I Fell In Love With My Beautiful One

Chapter Five: A New Beginning

- Scene Three...

Tahani, now 22 years old and a graduate of the Faculty of Pharmacy, received a marriage proposal from a young pharmacist who had graduated a year before her. His family owned a private institute that offered studies in all branches of the humanities. His sister approached Tahani to ask for her hand on his behalf, telling her how her brother had admired her since their first year in college and how that admiration grew when he learned that she was a hardworking student with a good reputation throughout her studies. He didn't want to interrupt her academic focus, so he waited until she graduated.

Tahani was pleased to hear about his genuine affection and how he was a hardworking, educated man who would support her career. He even offered the possibility of her working as a teaching assistant at his institute. She agreed to the engagement in principle, hoping to get to know him better. However, she faced strong opposition from her sisters, especially her eldest sister, Iman. Iman cried in front of their father, protesting that her younger sister would marry before her, thus jeopardizing her own chances of finding a husband. Under this pressure, their father rejected the suitor before even meeting him.

Many other suitors came forward for Tahani, but each time they were rejected with flimsy excuses, forcing her to turn them down. Tahani decided to set aside the idea of marriage for a while and instead focus on finding a job, thinking perhaps she would meet the right person along the way.
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- Scene Four....

Three years passed since her graduation, and Tahani was still searching for work. She had turned down a position as a pharmaceutical sales representative because she preferred to work in a hospital setting, where she could interact with everyday people. Finally, she found a job at a private hospital, where she met a 50-year-old employee from the procurement department. She felt at ease with his kind treatment.

After two years of working there, while they were busy reviewing medicine orders and confirming prices, Abdullah broke the silence.

Abdullah: "Why are you wasting years of your life working at a private hospital for such a low salary when you hold a bachelor's degree in pharmacy? You could open your own pharmacy."

Tahani, while arranging medicines on the shelves, responded:
Tahani: "It's too early to open a pharmacy. I need to gain more experience, save money, and establish connections with pharmaceutical companies. I still need many years before I'm ready to take on the responsibility of running a pharmacy."

Abdullah smiled and said:
Abdullah: "It's simple. What do you think about opening the pharmacy together? You'll provide the license, and I'll cover half the costs. I can help you with my experience in dealing with pharmaceutical companies and store owners. Don't worry, we can even buy the medicines in installments. What do you say?"

Tahani was thrilled by the idea, thinking to herself, "This is my chance to save years of effort. I won't let this opportunity slip by. I'll agree immediately!"

She envisioned herself as a future young businesswoman, owning a chain of pharmacies throughout her city.

Excited, she jumped up and exclaimed:
Tahani: "I agree! Let's start right away!"

Tahani resigned from the hospital and opened her pharmacy in partnership with Abdullah. She worked tirelessly day and night, eagerly waiting to reap the rewards of her hard work.

In the first year, things went well between them, and he treated her with respect. But over time, she began to feel uneasy about his lingering glances. He started complaining about his marriage and expressing dissatisfaction with his wife.

Tahani paid little attention to his behavior, vowing to maintain his respect for her, even if it meant forcing him to.

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