Africa!!! But that was a place she couldn't survive.
Indeed her eyes were as rectangle as a soccer field. Right there she was so confused.
"But...but...but..." She began and couldn't even voice out her pain.
"No buts Islam. It has to be done." Came his voice.
After swallowing a lump down his throat he continued "If your mom was alive, she would have wanted you to meet them. I feel so guilty for doing this to her. May her soul rest in peace. Can't believe you only got to see your maternal family during her funeral, and only then!..." He sighed.
"...You gotta hit Africa this summer!" He finished firmly.
"Dad. Africa you said! How can a British girl like me survive that place? Do you want me to die of Ebola or something? I might like a simple life, but going to Africa doesn't count as one. They're lotta criminals, malaria mosquitoes and whatever they've got. And the worst part, they can't even maintain a 24/7 light supply! Can't survive that! I mean I love them, but they can always come here. I doubt they even care about me. Maybe they've forgotten about me." She spatted and it was so obvious she was about to break down any moment soon.
How she pouted made him queried in mind the time Islam would actually grow up. And by that he didn't mean the normal grow up, but like the actual, actual, and real actual growing up. With that he shook his head and took a moment to appreciate his green tea. He majestically took a sip.
"Can smell sorta childish cerebrum here." He said chuckling at her.
"Okay Dad that's an insult."
"Already forgot your manners?" He warned staring right in to her eyes.
"Okay. Sorry! But you're not even an African Mom, or in your case an African Dad. You are British..."
"...You've learned so much from mother." She expressed amused, considering her mom would often scold her if she did anything wrong. There was a time she was around four and wasn't allowed to attend a party of a class mate, regardless everyone would be there__ even Selena as they've been friends since kindergarten. When she asked why she wasn't allowed "Well you've got the African Mom." were the exact words she got from her mother. She cried hard and hated the fact that her mom was of African descendant. Little she knew that was her mom's way of showing her love. As right from a young age anytime she got exposed to noisy areas she would end up with headache.
"I miss her." Her dad got her outta her reverie. She never missed the pain laced in his voice. And now she had to watch the sad reality of his eyes getting moisty.
Please don't cry!
That was her thought. And only if thoughts had power of erupting out would he have heard.
She sometimes wished he'll remarry, unlike other children that got jealous when their parents are about doing that, but that would be the last thing he would do. He'll forever concentrates on work and work only. His words not hers.
As if remembering something, she muttered, "No matter how I protest I must go right?"
He nodded. And that made her sigh in despair, for she viewed that actual face he puts on in weighty events and that made her give up. Right there she knew no matter how she dissents, nothing would change his mind, for summer in Africa it is!
And his reply that came, was as exact as she thought. "Yeah. Cause I'd already spoken to your uncle about it. In fact everything been arranged."
Well. Fine. Not that she didn't see it coming.
She couldn't even remember how her maternal family looked like, she only saw them during her mom's funeral. And after that, she talked to her uncle once on the phone, and that was about three years back, he told her they'll visit again but they never did.
"Okay I'll go. After all, they're mom's family. But I won't spend all my summer there."
He grinned then ushered her for a hug.
"Dad I've heard temperature might reach 136°F there. The highest I've ever been was 68°F. Survival might be hard, don't you think?"
"Complainer." He said releasing the hug.
"But I'm still your favourite daughter." She teased, winking at him.
"Only you I got. Remember?" Now it was his time to wink.
"Dad!" She pouted and he chuckled.
***
At lunch, in school cafeteria all Islam could do was playing around with her food. That made Selena wonder what's eaten up her friend.
"Is I'm-always-hungry-lioness on a diet?" Selena teased grabbing her tortilla chip.
"I'm not up for teases Lena! I just wish school will never end. Besides, a normal person will eat the way I do, which is exactly the reason I never and can't ever count you as one." Islam groaned.
"These days can't seem to figure you out. Weren't you last week all happy on how you can't wait for summer, and now this?" She looked at her friend amused.
"No. Well..." She stumbles on words.
"Had no idea my life would be this messed up at a time like this. Things decided to change, in span of secs, and now have to figure out how I'll survive a certain continent I've never been all my life. Dad said will solitary go there for summer." She finished.
Selena's eyes bulged out at her last statement. A continent Islam had never been to was surely Africa. There was a brief moment of silence before Selena finally spoke out. "Poor Islam. Will be there for you." She uttered putting on a puffy face.
