MARRED

CHAPTER NINETEEN - INTO A TRANCE

Ahmad

"If you do not drop that phone, I will fling it down the window." Amanah's stern voice promised  from the bedroom door, her hands on her waist and her face red from anger. She was in her right.

She had been waiting for me to join her in the kitchen for a while now. A while would was a good euphemism. Three hours was more like it.

"One minute babe. You know I gave Zayd the week off. This meeting is on accountability. It is really impor... Hey! I need that back!" I yelled.

She had snatched the phone from my hand and was looking into the email. Then, she dialed a number on my phone, and then passed it to me.

"This is your last chance, Ahmad Amjad Yaasir. I am in the kitchen, because you promised to help. Speak with Zayd to do his secretarial job and meet me down the kitchen now or forget whatever picnic idea you might have had this morning!"

It was a threat I knew she meant to keep. Without waiting for a response from me, Amanah turned back and walked out of the room. Okay, she was really angry. The voice from the other end had already answered the call.

"Wa'alaykumussalaam Wa RahmatuLlaah Zayd."

He sounded out of breath. As though he had been exercising. "Are you okay, mate?"

"Yes, sure Sir. Anything you need me for?"

"Not really. Just...." I was usually the forward one. Zayd taking that attribute from me isn't what I was used to, so I hesitated. Perhaps it was a bad idea to take back a break I had already given...

"Do you need me to proceed with the Zynck Industries Matter?"

Right on the head, he hit the nail. The guy sounded as though he had been waiting for this. I was not sure if I should give him the satisfaction. "No. Exercising?" I asked and he replied in the affirmative.

"I am just bored, here."

"How are your wife and son?"

"AlhamduliLllah. They are recuperating, thanks to you. We have been home for three days now."

No, this was a very bad idea. Zayd's son just had a surgery. I was the one who gave him the week off.

"Do you need me for Zynck's matter?" He asked again.

Oh well, I guess, it was now or never. "No... I mean, yes... if... you wouldn't mind, that is."

"Oh, finally!" He exclaimed. "I guess you have been using the Admin email?" By now, I was sure he had been waiting for my call. But I was even more certain that he had needed to work, even if it were from home.

"Yes. Please. Handle them with care... And Zayd, I do not believe I need to emphasize the importance of the accountability track to you."

"Not at all Sir. Do have a wonderful weekend. And please, my regards to Madam. Assalaam'alaykum."

I stared at the phone one more time and contemplated taking it with me to the kitchen. What if Zayd needed me?

Don't be paranoid Ahmad. When has your Secretary ever needed you in his duties?

Well, what if his family needed him?

He would know that better than you, wouldn't he? Besides, guy sounded too excited.

Plus, the fear that Amanah might pull through with her threat... Amanah!... I threw the phone on the bed and rushed down the stairs.

The sight that greeted me when I arrived at the kitchen was priceless. She was playing an old lecture on the speaker, by Khalid Yaasin. O Muslims, blame yourself. She had a sky-blue apron and some gloves on and was kneading a dough. It would seem I was quite late. This morning, I had suggested we had a picnic latter in the evening, In shaa Allah. So, we agreed to let the cook and maid take the weekend off. The idea was to do everything together, Including the cooking. But barely an hour into our preparations, Mr Sanda of Zynck Industries had called. Since Zayd had been on medical leave, I did not trust anyone else with his duties, especially not this one.