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Chapter One👑

She returned the book to its place on the shelf and tried to take her mind of the worst that could happen in Kano the next day.

She massaged the bridge of her nose and flopped on her bed trying to push the unwanted thoughts that kept finding their way to her head.

She closed her eyes for a few seconds and reopened them only to find Inarah's face inches away from hers.

"So what are you thinking about Nazneen,you seemed lost"

"Did you brush thoroughly this morning, your breath smells horrible" Nazneen fake gagged and pushed her face away.

Inarah smelled her breath just to be sure "Of course I did"

"I know you did,I was just joking with you"

Inarah's phone chimed indicating a new message. She picked it up and read through it.

"Sorry I have to go Nazneen, Ridwan just texted that he's at my house and I don't want to keep him waiting"

Nazneen nodded in understanding as she watched her friend struggle to buckle up the straps of her heels.

Ridwan is Inarah's boyfriend and she's head over heels in love with him. Nazneen can't say the same for him because she's to shy to get to know him better and she likes it that way.

Inarah was about to dash out if the room when she looked back and whistled to Nazneen "Try not to do anything funny before the trip tomorrow"

"You know I wouldn't"

Inarah shrugged "I know but just to be sure"

She left the room shutting the door with a loud bang and Nazneen could hear the clanking of her heels racing down the stairs.

Nazneen rushed to her balcony to see her off. Inarah caught a glimpse of her just as she was unlocking her car. Nazneen waved at her which she did the same before sliding into her 2019 Audi Q8 and revving the engine to life.

Nazneen watched as Inarah effortlessly reverse her car while honking at the gateman to open the gate and then drove off out of the house into the street road.

Nazneen sighed and returned back to her room and glanced at the wall clock above her bed. It was time for Asr prayer already.

She went to her en suit bathroom to perform ablution. She spread her dadduma and stood facing the Kiblah and offered her salaat lingering on the last raka'a and pouring her heart out to her lord and asking for his guidance.

After she finished praying, she folded her dadduma and placed it back on the drawer. She removed her long hijaab and hanged it in her closet.

She further packed her hair into a bun and covered it with a turban cap. She sauntered downstairs to at least bake some sour cream cake which matched her mood.

She entered the kitchen meeting Ummi making dinner and by the looks of it she was planning of hosting a banquet.

She wanted to turn around and go back to her room when she was called back.

"Where are you going? We are having guests for dinner and I want you to help to make things easier"

Nazneen took a short glimpse at the maids around and by the looks of their coordination, they had everything under control.

She walked further into the kitchen and folded the sleeves of her cardigan and began to shred the vegetables.

"So do you know the guest that are coming?" Nazneen asked.

"Ah yes, it's the Al-farsis"

"The who?"

"Do you know the person that Abba spends most of his weekend with?"

Nazneen knew her father spends most of his Sunday evenings with a very close friends but she didn't know who he was so. She just shook her shoulders in reply.

Ummi let out an exasperated sigh "Abba is coming with them this evening and so you should get ready"

Nazneen thoughts to herself. She thought her day couldn't get any worse after hearing about their weekend trip tomorrow but it became must worse at the thoughts of meeting new people.

Nazneen kept her thoughts to herself and continued shredding the vegetables.

"You can go to Inarah's place for the night if you want, we don't want to force you" Ummi said noticing her uneasiness.

She wished she could say yes but instead shook her head avoiding any possible eye contact.

They were making chicken biryani, lasagna and her sour cream cake for dessert.

By the time they finished cooking,it was already time for maghrib, she left the maids to set the table while she excused herself and went back to her room to pray and freshen up.

After praying, she had a quick shower and applied her body cream. She never applies any makeup no matter the occasion for two main reason; she isn't a fan of makeup and she doesn't even know how to apply the makeup.

She picked out a midnight blue jilbaab abaya with a matching veil. She would have gone for the lilac abaya with intricate designs that Inarah got for her on their last shopping expedition but she just doesn't like bright colours, why? Because she hates standing out.

She was still sitting on her vanity table when Hauwa– one of their maids, came to call her that the Al-farsis, their guests has arrived.

She gave herself a once over and sucked in a deep breath. She can survive through the night and she would survive.

She can do this.

She'll survive this.

She can do this.

She'll survive this.

She kept chanting to herself on her way downstairs but all the little courage she managed to sum up went through the window and into streets the moment four pairs of eyes turned to her direction the moment she reached the stairs landing.

What have I gotten myself into, she thought to herself.

******

So what do you think huh? Is it a little too much or is okay? I wanna know🙏.

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