"Ummi wake up and read your prayers, it's almost 6" Meeno mumbled.

"Ohhh Meeno how many times will i tell you it slept late yesterday" she groaned, turning to the other side.

"That's not my concern, just wake up and pray joor"said Meeno, wearing her school uniform. She had already taken her bath. Meeno is always punctilitious. "I'm not the one that stop you from sleeping early" she added.

"Ok Amina i'm awake" she said, cupping her face with both hands. Using her thumb to rub her eyes.

***

"Aysha you said you'll gist me yesterday but you're going to take your bath without telling me" Meeno reminded her.

"Ohhhhhh sorry i almost forget" Ummi said, sitting down beside her.

"Can you remember that handsome guy i told you about yesterday?"She asked putting emphasis on the 'handsome'.

"Yes i remember."

"Ehen he's the one that called yesterday and wanted to talk to me; said his name is Al-amin Isma'il Bugaje and he wants to be my friend"

"Ahhhhh Aysha this is serious! What was your answer?"Amina asked intriguingly, trying hard to hide her smile.

"Well...I accepted him as a friend because he sounded serious not like those useless guys"she answered.

"That's also good; hurry up then and have your bath so we won't be late for classess" stated Amina.

"Yeaaaa we almost used 15mins for this short talk" Ummi said gloomily, taking her toiletries and moving out of the room.

***

"Hellurh girl" Ummi said to her friend Aysha Elarh who sits behind her.

"Aysha Abbakar I've not being seeing you this days , what's wrong?"Asked Aysha Elarh.

"Everything is good and you?" Ummi answered and asked her as well.

"Fine also" Aysha Elarh answered.

"Salamu Alaikum class" said Malam Ahmad Ogaji,their English teacher while entering the class.

*******************************

AFTER BREAK.

"Hey gurls! you know we're having physics and he said its going to be practicals"Said Raby karaye, taking her physics essentails from her school bag. "You all knows he doesn't tolerate late coming, so its better we go now before we're late" she added in her girly voice.

As they were walking to the physics lab, she halted in front of the chemistry lab,scrutinizing it;searching for Malama Halima to collect her chemistry note.

Coincidentally, Al-amin's class were conducting practicals in the lab.

She was scrupulously looking through the window when their eyes met.

She fluttered her eye lashes shyly averting her gaze before making a dash for the physics lab. She couldn't withstand his intriguing gaze.

***

"Amina let's go before Malam Sani comes, and you know he beats mercilessly" Ummi warned, moving to and fro.

"Ok Aysha i just want to pick some chocolate for us,insha Allah he will not beat us" Amina assured.

"Ok. May Allah save us, just hurry up please" Ummi said hold their Qur'an with care.

"Let's go Aysha" said Meeno, making her out of the room; holding sachets of twix.

**********************

BACK HOME.

"Mama when will Yaya Ummi come back? Am missing her, because she knows I won't allow her to go that's why she left before i come back from school right?" Autan Mama asked, his eyes glisten with tears.

"Ahhhh i must punish Ummi for making my Auta cry. Don't worry, Yaya Husna is coming back on Friday and on Saturday we'll be visiting Yaya Ummi Insha Allah"mama assured, placatingly.

"Allah mama?"he beamed.

"Ehen now. Oya wipe those tears now".

"Ok mama" he said, hugging her tightly.

***********************

AT SCHOOL.

"Aysha what is it? I've been watching your moves since qur'an class you were freakish. Something must have gone wrong. Oya spill!"Meeno asked, sitting besides glumly Ummi.

"Don't tell me it's Al-amin "she added teasingly, giggling.

"Hmmmm, No. I am just homesick. Mama, Baba, Sulaiman,and everyone.I'm yearning to meet them" she answered, her eyes glistening with tears. But she's trying so hard not to burst.

"Eyyah Aysha this is how school life is, we're all missing our's but we just have to smile and endure it" said amina sympathetically, patting her back soothingly.

"Sorry please. Tomorrow during break time we'll go to Malam Muaxu and you'll call them" Amina externalize, trying to placify her.

"Ok meeno. That is why i love you wlh" she grinned, wiping away the tears with the hem of her hijab.

"I know right" she said jestingly. "Oya wipe those tears up i don't want to see them again" she sniggered.

"Ok ma" They hugged eachother, laughing hysterically.

"Let's go and eat something please" said Ummi, breaking their hug.

"Let's go my glutton friend. Albeit i'm also famished"

"Hey! Don't call me a glutton" Ummi warned.

"I said; glutton, glutton,glutton" Meeno said and ran. "Catch me if you can, young lady!" she stick her tongue out at her.

"You'll smell pepper today, Idiot." She yelled and ensued her.

A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED.