48~Fifty shades #2
"Oh yes." Mama nodded. "We had an event, and today your Baba travelled with Amir."
Hanan smiled.
"In sha Allah, next time we'll meet."
"In sha Allah."
Mama suddenly paused.
Then she looked Hanan up and down.
"Kai!"
She placed a hand on her chest.
"Wallahi, I almost didn't recognize you fa."
She laughed.
"You've become even prettier than the last time I saw you in America."
"Gaskiya, America doesn't suit you."
"Nigeria looks much better on you."
"Look at how your skin is glowing!"
Hanan laughed. "Thank you, Mama."
"How have you been?"
Then her smile softened.
"And... I'm sorry for everything that happened at Amir's wedding."
Mama sighed gently.
"Oh... That?"
"I wasn't angry, I was only confused."
"Amir and Amira explained everything to me afterwards."
She reached over and patted Hanan's hand.
"So don't apologize anymore."
Hanan let out a relieved smile.
"Thank you, Mama. Is Amira home?"
Mama rolled her eyes dramatically.
"As usual."
"Locked inside her room."
"Either pressing her phone..."
"Watching TV..."
"Or sleeping."
Hanan chuckled.
"I hope you're not wasting your own life the same way."
Mama continued with mocking annoyance. "I told her to apply for law school."
"But she insists on taking a gap year."
"For what exactly?"
"To do nothing?"
"I'll talk to her." Hanan smiled. "Don't worry."
"Thank you dear." Mama nodded. "Now, what would you like to eat?"
Before Hanan could answer, Mama called toward the kitchen.
"Indo!"
"Na'am, Mama!"
A young housemaid hurried in and greeted Hanan politely.
After exchanging greetings, Mama turned back to Hanan.
"What would you like to eat, dear?"
"Anything is fine."
"I don't have a preference."
"Alright."
Mama looked at Indo.
"Prepare some jollof rice and coleslaw...There's turkey in the fridge, use it."
"Yes, ma."
"And before you start lunch..."
"Bring Hanan some refreshments."
"Yes, ma."
Mama smiled at Hanan.
"Go. Your friend is probably still glued to that phone."
Hanan laughed. "I'll go rescue her from it."
They both laughed as Hanan made her way to Amira's room.
"Amira!"
Smiling brightly, Hanan hurried into the room, only to stop in surprise.
"Amina?!"
Her face lit up.
"Hi!"
She rushed over and wrapped Amina in a warm hug.
"Matar Ya Najib." Amina teased with a smile, making Hanan blush.
The two settled onto the mat spread across the floor. Hanan placed her handbag and veil beside her before glancing around the room.
"Where's Amira?"
"In the bathroom."
"Okay."
Hanan's eyes drifted to the knitting needles and colorful balls of yarn resting on Amina's lap.
"Is this your new hobby?"
Amina smiled. "Yeah. I recently learned how to knit from YouTube."
"Since I've been banned from going to work, I needed something to keep me busy."
"Banned?" Hanan frowned. "Why?"
"Well, Amir said no more work because..."
"Don't tell her yet!" Amira rushed out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her body and another around her hair.
"Why not?" Hanan laughed.
Amira folded her arms dramatically.
"Guess why my brother suddenly refuses to let her work."
Hanan looked between the two women.
"He wants her to rest?"
"And why would she suddenly need so much rest?" Amira asked with a mischievous grin.
Hanan's eyes slowly widened.
"Wait..."
She turned to Amina.
"No way..."
Her gaze instinctively dropped to Amina's stomach.
"Are you pregnant?!"
Amina laughed before nodding. "I am."
"Ya Allah!" Hanan squealed. "This is wonderful!"
She hugged Amina again. "Congratulations!"
"Thank you." Amina smiled shyly. "No one at home knows yet, not even Ya Najib."
Hanan blinked. "Why?"
"I don't know..." Amina laughed softly.
"I just feel too shy to tell them."
"But I'll tell them soon."
"Shy?" Amira scoffed. "What's there to be shy about?"
Amina smiled. "I was nervous too, but Amir couldn't even wait."
"He told Mama before the doctor officially confirmed the pregnancy."
"He was more excited than I was."
"Of course he was!" Amira laughed.
"He's going to be a father."
"And I'm going to be an aunt!"
"So am I!" Hanan beamed.
"I'm so happy for you."
"Thank you."
Amina squeezed her hand.
"But please don't tell Ya Najib or Grandma yet, I want to tell them myself next week."
"I promise." Hanan smiled.
"So that's why you're here?"
"I was surprised to see you."
Amina nodded. "Amir travelled, and Mama didn't want me staying home alone."
"So she asked me to move in here until he returns."
"That was a good decision." Hanan smiled warmly.
"You're already glowing."
"Pregnancy suits you."
Amina laughed.
Just then Hanan turned toward Amira.
"Mama actually sent me to.."
"Oh please!"
Amira groaned dramatically.
"Not this again."
She walked toward her dresser and picked up her body lotion.
