Bound ✅

Finale

Seven months later;

"Umma, I want a Hogwarts themed birthday next year." Halima who was plaiting Lubna's hair resisted the urge to chuckle loudly but stopped herself last minute by concentrating on adding warm pressed coconut oil mixed to the line she had made on Lubna's head.

"You'll not bankrupt me. I will look for a Hogwarts themed park somewhere and take you there. See her mouth like Hogwarts themed party." Jamal who entered when Jariyah had made her pronouncement answered. Jariyah turned from the brand new Harry Potter and the Goblet of fire book she was faux  reading with Safeenah to pout at her father who sent her a sneer and a playful shake of his tongue.

"It's not that expensive is it?" Halima who wanted to pull Jamal's legs asked. Jamal turned to her with his eyes wide and his lips pursed, he shook his head at her after seeing she was joking.

"Don't let Jariyah have those kinds of ideas Abeg. I cannot fufil it. I'm not Adeel Baba Hassan who rented out wonderland for his child's birthday." Halima giggled as she plaited the end of a cornrow. She knew Jamal could afford it, he just didn't want Jariyah to feel like  she could demand anything she wanted at anytime.

"But Dad." Jamal sent her a quelling look that made  Jariyah shut up and face the book she was reading. There were other times to bargain the party.

"Lee? How are you feeling today?" Halima turned to observe him, he'd asked her that question at least twice in one day, it was surely tiring for him by now.

"I'm as fine as you left me two hours ago." Lubna who's head was bent over Halima's lap chuckled. Jamal looked away, hurt, over time he had become so protective of his girls that he didn't know how not to look weak and small in front of them.

He got up and after patting Halima's back, he climbed the stairs back to his study. Halima watched him leave with a smile on her face and they all quickly brought out the balloons they had stowed away under the chairs when they heard him get up from his chair in the study.

Halima grinned at Jariyah who gave her a thumbs up, Jariyah had fashioned something that alerted when Jamal got out of his office so they were able to plan the surprise. It consisted of a series of wires and magnets that were interconnected to one another that blinked red once Jamal got up from his chair.

"Umma?" Halima hummed as she adjusted a balloon before tying it. "When is the cake coming?" Halima checked her wrist, then remembered that she was not with a watch, she took out her phone and found out the cake would be around in nearly just one hour.

"You guys be quick, we need to bathe before the cake arrives." Safeenah and Jariyah nodded, passing blown balloons to Lubna to string it to the huge amount they had blown.

"Umma, I want to do this with my kids when I grow up, you know just be happy the way daddy makes you, and have my own prince charming when I become President." Halima turned to observe Jariyah who was seriously puffing air into a grey chrome balloon, she mentally shelved that statement, she would reply it later.

Just as they finished filling the balloons, the doorbell rang, Na Umaimah ran to the door, swung it open and collected the cake to take to the kitchen's refrigerator before Jamal walked downstairs due to the bell. They didn't even check the cake, they all went upstairs to bathe and change.

****

Jamal surveyed the four ladies, Halima had found herself a seat, but the other girls were standing in their matching dark green tutu skirts, white blouses and sparkly turbans with black shoes.

At Halima's prompting, they began to sing.

"Happy Birthday to you," The comical dragging of the you was done by cheeky Lubna who fancied her voice very much. "Happy Birthday to you Daddy." Lubna dragged the daddy even further with another cheeky smile. They all laughed and let Jamal cut the cake in a flurry of photos and videos.