ACTS TWENTY ONE
Hazeemah is busy performing her zhur prayer next to her desk when her desk telephone ringing repeatably but she focus on her prayer, in a blink of an eye, m.k showed up angrily but Hazeemah focus on her prayer while the employees that walk pass them, pay their respect to him and leave but he ignores them instead and focus on Hazeemah angrily patiently waiting for her to round up her solat.
Hazeemah: (after praying, she rest her back at the wall sadly)
m.k: are you going to answer me or what? arent you done?
Hazeemah: (wipe her face with hands and get up to fold her prayer mat) I’m sorry sir (sadly look down)
m.k: you are pissing me off these days and you know it.
Hazeemah: I’m sorry sir (lower her gaze)
m.k: what’s wrong? Why the sad face?
Hazeemah: nothing sir.
m.k: meet me in my office right now. (head back to his office)
Hazeemah: okay sir (follows him)
m.k: (get seated) speak!
Hazeemah: about what sir?
m.k: what’s with the innocent face since morning.. because this isn’t you.
Hazeemah: its nothing sir. I’m just a little bit stress and I need some rest that’s all.
m.k: well you cant take any leave till after a year. the best I can do is to just give you less work today till your regain your strength.
Hazeemah: (sadly speak) thank you sir.
m.k: will you just stop this sir!! it annoying!
Hazeemah: I’m sorry sir.
m.k: (glance at her)
Hazeemah: (tries to control her emotions) I’m sorry.
m.k: (exhale softly) come have a seat.
Hazeemah: (force to raise her head up in surprise) sir?
m.k: you heard me!
Hazeemah: I’m fine like this sir.
m.k: I said! (pause for a while waiting for her to take action but she didn’t leave her spot)
(suddenly the team leaders barge into his office)
Mrs. Fashola, Reem and Abdullahi: sir! we’ve found a solution.
m.k: really? Let me see…should we all go to the conference room or stay here.
Mrs. Fashola, reem and abdullahi: (answers chorusly) here will be better sir.
Hazeemah: (stand by the door)
m.k: okay then go on.
Mrs. Fashola: (clear her throat) the problem comes from the architecture team and survey team. (drop the A3 of the design construction of the foundation) over here.. there should be enough filling but there wasn’t. to cut the story short.. some side need to be demolish sir so the necessary filling can be done.. and as the engineering team leader.. we have gotten a better solution (she drop the second paper on his desk)
m.k: ( grab it and go through it) interesting! Now that’s what I’m talking about wont the demolishing affect the level of the building? It is possible to demolish some part? You know the building is still fresh and not strong enough.
abdullahi: that’s true sir..and that’s also another advantage.. so that when rebuilding the planned demolished part.. it will rhyme with the rest afterward.
Reem: I agree with him.
Mrs. Fashola: same here sir.
m.k: hmmm in that case, we are going to the site right now.. gather all the files and documents.. meetings will be held there with builders.
Reem: got it sir.
They were about to take a step to leave the office, Hazeemah suddenly speak up.
Hazeemah: I wouldn’t advice such plan sir.. it easy to say but there will be a great disaster if you follow that plan.
Everyone in the office turn to her in surprised.
Mrs. Fashola: what did you say?
m.K: (rest back on his chair) why do you think so?
Hazeemah: I know this is not my place to speak but I want to give the precautions. So I need your permission to step forward sir.
Reem: (thinking) what is she doing?
m.k: go ahead (focus all his attention on her)
Hazeemah: (exhale softly) based on what you three come up with. The solution is a very bad idea and will not only lead to losses it will affect the neighborhood costing their lives and properties. What we are building is more a sky scapper. 30 story building and you want to demolish a cold building? I wouldn’t advise that. What ever the problem come from.. target that particular spot and fill in the solution.. the building is yet to be filled with enough oxygen or should I say air to help it stand firmly. So imagine trying to demolish part of it. it will cause a great disaster to everyone. You can go there again and inspect the particular problem and think of any other solution but this particular solution is a very bad idea. For another record. Have you forgotten, we need to consider the weather as well and we are in rainy season. There could be nothing more worse than that sir.
Everyone take a deep breath as they finally digest what she said.
Abdullahi: why didn’t we think about this in the first place?
m.k: (smile) alright then. Hazeemah, get the staff bus ready. We all are going there right now.
Hazeemah: okay sir (gently walks out of the office)
Reem: I’m Impressed.
Abdullahi: wallohi nima! (I swear me as well) kai! Tabirgeni (I’m impressed)
m.k: what are you still waiting for?
Mrs. Fashola: (lost in thought)
15 minutes after
All the employees are set ready to move as the staff boss is filled with them. M.k is about to enter his car as the door is open by his driver. Then m.k sighted Hazeemah stand by the front door.
m.k: yo! Whats the problem? Arent you going? what are you trying to do this time? Cause a scene again?
