Two shades of affection

Chapter 4

Halima

I put Afrah to sleep, took a shower, and revised my Quran. I checked the time and it was 10:30 pm but Diya wasn't back yet. I was getting worried already even though this wasn't the first time. She's the one putting herself in danger but I'm the one worried sick always. I can't help it. We were twins.

I just picked up my phone to call her when the door opened and she walked in looking bubbly as ever. I breathed relief and dropped the phone.

"Say the salam at least Diya," I told her as I lay down.

"Sorry. Salamu Alaikum," she said and sat down to remove her shoes. She exhaled and shook her fair feet before taking off her accessories.

"Wa alaikumussalam," I returned. "Try coming home earlier will you?"

"I told you to stop waiting for me Halee. Come on," Diya sighed, reaching out for her zip. "Today was fun. I wish you were there,"

"You can't stop me from worrying. Just take a shower and pray if you haven't," I said and closed my eyes.

I kept hearing shuffling but sleep didn't take me. The room became silent before Diya spoke.

"I broke up with that i***t today," she said.

"Why?" I asked. That was her boyfriend for two months now.

"Coz he is insecure about my bestie and wanted to stop me from going to his birthday. Can you believe that?" she complained.

"What do you expect Diya?" I shook my head. "No man will want his woman associating with other men that close." I knew how she was with Naim, always on the phone and chatting.

"Tsk. That's his problem to deal with," She harrumphed. "I wasn't intending to marry him. He's not up to my standards,"

"I hope you meet your standards soon," I said and stayed quiet.

"You too Ustaziya," she added. I didn't reply to the comment. Despite being who I am, I don't have a suitor for now. It's not like they didn't come but whenever Abba investigates on them, it turns out negative. I believed that it was fate and I kept praying for Allah's choice. The right man will come soon.

The next morning which was Friday, I finished the morning chores, got Afrah ready, and dressed up in a peach hijab and niqab. Diya was still sleeping probably tired from yesterday. Afrah and I left for school.

Mustapha's POV

I woke up early today and went into the house. I met Umma arranging Ummiterh's lunch box while the girl was having breakfast and speaking excitedly.

"Umma good morning," I squatted and greeted Umma who returned with a dua. I went over to Ummiterh and she greeted me with a smile.

"How was your night auta?" I asked.

"Alhamdulillah Yaya. You woke up early today. Are you taking me to school?" she replied with a question too.

I hummed and shrugged. "If you want that,"

"Of course I do. I will show everyone my Yaya," she grinned.

I laughed and inquired, "Tell me. What were you so excited about with Umma?"

"It's about my class teacher, Anti Halima," she began which piqued my interest. "The second term will end soon and then will be the third term. This means that my class teacher will be changed. I don't want to leave Anty Halima,"

"Why?" I asked sensing the sadness in her voice.

"Because she is awesome!" she exclaimed. "Anti-Halima can teach so well Yaya. She doesn't punish us and is very kind. And she is beautiful. My best friend Afrah is her sister and just like Afrah who is fair like shuwa arab, Anti Halima is too. She always wears a niqab but takes it off in our class sometimes. I love that woman,"

My brows scrunched up at the description. Fair and beautiful and a younger sister of the same age as Ummiterh. This sounds just like Diya. Her name is Sadiya which matched Halima.

"Do you know your teacher's full name Ummiterh?" I asked trying not to be suspicious.

She hummed in thought and replied, "Anty Halima Suleiman Muhammad. Why do you ask?"

"Nothing," I shook my head. "Finish your food and I will take you to school," I didn't like her pretence not something kept drawing me to investigate more and know why she does this.

"Okay," Ummiterh smiled. Luqmaan walked into the living room and frowned upon seeing me.

"Good morning Luqmaan. Do you want a ride to school?" I asked expectantly.

He paused and mouthed, "Not interested. I got my bike," he walked out not even sparing me a glance. I met Umma's eyes who gave me an apologetic look and I just smiled. It wasn't his fault to hate me but mine.

Ummiterh finished her breakfast and I took her lunch box. After saying bye to Umma, we entered the car and I drove to her school. It was still early, so the gate wasn't crowded.

We alighted from the car and I walked her to the gates. A rickshaw stopped before the gate and two figures came down. Behold, it was Diya and her sister Afrah. She paid the man while Afrah sighted Ummiterh and ran to her.

"Salam Sumayyah!" she greeted, using Ummiterh's real name and they hugged each other. Girls! I can't help but marvel at their color difference.

Miss Diya walked over and was surprised to see me. She should be.

"Good morning Anty Halima," Ummiterh greeted taking her hand.

"Good morning Sumayya. How are you?" she asked and her voice was softer than last night. Then, it was sassy and cool.

"I am fine. This is my elder brother. Yaya Mustafa," Ummiterh started pointing at me.

"Yaya, this is Anty Halima that I was talking about,"

She looked up at me and greeted me like she didn't recognize me.

"Morning," I found myself replying.

"You have a smart sister," she added and that brought a smile to my face. "Thank you,"

"It's okay," she said and held the girls. "Girls let's go inside," she said and nodded at me. The girls waved their hands and went in with her leaving me confused.

What's wrong with her? Why does she sound so different and her acting so natural? If I wasn't sure of the names, I would have believed that I was mistaken.

Halima and Sadiya, are they two different people? I thought.

I came later to pick up Ummiterh from school but didn't get the chance to see Diya. We went back home and were watching TV when Ummiterh, who was in her mother's embrace remembered something.

"Umma, you won't believe what happened today at school," she said and I turned to hear too.

"What happened my baby?" Umma asked patiently.

"Anty Halima's twin sister came to our class today. Oh my God Umma, they look so alike. They are identical," she chuckled and my eyes widened. She is a twin?

"Really Ummiterh?" Umma asked also surprised. Ummiterh nodded and continued with zeal, "Anty Sadiya is fair and beautiful too but unlike Anty Halima, she didn't wear a niqab or hijab but a black jumpsuit and a jeans jacket and a white veil. She came to give Anty Halima her books that she left at home and greeted us with a cute beautiful smile. She even took pictures with us before she left. It was so cool,"

"Oh wow. What a twin," Umma said while I was lost in my fantasy. They were twins. Sadiya and Halima. I felt ecstatic because my Hijabi angel was real. She was a pretender because Diya was her sister!

"What's wrong with you Mustafa?" I heard Umma ask and I was sure that I was grinning like a fool.

"Nothing Umma. I just remembered something. See you later," I said quickly and ran to my part of the house. I entered my room and started doing a victory dance, throwing my fists in the air.

I know who you are now my Hijabi Angel and I will get you, In Sha Allah. Oh Allah, thank you. Alhamdulillah!