chapter forty seven

Khair's POV

"OK,now that both of you are here," I paused and look at Stephanie and Maya who were both giving this bored face. "Oh my God I'm so excited." I continued Showing my real excitement.

"Get to the point already." Stephanie protested while Maya joined her

"Ok. Ahmad is taking me out tonight." I announced to them and their bored face returned

"How many times have he took you out?" Stephanie rolled her eyes.

"I mean he's taking me to meet one of his relative,probably he's aunt." I stated the point.

"Wow that's great. That's a sign of him wanting to make things official between you two." This time,Maya spoke happily and Stephanie looked confused.

"Isn't that normal for your boyfriend to take you to a family dinner?" Stephanie questioned

"It is,in your place but in our culture,tradition or whatever,its a good thing and achievement for your boyfriend to take you to a relative. It shows he's ready to settle down with you." Maya helped with the explanation while Stephanie nodded in understanding.

"It all makes sense now. I can see why Khair is all happily excited about it. Do you want to marry Ahmad?" She asked questioned wiggling her brows.

"Of course. Who wouldn't?" I rolled my eyes at her.

"And you urgently called us here for?" Asked Stephanie again

"For you guys to help me choose a decent cloth for this outing." I said and led them to the room where most of my clothes were scattered on the bed.

........

After spending five hours on choosing my outfit and an extra hour for the make up,I was finally out of that house.

"Where are you?" I shouted through the phone as I drove to where I will pick up Fathona.

"Just directly across the first bus stop after fambrini's cafe." She answered back and hung up without giving me a chance to talk again.

"Hey Khair." Fathona waved as she hopped into the passenger's seat.

"Hi." I simply said and after that,we didn't say anything again.

"Huh Khair?" Fathona called

"Yes?"

"Do you know why I was named Fathonallyona?" She started and I groaned

"Because I am a Christian and a Muslim. My mum's a Muslim from Pakistan and she married an English man. None of them were ready to give up their religion but they loved each other anyway,so as she gave birth to me,she named me Fathona while my dad named me Llyona and they decided to join the name together and that's why I'm now the one and only Fathonallyona." She narrated without me asking her to with a proud smile.

"Well that's fascinating." I complimented

"I know right. My sister's own is more fascinating. She's....." I didn't allow her to continue when I shouted "just keep quiet I get it.

"OK bhabi" she said

"Barbie? Barbie doll?" I asked confused

"No. It means sister in India." She laughed

"But I thought you are Pakistani?"

"Yeah. Its a complicated matter but I will tell you about it. When...."

"No thank you pls. Don't say anything again until we reach your house." I declared and she nodded.

Fathona told me earlier that her mum wants to meet me. I thought she was joking at first until she called her mum and started speaking a language I couldn't grab a word from. She then handed me the phone saying her mum wants to talk to me. I greeted her mum and she said she would really like to meet me in person and what can I do? I agreed to see her later in the evening which was now.

"Maa! Maaaaaa!!" Fathona yelled as we entered her house.

"Yes? I'm coming." The person who I guessed was the mother answered from far distance.

"Wait here while I call her. She will be so excited as I am. Let me bring you water." Fathona rushed as she pushed me down the sofa to sit

"No no,don't bring anything." And before I could finish that sentence, she was gone.

Now I'm alone. In a house. Which I don't know. I hope I will come out safely.

I sat for two minutes and I didn't hear any sound of them coming out. I looked around the living room to study it. I saw a family picture hanging on a wall and I wanted to get a better view of it. I almost stood up but remembered I was in a place that I suppose to maintain myself.

Fathona finally came out after minutes that I can't count.

"Finally you're here. I told you not to bring anything but you're here bringing in a whole bar." I said as she smiled and dropped it at my front.

"Come and take it. I just wanted to greet your mother that's why I'm here." I added holding her arm before she escaped again.

"I know and she's coming but at least take little water." She said and wiggled out of my grasp then ran to the kitchen. Ugggh!

She cane back with two warmers of...food maybe and dropped it on the dining.

"Fathonaaaa" I whined while she giggled and ran out again.

Darn!

I slumped on the sofa resting my head in my palms.

"Gosh I don't want to be late." I said to myself calculating the time I have left in my head.

After what it felt like forever, I raised my head and what I saw almost made my eyes fall out. The dining table was filled with varieties of plates.

"Maa,you're making her late she wants to go." Fathona said to her mum as she came inside the living room.

"I'm sorry Khair. She's coming and...." Before Fathona gets to finish her sentence, her mum came out.

"Salam Khair. I'm so sorry I made you stay for so long." Her mum apologized and I just smiled.

"Wa alaikis salam Maa,Good evening." I greeted standing up from the chair and fiddling with my fingers cos I didn't have idea how I will greet her.

I wanted to kneel down a little for her but before I did that,I was enveloped in a hug by her.

"How are you and how's everyone?" She asked settling me down on the sofa again.

"Fine Alhamdulillah."

"How are you coping with Fathona? I know she must act very foolishly and disturbingly to you right?" The mum asked again.

As if you know Maa. Fathona is as disturbing as hell.

