Muhammad woke up feeling drained,his room was a mess, papers, paint and canvass. He still had his  office clothes on,he must have dozed off while drawing. He walked to his table and placed his devices firmly where they belonged.

He checked the time on his watch,7:00am, just wow,he was definitely late for work. He took another look round his Arabian themed room wondering if he should call a maid to clean it up but decided against it,it was against his policy,he was going to do it when he returned.

His room was his art gallery, he had just a bed,a table where he placed all his books and then the pictures of his mum all over, though she was late,she was his muse and he couldn't help but miss her each day.

After having a long shower,he picked his already ironed suit and drove off to work

"Good morning sir" His staffs kept greeting him from the door. He knew it was right but sometimes their greetings felt too much.

"Sir you look good on this suit" His PA complimented him. Grace was a free spirited person,the reason why Muhammad was close to her than any other staff and she wasn't like other female staffs that wouldn't stop sending love messages and signals to him.

"Thanks Grace and you look dashing equally"He added a wink. Her red gown did nothing to conceal her curves and then it blended so well with her light skin,no one could call her ugly no matter how much they wanted.

"Sir you wouldn't want my boyfriend to get his hands on you" She chuckled as she pushed the flick of her blocking her face.

"I'll be ready to take any beating for you" He teased and that made them erupt into low laughter.

Just then his father appeared with a scowl on his face. He gave Grace a downgrading look while Grace pretended to be very busy with the computer before her.

Muhammad swallowed the lump of saliva and followed his father closely.

Alahaji Sani was a serious man, too serious in Muhammad's opinion,his life was patterned and his life revolved around his business. The only thing Muhammad knew he inherited from his dad was the height and hair for his dad was dark while Muhammad was on the lighter side.

"Do you think I achieved everything I have achieved by playing around with my staffs?" hid father's plummy voice asked.

" I wasn't messing around with her Baba, I was only being friendly"Muhammad explained.

" Why would you be friendly with your staffs,you are here strictly for business, don't you know you lose your respect by playing with them"

" I'm sorry baba,it will never happen again" Muhammad apologised quietly, he was already tired of the conversation.

"Walahi if I catch you with any staff, I'll sack and teach you a lesson"His father threatened,they were in front of the office of the board of directors, Muhammad opened the door for his dad and they both walked in. Everyone important was already seated. Muhammad took his seat close to Kassim his brother.

The meeting began in earnest and Muhammad was soon bored after an hour,board meetings were never his kind of meetings,he took out the papers hidden under his files and started sketching,he was so engrossed that he didn't notice when he was called to give the reports about the acquisition of new lands in rural areas.

Kassim had to nudge his brother,only then did Muhammad comport himself,it took a little shuffling before he found the right papers,he could feel the intensity of his father's glare at him, disappointment and anger.

After the meeting, his father left without a word.

Once Muhammad got home and met his father and step mother on the couch,he knew he was in for lots of trouble.

"When were you supposed to see doctor Yahaya?" His father asked. Dr Yahaya was Muhammad's personal doctor.

" Last week but I promise to go tomorrow" Muhammad said quietly.

" Really? What happened today at the office?"

" It was a mistake father"Muhammad was truly remorseful.

" How old are you?"

Muhammad stared at his father and then at his step mother and then his father again,what was  with him and asking weird questions.

"28" He answered none the less.

"I think it's time you get married,you need a woman that knows of your state,your health and that would take your mind off that stupid hobby of yours"

" But father I'm fine,I don't want a wife,in fact I don't need a wife,am doing just fine on my own"Muhammad argued.

" We will see about that"Alahaji Sani concluded with a tone of finality. Muhammad turned to see if he could plead with his step mother but the chubby woman stood up and followed her husband.

***

Muhammad have been to Dr Yahaya's office countless times on different occasions. The man doubled as a psychologist too, he often advised Muhammad while he was undergoing treatment. The place was still the same, smelling of disinfectant and looking white and boring,he hated hospitals a lot.

On the walls were different charts but the one that stood out most was the labelling of the different parts of the ear, the pinna,auditory canal,eardrum, malleus,incus,stapes and cochlea. They were well explained too.

Muhammad darted around other charts too until Dr Yahaya arrived. He was dark,had a little potbelly and he scar on his cheeks,he couldn't be described as tall, just enough height to place things on a cupboard. He was probably in his 40's. Muhammad always found his Harry Potter glasses funny cos it always made his round face more pronounced.

"I was expecting you last week" Dr Yahaya plopped on his seat.

" I was busy,I joined a book club too,I think I'm finally going to settle down in this city"Muhammad told him while twirling a random pen he saw on the mahogany desk covered with books.

"That's a nice one,am proud of you" Dr Yahaya beamed.

" Thank you"

" So how are you coping with your new device?"Dr Yahaya asked.

" They are perfect,thank you for finding just the perfect ones"

There was a brief silence before Muhammad cleared his throat.

"Doctor I know my dad respects you a lot and that's why I want to ask you for a favor"Muhammad studied the face of the doctor and prayed he listened.

"Ok,go on" The doctor encouraged.

"So, my dad is bent on getting me a wife,I need you to convince him that I'm doing fine without one,I don't want a wife"Muhammad pleaded.

" But a wife is a nice idea,I mean,she could be your companion and she'll help you with your health"

" I'm not disabled!"Muhammad tried hard not to yell,his fists were already clutched.

