Don't make promises when happy, decisions when sad and reply when angry.
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Iqraam

Mistake?

What is she going on about?

I lifted her head up again and stared into her eyes

"You are not a mistake Iqra, who told you that?" I asked her

She shook her head and continued sobbing

I pulled her in a hug and she cried more

"Iqra.. shhhh... who said that?" I asked her

Finally after several minutes of silence, she spoke

"Abba... was talking.... and.... Namaan had said that..." she whispered

"What?" I said

Now that made me angry

No one had the right to call my sister that!

He has no idea about my family and yet he speaks

Wow

"Iqra he is no none to tell you that!" I said and she gave me a weak smile

"Ask ammi..." she muttered

I sighed

If it makes her feel better

"Come on, dinner is ready" I said and she nodded

I Waited for her as she went to wash her face and change

Once she was done we walked downstairs for dinner only to see father talking with ammi

I stopped dead on my tracks when I heard our names

"Fatima, i know what i did was wrong..." said father and ammi stared at him

"Wrong? Really Ibrahim? Wrong? You did not wrong us, you had made my kids suffer, Iqraam worked hard to be what he is today! And you say you have just wronged us? Really?" Snapped ammi

This was the first time I ever saw her angry and snap at someone

"I am sorry Fatima.... you know I was compelled.... I did not mean it!" He said

"Sure lying to me for 3 years was not enough? I thought you we're over the lying season Ibrahim!" She said as she walked away from father

I was named after him?

My mother never told us his name nor did I remember as he was hardly home

"Fatima i came back because I loved you! I can't stand to leave you alone and you know that!" He said

My ammi set on the couch, her back facing him

"Ibrahim... can we not do this... last time this happened you and I both know where it landed us!" She said

"Please Fatima..." he whispered sitting on his knees in front of her

"Go... I don't want my kids to know the bitter truth!" Snapped ammi

"The same truth that I cheated on my second wife? Or the truth that Iqra is my child who was unknown to me until a month ago?" He asked ammi

"Ibrahim please for Allah's sake, quit it!" Said ammi her face red.

"Just one question Fatima... why the hell did you not tell me about Iqra?" He asked ammi

Ammi went silent and did not answer

I felt Iqra tighten her arms around me
"I did not want her to know about you, Iqraam suffered enough because if you, I did not want my daughter to do so too!" She finally spoke

Her voice was hoarse

"Suffer?" He asked

"You left without a second thought, did you even realize how we survived this far?" She questioned

Abba went silent

"I thought so, Ibrahim.. you-" she sighed

"You are incorrigible!" Said ammi and father smiled slightly

"You know me Fatima, I have what I want... at any cost" he said the last part slowly

Hey that's my trait!!

"I know Ibrahim and that's what I am afraid of..." said ammi

He smiled as he pushed her head back to face him gently

"Why so?" He asked softly

I could not see ammi's face clearly but by her next words I knew she was at the verge of tears

"Because last time you said that.... Iqra happened" she whispered her voice cracking

I felt Iqra tense and I put my arms around her

Okay this is too much drama

Time to make an entrance

"As salaam" I said loudly and clearly that both ammi and father were shocked

"Iqraam..." said father and ammi stood up in front of him

Iqra and I walked down the stairs towards them

"Please seeing you here father but I don't think we meant this soon for the answer" I said and he smiled weakly at me

"Iqraam, I heard about Ruqayyah" he said smiling widely now

My eyes widened and I turned to Iqra with a questioning look

No one knew about us except Shumayll and Iqra

"Uh yes... she's his PA, a niqabi" said ammi and father gave me a weird look

Taking it that he knows about it, I shook my head

"Ammi can we have dinner please?" I asked and she nodded

Heading to the kitchen she left me and Iqra with father

"She doesn't know?" He asked me

"Question is, how do you know?" I asked

He smiled

Gesturing for me to follow him, he walked out of the front door into the open night air

Durban air is always chilly, nice sorta chilly

"My son, you may not have realized but there are many things you do that are like me" he said smiling slightly

I shrugged

No use

I never had him around to know that...

"I never had you around to know that so no, I did not realize" I said matter of factly

He chuckled

"Thats one thing you inherited from your mother... sassy remarks and fluent sarcasm, she seemed to hold a degree at it!" He said

I chuckled

Ammi using sarcasm? She never uses it on us

She is always 'prim and proper'

"Iqraam, i know I was missing in most parts of you life but please, just one chance to prove that I really want to be in your lives" he said

I halted mid way

He wants to come back?

Why?

"Why?" I asked him slowly

"I want to be a proud father, I was not there when you suffered alone for the family.... I did not have any knowledge about Iqra... I thought it was just you alone.. until a month ago..
I really wanna make a change Iqraam, please!" He said

I sighed

"Father, this is not an easy step, I mean for the past 23 years you did not bother about me or ammi, we can not simply let you into our lives, I for one, need time, to think over this, to get done with things as there are more important things I need to see to..." I said hoping I was making sense

He smiled slightly

"How about a getaway this weekend? 3 days in Tahiti, your family and mine?" He asked me

"I am sorry I have work..." I said

Think about ammi

Ruqayyah's words echoed in my head

I needed to think about her

If she wanted father back.... she would want to go...

"On second thought, I will check with ammi..." I said and he grinned at me

"I will look forward to it, son" he said opening his arms for a hug

Unfortunately I am not in that zone yet

Instead I extended my hand for him to shake

He smiled and did so

How can he remain so smiley all the time?!!

"Allah Hafiz" with that he walked away

"Oh n by the way, Iqraam, one way or another you are my son, I know your every move!" He winked and got in his car before driving away

I walked inside to have dinner with only one thought in my mind

How can I have 3 siblings and a father in just hours?

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Salaam people
I was thinking of changing the name of this book to 'The Billionaire and the Niqabi" or maybe "The Billionaires Niqabi"

Idk suggestions if I should do it or not...

Muah
Love u all

@scopian_16