MY HOME! MY CAREER!!! – Episode 20

As-salaamu’alykum warahmatullah wabarakaatuhu. With all love, I’m posting today’s episode again. Don’t forget to show your love in the comment box too. May Allah make us among the dwellers of Jannah!  

                                MIKHAIL

Today is Sunday, which supposed to be my resting day but here I am at the workshop, working my fingers to the bone. Some customers, due to their distrust in my workers, have left their cars for me to service and repair. And the trust, I never want to betray. Notwithstanding, I’m in need of money – a lot is before me to do.
Watching Abbey and one of the apprentice coupling the last car’s wheelrim, brother Abdulwaheed drives into my workshop.
“Yaa akhy! As-salaamu’alykum warahmatullah. It has been a while.” He shakes and hugs me.
I smile and respond, gesturing at him to let us go and sit on a bench under the tree.
“Akhy Mikhail! So you turned yourself to scarce commodity. I couldn’t ever have imagined that I would meet you here, I was just passing by. Hope no problem?”
“Alhamdulillah! You can see I’ve been working. It’s all about money.”
“That’s good!…” He starts grinning, “have you heard that I’ve married a third wife?”
“Wow! Maa’sha’Allah! When? You didn’t even bother to invite us.”
“I wanted to, akhy! But we just did it on a low key. Only aqeed. I didn’t have enough money that time.”
“Baarakallaahu laka, wa baaraka ‘alayka, wa jama’a baynakumaa fee khayrin.” I pray. Meaning, “May Allah bless you, and shower His blessings upon you, and join you together in goodness.”
“Aameen!”
“Now that you have enough money, you should follow the sunnah and kill a ram for us to eat.”
He laughs, “I’ve done the main nikkah akhy. I don’t have money to waste on that.”
I retort, “so honouring your nikkah – as the best of mankind, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has encouraged us to do – is a waste of money to you. Who taught you that? You have the money, don’t you?”
“I have more things to do with money than that… Or, has she also come to report me to you? Because she still insists that I do walimoh nikkah (wedding ceremony) for her which I won’t do. She has to learn to obey my wish and command!”
I sigh, pitying the poor woman. I turn my palms up, “I don’t know her yet. But she hasn’t asked for much. Sometimes, you should learn to please your wives akhy, they deserve it…”
Abbey hurries towards us, handing me his phone. “It’s Iya Awa. She said she has tried your number, you weren’t picking.”
Oh! My phone is inside the store. I converse with her briefly – she just moved back to the city today, into a room apartment I assisted her with. I promised to stop by when going home, to talk her into taking a teaching job I got for her through one of my customers. She has been afraid the payment won’t be enough to cater for her and her children needs and I have promised to assist in whatever way, pending the time she will get a better job. Teaching is a honourable job for her than trading herbal concoction. She shouldn’t let her certificate rot away in the house.
After dropping the call, brother Abdulwaheed stares at me inquisitively. And suddenly, he bursts into laughter, patting me at the back.
“Well done akhy! Bravo!”
“On… About… What do you mean?” I pretend to be confused. Whereas, I know where he’s driving at.
“Iya Awa of course! I can see you two are getting closer.” He wears a teasing smile, “the woman isn’t bad. She has so much respect and I’m very sure she will be obsequiously submissive. And that her smile, it can melt any man’s heart. You need it akhy…”
Abbey cuts in, “so, only because he is helping a needy woman, you’ve misconceived him to be interested. My boss doesn’t write a letter to you that he needs a second wife. Madam is enough for him!”
“Indeed!” He nods, continuously.
“Don’t mind him Abbey, he’s just looking for an associate. I haven’t even satisfied my wife in anyway and I don’t take advantage of weak women. You are the one that can unmindfully ride on any woman’s feeling. I can’t.”
“Even if my oga will marry a second wife, she would be a woman of high prestige. So do not suggest what’s wrong. Ògá deserves more than that.”  He seriously cautions.
Brother Abdulwaheed supports his jaw with his left palm as he looks at Abbey while he talks.
Abbey turns to me, “Oga, I need to go now. You know I told you my wife is sick. I need to help her with some chores.”
I nod in approval and ask him to deliver my regards to his sick wife. He has said her wife usually experience sickness during her second and third trimester. I imagine how stressful it would have been for him, poor man! Every woman really has her own shortcoming. Verily unlike my wife, who rarely fall sick. Even during pregnancy, she can climb mount Everest just like her normal self.
“Like boss like his subordinate.” He hisses as he looks at Abbey hastily leaving. He turns to me, “just promise to inform me when you’re done planning the nikkah.”
“Akhy, I’m planning no nikkah! I love my life as it is and I’m not ready to add another problem to it. Get this straight, I’m only helping the woman to get on her feet again so that men like you won’t take advantage of her pathetic situation. I’m not planning on marrying her. I haven’t even sat in a day and think about doing so.”