"Yeah you'll totally be there for me from Europe." She replied sarcastically, considering the fact that Selena's family always spend vacation in Europe.
"No seriously I would have loved to come with you sweetie, but you know mom won't let me. I'm sorry. You know what? I pity poor Sam, now he's gonna miss you." She said referring to one of their mate that his soul decided to fall for Islam.
"I understand thanks. And about Sam, excuse me! It's not like he'll see me even if I were to stay here."
"No, but he would have at least seen you on media. Why don't you give him chance? He's handsome."
"Okay now you don't have to be so nice in reminding me of the bad network there. You know what? I've never told you this, but Sam and I? nothing will ever happen, we just can't happen, because of the fact that; Muslim women ain't allowed marrying nonmuslims."
"Oh! But what do you mean Muslim women?"asked Selena.
"Well I mean the men can get married to nonmuslims. Like that guy Shaam, your social media crush, you can actually marry him."
She smiled then nodded. "You know I like how Muslims pray. It surprised me how you guys never fail to pray five times a day. Like you know how sometimes humans forget about eating food, about doing assignment, about bible reading..."
She couldn't finish when Islam interrupted. "About date of the week, about reading for a test." They both chuckled.
"You know I think of it as Allah helping us not to forget. And you know when you get used to something. At times we tend to forget__ not all of us though__ and would be thinking we've prayed when honestly we haven't, but no matter what, we'll always remember, be it that very day or after a day, or at times a year. And when that happened we'll ask forgiveness from Allah and pray it late. To me all these looks like they're things only a supernatural being is capable of doing. If it's left to humans we'll definitely end up forgetting. Humans been created to have forgettable memories after all. And the power to that for example; is to prevent us from holding grudges. If humans ain't created with the star of forgetting most things, then we'll just be killing one another. Oops forgot to say sometimes we pray but think we haven't."
"Then in the latter what happens?"
Today was one of those days Selena was craving Islamic knowledge. Her friend couldn't help but be happy.
"We usually pray it again. As it's best to leave what ever makes you doubt. The prophet asked us to leave whatever makes us doubt."
Selena watched as her friend finished educating her and she smiled.
"But I didn't know you knew about us praying five times daily." Said amused Islam.
"Common we've been together forever and countless times I've seen you praying. So there was this time I just counted it."
They were done eating. So Islam pulled out her tripod from her bag and attached it to her phone to steady it. And soon she was talking to the camera.
"Hi guys it's been long. Selena and I just finished eating in the cafeteria."
Islam started vlogging and turned the camera to Selena who twisted her fingers in a fashionable way and said, "Hi guys!"
Islam continued speaking to her phone's camera.
"Now we are about to go see Miss Tesleys comeback to Jelina. She kind of used to be our lecturer, as she's from Design department. Guys I'm so excited as you know anything to do with fashion I'm there! I'll make sure to vlog everything for you guys. Love you."
She finished and ended the vlog.
After Islam was done recording she turned to Selena "Shall we? Lena."
"Yuppers!" Came Lena's reply. And with that they sauntered outta the cafeteria.
***
After a while of hugging the hell outta her dad and crying, wetting his suit in process, she was finally in United Airlines.
"Please inner Islam let's do each other a favor and stop being antsy." She muttered to herself.
It's gonna be a long ride, now that Nigeria, a certain country calls. She thought.
She kept her satchel, brought out a BB cream from it and rubbed on her face so she'll look fresh through out the journey. She inserted ear plugs in her ear canals as she wouldn't risk getting headache from all the noise. At times she wondered if her ears were like every ones, for the slightest amount of noise would cause her a lifetime headache. Having these thoughts to herself her mind drifted to the warnings her dad gave her.
After sipping a cup of green tea and reading two pages from a novel she brought with her, she laid on the coveted seat that offers a complete recline into a 180 degree position. She might as well just relax since it's gonna be a long journey. She buckled up her stomach and legs with belt and drifted to sleep. Putting in mind to vlog immediately she's up.

Her flight was a nonstop. Its been 21hours from the time they took off. She was now successfully descending the flight stairs of United airlines in the city of Abuja.
She dialled her dad's number, and muttered a "crap." When it wouldn't go through. Suddenly she remembered she had to add +1__America's code, she did, and lucky enough it went through.
And right there the heaven chose to be by her side, for the people supposed to pick her up were already at the airport waiting__so she was told by her dad.
It amazed her, how people were reuniting with loved ones.
