Chapter 20: Chapter 20
Don't confuse the truth for the judgment
Baba thought he didn't hear Mallam Ilaro very well so he cleared his throat before speaking " Ban fahimce ka ba(I don't understand you) Baba said looking at Mallam Ilaro as if he have grown extra horn on his head
Mallam Ilaro also cleared his throat" you will understand me very well if I repeat what I said" Mallam Ilaro said to Baba with confidence "I said since you don't have the money to pay me back, then you should give your daughter hand in marriage to me. To make things easier for you" Ilaro said smiling as if he have won a lottery
"I can see you're sick upstairs" Baba said pointing to his head to demonstrate the actual place he was saying
"Oh am not. Have tried for along time now, you have been owing me since decades, I didn't complain, now that have come with the easiest way for you to solve your problem you're here complaining and insulting me at the same time"
"Well that's good and thoughtful of you. But No, let me even remind you, My daughter is not for sell or would she be used for collectoral. And let's me warn you, know how to speak to me or else you will not like the outcome of what am going to do with you"
"What will you do"
"Just don't try my patience, because I don't have much of that when it's comes to my daughter"
"If I don't have a daughter that's when you will say that to me but unfortunately I do have a daughter"
"Then good, atleast you have a daughter but I don't think you know the value of your daughter if not you could've not come to me and say such awful thing" Baba said getting more intensify because of what Mallam Ilaro is saying
"It's have come to that now, no problem. When you came to borrow money with me you were not like these" Mallam Ilaro said pointing at Baba
"Well you made me like these, have been enduring all your insults all these while because I know you have helped me when I needed help, but you have cross the boundary which is not yours. And for your money here it is" Baba said handing over the money to Mallam Ilaro "I wanted to bring it for you together with my wife and thank you, but seems you have hidden agenda which I don't know of, but nevertheless thank you for your hospitality. I really appreciate and am grateful" Baba said to Mallam Ilaro looking straight into his eyes daring him to say anything about his daughter again
"Since you have paid, everything is okay then. I will take my leave" Mallam Ilaro said
"That's will be good since am not owning you again, and let me remind you if you want peace to reign between me and you don't you dare talk about asking for my daughter's hand in marriage again" Baba said when Mallam Ilaro was about to step out of the gate
"It's shall be well" Mallam Ilaro said and left
"Ya Allah, thank you for saving us from these evil man's hand" Umma said
"Don't worry, even if I don't have the money yet, it's would be over my dead body before I allow him to marry my daughter"
"Hummm, please Baban Tehzeeb don't borrow money from Ilaro again"
"Don't worry In Sha Allah this will be the first and the last"
"I hope so. Let's me rest for a while"
"Alright I will be heading to the shop"
"Adawo lafiya ( come back safely)"
"See you soon" with that being said Baba left the house for his work thinking about what just happened a while ago with Mallam Ilaro, he never thought he will make such a drastic move just because his owning him. But he give thanks to the Lord for saving his daughter from Mallam Ilaro's evil plan, because if not because of evil plan how will he think of marrying his daughter. He shake his head and continue walking to his shop
*
"Do you know that we're going to be pay today?" Binta asked Tehzeeb during there break period
"I don't know seriously" comes Tehzeeb replies
"Since you don't know have told you" Binta said and Tehzeeb was about to talk when a call come in through the land line, which only means it's madam. Binta quickly press it
"Tell Tehzeeb to meet me in my office" Madam said and enyd the call without waiting for reply
"You heard what she said, no need of repeating it right?" Binta asked
"Yeah. Let's me go and meet her quickly" Tehzeeb ambled to madam office without wasting another seconds with Binta. She arrived and press the intercom before she entered and waited till she was asked to come in
"Good day ma"
"How are you?"
"I'm fine thank you ma"
"Good, having been watching over you ever since you came here, but seriously am impressed with you because you carried out your duty delightly, so keep the good work and i hope you don't disappoint me"
"I will not disappoint you In Sha Allah"
"Good. I called you about your salary because you didn't put down your account number when you fill the form"
"Yes ma. I don't have account yet but will do that soon"
"That's will be good, so I should pay you in cash now?"
"If it's okay, then yes ma"
"Alright but you will come for it when it's closing time and try your possible best to open an account"
"I will ma, thank you ma"
"You can go and continue your work" Tehzeeb left immediately she was told she can. When she was going back to her duty post that's when she recalled she was not told the amount she will be paid but brush it off since the money will be given to her by the end of the day
Tehzeeb went straight to Binta's desk since there was still time for break
"Welcome back" Binta said to Tehzeeb
"Thank you"
"Hope you are not in trouble?"
Tehzeeb laughed before she replied"you're funny, how will I be in trouble when have done nothing wong"
"Let's me say that,I don't know maybe you have been reported"
"Don't worry everything is fine and thanks for your concern"
"Your welcome. Break is over let's go back to our work"
"See you later" Tehzeeb left to where they were seated if there's no customers. They spent few more hours before it was time for closing so she pack her things and walk straight to Hajiya Kaltumi's office to collect her salery. She waited for permission to enter before she open the door
"Oh, you're just on time, If not it's will be till next week because I was about to leave in few minutes" Hajiya Kaltumi said and counted the money in her hand before she handover it to Tehzeeb. Tehzeeb collected the money and said thank you and was about to leave when she was called back by Hajiya Kaltumi. "Count the money Tehzeeb. It's only a thief that don't count money because they're always afraid or in a heist not to be caught. So feel free and count it, you have the right to do so"
"Sorry ma" Tehzeeb said and counted the money "Ma. Am sorry to say but is this all for me?" Tehzeeb asked bewildered
Hajiya Kaltumi chuckled "don't be a drama queen of course it's yours, is it too small?" Hajiya Kaltumi asked
"No it's not ma,but eighty thousand just for weekends and my free lectures days. It's too much ma"
"It's not dear. Have told you before that I like the way you work, so it's okay. Let start going am getting late and I have some where to go"
"Sorry for wasting your time and thank you" Tehzeeb walk out leaving Hajiya Kaltumi behind to lock her office. When she comes down she didn't see Binta again which means she have left. Tehzeeb walk out of the building and started to walk down the road since she spent quite a time in Hajiya's office, so it's was difficult for her to get what will take her home so she walk a little a bit. Ehen she was walking down the road she heard a woman voice shouting for help down a narrow path with something on her hand. Tehzeeb hurriedly walk to check what was wrong with the woman that makes her to be shouting
*
Umma and Baba where walking up and down in the compound because Tehzeeb was not yet back and it's was pass over her working hours. They began to panicked more when they saw it's was getting late and there daughter was not yet back
"I think I have to go out and look for her. It's on like her to be late and she didn't call. Do you think something have happened to her" Umma said panicking
"Haba Aisha,why will you say such a thing, always think positive not negative. No harm shall befall her, I know she will be safe by God's will"
"I hope so" Umma said trying her possible best not to break down. She's scared of what might happen to her daughter,she don't know how she will live her life without Tehzeeb
Is Tehzeeb safe?
What did you think will happen to her or have happened to her? Drop your comments in the comment box
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