Asaal

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Asaal
I just woke up from my sleep, and I checked my watch, it was 10 am, shit I over slept, after everything that happened yesterday, I entered the shower and took a bath, I brushed my teeth, moisturised my skin and put on my clothes, I put on a simple pink tye and dye bubu, then I put on my perfume oil, I finally opened my door, I went to Nurains room, but he wasn't there, today is Saturday, and he should be back from the gym already, and I'm not that hungry, I went back to my room and got my phone, my air pods and a novel, I went to the backyard and sat down in the poolside and put on my air pods and opened the novel to read, all of a sudden I felt a tap on my shoulder, I removed my AirPods and looked at the person, it was Amina
"Good morning ma, auntie fati has been looking for you, she's in the parlour" she said
I nodded my head, I closed my book and kept it on the table, so as my AirPods, I took my phone, and went to the parlour
"Fati?" I said
"Oh thank God you're okay!" She said
Then she stood up and hugged me, I hugged her back too
"Happy 19th birthday sis" she said whilst hugging me
Oh yes today is my birthday, I just remembered
"Oh my sweet fati, I love you so much, thank you" I said
"Check your phone, your husband has been texting and calling, he had to go somewhere with mama" She said
She released me from the hug and I removed my phone from do not disturb and checked my messages, so many birthday messages and paragraphs, I'll try and reply them later, I called nurain back and he picked up on the first ring
"My birthday princess is finally awake, thank God, happy birthday princess" he said
That made smile
"Thank you my darling husband, where are you?" I asked
"I followed your mom to this place, she said I shouldn't tell you but, yeah I'll be back soon" he said
"Hmmm, okay" I said
"I love you princess!" He said
"I love you too" I said
I ended the call and looked at fati
"That was weird, but yeah, please could you follow me to guards, Jawad has a tournament, I have to be there" she said
"Fati today was supposed to be my resting day!" I said
"I know, I'm sorry, please just come!" She said
"Fine" I said
"Oya oya go and change" she said
I rolled my eyes and went upstairs to my room to change, what do I wear today? Maybe a top and trousers?, it's guards I have to wear that, I might eventually ride a horse, I took out my pink and white patterned blouse that had ruffles on it from my wardrobe with my light blue baggy jeans, I sprayed perfume and I took my black silk scarf that hand pink leave pattern on it, I tied it into a turban and then I put my kajal and lipgloss, then I took my pink coach crossbody bag and my pink Hermes slippers, I went downstairs and fati was still waiting
"Oh you look so pretty! Let's go" she said
We left the house and she drove us to guards, she parked the car and we went down and started walking towards a stable, probably jawads own, I saw some of my classmates from secondary school and smiled and waved at them, they waved back too, we got to the stable and fati told me to wait that she'd be right back, then I saw a really nice white horse, it reminded me so much of the horse I used to ride as a little girl, well let me not touch it, I kept put for at least 5 minutes waiting for fati and jawad, then she came back, but this time around she came back with Jawad and Nurain?
