Unknown Betrayal

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Zaynab

“So where exactly do we go?“,aunty whispers as she looks for signs to guide us to the room Eniola is admitted to.

“Let me call mummy”,I tell her.

I take out my phone and dial mummy’s number. Just before it could ring, mummy walks into the hallway that we’re in.

“She’s here”,Aayan nods towards mummy.

We walk over and mummy and the rest greet each other before leading us to Eniola.

“Let me see if she’s decent first”,mummy whispers to us as she pulls aside the curtain a little bit. I saw a glimpse of my bro-in-law Luqman.

He walks out and greets us with a smile.

“She’s okay. You can go in”he says.

I squeal then push aside the curtain to find a swollen eyed, weak looking Eniola sitting on the hospital bed while daddy is holding her newborn. Idris is next to him playing with her fingers.

“Congratulations dear. How are you feeling?“,aunty asks Eniola who greets her and uncle.

“Tired”Eniola whispers with a weak smile as aunty hugs her and kisses her forehead.

“You did good”,aunt smiles.

Uncle gives her a side hug and smiles then Aayan, Khalid and Basha.

She looks at me and I squeal then hug and kiss all over her face.

“B am tired stoooop”she whines.

“Oh hush. You’ll be fine later on”,I tell her and hug her again.

“Shut up and let her rest”,Aayan pulls me away.

“Thank you”,Eniola says.

I gasp then glare at Aayan who wiggles his eyebrows.

“Daddy let me hold her”,I walk over.

“Can you even carry a child”,Idris says.

“Nigga. Am a midwife. I carry babies literally for a living”,I tell him.

He rolls his eyes.

“Yeah bet you feel so dumb right now huh”,I smack his head as I hold my niece.

“She’s so tiny and so adorable. Look at her lips awwws”I smile and kiss her. She just stares at me while making different faces.

“I volunteer to babysit”,I tell bro bro (brother-in-law) and Eniola.

“Who else”,Eniola scoffs.

“How you still taunting me when your this weak. The level of hypocrisy is high. Negative energy. Baby don’t mind your mummy. Don’t worry me and you will be best of friends”,I whisper to my niece.

Everyone just chuckles at my usual immature self.

“My turn”Aayan says.

“She doesn’t like you”I tell him.

“Yeah. Right. Just because she’s staring at you with no other expressions besides the “leave me alone manageable aunty face”“,he says

“Manageable aunty? What’s that supposed to mean?“I gasp.

“Manageable aunty is an aunty that you don’t like but you can’t really throw her away, you just have to manage her”,he shrugs.

My eyes widens and jaws drop while everyone else including Eniola laughs.

“You- oh did all of you he- you know what? Its okay. Your not carrying her. She’s MY niece let me see how you will carry her”,I tell him.

“Aw is you mad?“,he asks as he pokes my cheek.

“Aayan stoooop”,I whine.

“Okay okay am sorry. Let me carry her”he begs.

I roll my eyes but hand her to him anyways.

He actually held her perfectly. Her head wasn’t hanging like I thought it would be.

“She’s so tiny”he whispers.

“I know right”I smile and play with her fingers.

“Looks like her momma more right baby? Right? You look like mommy”I play with her.

“Has Luqman’s mouth shape though”,Aayan says.

“Oh yeah”I nod.

“You look at his mouth? You gay thing”,I whisper only for him to hear.

“Shut up i***t”he whispers back.

“Okay my turn”,Khalid takes her from Aayan before he could even say anything.

“Are you hungry? Have you even eaten?“,aunty asks Eniola who shakes her head.

“Will you kids go to her and Luqman’s house with Zaynab so she can make something for her to eat. And also Zaynab after that help arrange everything at home. She’s going home tomorrow or the day after next and we need the house for the naming ceremony”,mummy says.

She looks at Luqman who hands me his house keys.

“Do I have to do all that?“I gasp.

