~°°~I put our records on and wait till I hear our song~°°~

Gwarinpa, Abuja, Nigeria.

16th February, 2022. 2:37 pm. ~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~

There's a million reasons why Sayf should let his stepmother and siblings go but he constantly decided against it. Not because they don't deserve to be punished but because he doesn't want to make the mistake of letting anyone he cherished move away from his sight.

No matter what they did, he still thought they deserved a chance, especially because he saw how his stepmother cried the previous day, it showed that she was regretting what she ever did in life.

It was his second day back at home and he hoped that it turns out great unlike the previous day.

The family were having lunch there in the main dining room, something they haven't done in like forever, even when Alhaji Hakeem was alive. Sayf made them all agree to it, they cooked in the same kitchen and served the same type of food to everyone except of course Aaliyah and her children; Abdullah excluded.

"Ya Sayf do you have a girlfriend?" Layla asked halfway their meal. "No I don't Layla" Sayf replied her silly question.

"You should know Laylee, judging from what happened two years back" Amani also commented, she calls Layla that name because they get along very well with her unlike others. The meaning of Laylee is "my night".

"Yeah you're right, I shouldn't have asked" Layla said whispering the latter part of her sentence.

No one said a word again as they continued dining until they heard Ruha and Malika's name being shouted from just a distance. All of them in the dining room stepped out to check on what was going on.

Aaliyah was creating a scene as usual but they were all surprised that one time, as she looked like she regretted what she had ever done.

"What's with the surprised face? Oh you all thought I would just sit and watch you people cheat my children and do nothing about it. Toh for your information, nothing has changed except for the little that added to my strong will. We are leaving the house for you, not tomorrow not later, now. But don't ever mistake it as over, you should expect me to be back to make sure I revenge on the disgrace you caused on me and my children. I can't let you all go free after how you laughed at me while I'm helpless. You all will pay for the pain Hakeem and you caused upon me and my children" Aaliyah said and that was when they noticed Munawwarah, Abbas and Marwan inside a car, ready to leave.

"Don't do this Aaliyah, we could just sit and talk it out" Ruha said even though she knew it was 99% possible that Aaliyah won't listen to her. "Karki fara (don't start), I am done listening to your stupid advises. Abdullah come here let's go" Aaliyah replied gesturing for her last trail of gene in the house.

"No momma, I don't want to leave" Abdullah replied her as tears rolled down his eyes. He was little so it hurt him to see how his mother was acting despite the fact that he lost his father just few weeks back.

"Abdullahi karka ɓata mun rai (don't make me angry)" Aaliyah shouted at him which made him flinch. Sayf who was quietly watching from where he stood and already realised he had to let them go.

He moved to where Abdullah stood and held his hand "He is not following you momma Aaliyah, he would stay here with Mami or Momma Malika but he isn't going with you " he said.

"You can't keep a son away from his mother" Aaliyah said loosing her cool. "He chose it himself, you can't blame him because he easily understood and differentiated between the good and bad" Sayf replied to her and then looked down at his brother.

"Do you really want to stay?" Sayf asked and without hesitation, Abdullah replied "yes, I can't go with her"

"You are making a greater mistake once again, don't blame me for whatever comes your way in few days to come" Aaliyah said as tears threatened to fall from her eyes but she pushed them back.

"Start counting your days iyalen Hakeem Elnafaty for your days are all counted, that I promise" Aaliyah shouted before finally entering the car and before they realised it, they drove in high speed out of the compound, finally leaving.

"Why am I not happy that she left instead of being happy" Layla asked Amani who was looking at space. "Probably because she just threatened our lives, I don't wanna die" Amani said turning to look at Layla who was also looking at her.

"I bet it's not just you who don't want to die, but I believe she'll do it" Layla said which didn't remain unheard to the others.

