Chapter 22

"Mr Adeyemi says we have a meeting by 3pm" Amaka said popping her head into my cubicle.

"What? 3pm. That's when I have my lunch break." I groaned.

"Sorry. He kept raving about how important the meeting was." She explained.

I let out a sigh thinking of how I was going to get Yasmin to her uniform fitting. Remembering my conversation with Najma, I dialled her number immediately. She answered on the third ring.

"Hello Abba." She greeted.

"Hello Najma. How are you?" I asked.

"Fine, Alhamdulillah. What's up?"

"I'm stuck at work and I need someone to take Yasmin to her school uniform fitting." I explained.

"That's not a problem. I'll take her. Just text me the details." She replied.

"Thank you so much. I owe you one"

"No you don't. Yasmin's one of us."

I ended the call and sent her the details. It was almost 3pm so I started getting ready for the meeting.

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It seemed like lady luck was on my side as the meeting ended earlier than I expected, not only that but it ended with a win for us. Mr Adeyemi happy about this, gave the entire team present for the meeting the day off after offering to take us for lunch.

While the rest agreed, I declined and decided to head to the fitting. I had texted Najma and she told me they were still at the place.

I drove down to Wuse 2 where the house was located. It was a large brown coloured house with a sign on the gate.

Zeco School Wear.

I guess it must be a branch of the UK owned company. I pressed the horn and the gates swung open, driving in, I dialled Najma's number.

"I'm here" I said.

"Okay. Let me get one of the attendants to bring you to us. This place is like a maze" she muttered.

I chuckled at that and waited in my car till I saw a woman in a trouser and a polo with the words Zeco School Wear stitched to it.

I got out of my car as she approached me.

"Mr. Abubakar?" She asked.

"Yes, that would be me." I replied.

"This way." I followed her through a side door and down a narrow hallway. Najma was right, the place was like a maze. She finally came to a stop infront of a door.

I opened the door and Najma was kneeling on the floor in front of Yasmin trying to keep her still as the woman took her measurements.

"Hello" I said closing the door behind me.

Yasmin immediately turned to me, the frown on her face disappearing. Najma had to keep a firm grip on her to stop her from running towards me.

I smiled at her before taking a seat.

"She kept on asking about you" Najma said as the woman finished taking Yasmin's measurment.

"Oh, you must be her Abba then?" The woman asked turning to me.

"Yes, that would be me" I grinned opening my arms as Yasmin launched herself into me. I hugged her placing a kiss on her hair. She kept her face buried in my shirt as I rubbed her back.

"So what's next?" I inquired.

"Well, I'll go check our stock to see if we have her size and then she'll try it out. If it needs amending then we'll have it amended." She explained.

I nodded and watched her leave. Najma sat next to me with a sigh.

"Are you okay?" I asked noticing she looked flushed.

"Yeah, just tired. I think the office stress is finally getting to me" she whispered massaging her temples.

"Sorry to hear that, you should take some few days off. Get some rest and relaxation." I advised. She nodded taking a sip of water.

Yasmin pulled away from me and Iifted her into my lap watching as she played with my fingers as she looked around the room.

The woman came back a few minutes later with a transparent sack which she dumped in the middle of the room. The sack catching Yasmin's attention.

We watched as she began pulling out a white button down shirt and grey pinafore dress, handing it over to Najma.

"This goes with her measurements, she can try it out over there" she explained pointing to a door by the left.

I gently placed Yasmin on the floor and watched as she followed Najma to the changing room.

"We have options for the sportswear. From the letter we got from the school, she was placed in Blue House." The woman said making me turn to her.

"What are the options?" I asked, she pulled out the sportswear. "There's the skorts option and the shorts."

I looked them over wondering which Yasmin would prefer.

"Any recommendation? I'm new at this" I asked. She smiled and gestured to the shorts.

"I'll go with the shorts, offers more freedom. As she grows, she can get the skorts instead." She explained. I nodded deciding to go with her advice.

"Yeah, let's go with that. How many does she need?"

"Two pairs are recommended by the school" she replied.

"What about the uniforms?"

"Five pairs are the reccomended numbers." She answered. I nodded just as the door opened and Yasmin came running out.

"Oh my..." I trailed staring at her in awe, my lips parted.

Ya Allah.

She looked so adorable in the white and grey uniform. The grey pinafore stopping at her knees. It was a far cry from the dirt stained child I had picked up near the club.

I could hear Najma gushing over her as the woman checked to see if any amendments were going to be made

"Abba" Najma called out snapping me out of my trance.

"Yeah?" I turned to her dazed.

"What do you think?" She asked. I looked back at Yasmin who was staring at me, slowly swaying while holding the edges of the pinafore.

A slow smile took over my lips.

