Chapter 13: Chapter 13

As we entered inside, we were met with Hajiya Halima and her children excluding Ahmad. What does he want me to do with his briefcase? I didn’t dwell much on the thought when their attention was now on me or us since Nabil is still standing beside me.

“Assalamu Alaikum” I started making my way towards them with Nabil still following me.

“Wa Alaikum salaam. Har an dawo? (You’re back already?)” Hajiya Halima replied to my greetings her eyes going to Nabil who bowed down a little in a greeting manner.

“Well-done Nabil. I hope Ahmad didn’t suffer you?” Just in time, our eyes snapped to each other. My mind went to the events that occurred at the office. Only if she knew how my first day went. Letting out a small I shake my head in No. Nabil did the same. My eyes went to him once again. Come to think of it, since the moment we came back he has been copying my actions. I stared at him waiting for him to notice me, when he did, I glared at him. And he mouthed a ‘what’

“Amimi rests up and you will give me the details of your first day at work” I find myself rolling my eyes which didn’t go unnoticed by her. Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth to talk when Nabil beat her to it.

“Hajiya here’s Oga Ahmad’s bag”. A chuckle almost escapes me hearing the new nickname for Ahmad. Oga my foot.

“Abida collect the bag and take it to your brother’s room and also tell him to come down for lunch. It’s almost Magrib already and I know he hasn’t eaten his lunch talk less of dinner” Hajiya said. Abida was about to take the bag from his outstretched hands when Imran took it instead. He barely even opens his mouth since our arrival. I wonder why he’s so quiet today.

“Let me take it to him. I have something to discuss with him” He lazily ambled upstairs.

“And don’t take long. I know how you two can be when it comes to work. I have two grown men but the only thing they know is work just like their father” She exclaimed.

“Mom, you should just find someone and get them married” Abida chirped in.

“Together with you ba”

“Mom!” she whined tapping her foot on the marble tile.

“Shut your mouth there. What do you know about marriage? Go and check if Mairo is done with the food before your father comes back and start asking for food.”

Abida whined again making her lips in a frown, she made her way to the kitchen. I find her expression funny. Abida doesn’t fail in amazing me. It seems Hajiya has completely forgotten about me as she continued pressing on her phone.

“Um...Hajiya let me freshen up” I said and all of a sudden, her eyes snapped towards me.

“Oh, Amina. I have been so engrossed in this naughty girl that I’ve completely forgotten about you. Take your time” She ushered offering me her smile and I offered back. I didn’t expect that I will receive the kindness from the family but I’m glad working here will not be harder than I thought excluding the boss. As I made my way up, Imran and Ahmad were coming down. I ignored the smirk on Ahmad’s face. He always smirks whenever he sees me. God knows what’s going on in his mind.

As I enter my room, the first thing I did is perform wudhu and pray. With the thought of my mom, I decided to call her. We didn't speak throughout today. I dial her number and within two rings she picked up.

"Assalamu Alaikum mama"

"Wa Alaikum Salam Mimi. How are you doing?" she said. I could sense the weakness in her voice.

"Alhamdulillah. Fine mama. Is everything alright? your voice seems down?" The line went silent for a while before he voice resurfaces again.

"Yes, everything is okay. How're the people over there?" I knew something is wrong. Whenever she changes the topic, it means something is indeed wrong.

"You know mama, I'm your only child. If you don't tell me how will my mind be at ease. Is it Hajiya and Kaltume again? I know they-"

"You have nothing to worry about. I always get through it. You should focus on your job and don't forget my words" That's her repeated words every day. She's fine, she would get through it but I know she's hurting deep down. By Allah, if Hajiya or Kaltume try something bad to her, then I will have to discard every respect I have for them.

"Insha Allah mama. Take care of yourself too. Good night"

"Good night Mimi". I feel lighthearted talking to my mother. It makes me forget any disturbing thing I went through. My mama only matters to me and I will try my possible best to take care of her because she's the only parent I have in this entire world.

