17
If you have many allies, you will have that many enemies as well
Tehzeeb was in a haste to dress up so she could leave for work, because she was late already, so she quickly wore her clothes before she left her room. "Umma I'm going till I come back" Tehzeeb said about to leave the compound
"Are you serious, what of your breakfast?" Umma asked emerging from her room
"I will get what to eat when I get to work but I have to go now"
"Please don't leave like this without breakfast, atleast take it along with you" umma pleaded
"I don't want to be late Umma. But you can pack it before I put on my hijab" Tehzeeb said to her mother putting on her hijab before she arranged her bag " Umma I'm gone I can't wait any longer"
"Wait, here it is" Umma said handing over the flask to her
"bye Umma"
"All the best dear. May Allah be with you" Umma prayed while Tehzeeb was long gone.
She quickly stopped a rickshaw and told him where she was going. The man took her directly to where she was going since it was a well known mall in the town. Immediately they arrived she paid him off and ambled inside the mall. " Good morning" she greated Binta the receptionist
"Morning Tehzeeb. Hope all is well? You're late today" Binta asked concerned
"I woke up late today that's why"
"That's unlike you. It's okay, you're not that late, just that you're not as early as your normal days"
"Thanks, Let me drop my things" and she walked towards where her colleagues where
"Oh the famous and obedient worker is late. That's new" Tolani her co worker said which Tehzeeb didn't listen
"Oh guess you were too busy yesterday with your guy that's why you slept late yesterday" Tolani said again. Tehzeeb didn't allow her words to get her because she knew what Tolani was looking for from her was a reaction which she didn't think she would be getting anytime soon, so she continued with what she was doing when she was done she sat down and started eating since the customers hadn't started coming. When Tolani could not get any reaction from Tehzeeb she hissed and left the place because she just didn't like Tehzeeb.
Tehzeeb was eating her breakfast when customers began to arrive but continued to eat since she was almost done with her food. "Don't you know the rules and regulations, that says no eating when it's not break time or can't you read" Tolani said from nowhere. Tehzeeb didn't say anything and packed her flask and returned it to the bag
"I don't think you're deaf, because last time I check you can clearly hear me" Tolani continued to look for trouble so she could get reaction from Tehzeeb but she got none. "Guess your dumb. Next time I see you breaking the rules I will report you, so watch out" Tolani said pointing her eyes and turned it to Tehzeeb's eyes before she walked out. Tehzeeb shook her head and walked out of the workers room to do her job.
Everything was going fine, until Tolani put her legs on Tehzeeb's way which she lost her stamina and was about to fall down but got lucky because Binta rushed to hold her. Tehzeeb made sure she composed herself before she looked at Binta "thank you dear, you just saved me"
"It's okay, I'm glad I could help before you hit your head" Binta said smiling at her. Tehzeeb turned to face Tolani with a neutral look that couldn't dictate whether she was angry or not before she spoke but Tolani beat her to it
"Oh my bad. Never saw you coming, I was just stretching my legs because they felt numb and needed to be stretched" Tolani said smiling sheepishly. Tehzeeb sighed and was about to leave when Binta got a hold of her hand
"Really? Don't tell me you're just going to let her go like that" Binta said frustrated because she didn't get along with Tolani "she did it intentionally, don't trust anything she said" Binta said looking at Tehzeeb to say something or react. "Don't just stand there and stare at me. If you let this pass then she would do worst. You don't know who Tolani is "Binta said to Tehzeeb getting irritated by her silence.
"Don't stress yourself over a piece of shit. I don't have her time now, I have work to do" Tehzeeb said nonchalantly holding Binta's hand to leave the scene so they could continue with their work. Binta sighed and kept quiet not because of anything but because the victim didn't say or do anything
They walked back to their various posts and continued their works. When it was time for break Tehzeeb walked to Binta's desk to talk to her but Binta turned her face to the other side, which made Tehzeeb smile before talking to her "I'm sorry about what happened earlier. I should've said something but I didn't. Sorry if I hurt your feelings" Tehzeeb said calmly. Binta turned towards her
"Girl, you need to stand up for yourself don't allow Tolani to walk over you. That girl is rude and mean. Infact she's a bully" Binta said in one breath
"Cool down babe. I have been noticing her since I came here but I didn't think she would stoop so low to do that to me"
"She can do worse. You better watch out and be on guard before she does something drastic" Binta said
"Thanks for being there for me. I promise to be on guard. Don't worry there won't be a next time"
"There better not be if not it won't be funny. I don't know what's wrong with her"
"It's okay let bygones be bygone. Just forget about her. She isn't worth your time"
"I've heard you" with that they continued to gist before the time for break was over. When it was closing time Tehzeeb didn't hesitate to leave since Umma was waiting for her at Khady's place, which she didn't want to keep her waiting for long. "Good night Binta"
"Night Tehzeeb. But wait this one you're in a haste like this today, what happened?"
"Nothing my mother is waiting for me at Khady's place and I don't want to keep her waiting"
"That's thoughtful of you. My regards to her please, even though she doesn't know me"
"Don't worry she will. Bye see you tomorrow"
"Okay" and she ambled out of the mall to Khady's house to meet Umma
Tehzeeb walked in and Umma, mama and Khady turned to look at her. "Oh I just finished talking about you" said Khady
"Are you sure you were not gossiping about me, because I have this ill feeling you said something you're not supposed to say" Tehzeeb said looking between her mother and khady but got no reaction from both her mother's. "Okay fine. What did you say?"
"Nothing much. Just said you had a boyfriend that you're keeping away from us" Khady said nonchalantly
"Oh you won't dare say that". Tehzeeb said with a raise eye brow
"And what if I did?" Khady retorted. Tehzeeb was about to talk when Umma intervened
"Oh God! It's okay. Can you girls not stay in one place without bickering on each other" Umma questioned
"She started it" Tehzeeb said pointing to Khady and before Khady could talk Mama beat her to it
"You both should keep quiet please. Don't fill our ears with your bickering. Don't you get tired of being childish, you girls just love behaving like children and before you know now you're both in your husband's house" Mama said
"Oh God. Not now again mama, please. We have stopped but don't bring that topic up now" Khady pleaded knowing her mother will go on now with the conversation she's about to bring up so she quickly talked before mama could "Tehzeeb come let me give you your handout. Umma has been waiting for you to come back so you can leave together" Khady said holding Tehzeeb's hand and dragged her inside. Mama laughed at Khady's way of diverting the conversation. Immediately they reached the room Khady loosened her grip on Tehzeeb's hand
"You're too dull. Don't you get it that mama was about to start preaching about getting a husband" Khady said with a scowl on her face while Tehzeeb laughed holding her stomach because of Khady's face
"Did you just see your face. And why are you always running away from such talk? You know that it's either now or later they will talk about it whether you like it or not" Tehzeeb reasoned
"I know but not just now please. Let's get going before mama says something else again" Khady said pushing Tehzeeb out of the room.
"Goodnight mama. My regards to Abba when he comes back" Tehzeeb said
"I will my dear. Goodnight"
"Toh Mama se gani na gaba Kuma( toh Mama till we see each other again)" Umma said standing up
"Thanks for coming. My regards to maigida(husband)"
"He will hear. Please don't think of accompanying us. Khady you can rest too, you just got back from work" Umma said to mama and Khady before they left.