BY ZEE ASLAM
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
Bello was perplexed by the woman Farida was becoming. In the past few years she was married to him, she appeared to be like a sheep that allowed others tell her what to do.
On top of that, everything she did, revolved around him but he noticed……ever since they separated, she was no longer the Farida he used to know.
He watched speechlessly as the young girl opened the bedside drawer and picked huge sum of money, dressed up and left.
He couldn’t stop thinking about the words Farida had said to him, words that seemed to have hidden meaning.
Meanwhile after Farida left that house, she pulled out her phone and dialed Khaleel’s contact. She wanted to meet him regarding the payment, her mother’s health matters alot.
She got to the company and walked straight to his office. After the exchange of pleasantries, she tabled her request and he listened keenly.
“Your mother will be fine In Sha Allah”! he said.
They discussed about the payment and came to a mutual conclusion.
“My ex manager contacted me yesternight, he wants me to make a comeback in the fashion industry” she uttered.
Khaleel had totally forgotten Farida was once a top model and had featured in his company’s cover page before she became his permanent secretary.
He stared at her like he was trying to figure out something but then shook his head and said, ‘I have no reason whatsoever to object to this, if it’s okay by you, then fine. I wish you all the best’.
Farida smiled, atleast his words of encouragement and permission are enough to see her through.
She left after they had set a date for their engagement.
As Farida walked on the street, memories of the past came running through her mind.
She remembered with great fondness, the first time she had met the first man in her life.
It was on a Saturday afternoon and she had been rushing out of a pharmacy when she used her last cash to purchase drugs for her mother.
At the pavement of the pharmacy, she had clumsily tripped and fallen squarely into the arms of an exceptionally tall man who was coming into the pharmacy.
She couldn’t help but notice the fitted dark blue retro suit which complimented the masculine body.
Underneath and out of the front chest pocket, the corner of a wine red handkerchief could be seen peering out subtly.
Glancing down, Farida could see a pair of perfectly straight legs leading to a pair of freshly polished brown leather shoes which glistened in the sun.
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“Hey ma’am watch your way”! The voice was deep and pleasant.
Perhaps he held her there a little longer than was necessary or she had just imagined it. She was only 19 then.
In the quest of arresting her fall, the drugs found their ways into a drainage close by.
He steadied her on the feet and he was surprised to see tears on her cheek.
“Why the tears”? He asked surprised.
She pointed at the drainage and he saw the drugs she had purchased lying there soaked.
“It’s alright, come let’s get another one” he said and held her hand into the pharmacy.
Afterwards, he drove her room.
For the rest of the day and far into the night, Bello couldn’t stop thinking of Farida. It was love at first sight! So he thought.
That accidentally meeting resulted to a friendship, their friendship grew into courtship and then to marriage.
Something stirred in the air and her mind was switched back into the present.
She lifted her head and realized she had been walking on the street absentmindedly, she was standing in front of their gate.
She pushed open the gate and walked in. Just then a call came in, it was her ex manager calling.
“Am calling in respect to what we discussed yesternight, have you made up your mind”? He asked.
“Yes I have, am ready to have a comeback”. She marveled.
“Congratulations in advance, I guess you know there are alot to catch up with. A dinner to celebrate your comeback wouldn’t be asking for too much right”? He asked and she shook her head like he was there to see her.
“Okay let me know the time and address”
After telling her the location and time, he hung up the call.
Once a famous model in the fashion industry, few years ago, she quits and signed in as a secretary in another company resulting to her being blacklisted.
Farida had her breakfast and lay on the bed.
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As she solicited for sleep, recent and past memories rushed back to her like a flood over a river bank. “Can one escape one’s destiny”.
After Farida left Khaleel’s office, he kept pondering on the last discussion they had.
Why does he feel jealous when she made mention of having a comeback in the fashion industry?
Why does he feel like he shouldn’t have given her a-go-ahead?
Why does he feel she should just remain by his side and nothing more?
“Aren’t all this mainly infatuations”!
Khalid came into the office and he told him about his worries.
“See let me tell you something, forget about this is a contract marriage, if you allow her get influential then she is going to be beyond your control” he brainwashed him.
“But we have promised to stay off each other’s personal life and it’s written there in the contract” Khaleel complained.
“And so”?
“Guy, if I were you, I would not allow her sign into the fashion industry again, I mean when she start seeing money and fame now, she will want to be the one in control, you don’t know women fa! They are the most complicated species on the planet earth. “Khalid added”.
