Enjoy......🌷

As soon as I hung up the phone with Kamilla, Aidah's sister, I rushed to finish getting ready. She had just informed me that Aidah was out of the operating theater after an acute appendicitis surgery. Alhamdulillah, she's okay, but she hasn't woken up yet. The news left me both relieved and anxious, and I couldn't wait to see her.

I got into my car and drove straight to Diff Hospital, where Aidah was admitted. The drive felt longer than it was, my mind racing with thoughts about her condition. When I arrived, I headed straight to the reception and inquired about her room. The woman at the reception desk checked quickly and gave me the details. I thanked her and made my way down the hall to Aidah's room, my heart pounding with every step.

I entered the room's lounge and immediately saw Ammi sitting with Mairam and some of Aidah's other siblings. I squatted and greeted respectfully, "Ammi, Barka da rana." I turned to the rest of the family.

Ammi returned my smile warmly. "Barka Kadai, Sayyid. How are you?"

"Alhamdulillah, I'm fine. Ya mai jiki?" I asked, my voice filled with concern for Aidah.

"Alhamdulillah," Ammi replied. "She's doing better. The doctors said she'll need rest, but the worst is over."

I nodded, feeling relieved but still eager to see her myself. It was comforting to be surrounded by her family, even though I had only met some of her sisters before: Ummi, Meera's friend, along with Kami, Yassine, Amma, Mairam, Yamamma, Niimah, and Nadia. I knew there were more of the Deribe sisters, and I looked forward to meeting them someday.

"You can go in and see her; she just woke up," Mairam said with a nod toward the room. I smiled gratefully and said, "Thank you," before heading in.

As I entered, I greeted with a gentle, "Assalamu Alaikum." Aidah was lying on the bed with a weak but genuine smile. She replied softly, "WaAlaikumussalam."

"Hey, Wifey," I said warmly, walking over to her bedside.

"Hi there," she replied in a low voice, her strength still returning.

I pulled the chair closer and sat down next to her. "How are you feeling?"

She nodded faintly. "Better, Alhamdulillah."

"Allah ya kara sauki," I said sincerely.

"Ameen," she whispered, her voice soft but steady.

I couldn't help but smile, relieved to see her awake and responding.

I sighed softly and asked, "Do you need anything? Mami is coming later, InshaAllah."

She shook her head gently and gave me a small smile. I hated seeing her like this—so fragile.

Moments later, Mairam and Kamilla joined us in the room. We sat together and talked for a little while, keeping the conversation light to lift Aidah's spirits. Eventually, I decided it was time to go.

Standing up from the chair, I leaned slightly closer to her. "Baby, I'm leaving now. Get well very soon, okay?"

She nodded, her smile warming me. "I love you," I whispered softly.

"I love you too," she replied, her voice just as tender. Iman and Mairam immediately "awed" and started teasing us.

Shaking my head with a chuckle, I stepped out of the room, stopping briefly to bid farewell to Ammi and the rest of Aidah's family. With a heavy but hopeful heart, I left the hospital, praying for her swift recovery.

•

Today is finally the day I get to leave the hospital! After five long days, I can't wait to go home. I've been walking again since three days ago, though Sayyid couldn't resist making fun of my wobbly steps—not funny at all! He's been so consistent, visiting me every day after work and staying until after Maghrib. His mother has visited three times, and his sisters come by daily, which has been incredibly sweet. Kamilla and Mairam have been taking turns staying with me, and I couldn't ask for better company.

Now, I'm all packed and ready to leave. Mairam and I are sitting in the room, waiting for Iman to bring the discharge papers. A moment later, the door swings open, and Kami walks in with a triumphant smile, holding the papers.

"Let's go," she says cheerfully.

Mairam and I get up, and together we walk out of the room. Finally free, we step outside, hop into the car, and drive away from what I can only describe as a "hell hole." The relief is almost overwhelming.

On the way home, we're laughing like a bunch of carefree kids. Kamilla has us in stitches, narrating stories about her secondary school days and how she got bullied after Adda Niimah and Amma graduated. The way she tells the stories, complete with dramatic gestures and sound effects, makes the entire car erupt in laughter.

It feels so good to be heading home, surrounded by love and joy.

The conversation naturally shifted to another topic—how people perceive our family as being rich and aloof, unwilling to mingle with others. Kami rolled her eyes dramatically as she recounted her experience.

"You know, that day Ya Amma and I went live on Instagram, if you saw the type of questions people were asking... ehn! Some were just shocking, while others were plain ridiculous," she said, shaking her head.

Mairam laughed knowingly. "People always ask me one question in particular: 'Can you speak Hausa?' Like, how many times do I have to tell them I grew up in Maiduguri?!"

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Kun san Nima I get that a lot. Things like, 'Can you and your sisters even speak Hausa?'" I said, mimicking the tone people often use, which made both of them burst into laughter.

The assumptions people make about us can be both amusing and exhausting. It felt good to share those little annoyances and laugh them off together. Moments like these remind me how much I love my family—they just get it.

Kamilla chuckled as she continued, "I even told them I can speak Hausa better than Ya Amma." Her statement wasn't far-fetched; people often assumed Kami wasn't Nigerian because of her Egyptian heritage, and her appearance often left them convinced she wasn't fluent in Hausa.

We finally arrived home, stepping out of the car and heading inside. In the living room, Ammi was seated with a few guests. We greeted them politely, and I excused myself to go freshen up. After five days in the hospital, I could barely wait to feel clean again.

