CHAPTER XXVIII

Alhaji was going through some documents when a knock on the door interrupted.

" come in" he said and the person behind the door went in.

As the person went in, with wrinkled brow he asked " what's with your knocking today?. I have always known you to always barge into the office "

Rahama shrugged and have her seat " I thought you might be having a meeting coz last I could remember you told me you're going to be having a meeting with your new investors"

" oh yes, they've gone already " he replied

With a surprise expression " they left so quick? "

" yeah"

" but I hope everything went as planned? " she queried

" Hm, well I can't say it went too well but it was fair though "

This got her alarmed " so, what now? Are they not going to invest here again? "

" They demanded for more interest after all I tried explaining to them"

She felt bad for him." so sorry dad. More investor would come, in shaa Allah" she touched his hand in a comforting way.

Alhaji had prayed that this meeting should end well ,he knew how this things were with the Judo's company. They are well known for their love for money and he knew it was going to be hard to win their hearts. when they aren't satisfy with what they were offered, they ends up not doing business with that company. They are always insatiable.

" thanks dear. Anyways,what brought you here? "

A bright smile flamed her face at his question " guess what dad? "

" what? " he asked confused

" just guess"

" you know I don't do guessing "

She sighed given up " OK. Do you remember my best friend, the one I usually call Sana? Back then ?"

Alhaji rake his brain trying hard to remember her " don't tell me you're talking about sakeena. That charming and calm girl? "

" Bingo" she click her finger " yes, the same one "

" what happened to her?" alhaji asked scared

She chuckles " no , it isn't what you're thinking "

He calm down. She was like a second child to him and he regrets not finding out what led to their departure.

" so what happened to her then?"

" we are finally friends, again. I called her last night to apologize " she smiled

" really? " he asked with raised brows. He was surprised. Rahama is a type of person that hates to apologize first, she nevers does that. So this utterance of hers really surprised him.

Could it be that she is turning a new leaf?

" yes dad. I called her yesterday and she didn't even sound angry nor rude"

" well, that's good. I just pray that you don't end this new friendship which you two are going to build same as you did back then and you never told me what actually happened "

She slightly scratches her neck " it nothing serious dad. I was just being childish back then"

He snort " childish? You weren't only being childish, you were stupid"

She was hurt " dad"

" yes dear, you were stupid. You know I will always tell you the truth. I just pray that you've stop all your bad ways if not you need help"

She doesn't want to argue with him so she let it be " dad,but I told you I will try my best to change "

" well if you like change and if you like don't change .it's for your own good"

"I will. " she remembered that she wanted asking him something " dad"

"Yes?"

"Erm,where is sadiq? I haven't seen him in the office today or has he change office?"

"Oh,I didn't tell you?"

She shook her head "no"

"Oh well,he resigned"

"WHAT!" " Why?"

" isn't that what you always wanted?"

" No dad, how can you say something like that"

He shrugged

She pick on her nail's " is it because of what happened over at dinner? "

" No. It's a decision he made on his own"

He wasn't going to tell her the actual reason.

" oh"

"Yes " alhaji stare at her through his glasses. Her expression says it that she felt bad for what happened. She kept looking at her finger unaware of her father's gaze.

" I shouldn't have snapped at him" she said all of a sudden " I know it's all my fault "

" Stop it dear. Why would you say that?"

" I know it's my fault dad, I just know it. Even you yourself said it" she said with regret written all over her face.

He exhale deeply " OK ,if it makes you feel better, he had resigned before the dinner so don't feel bad about it . Its his decision "

"Really?"

" yes really"

She breath out in relief " I thought I caused it"

" don't you have work to do in your office?" He asked . He was beginning to get tired with her questions and doesn't want to blurt anything out to her.

" am done with them. In fact I have a date with Sakeena" she check the time " I need to start going dad, see you later"

She hurriedly left the office . Alhaji shake his head and then continues what he was doing before he got interrupted.

***

The two couples sat comfortable,waiting for the remaining duo who are yet to arrive

" I wonder what could be keeping Ram this late?" Said Sakeena

" why don't you give her a call while I also call my friend sadiq" Jafar suggested and Sakeena agreed with him.

Jafar brought out his phone from His trouser's pocket and Dialled sadiq's number .

" Hello,sadiq"

" hey man,am on my way. Just give me some few minutes please"

"OK then,hurry up"

They hung up.

Sakeena also called rahama and their conversation went like this

" I'm so sorry Sana. The old up is too much over here but I will be there in 10min."

