Kindred Ties

Chapter 31

"Ina wuni Aunty Khadija." Maryam greeted cheerfully. A tall woman of about forty pulled her into a hug saying, "Ina gajiya Maryam, long time no see." She pulled out and hugged the others.

Maryam grinned and nodded saying, "how is your work at the embassy, is it fun?" Aunty Khadijah looked at her and nodded smiling, "very much." "How would it feel to be an ambassador? Goals Wallahi." Yasmin swooned. They all laughed and Aunty Khadija said, "you can be one, if you work hard."

"Insha Allah." She whispered. Maryam picked husna, Aunty Khadijah's youngest daughter. "Hello, baby." She cooed. "How are you? You good?" She asked in a baby voice. The baby smiled and made some soft noises. Mama and Aunty Khadijah looked at her smiling. "You love babies," — "just get married and have your own, sai kowa ya huta."

"Gaskiya kam," Mama said, and Maryam shyly ducked her head and slipped into humaira; Aunty Khadija's eldest daughter's room before they start talking about marriage stuff in front of her. She found humaira humming to a song and swaying her hips as she arranged her drawer. She had her back to Maryam.

Maryam smirked as she thought of a plan. She kept baby husna on the bed and tip-toed to humaira, gently stretched her hands and started tickling her. "Subhanallah." Humaira yelped and started laughing. "Reesla stop!" She yelled trying to stop laughing.

Maryam chuckled. "Maryam?" Humaira asked while laughing. Maryam let her go and she turned. Maryam opened her arms saying, "That's me."

Humaira excitedly hugged her, "Maryam!" She exclaimed. Mariam grinned and also hugged her. "I've missed you."

"You can't even imagine. From besties to strangers." They both laughed. Humaira went and sat on a bed bench and pulled Maryam with her. "How is life?" Humaira asked.

"Fine Alhamdulillah, how is everything?"

                       ———————

"You told her you like her?" Mummy asked staring at Muhammad. He had just told her about Maryam. She knew he had feelings for her, but she didn't know he could tell her. Guess she was wrong.

"Trust me it was not easy, I was shaking inside. I didn't know how she was going to react to it." He confessed and shook his head. Abdallah started laughing, "I can just imagine the situation. Muhammad acting all cool while trembling inside." Mummy playfully hit Abdallah and shushed him, urging Muhammad to continue.

Muhammad laughed and told mummy the whole story. When he finished, mummy was just looking at him and Abdallah was busy laughing. "Toh Allah ya sanya alkhairi." Mummy prayed. "Ameen."

Mummy went to her drawer and pulled out a black paper bag. "Abdallah take this to Aunty Ruqayya's house for me please." "Dama tananan?"

"Eh, she returned last week. We are taking our clothes to her tailor, for Reesla's wedding." "Ni I still cannot believe that that small girl is getting married. She is just 17 fah." Abdallah said and collected the bag from her.

"A'ah what should she wait for after she has completed her studies? Ai mace kwanciyan hankalin ta sai gidan miji. Had Aisha wanted, I would have gotten her married right after high school as well."-"It's the men that need to be mature before marriage." She added.

"That's true Gaskiya. But the ladies should also have a bit of sense dai. Before she enters his house and ruin his life." Abdallah gestured. "But I think reesla is old enough, and she has sense, unlike somebody." Muhammad cut in, getting up.
Abdallah gaped at Muhammad, "oh, you mean . . ." Muhammad ignored him and turned to Mummy. "Alright mummy I have some work awaiting me, so I'll just finish them, then come back."