So close, yet so far

22

ABUJA, NIGERIA

Hauwa sat in her bed, her phone clutched in her hand as she chatted animatedly with Safar. Safar was regaling her with stories of a guy at her workplace who had been crushing on her, but Safar was determined to play it cool.

"I mean, I like him too, but I'm not going to make it easy for him, Sai na mai Jan aji," Safar said, her voice dripping with amusement. "I'm going to make him work for it, you know, do some serious wooing before I finally accept him."

Hauwa laughed, feeling a pang of envy. She wished she could be as carefree as Safar, but her own love life was far more complicated.

"That's so you, Safar," Hauwa teased. "Always playing hard to get. But I'm sure he'll be worth it in the end."

Safar giggled. "I hope so, girl. I really do. So, how was your date with Ya Sa'eed? I've been dying to hear all about it."

Hauwa's expression turned guarded, and she hesitated before responding. She wasn't sure how much she wanted to reveal to Safar, but at the same time, she needed someone to talk to.

"It was...interesting," Hauwa said finally, choosing her words carefully. "He's still as charming as ever, but I'm not sure if I can trust him. He says he had nothing to do with what happened to Mama, but I'm not convinced."

Safar's voice turned serious, but her tone was laced with a hint of frustration. "Hauwa, come on. You're still misunderstanding him. Ya Sa'eed loves you, and he's trying to make things right between you two. Can't you just give him a chance?"

Hauwa nodded dismissively, showing she didn't want to continue with the discussion and Safar let her be, as she continued to chat with Safar, Hauwa couldn't shake off the feeling that she was trapped in a delicate web of deceit and lies. And she wasn't sure how to escape.

As she continued chatting with Safar, Hauwa was suddenly interrupted by the dramatic entrance of Safira and Safina. The twin sisters burst into the room, their eyes wide with excitement and a hint of mischief. They came to an abrupt halt, their gazes scanning the room before finally settling on Hauwa and Safar, who were lounging on the bed.

Safira's eyes narrowed, her voice dripping with drama as she exclaimed, "This is the biggest betrayal of the century, twin!" She turned to Safina, who nodded in agreement, her face a picture of mock outrage. "Of course, Adda Safar didn't like Adda Jidda, and now suddenly they're friends, and she's trying to take away our position as the favorite sister-in-laws." Safina whined, stomping her foot on the ground as Safira joined in, their pouts and tantrums a comedic spectacle.

Safar rolled her eyes good-naturedly, shooting Hauwa an amused glance. Hauwa chuckled, shaking her head at the twins' antics. "You're being dramatic again, Safira and Safina," she teased, trying to placate them.

But the twins were having none of it. "Well, since Adda Safar has stolen you from us, Also Ya Aisha and another man who looks like you are here," Safira announced, her voice still laced with a hint of petulance. Hauwa's eyes lit up at the mention of Ya Aisha's name, and she immediately recognized the other person Safira was referring to - Ya Ali, her brother and sister. She didn't even wait for the twins to confirm, instead jumping down from the bed and rushing towards the living room.

As she entered the lavish living room, Hauwa's eyes scanned the space, searching for the familiar faces of her siblings. And then, she saw them - Ya Aisha and Ya Ali, sitting on the plush couch, surrounded by their loved ones. Ya Aisha's children, Muhammad, Hanan, and Aliyu Haidar, were scattered around the room, their faces lighting up with smiles as they caught sight of Hauwa. Jamila, Ya Ali's wife, was seated beside him, their daughter Afra perched on her lap, looking adorable in her tiny hijab.