#FewWords
Challenges make you more responsible. Always remember that life without struggle is a life without success. Don't give up and learn not to quit. The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it. Remember, Obstacles do not block the path; they are the path.

RECAP
"Take it easy with the bed Mr" Uncle Jalal said

My dad is well built, even at his age, he always works out and does exercises. When I was young, he always does that with Uncle Jalal, haven't seen them doing that together since I came back though.

Uncle Jalal laughed out loud and he couldn't stop himself, he has this contagious kind of laugh that'd make anyone around laugh. In a minute and the room was filled with Laughter.

CHAPTER TWENTY
SALMA'S POV
I said a Salam immediately I entered my house, everywhere was quiet

"Aunt...aunt"I called out when I checked the dining room and she wasn't there as well.

"Hello Salma" Umm Saira walked into the kitchen through the back door, I opened the fridge to get cold water.

I greeted her with a Salam and asked if she knew the whereabouts of the family.

"Maryam isn't back from school yet, Zainab just came back and she looked pretty tired, I guess she's sleeping" see explained to me.

I walked lazily upstairs and went into Aunt Zee's room, she was laying on her stomach, her laptop was still on and plugged in, she sure is tired. On the screen of the laptop were nice looking pencil skirts, very good looking

"these are wow colours"

Pencil skirts are really good but I don't really walk well in them, I'm a Hijabi so it must be a long one.  I quickly unplugged the laptop because its battery was full, used a blanket to cover her and silently walked out of the room so I won't wake her up.

My room as usual, had a welcoming oud fragrance, I plopped down on the sofa.

"I need some sleep but a shower first" I said to myself.

As much as I'd love to shower, I wanted to sleep too. I'm so tired of all these.

My phone blinked and I picked it up, it was my dad, he sent a message asking if I needed anything for the trip, I guess the school has already told him, that's good.

I don't need anything, I have everything I need, opened the drawer to search.

I quickly sat down again, I need to shower so I tried the five seconds rule. You know that moment when you just don't want to stand up and do anything, that's exactly how I'm feeling right now.

"5...4...3...2...1" and I was on my feet, straight into the bathroom, it smelled like strawberry wash.

Quickly did my business and without wasting anymore time, I took a nap.

"Wake up...wake up" someone said, it was a lady's voice. I think I'm in a dream where the woman is trying to get me away from this world, she stretched out her hand and continued calling me.

"Ahhhhhhhh, nooo" I screamed at the top of my voice when my hand was gripped.

"Aaahhh" Aunt Zee too screamed and I immediately woke up, profusely sweating.

"Why are you screaming?" We asked each other at the same time.

I have a such a wonderful Aunt, isn't she just wonderful? Note the sarcasm please.

"What's wrong up here?" My dad barged into my room, he stopped in his tracks when he saw the two of us on the bed laughing when none of us could give each other a valid reason why we screamed.

"Zainab? Salma?" He walked closer questioningly.

"Are you okay?" He asked just to be reassured before he leaves the room, immediately we answered in the affirmative, he left the room murmuring

"Don't I have a wonderful sister and daughter?" He threw his hands up and said sarcastically

"Yes you do" aunt replied

My dad left closing the door behind him, aunt had some packages which were arranged near my scanty dress mirror... wait...it isn't scanty anymore.

"Aunt Zee?" I called her as I walked to the dress mirror, there were different perfumes there, oh my gosh

"Arab perfumes?"I squealed

"Just calm down" she switched on her phone and started talking.

Ameer Al Arab, Ameer Al Oud, Surrati perfumes of different times, black XXX, I can't even list them, Tessori products too, even a burner, this is my happiest day. I'm so happy.

I just walked straight to my aunt and hugged her so tight she started coughing and a voice from the phone said

"I still love my wife please"

It's uncle Zayn, "Uncle Zayn" I called out, we exchanged pleasantries and in no time I've already told him about the perfumes.

Aunt Zee started opening the packages and they all included clothes my size. I was perplexed and Happy

"I told you I'd change your wardrobe some day" she said

There were gowns of different colours, peach, blue and different shades of blue she knows I love blue, I don't think I know the names of some of these colors. she even bought Pencil Skirts.

She showed me different pictures of how I'd go about everything.

"This pencil skirt is baby blue, wear it with this baby blue sleeve less and top it up with this denim long jacket" she said

"It'll look so good aunt Zee" I said

"What of a scarf" I added

"Yeah, yeah, use a black scarf, or...use a black scarf with black shoes and a black purse" she concluded

"Aunt, I'm leaving the country tomorrow, with my school's football players..."

"I know my dear and I've already packaged everything in a traveling bag, everything you need is in there" she said

"Who told you?" It was strange, was it dad or...

"Nasir told me" she smiled

"Ohh, Nasir, that explains it"

My phone rang and it was my dad, he called to inform us of dinner.

We finished eating dinner with mum on her phone, Maryam didn't come down for dinner today. We talked about a few happenings in the neighborhood and.

