we shared. I turned the camera toward Ya Ummi.

"Hi, Ya Ummi!" I said, turning the camera to her.

"Kai, nayi kama da buhu wallahi I look like a sack," said Ya Ummi, and we all laughed at her.

"Hi, Ya Umar!" I focused on him, and he did some funny gestures with his hands that made us all laugh.

We soon arrived at the location, got off the bus, and walked to the boat. Yagana and I were the last to board, busy videotaping the boat from afar and capturing the stunning ocean views. It was such a beautiful sight!

We joined the group and began cruising around in the ocean. The kids and some of the elders decided to swim; they changed into their swim gear, put on life jackets, and jumped into the water. Since I had a cold, I couldn't join them, so I stayed back and videotaped the fun. That's when I noticed my nephew Ameer pouring Sprite into the water. "Ameer, what are you doing?" I asked him, genuinely shocked.

"I'm giving Sprite to the fishes," he said, and I laughed while taping him. The next thing he did shocked me—he threw the can into the water! Kids!

Everyone was busy snapping pictures, and the couples were being all lovey-dovey. The mothers had decided to stay back at the villa. Everyone looked great, especially Ya Ummi, who had just had a baby last month; she looked even better than I did!

Ammi, Nadia, and the others went on a banana boat. It looked fun, but there was no way I was doing that—I didn't want to get wet, plus I hadn't brought a swimsuit and I was still dealing with a cold. I definitely didn't come here with the intention of getting into the water.

"Aaliya, what happened when you were on the boat?" I asked my little niece.

"We flipped," Aaliya said, shivering, and we burst into a fit of laughter.

Mahmoud and I lay on the bouncy net, and I put on her shades to shield my eyes from the sun. Khalifa snapped a picture of us without us realizing, but I actually liked it! We were really having fun bonding. Adda Niimah was being all peppy, acting like herself, and everyone else seemed to be enjoying themselves too.

We returned home almost two hours ago, and now we were getting ready for dinner at a Piucaro restaurant. I chose a cream satin top paired with beige straight pants, a Jimmy Choo handbag, Tom Ford heels, and my Cartier watch and ring. I tied a beige Hermès vintage scarf on my head, and I felt absolutely stunning. I finished off with a spritz of my YSL Black Opium perfume. Earlier, I did a simple makeup look with just a bit of foundation, lip gloss, mascara, eyeliner, and a touch of blush.

When we arrived at the restaurant, I had my camera with me, as usual. As I stepped out of the car, we walked to a beautiful, empty space and ordered some drinks before dinner. We started snapping pictures and enjoying ourselves, while Mahmoud complained that his drink tasted a bit off.

I brought the camera to his face. "Mahmoud, what does your drink tastes like?'' I asked him.

"Miya," he replied, and we all laughed because, honestly, what the hell!

"Wane irin Miya?" I asked him again.

"Miyar Alabo," he replied.

What the hell?!

"Do you know what Alabo is?" he asked.

I laughed and said, "There's no such thing. Alabo danwake ne, fah!" I continued between giggles, "Da gaske, Amman, it's not nice?"

"Toh, kin taba jin miyar danwake? Allah, it's not nice," he said.

I took the camera everywhere to capture everyone. Everyone was dressed super nicely, and all the kids were at home with Ammi and their nannies.

"Ya Ummi, outfit of the day!" I called out, turning to her as she stood with Ya Ibrahim. He was playfully using his hand to make her turn so we could see her outfit. She looked stunning in light blue ripped denim jeans, a white top, and a knee-length trench coat.

"Mu baku ce mana mu saka kaya mey kyau ba ai," said Ya Ibrahim.

"Yes, and look how nicely they're dressed," Ya Aminu, Ya Mamma's husband, agreed.

After bantering for a while, we took our seats and chatted, enjoying ourselves while we waited for the others to arrive. There was a live band playing, and I was absolutely in love with the view.

"Oh my God, I'm sitting next to the photographer!" Mairam exclaimed, waving at the camera. As I tried to get the camera to focus on Khalifa, he quickly ducked, not wanting to be seen on camera. What a weirdo!

"Ahh," he said, covering his face with his arm. He has a phobia about cameras and really hates being in them. I ordered a drink that was really nice, but I had forgotten the name. Meanwhile, Mahmoud was trying to teach Nadia something in Hausa, but she wasn't getting it at all.

"Say it after me," he instructed. "Tattabara Tara Kwai Tara zata gari tara." Nadia, on the other hand, ended up saying something completely different.

"No, no, no," Mahmoud said, chuckling.

"I said it the opposite way," Nadia said, trying to mimic what he had said.

"Okay, say this: zam zamaru..." he said, and everyone made faces like, "What the hell?"

"That's fake," I said to him, laughing.

"Fake kuma, it's not fake," he argued. He said something else, and everyone burst into laughter.

I went over to the food station, where they were serving sea bass covered entirely in salt. The chef poured a liquid over the fish, then removed all the salt and sliced it into pieces. He served it on each plate with mashed potatoes and a sprig of mint.

We were now eating, singing, and having a blast—our table was just so lively! It was me, Ya Aisha (Ya Ibrahim's wife), Khalifa, Mahmoud, Nadia, Mairam, Abdallah, and Yassine. God, I love my family so much; they are never boring!

I handed the camera to Nadia. "Nadia, please snap me." She took it and captured a picture of me. I also snapped some photos with my phone and posted them on my Snapchat and Instagram stories.

"Kai kai kai... no, Abdallah!" Nadia smacked his arm as he tried to take a swig of her drink—and he actually succeeded!

We finished our fun dinner and headed back home. I changed into comfy sweats and a shirt before calling Sayyid. He had called while we were at dinner, but the place was crowded, so I promised to call him when I got back. He picked up on the third ring.

