Shattered illusions

21: Crossroads

Abuja, Nigeria.

Hanan groaned as she tucked her natural baby hair under her scarf, tying it securely. She rolled up the sleeves of her pajamas and headed to the bathroom, carrying a load of laundry to throw into the washing machine. Saturdays and Sundays were always her days for deep cleaning, and with no plans, she was determined to tackle the tasks at hand.

she always does nothing at home, she is always going out on dates with Hooriya or spending the day in her room talking to Aamir. Speaking of Aamir, it had been almost a month since he'd returned to town, and despite their daily phone calls, they still hadn't managed to meet up. His father was pressuring him to find a job, and Aamir had been busy with that for the past few days.

After loading the washing machine, Hanan stepped out of the bathroom and began cleaning her room, changing the sheets and tidying up while listening to a podcast on her phone. An hour later, she finished the laundry and cleaning, feeling accomplished. She sighed, removed her pajamas, and stepped into the shower.

Thirty minutes of scrubbing her skin and washing her hair left her feeling refreshed. Wrapped in a purple robe, she oiled her skin with body oil and applied her signature oud perfume. She tied her long, natural hair into a low bun after drying it and headed to her wardrobe to choose an outfit for the day.

After searching for a few minutes, she settled on a mustard-yellow gown. Feeling productive, she picked up her phone and MacBook and made her way downstairs.

As Hanan descended the stairs, she was enveloped in the familiar aroma of her mother's signature bakhoor and the savory scents of spices wafting from the kitchen, signaling that lunch was almost ready. She settled onto a couch near Ashraf, who was engrossed in a football match on TV. "What's up, sis?" he asked, barely looking away from the screen. Hanan replied with a casual "Good, good" before turning on her MacBook to continue watching the Korean drama she'd started earlier.

However, her attention span was short-lived. Within 30 minutes, she found herself distracted by Mubaid's loud arguments with Ashraf in the parlor. The two were fervently debating football, their differing team loyalties fueling their passion. As a football player himself, Mubaid's opinions carried weight, but Hanan's patience had worn thin. She couldn't concentrate on her show anymore.

As the only girl among two boys, Hanan often found herself caught in the middle of their energetic dynamics. While being surrounded by brothers had its perks, it also came with its fair share of challenges. On a typical day, she might join her brothers in a gaming session or engage in some friendly banter. However, today was different. She wasn't in the mood for playfulness; instead, she craved a productive day.

Her plan had been to catch up on the Korean drama she'd started watching, but the ongoing football debate between her brothers made it impossible to focus. Mubaid and Ashraf's loud arguments and laughter filled the air, making it difficult for her to concentrate.

Frustrated, Hanan closed her MacBook and stood up, deciding to abandon her viewing session. Despite knowing that lunch was already halfway prepared, she made her way to the kitchen to lend a helping hand. The aroma of food and the warmth of the kitchen beckoned her, offering a welcome respite from the chaos in the parlor.

After 30 minutes of helping, Hanan and the maid finished preparing lunch. Hanan headed upstairs to her room to perform her prayer before eating. She entered the bathroom to perform her ablution, then sprayed her prayer mat with a gentle spritz. Wrapping her long hijab around her, she began her prayer.

Just as she finished, Hajiya Amina, knocked on the door with a warm "Salam." "Hanan," Hanan responded with a respectful "Na'am Maamah." Hajiya Amina continued, "Your father wants to speak with you after his lunch, "ki zo idan ya gama"." Hanan replied with a simple "Okay."