Mr Malik entered his home office carrying his laptop bag. He closed the door carefully to make minimal noise. Throwing his bag on the desk he went to take a seat on his swivel chair behind the desk. Slumping into the chair he loosened the tie around his neck and unbuttoned his sleeves. Letting out a deep breath, he closed his eyes to rest them for a while.
Mr Malik had returned home from work at midnight. A stressful day had finally come to its end. But he knew that things were only going to get worse here on. He was going to lose his position as a Chief Executive Officer in one of the city's largest firms. The Board had announced their decision on closing the company today. A result of business politics that had been on going for a while but no one ever saw this coming. The news left everyone shaken. Within a few days they would close officially and all contracts would dissolve, which meant losing his home, car and every other luxury item mentioned in the contract.
He had no idea what he'd do with the little that he had. How was he going raise his family? How was he going provide for them? How will he look for work with in such little time? It was as if the world had come crashing down on him and his shoulders could no longer carry the burden.
Stress lines grew deeper on his forehead as his head throbbed with pain. He couldn't think straight anymore. "Hasbi Allah wa ni'm Al-Wakeel", he said turning to his Creator, The One in Who's Hands is the Kingdom of the Heavens and Earth. He was the only one who could show him a way now.
Deciding that he'd speak to his wife the next day, he lifted himself from his chair and walked out with heavy feet.
____
Sitting in the balcony, Mrs Malik sipped tea while she studied her backyard garden. Her pink edgy lips curved into an elegant smile as she noticed the hibiscus flowers blooming at one end of the garden. It was a lovely morning with birds chirping on the branches of the old banyan tree. With it's branches spreading wide, casting it's shadow as far as it could, it felt like a wise guardian looking over all the smaller plantation around it. Mrs Malik enjoyed breathing in fresh air.
It was after such a long time that she was enjoying some peace and quiet. Manal, Maria and Mona were at school and the little one, Asim had now started going to nursery. Her husband was at work. Having the house all to herself, she thought of planning to pamper herself for some time or maybe enjoy a classic romance novel. She missed having some 'me time'.
Suddenly, the door bell rang taking her by surprise. Her eyebrows knotted in confusion. Keeping her cup down on the table she wondered who that may be. It must be Safia, she thought as she got up to get the door. She recalled making plans with her friend for a day at the spa.
To her surprise, it was her husband, Mr Malik. He looked pale and worn out. The dark circles under his eyes had grown darker. He mumbled a salam as he walked past her.
"Walaikumusalam. How come you're home so early? You only left a while ago", she inquired.
"Just give me a minute", he said heading towards their bedroom. Mrs Malik waited until he had changed and freshened up.
"Should I get you something?", she asked as soon as he emerged from the bedroom.
"I... I...", he looked for words but he couldn't form any. His mind wasn't functioning properly anymore. Everything was over. Everything. Noticing his change of behaviour Mrs Malik asked him to sit down and have a glass of water.
After gulping down the water and quenching his thurst, he took a moment until he finally spoke up. "I need to talk to you about something, but before I tell you anything I want you to know that everything's going to be fine"
"You're scaring me", her heart raced due to fear, "What is it?"
Mr Malik told her the entire situation. She went into a state of shock for a while. For a moment she thought it was a nightmare she'd wake up from any minute now. But it was reality, a harsh reality. A stream of tears flowed down from her eyes. She wept and wept in the arms of her husband. They were going to lose everything they once thought was all theirs. But what made her heartbreak was the fact that her children would have to witness this dark reality.
Mr Malik tried to make her feel hopeful. He tried his best to calm her down. They had to keep sane to plan ahead, to face their challenge, to stay strong no matter how hard it got.
The hardest part was to break the news to the kids. They were to break the bad news to the kids after dinner. They didn't know how the kids would take it. Especially Manal, she was old enough to understand the realities of life but she wasn't mature enough neither were the rest of the kids.
"Are you kidding pa?", Manal asked, "It's one of your lame joke isn't it? Gah, live in another house in another neighbourhood? Yeah right. Nice one"
"I'm serious Manal. Explain it to her please", he turned to Mrs Malik.
"Look dear, your pa isn't joking. There has been some issue at work. We won't be able to live in this house anymore because it's the company's. We've gotta give it back. But don't worry. Pa has a solution. Don't you?", she turned to Mr Malik.
"Yes. We'll rent another place. It might not be like this place but we'll manage for sometime. Until we find a better place In Sha Allah"
"In sha Allah", Mrs Malik smiled trying to revive her daughter's hope.
Manal's face went pale. What did her father meant by 'not like this place'? Where were they going? A fear crept into her heart followed by anger. She didn't want to go anywhere.
"No!", hitting her hands on the table, she rushed to her room banging her door behind her.
She wasn't going to leave this place no matter what.
_____
Surah Kahf 45-46
وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَاءٍ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الْأَرْضِ فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا تَذْرُوهُ الرِّيَاحُ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا -
And present to them the example of the life of this world, [its being] like rain which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it and [then] it becomes dry remnants, scattered by the winds. And Allah is ever, over all things, Perfect in Ability.
الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا -
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope.
____
Asalamualaikum wa rehmatullahi wa barakatuhu
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