Meenah's POV

I walked down the school hallways deep in thoughts. It is a lively Monday morning and I felt grumpy and sad. The court hearing is today and we were still forced to go to school. The hallways quiet and empty as I strolled through it. I pass by Neenah's class to call her as today again the principal has summoned us to his office. It has become a daily basis. Students have started gossiping about the twins always being called to the principals office. "I just hope they don't get to know why we are be being summoned to the principals office everyday." I murmured to myself as I waited for my sister to get her books into her school bag.

We walked in silence. The silence eating me up. I got a feeling things are going to get from bad to worse today. But we still can hope for a better future.

"Things will work out, everything will fall in place" mum used to say. But I have a gut feeling that things won't be fine anymore, it's getting worse day by day.

Be positive Meenah. Be positive.

Last week Friday was our last warning. We were asked to pay our fees before we attend school today, if not the consequences would be harsh. And viola we came to school today without the payments and fifteen minutes into class Ameenah Asaad Ahmad and Hanina Asaad Ahmad were summoned to the principals office immediately.

"Our fate is going to be decided today. This is it. We are going to be thrown out of the school in the most embarrassing way ever...Ya Allah....Ya Allah...Ya Allah..." I kept mumbling, my hands shaking, my heavy school bag was long forgotten.

The walk to the office was cut short as we stood outside the office door, blankly staring at it. I wish all this is a bad dream and I'll wake up and all these problems didn't crop up in the first place.

I gently knocked on the door, silently wishing ants have eaten the principal and hidden his skeleton in his office. The shuffling of papers made me realize my daydream hasn't taken place. Neenah whispers something to me as she opens the door and revealed the grumpy school principal I wish to strangle him at the moment. The way he is smiling is freaking me out.
Two people sitting in the office. A male and a female. Their faces were hidden, their backs facing us. They were in a deep conversation as they didn't acknowledge our presence. My sister started the greetings then I followed lead. Oh God...my sister and her manners.

We were shocked when the lady turned around to answer our greetings. Our mother with her signature smile on her face, the sadness in her eyes, the mother who refuses to let life break her down, the mother who survives for her children.

"Oh mama, what are you doing here?" We asked in a hushed voice so as the creepy principal and the other man won't hear us. She smiled at us and said "I'm here to fix something for my girls."

And she just sat there, sad but beautiful, in pain but deserving, so much chaos in her soul but still in search of peace.

We sat in silence at the other side of the room. The couch was dusty but not bad. It was still uncomfortable sitting on a dusty couch with our mum and Mr. Principal in a deep conversation. My stomach rumbles and Neenah gasped. "You didn't eat your breakfast right?" She whispered into my ear and I glare at her, the same face, the same eyes, the smile, she's my reflection but just the innocence is different. Oh! My sister is just the best, she could read me like the back of her hands. She knew how I love my food,I don't skip my meals. But this Morning the food was just not my favorite, cereal with less milk. I just lost my appetite when I saw how scanty the cereal was and I just thought I could save for tomorrow's breakfast if I skip today's breakfast.

I looked at my sister who was still looking at me intensely. "Oh I lost my appetite this morning, but I ate an apple before leaving for school. Don't worry about it. Now our worries should be what mum is discussing with our dear Mr. Creepy principal." I said to her as I raised my finger towards my mum and the principal. The other man left half an hour ago. Which means we have been here for almost an hour.

"Nice meeting you Mr David, I hope you reconsider my request."mum turned around facing us with a sad smile on her face.

" shall we take our leave girls?" She said as she stood up. She was wearing her elegant black Abaya with hand-made embroideries at the hem of the dress. Finishing up with her Gucci stilettos and channel handbag. My mum is a great fashionista if i may say. I creepy smile came onto my face as I saw my mum elegantly dressed up. No one would look at her and think she's distressed, that she's bankrupt.

"Mama it's 10AM, we are still attending school,aren't we? Neenah asked.

Mum smiled weakly at us, totally out of words.

Neenah was confused, but I understood everything very clearly.

We've been kicked out of school.

***

Mum was blankly driving. I'm not sure if she's watching the road. Her eyes were glued to the road but her mind wandered.

I began to doze off when the car suddenly pulled to a halt.

The buildings were weirdly old and were built with red bricks. People were walking in and out, discussion, some sitting and seemed like they were waiting for something important.

It took me a while to connect the dots. We are in a court.

"Your father is being adamant about taking his own brother to court" she sighed a little and sank deeper into the seat before she continued. "Brawls do happen within families...but what your uncle did too wasn't right..."

"Your dad did sign the contract without reading it. He said his brother told him all that was written in it. He was to merge the Asaad Ahmad construction company and the Clouds architects. It was going to be a big deal and extremely profitable. Your dad even too a loan from the bank and invested it. It was going well until one day, the CEO of the clouds sent his men to take over your Dad's part of the company...."

"Clause 35 of the signed contract between Asaad constructions and The clouds Architects clearly stated, that the merged company will fully belong to the clouds after six months. And all the profits yielded within the six months will belong to Asaad Ahmad"

"Investigations were made, and it was found in written, that Mr Asaad was the one that included the clause. His signatures were clear and evident."

"I don't like telling you girls this, but it was your uncle that has slyly added the clause into the contract papers that your father had signed..."

"The bank loan took almost everything. The remaining bank balance, the lands owned, the cars, everything. The only thing left is our house...but Alhamdulillah, we've paid off the bank loan and with interest"

Mum bought out a duffel bag from the back seat. Inside it was a white wig and a long black coat. "I was called to bar the year I gave birth to you girls, But I never practiced..." she sighed. "Not into now...we can't even afford a decent lawyer"

"No mum, There's no lawyer that can be better than you" Meenah said.

"Yes mum, you can do this"

With a final sigh, she got out of the car with some folders and a very very nervous looking face.

"Mum!" I called her back. "Before you go, who is the CEO of the clouds?" I asked

She shakes her head before answering "Suleiman Umar, your uncles' foster brother" and with that she left us, looking very very confused.

Uncle Tahir's foster brother?

I now get why dad wanted to file a case.

I hope we win this case. I just hope.

•••••••

Phweee...😓

This isn't easy😩🤧

Assalama Alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu

It's been like forever I haven't updated.

And I'm really extremely sorry about that. I definitely can't promise to be updating everyday, but I can promise you will be seeing an update like before.

...so how was the chapter?

How do you think the girls will handle poverty?

Their mum seems to be handling the situation quite well?

This is gonna be a looonnnnggg ride.😅🤓

Anyways don't forget to
~vote
~comment
~share

Ramadan Mubarak🌙

Yours khamee🖤🌹