chronicles of Amina

New Friendships and a Warm Homecoming

Chapter 9

After spending a wonderful evening with the Al-Fayed family, I returned home, feeling grateful for the new connections I made. I couldn't wait to share my experience with my friends, Zainab (Zeebu), Hafsah (Amrah), and Aisha (Baby).

As soon as I arrived, I called them over, eager to introduce them to Sophia, my new friend from the Al-Fayed family. We all met up at our favorite café, and I introduced Sophia to the group. They instantly clicked, bonding over their shared interests and laughter.

To make it easier for us to communicate, I added Sophia to our WhatsApp group, "The Fab Four." We chatted and joked, making plans for our next outing.

Just as we were getting into the conversation, my mother called to remind me that my eldest brother, Sultan Yusuf Madaki, was coming home for the holidays. I was thrilled to hear the news and couldn't wait to see him.

When Sultan arrived, we welcomed him with warm hugs and smiles. He looked tired but happy to be home. After settling in, he asked about my studies and friends. I introduced him to Sophia, and he was pleased to hear about our new friendship.

The next day, I invited Zeebu, Amrah, Baby, and Sophia over to meet Sultan. They were all excited to hear about his adventures abroad.

As we sat in the living room, Sultan regaled us with stories of his travels, sharing his experiences and wisdom. My friends were fascinated by his tales of adventure and bravery.

After a while, Sultan handed out the gifts he had brought for us. I received a beautiful silver necklace, while Zeebu got a stunning scarf from Egypt. Amrah received a book on photography, and Baby got a cute stuffed animal from china. Sophia received a lovely journal, and we all thanked Sultan for his thoughtfulness.

Sultan smiled as he began to share stories of his adventures in China. "You know, the first thing that struck me was the food. I had never tasted anything like it before. Spicy Szechuan hot pots, savory Cantonese dim sum, and sweet Mongolian milk tea."

Zeebu's eyes widened. "Milk tea? That sounds amazing!"

Sultan laughed. "It's incredible. And the people, so friendly and welcoming. I made friends with my roommate, Wei, and he showed me around Beijing. We explored the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and the Great Wall."

Amrah's curiosity was piqued. "What was the Great Wall like?"

Sultan's eyes sparkled. "Breathtaking. We hiked for hours, watching the sunset over the mountains. And the history! The Wall is over 2,000 years old, can you believe it?"

Baby asked, "Did you try any weird foods?"

Sultan chuckled. "Oh, yes. Fried scorpions, snake soup, and balut – a developing duck embryo boiled and eaten from the shell."

Sophia shuddered. "That sounds intense."

Sultan grinned. "It was. But the best part was learning about the culture. I attended a traditional tea ceremony, watched a Peking opera performance, and even learned some Mandarin phrases."

As Sultan shared his stories, we listened with fascination, asking questions and laughing at his anecdotes.

After a while, my mother called us to come and eat lunch. We all sat down together, enjoying a delicious meal of jollof rice, suya, and fried plantains.

As we finished our lunch, my friends glanced at their watches. "We should head back home," Zeebu said. "We don't want to stay late."

"Yeah, our parents will worry," Amrah added.

Baby nodded in agreement. "Thanks for having us over, Amina. It was great meeting Sultan."

Sophia smiled. "Yes, thank you. I had a wonderful time."

I walked them to the door, hugging each of them goodbye. "Let's catch up soon," I said.

As I watched them walk away, Sultan appeared beside me. "It was great meeting your friends," he said. "They're lovely."

I smiled, feeling grateful for the warm and lively gathering. "Yeah, they're the best."

And with that, our lunch gathering came to a close, filled with good food, great company, and warm conversations.

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