UNDER 168 HOURS [BOOK 1, 168 HOURS SERIES]

Chapter 38: A New Boss

Everything happened do fast. Mr. Abdullahi left the house angrily so, Zainab wasn't happy too. She didn't want Ibrahim and Isah to get in trouble. It was all Idris's fault but he seemed happy about it.

"The truth wins at the end no matter what." He tells Zainab but she hissed at him.

Why did you do that? Do you have to tell Dad about everything that happened? After I begged you not to say a word

"I did that because I care for you, See. Don't take it serious, please."

"You wouldn't have told Dad if you truly cared. Now I see I mean nothing to you. Just leave me alone now, I don't want anymore trouble." She warned him and left his sight.

On her way to the kitchen to prepare dinner, she met Ibrahim. He walked up to her and stopped her from passing.

"I see you're now happy now, Zee. But let me tell you what? You won't last long in this house, I'll make sure of that!" He blurted and pushed her away. Idris held her from falling but she quickly pulled away. Ibrahim eyed them angrily and walked away.

He would have beat Idris up or told him something but it would make their mum mad if she hears about it. So, he decided to bury it within himself till she comes.

"Come on, See. Let's go." Idris grabbed her hand and drew her into the kitchen but she pulled back immediately they got there.

"What is is again Idris? I said you should leave me alone!" She warned.

"What did I do wrong, Zee? Why are you frustrated with me? You're so ungrateful... Shouldn't you be thankful?"

"You just made things worse and you're asking me to be thankful?! I hate you!..."

"Whatever!" Idris cursed under his breath and walked up to the since to wash up the dirty dishes.

"We're friends and siblings after all, Zee. There's nothing wrong in defending you right?" He smiled at her but she hissed at him, concentrating on preparing Spaghetti for dinner.

***

Back To Zaria..

Humaira started work and everything was fine. Mrs. Bridget, her new boss offered to pay her #20,000 monthly as per her new salary and it made her even happier. It's clear that Mrs. Bridget was a very nice and kind hearted woman. Every afternoon, she gives Humaira #200 for lunch, but Humaira spends only #50 and keeps the rest into her saving box.

It's as if the baby was going to break the curse after all. All in Humaira's mind was that Zainab would be fine with the Bala's. Perhaps, she's lucky to stay with a very nice family like theirs. What she needed to do now was to concentrate on herself and her unborn child.

Humaira, offered to do the cleaning of the shopping complex every three hours and to sell as well. She attended to the customers very nicely and Mrs. Bridget was happy to find herself an hardworking girl like Humaira.

After a week of working, Humaira begged Mrs. Bridget why she was working, after all. To pay her tuition fees and probably get a small house to rent outside the Campus.

"Why don't you stay here, instead." Mrs. Bridget suggested.

"Ma? You mean... I should live here?"
Humaira questioned back, excitedly.

"Yes, why not?" Mrs. Bridget smiled."isn't here wide enough?"

"No, it's not that. I mean... Here is beautiful, thank you ma!" Humaira jerked in excitement.

She couldn't believe her boss would allow her sleep in a place as gorgeous as that. There was ceiling fan and the place was fully air conditioned. There are crescent bulbs everywhere and one huge plasma television was hung by the corner of the entrance. They also had a bathroom and a toilet within the building so, everything was set and perfect.

"Thank you so much ma. I can't thank you enough, seriously."

"Don't worry. Just continue being a good girl that you are and I promise to help you as much as I can. Hard-work pays. Never forget this." Mrs. Bridget advised.

"Thank you ma. I'll definitely be a good girl. I promise to offer you the best I can."

"Okay... I'll get you a new bed by weekend but for the main time. Just manage that purple mat in the store room, okay?"

"Okay ma." Humaira jerked in happiness once again as she left the office.

Mrs. Bridget smiled at Humaira's reactions once again. She didn't ask her about her parents or family but from the look of things, Mrs. Bridget already knows what Humaira was going through. The struggle of life.

As a business tycoon, Mrs. Bridget import goods from other countries as well. She isn't brought up with silver spoon in her mouth as most people would think infact, her father was a popular farmer in her village. There are days she slept with hunger and cried to sleep. It all started with when she sold pure water on the streets of Zaria, but now, she had made it big.

Meanwhile, apart from Humaira, two others worked with her. The lady she first met... Her name was Melody. And the son of her friend, whose sister had an accident. His name was Melvin.

Melody was good and kind too. She admired Humaira's sense of  intelligence and hardwork. Even though she's been working there before Humaira, she thinks Humaira in was a better worker than she ever would.

Mrs. Bridget handed the three of them her spare keys. That way, nothing would stop them from selling when she isn't around. Melody is incharge of the record keeping so everyone understands their duties well.

Melvin on the other hand was always concentrated. He's a graduate so, he just needed to do something instead of sitting at home, doing nothing. Probably, eating his parents food. He actually failed his medical exam since he studied medicine, but his mum suggested he worked with her friend instead of somewhere else.

Mrs. Bridget trusted him so much that she treats him like her own junior brother. Although she treated her employees equally, She loved Humaira the most.