MY HOME! MY CAREER!!! – Episode 10

Assalaamu’alykum warahmatullah wabarakaatuhu readers!
As much as I have wanted to update this story earlier, I’ve been hooked up in some challenges. Alhamdulillah sha, I pray Allah ease every of our affairs. And I’m very sorry for taking so long, you have no where to push me to. More so, I received many feedbacks concerning the vagina tightness ingredients I listed in the last episode; it’s real so you can give it a trial. Lastly, thanks for the encouraging comments and messages. Jazaakumullah Khairan

MIKHAIL

People believe in luck especially that which brings a great opportunity and I’ve always said luck only runs to whoever is eligible. An accountant can never grab the opportunity of being a doctor even though luck comes by chance likewise a cobbler can never become the president of a country if he lacks the proper requirements! Luck is only for those who in one way or the other has prepared for it.
Luckily enough, I’ve got the job and started working right away – it hasn’t become cumbersome yet as we are still expecting some machines to be shipped in and the experts who are going to train me. Abbey’s perception about me was factually corroborated by the interview committee; they are really impressed by my spoken English, self composure and skills. Had I had a certificate, I would have been employed as a professional engineer who would be in charge of the automobile coupling – they say. And for the first time in my life, I’m regretting not furthering my education. I regret not listening to Azeezah’s plea. I had thought that all a man ever need are skills to get him money and I’m getting the money, at least I’m not a pauper but I’ve never thought there would be a time like this when the paper called certificate could have held me high in prestige – even having a National Diploma certificate would made a difference. I would have been lucky! I’m shown to my office in the auto repair workshop and the repairing team I’m training is making it fun working together. Apart from the favourable payments, working in such a big company adds to my esteem; hamdan wa shukralillah!
Ummy’s issue has encumbered from my neck, thanks to Allah and Azeezah and she has returned to her home town.
It’s now my custom to take a morning nap after returning from the masjid even though I have to resume at 8:30 a.m on dot. I can’t miss the early morning nap. I want to leave early for my workshop today because once the machines arrive tomorrow, the whole month would be verily occupied. My wife has also been busy and returning home tiredly as ever. Do I care? No! Because I don’t have the time anymore. I have to step up and make more money…
My wife pats my foot, interrupting my nap, “Habeeby, I’m off to work. It’s better you start preparing for work now, this is almost 7:30”
I yawn and rise “ahuzubillah minna shaytooni rajeem”
Starring at her dressing; it seems tighter to what she used to wear and with her deep wine veil, she looks more beautiful. I ask her to turn around and she does. Which makes me recall the man she called their G.M; will all the men in her work see her like this?
“Subhanallah! Can’t you see that skirt is tight and revealing your shape?”
She emits a snicker, “but habeeby, this skirt is like every other skirt I have. Same size and it is free enough.”
I inspect with my eyes again; it’s really like every other skirts but this seems more attractive,
“Just change it, no objection” I courageously command, returning to the bed.
“But…” I hear her murmur and then cut it short.
After some moments she returns, “I’ve changed it”
I turn and lie on my back, “good!… Change that wine veil to black.”
“Habeeby, I’m wearing a black blouse and skirt and there is no way a black veil can go on it when I’m not attending a funeral”
“I think you want to look sexy to your bosses! Go ahead, dress as you like” I turn, lying on my side again and close my eyes.
My heart raises and drops, fearing what her reaction would be to my statement.
“Is this your own definition of sexy look?… It’s okay. I’ll satisfy you.”
I squint and watch her replacing her veil with a black veil in front of the mirror. I can feel her vexation but I’m not concerned because I’m contented with my triumph. I close my eyes back as she turns to me.
“See Mikhail, I don’t know nor understand exactly why you are doing this to me this morning but remember I’m a Muslim woman. I can never engage in anything that can destroy my Akhirah!”
Mikhail? First time in a while she calls me my name! I turn to the other side pretending not hearing what she is saying.
She adds softly, “I don’t think I can drop by the kids’ school this morning anymore. This is almost 8:00. Can you please help me?… Just for today!”
Now I turn to her, “you can see I didn’t come home with my car last night. It’s faulty so it’s at my workshop”
She sighs, “what if I drop my keys? I’ll take the public transport”
I nod subsequently, “but it’s just for today. You know I don’t have the time anymore.”
She wearily looks at me and sighs then moves forward and sits on the bed, near my feet.
“Habeeby, do you know the woman selling peppers down the street?”
“Yes, what about her?”
