Chapter 06

Hassan saw Sohila jogging towards him, she motioned for him and he immediately ended the call. He went to where she stood, holding her shoulder. He prayed nothing happened to Nadia, because he just remembered her phobia for snakes. "What happened, Sohila? Where is Nadia? Has she freaked out? A snake, right?" He ranted all these questions at once, and all Sohila could do was nod her head at him.

"Second H has taken her to the car already, we need to get home as soon as possible." She informed and Hassan held her hand as they walked out of the park.

As soon as they reached the car, he saw Nadia sitting at the back of the car while crying her eyes out. She was crying to the extent he got afraid something might happen to her. "Sohila, get in the front. I'll sit at the back." And that was how it happened, she hugged him the moment he wrapped his hands around her shoulders and began hushing some words into her ears.

"Twin, I miss Papi! I really need to see him even for once." She was crying bitterly, feeling as her chest constricted due to the pain. The pain of losing your loved ones is compared to none in this life. She was exhausted. Everytime she remembered Papi, she got through the five phases of grief; Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance.

The first stage was Denial, which she had always suffered more from. Because some day she would wake up and take her phone into her hands. She will dial Papi's number and felt like he would answer with that soothing voice of his. He would gist her and also tease her about whatever it is that was happening in her life. She felt as though the moment she walked into their house he would walk out of his living room, smiling at her.

And anger. The anger that came to her throat after she found all she imagined will never happen, she got angry like a red bull. She felt the bitterness of her anger trying to choke her throat. Next came bargaining. Papi will come back some day, the doctors will come and say they made a mistake. No, a call will come through and he will be said to have been found somewhere around the world. And another mind will say no to all these.

Depression was the hardest part. She can live a whole day crying her eyes while curled up into a fetus position in her bathroom. She felt she hated everyone in her life and everyone hated her because they let Papi walked out of their lives. When acceptance hit her, there came self pity and steadfastness. She prayed to Allah for her Papi's rahma like she had never before.

These stages had taken a toll on her for almost half of a year, and whenever she saw a snake, they came back to her afresh.

They had already reached home, and Hassan helped her down the car and they directly walked to their room. She sat down on the edge of her bed and kept staring at space. Hassan brought out water for her from the fridge and she gulped it down at the instant. He sat down before her and took her hands in his.

"Singleton," he called. Staring deeply into her eyes with his eyes sending peace and calmness to her soul.

He continued, seeing that he had finally had her attention on him. "Grieving over our lost ones is the hardest feeling one has to overcome in life. It's okay to grieve your lost ones, but if you don't do it at the right time, it will never set you free. But what is not accepted is for you to let that grief control your life, you shouldn't let it define you, Singleton.

I've never met Papi in my life, but I know he's a great man. He planted his love in your heart so deep the roots are unshaken. You are to miss him for sure, but don't let that drag you into depression every now and then. He has lived his life. Either because of a snake or not, it was written Papi will leave this dunya on that day. We all have the sources of our death. He only needs your prayer now, that's the only kind of love you can show him. And he'll know, while he was alive, he groomed one of the best daughters on earth."

She burst into tears and hugged him, "Twin, how do you know all these? I've never thought of all these before. I mean, I pray for him always, but I've never thought to let things go and face the life as it comes."

Hassan patted her back softly and smiled, "C'mon Singleton, I lost a father too. I've been through all these. So, be brave, and it'll all become a history. We're strong, Insha Allah."

She broke their hug and stared at his face, her face wet with her own tears. Nadia pouted her lips at him, "Twin, you have to promise me something."

He stood up and sat down beside her, she turned and they were facing each other. "Promise me that you'll never leave me, Twin. Promise me you'll be with me until the end of time, please. I can't bear to lose you wallahi. You're the only man I have in my life apart from Papi."

He smiled and cupped her face, "Singleton, you know it, if we all have powers over our death, the first person you have to believe would never have left is Papi. But he doesn't, I don't, we all don't have that power. I can't promise you that."

She shrugged off his hand from her face and broke into tears. "Just know that from the day you dare to die and leave me behind, I will never stop crying and I won't eat anything till I starve myself to death as well." She was taking this serious, Hassan could sense it. He laughed and side hugged her.

"Okay I'm sorry, I promise you I won't die and leave you behind, Singleton. But you have to promise me something as well." She looked up from his shoulder and asked, "What?"