Hazeemah: (move closer to him and whisper in a weak tone) I don’t feel so good sir, I wish I could come with you but I don’t have the strength anymore. Please don’t be offended.
m.k: (notice her weak body, he enters his car and failed to respond as they car drive out of the company follow by the staff bus)
Hazeemah: (still standing) well… I will take that as a yes (turn around and enter the company, she reach her desk and fall her head on the table panting heavily)
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Later in the evening
4: 23pm
It already closing hours. All the employees were signing out leaving for home one after the other. On the other side Is the returning of the staff bus as the employees get down one after the other heading back into the company to sign out and pack their things before heading home. M.k is accompany into the company buy his driver.
m.k: (pause as he sights Hazeemah resting her head on her desk) wait for me in the car.
Driver: okay sir (turn around and leave)
m.k: (closer and inspect her for a while) A.Z!!!
Hazeemah: (she wake up and breaks down in tears immediately in a weak tone, struggling to lift her head)
m.k: is everything alright?
Hazeemah: (realize his presence and hurriedly wipe her tears and force herself up) welcome sir.. (trying to control herself)
m.k: (realize she is serioiusly ill) what are you still doing here?
Hazeemah: sorry sir. I was just waiting for the closing hour. (hurriedly touch the desk to control her balance)
m.k: you don’t look okay at all. So go home, it already closing hour.
Hazeemah: okay sir.
m.k: take care (about to open his office door, he heard a sound and quickly turn around and behold, he found Hazeemah on the floor unconscious, he quickly run to her aid) A.Z!! Hazeeemah!!
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3 hours after
Hazeemah: (finally gain her consciousness but everywhere is look blurr at first)
Hajia shukroh: she is awake!! Alhamdulilah! Doctor!!
Alhaji nurudeen: (move closer to her) welcome my dear, how are you feeling now?
Hazeemah: ( still confused) where am i?
Hajia shukroh: hospital! Thank you for waking up.. ahh! After three hours of multiple drip given to you.. alhamdulilah (getting emotional)
Hazeemah: (tries to sit up but all her body ache and she groan in pain)
Alhaji nurudeen: don’t get up!
Hazeemah: (sight her father and breaks down in tears)
Hajia shukroh: (worried) why are you crying again? subhanallah! Are you hurt somewhere?
Hazeemah: (her cries increases)
Suddenly hazeemah’s elder brothers enters at once panting heavily
Abdulsalam: what happened to her?
Abdulhakeem: (move closer to her ) how are you feeling better dear?
Hajia shukroh: she just woke up after three hours.
Abdulsalam: whats the diagnose?
Hajia shukroh: severe typhoid and malaria that’s all.
Abdulhakeem (notice she is crying silently) who made her cry again? Hazeemah! What happened.
Hazeemah: (her cries voice increases)
Abdulsalam: last born and their annoying behavior.
m.k: (seat far from there and watch everything while his driver stands close to him) so these are hazeemah’s family? but why wont she stops crying?
Hajia shukroh: boys! You need to talk to your father to allow her rest from this marriage issues. Look at my daughter, she is losing a lot of weight due to too much pressure. Talk to your father o. because I have been quiet for a while now and if I should roar back. Not even him can handle the outcome.. I don’t want anyone to remind me of my labor pain. Just take a look at her. she wouldn’t stop crying.
Abdulhakeem: (wipe her tears) stop crying like a baby.. she need food to gain her strength.
Hazeemah: I’m not hungry, I just want to be alone…
Abdulsalam: since you said she was rushed to hospital from her working place. Are you sure that her boss doesn’t stress her too much? As in look at my her.. I could imagine how she will look under that hijab. She looks like someone that barely eat one meal a day. if I later finds out that it her boss stressing her this much. He has no idea of whats coming for him.
Hajia shukroh: (drag his clothes) stop saying that, her boss is….(whispering)
m.k: (get up and move closer to them) uhmm. Sorry to interrupt the family sir. I wish I could stay longer but I have to be on my way now. And please if you need anything. Don’t hesitate to call me sir. (moves closer to Hazeemah) you will be fine okay?
Hazeemah: (hurriedly wipe her tears and turn away and cover her crying face)
m.k: take care. Goodnight everyone (takes his leave)
hajia shukroh: (hits Abdulsalam’s head) I told you to keep quiet.. that’s her boss.
Abdulhakeem and abdulsalam: her what now?
Alhaji nurudeen: you never told me your boss is a young man.
Hajia shukroh: so now you are going to discuss again? in her condition? Why are you so mean? Why?
Abdulhakeem: okay please lets give her some space to rest.. Abu, please can we see you for a moment?
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