MARRED

CHAPTER FIVE - REALITY CHECK

Amanah

"Can you Sit? You are making me dizzy!" I told Zuleikha with my hand to my forehead. It was pounding seriously.

Obediently, she did in front of me, but continued, "I mean it Amanah. Your name reflects in the newly adjusted review committee team." Zuleikha repeated coming to sit before me.

"I heard you the first time which is why you do not make any sense." I told her with my eyes shut. I wished she would just leave me to my headache for a second. I needed my head to boot, but that was clearly just wishful thinking.

"Amanah, do you think I find this logical?" She asked dazed. "First, you need to be at least, ten years post call in active practice and then secondly, you need to have served with the committee or another committee for at least the past two years. Both of which qualifications, we know you do not possess."

"Ouch! That hurts." I feigned.

Zuleikha rolled her eyes coming closer to me so that her face is an inch from mine. Then she whispered, "Amanah. I envy you. Just two months here and you can make even the transitional board change their rules. You are..." she seemed to be searching for the words "Extraordinary." She closed her eyes, as if to relish her last word.

Then she continued. "That, or Mr. Abdurrahman must have made a mistake. Do you think he did not see the names correctly?"

"Zuleikha." I called out softly, my hand still on my head and my eyes still shut. "Can you please sort out your misunderstandings from your own desk? I can literally feel every sound like a pestle to my head."

"Oh. Sorry dear. But I am not done confirming this. I mean if you are not even aware of it, does it not mean that perhaps, Mr. Abdurrahman was wrong?" She asked more to herself, than me while moving to her seat.

I had a meeting in less than three hours. And I was not even sure I had the right responses or advice to give to the clients.

My phone buzzed and I jumped in my seat. "Audzubillaahi Minna Shaitaanir Rajiim" I sought refuge in Allah from the accursed shaitaan. What was this anxiety I was having?

It was Dr. Rahina Muhammad. "Wa'alaykumussalam ma'am." "No. I just returned." "Yes ma'am." She wanted me in her office in a jiffy.

When I knocked, she opened the door and ushered me in. "Please come in Amanah. I need you to do something for me urgently." She talked as she walked to her file shelf. "Here." She handed me a file. "I know it isn't your department, but I need you to follow the ruling and have the corrections on my table by tomorrow In shaa Allah."

What did she mean? "But, I still have a meeting with the Maisarahs soon even if I didn't, I am afraid your deadline is too short." I was not going to be bullied into taking duties that were not mine again. Maisarahs case is already enough on my plate.

"You can postpone the meeting or ask someone else to sit for you..."

"I fear I cannot do either." I interrupted her. "I cannot renege on my promise to settle out of court when the parties have finally agreed to meet." What did she even mean by postpone the meeting or have someone else handle it? Did she know how much effort I have had to put into this matter?

"Any delay or wrong handling might render our efforts so far a nullity." I know I was speaking to my Boss. But this was just how it should be. I will not overburden myself with going outside my scope of employment. I had done it before and that was how I landed in this dilemma.

Dr. Rahina was staring at me. For the first time, I could tell she was not certain how to take my rejection. Then finally, she said; "I will handle the Maisarahs. Bring me the file."