A year on Venus

11: Goodbye!

My dad had this confuse look on his face. And for a moment I thought he wasn't happy with my decision.

With a calm tone I said, "you know I can still change a different place if you don't like it." I smiled at him. But he shook his head, "it's not that my Darling, it's just that i'm wondering how you knew I studied there? Or have I once told you that? Because I can't remember telling anyone of that."

My eyes dilated at that. I had no idea when I embraced him in a hug. "You didn't. What a coincidence or should I say fate?" I whispered.

I felt mom joined in our hug. We stayed there for minutes before finally letting go.

"Alright Jasmine. Please always fear Allah. It can be influencive there. But with Allah everything will be good. Inshaa Allah."

"Thank you Bappa." I said and hugged him again. I quickly let go this time around. I don't want my emotions to be all over the place.

"I'll proceed everything this week Inshaa Allah. And you can start from next week I'm sure. Since their circular school calender isn't like ours. So are you taking a three year course study or four or even two if you want? But the latter will include studying even in summer. Literally without a break like an engine." He said.

I found myself laughing at that. "I'm good with three Inshaa Allah." I said with a calm tone as I glanced at mom and saw her smiling at me.

"From there, you add on with masters?" He said with a questioning tone.

I smiled before answering, "we will see about that. Let's wait for the time to come."

"Leaving everything to Allah right?" He asked with a smile.

Right away I knew who I took after.

"Exactly." I said as we fist bumped.

Mami laughed at us, shaking her head in process.

"Alright I'll go check my books." I said getting up. "Thank you very much. I love you all for Allah's sake. Alhamdulillah for the best parents on planets." I said as I salute both my parents playfully.

"Do you know I used to be a soldier?" Dad called out. I stopped in my track. "A soldier? When was that?" I asked. I was super curious. He never once mentioned that.

"Few years back. That was my first job honestly. I stopped after something that took a turn in my life happened. I thought I'll regret it all, but then your mom happened. She's the best thing to happen in my life so far." He said.

"So far?" Mami asked with  a questioning look.

"Are you adding on marriage Safar?" She was having this serious look on her face. I fought the urge to laugh.

"If Jasmine ends up bringing that certificate won't it make me happy? So that's the-so-far." He explained and I watched as Mami smiled genuinely at him.

These two! Hmmm!

They never fail to amuse me. She's still jealous over him, even after all these years.

"You wanna talk about what happened that made you stopped?" I asked and he knew I was talking about the-used-to-be-soldier thing.

He shook his head sideways.

Great!

"Well, it's even better that way. Letting the bygones be bygones. What's in the past should be left there. But anytime you wanna talk about it your best friend is always here Bappa." I said with a grin.

Alhamdulillah for you Jasmine."

"Alhamdulillah for you too." I said.

I looked towards mom and she had that pretty smile on face.

"You're beautiful." I found myself telling her. "Mashaa Allah." I quickly added.

"Mashaa Allah. Tabarakallah. Thank you." She said with a smile.

"Alright guys bye. I'll be in my room." I let out as I began walking to my room.

"Tell your brother about this alright?!" I heard mom said.

I turned around fully and nodded my head at her. "I will." I let out and that's how I found myself in my room breaking the news of ending up in Scotland to my brother. He did nasiha(preaching) for me and asked me to be careful and I was so grateful for that. He said his wife been waiting for me and wondered why I wasn't visiting them. I was nervous to answer that. I was careful because I had no idea maybe the phone could be on speaker and I might hurt her feeling if I end up saying I don't like being around her.

"School been hectic. But now that it's finally over I'll definitely want us to hangout. So i'm inviting you guys first. Come tonight let's hangout. I'll be free for you guys. I've booked my evening for you guys." I said and let out an awkward grin like he would see.

I heard him mumbled something about me being crazy and acting like somebody before I even get the chance of being somebody. Something along the line of me being a nobody, before he ended the call.  I smiled at that. It was funny. This guy will forever keep on pulling my legs. He's a sweet soul though.

I dropped the phone and lightened an incessant before climbing up bed with my textbook. I need to solve as much as I can before they come. I'm not even sure if he took that as an offer or not.

Two weeks later

I was fully dressed with my back pack. I can't believe this is it. I can't believe this is gonna be a temporary good bye to my homeland. For these past weeks I found a friend in my brother's wife Aisha. She's such a good person. Now that we are both standing in the airport and I'm about to leave for Scotland I can't help but cry along with her. She'd been crying for almost 20 minutes now. She'd hugged me like her life depended on it. "Take care of yourself." She finally said and let go. I moved over to Fahad and hugged him. "You take care of her for me, for us, okay? I'll call you as soon we land. And we gonna be face timing a lot. Inshaa Allah I'll be back soon." I said and some hurtful tears cascaded down my face. Fahad didn't even cry, just like the strong guy he had always been. I broke the hug and moved back and just then I remembered I didn't give Aisha the address I said I would give her. I quickly removed my back pack and got out a memo and pen and scribbled down an address. I torn away the page and hold it out for her. "This is the address. Please make sure you pay a visit. The girl's name Iman. Please do go, I beg of you." I said amidst tears. I got to visit them once and only once. And they never came to my house. What I gave them I knew won't ever be enough. For the first time I wanted to start a Charity foundation. And I so badly wanted Iman's family to be first beneficiaries of that mini charity foundation. I gotta be in touch with them through Aisha.

Aisha nodded, "Inshaa Allah I'll be there."

With a final wave, I waved them off and then Fahad exchanged hugs with Mami and Bappa. They'll be going there with me and return home when I am stabled. That's what they said.

Borno state will forever have my heart and I can't wait to be back.