MUNIFA (ON HOLD)

Episode 7

Munifa

Holidays was over and it was time to resume school. I went for shopping to get what we needed. Bappa had given us money for our shopping 2weeks earlier but I had no time to go until now. I went out with Sayyid very early so we could finish on time and come back early. We started with farmers market then after about an hour or so we left the market. Sayyid was already angry that I had spent too much time.

We drove off to NEXT to get other things and afterwards we got back home. We were resuming on Saturday and it was already Thursday so we had just today and Friday. I heard Adda fiyya's voice from the sitting room before I even went inside. She was scolding Ilham for something she did. I passed them without uttering a word and headed to my room.

Just when I started arranging my things, Sayyid came in saying salaam and I answered. "How far?" I asked him while he moved closer to sit beside me still engrossed in what I was doing. "Fine" he said while he slumped on the bed. "Bappa said I should call you. "Why? What happened?" I asked without waiting for him to answer the first question. "I don't know. He said we should come together." He said while standing up to leave and I trailed behind him into Bappa's sitting room.

"Assalamu alaikum" we both chorused as we entered. "Ahh Munifa. I've not seen you all day. You didn't even come to greet me this morning." Bappa said all smiley. I moved closer to him and sat beside him. "A'a Bappa when I came to greet you this morning you had already left for work." I said hugging daddy dearest. "Munifa you will never grow up. You're not a baby anymore. From now on Sayyid you're officially the eldest." He said laughing and patting my back. "Bappa I've always taken the responsibility of being an elder brother to her." Sayyid said laughing from the next couch. "Haba Bappa I can never outgrow hugs from you and I'll always be your little girl" I said with a puppy face and we all laughed.

"Well I called you to tell you I made reservations for your train ticket to Kaduna on Saturday." Bappa said to Sayyid and I. "Your train leaves by 9:50am so you should be out of this house by 8:30am and..." "but Bappa that's early. We can leave hear around 9am and we'll still make it." I said hoping to convince him. "Alright then. Just make sure you don't miss the train." He said. Wow that was easier than I thought. "Toh Bappa thank you." I said while I stood up to leave. "Bappa thank you" Sayyid said following me.

"Munifa!" I heard Ammi's voice calling out for me from downstairs. "You're already late. Come downstairs right now." She yelled. I came down rushing with my bag in hand. "Ammi I just went to get my bag" I said apologetically. "Where's Adda fiyya and baby Ayra?" I asked no one in particular. "We're here." Adda fiyya said coming out of the kitchen with Ayra.

I moved closer and took her in my arms. She squealed and I kissed her forehead and her soft chubby cheeks then I handed her over to her mother. "It's time to go" Bappa said coming out of his living room. "Bappa good morning" Sayyid and I greeted in unison. "Good morning" he said hugging us both. "You should be on your way now. You're getting late."

We got to the train station just in time. Our train left Abuja for Kaduna at exactly 9:52am. I didn't care to check how long the  journey lasted because I think I slept all through. So typical of me.

Add fiyya's husband was already at the train station. "Munifa! Sayyid! Gani I'm over here." Faisal called out waving his hands. "Ya Faisal Ina wuni." We both greeted. "Lafiya. How was your journey?" He asked as he helped us with our luggage and we headed towards the car. "Alhamdulillah it was fine. Even though I slept through most of it." I said laughing while I got into the backseat. " I knew it. You could never go through a journey without sleeping. Even an hour and a half journey?" He asked rhetorically. "Oh! The journey was an hour and half?" I also asked rhetorically just as they arranged our luggage in the trunk. Ya Faisal got into the driver's seat and Sayyid sat in the passenger's and we immediately left for Zaria.