CHAPTER XXXVIII

These three beautiful ladies sure knows how to keep their friendship growing. There isn't any day that passes that this ladies don't keep in touch with each other. Their bond has been growing stronger for two years now .

This ladies are more like sisters than friends. Right this moment, these three ladies are in a ice cream shop which got open this week. To their surprise ,the ice cream actually tasted as nice as they were told it was.

" hmmmmmm, this ice cream is so delicious. I think I'm gonna be their daily customer. "  said rahama with a mouth full of ice-cream

" me too. I still can't get enough of it " badiyya agreed

Sakeena chuckles at the two " when you grow fatter, you will know "

" who cares, sagir wouldn't mind anyways"

" love no go kill you die o" rahama teased

" don't mind the yeye girl o. And if I start teasing her about her love for my brother  she will now pretend as if she doesn't like him. Hmm. "

Badiyya rolled her eyes  at them  playfully " you girls should leave me joor "

" lol, you won't kill me with laughter " said rahama as she had a spoonful of her strawberry ice-cream. " any ways, what about you sakeena" she glance over at sakeena

Sakeena appeared confused " I don't get you. What do you mean by what about me? "

"She meant what about your guy, jafar. " badiyya answered for rahama

" oh, he is fine."

" just like that, he is fine?. You have nothing else to say than he is fine? " asked badiyya

Sakeena's sagged her shoulders with a loud sign.

" I hope all is well, sakeena ?" asked rahama in concern

" I don't even know anymore "

" why? "

" jafar hasn't been calling and anytime I call him ,his number is always not available. I don't understand " said a sad sakeena

Rahama pat her back " I know what you're trying to say and please don't even think of saying it. I'm sure Jafar is busy or maybe something important happened over there. Just keep praying for him, I'm very sure he will call you "

Badiyya nodded in agreement " I agree with what rahama said. Even sadiq hasn't been calling too "

" really?" asked sakeena

" yeah. I had to confirm from aunty yasira and she also told me he hasn't been in contact with her. I'm sure something must be keeping them alot busy"

Rahama shut her mouth at the mention of sadiq. She hasn't told her friends about her feelings for him.

" I pray they call soon"

" yeah" said badiyya. Badiyya isn't even a bit bothered with the crisis at home or at the office. She knew this was Allah's punishment on her dad and Mansir for the things  they've done to sadiq. Her only prayers his that sadiq should be back soon so that she can move in with him or rather work with him, that is if he is opportuned to comeback with a lot of success. I pray so

" before I forget. Have you guys heard about this new company along Ali akilu road ?" sakeena asked

The other two appeared unaware " No I don't "

" I don't either" rahama responded " who is the owner anyways? "

" I don't know him but yesterday we received an invitation for the opening of the company which will take place next tomorrow. Are you sure they haven't brought any to your company? Because the invitation was given to all companies around here "

" I don't think we've received any invitation but I'll ask when I get home " said rahama with a shrug

" I think i will also asked too ,because I haven't been in good terms with anyone at home so they must have received one"  badiyya shrugged

Sakeena gave a sad smile " It must be hard living like a prisoner ?"

" too hard I tell you. I'm more angry at yaya Mansir, that man needs alot of punishment for all he has done, not only to sadiq but to rahama. I'm sure he hurt your feelings, rahama "

Rahama chuckles " you don't need to be mad at him because of me. What happened actually made me realise that I really don't love Mansir, I was only drawn by his charming looks, that's all"

Badiyya smile " really? "

" yeah, I'm serious "

Sakeena wiggles her brows " or are you into someone special? "

Rahama's heart skipped a bit at what sakeena said. Does she know about my feelings for sadiq, she thought " what!!!, oh please don't say that "

" I'm also beginning to suspect that too, especially how you're already blushing " badiyya pointed out as she gave rahama a scrutinizing look

" hey, you  two should please stop it. I don't like anybody "

" I know you're lying. Come-on  tell us who is he" said sakeena as she bat her eyelashes

" hey don't give me that look. I won't fall for it. "

