Behind My Walls✔️

Chapter 3

1 WEEK LATER.

.....

"Open your eyes". The doctor (optician) said flashing a bright light into my eyes. When he finished, he asked me to read a board hanged at the opposite wall with alphabet written on it with one eye closed. While I read only the first line with difficulty, he prescribed some medication for me which included glasses and we left.

"Ammi I don't want to wear glasses I'm not blind", I pouted. I have been having difficulty reading my books, so when school resumed this week, Ammi decided that we should come see a doctor.

"La taqlaq Ikhi. Don't worry Ikhi, its going to be fine, its just for some months and not only blind people wear glasses, when you regain your normal eyes sight you will stop using it InshaAllah". She stated and we went to the car with me sulking beside her.

When we arrived home I met Aunty Asiya (My Abba's younger sister, who I liked the most among the rest of his siblings and we get along more), with her 4 years old identical twins, Khadija and Fatima(Hanan and Manal) who lives in Kaduna and work as a dentist in a certain hospital, she was also the person that encouraged me to study pharmacy which I had a passion of since when I was in my primary school and also helped me with the tips of studying with less stressing.

She was sitting on the cushion with her maid by her side, which was literally kind of her because some people chose to treat their maids as slaves and I was impressed by her at that because I hate it when people are maltreated.

I hugged her. "Aunty when did you come to Abuja?" I asked patting Manal's cheek, and I picked up Hanan who was playing with manal on the rug and swung her by my hip.

"Yesterday Ikhbal, I came for my friend's wedding so I slept at Umaima's house (her sister in-law), and I also came to visit this beautiful lady". She said with a smile whilst I smiled back, murmuring MashaAllah. "I will be leaving tomorrow". She added.

"Ohh! Aunty we will miss you!". Before she replied Ammi came through the front door and excitedly picked up Manal. "Ohh! my habibtis, I missed you so much". Manal smiled in response. "How are you Asiya? How is work and your husband as well?".

"I'm fine Aunty and work is going smoothly MashaAllah, Adnan also sends you his regards". She said referring to her husband.

"MashaAllah". Ammi said sitting with Manal.

I left them conversing and met Raliya in the kitchen. I asked her to take some drinks to Aunty in the living room and sauntered upstairs with Hanan. I sat her on the bed and brought my phone from my purse, though I had nothing much for her to play with.

"Can you play a Car race?" When she shook her head, I searched for other game which she could like. "Okay what about the magic princess?". Showing it to her she nodded excitedly and I handed the phone to her, "Okay while you play, I will go bath okay?".

"Okay aunty", she spoke for the first time with her little but sweet voice.

When I bathed, I came across the black Abaya that Aunty Ruqayya (Layla's mother) bought for me from Saudi (umrah), and she also bought Ammi an Abaya and some Zam Zam (holy water). I slipped in it and went back to my room to meet Hanan still playing her game looking more comfortable than before, then I pinned on my veil and we both strolled downstairs.

"Ikhbal Hanan bata yi rigima ba koh?.I hope Hanan behaved herself right?".

"Yes aunty she is very happy seeing her cousin". I said patting Hanan's cheek while she smiled.

"When are you resuming to school Ikhbal?" Aunty asked.

"Next tomorrow".

"That's Monday, so soon!"

"Yes Aunty", I answered with a smile. I sat beside the twins who were now engaged with my phone playing game.

She ate a slice of apple which Raliya brought for her, "Okay why don't I take you and the twins out for ice cream before you loose your freedom to your studies".

I grinned I really missed hanging out with her, "Sure Aunty that will be great, what time are we going?"

"After Maghreb (4th obligatory prayer).

***

"Manal! Hanan! Stop you two or else you will not have the ice cream!". She warned while they were running around the living room, they immediately stopped and came panting beside me.

"Mummy 'shorry', Aunty can we have the ice cream now?" They said in unison.

I smiled "Yes you can have as much as you want habibtees".

When we went out earlier Aunty took us with Ammi's car to an ice cream parlour, where we chose different flavors of ice cream cone, and Aunty warned the twins not to have theirs until we got back. Before then we went to a store whilst Aunty bought an Ankara(Atamfa) for herself, I, her house keeper Fauziyya and the twins as she promised to give her tailor my measurements so that she can send it through the commercial car.

I usually wears Abaya or gown, which Aunty mostly complaint, and she often said 'the strongest part of a culture is wearing its traditional wears', and that's fact because I was mostly mistaken as an Arab because I rarely wore Ankara (which doesn't make sense to me), though a half Nigerian but I love my Father's tradition too.

We stayed in the living room which was large in size, has white paint, golden royal cushions, with a golden royal center table with side table, a golden brown rug and a large sized plasma TV with double standard air conditioner. We were sitting watching a movie and taking our ice cream, whilst Ammi went upstairs to sleep. After a while, the twins started to doze off.

"Aunty can the twins sleep with me in my room". I said picking up Manal.

"Sure, let me help you with Hanan". She said and we took them to the room, changed them into their pyjamas with the help of Fauziyya(Aunty's maid), then Aunty later bade us goodnight and they both went to the guest rooms. I changed into pyjama brushed my teeth, prayed my 2 raka'at prayer and laid on the other end of the bed, I took my phone while I received a message via WhatsApp from Bestie (Layla).

"Pretty please can you come pick me up for school on Monday?"

"Sure, why isn't Salim taking you?". I typed back.

"Because that big head brother of mine said he has some important meetings to attend to on Monday morning".

Salim was an engineer who was older than Layla with 5years, they both really get along together more than the rest elderly siblings, though she hang around with her younger brother Yusuf who was in his junior secondary school but she benefited more from Salim because he was like her 'credit card' and they played in all certain of seriousness, with that I often wished I had a sibling.

I checked my time table from my locker and typed. "Okay then till we meet, I'm having lecture by 1pm, so I can make it to you by 12pm,".

"Okay, luv u so much pretty muah!, goodnight".

"Goodnight". I switched off my data, prayed my sleeping prayers, prayed for my family safety and slept.

*****
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Kherdeeniasse.