Better Late Than Never

03

Although he'd braced himself for everything that would unfold as soon as he opened the door, Ayman found himself stumbling back a few steps when a squealing Aabidah threw herself on him, her arms going around his neck and holding tight.

It was insanely – and naturally – easy for Ayman to wrap his arms around her in order to hold her steady, his laugh low and deep while hers was light and hearty, just like it always was. Aabidah held him for a moment longer, pulled back, stared at him for at least half a minute, and then squealed before she hugged him one more time.

Ayman laughed again. "Elham, you're going to burst my eardrums and you haven't even see Adil yet."

She hugged him even tighter. "I don't care!" She went on to spoil his face with kisses, just as she promised, even though she had to stand on the very tip of her toes as he was taller than she was; having an advantage of a near foot over her. "You're here! That's the important part."

Ayman didn't have it in him to push her away. He couldn't even try, not when he'd missed her too. Like most members of their family, she'd returned to Aomi at the end of October while he'd stayed behind in the United Kingdom with a few others until he and Adil had been the only ones left alongside those who had chosen to not relocate back to Atlantica.

"Elham," Footsteps reached the ears of both Ayman and Aabidah. "Let my son go, please. I want to hug him too."

Aabidah kissed Ayman's cheek once more before she stepped back, turning around. "It's because I love you, Baba. Once you and Mama are done, I'm going back to spoiling him with all my kisses; one for each day that we spent apart."

Ayman chuckled. Where they stood side by side, their – Ayman and Aabidah's – parents laughed, fondness written clearly on their faces. Omar Bello let go of his wife's hand and stepped forward, the smile that appeared on his face being all shades of warm. He opened up his arms. "Hello, Ayman."

Ayman easily stepped past his sister and into their father's embrace, melting easily into the beauty and warmth of it. "Hi, Baba." He sighed, quite blissfully. "God, I missed you. I'm just realising how much."

Omar laughed, patting his son's back. "I missed you too." He then pulled back, holding Ayman at arm's length. His smile did not waver. "Welcome home, for good this time."

Ayman smiled sheepishly. "Well, my house is just down the street so..."

Omar's eyes narrowed. "Ayman Hakeem Bello."

Ayman laughed. "I love you too, Baba." He then turned to the woman who held a very large chunk of his heart. "Hi, Mama."

Naila Arwa-Bello smiled ever so beautifully. She pushed her husband away before pulling Ayman into her homey embrace. She then laughed while her eyes glassed over with a fresh sheen of tears. "Hello, my love. You have no idea how happy I am to see you."

Aabidah snickered. "I'm sure he does. He was on the phone this morning when I let it slip that you were praying for him to return wearing a suit."

Ayman's smile threatened to split his face in two. Knowing exactly what sight he'd be blessed with, he pulled back and his heart felt like it would burst with so much love as a blushing Naila buried her face in his chest. "Aabidah, wallah –"

They – Omar, Aabidah, and Ayman – burst out laughing. Her face still buried in her son's chest, Naila laughed too. They stayed in the foyer for a little longer before they led Ayman in, knowing it wouldn't be long before Amna returned with her brother, Adil, and their parents, Malik and Bisan. They also knew that before the day ran out, the house would be full as members of their family came over to say hi; the blessing that came with all of them staying in one residential area named after one of them.