“I think you’re misconstruing the phrase ‘take advantage of’. That can only happen if you take her as a zina-mate. But by marrying her, you will do her an adequate everlasting favour which she will forever be grateful about… Just like my new wife. She is a niqaabe, a woman in her mid-thirties, very pretty though. She was married before with no child to show. I only married her mostly because I pitied her and she has to be grateful for that, forever.”
“So you think if you didn’t marry her, she wouldn’t see a better man that can marry her simply because he loves and wants her. Women hate to be pitied. The only way they can be forever grateful is for you to treat them rightly. After all, marriage is of mutual benefit. Stop doing as if you’re the caregiver. Even The Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, used to treat his wives – both old and young – with care.”
“You’ll never change akhy. I don’t think I can win you… Please let’s change the topic so my matter won’t be like that of a man who visited a neighboring village in search of something important. When he got to the house where he was told to seek the thing, he met them eating and he was invited to join them. Honourably, he joined them to eat and after eating, he thanks them and asks for what he has initially come for. But alas! Someone has come for that same thing he was seeking while he was eating, and the person has gone with it.”
I naughtily smile, “what does that teach us?”
“It teaches us that an early bird catches the worm. Now, what really brought me here is that I need a job to support this my taxi driving job.”
“Oh! You now have more mouths to feed…”
“Not really that, everyone can find their way even if I have no money. But I have some important projects to do, I want to buy another taxi and also extend my house with three rooms. I taught of who I can run to and you’re the first person that came to kybkind. Please akhy, help me out.”
Thinking, I reply. “I would have loved to help but I don’t think I know of any job for now. And you have no skill. Else, I talk to my wife about it.” Which I know will be slightly difficult for me.
Ever since she returned from abroad, now a week, I’ve been avoiding conversation with her. The truth is, I can’t justify my actions and I’m not ready to beg her. However, she has also been busy, as they are planning on erecting a new company. I’ve also been occupied on my side, working to earn more that I had to take the automobile company’s offer on my contract extension – this, which is now sitting on a thin rope, dangling ever since Friday. I’ve known the man, who was said to be the chairman’s cousin, won’t stop at any length to seek his revenge on me. He has gone on an ego trip by suspending me for one month and people at work has been whispering to me that his final plan is to get rid of me from that company. I didn’t even plan to work there for long but I won’t accept the unjustified suspension!
“Please do not involve your wife. I’m not that desperate. Let me look at somewhere else… In case you see one for me, please let me know akhy.”
“Your choice. Definitely.”
Checking my watch, it’s some minutes to 6 o’clock. “Till another day akhy, I have to start leaving now.”
“Really! Lest I forget, I saw Habeeb some days ago. He said he’s spending his holiday with you and your family. Hope the boy isn’t making any trouble?”
“That’s ummy’s work, he didn’t even inform us that he was coming for any holiday. We just saw him and his bags but who am I to turn him out, he’s my brother. However, he has been a good boy so far. Every morning, he wakes up to clean my car and my wife’s. I didn’t even expect it of him. I had thought he’s a spoilt brat that would only eat and sleep with no benefit. His school fees for the coming academic session is also on my neck, I’m sure ummy sent him here solely because of that.”
“May Allah provide for you akhy. I also have to go now.”
He leaves and afterwards, I also change my clothes and leave.

Knocking at Nasroh’s door, I impatiently wait as I’m calculating the time, budgeting not to spend more than ten minutes talking to her so I can be on my way before maghrib.
“Enter!” She announces.
I turn the knob open and step in. Immediately, I hurry out again and my heart jumps out of my mouth, “Subhanallah!”
Why? It isn’t as if I’m seeing her off-hijab for the first time. She just started using hijab for just a months. Why do I feel different?.
“Please I’m sorry. I’ll put on my hijab now.” She shouts, behind the door.
She now opens the door for me, “I’m very sorry sir. I wasn’t thinking when I asked you to enter. It wasn’t intentional, I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to. I only think you need more lesson concerning hijab.” I find myself a seat, “gone are the days when any man could see you off-hijab except your father, husband, husband’s father, sons, husband’s sons, brother, brother’s sons and sister’s sons. They’re the ones that have the rights to see your beauty. Please do not make such mistake with me again.”
She smiles, “I won’t, I promise.”
“So, as we’ve been discussing. You should start the work tomorrow. You know schools will soon go on holiday, they want to see you display competence before the next session.”
She frowns, sitting opposite me, “brother Mikhail. I appreciate your consideration but I’ve told you, their 16,000 naira monthly salary can’t take me and my children anywhere. That’s the money I earn within a week trading àgbo. If not for debt here and there then, and thank God and you, I’m now free. I’ll prefer to go back to my àgbo trade.”