"That you won't cry. I know you can't do that but just don't hurt yourself. Console Second H for me, Sohila, but most importantly, Hajia. And for yourself, just know that it's only my soul and body that are taken away from you, but I'll always be together with you, because you have me in your mind. Goodbyes are for the ones that love with only their eyes, because for the ones that love with their hearts and soul, they go to every where along with their beloved. Be rest assured, Nadia, I'll go back to Allah with you in my soul."

Hajia was surprised when she saw Hussain and Sohila as they entered her room. She was reading the Qur'an and had her medical glasses on. Sohila ran to her and hugged her tightly, "I so much miss you, Hajia." She jabbered, laughing at the eye roll Hussain sent her way.

Hajia closed the Quran, took off her glasses before she looked at the two of them, befuddled. "Who am I seeing, Hussain? It seems like Sohila. What happened? Are you sick?" They both laughed at how Hajia started checking Sohila's body for any misfortune.

"She's fine, Hajia. We took her from school and went to the park. She's going back tomorrow morning insha Allah." Hussain answered and Hajia threw a look at him.

"Why would you do that? I'm sure you're the one that implemented the idea, Hussain. Why? She's in ss3 for goodness sake, if she doesn't concentrate on her studies, when will she?" Hajia complained, looking at the two of them.

"Hajia aren't you happy to see me? Haba Hajiata!" Sohila whined and hugged Hajia once again. She smacked her back and said "Who said so? Allah you have to be serious Sohila and stop paying heed to what this second H does. Where's Nadia and Hassan?"

Their expressions changed, and Sohila told her what happened in the park. She knew she would be fine since Hassan was with her, so she dragged Sohila to the kitchen and Hussain walked to his room. He heard Nadia's laughter when he was about to enter his room, and all he could do was shake his head. How could a person be crying that bitterly and in less than an hour laughed like that? She's one kind of a weird human being.

At night, they had their dinner and Hajia made them sat down in the living room. She had always loved a full house. Even though she didn't have that much of a number of kids, but she loved seeing them all.

"Sohila's graduation is in two months to come, I don't accept any excuses. Everyone must be there. I'll have a dinner arranged for her a day after the graduation walima in their school, you all have to be here for three days minimum. From 17th, that's a day to the graduation, 18th is the graduation, and our walima will insha Allah hold on 19th. The whole family will be attending, so you don't have an excuse."

"Hajiaa!" They both called at the same time, and Nadia and Sohila laughed at how Hajia closed her eyes and blocked her ears, emanating she was really not going to hear any excuse.

"First H, what are you going to give me as a graduation gift?" Sohila asked, turning her attention back to Hassan, whom held Nadia's hand as though his life depended on her.

"I have nothing to give you, infact, I don't have money now and in the next two months to come. I wont even be able to be attending the walima, so get lost young girl." He felt how Nadia was squeezing his hand, and he knew what that meant. She was itching to spill his secret of how much he loved Sohila and he squeezed her hand even harder, she had a secret with him as well.

Sohila groaned and walked towards the sofa Hussain sat on, she looked at him and planted a soft peck on his cheeks, he groaned and cleared the place off. "Second H, the love of my life. The only pilot in my heart. My very own second Baba. What will you gift me with?" He laughed and looked at her.

"You know the nature of my work young lady, if I leave Katsina on Sunday, I won't be back until in the next three months. Deal with it. But when is your birthday? I'll be nice enough to get you something then." Sohila didn't answer him, but she walked to where Hajia was sitting and fell on her body.

"Hajia these H's of yours don't love me, how can they not attend my graduation? Only Aunt Nadia will? Who will I flaunt then? Some of my mates are even planning on getting a sleek makeup and gown to flex on our graduation day because of the handsome H's. And now they're all planning to embarrass me?" She was seriously crying, and they couldn't help but burst into a series of laughter.

"What's wrong with your friends, seriously? How can almost how many girls be crushing on only two guys? Tell them First H is married and has gotten himself a very beautiful wife. But they can fit in Second H's life, he needs a wife actually." It was Hassan, and he laughed at how grimaced Hussain's face looked. He knew he was in for it.

"I'd love it if you get a second wife, First H, because you really need that." Hussain retorted and Nadia smiled at herself, she knew he was aiming at her.

"Second H you should squeeze and come for the graduation please, you might get someone you like among her friends since you have rejected my best..." The kind of look he flashed her made her shut up, muttering "I'm sorry."

"You should please, Alkhairi na kiranka tsiya na hanaka..." And before Sohila could finish her sentence, Hussain had already chased her out of the living room, and a roar of laughter bursted out.