"Why doesn't Mama understand?"
"She keeps telling everyone to convince me."
She sighed loudly while rubbing lotion into her hands.
"I'll return to school next year."
"I'm not changing my mind."
"I swear, it's suffocating hearing the same thing every single day."
She turned to Hanan.
"Tell me honestly."
"Does anyone pressure you like this?"
Hanan smiled faintly.
She wished... She truly wished her mother was still alive to pressure her about school, marriage, or anything at all.
"No." She answered quietly.
"But sometimes I wish someone did."
She smiled again. "Still... just like you, I haven't applied for law school yet."
"You don't get it." Amira sighed.
"When your parents repeat the same thing for months, it gets exhausting."
"You're lucky, Hanan."
She tossed the lotion onto her dresser before walking back and joining them on the mat.
Hanan simply smiled.
She chose not to continue the conversation.
Instead, she watched Amira settle down before speaking.
"You called earlier."
Amira looked at her curiously.
"You said you had good news."
"What is it?"
"First..."
Hanan handed over the dress she borrowed.
"I returned the dress."
"And now..."
She grinned.
"It's your turn to guess."
Amira groaned. "You know I'm terrible at guessing."
"At least give me a clue."
"It's about Najib and me."
"My brother?" Amina asked excitedly.
"Yes." A smile spread across Hanan's face. "It's about us."
Amina gasped. "He proposed?!"
Hanan nodded happily.
"He did."
For a second, the room went silent.
Then...
"What?!"
Both Amina and Amira screamed at the same time.
"Oh my God!"
Amira jumped to her feet.
"I can't believe you're getting married!"
"Ahhhhhhh!"
"This is huge!"
Her scream startled Indo, who had just entered carrying a tray of refreshments.
She flinched so badly that the tray slipped from her hands.
"Oh!"
"I'm sorry!"
"I'm so sorry!"
She hurriedly knelt to pick everything up.
"It's okay.".Hanan smiled before glaring at Amira.
"Will you stop screaming?"
"You'll make Mama panic."
Amira waved dismissively. "Trust me."
"Right now she's probably asleep while Dadin Kowa is still playing on Arewa24."
She looked at Indo. "Am I lying?"
Indo giggled while arranging the tray again.
"No, Aunty Amira."
"Mama is fast asleep."
Everyone laughed.
"The audacity!" Amina pretended to scold Amira.
"How dare you make fun of my mother in law?"
Amira pointed dramatically at Amina's stomach.
"You shouldn't be raising your voice. My nephew is sleeping."
That sent the three women into another round of laughter.
"You're acting like I'm already nine months pregnant." Amina laughed.
"You and my brother are impossible."
"We're only being protective because we love you." Amira smiled before turning to Hanan.
She reached for Hanan's left hand.
"Is this the engagement ring?"
"Yes." Hanan smiled.
"Woah..." Amira admired it from every angle. "My goodness, this is gorgeous. He really has an expensive taste."
"Did you expect anything less from my brother?" Amina teased proudly.
"Ya Najib always had excellent taste."
"And when he's in love..." She chuckled. "He becomes a complete and a shameless Casanova."
"Habiba, you're one lucky woman."
Hanan smiled softly as her thumb gently grazed the diamond.
"I know."
"I truly feel lucky."
For a brief moment, she drifted back to the previous night, reliving every beautiful moment of the proposal.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Amira.
"So... When's the wedding?"
"We haven't fixed a date yet."
"But it will definitely be this month."
"This month?" Amira gasped dramatically.
"That means we don't have much time!"
Hanan frowned. "Time for what?"
"For bridal skincare and body treatments, obviously."
Amira looked at her as though it were common knowledge.
"You need at least two weeks of spa sessions before the wedding."
"What?" Hanan burst into laughter.
"Why are you making it sound like something is wrong with my skin?"
"Nothing is wrong." Amira shook her head.
"But every bride deserves to glow."
"You need that bridal glow."
"I honestly don't think I need a spa." Hanan shook her head.
"Habiba." Amina smiled.
"She's actually right."
"Your skin is already beautiful, but bridal treatments make a huge difference."
"I booked a one month package before my wedding."
"It was worth every penny."
"They pampered me so well."
"You'll love it."
Hanan laughed. "It actually sounds nice."
"So..." Amina clapped her hands once.
"Tomorrow I'll take you there. Do you have time?"
"I do."
"Perfect."
"I'll pick you up tomorrow." Amira added.
"No need." Hanan smiled.
"I'll just sleep over tonight."
"Perfecto!"
Amira squealed happily.
"This is going to be so much fun."
"It's been forever since I had a proper girls night."
"And I haven't spent quality time with Habiba in ages." Amina added.
"I should inform them at home first."
Hanan picked up her phone and called Nanny Ann.
After explaining everything, Amira snatched the phone with a grin.
"My turn!"
She chatted happily with Nanny Ann for several minutes before finally ending the call.
"I love Nanny Ann." Amira sighed dramatically.