TALES OF THE HEART (EDITING)

Chapter 4

Edited

Aidah's POV

"Aidah, wake up! Remember you promised Amna you'd be there before we leave," Ya Niimah said gently.

"I'm up, Adda Niimah! Just give me two minutes, to be precise," I replied, dragging the duvet over myself for extra warmth. The soft fabric enveloped me, making it even harder to muster the motivation to get out of bed.

Ya Niimah opened the curtains wide, flooding the room with bright light, which made me instinctively pull the duvet over my head. "Adda Niimah, what the hell?" I groaned, my voice muffled by the soft fabric. The sunlight was relentless, and all I wanted was just a few more minutes of sleep.

Ya Niimah was chuckling, her hands clutching her stomach in amusement. "Sorry, lil sis," she said, a playful grin spreading across her face. Her laughter was infectious, but all I could think about was how cozy my bed felt and how much I wanted to stay wrapped up in it for just a little longer.

With that, Ya Niimah left the room, still chuckling to herself. I couldn't help but smile, despite my grogginess. As much as I loved having her around, I really couldn't wait for her to get married and move out! The thought of having my own space, free from her early morning antics, was surprisingly appealing. But for now, I had to shake off the sleep and get ready to see Amna one last time before heading back to Abuja.

I got up and headed straight to the bathroom for a quick shower, the warm water helping to wake me up. After brushing my teeth and refreshing my face, I stepped out feeling more awake. I slipped into a stylish straight Ankara gown, the vibrant fabric brightening my mood. Tying my head tie neatly, I added a delicate veil to complete the look. I grabbed my handbag and phone, took a deep breath to gather my energy, and headed downstairs, ready to see Amna before we left.

"Could you help me with my bags, please? They're upstairs," I asked one of the maids as I made my way to the living room. She nodded and quickly followed and went up the stairs, ready to assist.

I hurried out to the parking lot, where the driver was already waiting to take me to Amna's house. The anticipation of seeing her one last time before we left made me quicken my pace.

A few minutes later, we pulled up in front of the house. I stepped out of the car, my heart racing with excitement, and walked to the front door. After ringing the bell, it swung open just moments later to reveal the beautiful Amarya herself.

"Amnini," I exclaimed, wrapping her in a warm hug. 

"Aidah, you're leaving today, right?" she asked, returning the embrace with a hint of sadness in her voice.

We strolled into the living room and settled onto the cozy two-seater. "Yes, we're leaving at noon, inshallah," I replied, feeling a mix of excitement and melancholy.

Amna returned with a tray of refreshments, and I happily dug in as we chatted away, reminiscing about the wedding. After a few moments, she excused herself, saying she needed to call her husband.

"If not the Queen of Fierce, then who will it be?" Tahir teased, stepping into the living room with a playful grin. His charm lit up the room, and I couldn't help but laugh. Amna rolled her eyes affectionately, clearly used to his antics.

I laughed and greeted him in Kanuri, and he responded in Hausa with a warm smile. We chatted for a while, sharing stories and laughter, but soon I glanced at the time and turned to Amna. "I think it's time for me to head out," I said reluctantly, knowing I would miss this moment.

"So soon?" Amna asked, her eyebrows raised in surprise. 

"Yeah, Ammi warned me not to stay long, or they'll leave without me," I replied, a hint of urgency in my voice.