Pretty Isn't Her Name [ABANDONED]

02| The Greetings

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Janan averted her eyes and regained her composure. They were three guests present.

"Asslam Alaikum (peace be upon you)." Came a gentle tune from her as she was expected to say it wherever she went. Janan saw her mother motion for her to come and sit next to her. And so she went. Her father was not present in the room yet, Janan noticed.

She walked as gracefully as she could across the room with her gown of the evening; A milk-colored super Ankara that was designed as an A-shaped styled dress that reached past her ankles, trailing behind her. Sleeves reaching past her elbows, opening into flays. Two golden shaped hearts that crossed each other were sewed onto her bust area nicely. To top it all, she tied a silk scarf into a complicated turban. Her light make-up complimented her dark features.

It was Friday, and Janan was happy to dress up for it. Even though he was present...

"Mashallah, you grew up to be such a mature and beautiful lady, Janan." The man's mother, who Janan called Umma, smiled at her. Such a gorgeous and kind woman that it was unfortunate her player-of-a-son had to inherit some of her breathtaking features.

"Nagode Umma (thank you) but please... No need to flatter me like this." Janan ducked her head as she was always bashful in these kinds of situations.

"Truly I am being honest. Alhaji, doesn't she dazzle in such a unique way today?" She turned to her husband, who looked overly excited as he, too, was grinning. 'Such a cheerful family... I don't know about their son though...' Janan raised her eyebrows towards him.

"Ah my dear Janan, of course yes. How long has it been? 6 years?" The Habibs had to travel to Europe to train their son. Basically, to drill him into shape when it was time for him to take the Big Seat for his father's company.

"As you can see, Ammar has become quite the man himself." Umma gestured towards her son, who Janan wished wasn't present in the room. God, she even detested hearing his name. She shifted her gaze from Umma to him. Janan hated to admit one thing though; Fatima was damn right when she said he was eye candy. Fatima literally said that.

"No need to be shy, you two should know that we are all family." Umma made a weird gesture with her arms, as if she was trying to hug air. How she said such a sentence, made Janan wonder how weird she pronounced the last word. There was a creepy feeling crawling up Janan's spine.

Suddenly, a deep voice spoke, "Ah, danallah kuyafe min (please forgive me), I arrived late." There he was, Janan's hero, advisor, and best friend. She knew the latter because she was daddy's little girl. She loved and trusted him so much since she was the last born in the family considering her parents had 4 kids. Three boys and one girl; She, being the last born and only girl.

Although, she's the only dark child in her family. Her parents told her she took after her ancestors, saying she inherited their dark features.

"Baba, sanu da zuwa (welcome back). How was work?" Janan asked him gingerly, her muddy brown eyes lighting up.

"Alhamdullilah, my dear. How was school?" He sat next to her on the biggest chair in the large living room.

"Alhamdullilah baba, thank you." The warm smile never left her face.

"Inawuni baba (good evening)." Came another deep voice and Janan just couldn't help but widen her eyes. Cheesy as it may sound, he had the sexiest voice she'd ever heard. Well, except Nick Bateman and Toni Mahfud, they're just on a wholly different level. She levelled her gaze towards the squatting male, whose head was bowed in respect.

"Lafiya qalau (*replied*). No, my son, please sit. You're a part of this family." Now the way Janan's father said it made her suspicious. She just couldn't shake the weird vibe off of her. She sent an awry glance towards her mother who, in return, shrugged her shoulders, not meeting Janan's eyes.

"Thank you for your kind words, baba." Ammar then returned to his seat, his face void of any emotion.

"So how is Nigeria for you? It might not be like the other countries you've traveled to, but I would like to hear your thoughts." Baba asked, stroking his beard.

Janan had no interest in whatever his thoughts were. She just wished this would end soon so she could go back to the comforts of her room and start doing her weekend assignments.

"Yes, I find the place foreign and interesting. It feels like home and cozy too. I wouldn't mind staying here a little longer." He finished with a small smile that graced his lips. Janan had wished he didn't look so handsome as she caught him staring back at her.

What a waste, she thought.

"That's wonderful! I was hoping you would say that. So Alhaji, how long will you and your family stay until you leave?" Her cheerful father faced his best friend since childhood. They had never really separated from each other if not for the training of his best friend's son.

"About six months from now, since he has to learn about his heritage too. And since he's in that stage, he needs to find a spouse before we leave." Ammar's father even dared to send a wrinkly smile towards Janan's direction. Janan's eyebrows twitched, her heart dropping then bouncing back up again.

'Oh no, surely they won't choose me... I'm probably not his type or so. Besides, he looks uninterested so why push the guy? I can see it in his eyes he's one of 'those' people...'  She silently sent a plea to Allah.

"Abba, I told you I'm not ready for such things. Will you please let it be?" Was it her imagination or did he sound desperate to her ears, just as she was? He looked irritated to no ends as she saw his eyes twitched and his fists clenched.

Janan was quite the eye service officer (observer).

"Nonsense dear, you'll need a wife when you take over our empire." Umma smiled at Ammar. Janan started to regret ever coming to the living room as she's trying to deny the situation. 'oh no... Let it not be what I think it is...' Too bad, her wish did not come true.

"Ah, well I think my habibti Janan will fit right into the role. I've raised her to be such a lady that has such high standards and ladylike features. I'm sure you won't be disappointed." Janan could not believe her number one hero would say such things as she wished her ears were blocked at that moment. She saw her mother smile and nod in approval. Janan looked from her father to Umma.

She briefly looked at Ammar who was somehow in the same state as she was; astonished. 'Oh Allah, why did it have to come to this...' Tears brimmed her now dull, brown eyes. 

'Is this happening for real?! Am I really going to be wedded to my best friend's ex-freaking-boyfriend?!'   

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