"Hey" Dr Yahaya raised his hand.
"I understand you. I'll see what I can do. Just keep doing great and am solidly behind you"Dr Yahaya assured him with a smile.

***
The dictionary explained sleep as a state of reduced consciousness during which a human or animal rests in a daily rhythm.

To Ebere,her definition of it was a state whereby she was at peace and totally out of the world which unfortunately she always had to wake up from.

She hated being roused from sleep and thus for Amanda to wake her up then it was something serious.

"What is the problem?" Ebere grumbled while rubbing her eyes.

"Dad asked me to tell you to fix his  front tyres, his leaving in 30 minutes"Amanda relayed the information.

Ebere struggled to keep her temper in check,she stood up sluggishly and left Amanda standing there

Fixing the car tyres wasn't the problem but waking her up from her sleep was annoying. After fixing it,she strolled around doing her chores and finally settled for breakfast. Amanda was already munching her own bread and egg. Their mum had gone out to attend to her flourishing restaurant business.

With her phone in hand, Ebere kept picking her food while scrolling through things on her phone.

"You look moody and angry,why?" Amanda asked, concern laced in her voice.

" I'm fine,just not in the mood to talk" Ebere answered. Normally they both talked about everything and anything,from books to boys, movies, celebrities and gossips.

"But why,I wanted telling you the story of one girl in my class that sent love letter to Uche"Her bread was dropped now as her eyes twinkled with joy,no one could gist like Amanda.

"Which Uche? And who still sends love letter in this age and in SS 3"Ebere furrowed her eyesbrows in confusion as she bit into her bread.

" The boy at church,the cute one I told you is my classmate and the head boy and don't mind that village girl"Amanda explained and Ebere remembered at once.

" So the letter mistakenly dropped in our class and the class most foolish boy picked it up and started reading out loud,it was at that point our mathematics teacher walked in"Amanda paused for dramatic effect.

" The matter almost got to the principal,we had to beg this man,at the end he punished her severely"Amanda concluded.

" Girls of nowadays are becoming really bold, well that's her cup of groundnut,I'll be in my room,I need to finish reading a book before attending my book club meeting"

" Ok,I'll just be in my room too,I'll just go ahead and start reading and reviewing past questions"Amanda replied

" Yes,very important"Ebere encouraged.

"And make sure you actually study cos I know you are happy the girl was caught, don't think about it too much, remember it's books before boys"Ebere told her baby sister who tried hard not to be flustered.

"Yes ma"

****
Blue was the color of the clear sky or the deep blue sea,the color between green and violet on the visible spectrum. That exactly was the color of eyes that met hers once she stepped into room 106.

"Hi" She said and he smiled.

"Ebere,how are you doing?" His husky voice was really low now.

" I'm good. You are quite early if I  must say" Ebere commented,they had 15 minutes more before the meeting kicked off.

"I've not spent up to three minutes here though and moreover I was less busy too"He directed his attention to his glimmering wristwatch. This time he was wearing a white caftan.

"What about you,what made you come early?" He asked,she was already sitting down close to the window.

"I really hate being late to meetings and stuffs like that"

" I remembered the first time I came here,you were 5 minutes late" He reminded her.

" Just that once"She rolled her eyes at him which made him chuckle. Ebere checked around the room and noticed snacks and drinks stacked at a corner of the room,she threw a quizzical look at Muhammad who cleared his throat repeatedly and ran his hands over his hair.

"I actually brought them for the other members, do you think they'll like it?"He asked like a little boy at this point.

" Of course, why not? Personally your act is really thoughtful. Thank you on behalf of our team"Her mock bow made him laugh.... Again

" So what do you do for a living,are you a business tycoon or a model or a TV presenter or a fashion designer?"Muhammad trailed off,he only kept quiet when he noticed Ebere had a silly face on.

"What?" He asked.

"Weren't you in the company of your father when you came to the bank where I work?"

Realization crept in his eyes and he facepalmed himself

"God,I totally forgot. I was actually shocked seeing you there"

" Why?"Ever asked at the same time trying to keep her bag steady.

"I just didn't imagine you working as a banker" He said truthfully.

" Are you trying to say am not smart enough to work in a bank?"Ebere feigned an angry face.

" Oh Allah,I never meant such"He was even post of words.

"I'm really sorry" At this point,his accent came out real strong,a mixture of Hausa and Arabic.

A smile crept on Ebere's face and soon she was laughing.

"Come on,I was only pulling your legs"

"It didn't seem like it"Relief was washed over his face. They both fell into comfortable silence, only the sound of the fan, shuffling of feet's and humming from Ebere was heard.

"Why do you always wear caftans?" Ebere asked breaking the silence. Muhammad shot her a confused look

"I mean, I've never seen you in any other thing apart from them,why?"

His blue eyes seem to shine whenever he wanted laughing.

"You don't go to the office with me,do you? I just like them,I have a lot of them and they are also comfortable so I wear them"He explained

" Okay"

Just then the doors went open and the president walked in, while still exchanging pleasantries,more people walked in and the meeting began in earnest.

At the end of the meeting,they decided to take photographs which the president agreed to send to everyone on WhatsApp.

Ebere didn't have time to bid him   good bye,it seemed she was not the only fascinated by his eyes.

***
I want to say a big thank you to everyone reading this book.
Please tell people about this book, that's what keeps me writing and updating, imagine writing a lengthy chapter and you have low reads, you'll not feel motivated to write anymore
So keep reading, voting, commenting and adding it to your book list.

How do you see this chapter 😊