Muhammad was on the phone with doctor Rose discussing some matters that needed his attention. He was given a one week leave, but due to what came up, he took a sick leave which is about two weeks but that didn't stop him from working and the doctors from asking his opinions on some matters.

He was pacing around their living room and talking in a very serious matter. "Okay I will talk to Dr zaakir." He disconnected the call.

"Ya rabbi." He stomped his foot and tossed the pen he was holding at the wall. He closed his eyes and breathed out loudly.

He sat down and held his head in his hand. "Trouble in paradise?" Muhsin asked sitting down beside him. Muhammad leaned back on the couch and looked at him. "Nahh, just work."

Muhsin kept his iPad aside and folded his arms saying "you wanna talk about it?" Muhammad chuckled and crossed his legs, "no thank you. If I wanted to talk about it, I will find someone who would understand what I am saying, no offense."

Muhsin frowned, "well offense taken."
"Sorry."
"Okay. When are you going back to work anyway?"
"What? You're tired of seeing me around or something?"
"No, just that this is the longest you have stayed at home ever since you moved. Apart from during sallah of course.

"Yes you know I took a leave for ya munira's wedding.."
"Yeah..."
"Well i was supposed to go back a week ago, but then after uncle's death, I took another leave so here I am."
"Oh, okay I understand. If you are on a leave, aren't you supposed to like really be on leave and not be in contact with the hospital until you go back?"

Muhammad cleared his voice and sat back up and said, "well yeah, actually no. As a doctor, even if you are on leave, you are not actually on leave because anything can happen at that time. So we stay in contact until we return."

"And that adds to the reasons why I do not wish to be a doctor." Muhsin stated which made Muhammad chuckle. "It's not that bad, I mean you get to save people that is just the happiest feeling in the world."

"Yeah I agree, that's the only good thing about being a doctor."
"Toh mr smart pants, why do you say that?"
"For starters you don't even have enough time for yourself.."
"I am myself at work, I find myself at work."
"You have a girlfriend right?" He asked and Muhammad raised his eyebrows in a how do you know or something way. "Oh come on you are not exactly quite about it. Yes so how does she cope with you, I mean you are always busy and stuff."

"We.. actually I don't know how we cope but we do it anyway. Now mr smart pants thank you for keeping me entertained but I've got to run." Muhammad smiled and got up. "When you want to talk, you know where to find me." Muhsin shouted from the living room and Muhammad just smiled and shook his head.

Really how do they cope? He asked himself.

He got in his car and drove out to meet his friend Sadiq. On the way, he called mimi and they spoke for a while, before she told him that her mother was asking for her and disconnected the call. He smiled and dialed hashim; his friend's number.

"Hey man." Haashim said as soon as he answered the call. "Hey, how are you!"
"I'm good, you?"
"Fine Alhamdulillah. How is work and rahila?"
"Work has been hectic, and did I tell you our wedding date has been set?" He asked happily. "No. Masha Allah when is it?" He laughed and took a turn. Haashim sounded happy as he told him that it was the 22nd of the next month, and the knot would be tied at their hometown which is Gombe.

Muhammad wished him happiness and spoke about a few things, before he disconnected the call. He then called sadiq and asked him if he was home, and he said yes. "Okay, will you like to grab something? Drink or food." Muhammad asked. Sadiq chuckled and said yes please, he was bored and tired of staying at home.

.............

It has already been a week since Baba's passing, and almost all of the people have left, except a few of their cousins and aunts. They are still trying to cope with living without a father, and their cousins were a great help Alhamdulillah.

Maryam, Aisha, rukayya and asmau(Maryam and Aisha's cousin) were at Hajiya juwairriya's( Maryam's stepmothers) side, in her kitchen making tea for themselves when she walked in.

"What is cooking?" She asked as she grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator. Aisha looked at her and smiled saying, "no it's just mint tea." She nodded pouring water in a cup from the bottle. "For us, Indomie." Maryam said pointing at herself and Rukayya.

"Did you already add the indomie because I'm so hungry." Aunty juwairriya asked taking small gulps of the water. Rukkayah shook her head and said they would make it with her. She smiled and exited the kitchen.

Maryam sighed and sat on an ottoman. "Rukky you should finish cooking it, I'm so tired." Rukayyah looked at her after she grabbed a few sauces from the drawer and said, "by finish you mean start right?"

She chuckled and nodded her head then turned to asmau who was adding mint to their tea and quickly said, "Asmee did you fetch my own water before adding that?" She pointed the mint with her head. Asmee gasped saying, "oh my God I'm sorry I totally forgot. Why can't you take it with the mint?"

"Nahh, you know I don't like flavored or scented tea. I like my tea black."
"Okay then, Should I put another pot on fire?" She asked pointing at the gas. "No just leave it, thanks."

She turned and smiled at the thought of baba. She remembered when he would tease her of being a village girl, because she only takes black tea and nothing else. She turned and smiled at the thought of baba."Maryam!!" Asmee snapped her out of her thoughts. "Yes, yes what is it?"
"I said your phone is ringing." Maryam saw all of their eyes on her. She grabbed the phone and answered it. It was an unknown number.

"Hello Maryam." A man's voice sounded from the other side. "Yes hello."
"How are you?"
"I'm fine Alhamdulillah.." she trailed off at the end consciously giving the man space to introduce himself. "It's Khalifa."

Uhghh!!

"We met at munira's wedding.."
"Oh, yeah." She folded her legs on the chair and rolled back her head. "Ya akaji da hakuri, I'm so sorry I couldn't make it." She smiled softly and said, "Alhamdulillah."
"May Allah forgive him, and may this be the end of his suffering." He prayed. "Amin ya rabbi. Thank you."

"No problem. I wanted to come and greet you in person, but I didn't know your address.."
"Yes. It's fine."
"Sure?"
"Yes, thank you once again but I have to go now."
"Alright bye, Allah ya kara hakuri."
"Amin." She said and disconnected the call. She looked up and found all of her cousins staring at her. "What?" She asked them.

"Who was it? It sounded like a man." Rukky wiggles her eyebrows stirring the indomie in. "Ughh it was Khalifa, were you guys eavesdropping on me?"

"So, Khalifa huh?" Aisha teased pulling her legs. She groaned pushing her hands off her. "So you are a thing now?." She added emphasizing on the 'thing.'

"What, who is Khalifa?" Asmee asked grasping Aisha's hand. "He is just.."
"Aisha! Drop this please." Maryam croaked, suddenly feeling like crying. Not because of what Aisha said or anything, just like that. Perhaps she hasn't recovered.

"Maryam, whats wrong?"
"Just. I need to be alone." She stood up and walked out of the kitchen to Aunty's room downstairs. No one was in the room, so she locked it and just sat by the window getting some fresh air. "Baba I miss you so much, too much." She fell back on the bed, and closed her eyes.

"May Allah forgive us all."

.............

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