My Dearest Ones.

There is a saying that 20 friends can’t play together for 20 years. I would have said even 20 friends is too much and 20 years is longer. Nowadays five friends might not be together for five years.

It made me recall some of my moments in university with my friends. We started together, attended the same classes, did the same assignments, and went home together.

We were three in number, I cherished our friendship. But at some point despite how much the friendship was, we had to split up when the time was ripe. We were given different departments and from that time on, our meeting times differed, our classes differed and also we began to make new friends from our new departments. That wasn’t even up to five years.

My siblings and I have grown fond of each other. You can hardly tell the difference between us. My brother is so submissive, patient, and mature. I am the funny and cheerful type among them and the most outspoken. I am not talkative, but I speak when I have to, compared to my brother's.

My younger sister is surely my playmate and my fight mate. Our resemblance is just too much that there are times she would be addressed as my elder sister and I am the younger one. I think my stature and facial look had to take the blame for that. The three of us could be the definition of the three musketeers.

As Muslims, we do have this yearly Sallah celebration, and that's always an opportunity for everyone in the family to meet up, rejoice, and celebrate. It's always a period of anticipation. The joy of meeting each other again after a long time is amazing.

Since it's an occasional event that happens once in a blue moon, Dad would have made sure everything was in place for the celebration to go smoothly. And then a few weeks before the day he would have started calling us to know how far our movement was.

When I went for my National Youth Service, my sister had to chat me up. Just wanted to show me how much fun they are having in my absence. They all knew I was the one trying to lighten up the air and make everything lively.

Hello bro!

Yeah, Happy Sallah I Responded. (my phone rang after)!

It was a video call from her.

I picked up and then she smiled so brightly, I could feel how much she must have missed my presence. It's been the fifth year I have celebrated with them at home. We had a long conversation over the call, then I also said Hi to everyone at home.

I am doing fine where I am. I also had fun eating and drinking.

Time passed, and then I was back home. Since I am done with all of my schooling I work at home too. So I had no excuse not to attend the next Sallah celebration.

My brother was also home with us then. Then it was a few weeks to Sallah, and I called my sister to confirm her movements.

Hello! How far!! Are you coming home for Eid?

She smiled and asked in return. Do you want me to come? I know you have missed me a lot. She responded with a happy tone.

Who missed you? I don't even expect you to come around to disturb me.

We both smiled and hung up the phone after.

It was Sallah day and she finally didn’t show up as she had promised. I knew I would miss her presence, but I still had to make everyone feel like we never did. Since she was my play buddy. It almost got a little boring that day. But I had to make her feel regretful for not coming.

I got a big bowl of fried meat in front of me and also some chilled fruit juice to step down. Then I was about to place a video call. But I had a change of mind. I just took a picture of the meal on my phone.

After we finished eating, I called my brother and mum’s attention. I asked them for a group photo together. A friend of mine took a picture and it was so nice. The only person missing in the picture was my sister.

I purposely didn’t send it to her in dm, so I uploaded my status for her to see. Luckily she was active at that moment. After seeing it, she rushed down to my dm and asked for the pictures.

Ooh! So is this how life should be? You guys took a picture without me and uploaded it. She ranted.

I smiled and asked her to photoshop herself into it. 😂.

Don't worry, next year I will be there and I won't even allow you to appear in the picture.

She uploaded it on her status and captioned it. “My Dearest Ones”.