" please now" badiyya was also doing her puppy eyes look

" you two should please stop the trick. I won't fall for any" rahama said as she looks from badiyya to sakeena

" but this isn't fair. At least you know our fiance but we don't even know yours fa. It isn't good like that fa "

" OK fine. I will tell you " she gave up

Badiyya high five sakeena " yay!!! "

" tell us, tell us, tell us" they chanted

Rahama was embarrassed for them, as they kept chanting  ' tell us 'while people were watching them with bad eyes

" shush, you two. People are watching "

" who cares. They can watch all they want. Please tell us now if not we will not let you rest o"

" OK fine" she whispered yelled " just calm down"

" OK, we're all  ears "

She took a deep breath " it's Sadiq"

Sakeena and badiyya gave each other a knowing look but nevertheless pretended as if they do not know she was talking about the same sadiq they all know

" sadiq? Which sadiq? "

Rahama's played with her fingers shyly " please don't make me say more. You asked for the name and there, I said it"

" but you haven't elaborated on which of the sadiq. Is he someone we all know ?" badiyya asked while fighting a smile

" please don't do this right now. "

" haba rahama, just tell us. Is he someone we know ?" sakeena was playing the pretense very well

" God, you two won't kill me in shame. Fine, sadiq, the same one we know. Badiyya's brother"

" I KNEW IT!!! " badiyya screamed out all of a sudden. " give me my two thousand ASAP" she stretched her hand out at sakeena

Sakeena pout and fished out a two thousand naira note out of her pulse " here it is"

Badiyya pocketed the money with a wide smile

Rahama couldn't believe what was going on " Did you two made a bet on me? " she asked in shock

" erm erm you see... erm

" stop stuttering. Just tell me the truth" rahama doesn't know whether to be hurt or surprise.

" you see, we kind of knew that you liked sadiq " badiyya started

" what! How? " I thought I bottled it in ,very well?

" well you see, do you remember the first time we meet at a restaurant ? I was with yaya sadiq and you kept shooting daggers at me from afar thinking I was his girlfriend, you completely acted like a jealous girlfriend "

" I did not " rahama blurted ashamed

" yes you did. I would have sworn that you would have buried me alive if your speculation could have been true that day" said Badiyya with a light chuckle

Sakeena couldn't contain her laugh, she let it out freely " girl, I never knew you were this aggressive "

" stop it dan allah, I wasn't jealous. Sadiq annoyed me at the office that day, that was it fa" she tried defending herself but failed miserably

" Hmm, you just don't want to admit it " badiyya laughed

Rahama watch them, ashamed as they kept laughing at her. " then how does the betting comes in then?" she  tried changing the topic and the two actually fell for it

They sobered up

" well, this morning after our plan to check out this ice cream shop, I gave sakeena a call telling her that I will make you say out your feelings for my brother today but she didn't believe me. She believes that I can't do it, which was why we made a bet that if I succeeded in letting you say out your feelings, she will give me a sum of two thousand but if I fail, she will receive that sum from me. "

" you two are the worst friends ever. I was foolish enough not to know that you guys knew after all" rahama  still finds the situation unbelievable

" you still love us anyways "

" yeah I do"

***

The big building is eyes watering. Whomsoever passes through Ali akilu road must surely want to take a look at it. Just few days ago it wasn't yet completed but as for now it's already done. That is why people say ,'when their is money, there can never be a delay'. Same applies to this building, it only took the workers two months to build up this Six story building! .

The more surprising thing is how they've already employed workers so soon. One can't blame Nigerians anyways,when their are lots of unemployed graduates  roaming about looking for job.

__

As the CEO walks into the company in his striking suit, looking lavishly and all, the man in charge of collecting his bag ran to do his job and the workers greeted him with so much respect . He was ready for business.

" Good day sir"

" good day sir"

"welcome sir"

Welcome sir"

"Good day sir"

The greetings didn't stop until he reached the elevator. He wasn't at all rude coz he made sure to reply all their greetings. He punched in the number to his office and the elevator ding as they reach. He walk out of the elevator and was welcome by his secretary who in turn rushed to open his door for him

" thanks " he stated and walk into the office. The secretary closed the door behind as she left.

