Chapter 30: Chapter 30

She wondered what's the meaning of Alkaad, she couldn't remember knowing it as a name of person. Pushing the thought aside, Hayfah sauntered inside the building; which has many workers trooping inside.

Ignoring the glances people had been sending her way, she walked to the receptionist; wearing a smile, as her heart beats unsteadily. She kept contemplating on how to talk to the receptionist. She's afraid of being laughed at.

Reluctantly, she steadied herself and waved at the receptionist. She came over, wearing an official smile on her lips. "Good morning Ma. How may I help you please?" She asked, her intense gaze unshaken on Hayfah's face. She wondered what brings this Arab like lady here.

It took minutes before the words finally erupted out of Hayfah's lips. "My name is Hayfah, I came here to see the CEO; we have an appointment," she informed, her voice sounding more huskier; as she was nervous.

The receptionist tried so hard and stifled her laughter. "Okay Ma, or should I say Sir? Oops! Pardon ny language. A minute please," she said and dailed the CEO's office's landline digits.

Hayfah felt a pang of pain in her heart, she had been humiliated from the incipient, what would happen upto all these months? Would she be able to preservere all? She felt her eyes getting misty, but the new sturdy Hayfah knew not to cry when humiliated, she just smiled as the receptionist directed her to the CEO's office.

"He isn't well in anger management, just fired his secretary yesterday, be careful," The receptionist warned and quickly went back to her post.

Hayfah gulped down the lump in her throat, she cleared the bead of sweat on her forehead and hands; muttered some supplications before turning the door knob_____revealing what Hayfah would forever not believe it's an office.

"Assalamu Alaik...," she couldn't complete her sentence, as the CEO wrathfully turned his attention to her.

"You?!" They both gasped at the same time. Hayfah knew it was time for a pay back. He was the guy she bumped into on her first lecture day.

A smirk curved his lips, but what brought her to his office? Could she be the lady his father talked to him about? If that's the case____she'll surely pay for what she did to him years back.

"What are you doing in my office? To check wether I have gotten some knowledge about the creation of Allah on street banners or I'm still dumb in that?" He inquired sarcastically, with a smirk plastered on his lips. It's a payback time, she will surely regret ever following the path she followed that very day.

"If I may ask, are you by any chance the CEO here?" Came her shaking husky voice, she was afraid he might be the one. And if that happened____she could vividly see there wasn't an iota of empathy in his eyes.

He made himself more comfortable on his chair, before putting on his fiesty and malevolent expression. "Yes. I'm the CEO: Kassim Aliyu. Mind your language here young lady, and also limit your talkings; for it wouldn't be healthy hearing this husky voice of yours every now and then," from how the words slipped out of his mouth, to how his sneering look was unshaken on her face____Hayfah knew she had met a replica of Umma here. Would she ever find complete happiness and solace without any stripe of pain in her life?___she doubt.

She just nodded her head, trying so hard to suppress her tears. What hurts more than opposite gender humiliating you? She moved to his table and placed a paper meant for her attachment.

"You will be my secretary from today onwards. Master your moves around me, as well as your talkings____that's what matters the most," he warned again, it was as if he enjoys talking about her husky voice; which he finds annoying and irritating. How could a lady have such a husky voice? Quite disgusting.

She nodded again, fighting different emotions in her heart. She won't cry, not infront of him. This wasn't the first time she got humiliated because of her voice, and it would never be the last time. Then why would she worry about him? As he said; she will never talk unless it's a do or die thing.

"Can't you answer me? Stop answering my questions in pantomime! You aren't a lizard, are you? And if that happens____it would worsen everything, with this husky voice and a nodding head like lizards. Mtswwww," he yelled at the top of his voice, her mere sight irritates him. He could see her eyes getting misty, and that's what he wants to happen.

"Okay Sir, where is my office?" Her husky voice breaks at every word she uttered. She couldn't fight the tears anymore; as a strand slid painfully down her cheeks.

"Are you that dumb? Haven't you seen an office adjoined with mine? Get out of my office! And there is nothing like 'Your office' here Miss Husky voice," he bellowed dismissively, his eyes emoting how irritating he is with each sight of her.

She almost stumbled on her foot while rushing out of his office; the tears gushing out in a rush also. She looked at the place meant to be her office, before spotting a chair and sat down; letting her waterworks intensifying.

A call on the landline jolted her out of her trance, she picked the call; afraid to talk and get humiliated more.

"Are you deaf or what? Can't you even hum to emanate you are on the line? Arrange for a meeting with the marketing department____and don't dare you talk, that voice can destroy a mountain, talkless of my eardrums," Kassim yelled enragedly and hung up, without even waiting for her to talk.

"What kind of life is this? Can I live here any longer?" She whimpered, more tears streaming down her cheeks. She felt assailed, and doesn't have anyone to lodge her complain to. And she knew it's impossible to tell Daddy the problem she's facing with her boss____it would be childish.

