1 Chapter 1: When Africa calls

Chappie dedicated to the love of my life; My momma

Los Angeles

Her mom used to wake her up for Fajr (morning prayer). Now it has turned to memory, one of her cherishable memories from long since, which she planned on keeping forever, beneath her heart. She'd protect them with all her might, as they meant the world to her. How she missed her mother.

Despite winter coming to an end, Los Angeles was rather freezing as ever. Tossing herself in blanket, in a way anyone would think she's punishing herself been favourite whenever it got chilly.

Sighing and muttering Alhamdulillah in her sleep, she tossed in bed once more. Little she knew her sleep will soon be over, as it was already 5am; time for morning prayer.

Knock!

Knock!!

Knock!!! Came a soft knock on her door. This had been a daily schedule for her dad, since the time they lost the soul of the house__her mother; the everloving African, Saher Zain.

Since then he'd been coming to wake her up and would only leave after realising she's fully awake.

Maintaining a good sitting posture on her pinkish bed, she stretched her hands and muttered the waking up supplication (Alhamdulillah lazi ahyana ba'ada ma amatana wailaihi nushur).

Another knock came on. She muttered she's awake this time around, then headed to the loo to answer the call of nature and put on ablution.

She prayed, recited Qur'an and her morning supplications.

Lazily walking up to her phone that was laying on the bed side table, as well as about to start every girl's morning routine__ replying to social media comments __ when her eyes landed at the time. It was 6.40 am. "Crap." She muttered. Not for the life of her would she awaits any longer, so she dashed in to the loo for the second time that morning, almost in speed of light, in order to took her bath and dressed up for uni. Lectures start at 8. And from her mansion it takes an hour to arrived school.

Once she stepped her leg in her lavatory, as if someone whispered it to her ears, she remembered it was a Saturday, it's an off school day. That made her face palmed. This had been a habit of hers, she wondered if she'll ever get to stop doing that. Nonetheless, she decided to bath.

By the time she was done bathing, she did what necessary and decided to go for a light makeup. She didn't want her dad waiting for long. And by now, he must be doing just that in the dining room.

Dressing casually and removing the rollers from her hair, her dark brown hair flowed. It reached to her waist. She pouted a little when her image came up on the long standing mirror. Never had she wants how long her hair was, she once had thought of cutting it off, that was until last year when she learnt no one is perfect and that's what made us special as humans. Quickly replacing the pout with smile and muttering Astagfirullah and Alhamdulillah she sauntered out, not bothering to cover her hair as there's no any non-mahram living in the house. The males maid ain't allowed in.

***

"Good morning Mrs Juliet." She greeted, almost bumping in to their cook who lives with them.

"Morning sweety how was your night?"

"Perfectly perfect. Alhamdulillah." She replied smiling. Mrs Juliet was already used to Islam's Islamic greetings.

"Okay go and have breakfast. Your dad been waiting."

"Thank you Mrs Juliet." She replied in the most polite manner possible, then left for the dining area .

She viewed her dad with his spectacles on. He was deeply engrossed in the newspaper he was holding, as he waited for her. They'd always await each other before having breakfast.

"Assalamu alaikum warahmatullah. Good morning Father. How was your night? and thanks for waking me up." She said in a smiley way and gave him a hug.

"Waalaikumussalam warahmatullah. Morning sweety. It was good. Okay have a sit."

"So what's for breakfast?" She asked adjusting her sitting position.

"Well, no idea! quickly serve us, my mind hasn't been on the newspaper but the food. It smells good." He said and that made her chuckle up.

She stood up to put on his plate first, then hers, arranging the cuttleries in the process.

"So when will your vacation starts?" He enquired.

"Perhaps in three weeks time, exam's starting next week." She answered nodding slightly.

"Perhaps another trip?" She enquired again, this time around smiling and had already started munching on her chips.

"Yeah naturally. Though you alone..."

"Me alone?" She asked a bit surprised. The only thing preventing her eyes from sticking out right that instant was for her dad to finish saying all he began. She wished he would say Europe would be the place she would visit.

"I'm not done yet..." came his voice bringing her outta her reverie, as well as reminding her of cutting him off while he was talking.

" ...To Africa." and right there he erupted it out. And she watched in  horror and pain as the whole word rolled out of his throat, unto his tongue, then to his lips and finally letting it out to the air, which didn't waste any time on making it to her ears.

She didn't know when her mouth literally hung in the air.

Africa!!! But that was a place she couldn't survived.

***

Hi every one! How was the chapter?

Find me on wattpad @asmaa-auwal

Instagram@ asmaaauwal

Twitter@AsmaaAuwal

Snapchat@asmaaauwal