Thought it was Khayr✅

Chapter 4: What to do

"So, Ummu. What do you want to do?" Questioned Baba as he walked around his wide sitting room which was even poshier than the main sitting room downstairs. It's the sacred place he recieves his very important people, like our moms, our brothers, his friends or very important guests.

He widened the curtains for the morning vitamin D enriched radiance to flood in through the dome glass pane separating this side of the sitting room from the balcony. It's such a really nice view.

I never imagined me of all people, a very insignificant someone in the eyes of my father would one day be summoned to this part of the house, his chamber, for a talk, except that is; if it's about my marriage or something.

"You just graduated right?" He said, taking note of how confused at his question I was as he took a seat on the side of the L shaped cushion, facing me adjacently. "I just want to know what plans for your future you have in mind. What do you want to do next? Any course you want to study, any university you want to join? Any business you want to start if you don't want to study? Any highlights in mind?" He took a sip from his cup of tea which he had served himself after opening the curtains.

"I uh...I didn't get a good point after taking the JAMB, but I passed the cut off mark so I can get admission into the university. It's the only thing I'm counting on, I have no course of choice in mind, and I dare not even choose since I don't have too good a mark" I explained truthfully

"I see you girls doing these pastries and some tailoring... Aren't you interested in any of that?" He asked

"Not really..." I rubbed the back of my neck. I guess he's already confirming how much of a good for nothing I am. This conversation reminds me of the talk I had with Hameed not long ago about this. Somehow, because I got some encouragement firsthand from him, I don't feel too useless now, standing in front of my dad.

"Well, you just don't know what you want yet, Ummu..." he chuckled. Wow, exactly thesame thing Hameed told me. He's really got a farsighted mind, the type which elders have. Empress too is someone with that attribute.

But really, this morning I feel really moved, that my dad wasn't really a very careless person like I always thought him to be. When my mom saw me peeping down the corridor upstairs, she told me my dad asked me to meet him at his chamber. I actually thought he was going to talk to me about the Sulaiman guy since I'm still left in the dark regarding his issue. Turns out, it's to discuss about my future- what I really want.

"...And that's why Sulaiman is here to help you" he concluded

I didn't quite get it, what he just said. It led to my contented smile slowly disappearing. So it really wasn't about me after all, but about Sulaiman like I had initially thought.

"Huh?" I asked

"Yes. The visitor you had yesterday, Sulaiman Hassan. He's actually looking for your hand in marriage, Ummu" this statement right here struck me right in my chest, causing my brain to go blank.

"And since you already are in this state of loss for your future, I think me and your mothers have made the right decision in giving Sulaiman the heads up to chase you."

"At first I was reluctant because I didn't know what you wanted.. like I tried to do things unknowingly with Sabira, not knowing what she was after and got shamed in the end countlessly.. that was why I decided to confront you and hear your own point of view. Since it's already favorable, it's all in the good"

"You see, there's really no problem, Ummu. Sulaiman is a reliable person. I trust he'd lead and guide you to the future you want" he finally said

"But.. but" I croaked, tears welling up my eyes. All that kept showing up in my eyes was the image of my poor poor Hameed. "Baba, I don't even know Sulaiman!" I complained