“I think I promised to support you. You need a decent job Nasroh and I think accepting this teaching is a start.” Inclining forward on my seat, “see, they promised to increase your salary after seeing what you can offer them. You can work there for a while just to gather experience. Then we will look for another. I believe there are some schools in this city that pay their teachers more than 50,000 naira. Like my kids’ school, they should be paying more than that. All you have to do is to make yourself worthwhile.”
She smiles, “I’ll think about it. But promise me something in return, please.”
“What?” I curiously ask.
“Just promise first, pleeease sir!” She pleads.
“Okay! What is it?”
“I cooked for you sir. It’s even your favourite; àmàlà and èfó rírò…”
I quickly interrupt, “Nasroh, I’ve told you I don’t eat out. I’m very sorry… I won’t be able to fulfill my promise.”
“Please sir, I spent hours preparing this food with care. At least, you used to eat panmo at my shop then. Just pretend you’re just in my shop eating the food. Do this for me once.”
I stand to leave, “I can’t. My wife would have prepared my dinner at home. And once I eat here, I won’t have a choice than to abandon her food. Which I can’t.”
Depressingly, she stares at me. Tears filling her eyes as she starts talking, “at least! After all your benevolence to me… You’ve never given me the chance to say ‘thank you’ properly to you. You can’t just treat me like a stray cat who only needs to be nurtured and sheltered!… I… I… also want to be of benefit to you.” Closing in on me, she removes her hijab and I become dazed and perplexed, watching her with ambivalence. “I was waiting for you to ask but it seems I would have to wait forever. Am I not also a woman? Am I not beautiful enough to be your woman?  Don’t I also deserve a nice man like you.” She steps back and sobs.
What to do? What to say? I become confused. The only part of my body that could give me an impulsive reaction right now are my legs. So I move to the door and step out of the room. My innocent gesture has finally been misconceived as an interest. Is it a crime to lend someone a hand to hold and rise again? Have I transgressed by doing so?
I can’t keep the series of thoughts from rumbling in my mind as I drive home. I still can’t believe what just happened! Why would she even think I want to marry her? Can’t she see my good intentions for her are beyond that?
Entering my home, still stunned. I perceive some activities and chatting going on in the kitchen, maybe everyone is present there. So I sullenly move forward and climb the stairs up. Attempting to open our room’s door, I overhear Azeezah cautioning the children.
“…do not allow anyone to touch or see your specials and do not look at or touch another person’s special. Be it male or female! Remember the story of Tha’laba I told you, how he repented earnestly after he mistakenly saw the nakedness of a woman. Your vagina, your penis, they are very special and are meant only to be seen and touched by you and no one else except your father and I. And it’s just for the meantime, till you know how to take good care of yourselves…”
“Even uncle Habeeb, auntie Hafsoh and auntie Opeyemi can’t touch it?” I hear Nusaybah asks.
“Yes they can’t! But since you are a girl, auntie Hafsoh and auntie Opeyemi can still see and touch yours only when taking care of you and that’s also for the meantime. When you grow older, it would be more private to you. But your uncle Habeeb, even though he’s your uncle, you shouldn’t allow him to see or touch your special. You can play with him Nusaybah but not roughly. Even if it’s possible, Nusaybah, do not play with him and don’t ever sit on his laps again!…”
I bump in, rage replacing my initial countenance. What does she think she’s doing? Painting my brother dirty before my children?
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NOTE OF THE CHAPTER: “O you who believe! take care of your souls; he who errs cannot hurt you when you are on the right way; to Allah is your return, of all (of you), so He will inform you of what you did.” (Qur’an 5 verse 105)
“Let him who has abundance spend out of his abundance and whoever has his means of subsistence straitened to him, let him spend out of that which Allah has given him; Allah does not lay on any soul a burden except to the extent to which He has granted it; Allah brings about ease after difficulty.” (Qur’an 65 verse 7)
”Those who keep aloof from the great sins and the indecencies but the passing idea; surely your Lord is liberal in forgiving. He knows you best when He brings you forth from the earth and when you are embryos in the wombs of your mothers; therefore do not attribute purity to your souls; He knows him best who guards (against evil).” (Qur’an 53 verse 32)
Narrated Anas bin Malik: ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf came (from Mecca to Medina) and the Prophet made a bond of brotherhood between him and Sad bin Ar-Rabi’ Al-Ansari. Al-Ansari had two wives, so he suggested that ‘Abdur-Rahman take half, his wives and property. ‘Abdur-Rahman replied, “May Allah bless you with your wives and property. Kindly show me the market.” So ‘Abdur-Rahman went to the market and gained (in bargains) some dried yoghurt and some butter. After a few days the Prophet saw Abdur-Rahman with some yellow stains on his clothes and asked him, “What is that, O ‘Abdur-Rahman?” He replied, “I had married an Ansari woman.” The Prophet asked, “How much Mahr did you give her?” He replied, “The weight of one (date) stone of gold.” The Prophet said, “Offer a banquet, even with one sheep.” (Sahih Al Bukhari)