Chapter 20 Hamid

Two months ago Amani celebrated her 18th birthday, and few weeks ago we launched our boutique.

Our parents were so happy for us and so was practically everyone in our family house.

Baba Sagir however was curious, he wanted to know how I got the money I used in opening such a remarkable shop.

He didn't expect me to financially get back to my feet that strong after having spent a lot during my wedding.

I laughed and told him anything is possible, as long as one believes in God and also puts trust in Him.

He nodded his head in affirmative saying, "Haka ne kam (that's right)" and then proceeded to ask about my work. "How is it going?"

At this point, I had to lie to him because I never intend to let anyone in our family house know I had resigned. Not even my parents.

If they knew, they would dig deep into the matter and if they find out I had resigned because of Rahmat Ali they might just be pissed with me for life.

So I told him simply, it was fine and he smiled and shook his head as if he knew something. Well, I didn't mind him again.

He was that type of man that if not ignored would end up having you nail your own self in matters like this.

*

Today being Thursday, I woke up early so I could get myself ready for shop. We had two salespersons but I still made it a must for me to check the shop almost everyday.

Just as I woke up, I found Amani still sleeping...even though she had morning paper today. Actually, they had started their first semester examination some weeks ago and would be finishing this week.

When I woke her up, her eyes were so red and she looked so tired. She could barely even adjust to sitting position. Blame me for that because I didn't used to let her have good sleep these days.

If in the evening I happened not to be tired and she's clean, I would make sure we make love before I go to sleep. If she bring any excuse that she's reading, I would make the reading difficult for her until she give me what I want.

The only time she used to have rest is when I happened not to be in the mood or when I am totally exhausted. But even during her period, I would glue myself to her body and run my hands over her like someone cherishing a pet. No love making though, it's haram.

Sometimes she would leave me to continue looking for her trouble until sleep takes care of me, while sometimes she would earnestly beg me to stop and I would giggle and kiss her goodnight while she continue reading her book.

Yesterday happened to be a perfect timing for me, she had became clean and so I didn't let her rest. After the event I slept, leaving her to continue her reading. Only God knows when she eventually slept.

I carried her in a bridal style to the bathroom, had a shower with her before getting ourselves purified and coming out to say our morning prayer.

After praying, I told her to prepare for school while I get breakfast ready for us in a jiffy. A toasted bread and coffee was enough. We ate and I drove her to school myself before heading to the shop.

She might not be the girl I wanted right from the beginning but the girl I eventually fell in love with, the girl that made so much sacrifices for me, the girl that would swallow her pains just to see me happy. I loved her deeply already!

My salespersons, Rukayya and Yasin were bewildered to see me so happy today when I arrived. They even had to manup and ask if madam had done something big for me today.

I only ignored them and smiled. I didn't need to tell them anything, it wasn't usual when it comes to personal stuffs. They used to tell me their problems though, financial problems...but I had never for once said anything about my own problems to them.

By the way, I was happy with my wife already. I had no problem except, well, the timely ones from our family house. They had started looking up to me and Amani for their grandchildren already.

*

After going through our record book for nearly an hour, I evaluated our profits and expenses and I couldn't help but smile in triumphant. There was an extraordinary gain and I believed it was just the beginning, more shall come In Shaa Allah (God's Willing).

I closed the record book and focused my attention on the plasma Tv opposite my desk, while casually monitoring my salespersons as they attended to our customers.

It was at this moment that someone walked into the shop, at first I didn't bother looking but when she spoke and I heard her voice I quickly turned and focused my gaze on her direction.

Surprisingly, it was Rahmat Ali. I was so shocked to see her that I couldn't even move an inch. "Hamid?" She puzzled the moment her eyes found their way to me.

"Rahmat!" I gulped and managed to get myself to my feet. Unfortunately, she took off and I couldn't help but chase her.

She was fast to reach her car and I had to follow her, I chased her! Despite her speed and maneuvering, I was able to track her to her location which was Kodo Hotel. I parked in the parking lot, close to her car and ran into the building.

There were so many rooms, it was a three star hotel and the receptionist wasn't ready to tell me her room number. I had to bribe the innocent charming lady with nearly a hundred thousand before she eventually told me, after which she begged me not to let anyone know she did.

Rahmat's room was 15 in the second floor, I scuttered to the stairs and went knocking her door. She never believed I could find out where she was hiding, hence she came out shouting thinking it was a waiter.

When she finally realized it was me, her jaw dropped in puzzlement. "H... how?" She stuttered about shutting the door off my face when I thrutched in by pushing the door. I nearly wounded her by so doing that, thank God she fell back immediately.

"Why?" I said as she began weeping. "Why did you run away from me, why Rahmat?" I tried not to scream but I couldn't control my voice. She had indeed pained me, even though I'd partially moved on I still needed some answers from her.