Ruha

CHAPTER TWELVE

"You are not alone... Always remember that!" Aiyla

The sun filtering through the curtains were what woke the girls up, they were all in Ruha and Farha's room on the floor with blankets, they were all awake till after praying subh just talking and playing games.... Just being girls

They showered and dressed up before going downstairs. The elders were all talking in hushed tones and were silent when the girls came down. The girls greeted them with a skeptic look in their eyes. They went off to the kitchen to get something to eat. Ruha and Farha were seated on the counter while Adda and Hanan were getting the things for the pancakes. Manal was busy talking their ears off about how she wanted to travel around the world. Ruha looked at her with a sad smile and wished her world was as peaceful and colourful as little Manal's. She got up quietly while the girls were engrossed in an argument about which city was more beautiful between Paris and Dubai and went out of the kitchen through the back door to get some air. She was lost in her own thoughts, thinking about nothing

"Seems my little sister forgot to check on me today, ouch" She turned around and engulfed her big brother Jamaal in a hug. He rubbed her back soothingly

"Roo, know and understand that I'll never leave you no matter what. You can always talk to me. Its been us since the beginning, it is us now and it will be us till the unavoidable end. I love you Ruha" Jamaal said as he held her close to him

A tear dropped from his eye onto her back as she sobbed in his chest. Jamaal hated seeing his sister in this state and he internally wished he never left for Egypt few years ago. At that moment he promised himself that he'd do all it'll take to make Ruha better before he leaves Abuja. The two siblings stayed there for a while until Adda came and told them that breakfast was ready. They both fixed their faces and went in for breakfast. After their wonderful breakfast of pancakes and syrup with scrambled eggs, the kids went to the garden to get some fresh air. The neighbours came over and in no time, they were all chattering and conversing about everything and nothing. Jamaal and Muna kept stealing glances at each other

"I think you've got something for Jamaal, Muna love" Na'im said to Muna in a whisper and she gasped and denied it immediately

"I can see it in your eyes Muna" Na'im said as he laughed and walked away. The side of his eye caught Ruha walking away from the crowd deep in her own thoughts as usual. He decided to follow her. He felt a certain attachment to her and he did not fully understand it. He felt like he could relate to what she was going through on a whole different level and he, for the first time ever, felt he could do some saving. He had a task at hand he was ready to face it

Ruha sat by the pool and dipped her legs into the water, letting the cold water sooth her, water washes away pain even if its for a little while and there was nothing Ruha wanted more than a way for all the pain vanish

She was soo lost in her thoughts she didn't notice a presence beside her until he splashed the water on her face. Annoyed at the intrusion, she turned and saw Him. The enigma himself. Ahmad

He didn't talk, neither did she. No words needed to be exchanged for actions speak louder than words ever can. Ruha realized that maybe coming back was for the best. After all, she gained people who mean soo much to her in just little time

*

"Ruha!" Amma called her into the parlor, the other adults were there, all her mothers siblings and their spouses. She has been avoiding them all like a plague and now she was stuck in the same room as them. The others were having a bicycle race around the estate and she came to rest her head. She developed a migraine, besides, she had Adda recording the whole thing so they could watch and keep for memory sake. It was something they started when the summer games began

She greeted them and stood waiting for whatever they had to say, she doubted if it was any good with the list of things that they have dome for a while

"Ruha, we have decided to seek the professional help for you, we have hired a psychologist" her grandmother dropped the bomb

Ruha has been waiting for this all her life, she knew it will end up happening someday, she has been expecting it, no elder in their right mind will leave her to be the way she is. She is not alright. She knows. Everyone knows. Its time to seek help. Ruha nodded and walked out going to their room. She took the drug for migraine and laid down letting the memories keep her up till she couldn't take them anymore