" OK,don't take too long"

" I won't "

They hung up

" so? What did she say?" Asked jafar with a brow raised

" she said she would be here in 10 minutes" she shrugged

" OK"

" what about your friend " she asked

" same thing, he will be here soon"

" That means we have to wait patiently for them then" she roll her eyes

Jafar chuckles " it seems they both have some similarities "

" yeah right" she snort " I'm so famish, they better hurry up"

***

She hurriedly parked her car in the lot and finally got out of the car. After making sure that she had lock all the doors, she practical ran towards the entrance of the restaurant not taking heed to her ringing phone . The phone wouldn't stop ringing so she gave up and waited to see who was calling . She retrieve it from her hand bag and saw the name of the person she had tried avoiding all this time.

Mansir

After all that happened yesterday, it was now he see deem to call ? She scoff. Even if she doesn't want to pick his call he should have at least tried calling her.

She annoyingly cut the call . As she turn around to make her way toward the restaurant she felt herself crashed into a hard Chest

" oowf"

" subhanallah". the wall or the man she crashed into said.

After she regain her composure, she quickly pull herself out of his embrace and move two feet away from him.

God! How can I be so stupid! Now I have disgrace myself in front of a stranger

The said man finally took note of who she was and stood with a smirk waiting for her to come off her shame. She kept hitting her forehead ashamed.

A clearing of throat brought her out of her reverie . She raise her eyes to meet the man's and it turned out to be him

" you?"

Sadiq snort " yes me. Is there a problem ?"

She wanted retorting back rudely but remembered what she and her dad talked about so she breath in " I don't have time for all these so excuse me." After saying this,she made her way into the restaurant not saying any single word.

Sadiq could only Stare at her surprised that she didn't retort back as she always does. He remembers that he has people waiting for him inside ,so he came off the stare and also made his way inside too.

***

As she went inside, she roam her eyes around hoping to see who she was actually looking for.

" rahama" she heard her name being called and turned towards the direction .There,she saw her friend waving her over with a very wide smile. She also return the smile and march to the direction.

As she reach the table ,she was firstly engulfed into a tighed hug " I missed you so much" Sakeena admitted. Rahama also return the hug " I also missed you too"

They were both catching up forgetting that jafar was there. Jafar wasn't even bothered by their negligence , the only shocking thing was he never thought that the friend Sakeena talked about would end up to become rahama,the spoilt brat. Sadiq once showed him her picture which was how he knew her.

I should have known all along

He notice that whenever Sakeena talks about her , she love referring to her as Ram which was why he wasn't observant enough to know.

What will happen now? Sadiq

The two friends finally end their hugging and missing talks. Sakeena brought rahama's attention to Jafar.

" Rahama , meet my boyfriend,Jafar. Jafar, my best friend , Rahama" she introduced the two

" Nice meeting you rahama . I have heard a lot about you" he said with a small smile

" I hope they are all good things" she joke and that earn a laugh from Sakeena and Jafar.

" Partly ,good things" he lied

They all have their seat.

" Rahama ,i know I told you we will have launch together, just the two of us but our plans got change. Please don't be angry with me" apologized sakeena with a puppy eyes

Rahama giggles " God! How can I be angry with you?. I don't mind sharing you with your boyfriend " she joked

" hey she is mine alone" jafar glares playfully

The two ladies laughed out " calm down tiger ,I was only joking "

" where is your friend Jafar, he isn't here yet" said sakeena while looking at the entrance .

" are we waiting for someone?" Asked rahama

" yes, his friend sadiq" sakeena answered

Before rahama could asked another question she was cut off by him whose name shall not he mentioned (a

lolz)

" I'm so sorry for keeping you guys waiting" sadiq apologized immediately he reach the table . When he got into the restaurant, he sighted jafar from afar not even aware of the two ladies.

Rahama was stilled in her seat.

" Thank God you're finally here at lease. " said sakeena instead. She smile " I'm sakeena by the way"

Sadiq was impressed with her.She is specifically the way Jafar described her to be.Nice and charming

" Nice meeting you, Sakeena." He return with a small smile "I'm sure you already know who I am to this guy so I don't think an introduction is quite needed "

His gaze shifted to the person facing sakeena who was trying hard to cover the side of her face with her Vail. Isn't that rahama? I doubt she is the one.

He internally shrugged thinking it might be another girl who conincidentally wore the same dress as her.

" of course, I have heard a lot about you from your friend here" Sakeena answered while gesturing at Jafar. Sadiq's attention turn to her.

" well,it settled then" he had his seat which was facing jafar

Sakeena realized her mistake . she slightly bite the tip of her tongue " how could I forget. Sadiq meet my best friend , rahama"

I knew it,he internally said to himself

" rahama,meet sadiq"

Rahama muster the courage to face him with the tamest smile. To others it looks like a sincere smile but sadiq knew too well that it was fake " hello mr mech_ i mean sadiq"

" hello to you too spoi___ I mean rahama"

****

The maid tried pleading with Mansir that what happened was an accident but he doesn't wants to hear any if it. He stare down harshly at her kneeling figure

" I want you out of this house right now. Your service is no longer needed" he growl

" please sir ,I didn't mean to pour the cup of coffee on you. I swear sir,my dress got caught by the drawer and didn't realized that I pour the tea on you sir. Please have mercy " she sobbed. This was her only source of income and if it should be taken from her she has no where to go .

