Better Late Than Never

47

On the evening of July 3rd, hours after Hayder and Hammad's family members arrived Aomi for Eid-el-Adha and also to ask for Amna and Aabidah's hand in marriage, Ibtihaj showed up at the Abdulaziz home. No one had to ask why.

She was excitedly bubbling and she didn't allow Ayra go to sleep. When midnight struck, her happy birthday scream filled the entire house. Ayra tiredly laughed, pulling Ibtihaj into a warm embrace while gratitude filled her heart. "Thank you so much, Ibty."

"You're welcome o!" Ibtihaj pulled back. "Oya, come and see the gift that I got for you. Adil got you one too. The ideas came to us when we were window shopping for the baby's room." She giggled. "You will love it. In fact, you must love it. I did not waste money for nothing."

Ayra had to laugh again. Five minutes later, she was gasping at the vintage-inspired candle warmer lamp Ibtihaj had gotten. She raised her head, her eyes wide. "Ibty –"

"Na this kind thing you dey like so immediately I saw it, I was like 'Ah, Ayra will like this one', so I got it." Ibtihaj leaned in, whispering. "This our baby has a similar one so you better use this one well so that if this pikin does anyhow, I will tell him 'If your aunty Ayra can keep her own in one piece, why can't you? Does she have two heads?'"

Ayra had to laugh again. "Ibty, don't do that."

"Hah! When they asked me whether other people in my class or around us had two heads, I said I will ask my child too."

"Wait." Ayra frowned. "Did you say 'him'?" Her eyes widened again. "You've found out the –"

"Before your eye will burst, calm down abeg."

"Ibty!"

"Hian! Were you not the one I told that we can't find out the baby's gender yet? I don't know the gender o but I feel like it'll be a boy. Adil said he wants a girl." She hissed. "It's him that knows that one. It's boy I am looking for."

Ayra wanted to melt. "And if it's a girl?"

Ibtihaj shrugged. "I won't mind. Anyone abeg. The pikin should just not kill me. I did not kill my mother."

Ayra got the zeal to be naughty and it showed in her smile. "Are you sure...?"

Ibtihaj glared. "If I slap you! Will you look at the gift I got you? You like it shey?"

Ayra loved it and she made sure to say so. She moved the candle lamp from the box to her bed's nightstand and it made the space look so much better. She thanked Ibtihaj again before moving to Adil's gift to her. It was a much smaller box, containing an oil painting phone case.

The oil painting showcased lush Leilanis in different colours against a pale blue background. She immediately took off her current phone case and put on the new one, all the while saying how much she loved and how well she would thank Adil.

Ibtihaj shot her best friend a dirty look. "But my gift is better shey? I even came here to sleep with you."

Ayra laughed, nodding. "Your gift is better." She put the phone away and hugged Ibtihaj again. "I'm so glad you're here. Thank you so much, Ibty. I know you helped Adil get this gift too."

Ibtihaj smiled proudly. "Yes o. The werey was arguing with me about the phone you're using. Remain small I will slap him."

"Thank God it did not get to that."

Ibtihaj nodded after a moment's thought, recalling all of Adil's smiles each time she was tempted to hit him. "Ehn, thank God for that."

Ayra laughed again. Salama and Muhsin, who wanted to make use of all of them being awake, joined them ten minutes later. Salama held a mini bunny cake while Muhsin held the presents they'd gotten.