Better Late Than Never

07

The dining table of the Adeolas was set as though someone was getting married and not for a simple first visit.

Warmers Ayra couldn't remember being used ever since the last wedding ceremony in the family (Halima's) were arranged on the table top, filled with as many dishes one could think of, including the ewedu and amala Ibtihaj had tried so hard to prevent her mother from preparing.

As she recalled how excited she'd been the previous year during the preparation of her engagement party to Ibrahim, Ayra's small smile wavered and she sobered. She turned to her best friend who stared at the arranged food warmers as though she wanted to set them all on fire.

Her smile brightening once again, Ayra walked over and linked her arm with Ibtihaj's. "You'll get wrinkles if you keep glaring like that. The food has already been made so there's nothing much we can do. Let's just pray Adil and whoever comes with him enjoys them."

Ibtihaj exhaled slowly. A moment later, she sighed. "I have learned my lesson. In my next life, I will never join them to overdo things. Because if I did not chuk my head inside all the craziness in my sisters' weddings, shey they would have joined me to tell Mummy that she's overdoing things? Even Daddy went to hide."

Ayra rolled her lips in, trying not to laugh. It had been chaos since she arrived and Al-Amin – Ibtihaj's father – had wasted no time in heading upstairs and staying there; far away from the craziness that infected his wife and his two daughters while his youngest daughter – Ibtihaj – looked ready to run mad.

Ibtihaj sighed again, patting the back of Ayra's hand. "At least you're on my side." She turned to Ayra, her eyes narrowing when she saw just how hard Ayra was trying not to laugh. "It's not your fault o. Walai it's not your fault."

Ayra let a small laugh out. "Ibty, it's going to be okay. Besides, it's so funny to see you stressing so much." There was a little pinch in her heart and her smile slipped, her gaze momentarily turning unfocused. "I guess love does that to you."

Ibtihaj's chest immediately squeezed. "Ayra –"

Ayra regained composure, remembering where she was. Her smile came right back in all its glory. "Sorry."

"Ayra –"

"I'm fine, I promise. I just keep slipping from time to time but I'm fine. Anyways, are you still going to murder Adil?"

Ibtihaj, knowing better than to not go with the diversion, scoffed. She then hissed. "As soon as he arrives sef. He's very mad. He said we should find a time that'll work for us both. After he has been busy since, he's calling to tell me that he'll be with me in a bit. It's me that fucked up sha. If I did not put the phone on speaker, Mummy would not have heard –"

Upstairs, a door slammed shut and then Falilat's voice was heard. "Oya o! You people should have finished baffing. Khadija, come and help me pick out the dress I should wear...Al-Amin, shé ké (hurry up). Let's be ready before they come o."

Ayra turned back to her best friend, her smile wider than it had been a moment earlier and her eyes alight with amusement as Ibtihaj sighed tiredly before she said "Wó, let's do this thing and get over with it." Her expression then brightened. "Yes!" She faced Ayra fully. "Madam, I'm just realising you've been smiling since. How did the interview go? It went well abi?"

A bit of the warmth she'd felt at the restaurant while eating the dumplings she and Ayman had ordered returned. Ayra nodded, her expression soft. "It did, Alhamdulillah." She unlinked their arms and then laced their fingers together. "I got the job."

Ibtihaj's eyes went so wide that it was near comical. "Na lie!" Her smile started out slowly. "Ayra, swear to God!"

Ayra laughed. "I swear to God, Ibty. I got the job. I can even get my phone and show you the email with the offer letter, the contract, and the code of conduct."