Chapter 29: Chapter 29

The car came to a halt, jolting Hayfah out of her trance. She looked up and roam her yes around the humungous yet luxurious house. She gulped down a lump in her throat, how could she live in such a house? It's too expensive for her liking.

"We're here, Hajia," the driver announced, gently opening the door for her.

Hayfah's eyes bulged out, she knew he's close to Abba's age, how could he open the door for her? "Thank you, Baba, and you can call me Hayfah please," she smiled warmly at him, coming out of the car.

He helped her with the luggage to a huge door she assumed to be the entrance. He called a maid and handed her Hayfah's luggage before instructing her to take her to Hajia; the woman of the house.

The sparkling and clean tiles, lush and exquites rugs, well furnitured living room, and the cold calming air splashing her cheeks; with a bakhoor filling up her nostrils_____Hayfah almost lost her balance, how could a human being be living in this luxury?

"Make yourself comfortable, she'll be down soon," The maid informed and ascended the staircases to call the woman.

Hayfah made herself comfortable on the carpet; which she can sleep there for eternity. Long lost in her thoughts, she felt strong and motherly arms wrapped around her body, lifting her up. "You're welcome my daughter, make yourself comfortable please," Hajia Shatu welcomed warmly, guiding Hayfah to the nearby sofa.

She sat down beside her, still holding her hands in hers. She doesn't know how, but at her first glance of Hayfah, she felt her love filling her heart. "You're welcome dear, how was your trip? You must be tired huh? Come, let me show you your room, it's my eldest daughter's room; she got married months ago. And Allah has given me a replace of her," Hajia Shatu stood up, Hayfah's hand was still in hers.

"Good afternoon, Aunty," Hayfah greeted, bowing her head a little. She wasn't used to been so important in people's lives, at the same time; she was afraid if they would accept her voice.

"Don't call me that, Call me Maami," she corrected lovingly. "Come let's go," with that, she didn't wait for Hayfah's reply, as she dragged her towards the staircases.

"Abida, bring her luggage to Zulfa's room please," she yelled to probably the maid.

They entered the room, it was an exquisite navy blue and white room, everything seemed perfect to Hayfah, way more than perfect. She showed her the closet, bathroom, and some other necessary things before she asked he to fresh up, pray and come down for lunch.

Hayfah bathe and wore a skirt and blouse ankara, she tied her hair with the headtie, prayed and wore a small himar on her before descending down to the living room, she too was famished.

Before she could come down, she heard the giggles of probably a girl in her teenage age; gisting her Maami. Hayfah came down with a smile on her face; her smile widened at the sight of a beautiful young lady probably in her 12th year of life.

"Maami, who's this one? The guest you told me about?" She asked, sprinting towards Hayfah and engulfed her into a bone crushing hug.

"You're beautiful," she complimented, before Maami could answer her question.

"Rayhan, let her have lunch please, you should go and fresh up," Maami said, sitting on one of the chairs encircling the dinning table.

"What is your name? Will you live with us forever? I became bored since Addah Zulfa left us. You won't leave huh?" Rayhan ranted another questions without taking a breathe. She just sooo much loves Hayfah.

These people's love had filled Hayfah's heart to the brim, she felt as if they were a part of her. "My name is Hayfah, and yes; I won't leave for now. Go and fresh up, Maami is waiting for us," she patted her head lovingly, she felt as if all her life, she had been looking for these people.

"Addah Hayfah, wait for me please, we always eat with Addah Zulfa," Rayhan pleaded and scuttled towards her room that was adjacent to Hayfah's.

Hayfah's heart almost break at the name she called her. All her life, no one has ever called her as lovingly as this. How could she thank Allah for bringing these people into her life? She spent only some minutes with them, but those minutes felt like years.

"What are you thinking of? Don't mind her please, she's garrulous," Maami chuckled and beckoned for Hayfah to come sit on the dining table, and so she abide.

They waited for about ten minutes before Rayhan came down all clad in a jean and a top; wrapping her hair with a turban. "The queen is here, let's get started," she flips her imaginary hair and sat beside Hayfah, as Maami served them, before they all kept quite, eating their food. Table manners.

They finished their lunch, Rayhan and Hayfah took the used utensils to the kitchen and came back, Hayfah wasn't still comfortable. She could only answer Rayhan's talks with gestures or hummings.

"Leave her alone, Rayhan. Hayfah, you must be tired, go and rest," Maami yelled from the kitchen, shooting daggers at Rayhan; whose lips had been pursed into a pout.

"It's okay, Rayhan. Don't you have an assignment to do? Do it before I wake up. I'll rest a little bit before Asr, we'll sleep in my room today, deal?" Hayfah cajoled, and stood up, Rayhan's hand in hers.

"I don't have any assignmet, it's just my hadda (Verses to be memorized)," she explained, still with lips pouted, sombre expression plastered on her face.

"Start the hadda before I wake up, we'll do it together. Would you teach me?" Hayfah asked, trying to lit up her mood.

"Yes, I will. Because you're my new friend," Rayhan ran as she dragged Hayfah towards the staircases. Together, they both ascended and entered their rooms.

Hayfah called Abba, Hamma Tahir, Amna and Fareeha, before a peaceful sleep engulfed her. She had even forgotten about Malik, what he did had caused a rift in their friendship. If it was before, he might even be the one that would bring her to Abuja, but Nah! He's the last person she wants to be in company with.