He first took in the office and was proud of his achievement. He took a calming breath and march to sit on his comfy chair .This was his first day at work, who would have thought. For being the first day, already there were lots of work waiting for him and so many business proposals. This would have been easy if the manager was to be around but no, the said person hasn't yet arrive.

He call in his secretary and immediately she was in.

" sir, you called "

He glanced her way " yes I did. I just want  to confirm if all the invitations are given to the recipient? "

" yes sir, our messenger just took the last one to the Ringim group of company "

" OK that's good. Have you made photocopies of all the files I sent to your emails ?"

" yes I've done that already. I will bring it in now"

" Good. Lastly, is everything for the party well prepared, I don't want to come across any slight mistake. "

" Trust me sir, everything is in order" she smile

" Good, you can leave"

***

Rahama slumped on the couch close to aunty yasira. " aunty, did we by any chance receive any invitation "

Yasira was too engross in the reality show ' keeping up with the Kardashians'

" which invitation is that? I'm sure we received about ten invitation today, out of which most are for weddings"

" oh, so there isn't anyone for a opening of a company? "

" I don't think s.... What!, I think I saw it. Yes yes, we received an invitation for that, why? "

Rahama shrugged " Nothing. Sakeena made mention of it saying they received an invitation and she was like we also would have received one since it was giving to all companies in malali and unguwan rimi"

" oh, I wonder whose it might be"

" me too "

" well, I don't think your dad and I can make it to the party"

" why? " a confused rahama asked

Aunty yasirah scoff " I can't believe you've forgotten that  next tomorrow is your dad and I's anniversary! "

" OMG, I'm so sorry. I totally forgot, goodness. I will go shopping for your present tomorrow, I promise "

" you better " aunty yasira playfully glares

" Since you two will not make it to the party , don't you think I should go representing you" rahama suggested

" yeah , that's a nice idea. Wouldn't want the man or the lady to feel bad about us not welcoming their invitation. "

" Decision made then. I'm going "

" yeah" said aunty yasira as she went back concentrating on her reality show.

A ringing of  phone interrupt them. It was aunty yasira's phone.

When she pick the phone up to see who called. She furrowed her brows upon seeing a new number

" who might this be? "

" pick it up and confirm" Rahama said not taking her eyes off the TV.

" hello "

" Aunty yasira..."

Her eyes were wide open in realisation " is that you sadiq?"

Rahama paused in her seat

" of course it's me. How have you been and the twins? "

" all fine. Why haven't you been calling?"

" I'm sorry for that. Things has been hectic these days"

" please try to make it less hectic. You almost scared me with your lack of calling, please "

His Laughter resonated through the phone. She missed him

" I will, I promise. Surprise ,surprise , I'm in Nigeria right now. Please don't scream it out, I'm sure someone is close to you"

He spoilt her joy " ohhh, why won't you allow me. What are you planning this time around? and when can I get to meet you?"

"  I'm not planning anything. No one is aware of my arrival yet, you're the first. I want the rest to find out as a surprise. "

she pouted " OK fine then. I'm so eager to meet you "

" Me too aunty yasira, me too. "

" What of Jafar, is he also with you? "

" No, he isn't. He is in Kano right now. He is there to settle some things "

" OK . Tell him I'm greeting and can't wait to see you two"

" I will aunty. Soon enough we will meet"

" can't wait "

" less I forget, how is your step daughter? I'm sure you're now a grandma by now ?"

" wait! ,what?.. What are you talking about? "

"  Rahama of course, isn't she married to Mansir? .. Anyways, I don't even know why I'm asking about her when I have other things to focus on."

" you haven't heard? "

" heard what? "

" That....

He cut her off

" we will talk later aunty yasira. Just received an important phone call  which I've been waiting for and another thing..

" what? "

" I will bring someone over to meet you very soon"

" oh, who might that be?Is it a lady? "

" yes.. We will talk later" He end the call before she could say anything.

A lady, what are they talking about, Rahama wonder . She hope it isn't what she is thinking.

*

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