"Hey, Aidah," came his sexy, husky voice.

"Hey, were you sleeping?" I asked, feeling a bit guilty for calling so late.

"Yeah, I am so tired. Just got back from work..." he said with a sigh.

"Ayyah, sorry! Perks of being the first male child," I chuckled. "You should go back to sleep; I'm sorry for interrupting."

"Goodnight, babe. I'll call you tomorrow, inshallah," he said before we ended the call.

I stood up and walked to the living room, where I heard a chorus of laughter. I joined them, taking a seat next to Ya Fatima, who is Ya Ahmad's pregnant wife.

"Aunty photographer, you're out too?" Ya Umar asked, and I nodded with a smile. He's always so fun to be around and bubbly as ever. They've been married for six years now and have two adorable daughters, Amna and baby Lily.

Ya Mamma spoke up, "All these yan mata, you should come and marry. You're not getting any younger!"

YaKaka chimed in, and then Ya Aisha, Ya Ibrahim's wife, agreed. "Mairam, especially you, then Yassine, Amma, Aidah, and Kami."

We'll be having another wedding very soon—Aicha is getting married! We chatted about how her wedding is going to be. When we asked Ya Fatima about the gender of her baby, she smiled and said, "I haven't checked; I want it to be a surprise," while gently rubbing her bump.

I excused myself and headed back to the room. I called Maryam, and we chatted for a while before I ended the call, feeling my eyelids grow heavy. After reciting my dua, I settled into bed and drifted off to sleep.

The next day...

It's Baba's birthday, and I'm getting ready for the dinner celebration. It's also Mairam's birthday since she shares the same day with our dad. I'm running really late—I was supposed to be there earlier than everyone else, but here I am, still doing my makeup. I heard Ayman's voice outside, so I decided to check if he's ready.

"Ayman, ka shirya?" I called out, blending my concealer as I waited for his response.

"Shirin mey?" he replied, sounding a bit confused.

"Shirin dinner mana," I replied, rolling my eyes playfully at his forgetfulness.

"Oh no, not yet," he answered, his voice a bit frantic. I just said "Okay," before turning my focus back to my makeup.

I had already done my brows for the brunch we had earlier, so I just brushed them and added some color. Once I finished my makeup, I slipped into my red fitted dress from 'Hudayya' and paired it with a matching red headscarf. After getting ready, Aicha and I headed to the venue of the party a bit early to ensure everything was in order.

I made my niece Aaliyah snap a full picture of me after the professional photographer had finished. "Should I go farther?" Aaliyah asked, tilting her head with a playful grin.

"Not that far, Aaliyah, come a little closer," I instructed, smiling as she adjusted her position. She moved in and snapped a few shots, her giggles making it hard for me to keep a straight face. After a couple of clicks, I felt satisfied with the pictures. "Perfect! You're getting really good at this!" I praised her, and she beamed with pride.

The dinner kicked off as Baba and the rest of the family arrived, filling the room with excitement. A vibrant flamenco dance performance captivated everyone's attention. The dancers, dressed in colorful traditional attire, moved gracefully to the rhythmic claps and strumming of guitars, embodying the essence of Southern Spain's rich culture. I couldn't help but admire the passion in their movements, and the atmosphere was electric, with everyone clapping along to the beat.

As the video montage began to play, the room fell silent, all eyes on the screen. Mahmoud and Khalifa appeared, grinning widely.

"Happy Birthday, Baba!" Mahmoud started, his voice warm and cheerful. "You've always been our guiding light. We appreciate everything you've done for us, and we love you more than words can express."

Khalifa chimed in, his playful nature shining through. "You know, Baba, every time we get into trouble, we just remember how you managed to survive raising us! That's a true superpower. We love you, and we're grateful for every moment with you."

The family erupted in laughter and applause, and I couldn't help but smile at their heartfelt words. It was the perfect tribute, encapsulating the love and admiration we all felt for Baba.

The room was filled with warmth as Mahmoud's words resonated with everyone. "We thank you very much once again for being a wonderful father to all of us. Happy Birthday, Baba!"

As the video continued, I saw Baba's eyes glisten with emotion. The laughter and love shared during the montage had clearly touched him.

Mairam, sitting beside me, whispered, "This is perfect, Aidah. He's going to cherish this forever."

I nodded, feeling proud of the effort we had all put into making this birthday special for him. The heartfelt messages from each sibling reflected the strong bond we shared as a family.

We all gathered around as Baba and Mairam stood in the center, smiles stretching across their faces. The moment was electric with joy as we sang a heartfelt birthday song, our voices harmonizing perfectly. Once they cut the cake, the room erupted in cheers and applause.

The music kicked up a notch, and we all hit the dance floor, laughing and celebrating together. I felt a sense of pure happiness wash over me; the atmosphere was filled with love and togetherness. It was a day to remember, surrounded by family, dancing and sharing stories, just living in the moment.

As the night went on, I couldn't help but think, "This is what life is all about." Today truly felt like the best day of my life, a perfect blend of celebration and cherished memories.

After a long, joyous day, we returned home, still buzzing from the celebration. Everyone was exhausted from the festivities, so we settled in for an early night. Before drifting off, I made sure to call Sayyid. I excitedly recounted all the highlights of the party, sharing how Baba and Mairam enjoyed their birthday surprises. I even showed him a few pictures, capturing the laughter and love we all shared.

As we chatted, I felt a sense of warmth and connection, despite the distance between us. But soon, fatigue overwhelmed me, and I realized it was time to end the day. I said goodnight to Sayyid, feeling grateful for the wonderful memories we had created and the special bond we shared. With a contented sigh, I tucked myself under the covers and let sleep take over, looking forward to whatever tomorrow would bring.

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