AFTER 168 HOURS [BOOK 2,168 HOURS SERIES]

Chapter 3: Goodbye

Zainab looked puzzled as she held his face. She couldn't help but wonder why Hadee didn't recognize her.
'Or maybe it's because it's their first meeting.' she thought.

"You don't want to speak with Anty Zainab, right?" she cupped his face and joked.

"Come on Zee, let's go home," Humaira muttered.

"Is she your sister? The one we've been hearing about all these while?" Star asked

"Yes of course. Besties, meet Zainab. Zainab, meet my friends." She introduced.

"Oh, my world. You girls look so much alike, someone can easily mistake you for twins." Star joked, giving Zainab a welcome hug.

"Yes... They look so cute together unlike me and my sister that looks so different." Theodora contributed to the talk, already looking jealous.

"You are both funny. C'mon, let's go." Humaira stuttered, handing some of her gifts to Star and carrying others into her Jeep.

"But seriously, you girls look so much alike except for the fact that Zainab is prettier." Gift added while helping her carry the gifts into the boot.

"Seriously, I can't argue with that. At least, I don't have dimples." She smirked at Gift's talk as everyone got into her Jeep.

"Madam graduant, why don't I drive you home today?" Star suggested.

"No... I'll drive." Humaira shrugged and entered the driver's seat.

"Okay..." Star sat with others at the back while Zainab sat right next to her sister.

She turned on the radio and they played popular Nigerian hip-hop. Humaira had forgotten so that noise disturbs Hadee. She quickly turned down the volume but Hadee started crying again as usual.

"Shhhh!!! It's okay my love. Mummy is sorry." She pleaded with him but he didn't stop. Instead, his crying increased and his pitch went louder and louder. Humaira just had to turn off the radio and start the car.

Zainab who was carrying him on her lap wondered why he wouldn't stop. His nose was so disturbing but, she didn't say anything.

***

Minutes Later...

They got home. Zainab was surprised to see how beautiful the mansion was. The mansion where Humaira had been living all these years- Star's house. She was so excited even though she was a bit scared at first.

"Come in, Zee. Come and see my room!" Humaira dragged scared Zainab upstairs. She was staring at almost everything in the house and that was the first time she ever stepped into a building so beautiful.

"Wow!!! What is that?" She pointed at something glittering from the ceiling.

"It's called a chan-de-lier." She expatiated.

"Chan- what?"

"Yeah, that's a chandelier." Humaira nodded her head as if she was trying to mimic Zainab.
She couldn't help but remember the first day she stepped into Star's house too. She's acted even worse.

"C'mon, let's go to my room." Humaira held her hand and took her in.

"Masha Allah, only you sleep here?"

"Yes, me and Hadee."

"Wow! It's beautiful!!" she jumped on the bed excitedly.

"You need to take a shower and change your clothes, See. After that, we'll gist and eat."

"Awn... But I'm feeling sleepy already."

"You won't sleep till after Asr," Humaira muttered, taking off Hadee's clothes, leaving only his singlet and pants.