Eye For An Eye

Ten

Amaya.

I have a feeling today is going to be interesting. I have always loved our soirée's but today's will be different.

Our parents aren't around, my father and his wives travel to his hometown a day before Eid so we spend it without them. The good thing is that they encourage it, most especially our father because he believes it will bring us closer and in a way maybe it does.

Everyone comes, even the married ones but no kids.
The caterers came an hour ago and they're setting up in the gazebo. I guess that's the advantage of having a massive compound—events like this.

It starts by 2pm and ends by 5pm.
"Yo!" Salim startles me.
"Are you trying to kill me?"

He shrugs looking around the compound "Your setup this year is exquisite"
I smile proudly "Really? I was trying to go for an elegant look—like a real soirée not a party".

He tilts his head looking at me "You call it soirée we call it a party"
"I would rather you call it a gathering".

"Anyway, Appa said he's been trying your phone but you've not been picking up so I'm to relay a message to you. Apparently, he can't make it because he had a thing with his friends but he sent compensation".

I smile "Is it what I think it is?"
He grins "He sent it to us all".

Aliyu or as we call him Appa is our father's first child. Our older brother and thankfully he's unbiased about who he shares a mother with. He's actually really cool but a lot older, he's in his fifties so the gap is a lot. He usually just comes by for a few minutes, also to make sure none of my brothers messes things up or does something stupid and then leaves.

"Amaya!"
My step sister Zainab and brother Rufa'i walk over.
"Uh, Zubair is coming later and I might not be around, I have to go pick up the cakes we ordered—is there someone coming for you that can keep him company?"

To translate it for you, 'You don't have a boyfriend and I do'.
Between us, the children—there's no bad blood. We fight like siblings do, sometimes take care of each other but there's a bit of—who's better than who among the females. The males, none but us? A lot.

"No but Auwal's friends should be in his age group, he can jell with them".
She smiles "Thank you".

Zainab and Rufa'i are our second step mom's children, they're just a year apart. Rufa'i is my mate and Zainab is a year older.

"They've started, let's go" Rufa'i says to Salim, they both walk away.
"Alright then, I'll be back" she rushes in.

By 3pm most guests have arrived.
We don't really condone African time, it starts by 2pm and ends by 5pm except if you're family or helping with the cleaning.

"Amaya!" Auwal calls me while I was in the middle of conversing with my friends.
He and his friends were seated under the carport.
"Need anything?"

"It gets better every year" Muhammed a friend of his from work compliments.
"Really? Thank you, it becomes easier every time. Any of you need anything, cocktails—any beverage—snacks?" I enquire.

"Perfect" Jazeel starts "You never cease to amaze me".
I wink at him, he laughs.
"Actually, can I get a bottle of water—mineral water?" his friend asks.

I wonder if he's that kind of person that says he only takes mineral water or doesn't like the taste of normal water.
"Oh, I'll get it for you"
"No need to walk all the way back, I'll come along".

"Perfect" I don't have to walk all the way back here, sometimes the way the other guys look at you is just really uncomfortable.

As I walk towards the house I notice Tariq's arrival but I ignore him anyway, we'll see each other eventually.
"You really did this all on your own?"
I smile "No, everyone helped"
"But you coordinated it?"