“Oh come on. Do it for your niece”,Eniola says

Ugh.

“Don’t worry Basha will help you cook and the boys will help clean up”,aunty says making Aayan groan.

“That’s perfect”I smile but Aayan smacks my head.

“Aun-“.

“Stop hitting her”,aunty smacks his head.

“Why you beating me for her. She’s a useless donkey. Shouldn’t even let her cook. First off you can’t even cook”,he says.

“Ohhhhhhhhh”I gasp.

“Me? I can’t even cook? What about that fried rice I made the last time? Huh wasn’t you licking your fingers and all witcho big mouth? So all of sudden I can’t cook? It’s okay though. We’ll see who will make you another egg fried rice”,I shrug.

“I was messing. You can cook. I love your cooking”,he smiles.

“No you don’t. Because I CAN’T COOK”.

“YOU CAAAAN. B come on”,he smiles and raises his left eyebrow then wiggles it.

“Oh my God. Betta be lucky am nice”,I roll my eyes.

“Mmm nah you just can’t say no to me”he winks at me.

“You? What’s good about you th-”

“Are you both done? Someone’s hungry here”,Eniola says cutting me off.

We both look at her and frown.

“My bad. Its her fault. Can’t keep her mouth shut”,Aayan says

“I swear I feel bad for whatever girl ends up with yo dumb ass. I feel her pain for her already”,I shake my head.

“Yeah you”Idris mumbles.

Basha and Eniola snicker as my eyes widen.

“My chwest. Why would I want to be surrounded by a disease person like him”,I barf.

“Quit playing. You love me”,Aayan hip bumps me. I stumble then try to smack his head but dude was too tall so I had to jump but he got on his toes which made him taller and more impossible for me to get at.

“I hate you. Khalid, Basha let’s go”,I link arms with the two and drag them out of the room.

“Love you too b”,Aayan winks.

I shake my head and ignore him.

***

“She wants to drink custard so I made it for her and put evaporated milk in it for her”,I explain to Luqman who nods.

“Well living room and hall is cleaned”,Khalid says as he walks into the kitchen with Aayan and Basha.

“Thanks guys. Eniola said she feels like eating fish. I think there’s some in the freezer. She made it a few days ago”.

“Oh right. She messaged me, here”,Aayan hands him a bowl with two red fish and a fork.

“Thanks. I’ll be heading out now. Your rooms are ready, y’all figure it out because ain’t enough to take everyone so some have to share”,Luqman tells us as he picks up his keys from the table.

“Okay. Bye”I wave. He nods then walks out of the house leaving me, the boys and Basha.

“How long are we staying here?“,Idris asks.

“Just two days. She’s being discharged tomorrow so we need to be here to help out with visitors and stuff then next week Friday is baby ceremony so we’re coming that Friday. Luqman and his family have to take care of that so we’re okay”,I explain.

“Okay so there’s 5 rooms here. Luqman and Eniola in their room, mummy and daddy in their room, aunty and uncle in their room, Aayan, Khalid and idris, y’all stay together, and me and Basha will stay together”,I tell everyone.

“Cool now what do we do? Am tired”Khalid yawns while stretching out.

“Me too yeah”I nod.

“Well the parents will be here soon, they need to eat too”,Basha says.

“There’s some rice and beans there and there’s beef, chicken and fish all in the freezer. We’ll heat it up and serve it to them”.

“Or you can make your famous egg fried rice”,Aayan smiles.

“Or you can shut up”.

He groans then jumps onto the couch with a loud, dramatic unsatisfied groan.

“Look at Aaleyah’s dress for the wedding”,I show Basha my phone.

“Baba said he’s looking for proposals for us already and if we don’t choose he’ll choose”,Aayan says.

“Really?“,Khalid hums.

“Exactly what mine told me. So annoying like”,I let out a groan and collapse on the couch.

" I already know who they choose”,Basha and Idris both smile.

“Who?“the three of us ask them but they both just him and sit down on the couch without saying anything.