"So you lied?" I asked
"Lied? Look at mama sitting down over there" he pointed at her direction
"Yeah she's here to see you ride your horse" Nurain said
"My what?!" I said looking at him
Then he looked at the white horse
"The white horse you really loved when you were in Kano?" He said
"Oh my God! This is the best gift ever!" I screamed then I hugged him
"Just at least gift number one" he said
"Thank you so much! Can I ride it now?" I asked
"It's your horse" he said
"Go inside the stable house, you'll see everything you need to ride the horse" Fati said
I quickly entered and saw the saddle, shoes and the polo cap and it was all in Pink! I looked at the cap and it was custom made, "AD" was what was written on it, I put on the shoes and took the saddle and cap in my hand, I gave the stable boy to put it on the horse then I put on the hat and climbed the horse, I might not be able to do it, cause it's been a while since I did it, then Nurain came beside me with his own horse
"Are you ready?" He asked
"Okay first we're going to go round the place, then we can probably race afterwards" I said
"Bet" he said
Then the horses started moving,
"So daurin aure is next week how do you feel?" He asked
"I feel normal and oh, fati and Nafisa want to plan a slumber party, I forgot to tell you" I said
"Oh, just for girls?" He asked
"Of course just for girls!" I said rolling my eyes
Then he laughed
"I have a surprise for you today" he said
"It better not be Nana" I said
"Nana?!" He said then we both laughed
"I mean it's something you and mama can do" I said
"Nana scares me, I don't even like thinking about her" he said
"But she's cool, she loves all her grandkids" I said
"Oh yes, that just reminded me, the house is ready, we can go and take a look after this, when you're ready" he said
"Nah I want it to be a surprise, and I hope our room just looks good" I said
"It looks beautiful, exactly how you wanted it to be" he said
"Um I want to tell you something" i said
"Sure ask me" he said
"I want to be moved to Nile, I feel like, if I stay in Baze, baba will find me, and I'm scared" i said
"I'll speak to your mom about it, if she agrees, we'll make arrangements"  he said
"Thank you" I said
Then we almost got to end of the track, I was going to cheat here, I started hitting my horse and it started going faster
"You're cheating!" Nurain shouted
"I never said when the race would start!" I shouted back
Then my horse started going faster, until I got to the finish point, I won!
"In your face!" I said to Nurain when he was coming closer
"I just let you win" he said
"Either ways I won!" I said, I was happy, I couldn't remember the last time I was this happy, I love this feeling a lot, the stable boy helped me get down from my horse and took it back to Nurains stable, I and Nurain got back to the stable house and I saw a box with a bow on the chair
"Ou, what's this?" I asked
"I don't know open it" he said
I sat down on the chair and opened the box, it was a beautiful emerald green dress, it was an A shaped dress, that had a V neck and white roses on it, this was beautiful! I took the note and I saw it was from Ihsaan and Ruqaya, then it came with a green Dior slippers, from salma, I love them so much! I went into the bathroom in the stable house, there were towels and there was body wash, face wash, and a sponge in a packet, was this planned? I took a shower and wrapped my towel round me, I came out and saw Fati and someone else
"Fati I don't have lotion and my skin care stuff" i said
"On the table, in the next room" she said
Who was that on the chair?
"Fati who is that?" I asked
"So you can't even recognise me from the back?" She said
"HANI!" I screamed
She turned around and looked at me, she looked chubbier from the last time I saw her, omg, she's probably pregnant, she came to hug me
"Hani I missed you so much!" I said
"Happy birthday my sweet girl" she said
"Thank you hani" i said
She released me from the hug and I looked at her
"Hani you look chubbier, what's going on?" I asked
"I don't know, you guess" she smiled
"Omg! You're carrying a mini Hani! Or a mini Asaad" I said
"Yes, remaining you" she said
"Oh please" i said rolling my eyes
We both laughed
"Let me go and change" i said
I went to the other room, I did my skincare and I heard water running in the bathroom, they probably did this intentionally, I moisturised my skin and I saw a fresh pair of underwear on the bed with a new bra, I put it on and then put my deodorant and humra, then I put on the dress I got, I zipped it up for my self then the bathroom door opened
"Nurain please could you help me with my jewelry?" I said
Then I turned around, it wasn't Nurain, it was kabir
"Oh my God" I gasped
"Fuck I'm sorry, I'm sure I came into the wrong room, I'm so so sorry Asaal" he said
I was speechless
