All The Way From Home

chapter 28

5 years later

Firdaus's pov

It's December 5th and its just a week left for me to get married to Mubarak . It's been 5 years but i can still remember everything that happened the day I got to see him like it was yesterday

I'm finally a doctor and its been the best experience I've had my entire life. I'm a pediatrician and I love my job with kids

Rukkayah works too , but she tied the knot with some guy last year and she's now a mama . I'm so proud of her

Halima and her umma are now back here in Nigeria completely . I was so happy when she came back and now we get to catch up everyday
We even work at the same hospital . Except that she's an optician so we only get to see each other after the days work

The house has been so crowded with family and friends and I find it difficult to even have some alone time . Mubarak has been really busy with his job and we hardly even meet , that guy will never change

I honestly expected by now I'd start to feel something for him but i still don't . I visited his work place recently because he suggested that I do ...and from the way his authoritative aura made his workers act when he wasaround , I just didn't like it

He's into his work too much it reminds me of how abbu was before.
He's too serious and hardly finds a joke in what some people would laugh at when i do or tell them..I just take it that he's hard to read , understand and hard to open up to me even when I'm about to be his wife

I pray everything turns out well

Going through the tv channels as this being the only chance I might get to watch today without anyone coming to remind me about me being the bride to be

I mistakenly switch to a news channel and knowing I don't watch news , I decided to remove it . But then i see someone , oh Allah it's ...haneef ?!

I adjust my sitting position and increase the volume just so i hear every word of his very well
It looks like he was being interviewed by the press conference?!

Well I never doubted him in anyway but it's just so surprising...I'm so happy to see him

"What are your success habits ...."
One of the press conference guy asks

Oh my God....haneef is now a successful man

On the highlights its written "one of the successful young man in Africa cuts the ribbon to his new empire"

I continue to watch and I hear haneef replying to all the crowded conference people

He's still the same but time has changed his appearance a lot . He's looking really masculine now with beard evident all on his face and he's wearing a suit looking so smart

"......being focused , keeping a goal , praying and working hard . That's all it requires "
Haneef answers the first press man in a very confident manner

I can't believe this is haneef

"Are you hiring ?"
Another press guy asks

"Yes I'm , I give internships and jobs . They're all available "
He answers again while I still wonder what kind of confidence doze he's on

"When did you consider yourself a successful? "
Press guy 3 asks

They're asking too much questions

"People define success differently . For instance , wealth accumulation, increased free time , life style options and creating social impact ...."

He stops like he wants to say something but at the same time doesn't . Then looks well at the camera and continues

"......but I can't really say i consider myself successful,It's still incomplete me . I want to have something that fame , money and being successful cant buy and I hope I get her one day"

He smiles bitterly at the end of his sentence and it leaves me mouth hanging open

Is he referring to me ?

He quickly starts to rush his way through the crowd to get to his car while his guards help hold the press still asking for more questions

I guess he's really holding something in his heart and something tells me its me

Don't be foolish Firdaus...it's been five years already. He's moved on

But the question is do I want him to move on ? I've been avoiding this topic even with halima but truly I miss him and it hurts that he had to hear about my wedding this way

I wish I could explain it to him that I didnt want to but i didn't have a choice either .....

"Firdaus !"

Yep ...I got fished out
Me time is completely over

"Na'am "
I answer and stand up from my sitting position rushing to the voice I guess to be helwa

There's a whole lot of people in the house and its been so noisy you could merely have some peace and quiet

The first event is starting on Monday and thank God it's a three day event wedding

Why ?
Because Mubarak is the groom and he obviously knows nothing when it comes to lossening up a bit even when it's his own wedding !

Well, I don't have much of a problem with it but halima and ruqqayah have been ranting about it since the day he spoke to ammi and abbu about it

They planned on making it epic and he party pooped it for them

................

Haneefs pov

It's been 5 years now
5 years since when i lost the love of my life to someone who is my rival at business

I don't take him to be but he takes me to be

Firdaus muhammad is getting married to him in a week to come and she knows nothing about me liking her

I find it saddening that all what we had even as friends is going to end and its been five years since when i saw her ...I'd do anything to be with her now

I'm to meet the press conference today for the Grand opening of my new business empire that skyrocketed and all thanks to Allah

Knowing I have a place like it makes me feel old and truly I have aged

During the press conference, questions were asked and it was a lot but i got to answer some
And one of them just had to ask something ive never wanted to say to anyone talk less of the press

He asked if I considered myself successful
And i answered truly saying the one thing I would want Firdaus to know

That I'll only feel complete with her
That I'll only know that I'm successful when she's with me and I call it "our empire " instead of mine

That's what i want her to know

Umma and halima are now back in Nigeria and I'm really glad they are . Umma has been really worried about my condition and she knows its Firdaus but i still don't want to admit it to her

If she's marrying then i think its also time to let go

I close my eyes at the bitter thought and a drop of tears falls from my eye and I open it to look outside the window of the back seat of the car and wonder if i can truly let go