"No one should panic, insha Allah nothing will happen to any of us. Allah will help me protect you from all evils" Sayf assured them. "Let's go in and y'all should dress amazingly beautiful for the feast tonight, I won't postpone a moment of happiness ever again because you can never know what happens next" He added making everyone to smile except the little boy who was still crying.

An eleven years old boy was too young for whatever was happening in his life.

They all went back in the house and got into a conversation, to a point that they were able to cheer Abdullah up.

They have decided to relocate to a new house which they plan on building because the Alhaji Hakeem Elnafaty's residence was too much for their number, they were living in a house of 30 people at least when there was just six of them. ~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~

The garden of the house was simply decorated in blue and black colour as the theme of the feast was night. There was no music played but the number of people were enough to make the house a bit noisy. Apparently, his mother invited even three of Sayf's cousin from Malaysia and Sayf couldn't be happier.

His cousins included; Al-ameen, Hafeez, Mus'ab, Nabil, Zakiyya, Najma, Amrah, Hamrah and Namrah. Al-ameen and Hafeez were older than Sayf, Hafeez with a year while Al-ameen with two years. Mus'ab was a year younger than him, Zakiyya was two years younger while Najma and Nabil who were twins were Eight years younger than him. Amrah, Hamrah and Namrah were triplets and were nine year younger than him, they were Amani's age, 21.

Amrah, Hamrah, and Namrah were Sayf's maternal cousins. While the rest were from his father's side, Al-ameen, Hafeez and Zakiyya from the same parents while Mus'ab, Nabil and Najma from the same parents.

"Ya meen you're definitely wrong" Najma said while they all laughed. "So you mean ƙarya nayi kenan? (I lied?)" Al-ameen asked while the others kept laughing at their little argument.

"That's what she's trying to say even though I also caught her once on a phone with him" Nabil replied instead earning a glare from Najma. "ah ya meen when did I say you lied, I just said you didn't say it right but Nabil is definitely lying" Najma defended herself.

"Adda Zakiyya, talk to them" Najma added pouting, Al-ameen was telling them about how he caught her chatting with a guy the other time. "I don't know you" Zakiyya replied making Najma to pout deeper.

"Ask me for help" Nabil demanded. "I'd rather go and sleep" She said eyeing him before she got on her feet trying to leave. "Where are you going?" Nabil asked in high tone. "None of your business, it was actually a mistake that I sat with you people when Amani is not here to support me on anything you say. I will go get them" Najma said before disappearing into the house.

Amani, Layla, Amrah, Hamrah and Namrah were missing in the garden, so as Ruha and Malika.

"Guys, they are waiting" Najma informed immediately she entered the room, she wasn't planning on staying angry. "Now that I notice, you are more fair than I know you, bleaching jikinki kika fara? (Have you started bleaching your skin?)" Amani asked.

"Not you too, I will go home fa, you guys should stop trying me Allah" Najma pouted. "I cannot say you're fair again?" Amani said making the rest to laugh. "Talk again and see" Najma glared before leaving the room.

She proceeded and called Ruha and Malika each from their rooms before they headed to the garden.

Different food, snacks and beverages were served.

Everyone of them was dressed in either black, white or blue, mostly black and because of that, the guys settled for shirts and trousers while the ladies were in gowns, simple ones.

They played games, sang, danced, chatted, ate, and took lots and lots of pictures and videos, themselves could not count. It was a moment of happiness, something most of them had not experienced for a while.

~°°~I put our records on and wait till I hear our song~°°~

~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~°~ So Aaliyah is gone finally, but I don't think that's the end. And buckle up guys, the bumpy part of the ride is just around the corner.

Remember Iman? His so called ex, we are meeting her pretty soon and the unexpected will happen, not only in Sayf's life but Tauhida's as well.

We are about to see why we named our book with her name, it was definitely for a reason. Any guesses? If not be prepared, cause I'm gonna shake you a little bit.

I like Sayf's cousins, ya meen and Nabil especially.

Okay, vote, comment and share my book to friends and family. Lots of love,

Deedi--❤️