Unedited.
September, 2019.
•ASLAM.
I flew to London from New York on Wednesday 18th, spent 2 days with the twins then we headed to Abuja for their summer break.
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Ladies and Gentlemen,Good Afternoon and Welcome to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, Nigeria. Thank you for flying British Airways flight 4B7 with service from London, United Kingdom to Abuja, Nigeria.
The local time in Nigeria is 2:33.
And the temperature is 28 degrees celsius.
On behalf of the entire crew and British Airways, have a nice day.
Soon enough, the door was opened and the attendants helped the twins with their hand luggage from the overhead compartment.
We walked through the security and immigration processes and then cleared our luggage and headed to the Arrivals.
I looked around observing the moving crowd, the hustle and bustle of the immigration staff and airport workers, the happy people hugging.
The harsh wind hit me square in the face immediately as we walked out, making me squint my eyes. I pulled out my sunglasses and wore them, gulping the cold water I was holding, from the plane.
The driver spotted us and the twins immediately hopped into the back seats of the Lincoln SUV. While I helped Mallam Yakubu- Mami's personal driver for over 15 years now put our luggage into the trunk.
The drive to Asokoro took approximately 40 minutes, slowed by the usual traffic. We passed through the first heavily guarded gate, then the second, and finally made our way past the large fountain and down the long driveway to my mother's section of the house.
"Mun gode Mallam Yakubu -Thank you Mallam Yakubu" I thanked him pulling out a few 1000 naira notes I had in my wallet since my last visit, handing them to him.
"Nagode Oga Aslam - Thank you Oga Aslam" he grinned then came down to offload our luggage.
"Ah ah, Aslam dai kawai- No, just Aslam" I smiled.
The twins already sprinted into the house while I pulled my 2 smallest boxes to the doorstep.
"Ka barsu ai, zansa a shigo da duka ai -Just leave them, I will have them brought inside" Mallam Yakubu said..
"Toh nagode -Alright, thank you." I walked into the house.
"Welcome back Sir, Good morning," a housekeeper I didn't recognize in uniform greeted.
"Thank you." I smiled.
"Where is Mami?"
"Madam is in her room".
I sprinted up the stairs to Mami's room which is a walk through long corridors, a couple of living rooms and her personal living room.
The twins were already there sprawled on her bed.
"Where is Mami?" I asked.
"She's in the restroom," they replied in unison.
Sighing, I sat on the carpet and pulled out my phone to text Amna.
"Haka kuka zauna kuna jira na? -Is this how you all sat waiting for me?" Mami asked immediately she walked out of the closet that linked to her restroom, smiling so brightly.
"Mamiii" the twins shouted, running to hug her.
"My darlings, I missed you two. Ina Nabil? -Where is Nabil?" Mami hugged them, placing kisses on their heads.
