CHAPTER ONE

"Aryan,my son,my charmer,are you just coming back from work?You must be very tired.What do you want to eat?" Hajiya Maryam ask her son,who just returned from work.

"Hi,Mom. I don't want to eat anything,just coffee will do." He replied.

"Okay.Khair,Khair" Hajiya called.

"Khair??Who's that?" Aryan asked.

"Oh well,she's the new maid"

Just then Khair appeared and greeted him in her British-ascent English.

"Yes,Madam.Good Afternoon, Young Master."

Aryan Studied her from head to toe,he was in awe because of the person in front of him.

'Oh my!This babe is a beauty and she's also clean unlike most maid,wow!' He thought.

Khair was dressed moderately,she's wearing a short pink gown,that stops at her knees,and a white skin tight that is just a little way below her knee and a white kitchen apron.Her thick and long hair was pushed into a ponytail,with a white ribbon,she looks impeccable if not pretty,even though she wasn't wearing many makeup except for a lip gloss, which was shining, adding to her natural beauty. She's also holding a serving spoon in her left hand.

"Good Afternoon." He replied, and shook her right hand,which she extended for a handshake.

"Young Master?" he asked again,looking straight into her eyes.

"I...I..." Khair stammered.

Meanwhile, Hajiya Maryam was not pleased with how Aryan was looking at Khair and even shaking her hands not releasing it,so she interrupted.

"Yeah,I asked to address you as that."

He just replied with an 'Oh' and retracted his hands from Khair's.

"Anyway, make coffee for my son."

"Okay." She replied and left, grateful for Hajiya cutting in,because she feels like Aryan can see through her soul with just his stare. And his looks was distracting her making her to trail off.

Aryan,on the other hand,wants to have a moment with Khair,cause he has a lot to ask about her,but thus without his mother's consent.

"I'll be upstairs, Mom. Ask her to take the coffee to my room." He said

"Why? You just stay here and chat with me while you enjoy your coffee."

He shakes his head saying "No,Mom. You don't understand, I need rest cause I'm very tired." He then immediately left,as if he's afraid she might see through his little plan.

"Peace be upon you." Khair said as she silently open the door to Aryan's room.

"Same to you." He answered,without looking up,cause he would never mistake that posh voice. He could smell the delicious aroma of food from her clothes, as she bends to gently placed his coffee on the bedside table.

"Here's your delicious coffee. Its better to have it while its still hot." She said as she turned to leave.

"Wait."he called.

He looked at the cup of coffee and saw that she'd drawn a smiley face with the coffee maker. He then turned to her

"What's in for lunch?"

"Em..Is Fried Rice,with salad and for desserts is Chocolate Raisin Pancakes. " She replied.

"Homemade drinks or carbonated?"

"Homemade Tropical Punch."

"Okay,so can I have a moment?" He asked.

'What moment?What does he needs?As if distracting me for a split second is not enough?'

As if sensing her inner turmoil,he added,

"Please sit,I want to have a discussion with you."

'A discussion?About what?Could it be he's already curious about her identity?'

"Dis....dis...discussion?" She stammered.

"Calm down,I'm not a vampire,so I won't jump and start sucking out your blood.Its just a simple discussion.Consider it as I'm trying to make a friend."

"Oh! But I really need a shower,Young Master. I'll be back in 30mins."

He looked at his watch and said;"Okay, your time starts now."

"Peace be upon you." She said as she returned in a black bandana,white t-shirt and a black three-quarter. She firmly held a tray of two foodflasks, three serving spoons, a small container, two plates, two jugs, two cups, and cutleries. Aryan was taking a nap, so she quietly kept the tray on the bedside table. She was about to leave when someone held her hand. She was suprised when she turn and see Aryan sitting on the bed.

"Running away are we, Princess?" He asked.

"No its not, I...I...saw that...." She stammered.

"Are you a stammerer?" He asked as he looked straight into her.

She shakes her head signifying 'no.'

"Good.So what's the.....er....erhm.....what's this?" He asked pointing at the tray she kept on the table.

"This?"

"Yes."

"Its your lunch."

\*

Khair said as soon as she picked.

'مرحبا يا أختى'

It was her twin sister,they usually speak in Korean or Arabic Language.

'كيف حالك؟ والعمل؟'

'How are you? And your work?'

'أنا بخير والحمد الله. والعمل........ الحمد الله

'I'm Fine, thank God. And work......I thank God.'

Ummul Khair, from the other end could sense something is wrong. So she didn't even know when she switched to English.

"What happened, Tweety? You don't sound well. I hope the didn't find out?"

Khair didn't respond, on the other end, her Tweeny was growing impatient.

"Why aren't you responding? Or should I come to the house? Text me the address this instant, and I'll be on my way..."

"No. I'll tell you what happened."

She took a deep breath and began.

"Continue."

Ummul Khair urged her when she kept quiet.

"Continue."

"Then I said, its your lunch." Khair continued.

He then said "Take it to that table."

Khair silently took it to the table he showed her, she arranged the dishes as if it were a dinning table.

"Sit down, let's eat and have our discussion." He added.