"No not really. She's a nice girl." I said the opposite laughing.

"Oh that's great. Let's go and eat dinner then."

"No Maa. I have to go somewhere and I'm already running late. I'm sorry but I will come back next time." I tried to reason with this woman but she kept shaking her head otherwise.

"But I prepared all these special dishes for you. Please don't deny it." Fathona's mum pleaded.

'I never asked you to.' That sentence was at the bit of my tongue but I held it back. I sighed and opened my mouth to protest.

"Is that a yes?" Fathona asked with hope on her face.

"Fine." I groaned and let her drag me to the dining area.

"This is 'gulabi chai' its so sweet." Fathona started and I just looked at it disapprovingly.

"Well if you don't like this,you will definitely like 'mango lassi' or 'baigan' or.." That's how she kept listing different Pakistan dishes for me. Some looked like they're made out of mud.

"My dear, she will fill you with rambles. Just try this famous Pakistani nihari." Fathona's mum said pushing the bowl forward.

"What's that?" I asked to be sure its made out of something eatable.

"Slow cooked spiced lamb stew." She replied giving me the spoon.

"Here goes nothing." I collected the spoon and prayed before I started taking the Pakistani nihari.

Long story short,I tried all the foods there and I have to admit it was so fantastic.

"Pass the me the remaining Pakistani nihari pls." I requested looking at Fathona who was smirking at me.

"What's with the smirk?" I asked.

"Just realized you loved everything we made for you. Don't you?"

"Well...." I started but my phone's vibration stopped me.

"Oh geez,I forgot about my outing with Ahmad." I whispered face palming myself.

"Khair,why are you not where you suppose to be?" Ahmad said immediately I picked up the call.

"I'm very sorry. I'm on my way." I cut the call and put the phone back in my purse.

"What happened Khair?!" Fathona's mum questioned when she saw me hastily standing up and gulping large amount of water as fast as possible.

"I have to go now. I'm sorry I will come again anytime I'm free." I simply said.

"Where are you hurrying to?" Fathona decided to ask this time.

"To Ahmad, remember?" I said and she seemed to be in thought for a while.

"Ughhh. I told you earlier that I was going to meet his aunt tonight which is now and I'm already late." I explained and she made an 'o' shape with her mouth indicating she remembered.

"Thank you Maa for this special delicacies and honour." I said to Fathona's mum and she hugged me.

"Goodbye." I waved and rushed out to my car.

"OK Maa. Will be back in an hour or so." I heard Fathona's faint voice saying that.

Hope this clingy girl isn't following me.

"Hey Khair." Fathona smiled making her way to seat in my car.

"What are you doing here?!"

"Accompanying you of course. What does it looked like I'm doing?" She scoffed.

"No not this time. You're not going with me. I'm going alone and you can't ruin the special moment awaiting for me." I said with straight face.

"OK I understand. Where are you going to anyway?" She questioned and I looked at her unbelievably.

"Fathona you're wasting my time."

"If you don't tell me,I'm not getting down from your car." She folded her arms making herself comfortable on the chair.

"And you know you can't push me down." She added and I felt like...Ughhh!

"Ok fine. We are meeting at Bodega."

"Near the Union square?" She gasped.

"Yes. Can you get out now?"

"Wait. One more question."

"I swear to God Fathona...."

"No problem then. I will just sit in here and you will drive us both to Bodega then I can happily ruin your dinner." She smiled.

"What's your question?" I sighed.

"Where are you meeting his aunt?"

"Why are you asking me all these?" I raised both brows at her.

"Just curious." She shrugged.

"OK at presidio heights."

"That's great. Good luck." She said and got down from my car.

"What I needed since." I huffed out and drove out completely out of their compound.

"Sorry I was late." I said to Ahmad as I stood next to him.

"No problem since you're here already. Let's get eating cos I'm super hungry." He said whilst rubbing his stomach and grabbing my hand leading me inside.

Meanwhile, I was a blushing mess.

"What did you want to eat?" Ahmad directed the question to me while studying the menu.

"Anything eatable." I shrugged.

After forty minutes,we cleared our plates and stood up to leave.

Upon reaching outside, I gasped unbelievably at Fathona who looked scared seeing me coming out the eatery.

"Seriously?! Fathona, you have to follow me here?!" I whisper yelled at her after I took an excuse from Ahmad to talk to her.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know you were coming here." She said and I just resist the urge to slap her face.

"What a lame excuse. You asked me where I was going with Ahmad and I told you so that you would leave me alone and fortunately for me, you came at the right time when I needed you." I sarcastically said.

"I was sent here. I didn't...." She started but stopped when Ahmad came into view.

"Khairee,its getting late. We have to get going." He casually said and went back. I gave Fathona one last glare and left her with apologetic look on her face.

"My sister just called me." He said as he drove us to presidio heights.

"What did she say?" I asked.

"She asked if we aren't coming again cos the children are ready to sleep. They're returning back to Nigeria the next day and they're eager to meet you."

"Awwn. I can't wait to meet them either." With that been said,we reached presidio heights without any words between us again.

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