Chapter 18: Chapter 18

He walked into the house feeling all sorts of happiness swirling inside him. He rang the door bell and few seconds later, Yusuf opened the door. “Hm!” He hummed a little as he shifted for him to enter. They headed into his living. Muhsin collapsed on the soft sofa with a long sigh, the smile never left his face, all because of an eighteen year old he could never stop thanking for helping him.

“Care to tell me what you’re happy about? Just few days ago you were a complete wreck.” He was pleased to see muhsin happy again. “You prefer seeing me messed up?” He asked teasingly as he looked at Yusuf with a smirk. “Idiot you know I love to see you happy.”

Muhsin laughed a little while he sat up right and faced Yusuf that was seated on the two seater like he was the visitor. “I've got an idea on how to save my business and I'm very sure it will work out perfectly by Allah’s will.” He told him everything about the plan Dalia gave him and how it will turn out if the plan goes as he wanted. “That little girl said all of this to you? C’mon muhsin stop messing with me...”

“Seriously I am not. By Allah that’s the truth. It was all her idea....” Yusuf glanced away while he thought deeply about it. How could that little girl come up with that? Another reason to admire her. “You see another reason to have the righteous wife, someone that would always give you the advice you need,” muhsin spoke again but Yusuf was far away. “What are you thinking of?” He asked. Yusuf looked at him and smiled before he shook his head. “I am just amazed by how the girl is so wise.” Muhsin chuckled softly. “It’s common sense and how she was brought up.” Yusuf nodded in agreement.

“I even wanted to check up on her. You know...” He paused when muhsin gave him and teasing look. “What? I just want to see how’s she’s coping with the period cramp, I promise... well I won't swear about it....” Muhsin laughed and shook his head. “You know daddy’s house so....” He shrugged his shoulder. Yusuf felt a little embarrassed, not that his cousin had realized he liked Dalia but how on earth was he going to just go to the house in the name of checking up on her only? They could do that on the phone. He discharged the thought and changed the topic.

“So what’s your first step?” Yusuf asked. He adjusted his sitting position as he beamed. Just the question he wanted Yusuf to ask. “Well I am having a meeting with my team tomorrow morning which we would discuss about the sales and communications amongst us. I have made some calls with some people. They are coming to abuja in three days to check one of the branches. If we have a good price, then I can sell it. Pay my debts and use the rest to invest more.” Yusuf nodded when muhsin finished explaining. “I pray everything works out as you planned brother.”

They stood up afterwards and headed to the mosque to pray Maghrib.

**

Muhsin dragged himself into the hall to drab greetings of his staffs. They were pleased to see their boss a little bit contented that day. They began with the meeting and it ended after two hours. Anwar followed his boss to his office and they settled down to talk as Muhsin wanted them to.

He was timorous, very timorous about why Muhsin had called him to his office. He was more petrified when muhsin hadn't said anything to him since the crisis till that very morning, and here they were in his office. He mused prayers in his mind as he glanced at muhsin typing away from his phone. What could happen? He was getting fired definitely, he declared. If not that, why would he call him? He almost got him out of business, who would keep an employee that would only ruin your business? Certainly no one, not even your family, no.

Muhsin cleared his throat as he dropped the phone on the desk before he fixed his eyes on Anwar. “You do know what you did was inappropriate, right?” Anwar hesitantly nodded his head, “yes sir.” He couldn't lie or pretend that what he had done was right and he was very sure of the punishment he deserves.

“And you know what I am supposed to do right?” Anwar’s heart flipped as he swallowed and painful Lump. Where would he get a better job that pays so much than here? How would he face the challenges if he loses that job? “Sir please forgive me for my mistakes. Please don’t fire me please, sir. Just give me another chance, I promise not to mess up again, please.” He didn't know when he got on his knees and continued to plead with muhsin.

“Who said I was going to fire you, Anwar? You’re doing a great job and I can’t afford to lose a trustworthy person like you. And besides people make mistakes. We all do, we are not perfect. And this was just a trial which surely we would pass it by Allah’s will. Now sit down please.” Anwar let out a long sigh and sat back down on the chair like muhsin asked him to. “You just have to be very careful next time, okay? You can leave now. And don’t think because I said those word it will guaranty you to start feeling proud or misbehave.” He dismissed him. Anwar thanked him before he happily walked out of the office like he was instructed to.

After three days, the visitors he was expecting came and they negotiated on the price he was satisfied with after they had seen the building. Things kept going as he wanted, he prayed over it, like she advised him to. He was so engrossed and happy with his work that he had forgotten about most of his worries concerning Amira. Even though most of the times she gets in his way to distract him, he never gave her the chance to.

On the forth week of investing, everything was going much more than he expected. His business was growing much more than before in just few weeks. He was over the moon about the progress he was making. He continued investing as he move ahead with opening up the one branch he had left. The people he hired to investigate on the frauds weren't making progress in locating them but they assured him to arrest the people as it takes time to locate them.

He rise from his office chair as he claimed his phones from the desk and car keys. He stepped out of the office and entered the elevator. He typed away from his phone as the elevator stopped so smoothly that the change was hardly noticeable. He nodded his head here and there to acknowledge their greetings while he headed out of the building.

A short time later, he was already in his father’s compound walking towards the entrance. He knew his father just got back from a business trip. Funny thing, he hardly sees his father ever since he got married, reason, he doesn't live with them anymore.

He entered the living room. Surprisingly, he met daddy together with his father in the living room conversing. They looked up as they answered his greetings. “I wanted to call you,” his father spoke first after they have exchanged pleasantries. “What were you telling me the other day about your company?” He inquired looking at muhsin who was comfortably sitting on the soft carpet alluringly lain in the huge living room.

“Oh baba, it’s nothing. I just had a little problem but everything is going better than before, Alhamdulillah.” His father smiled and nodded. “Masha Allah. Please send your manager tomorrow morning, I have something for you.” He nodded his head before he thanked his father. They continued to converse for a while before daddy received a call. “Are going anywhere from here?” His father in law asked. Muhsin looked up and shook his head. “I’m going home from here. Do you need anything daddy?” He asked him. “Yes please, the driver took hajiya to the hospital to check up on her sick sister but they aren't done yet and he just called me now and to remind me Dalia is finishing her lectures soon. Can you go pick her up and take her home please?” Muhsin smiled and nodded his head. “That won’t be a problem daddy. I will be on my way now.” He stood up from the carpet and bade them farewell before he left.

He check his wristwatch. It was almost five in the evening. He walked to his car and hopped in before he left the house. He stopped by a place before he headed to the school.