“She told me she has a girl who can be helping me out… She won’t live with us ooo; she will just come after everyone has gone to the office, help me do the available chores. Take the kids from the school and look after them till I return from work”
“Won’t she go to school?”
“Her mum said she dropped out last year after finishing her J.S.S.3 examination. She said she doesn’t want to go to school anymore and doesn’t want to learn any handiwork either but wants to do business. So she needs money.”
“How old is she?”
“She is just fourteen but very agile and hardworking.”
“How much does she want to be paid?”
“I’ve discussed with her mum and we agreed on ten thousand naira monthly.”
“So you’ve already decided before informing me?”
“No dear, our discussions was based on if you agree and accept. I dare not habeeby”
I stare into her pretty pleading eyes and I’m afraid of declining her request. Might be for good; my lingering guilt of withdrawing my helping hand would also be lifted.
“It’s okay, go ahead!”
She grins and jumps on me in the bed, giving me a hug.
“Thank you habeeby, jazaakallah Khairan”
“Wa antum fajazaakumullah Khairan… You should go now”
She rises, “can I change this black veil? I really look absurd”
“You can’t!” I reply as I crawl out of the bed.
“It’s okay, I’m off. This is the car key”

“Kids! Are you through eating? This is past eight, we are late!” I shout as I climb down the stairs.
Khalid disengaging the earpiece from the tab while Nusayba closes her books, packing them into her bag.
“But you are starting you exams in the next two weeks. Why the thorough preparation now?”
“That is the school exams my daddy, we are starting our Madrasah exams today” Khalid explains.
“That’s good! Hope your Mum has helped you with your mu’raajah?”
“Not really, she doesn’t have the time but I’ve been doing it by myself”
This is it. She doesn’t even have time for her kids all in the name of work!
“Abby, I’ve been reading mine too” says Nusayba.
“Good of you my little princess! Let’s get going”
As we step out of the house, Nusayba asks, “are we going with Ummy’s car? Has Ummy walked to her work?”
“No, she has taken the public transport and asks me to take you with her car. You aren’t even asking of my own car.”
“I know it’s at your workshop… But how will Ummy come home? Are we going to pick her?”
“Enough, enter the car and let’s move. We are late already!”
As I’m driving, Khalid inclines forward from the back seat and asks again, “but how will Ummy come home? Won’t it be stressful for her? You know women are fragile”
“Will you save me the talks son?” I roar but realizing his reaction to my harshness, I calmly add, “women are really fragile but your Mum is an adult and a strong woman. Haven’t you noticed that?… Ehn, Khalid?”
I adjust my mirror to look at him at the back; he remains fearfully silent. I don’t know why and how but women will always have their love immensely inserted into their children’s hearts. What have we Fathers done?

On returning from the company to my workshop after ashr prayer, I barely sit when my apprentices start overwhelming me with the customers’ reports. Some customers have even left their cars with the instruction that I should be the one to attend to them. I change my cloth and embark on the journey of struggles right away and with the assistance of my apprentices, it takes not much of time to be done.
“Assalaamu’alykum akhy Mikhail”
“Wahlykum salam warahmatullah wabarakaatuhu akhy Abdulwaheed” I reply with the better greeting as I relax under the tree. “Have your seat”
“I’ve been stopping by since Monday to check on you but I was told you were not around. You don’t even ask of me akhy”
“I’m very sorry please, I’ve just been quite busy. I expected you last week but you didn’t come so I thought man dey hustle so I shouldn’t disturb”
“At least you should have tried my number…”
“I’m sorry, you know I’m not that good at dialing numbers. So how things and family especially the two Queens”
His eyes turns red; filled with ambivalence – between sadness and anger. He hangs his head down and heaves a sigh,
“Akhy, there is trouble!”
“Talk to me, what…”
One of my youngest apprentices comes running, interrupts my statement, reporting someone is asking for me. I excuse myself from my friend and leave to attend to my visitor.
It’s a young handsome man in a black suit with a familiar face but I can’t vividly remember where I’ve known him until I see his car; a black SUV Toyota Camry.
He extends his right hand to me for a shake, “good evening sir, I’m Akinbade by name.”
I accept the handshake, “I’m Mikhail”
“I think you should know me”
“Sure I do, my wife’s boss”
He chuckles and I feel a bit embarrassed and curious; I’m still wearing my oil-dirtied work cloth and why is he here?
Brother Abdulwaheed comes by saying he can’t wait any longer because he has an appointment but I beg him to give me some minutes. I have to know what is troubling the king of a whole castle.