"Asaal?" He said
"I'll just step out" I said
I took my scarf, shoes and jewellery and went to the living room, kabir? What was he doing here? I sat down on the couch and just kept quiet
"Asaal? Lafiya?" Fati asked
"Yes I'm fine" I lied, I wasn't, I just saw my ex, and I was in the same room with him
"Well, birthday girl, cheer up! Let's play some music and get ready!" Hani said coming in with a speaker and her phone, bounce by ruger started playing on the speaker, fati dragged me up and forced me to dance with her, I really wasn't feeling it, I went back to sit down and kabir came out of the the room dressed up
"Happy Birthday Asaal" He said passing me
"Thank you" I said, my head was in the other direction
"Um nurain was the one that told me to come and shower here, I had no idea you'd be here" he said
"It's fine, I'm not angry" I said my head still in the other way
"Look at me and say that, then I'll know you're not" he said
I started shaking my head
"I can't, please go and meet Nurain outside, please" I said still shaking my head
I heard him walking away, and I finally got to turn my head to the other side, I watched him leave
"What was all that about??" Fati asked when he finally left
"That's Kabir" I said
"The one that comes to pick you up from islamiyya when you're not feeling well?" Hani asked
I nodded my head
"Who is he though?" Fati asked
"My ex" I whispered
"Oh" they both said
"Please put on the jewelry for me" I said
Fati put on the necklace for me and I put on the earrings myself, I packed my hair and brushed the edges, I tied my scarf and sprayed perfume, I put on my slippers, and carried my bag
"Come come" Fati said
"Sit down" Hani said
"Make up" Fati said
I couldn't argue
They loosened my scarf and did the make up for me, when they finished they tied the scarf back for me and I looked at my self in the mirror, oh wow I looked really pretty, we walked out of the stable house and went to where Nurain and his friends were, he just kept on staring at me while I told his friends hello, I finally went close to him and stood beside him
"Are we ready to go?" Fati asked
"Yes" everyone said
"Ready to go?" I asked
"Shh" hani said
"Let's go" Nurain said holding my hand
We walked to his car and we both got in, he then started the car
"God you're so gorgeous, I really want to like kiss you now" he said looking at me
"You'll ruin my makeup and then you'll have makeup on yourself" i said trying not to smile
"You look so beautiful by the way" he said
"Thank you" I said
Then he started driving, where were we going to? We got to maitama and we entered the compound on this really huge house
"Whose house is this?" I asked
"My grandmother" He said
"Oh" I said
He came to my side and opened the door for me, I came down from the car and we both walked to the door, he knocked on the door, but then we both realized the door was open, we looked at each other then he opened the door and he entered first holding my hand so that I could follow, it was dark, what if this was a haunted house and his grandma had already moved out
"Kaka" Nurain said loudly
"Nurain are you sure she hasn't moved out? You probably have the wrong address" I said still holding his arm
"No no, I'm sure" he said
"Okay try switching on the lights" I said
He went to the switch, and tried switching it on
"Doesn't work" he said
"Let me use my flash" I said
As soon as I brought out my phone the lights came on
"Surprise!"
I looked up and I saw almost everyone in my family standing there, I think I'm going to cry, there was a back drop written ASI's 19th birthday
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Asi! Happy birthday day to you" they all sang
"Aww thank you so much, each and everyone of you" I said tearing up, I hugged everyone and then they started playing music
"Where is your grandmother?" I asked Nurain
"She's upstairs let's go" he said
I held his hand and he took me to one of living rooms upstairs, there I saw, and old lady sitting down and reading Quran, she had long silky hair
"Salam" We both said
She paused and looked at us
"Wa Alaykumusalam" she said
She smiled and let us come in, I bent down to greet her and so did Nurain
"Kaka this is Asaal" he said
"I know who she is, I'm best friends with her grandmother, from her mothers side" she said
"Oh" he said
"Yes it was your father that introduced Aisha to her husband, we never knew he wasn't well behaved, and I met you when you were a baby" she said to me and and Nurain
"Oh" we both said
"How are you enjoying your birthday?" She asked
"It's going good, thank you so much for letting them use your house, I didn't even know in the first place" I said
"Oh what nonsense, you're all my grandkids, and sometimes I need the noise in this big house" she said
"And uh Kaka I need to speak to you about something else" Nurain said