“Ugh should’ve known they wouldn’t tell us”,I mumble.

“You know what I don’t mind getting married now. After seeing how excited both Fawaz and Aaleyah looked today, I want to get married too”,I smile.

“Really?“,Aayan looks at me.

“Yeah. It was sweet. Plus I want my own family too, I want a husband and kids and I can’t have all that without getting married”,I smile.

He smiles then hums.

“Yeah same”he mumbles.

“But you won’t marry a guy of another culture?“,Basha asks.

“Its not that. I just, I don’t know, I want to marry someone that’s Nigerian”I shrug.

“Why though? So if you get a proposal for someone that’s Pakistani or Arab, you’ll reject it? Even if its someone you get well along with?“,Khalid asks me.

“Yeah”I nod.

“Plus I already have my mind on someone else”,I smile.

“Really? Who’s that?“,Aayan asks.

“His name is Abiodun Adebisi. Met him at the hospital like 3 months ago. He’s a basketball coach to kids from 8 years to 17 years on weekdays and spare times and also an optician most of the time. He’s really nice and kind”,I tell them.

“How come we ain’t never met him?“,Khalid asks.

“Well I wasn’t sure if I liked him like that until yesterday. He told his parents about me and they’re going to talk to mine”.

“Oh they are?“both the twins whisper.

“Mommy and daddy will like him too, he’s stable, kind, and practices Islam and oh my God, you should hear him recite the Qur’an, so beautiful too”I smile.

“Sounds like yall been talking for a while”Basha says.

“Yeah I guess”I nod.

“An-“.

The living room door opens and our parents walk in talking amongst each other.

“Asalam Alaykum”,we all greet them then stand up.

“Should I get your food now?“I ask them.

“Do that”mommy nods.

“Okay”.

We walk into the kitchen and Aayan picks up the plates while Khalid gets the utensils ready. I hand Basha the bowl of plaintain (African banana which is fried). I give Idris the bowl of rice while I carry the ones with fried stew. We carry them to the dining room and place them on the table. Basha comes out again with the bowl of fish while Khalid places the beef and chicken down on the table.

“We’ll freshen up first”,aunty says.

“Okay”I nod as her and uncle and my parents all head to their rooms.

I look at Aayan and Khalid but none of them are talking which is weird because Aayan is never quiet.

“You okay b?“I ask him.

“Mm”he hums but still doesn’t talk.

I wonder wassup with him.

***

I walk out of the bathroom while tieing my robe when I bump into Khalid who’s rubbing his eyes tiredly.

“Am sorry”we both whisper.

“What are you doing up?“I ask him.

“Thirsty”he replies.

“Oh okay. Come on let’s get you something to drink”I smile then walk towards the kitchen with him behind me.

I pour him some orange juice and hand it to him then get myself some orange juice also.

“Fix your robe”he tells me as he finishes his drink.

I look at him confused then look down at my robe to find it falling loosely down my shoulders and my upper cleavage showing slightly.

“Oh sorry”I whisper and tie my robe tightly.

He walks over to the sink and washes his cup then takes mine and washes it.

I smile as I watch him not realizing that he was done and staring at me.

“Zaynab. I have to tell you something”he tells me with a tone of nervousness.

“What is it?*I ask him.

“Uh you know we’ve known each other for a loooong time”he starts.

“Yeha since we were babies practically...what’s wrong?“I ask him.

“Yeah um for the few years, I’ve been having f-“.

“What are you two doing here this late?“,mommy asks as she walks into the kitchen with an empty jug.

“Thirsty”both Khalid and I tell her.

“Oh well go back to sleep, you have to wake up early”,she tells us.

We both nod then walk out of the kitchen.

“You were saying?“I ask Khalid as we reach the door to my room.

“I- uh its nothing. Forget it”he shakes his head.

“Okay? Anyways goodnight”I smile and wave at him before walking into my room.