SOMEONE LIKE FATIMAH

CHAPTER 4: THE PREP

CHAPTER 4: THE PREP

Lagos, Nigeria.

Fatimah had gotten up so early in the morning, feeling the exhaustion of the past one week all over her body. She had returned back to Lagos the previous night after spending ten days with her parents in Kano.

The vacation wasn't one she enjoyed. She never expected what she had always anticipated from her parents would come this early. When she told her father she had no one in mind, she meant it. Fatimah had always been focused and career driven, she considered a guy in life at that moment a distraction coupled with the fact that she had always felt she couldn't get the kind of guy she wanted, that she deserved.

Fatimah walked into the office, trying to force a smile on her face as she pushed open the glass door...... "Hello"...... she said with a broad smile.

Aaliyah who was seated with her head buried and her eyes fixed on her computer screen looked up immediately she heard Fatimah's voice and got up immediately. She hugged Fatimah so tight as they both felt the joy of her resumption at work.

"Its so good to see, thank God you are back, i have been cracking my brain this past few days to get things straight with this project, especially the logistics"...... Aaliyah said so fast, sounding exhausted.

"So whats the problem?"..... Fatimah said dropping her bag immediately and looking at the screen.

"Ok workaholic, lets dive right in"........ Aaliyah said, not at all looking surprised by Fatimah's action of not taking a minute to settle in.

"I don't know what i would do without you, we do everything together that i can't even work alone now"......Aaliyah said and they both laughed.

Fatimah so badly wanted to distract herself from her reality, the reality of her being engaged and about to be married in a few weeks. She wanted so badly to talk to Aaliyah about but couldn't, because between them it had always been professional, they talked mostly about work and a few times about social happenings, and not personal life that happens outside the office.

At about 4pm, Fatimah picked her laptop bag, her hand bag and headed to the exit.... "You leaving early today, you are usually here till 6pm, something wrong?"....... Aaliyah asked as she was entering the reception and saw Fatimah leaving.

"Yes actually i have a few errands i have to run, i have to go to the Island and i didn't drive today because you know Mondays and hold up"..... She said squinting a bit.

"Jadaah is everything ok?"....Aaliyah asked, using the surname basis on me, which is something they did when so serious.

"Yea, see you tomorrow Tafida".....Fatimah said replying her with the surname basis too.

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The serenity of the environment, the freshness of the breeze and the sways with which the trees carried the rich green leaves made Fatimah forget her troubles for a while. She got down from the uber and headed to the door step. She checked her phone again to make sure she was at the right address. 'Island Emirates Estate block 7A', she read out loud before pressing on the door bell. She waited patiently for a minute before pressing it again....

"Coming"..... A voice said from the inside. She waited patiently for about 30 seconds before the door was flung open.

"Can i help you?"..... A lady in her mid 20s said immediately she saw her.

Fatimah looked at the Yoruba looking lady a bit shocked and checked her phone again to make sure she was for sure at the right address.

"Is this Sabeeha Amaal house please"..... Fatimah asked politely.