Chapter 18 Hamid
Just when I was about losing hope, an agent called me that he found a shop for me at Garima. A very big shop, worth 6 million.
At first I thought he was joking but then he sent me the pictures and told me to come and see for myself which I eventually did.
It was a big shop indeed, and the businesses around it were doing just fine. To its right was a store filled with plumbing supplies, and to it left was a big Pharmacy.
There were other shops in the other side of the road facing it, provision shops with patronizers here and there.
"Do you like it?" The agent asked, referring to the shop he got for me.
"Of course, yes!" I nodded my head in affirmative.
"Good" He smiled.
"So, what's the price again?" I asked even though I didn't forget what he told me on phone earlier.
"6 million naira, sir" He recapitulated.
"Hmm!" I huffed. "6 million is really good for a price but," I gulped. "can't it be reduced?"
"Well," He said as the owner of the shop intruded.
"I can only reduce 500 thousand from it, 5.5 million is the last price!" The aged man said with no iota of smile in his face.
I wished I could bargain further but I had no energy, plus I might end up going beyond limit and ruining everything.
"No problem" I said pulling out my phone from my pocket.
I transferred the money to his account and then signed some of the paperworks he gave me. All the documents related to the shop were intact.
After the deal, we shook hands and he left. Thus I paid the agent that helped me acquired the shop, he was really a good agent.
...
Wind started blowing as soon as I hopped into my car enroute home, hopefully I was able to reach home before the rain started.
Amani wasn't back from school yet, so I decided to wait until she's back in order to break the good news for her.
Hours later, just some minutes after 6, Yazid brought her back. She was supposed to return back before 5 though but Yazid had in the morning complained about faulty spark plugs, he must have took the car to our mechanic before going to pick her up.
"Welcome back" I said as she stepped into the sitting room.
"Thank you, Ya Hamid" She sighed, probably exhausted.
"I have good news for you" I beamed at her.
"Wow, what's that?" She queried.
"I've gotten a very big shop at Garima, the problem now is, what to sell there. I was thinking about indulging into gadget business like selling phones, ipods, ipads, laptops, etc or home appliances" I said as we began heading to the stairs.
"Will the money be enough?" She asked.
"Man gat to start from something, you know? As the business grow, then we will expand it" I said smiling broadly.
"Toh, shikenan (alright then)" She huffed like she wasn't okay with the business I was trying to indulge myself into.
"But if you have any other option, we may as well give it a try" I said the moment we arrived into her room.
"Okay" She dropped her bag on the bed and pulled off her hijab. "What if we turn the shop into a boutique and start selling imported clothes?" She asked.
"Like?" I gulped, shutting the door behind me.
"Like English wears, handbags, sneakers, etc" She uttered.
"Oh, nice idea but..." I said walking gently closer to her. "I don't know much about clothing, not to the extent of importing and selling them"
"We can ask around for guidance, Aunt Bahijjah has many customers in the market" She said.
"Okay, I... I will talk to her" I beamed.
"Alright," She beamed back. "Let me go and take shower" She announced.
"Before cooking dinner for us?" I wrinkled a brow at her.
"Hmm!" She heaved a sigh.
"Or have you forgotten Safiya is not around?" I added, giggling at her.
"Wallahi I forgot" She deadpanned and annoyingly watched me as I kept giggling her.
"Don't worry, just go and take your shower. I will take us out" I said making her to drop her jaw down in what seemed like a puzzlement.
"For dinner?" She asked.
"Yes!" I winked at her.
"Hmm, alright Ya Hamid but how about Yazid?" She asked, concerned.
"We will get him his own on our way back" I replied.
"Alright then, let me hurry up!" She said and quickly headed to the bathroom.
"Bismillah!" I muttered falling wearily on the bed.
There, on the bed, I waited for her until she was finally done taking shower. She came out, put on her creams, got herself prepared and also applied some makeups.
All that while, I was busy looking at her. I used to think she was adding things in her breasts these days to make it look bigger but, I was wrong!
I mean, the breasts were kind of protruding by themselves and becoming more bigger than before. I was sure our kids would have enough milk to suck in the future.
Immediately she was finally ready, we headed downstairs together. The rain had reduced drastically but we still opted to using umbrella to the parking lot, yes... to avoid being touched by the rain.
"It's warm in here" She said the moment we hopped into the car.
"Yes, it is" I replied igniting the engine into action.
...
Fastforward to arriving at Chicken Republic, we ordered for fried rice and chicken. We also took some ice creams and juicy beverages. Lest I forget, we spent money on fruits too.
While eating, Amani gisted me about her life in school and how lucky she was to have Lateefah as a friend and seatmate. She also brought up the topic of children...
"I want to have children, Ya Hamid, like four even though I am scared of labour. But children are just amazing, they soften one's heart and... and..." She heaved a sigh and continued. "I just can't wait to start having children wallahi" She placed her hand on her abdomen.
That moment I realized where she was heading to, and without a second thought I told her it was getting late and we needed to go home.
Hence I settled our bills and we went home, forgetting to buy Yazid his own meal. It was when we were finally home that she reminded me. Well, there was no way we were going back so I gave him some money to suit himself.
After that, Amani and I went to our building. We prayed and then prepared for the night. She wore her nightgown and I wore mine, then we climbed the bed.
"Their food is sweet" She said staring at the ceiling.
"Chicken Republic? Yeah, they can cook but not as good as you" I said staring at the ceiling as well. We were laying very close to each other.
"Hmm, are you saying I can cook more than them?" She asked.
"Yes, Amani" I responded.
"Thank you, Ya Hamid!" She said.
"You are welcome" I gulped.
Just then, she withdrew into a sitting position and turned looking deep into my eyes.
"Any problem?" I asked out of curiosity.
"Nope!" She negatively shook her head. "I just think you will be a good father, one day, to my kids" She smiled.
Well, I didn't say anything to her. I only smiled back and then withdrew into a sitting position as well.
And with our eyes glued at each other's, I began feeling some kind of strange feelings inside me.
Somehow, I gently lifted my hand to her chest and got hold of one of her breasts.
To my utmost surprise, she didn't say anything against it. She only smiled and told me her heart is beating fast.
"Mine too" I smirked, and together we heaved a broad sigh.
Then we began staring at each other's eyes again, deep! And in few seconds we were already gently kissing.
The rest is history...
