Zara

Chapter 4:Birthday 2

Moh

He felt something ticklish behind his ear, he hissed and stirred in his sleep."Mosquitoes of nowadays"He murmured in his sleep

"Daddy it'sh not moshquito"Zara chortled.

"Happy birthday Abbana". She squealed her voice laced with excitement.

"Thank you Bintalo"He said with a teasing smile playing on his lips. Had it been her lips were not small, Hmm they could have touched the cardboard paper she was holding(it was a few inches to her face). She can pout. He pities her cute lips.

He likes teasing her because she looks cute when angry.

"I have a surprise for you but since you called me Bintalo..."

"Haba Zaran Abba, tauraruwa mai haskawa,hasken idaniya come and show me"(Cmon daddy's girl, my shining star, the apple of eyes).

He saw a little twitch on her face and he could swear she was going to smile, but being 'her' blood,there was no doubt she inherited the trait from 'her' for he wasnt hard-headed, "Meiosis meeenn"his heart whispered.

"Chocolates,ice-cream,what else?"and she fell prey.

"Daddy cake, then uhmm... Bobo!!!, A doll, clayonsh, dlawing book, a gun,... And the she kept listing." Zara drama.

"Okay now what's the surprise?"He asked.

What she showed him touched his heart,she was only 3 but what a 6 yr old child would do, He is very sure she can do better. She is smart and intelligent.

"Thish one ish Daddy"she said pointing at an Amoeba like figure coloured in black. "Thish one ish Mommy"Oh la la her mom resembled a purple sponge o(lol), "Abba I didn't draw her head because I don't know her, when we meet in jannah, I will draw it. The middle one, me cute Jalan Abba."She grinned meekly.

His eyes brimmed with tears but he quickly took them back. "Good job Zara May Allah bless you,thank you so much dear,your Mommy is also happy".

He has to be strong for her, for them,he can't breakdown,'her 38 golden words'.

"Come let me bathe you, school remember?" He said and she nodded.

"Uncle Ash's Ummi is their so you can be friends huh?"

" Yesh Abba I will gisht her how we uzj(use) to play games, how you plait my hair, uhmm... " she paused before she continued.

"how you tell me bedtime shtorliesh(stories),but Daddy I will miss your offish(office)."

"Don't worry habibty I will take you there on weekends".With that,they headed to the toilet.

After 30 minutes,

"Hello Muhammad Adam on the line."

"Ashraf Sunusi, Happy birthday Aboki(frnd)."

"I missed your calls my phone was in slient mode,Sorry."

"Don't worry Aboki, Ahm I will call later I'm driving "with that Ashraf ended the call.

Ashraf was his friend since diapers time, His mother,Hjy Fatima was Hajiya Zainab's friend ,Ashraf's mother.

He parked his car in the parking lot and before he said 'Ehem' his little munchkin unbuckled her seat belt and ran out of the car.

"Uncle Ash good morning "she shrilled."

"Hey Zarati,I can see you are excited"He said as he scooped her, straddling her on his waist while she snaked her hands around his neck.

"Yesh Uncle I'm now a big girl."

"That's good my baby don't be stubborn uhm?"

"Don't be shtubborn,gleat your eldersh, alwaish have patience,don't be tloubleshome..."She sang.

"Moh you really are trying,is this how train her? It's about time you get married Aboki besides... "He couldn't end his statement,for what he saw on his friend's face... Hmm.

"Maida wu'kar,yi hakuri(Calm down I'm sorry).But Moh you need to get over her,she won't come back afterall,and Zara needs motherly care, you can't be her mother."

The the scowl one his face deepened ,if not because of the crease that formed between his eyebrows,one may think he had only one eyebrow;all the way from his left temple to the right one.

"I thought you were the last person that will ask me to marry again,you know how they are ,I can't risk my Zara."Moh said flailing his hand.

"It's okay Moh let's head to the Administrative block." Ash said sympathy evident in his voice.

"Mr. Muhammad I'm afraid we can't admit your daughter now, exams will soon commence.May be you can wait till next term."Said a plump woman.

"Madam Ruth,she mus'nt seat for the exams, I just want to keep her busy,please ma."Moh pleaded.

"Okay then what's your name?"She asked smiling at Zara.

"My name is Jala Muhammad but my Daddy callsh me 'Jalan Daddy'or 'Jalan Abba' or 'little munchkin'or 'cute dimplesh'.But when he wansh to look for my trouble he callsh me 'Bintalo' or 'Batula'.
Uncle Ash callsh me 'Jalati' or 'my baby' and anty Malwa his wife callsh me 'my daughter' do you know what Ummi callsh me?' Fliend' or 'Jala',Khalil uncle Ash's son who is alsho Ummi'sh younger brother who ish also Baby Yushlash' elder brother who ish alsho anty Malwa'sh shon(son)cannot even call my name,she laughed,he callsh me 'Lala',Baby yushla cannot talk".

Silence
Another silence
Then silence.

Moh just ducked his head down, Ash on the other hand assumed checking time on his right wrist while the watch was on the left one, Madam Ruth just kept nodding her head, while the Oga at the top Madam Zara was busy scanning her headmistress office.

The Oga broke the silence

"Daddy your office is far better than thish one, there ish no AChi(AC) here, no water dishpenser,no plashma TV, her table, yuck "She blabbered scrunching her nose.

Man Mammadu was tongue-tied because he forgot to warn his little parrot at home while Mr Ash found it funny,he managed to restrain his laughter though.

"I think she is good to go, I'm not taking her to pre nursery,her mouth can kill, so nursery one it is." Mrs Ruth said in a bit annoyed tongue.

"You just pay her school fee I will hand her over to her form teacher.Ermm her uniform shall be ready by tomorrow." She added dismissively.

He managed to voice out a thank you and stormed out of the office.He has to punish her.

"Moh,I was thinking of organizing a party for you..."

"No Ash thank you I hate parties you know that".

"Moh the first step of moving on is forgiveness or rather forgetfulness,you have to let it go"Ashraf adivised his friend.

"Ash I respect you so respect my decision.Do you think I have the right to celebrate my birthday? tsk tsk no not after what happened.I'm okay with it this way just pray for me I appreciate"He said more of convincing himself. And with that he headed to his car, he has to work,he has become workaholic since he lost her. Hello Office here I come.

Masha Allah longest chapter so far, what do you think of Zara's mother?And our boss lady Zara and her mouth😂What happened on his birthday wai? I don't know o.

I typed more than 1000 words for u vote and comment pretty please 🙏