Never once had she stopped vlogging all along, only when she had to sleep. She thought at least now that they won't be any electricity it's better she enjoyed her time vlogging. She heard it took people months to get their cell phones charged, now she'll be among those months-phone- charging-waiters.
She spotted a woman in Abaya, holding a paper with " Welcome to Nigeria. Islam Menk." , written beautifully in cursive.
"Looks like my name's known." She muttered, but she knew dad must have told them. She walked up to the woman.
"Oh my Allah. Welcome Islam. You surely got my sisters eyes. I'm so pleased to meet you. How was the trip?" She said hugging the daylight of her.
"It's fine. Thank you ma'am." Islam replied.
"Please call me Aunt Saudah." Said the woman.
"You've grown up. We've been so wanting to visit you. Oh My Allah last time we went, you were just small." She said when they were in the car. And that made Islam smiled at her.
"I really wish you'll be living with me. But Yaya Khalil won't allow so to happen, had to beg him to let me have you for a week." Islam didn't know who was that. But still chose to smile, as her Aunt got a soft charisma in her.
She looked outside from the tinted glass to have a proper view of the city. She never expected that. After all, Africa ain't bad then.
Finally the limousine landed in front of a grey gate that automatically opened. "What a beautiful house!" She complimented which made Aunt Saudah smiled.
***
"So for now this is where you'll be staying. I know girls like pink, so I tried turning the room pinkish hoping you'll like it."
"Mashaa Allah it's beautiful. Thank you very much. I love it. Actually your voice sounded like my mom's when you said pinkish." She said chuckling at the last part. And that made Aunt Saudah grinned.
"How I miss her. She used to be so amazing. It used to be the three of us. Our elder bro Alhaji Khalil, your mom and I. We have lotta cousins, hence our big family." She said smiling and Islam nodded.
"You can freshen up first, then comedown to eat, or if you prefer having it here, will order the maid to bring it over."
"Will be down. Don't mind."
Aunt Saudah nodded and reached for the door.
"Thank you. It means alot." Islam thanked her as her Aunt turned and dashed her a smile.
Islam looked at the room and smiled.
Perhaps a room tour vloggggyyyy. She thought.
She prayed then called her dad. He teased her of why not face timing. She made a note in her head to ask Aunt Saudah if she got WiFi. Seeing she heard there's no light in Africa, but here she's, in a mansion full of light.
She freshened up, prayed, wore a plain evening dress and went downstairs to satisfy her hungry stomach. The United Airlines had an awesome meal, but she couldn't eat in plane. She only had green tea and two pieces of cookies.
There she met Aunt Sauda with two other guys she learnt were her sons, Fahad and Fawad.
"So this is Aunt Sahar's daughter?" One of them asked and she nodded at him.
"Well I would never have thought you are blood, the way you look so white, completely American. Nice to meet you. I'm Fawad." He said and she smiled.
"British not American precisely. Only living in the States, by the way nice meeting you as well..." She said "...Fawad." She added. He smiled at her.
"Hi Islam" Fahad greeted and she hi-ed him as well.
"So Aunt saudah when will the light go off?" Her curiosity got the best of her.
"Well it's solar, it's 24/7." She answered. Islam's eyes literally widened.
"Then who formed that rumour about Africa?"
"Which rumor?" They all asked.
"Well I've heard there's no light, you got to wait for months to get your phone charged." She replied and they bursted in to laughter.
"Well in some areas that don't have access to electricity, I think that might happen." replied Fawad.
"So even WiFi you got it here?" She asked and they answered with yes giving her the code. She couldn't be happier. She facetimed her dad and showed him her room, then Selena as well who's already in Europe.
Her stay at Aunt Saudah's felt great, she got to watch fashion show channels, attended few fashion shows and uploaded some of the videos she filmed online.
Like an eye blink seven days has passed, and it's already Saturday. It would be the day she'll leave for her uncle's house. She would so much miss Aunt Saudah. She was told every Saturday of the last month, a family meeting is held at Alhaji Khalil's house. And that very day was that last Saturday of the month__a day she would be introduced to everyone.
It took them thirty minutes to arrive at Alhaji Khalil's mansion. It surprised her how the house almost looked like Aunt Saudah's. As if on cue she heard her say "Both the houses been designed by same company." And that made Islam nodded.
***
Vlog; weblog using video as its primary presentation format its like video blog.
So Islam got vlogging as profession. In order not to confuse you guys I'll be italicizing the vlogging part.
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