I chatted with the boys after I prayed Isha, I just checked my phone and I was added to a group chat. I was surprised buh when I checked the profile of the admin, it was Nasir, his picture was on the profile picture. He wore a royal blue suit and it looked so good on him, it hugged his body, his hair was very dark as usual.

We chatted for straight 2 hours, with jokes and Hammad diverting our attention to questions for us to solve.

At the end, I wanted to sleep but they all suggested we have a video call. I hate calls, video calls, texting is the best for me but I just had to join them.

I didn't talk much, the phone camera was kept away from my face most of the time.

"She's a talkative online and very quiet in real life or on video calls" Jackson laughed  as he chewed on something loudly in an attempt to annoy Hammad

"Jackson, will you shut the hell up!" Hammad said

"Heyyy, Ham" a voice said in the background.

It was a girl's voice, who could she be?
Before I could say anything, her face pops up on the screen.

"Heyy, Nas, Jack..." then she looked at me and said

"Young beautiful Hijabi, hiii" I laughed as I shifted the camera from my face.

"Heyy" I said lowly

"She doesn't talk?"she asked her brother who raised his hands up.
I could see everything because Hammad was using a laptop for the video call.

"I'm Arianna, this is my brother Arian" she left and came back in five seconds with a very good looking boy. He didn't look much like Hammad but one look and you'd know they are siblings.

"We are twins and 14 years, I have another brother, Hamid is his name"

In less than 15 minutes, she told me all about her family, at some point Jack and Nas said they were tired of her talks.

"You are disturbing her Aria" her brother Arian said

She immediately asked me if she was disturbing me but I told her she wasn't so she went on.

She told me her dad is a judge and her mum a lawyer while her brother is a medical student, a medico in his final year. Isn't this family wonderful.

After almost another two hours, she went to her room after telling me goodnight, Arianna talks a lot while Arian doesn't.

Hammad told me goodnight and he went off too, Nasir and Jackson left the video call a couple of minutes ago.

In the morning, I took breakfast and I immediately checked my bag to see if anything was missing.

I took my phone and laptop, I decided to type the summarized piece of the document I was given so I won't have to take papers around, I can even take my laptop to the podium when I want to present. I'll send the document to my phone immediately I'm done typing it, things will be easier.

Aunt Zee left the house early and told me she won't be home early so we just bid each other farewell, my dad also went out.

Maryam was in her room and mum didn't go anywhere.

"Mum, I was informed that..."

"Hold it there, you have a new mum now, that aunt of yours is so..." She shook her head.

"Listen to me, whatever you do, don't include me in anything you do" she continued chewing on some biscuits.

Anytime my mum behaves like this, it's as if my heart is being twisted like an orange being squeezed for its juice.

I just looked down and didn't say anything.

"Stand up from this place, why don't you always not get the fact that I hate you!" She shouted.

I just kept quiet still and looked down, slowly stood up from where I sat down and went out of the building, I walked to the backyard and sat.

Tears uncontrollably rolled out of my eyes, this hasn't happened in the last few weeks because of Aunt and I've being distracted by my new friends too.

My eyes were swollen, I wasn't thinking straight anymore.

THIRD PERSON'S POV
Salma continued to cry, her eyes became so red, no one was at home to console her.

She was there for hours and she even slept till it was an hour for her flight.

They all planned to meet at the school an hour before their flight, all the students were present but Salma was no where to be found.

"I'm worried now" The Coach said

"I just hope everything is alright" Nasir added.

"I'll take your car to check on her, I know her house"Jackson quickly said.

The coach gave Jackson the car keys, in no time Jackson and Nasir went to her house, they knocked but there was no reply.

"Let's just go in" Jackson barged into the house

"Hello" Jackson called out but no answer

They walked to the inner gate that'd take them to the main building before they could go in, Umm Saira came outside with a basket full of dirty clothes.

After asking them questions, she went upstairs to call Salma but she didn't see her.

"Salma, Salma...Salma" Umm Saira called out to Salma but Salma didn't wake up.

Jackson and Nasir heard so they followed her voice and went there.

"There's no time, just pick her up, Jack get her bag please" Nasir bent and scooped Salma into his hands.

He carried her without stress to the car, when Jackson was about to drive, Salma's mum, Rukayyah came outside and started shouting at Umm Saira for not getting her the cup of fresh orange juice she requested.

"Ma, Salma was..."

"I have no business with Salma" She growled and immediately stormed into the house.

Salma was in the back of the car.

"What sorta woman is that, I guess Salma doesn't talk about her mum because of how she is"

Jackson nodded his head in agreement to what Nasir said.

In a few minutes, Salma woke up

"Heyyy, Nas?" Salma sat up

"What's this? Your eyes are red and swollen" Jackson turned

"Face front please, you are driving" Salma started rubbing her eyes.

"How am I here?" she asked

"She has started"Nasir laughed

"Nasir carried you and..."

"Nasir what?" She screamed

Nasir immediately started hitting Jackson as he stopped the car.

━─━────༺༻────━─━

End of Chapter 20, thank you so much for your reads and don't forget to vote, comment and share.

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