"Go on" she said
"Asaal please could you excuse us, please, I'll come and meet you downstairs, in a bit" He said
I nodded my head and left the room, what could be so important that I was told to leave? I went back downstairs and met everyone this time around Fati and Hani were here, I saw them talking to Afrah, I went to them to see what they were talking about
"Birthday girl, you're here" Fati said
"Yes, is everything good" I said looking at Afrah
She nodded her head but she looked a bit sad, I knew that Fati didn't like Afrah and so did Hani, but she was still my sister
"Afrah come with me, let's sit down eat dessert and catch up, like old times" I said
I held her hand and got ice cream for us then we sat at the dining table
"So tell me what's going on? Any new person?" I said trying to cheer her up, but she was still looking down
"Talk to me sis, what's going on?" I asked again
Then she started crying, I've always known Afrah to be a happy person and always full of joy even when people are mean to her
"He's trying to set up a marriage proposal for me, with someone and the person smokes and drinks and you know how I am Asi, I can't stand all those things" she said still crying
"And your mom?" I asked
"She's the one that introduced him to Baba" she said
"I'll talk to my mom she'll find someone way better and richer, I know if someone richer comes in, your mom will take him instead" i said
"What if-
"Shh nothing like what if, it'll work Insha Allah" i said
I gave her a hug and eventually stopped crying
"Oh and guess what?" I said
"What happened?" She asked
"I finally confessed my feelings" I said
Her eyes grew wide
"No way!" She whisper shouted
"Yes way" I said
"Omg I'm so happy for you!" She said
"I would have done it in Spain but you know, I just wasn't ready" I said
"Asaal your attention is needed!" Fati shouted
"You can go to them Ihsaan, I'm coming" I said to Afrah
She nodded her head and continued eating her ice cream, I went to where fati was
"Yes?" I said
"Your husband is looking for you outside" She said
"Oh okay" I said
I went outside and saw him on the staircase
"Nurain are you okay?" I asked
I went closer to him
"You know sometimes I sit down and wonder why baba didn't introduce us to each other earlier, and why I even met Zarah first, you're so perfect and so beautiful, God sometimes I think you're just too perfect for me and I'm just nothing when i comes to you, I want to spend the rest of my days with you till I die, just you and with nobody else, I'm so in love with you that it aches sometimes, and I know we didn't get to meet each other properly, but now I have to do this all from the beginning again" he said, he went down on one knee and brought out a box and opened it
"I want you to be my wife, this time around with a ring and new beginning, not with all the attitude you were giving me at the beginning, this time around it should be filled with love and happiness, we should be proper husband and wife" he said
I was speechless, very speechless, I started tearing up and I was nodding my head
"Yes" I whispered
He put the ring on my finger and he stood up and I hugged him, I hugged him really tightly
"I'm so happy we found each other, I'm so so happy" I whispered in his ear
Then he kissed my forehead
"That ring is for Kaka by the way, but it's yours now " he said
I looked at the ring, it was a beautiful emerald ring, it looked like something that came out straight from crazy rich Asians, I loved it
"I love it, it's really beautiful" I said
Then someone came outside
"Time to cut the cake, nana and kaka are waiting for you" Fati said
"Nana????" I asked
Then I looked at nurain
"I thought you said nana wasn't coming??" I said
"It was kaka that told her to come" Nurain said
We both went inside and we saw them sitting down and talking, I went over to greet nana
"My darling nana" I said hugging her from behind
"Your shameless stupid cousin, didn't even want to invite me for your party and after she'll expect me to help her with things, that Jawad boy I'll see how she'll bring him into my house again" nana said
Then I laughed
"Ina wuni nana" Nurain bent down to greet her
"How are you doing?" She asked
"I'm doing good nana Alhamdulillah" Nurain said
"That's good" she smiled
"Asaal! It's time to cut your cake, leave nana alone!" Fati shouted
"I'm telling you your cousin is a stupid girl" nana said
I let go of nana and I went to where the backdrop was and cut the cake, the first person I took a picture with, was Nurain, then Fati and Hani, then everyone else that was there, everyone danced more until it was time to go home.

A big Shout out to Ameenah Naseer who pushed me and continuously gives me motivation to write this book! I love you (small) and I love all of you reading this book! May Allah continue to bless you all🥰