She arranged for the meeting and waited patiently for the time. She isn't used to being in crowd, how would she act? What if they ask her name? Would she talk and get humiliated or keep shut?

She was so deep in her thoughts, that she didn't even know it was 11:55am, and the meeting is to be hold by 12pm. A bang and wrathful yelled brought her out of her reverie "You're supposed to remind me of the meeting time, not to just sit here and zone out. You can't be over thinking in my company!" Kassim yelled and majestically sauntered out of the office.

Hayfah muttered "Ya Allah!" Under her breathe, adjusted her veil and ensued him, hoping her face doesn't look like someone that has cried.

They entered the long and spacious hall almost together. Hayfah gulped down the lump that formed in her throat, with supplications in her mouth; she entered the filled hall____as all eyes were on her.

In no time, the meeting started, Hayfah sat beside Kassim on the right side. Her head was hung low all the time, she would only lift up her head when applauds were raised or nummurings. The meeting was over, when a man in his mid fifties; chirped in a question Hayfah felt all her world collapsing at that instant.

"Mr CEO; we can guess she's your new secretary, but she has to introduce herself for some purposes," the man said, a lustful smile plastered on his lips; as his gaze was unshaken on Hayfah's beautiful face.

"She should introduce herself please," they chorused, for some of the men were already lusting over her; whilst the women were even jealous of her.

"Introduce your name, Miss," Kassim ordered with a harsh, yet, hateful tone.

She stood up, her head was still hung down; as she was fumbling with her long well sculptured fingers. "My Name is Hayfah Talhah Muhammad. I am here for my NYSC, it would be nice working with you all," she looked up and flashed them the factitious smile she could forever curve and sat back.

Out of no where; a woman probably in her mid thirties began clapping her hands. "Wow Miss Hayfah, what a nice voice you've got there," she complimented sarcastically, bursting into a series of laughter.

They all both burst out laughing, their laughter echoing through the confines of the hall. She couldn't, it's just too much to ignore____so, she let her tears fall freely. How their laughter was echoing through her ears was heart scourging. She couldn't take it any more, so she stood up and scuttled back to her office; letting out a wail as she slumped on her chair.

Minutes pass by, as she was still crying anguishly, Kassim banged the door and entered the office, his face was all red from anger, he was clearly seething with rage.

"Who gave you the right to just leave like that? Don't you have some ethics? They found the voice funny, so they had to laugh!" He yelled angrily, as he stood infront of her crying figure, seething with rage.

Hayfah might take all that, but there is a certain point she couldn't take it anymore. She lifted up her bloodshot eyes and landed them on his handsone yet; gruesome to Hayfah. "Is the creation of Allah deserves to be laughed at? Was it my choice to be created like this? Why is it that people had to in anyway make you feel worthless? It's my voice, to accept it or not; no one can ever change it. And I love my voice!" She wanted to sound calm, but she was too infuriated to do that, as the words came out as a yell____more tears streaming down her cheeks.

Kassim dumbfoundedly looked at her, is she talking back to him like this? He was sure she was referring to him also; not only those people. "What do you mean, Miss Husky voice?!" He inquired wrathfully, banging his fist on her desk.

"I mean I'm a masterpiece, and I doesn't deserve to be laughed at. He created me like this, and it's surely a blessing in disguise," Hayfah retaliated in a high pitched tone. She's tired of everything, she just want to sleep; so she could dream about 'him', it's the only way to soothe her burning heart.

"You must be crazy! Are you rising your voice at me? Didn't I even warn you not to talk to me with that husky amd disgusting voice of yours to...," before he could finish, a call from his his phone halted him____as he couldn't snub his lovely brother's call.

"Brother! I'm coming back in a month's time!" Adyan squealed, he was ecstatic that he could finally come back and look for the love of his life.

Kassim's eyes dilated in surprise, "What happened brother? Are you tired or has your Sorella used some charms on you?" Kassim laughed humorlessly, he couldn't surpress his wrathful mood.

"Your voice sounds somehow, are you angry?" Adyan asked, he knew so much about his family. A slight gesture, and he could tell it's meaning.

Kassim hissed and flashed crying Hayfah a hateful look, "I got a new secretary today, she's so annoying, even the sight of her disgusts me. She has a very loud and husky voice, and had been crying because she was laughed at. Can you believe it brother? She raised her voice at me!" Kassim informed his brother, his heart filling with hatred towards Hayfah. He hates her guts and everything about her.

"Take it easy on her, brother. Alot of people are going through emotion disorder, only Allah knows the battles She's going through in her heart. Let her be, and do all possible things to shield her from being laughed at please," Adyan spoke sympathetically, he could literally feel her pain. He doesn't know her, but he felt as if she was a part of him.

"I can't, brother. Do fast and come back please, all this work sucks!" He whined like a five year old, walking into his office, long forgetting about Hayfah.

Hayfah heaved a sigh, when she saw his retreating back closing his office's door. "Ya Allah, bless the person that called him, he really saved me from further humiliation," she silently prayed under her breathe, wiping away her tears.