"Mama na, you look amazing" I said to her. I knew she probably didn't know the meaning but she gave me a mega watt smile as she twirled around.

"The uniform is a perfect fit. So I'll package everything for you. Do you need socks?" The woman asked.

"No, we already got socks" I replied getting to my feet. Najma ushered Yasmin back to the changing room and soon they were back, she handed the uniform over to the woman and we followed her to another part of the house. She got the rest of the uniforms and sports wear.

"Have a great day and goodluck Yasmin" she said smiling. An attendant helped us with the bags.

"I'll call you later" I said to Najma as I buckled Yasmin into the seat.

"Sure. Bye Yasmin" she said waving at her. Yasmin waved back smiling. I watched as she got into her car and reversed out of the compound before getting into mine.

"Home?" She asked.

"Yeah." I replied smiling.

"I want cake" she pouted.

"What's the magic word?"

I had to keep myself from laughing as she scrunched her face. Hajiya had bought her a book on manners and we were all trying to teach her.

"Please!!!" She said happily.

"Good girl. So what do you want?"

"Cake, please" she replied waving her arms.

I chuckled and switched on the ignition. I drove out of the compound and headed to the nearest bakery. Parking, I helped her out of the car, we walked into the bakery and the smell of freshly baked goods hit my nose. I couldn't help the sigh that escaped my lips.

"Good evening sir." The attendant greeted.

"Good evening" I replied turning my attention to Yasmin who was looking around.

"Yas, what cake flavour do you want?" I asked. She turned her attention to me, raising her arms.

"Chocolate" she answered.

"We'll have one Chocolate cake slice, a croissant and two loaves of sliced breads" I said to the attendant.

Yasmin resting against my leg made me look down at her. Her eyes were drooping.

"Mama na" I called out, she looked up at me.

"Tired?"

"Uh-huh." She replied nodding, raising her arms. I gathered her into my arms and she immediately nestled her face into neck. I rubbed her back as I felt her fully relax into me.

"Here you go" the attendant said. I paid and collected the leather bag before exiting. I slowly eased Yasmin into the backseat, using my jacket as a pillow for her. Her eyes fluttered open and I slowly stroked her back and watched as she drifted back to sleep. I gently closed the door and got in, placing the bag on the passenger seat. Glancing back to see she was still asleep, I switched on the car and drove us home.

We arrived home a few minutes later and I had the maids help me with the bags while I took Yasmin into the house.

"Where is my grandmother?" I asked one of the maids.

"She stepped out for a while." She answered. I nodded, walking to Yasmin's room and laying her down on the bed. I slipped her shoes off and covered her up, Atine and another maid came in with bags, placing them on the floor.

They left while I stayed for a bit before leaving for the chalet.

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I was seated outside when the gates opened and Hajiya's car drove in. I approached the car and opened the back passenger door.

"Welcome back Hajiya." I greeted.

"Abubakar, thank you. What are you doing back home so early?" She inquired stepping out. I helped with her bag and we walked towards the main house.

"Mr. Adeyemi let us out early today." I answered, opening the front door and standing aside for her to pass.

"That's nice. Were you able to make it to Yasmin's fitting?"

"Yes, you need to see her in her uniform Hajiya, she looked adorable." I gushed smiling.

She laughed at my enthusiasm "Where is she anyway?"

"Asleep, today seemed to wear her out." I explained. Hajiya nodded before collecting her bag.

"When she wakes, I am sure she will be excited to show me her uniforms."

"Definitely."

The call to prayer had me glancing at my watch.

"I'll see you later after prayers." I said to her, leaving the house and heading for the mosque.

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By the time I came back, Yasmin was already awake and was seated at the dining table with her cake in front of her.

I smiled at the sight, her mouth smudged with chocolate icing. She noticed me and gave me a toothy smile.

I slid into the seat next to her, running a finger through her curls.

"Take!!!" She said shoving the spoon to me.

"Thank you mama na." I replied smiling while taking the spoon from her and scooping a small portion.

I hummed at the taste, it was really nice. A bit too chocolatey for my taste but overall it was good.

I handed the spoon back to her almost laughing at the expectant look she was giving me.

"It's nice." I replied. She seemed satisfied with my answer because she turned her attention back to her cake.

Hajiya joined us at the table and informed me that Yasmin had indeed showed her the uniforms and she had a hard time convincing her to change back into her house clothes.

I laughed at that, I was a bit nervous that she was starting school but I was also very excited.

Hopefully tomorrow goes smooth.

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A/N

Sorry for the short chapter. The picture in the media is what I imagine as the uniform. I am a sucker for grey and white uniforms 😂😂

Let me know what you guys think about this chapter down in the comments. I love how much Abba has grown from our reckless playboy to a responsible person 😫😫.

Do share, comment and vote.

Xoxo