Mansir wasn't having any of her excuses. What happened was ,Mansir was trying to call rahama who in turn wasn't picking the call, he was at the verge of bursting. Then,came in the maid who got scared as Mansir threw his car keys across the room in anger, she was about to run out for her life when her dress got caught by the drawer and then both the tray and cup of coffee flew up and ended up pouring all over Mansir's body. Mansir got angry at this and told her that her job was over.

The maid tried hard to make him understand but he doesn't want to listen.

First it was freaking *ucking Rahama,who isn't picking his calls and now this dirty maid is trying to mess with his Brain?

"just get out?" He ordered. Need not to be told twice she ran out of the room.

***

Lunch was going smoothly for the four. They shared a lot of jokes and story as they ate their food. To be note specific, Jafar and Sakeena were the story teller as the other two refuses to say anything only to nod at what is being said. Sakeena notice the tension between the two.

" OK ,I'm sick and tired of this . Do you two by any chance know each other? " she asked this particular question which was eating her up.

" yes "

" no"

They answered the same time . Rahama was the one with the negative response. She glare at sadiq and then roll her eyes with folded arms.

Sakeena knew something was wrong somewhere and she just couldn't wait to hear all the details from Rahama but that would be another day.

" OK,I don't know who to believe " she said with a brow raised.

" yes,we've met before" said sadiq emphasising the met.

" oh cool" was the only thing she could say.

Time passes so quickly that they didn't know it was already 4 o'clock. Jafar was the one who brought their attention to the time.

" it seem we are too consumed by our conversation " Sakeena chuckles

" I wanna stay here " said jafar with a pout

Sakeena gave out a small laugh " I have told you to stop behaving childishly but you never listen"

" I don't care, as far as I behave like that with only you" he wiggles his brows.

Sadiq snort " yeah right"

" hey ,what do you mean by that " Jafar said in a defense mood. He knew what sadiq was trying to say but still went along with him.

" do I need to say it?"

He playfully shot sadiq a playfully glare and said" shut up already"

Rahama who was quiet all this while burst into laugh by their banters. These two really amaze her. She never knew that sadiq has a friend like Jafar who is fun to be around with. Even if the mood is boring he always makes it lively.

Sadiq look at her ,amused. He never knew she could laugh like this. He had always known her to always scowl all the time. Or maybe she only scowl at me and the employees alone?

She notice his gaze on her so she sobered up and compose herself. She shyly repair her Vail .

Sakeena and Jafar gave each other a knowing look and then smile secretly. Although, sakeena isn't yet aware that sadiq is Mansir's brother, she only sees him as Jafar's friend for now.

God! I have a lot of question for Rahama. Something seems to be going on between these two.

She decides to help rahama out of her uncomfortable zone. " shall we?" She said and all their attention turn to her.

" yes we shall" they stood up and made their way out. Already , Jafar had paid for the food.

The two ladies were in the front leaving the guys at the back.

" I hope you enjoyed yourself?" Sakeena asked

" yes I did, thanks for everything "Rahama replied with a smile.

" uh, you never listen. I told you to stop thanking me"

A smile graze rahama's lips " why wouldn't I "

" I will beat you fa" Sakeena jested " in fact I should be the one apologising for the unexpected change of plans. I didn't want to cancel lunch with you which was why I decided to merge the two. Jafar is going to be out of the country tomorrow and this might be our last lunch together for the year. So you see why I did that"

She forgot to mention that sadiq was also going.

" yeah ,you did right. You don't owe me an explanation. " they made a stop close to rahama's car waiting for the guys to caught up .

They finally got closer to them " we decide to let you two have some time together " jafar uttered

" hm. More like you two were gossiping about something" sakeena scrutinized him

" I'm serious "

" I have heard"

Sadiq met Rahama's gaze , signalling that they should stop them before they get at each others throat.

A clearing of throat broke their banters

Sakeena apologized same as Jafar " she loves arguing " jafar grunts out

" hey ,you started it"

" nope I didn't "

" yes you did"

" no I didn't "

" you did"

" nope"

" yes"

"Nop_

" ENOUGH! " they were cutoff

This time around, it was rahama who shut them up.

They apologized for the tenth time today. The guys made sure to see the ladies off first before they finally went into sadiq's patch car.

**

How was the chapter guys?

I hope you liked it.