“Anyway, I collected your business card from your wife this morning and coincidentally I’m having trouble with my car boot’s lock so I think you can do it.”
“Sure, let me check”
I examine his car boot’s lock and it ends up a metal has crooked preventing it from fastening. I ask an apprentice to give me a pair of plier, I straighten the metal to fit and it locks again.
“Thank you very much sir” he smiles as he reaches for his wallet in his pocket, “how much is my fee now?”
“Don’t worry sir, I’ve done nothing. To God is the thanks.”
“Oh that’s kind of you, thanks once again… Your wife has also been a very nice, lovely hardworking woman; a rare asset we ever got in our company. From now on we’ll be patronizing you.”
I smile, his aplomb is amusing.
“Thank you sir, you are always welcome”
He enters his car and drives off.
“Is he your wife’s colleague?” Abdulwaheed asks as I take my seat beside him.
“No, her boss!”
“She must be working in a big company because that man looks wealthy enough”
“Don’t tell me you don’t know where my wife works; the one and only GoldenBerry in this state!” I proudly state.
“I’m just knowing now… But you are taking a very huge risk Akhy. Don’t you know such company would be filled with men of high prestige who are more capable than you?”
What does he mean?
“As how? I’m capable enough in my own capacity!”
“You are exposing your wife to a great fitnah akhy – men’s temptation for that matter. See akhy, I told you a while ago that I’m having a trouble. My new wife is the one troubling me…” He adjusts sideways to face me, “…I once heard some rumor that she was seeing a man and just yesterday I caught her red handed”
My mouth opens agape, “subhanallah! How?”
“She sneaked out of my house yesterday night to see the man. She didn’t know I haven’t slept so I followed her and saw her entering the man’s car. I waited for good thirty minutes before she came out of the car then I stepped out from my hiding. The man sped off as soon as he saw me… She pleaded saying he is just a friend. Friend indeed!” He sneers.
“He might really be a friend don’t you think?”
“A friend? Brother Mikhail what is this rubbish you are saying? What kind of a male friend would a married woman has that would seek to see her secretly? Have you forgotten the hadith of Rasul s.a.w that said shaytan is the third party of any man and woman who stay alone together without a mahram (relative).”
“It could really be and it could not… What did you do afterwards? Hope you haven’t killed her?”
“I’ll never become a murderer just because of an ordinary woman”
I cut in, “but you are about to commit suicide just because of an ordinary woman! See, you’ve already lost much of weights”
“You don’t understand akhy, Shakirah is just a girl I love very much even more than my first wife and I was very disappointed knowing she could be promiscuous… Without wasting time, I just sent her away to their house that same last night. Even her parents and siblings have been calling my phone but I haven’t picked any. I’m still not over the shock. Women are just kind of dirty!”
It’s really disheartening but is sending her away the right step to take?
“Akhy, didn’t you ask her what she wanted with the guy. Even if you are right, who knows, they might not have gone too far yet.”
“You know I’m a man of action. I don’t have time for that, I’ve sent her away right away and away from my life and that is all! Thank God she just had only a child for me”
“When you aren’t a neophyte akhy, how can you divorce a woman just like that! It has proper steps you should take not throwing her clothes out like a slave”
“So you want me to pronounce divorce and let her stay for two months iddah? Never, she should do the iddah in her father’s house. See, I’ve taken my decision and action so it can’t be reversed. Therefore akhy, learn from my mistake”
My eyes travel inward into my brain searching for the lesson I’m to learn in his story but I see none!
“Then how is that related to my wife working in the company? Before, you were about her having no time and dumping some of her responsibility on me and now the problem has switched to her work.”
He chuckles, “so you can’t see the relationship? Although it’s been a while I saw her, I know she still has her beauty. Imagine her among men who are very well educated and financially buoyant than you. My friend, women have flexible brains and are easy to lure especially with materials. Can’t you see the man my wife was cheating with has a very nice car? And with the little I saw yesterday night, I very well know he is very rich. Like the man that left now, you know you can’t be in same class! And your wife is also becoming a woman of higher class…”
I cut him short as I perceive his words registering negative thoughts in me, “Hey! Don’t compare your wife with mine. And don’t compare yourself with me. After all, my wife has been working in that company for good five years and she is still chaste as ever. And I’m sorry to say, your cheating wife is a full house wife, how come she got involved in such… I’m sorry akhy, just let’s stop talking about this.”
“You don’t need to… It’s okay… All is well even inside the well.” He becomes quiet for some moments then talks again, “I am supposed to have known long before now! See akhy, she has been refusing me in bed since the last three weeks. You know I make three days rotation with them…”
How will I know that?