"But.."

"No 'buts', just sit down." He cuts in firmly.

They ate together and afterwards, he asked her about herself.

"So, my name is Khairun Nisa' bint Qatadah. I was born on the 1st of January, 2000. I am the only child of my parents. I'm also a half-cast, as my Mom is from Britain and my Dad from Saudi Arabia, my Grandmom is a Nigerian of Fulani tribe, so I can speak English, Arabic and Fulani, fluently. I don't stay with my parents but with my twin sister and I often visit my Grandmom, thus this is my story."

Aryan looked puzzled.

"I made an observation," he said

"You said you are an only child but you lived with your twin sister? How comes?"

"Well, actually she's my best friend. We're cousins and were also born the same day. And many people said we look alike and look like identical twins, that was also true.As we wore the same clothes and do stuffs together. And also all of us are Khairs."

"Oh! So both of you are Khairun Nisa'? What are the odds?"

"No, she's Ummul Khair."

"Okay, I understand."

"Uhm..I'm listening."

"What? Listening?"

"Yeah, you tell me your own story."

"Okay, so my name is Muhammad Aryan bn Khulaid. My Dad is a Nigerian as you know, and also the minister of External Relations. My Mom on the other hand is from Saudi, just like your Dad, and also has the citizenship of Nigeria by staying here for over twenty years. She's also the Minister of Health. I'm an only child, also. Born on January 1st, 1994 and I lived alone. I occasionally return home. So my Mom said She'll find someone who'll live with me, that's my story."

"Don't worry," said Ummul Khair

"Just don't let him know the secret."

"Okay, Unnie."

"Alright, I'm hanging up, Good Night."

"Okay, Good Night. Sweet dreams, my one and only Unnie."

Khair said before her Unnie {Sister in Korean Language}.

The next morning, Khair began her chores immediately after aubh prayers. She's going to school today, that's why. She was about leaving, when Hajia called her.

"Good morning, Hajiya." She greeted.

She called her Hajia, because she was reprimanded for calling her 'Mom' yesterday.

"Morning." She replied as if she was forced to.

"Ehm... this.." she said pointing to a girl of about Khairs age

"....is another maid. Shell help while you are away. Her name is...."

She didn't finish as her phone rang.

"Yes? What? Okay, I'll be right there."

"I'll be going, its an emergency."

She said and left.

*

"Khair, Khair?" Aryan called as he came into the kitchen.

*Where the hell is this girl?"

Just then, he noticed a presence of an unfamiliar face. It was the new maid.

"And who are you? Why are you here? And where is Khair?"

"I am Fadila, the new maid. Sis Khair is not around,she said she's going to school. So I'll tend to you, what do you want, Big Brother Aryan?" she replied her big round eyes sparkling.

"What a white lotus!"

"Mtsswwwww!" he hissed.

"Don't you ever called ne Big brother, even Khair addressed me as Young Master, so who are you to address me as big brother? You are just a MERE MAID and can never be my Sister. Also, I'd rather die than let you serve me. I'm disgusted!"

He left the kitchen, and was about leaving the house in a fit of rage, when he heard Khair's voice, she was heading towards the room saying ;

"Is there anybody home? I've been ......."

She stopped midway because she saw Aryan was fine with rage. So trying to cheer him up, she put on the act of a brave bodyguard, ready to fight anyone.

"What's up dude? Come on tell me the problem? Who dares to make my Young Master angry?" she acted as if she's going to actually fight someone.

Aryan burst out laughing as he approached her.

"Come and sit down."

He said as he held her hand and sat her down on her sofa. He sat down next to Khair and asked her.

"Where did you go to?"

Khair debated within herself on the whether to lie to him or tell him the truth, and decided to tell him the latter.

"School?" He asked antonished

"Which school?" he asked again.

"No, I won't tell you, so that you won't come to our school when you missed me."

Fadee stood there looking so pale because of anger.

"I've already missed you so much to....."

"Peace be upon you." said Hajia as she entered the sitting room.

"Same to you." they both answered.

"Welcome back, Hajia. Do you want me to arrange your bath or would you rather eat first?"

Khair asked as she went to collect the Hajia's bag.

Hajiya started rebuking her for no reason at all. She just didn't want to see Aryan with Khair.

Khair felt hot tears, welled up in her eyes. Never in her life had anyone rebuked her. Just then Faded stepped out of her hiding site.

"Welcome, Mom."

She said as she as she collected her handbag.

"Thank you, my daughter."

Never in her life, had Khair felt so foresaken. She couldn't bear to see what's happening, so she quickly left. Aryan followed her on her heels. His Mom was calling him but he ignored her. Aryan consoled her.

"Don't worry, Khair. I won't leave you alone in the lion den. I'm planning in going back to my apartment tomorrow, and you are coming with me. Start packing while I talked to Mom."

Even though, she isn't crying, she couldn't talk as she's afraid that even if she open her mouth to talk, she might choke herself, so she nodded her head. She's really grateful to Aryan for being by her side. She sluggishly stood up a and started packing her clothes, in her suitcase

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