The first thing I did in my room was take a long, relaxing shower. I wrapped myself in a towel afterward and began my post-shower routine, applying my mango-scented Body Shop yogurt lotion and tending to the rest of my skincare rituals. Feeling refreshed, I slipped into comfy sweatpants and a T-shirt, offered my prayers, and finally headed downstairs for lunch.

When I reached the living room, I found my sisters and Ammi engrossed in a lively conversation about the upcoming wedding. Excitement buzzed in the air—it was always fun to hear their plans and ideas for family events.

Yassine, Mairam, Kami, and I are planning to go for Umrah during Ramadan and will spend Eid in Sudan with Maama. I made my way to the dining table, served myself some tuwon shinkafa with miyan kuka, added a little yaji on top, and then went back to the living room. The guests had already left. Ammi was on the phone with Adda Niimah.

"Hey, maman Nahar," I greeted, beaming as I sat next to Ammi.

Adda Niimah and her husband had named their baby after Baba's mother, Ruqaiya, as well as Ya Ummi, but everyone calls her Nahar.

"Hey, Amaryar Sayyid, how are you? How's your health?" Adda Niimah asked.

"I'm doing well, Alhamdulillah. How's Musty and the baby?" I asked.

"They're both fine, Alhamdulillah," she replied.

Ammi glanced at me and smiled before resuming her conversation with Adda. I took a bite of my food—tuwon shinkafa and miyan kuka always hit differently, especially with a generous sprinkle of yaji. As I savored the taste, the thought of our upcoming Umrah trip and Eid in Sudan with Maama filled me with excitement. It would be such a special experience to spend Ramadan and Eid in such blessed and meaningful places.

"Amaryar Sayyid, na ji cewa you're traveling soon," Adda Niimah said.

"Eh, Adda. We'll be going for Umrah in a few days, insha'Allah, then straight to Sudan for Eid with Maama," I replied.

"That's wonderful, Allah ya kaimu. Make sure you pray for all of us while you're there, especially my little Nahar." She chuckled.

"Of course, Adda. I'll pray for everyone," I promised, taking another spoonful of food.

The conversation was light and joyful, as it always was with Adda Niimah. Talking to her made me realize how much I missed being around her and baby Nahar. Hopefully, we'd all get to reunite soon after Ramadan, insha'Allah.

After spending some time with Ammi in the living room, I decided to head up to my room. I was feeling so tired. As soon as I entered, I changed into my pajama set and climbed into bed, thinking of calling Maryam before I went to sleep. "Hey, mey ciki," I said when she picked up.

"Don't call me that," she replied in a weak voice. "This ciki is really suffering me, I swear. The morning sickness is something else," she whined.

I chuckled. "Sannu, how far along are you again?"

She sighed. "Just two months. I can't wait to leave this first trimester."

"Ayyah, sorry. The morning sickness will soon go, Inshallah," I comforted her. We drifted into another topic, talking about almost everything and nothing at all.

I ended the call and prayed Isha. After reciting my supplications, I picked up my laptop to do some work. I'm designing a new office for Ya Mamma. I was still working when I heard my phone chime. I checked, and it was a notification on WhatsApp from Sayyid.

Sayyid Remawa: Hey babe, how are you?

Me: Hey, I'm fine Alhamdulillah.. you?

Sayyid Remawa: I'm fine Alhamdulillah. Ya jiki?

Me: Jiki da sauki Alhamdulillah.

Sayyid Remawa: Mashallah. Allah ya Kara sauki.

Me: Ameen. What are you up to?

Sayyid Remawa: Nothing! Just chilling on my comfy bed.. you?

Me: Working..

Sayyid Remawa: You're sick and you are working?! Haba babe, you should rest.

Me: Babe, I'm feeling better now. Besides, I'm bored and it's not serious work.

Sayyid Remawa: You should still rest, and what work again?!

Me: Okay sir! I'm designing Yakaka's new office.

Sayyid Remawa: Okay.. but baby please, you should rest well and work less.

Me: Sure, my love. Meye labari toh?

Sayyid Remawa: Babu labari. I'm bored these days, Wallahi. If it's not work-related, there's nothing I talk about really. I'm becoming more like baba. I'm gonna be old soon before my time!

Me: I feel you, baby am. Don't worry, I'll still love you with the gray hair and all, and it'll look good on you. In fact, I won't be surprised if you already have some!

Sayyid Remawa: Babe! Stop making fun of me.

We talked for a bit longer before Sayyid excused himself. I noticed another notification from our family group. They'd been chatting for a while, but I hadn't checked it. I saw a message from my brother, Ya Hammad too.

Hammad Deribe: Hey lil sis. How are you?

Me: Yaya!! I'm fine Alhamdulillah. How are you?

Hammad Deribe: I'm fine too. Ya jiki?

Me: Jiki da sauki Alhamdulillah. How's Lagos?

Hammad Deribe: Mashallah.. Lagos is fine o.

Me: So what's up?

Hammad Deribe: Nothing much. Just wanted to check up on you since you don't know how to do that!

Me: Haba Ya Hammad. It's not like that! I've been busy lately, that's why. I'm sorry, please forgive your lil sis.

Hammad Deribe: You are forgiven, but only because you were sick and I know you're busy with the upcoming wedding. I seriously can't believe you're getting married, Aidah.

Me: Yaya mana! Getting married is not easy o.

Hammad Deribe: It should be, if you're marrying someone you love.

Me: Ah, Ya Hammad! The preparations ain't easy.

We continued chatting for a while longer before I decided to go to bed. I was so tired. I brushed my teeth, prayed nafils, recited some Quran, and made my supplications. I cozied up in bed, recited my dua, and finally retired for the night.

Your girl has already reached Maiduguri!!

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Love Chiickadee.💕