“…each time it gets to her turn she would either tell me she was having a kind of infection or she was on her period. I should have known something was wrong since then! Chai! I should have known!”
Does that really guarantee a partner is cheating? So because my wife and I have no coitus in the last two months, I should conclude she is cheating on me? No! I trust my wife, after all it isn’t that she has been rejecting me. I’m just the one not making the move because I have always seen her exhausted and want her to make the move.
“I’ll still urge you to have a lot of patience. If you calm your eyes and look very well you will definitely see the bottom of an ocean”
“It’s okay! Thank you akhy, jazaakallah Khairan… I feel relieved though… Why? I haven’t seen Abbey around”
I snort a chuckle, “It’s Abbey you talked just like that. He is in Iya Awa stall”
“I thought as much, I think I’ll also need some àgbo for tonight. I can’t kill myself o, that is the advantage of having two wives. When one goes, one remains and in no time In’shaa’Allah I’ll add another one.”
It’s been a while I’ve been there so I follow him.
Iya Awa boldly grins as she sees me and Abdulwaheed raises a suspicious eye on me. We sit before Abbey as we exchange greetings.
“Oga I thought you would be very tired and would have gone home since.”
“It’s my brother here jare.”
Iya Awa enters with a tray of two cups of herbal concoction and two plates of peppered pànmó. She grins and she serves us,
“Boda Mukaila, I thought you will no longer come to my shop because you were angry with me”
“Why should I? I was just occupied… Please return the herb and get me a yoghurt drink instead”
“Okay, I’m coming” she hurriedly leaves.
I catch brother Abdulwaheed starring at me again, “why that look?”
“Hope nothing is going on between you and that woman because…”
Abbey interrupts, “nothing is happening between them than being customers. Do you just know Iya Awa to be a ‘free-smiler’?”
“Ahah! I don’t mean such, I trust my brother. I’m just thinking they might be interested in each other, you know mathna thing na. She is beautiful enough and isn’t bad to be his thanniyah.”
Abbey raises his eyebrows and groans, “don’t mind him Oga. You have a very good wife already!”
My friend’s phone rings and he excuses himself.
“I know you guys will never flow well with each other” I smile.
“I just don’t like the way he thinks and talks. If he weren’t your friend, I would have given him the words of his life. Why Iya Awa of all people?”
Some mumbling noise creeps in from behind the stall and we listen. The tiny voices sound like Iya Awa in a quarrel with a man so Abbey and I leave the stall to check;
“Tell her to leave my shirt” says a man who looks older than his age.
“Iya Awa, leave him and let’s talk it out.” I urge.
“I won’t leave you until you follow me to their office… Just watch boda Abbey and boda Mukaila, I won’t leave him today! Enough of this! I’ve left you and you should let me be! Let me concentrate on my children peacefully…. I’m done paying for your deed! I’m done living in inferno for your sake…”
“Eh! This woman, I’m going to hit you”
“Hit me and kill me. I’m already a living dead so just end my misery now by putting an end to my life”
Before I could jump in without a second thought to interfere, the man lands a blow on her face and the second blow on my lips when I jump in. I feel my lips swelling and I step back to take a look. Iya Awa burying her head in his chest still holding his shirt as he rains a lot of blows on her,
“You’ll kill me today… It’s today you will kill me…”
Before I raise my head to look, Abbey has cantered forward and strikes the man with a heavy blow. He carries him with his two legs and slumps him on the ground and starts blowing him down like a pulp.
I thrust forward to stop him but refuses until some men emerge and they bundle him up. The man still on the ground cleans the blood on his lips and staggers up.
He points to Iya Awa who stands in a corner hugging herself, crying, “you! Ehn you! They are beating me because of you! You shall see, never ever let me see your leg in my mama’s house for any of your daughter. I’ll make sure I break your legs… See, I swear… This is ògún…” He removes his left slipper and bites its tip, “I swear with ògún, I’ll kill you.”
He walks away dusting his body.
Everyone now moves towards Iya Awa who is standing dumbfounded, sobbing.
“What’s the matter Iya Awa?” Asks a man
“Who is that man?” Asks a woman.
“It’s better you talk I think that man is a criminal. Maybe we should report him to the police… You know his threats” suggests another woman.
“She doesn’t seem to be in the mood of answering questions now. Can we please leave her alone?” Abbey urges.
“Okay ooo, may God help and save us from this evil men o” a woman prays and everyone disperses
She sits, looking dazed. Abbey suggests we also leave her alone so we leave.