Folding the prayer mat, I placed it on its original position. The room is as neat as it was since yesterday besides I'm the only one living inside so it won't be dirty. And what I like about the room is comfy. I feel comfortable. I changed out of the work attire and hanged it on the wardrobe door, I won't have to iron it again since it's still neat. I wore a brown maxi crop top together with a black legging and wore my hijab on top. I can't possibly go around the house visible like that.

Descending down, I was met with the full family eating. All of a sudden, I felt nervousness crept through me. I won't be comfortable eating together with the family. I will feel like I'm intruding on them. Without them noticing me, I sauntered back to the room and decided to text Abida. I will tell her to bring my food up. Typing away, I sent her the text and leaned my back on the headrest. I didn't miss the grumbling sound coming from my stomach due to hunger. I didn't eat anything since the tea I took in the morning. If my Mama was here, she would've given me a good scolding. My thought was cut short when a knock sounded from the door.

I let out a small sigh of relief. I'm glad she came on time if not God knows how many times my stomach will make that unusual noise. I strolled to the door with a smile on my face and unlock the door but much to my thought, it wasn't who I was expecting. His eyes took off to my face down to my body. My eyes widened when realization hit me. I didn't wear my hijab. Shutting the door, I ran to the bed and grabbed the hijab. What is wrong with him? Why does he always come to my room as if he owes me something?

With a frown on my face, I trekked back with the motive of giving him a piece of my mind. I will forget about the barrier of Boss and Employee for a while. He was in the same position I left him in.

"Um... Why are you in my room? You know that you're not supposed to just come whenever you feel like"

"Last time I checked I'm your boss you're supposed to address me with respect," he said slipping his hand in his jeans pocket.

"I know but I'm a straight forward person. I can not sit by on something. I have to speak up. And what makes me different from you? I know you're my boss and you have the right to order me, fire me, or much more but in the eyes of our creator we are the same so I go by the belief. I'm sorry if I'm being rude. I will try to maintain myself though I won't promise you that" I ended truthfully. That's one thing I cannot change about myself. Standing up to what is right. I waited for him to answer back. Maybe insult me or be angry but instead, a smile made its way to his lips which made me raised one brow

"Splendid. I like that"

"You like what?" I inquired not grabbing his statement

"You"

"Yaya Ahmad"

"Abida" my eyes went to the girl standing with a tray which I know must be my food since I texted her. Abida's eyes moved to me back to her brother. The kind of look on her face shows her curiosity.

"I mean your straightforward personality. So don't get all those weird thinking in your head" before I could reply, he took off. The stare they shared with his sister didn't go unnoticed by me.

"What are you two talking about? Did Yaya Ahmad said something to you?" she bombarded following behind me as I got inside the room. Slouching down on the bed, I turned to her.

"Calm down Abida, I know you're curious considering how you saw us together. But like you, I also don't know the reason he came. So don't get the weird thoughts in your head." She stares at me squinting her eyes which made me roll my eyes.

"If you don't believe me fine but I know that is the truth. You can ask your brother himself by then I too will know the reason he came to my room" I don't want Abida to misunderstand the situation. it'd be better if I explain myself. I don't want them to think that I'm the one luring him to me when it's the total opposite.

A deep sigh resonates from her lips. "I believe you Amimi. But why would he come to your room? if it's work-related he can leave it when you're at the office or call you but why?"

"Exactly" I retorted back digging into the fried rice with some kind of other delicacies that I don't know. Just as I took a spoon to my mouth, Abida's next word made me choked on the food.

"Could it be that Yaya Ahmad likes you?"

I immediately gulped down the glass of water feeling some harshness in my chest due to the choking.

"You can't be serious Abida."

