Chapter 16: Chapter 16

"Don't show fear in front of people, cover your weakness with strength, and your fear with cruelty."

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Tehzeeb walked inside the department and saw just a few students hanging around the department. She walked inside A4 that was the class for the day's lecture. She sat down and put her bag on the other chair for Khady since she had not sighted her anywhere around the department. She brought out her handout and started to go through it since there was still time before the lecturer arrived. She was engrossed in her reading, muting every noise around her surrounding so she could concentrate on her reading, she was about to flip to another page when the book was snatched out of her hand, without thinking twice she knew whose hand work it was. "Khady drop the book"

"And if I don't?" Khady asked

"Hmm. I don't know what I will do with your trouble"

"No option dear, we are just like liver and blood"

"Why are you late?"

"I'm not late madam. Check the time" Khady said bringing out her phone to show the time to her "here" she said giving Tehzeeb her phone "The time is quarter past two. So you see I'm not late"

"As you wish. Let me finish reading this page please" Tehzeeb pleaded

"Fine" and she handed over her book to her while she sat down close to her. Khady brought out her handout to go through it also. They were both engrossed with their reading when they heard the class rep spoke "I'm sorry to say but the lecture is not going to hold due to some issues on ground" he paused before he continued "you can come and pay your fee for the excursion because time is not on our side. If you're ready to pay meet me in the other class please" with that being said he left. Which Khady and Tehzeeb both looked at each other.

"If I knew the lecture wasn't going to hold, I wouldn't have bothered to come" Khady complained

"You know that's how they are. They will not inform us first till we arrive at the school. That aside, are you paying now or when?" Tehzeeb asked Khady

"The money is with me but I'm waiting for you first before I pay mine" Khady replied

"You shouldn't have done that. Since the money has been with you all this while you should have paid"

"I know but I didn't want to pay before you, moreover I can pay anytime since there's still time"

"Thank you but don't do that next time" Tehzeeb warned

"I've heard you. So when will you pay?" Khady asked

"The money is with me here"

"Did you later inform Baba?" Khady questioned

"No, I didn't but..." Tehzeeb told Khady everything "so you see that's how I got the money" Tehzeeb finally said looking at Khady

"Woow. I can't believe this. How can someone give out such amount for just helping her out with her shopping basket, that again in this era. You're truly blessed Tehzeeb. May the Lord reward her too. Let's go and pay so we can start going home"

"Yeah, no need of staying in the school when there is no other lecture again" they walked out of the class to the next class to meet with the class rep. They paid their money and left without any delay

They were walking silently when Khady finally broke the silence "I'm planning to go for tailoring class" Khady said out of nowhere

"Are you kidding me?" Tehzeeb asked surprised because she knew Khady didn't like being bossed around

"I'm serious. I know what you're thinking. How will Khady of all people go for tailoring when she doesn't like being bossed around blah blah blah." Khady said and sighed before she continued while Tehzeeb listened to her attentively "it's just came over me. I'm tired of sitting at home doing nothing, I want to atleast do something and stop staying at home lazing around without anything"

"It's good but are you sure you can do that?" Tehzeeb asked

"Don't worry I can. Moreover the shop is not far from our house and the person I want to learn from is just around our age. So you see she won't boss me around that much"

"No wonder. I could have said maybe you have changed your view about tailors"

"My dear, I've not. When I'm there to learn tailoring madam will ask me to go and cook or fectch water in her house, I can't do that, when I wasn't employed as her maid" Khady said imagining how she would  become an errand girl or maid all in the name of learning how to sew

"It shall be well. So when will you start?"

"Saturday and Sundays, plus the days I have lecture free days just like you"

"That's good. That means I will hardly see you, even when i come around"

"Yes. But we can always see in the school because my closing hours is same as yours"

"Chief tailor in the making. Let me start buying materials that you will sew for me"

"You're not serious. You will pay because I'm not learning for free"

"I've heard you. Let's get going"

"Okay" and they began to walk without saying another word until Khady stopped a bike " you go first and I will get another one" Khady said to Tehzeeb

"No you can go. I will get another one"

"Alright bye. See you tomorrow"

"Okay. My regards to Mama and Abba"

"They will hear. Thank you and my warm greetings to Umma and Baba too" and Khady left while Tehzeeb continued walking before she got another bike that would take her home

Immediately Tehzeeb get down from the bike, she walked inside the compound and there she saw her Umma cutting vegetables, she quickly walked towards her and collected the knife from her. "Umma let me do it" she said collecting the knife

"Why are you back so early?" Umma asked out of concern

"It's nothing Umma, the lecturer did not come and it was the only lecture that I had today so I came back" she explained

"Oh that's okay. Here bring it let me continue with my work so you can go and change or even drop your bag before you start working" Umma said trying to collect the knife from Tehzeeb which Tehzeeb didn't have the intention of giving the knife to her.

"Umma let me finish cutting it, then I will go and drop my bag and change" Tehzeeb replied continuing with what she was doing. Umma sighed and reluctantly agreed to her since she knew her daughter will not give her the knife back.

"Have you paid for the excursion?" Umma asked

"Yes, I did that before coming back"

"That's good. So when is the excursion?"

"I don't really know, but I think it will be end of this month or next month precisely" Tehzeeb said with a shrug

"Alright,let me go and put the pot on fire since you're cutting the vegetables already" Umma said standing up to go and do her work

"Just leave it Umma, since I'm back I will do everything. Moreover I haven't done any work today"

"Don't worry when you finish with the vegetables go inside your room, drop your bag and have some rest"

"I'm not tired, I can do the work let me just drop my bag" Tehzeeb quickly dropped the knife and hurried to her room since she was through with the vegetables. She dropped her bag, changed into  comfy clothes before going out to assist her Umma with the cooking