MARRED

CHAPTER THREE -A NEW DAWN

Amanah

"Assalaam'alaykum. Good Morning." I greeted, coming up to the receptionist's table at Amjaad's Law firm in Ungwar Rimi.

"Wa'alaykumussalaam Wa Rahma. How may we help you Ma'am?"

So... Courteous. I commended silently. "Can you direct me to the Real Estate Department please?"

"Oh. Are must be the new Lawyer."

'The New Lawyer' phrase was quite catchy. I guess I was the only one in Kaduna Branch. "Yes. Please."

The Receptionist, a beautiful Black Lady in grey hijab smiled at me, handing me a card. "You are welcome to Amjaad Solicitors LP. Here is your office card. It's just on the second floor. Room 14."

I took the card and said my "Thank you." Walking into the elevator, I entered in the 2nd floor and soon, I was in the office that read Room 14 on it's door's number plate. My Office. It was not a dream. I really made it to Amjaad and I have an office! Ya Allah! Which of Your favours do I dare deny?

The office was well furnished. Like the Abuja Branch or at least, what I had seen of it, it was all grey and white Mosaic tiled walls. Window glasses were replaced with blinds. The room was big and bright though the blinds were closed. Good Lightening, I recon. It was also chilly so I tuned the air condition off. I walked to my desk and slowly and put my hand to the smooth table to feel it's slickness. I knew a little about Interior decoration thanks to Sophie's insistence that I learnt a little about hand crafts. I certainly recognized Italian quality when I saw one.

No. This office Screamed Italian décor. And this was my Office... Or at least, an office I was to share with one other. I corrected my thoughts as I noticed another table by my extreme right end. It had the name plate. 'Zuleiha Suleiman Esq.' on it. Ok, so maybe it wasn't a bad idea to have company in such a huge office. I was right to think the other side was mine then.

Feeling like Elizabeth, The 2nd, I sat on my Italian chair and wheeled myself around the room. It was so fulfilling.

By the time I felt like I had had my fill of the office interior, I wheeled myself back to my table. There were files neatly piled up on my table. But what's more, there were even more arranged files in the Italian Furniture shelves. I wondered if they were all Real Estate Files. I guess only time would tell.

I did not notice before, but my desk had a nameplate as well. My eyes widened in the realization that it was mine. It was the Initials I used in my CV. A. Sa'eed Esq. My Legal Initials. If I had thought I couldn't get more impressed with this firm, I had been so wrong. To have my desk personalized on my first day was beyond my expectation.

Sitting at the desk again, I noticed there was a quick note on the first file amongst the pile on my desk. It read, "Assalaam'alaykum. Please go through this File, I want a proper report on my desk by Friday In shaa Allah." There was a phone number annexed to the instruction and under the contact, is written. "Call only when you are done."

Ok. I had an immediate boss who was for whatever reason, being mysterious. I loved mysteries. They were challenging and generally interesting to unravel. If only my Boss knew this.

So I got to work. I picked up the file and saw that it was a land in Barnawa intended to be secured at KADGIS by one Mr Hamza Rufai. I did not need anyone to tell me what next to do. The file was scanty, so I needed to conduct a general search on the property. "I guess KADGIS is my friend now." I muttered sarcastically to myself. I did not like going to KADGIS as they were experts at wasting people's time. So I placed a call to a senior from the Law firm I served with during my NYSC and asked for help. Aeesha Fareed sent me a contact and told me to let the contact know she gave me the number.