"Of course I am. Who knows maybe he did like you because Yaya Ahmad is not like that. He rarely visits my room and now he went to yours which means there's something going on" She explained. I know what she's saying is total gibberish. As she said, there must be something but not the way she thinks. Maybe he came to talk about work-related since I'm still new to everything.

"You know what let's stop talking about it. He doesn't like me and I don't like him. We can't like each other. That's it"

She watches me as if she's trying to make out something from my eyes or out of my mouth but she ain't going to get it because my eyes show nothing and my mouth will not say anything.

"What makes you think he doesn't like you? And why can't you like each other? Is it some kind of crime?" she blabbers again. Snapping my eyes shut, I rested my back on the headrest and faces the girl as she rambles to me. Seriously, as Hajiya said, Abida is a troublemaker and now she's showing the side to me. I don't know how many times will she talk about it. Her questions are beginning to annoy me.

"What?" she said noticing my glares.

"Nothing continue what you were saying"

"Oh, I'm just-"

"I told you already that nothing of such is going on between us but you can ask him whether he has feelings for me or not"

Her eyes widened hearing the statement from my mouth. "You want Yaya Ahmad to skin me alive kenan. I won't dare to try that but sha, my eyes are wide open. I will be noticing everything he did with you" A light chuckle escaped me.

"That means you will have a lot of tasks. As you know our conversations will only be based on work nothing else. So if you're ready to listen to our boring work conversation then you're welcome"

"Whatever," she remarked with a pout. Another chuckle escapes me.

"Seriously Abida you're so funny. I like seeing your angry face"

"Amimi!"

"Okay I will stop but you should also stop your predictions about me and your brother"

"But-"

"No but. I'm serious. I don't want any problem to arise while I'm working here. I'm glad with how your parents are treating me it's more than enough but if they hear about him coming to my room they might misunderstand, so I will talk to him tomorrow" I might not know how his personality is, but like I said I always speak my mind so I will talk to him about coming to my room I can't afford to get any problem to entangle with me when I'm not that deep in working.

"Okay, I understand. Yaya Ahmad can be arrogant at times so you know..." she trailed off. I nodded my head passing her a smile.

"I know you have nothing to worry about. I won't say something above my level. It's getting late, I have to sleep to wake out early tomorrow" Abida suddenly rose up from her seating position.

"I almost forgot I have an early morning lecture. God, I hate waking up early morning. School always deprive me from sleeping all day"

"When you're through with school, everything will be normal. You can sleep whenever and however you want. Now let's go. I will escort you to your room and take these plates to the kitchen"

"Kai Amimi, you that you're tired. Let me take it for you so that you can rest. I don't want Yaya Ahmad to lash at you for being late."

"Then I will practically involve you. I will tell him you're part of me being late." We both broke into a fit of laughter as we made our way to the kitchen. Me holding the tray of food while Abida's hands were folded across her chest.

Thank God no one is present in the living room when we passed by. Maybe Hajiya and her husband are in the other living room since they have plenty rooms in the house there must be another living room too.

"I'm coming Amimi let me bring the plates Dad used so that we can wash it together"

"Okay, will be waiting for you" in a matter of seconds Abida was out of sight. While waiting for her, I took my time to check out the surroundings too. Everything inside the kitchen was clean and attractive to the eyes. There are some that I haven't even seen them before. They are indeed rich. Maybe they don't even use some of the things. There were just stationed for decoration.

"How many times do you want me to tell you?" my attention was averted when I heard some faint voice coming from the window. At times it's better to keep your curiosity to yourself but being me, I decided to ignore the voice at the back of my head telling me not to eavesdrop.

"I told you to stop calling me" His back was facing me as the phone was glued to his ears so I couldn't make out who that person is.

"We're over. So don't try to ruin my plan please leave me alone"

I repeated the word plan. which plan? Who is that person and what plan is he talking about?

"Amimi I'm back" Abida's voice revamped to my ears snapping me out of my thought. When I peeped a glance at the window, the person has left but his words are still echoing in my head. Plan.