She woke up about thirty minutes past 4, she stood up and prayed before reading some verses from the Qur'an. She knew Rayhan might have left for Islamiyya again, since it was a sunday. She descended downstairs and met Maami making probably dinner, without hesitation, she entered the kitchen and offered a helping hand, which Maami willingly accepted; for she cooks for her family, the maid only do the house chores.

***

Hayfah was in her room, she just finished praying her Isha prayer and was reciting some supplications; when Rayhan barged inside the room with a Salaam.

She moved towards her and held her hand, trying to lift her up "Come please, Daddy is eager to see my new friend," she jabbered, and Hayfah couldn't help but stood up and followed her, she couldn't just ignore her or tell her she has to remove this long hijab.

They went downstairs and met Maami with Daddy gisting fascinating; she was telling him how she loves Hayfah within these few hours, and she was sure he would love her too.

"Good evening," Hayfah greeted with her husky voice, squatting down.

"No! You're my daughter too, feel free and call me Daddy," he smiled warmly, tenderly looking at her.

Hayfah still wonders if they're humans. Haven't they heard her voice? Wouldn't any of them say something about her voice? Are they just being passionate for today and they would be just like other people tomorrow?

"You seemed lost, Addah Hayfah, Maami said we should have a sit and eat," Rayhan nudged her shoulder and dragged her to the dining table. They sat and ate their dinner in an eerily silence.

They finished and took the utensils to the kitchen before they all moved the living room and sat down. Hayfah was fumbling with her fingers all the while, she was nervous as hell.

"Where were you been posted?" Daddy asked, his gaze glued on the television.

"It was an organization in Suleja," she informed, biting her lips; for she couldn't remember the name of the organization.

"That would be a bit far, I'll enrol you in my friend's company, it would be more confortable and safe too," Daddy informed, picking up his phone and dailed his friend's number.

They finished talking, and have agreed for Hayfah to start servicing in their company. He told her she should be there at 8am tomorrow morning. Hayfah couldn't be more ecstatic, she too was afraid of this Suleja thingy, but upon hearing the company's name; she felt at ease.

They nattered away for an hour before Hayfah and Rayhan bid them goodnight and moved to Hayfah's room. As promised, Rayhan bathe and wore her pyjamas, before joining Hayfah on the bed.

"Addah Zulfa hardly let me sleep together with her, saying I would disturb her if she's on phone with her boyfriend," Rayhan informed, resting her head on the pillow, looking at Hayfah's ruminative face.

"Why? You must be sleeping when she'll be making the call I guess. She would've let you sleep as much as you like," Hayfah answered. Everything about Rayhan is soo cute to her.

"She says kids aren't allowed to hear lovers chats. Do you have a boyfriend, Addah Hayfah?" As the words slipped out of the Rayhan's lips, Hayfah's mind drifted back to Adyan, he was everything she had ever craves and yearns for in her entire life.

"Yes, Rayhanah. I have a boyfriend, we're not together though, but I still love him with every breathe I take," Hayfah answered, with her eyes closed dreamily_____his face ebbing in her heart.

Rayhan gasped, she was clearly shocked. "With every breathe you take? That's he's everywhere in you. Do you think of him always? And why are you not together? I would love to see him one day. Is he handsome?" Rayhan asked in one breathe, she was as curious as a cat could.

Hayfah chuckled at her shocked tone "Yes, he's everywhere in me, and I can't spend a second without thinking about him. And it's destiny that rifted us apart. And he's veryyyyyy handsome," she drawled the very, it sounded funny to her; how she's opening her deepest secrets to a 12 years old girl.

Rayhan gushed and sat upright, this is getting more intriguing. "Would you dash him for me? Just for a day, Addah; I love handsone guys. But what's his name? Let's see if the name would be nice," she inquired, her gaze unshaken on Hayfah's face.

"His name is Adyan!" Hayfah too had to open her eyes, she had never in her lifetime thinks of uttering those treasured words to someone; talkless of a young girl.

"Addah...," the other words came out as a grunt, due to Hayfah's palm that was placed on her lips.

"Shusshhh, Rayhan. It's already late; sleep," she ordered and layed her back on the pillow, closing her eyes as if she was really sleepy.

***

They prayed Subh prayer together and started getting ready; Hayfah was getting for work, whilst whining rayhan was getting ready for school.

Hayfah helped her wore her uniform, crosschecked her assignments and descended downstairs chatting laconically.

"Good morning, Maami," Rayhan ran towards Maami that was arranging the dining table, hugging her fron behind.

"Morning my baby, how was your night? Hope you didn't kick Hayfah yesterday?" She jested, pinching her cheeks lovingly.

"She didn't. Good morning, Maami," Hayfah chuckled and greeted, collecting the warmer Maami was holding.

"Okay girls, do fast; I don't want you to be late," they sat down and ate their breakfast before bidding Maami adieu and drove out of the mansion.

They first dropped Rayhan at school, before taking their way to the company. They halted in front of a vast storey building. Hayfah's heart kept pounding in it's ribcage.

The driver turned and flashed her a loving smile "My daughter Hayfah, we're here. Take care of yourself, there are bad people everywhere. Alhaji said you should tell the receptionist your name, and she would take you to the CEO's office," he informed.

Hayfah hopped out of the car, thanked him; as she waited until he drove out of the building. Hands becoming sweaty, she lifted her head up and read out the name of the company.

"ALKAAD GROUP OF COMPANIES."