𝐟𝐢 𝐝𝐮𝐧𝐲𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐤𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐚

12. sweetheart?

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I was in the library of the mansion going through one of the laptops getting to know more about Islam. the religion of the family I was living with. I was reading some of the Qur'an verses online.

" Indeed what is to come will be better for you than what has gone by " { Qur'an 93:4 }

I couldn't find a proper website for the Qur'an and I was afraid what if it had some changes by wrong people so I was just going through some random verses on Pinterest. I thought of buying a Qur'an with my first income as an artist. I might ask azqa for help. i just hope she doesn't get mad. it's not something she should be mad about right?. i sighed and picked up my phone to see missed calls from cole. three missed calls. i picked up the phone and called him back

" hi " I said

" miss Clarke. I. your painting was sold. " he said and my eyes went wide in shock. i jumped up from my seat. and walked out of the Library to not cause chaos in there even though no one was there libraries are meant to be silent.

" wait but I just gave it to you yesterday! "

" it was sold yesterday itself " he said adding more happiness to my mood.

" thank you so much! do I do i paint, draw, sketch anything else? " i asked him all excited

" why don't u come to the gallery? you can get your payment and I will tell you about another project " what did he mean? didn't he already pay me? i could go for the project but azqa wasn't home.

" pardon me cole, but didn't you already pay me? "

" i might be picky or something but your painting was sold for $5000 and i practically gave you $800. as a wise person I am only allowed to keep 20% of the paintings price "

as if the land slipped from under my feet i yelled " HOW MUCH WAS IT SOLD FOR???!!! "

" $5000, the person who came to buy it asked me the price. i said $5000 and they just paid me and left with the painting without any argument. "

" you are kidding right? who-who bought it? can I know? "

" yeah I might tell you but I have to search the records first, why don't u come here first? " i thought for a second and then said yes. i told him I will be there in an hour and went to take a shower.

i changed into a white shirt and a beige trouser. I combed my strawberry blonde hair. Wore the black Mary Janes. match? doesn't match? whatever. I picked up my purse/bag and went out of my room.

I walked downstairs to find Mrs Ahmed sitting in the lounge with headphones on. I went beside her and she looked at me. she removed her headphones

" hi sweetie, do you need anything? " she asked

" i-i i am just gonna go to the art gallery. cole called me for a project. "

" okay, I will tell a driver to take you " she said getting up

" no no please don't bother yourself or anyone. i will take a taxi "

" bother? " she said raising her eyebrows " you are a part of the family! " she said and called a driver for me. I was too stunned to say anything. f-family. family.

̶w̶̶h̶̶a̶̶t̶ ̶h̶̶a̶̶p̶̶p̶̶e̶̶n̶̶e̶̶d̶ ̶t̶̶o̶ ̶e̶̶v̶̶e̶̶r̶̶y̶̶o̶̶n̶̶e̶ ̶y̶̶o̶̶u̶ ̶l̶̶o̶̶v̶̶e̶̶d̶
̶w̶̶h̶̶a̶̶t̶ ̶h̶̶a̶̶p̶̶p̶̶e̶̶n̶̶e̶̶d̶ ̶t̶̶o̶ ̶y̶̶o̶̶u̶̶r̶ ̶f̶̶i̶̶r̶̶s̶̶t̶ ̶a̶̶n̶̶d̶ ̶t̶̶h̶̶e̶̶n̶ ̶s̶̶e̶̶c̶̶o̶̶n̶̶d̶ ̶f̶̶a̶̶m̶̶i̶̶l̶̶y̶

i thanked Mrs Ahmed and sat in the car. he driver took me to the gallery and I got out of the car and thanked him. he said he will wait in the parking and I was about to object but I nodded. let it be. enjoy it while it last. try your best to make it last.

“ Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear…” {Qur'an, 2:286}

i took a deep breath.

he tests only those he loves. I am loved by God. by azqa. by Mrs Ahmed, Nimrah Ahmed. I smiled and walked into the gallery. I am going to be alright.

I went inside the gallery and cole greeted me

" hi miss Clarke! i will show you the project first and then I will pay you the remaining amount. please follow me " he said and I followed him not wasting any time.

we went inside and he gave me some papers. " this is the customer's request on how they want the painting to be. the payment of $1000 is done and 20% share of every painting is for the gallery. and a tip for you is that, if the customer likes the painting alot they might give you a tip. not all customers give tip but some do and this one will for sure. " he explained me the process and winked at me at the last part. I looked at the papers but my mind was a mess and i couldn't understand anything much. I read the first line three times to understand the main topic.

" do you want me to explain? " he asked me

" no, it's fine. how much time do I have to finish this? " i asked him

" three weeks but at max four weeks. but if you take four weeks the painting has to be worth it " he mentioned the last line in a strict voice and I nodded. he handed me an envelope saying it had the remaining money and i thanked him.

" i will be leaving now. " i said and bid him goodbye.

" alright. do you want me to drop you off? you look a little down today " now that he mentioned it. was it that clear? some stupid things were going through my mind which i didn't want to think out loud because that would mean accepting them. I wanted to as positive as possible.

" no, everything is okay. Don't worry. maybe I had something weird for breakfast. and Mrs Ahmed sent a driver with me " i replied to him knowing I had none other than chocolate and bread for breakfast but it doesn't matter.

" okay take care. " he said and I nodded and said " same to you " to him and then I left the gallery. i walked out with the papers and the money in my hand. I looked at the papers once again before looking for the driver but there was no sign of him. I walked a little further through the parking lot but he wasn't in the whole parking. the car was no where to be seen. I decided to walk out and take a taxi. I walked out, I was waiting for a taxi when I saw a familiar figure in front with a ciggerate in his hands, wearing a black shirt and pants. dressed like a business man.

my eyes went wide upon seeing him there and all things ran through my mind. I wanted to get out of there but my feet were paralysed and i couldn't move. I quickly moved on my feet stumbling upon someone at back.

" hey! watch where u r going " he said and the eyes of the man on the other side of the road was on me and the eyes of the man I stumbled on was on me as well.

" s-sorry " i managed to mutter before he yelled. " sweetheart is that you? " no. no. no.

i didn't look at him once before running in the other direction to them both. one thing I Did wrong was that it was the other direction to the gallery as well. The other man took my hand and asked him.

" what do I do with her buddy? "

he was walking towards us. towards me.

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