It was a weekend and Fawwad was at home. If there's anything Walija despise, it has to come after weekends. Only on weekends, she got to see more of Fawwad and she just feels awkward when he's around. Though he mostly stays in his room, she still feels suffocated knowing that he's around.

It was twelve noon when she finished all her morning routines for the day and went to rest in the sitting room. After breakfast, Fawwad went back to his room and she hadn't set her eyes on him again. She was watching a reality show when the doorbell chimed. She wasn't expecting anyone so she stood up to open the door and see.

She was surprised when she saw Hafsat and Maya at the door.

"Hafsat... Maya, what a pleasant surprise!" She beamed. She was really surprised as well as thrilled.

"Aunty Walija, Good afternoon" they simultaneously greeted her and she answered by hugging them both.

"Come in please" she ushered them in before she locked the door and joined them in the sitting room.

"How's Mami and Abby?... Hope they're doing fine" she asked when she was finally seated.

"They're doing fine. They sent their regards" Hafsat answered.

"Where's ya Fawwad?" Maya asked. She was looking around to see where he'll show up but he didn't, so she asked.

"Maya! What kind of girl are you? Didn't we just got here?" Hafsat chided.

"It's okay Hafsat, she's just a cute little girl that missed her brother...right Maya?" She turned to Maya and she shyly giggled nodding her head.

"Good" she clasped her hands "let me get him for you" she stood up and left to his room.

What has Maya gotten her into? Ever since they'd gotten married, she has never, even for once went to look for him especially when he's in his room. If she wants anything from him, she'll wait for him in the sitting room and say whatever she has to say to him.

She face-palmed herself before she gathered some courage and knocked on the door. After two knocks his voice came through.

"Who's there?"

'Like seriously you're asking me that. It's a ghost' She wished to say but instead said

"It's me" she rolled her eyes

"What do you want?" He sounded annoyed

'What's really wrong with this crap?'

"Hafsat and Maya are here. They're downstairs waiting for you" she said. When he didn't say anything after some seconds of silence, she made to leave cause she was pretty sure he heard.

She walked back to them and Maya has already changed the channel to cartoon network while Hafsat was busy with her phone.

"He's coming" she said while she sat down.

"Okay!" Maya squalled while Hafsat shook her head. There's such a great connection between the two which Hafsat can't seem to understand.

"Let me get you something" Walija made to stand before Hafsat stopped her.

"It's fine...we've just eaten before coming" Hafsat said smiling.

"How about a drink...chocolate milkshake or banana smoothie?" Walija insisted.

"You shouldn't..."

"Banana milkshake!" Maya shrilled, cutting Hafsat off.

"Maya!" Hafsat scowled at her which made Walija chuckle.

These two are really something else.

"It's okay Hafsat. What can I get for you?"

"The smoothie will do" she smiled

Walija moved to the kitchen leaving the Tom and Jerry sisters behind.

She prepared their smoothies in less than five minutes. Poured it in tumblers and placed it on a tray with cookies. When she got back, their brother was with them. She placed the tray on the center table and they said "thank you" in unison.

Maya was the first to take hers and moved back with her brother. Walija excused herself to the kitchen to start preparing lunch and Hafsat joined her.

"How's school going?" Walija asked as she finished marinating a flounder and placed it in the oven.

"It's fine...Alhamdulillah (we thank God). Our finals are coming up next week insha Allah (by God's will). Hafsat simply answered.

From the way she spoke, Walija knew that she wasn't enthusiastic about it like a normal grade 12 student would.

"What's wrong? Aren't you excited that you're finally going to college?" Walija asked while washing her hands in the sink. Hafsat was helping her to chop the vegetables.

Walija finished washing her hands and used the kitchen towel to dry her hands. Just in time, Hafsat finished with the vegetables. Walija dragged her and they sat around the kitchen island.

"What's it Hafsat?...tell me" she looked at her concerned.

"It's Abby" she let out a sigh "I wanted to go to Harvard University...but Abby doesn't want to let me"

"But why?... I don't think it's anything"

"That's it! but Abby doesn't get it...I just don't know why"

"And Mami...what did she say?"

"She isn't saying anything" she sighed, "I think it has something to do in the past...something happened and they didn't tell us. In fact, they don't want to talk about it. I think it has something to do with... ya Fawwad. I don't know...just guessed so" she finished with a shrug.

Walija was silent. She knew that something must've happened in the past but she doesn't know that it was so drastic that they don't even talk about it.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that..."

"It's alright and some things are better left unsaid" Walija cut her with a smile.

"Abby said I should enroll in one university here in Abuja" Hafsat said looking away.

"It's not a bad idea you know. That's what I've always wanted; to study in Nigeria. But I never got the chance to...I mean considering Abba's work, we move from one country to another so I never got the chance to" she tried to encourage her.

"Where did you attend your college?"

"We were in Malaysia back then" she smiled bitterly, reminiscing the good old times.

"It must've been fun"

"Yes, it was" she smiled as she placed her hands on Hafsat's shoulders "Abby knows what's best for you. He will never make a decision on you which he knows will hurt you. He has a reason for not allowing to go but that doesn't mean he hates you or wants you to feel bad. Respect his decision and go to a Nigerian university. There are great universities here and I know that he'll take you to the best one of them"

"But all my friends are going" her eyes were becoming teary.

"It doesn't matter. You'll make new great friends here and besides, at some point in life you'll be separated with them and the only way you can get in touch with them is through phone calls, so why not now. Forget about everything and focus on your studies. Allah is with you and we are all here to support you" she finished embracing her.

"Thank you Aunty Walija" she said softly.

The timer went off indicating her broiled flounder is done. She stood up, brought it out and placed it on the kitchen island.

"Mmmm! It smells good Aunty Walija" Hafsat said while sniffing the sweet aroma "and I'm pretty sure it will taste just the same"

"We'll see about that" and they both laughed. "Let me make the tossed salad...can you help me put some ice cubes in the lemonade pitcher?"

"Yeah, sure"

And in no time they finished the mouth-watering lunch; broiled flounder, tossed salad and iced lemonade.

They came out to pray and Maya followed them while Fawwad went to the Masjid. After they finished praying, they all gathered at the dining area where they had their scrumptious lunch.

After Walija and Hafsat finished with the dishes, they joined them in the sitting room. They converse for some time before the driver came back to pick them up. They really had a good time and Walija was more than happy they saved her from being alone around their grumpy brother.

Coming back into the house after escorting them, she met him in the sitting room. She wanted to sit there and rest but now she couldn't. She climbed up to her and flopped down on her bed.

What a day!

Her conversation with Hafsat keeps coming back to her head. "Who exactly is Fawwad?" She asked herself.

There are way too many secrets which she doesn't know and she's eager to find them all out.

😿

❤