Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Abdullah left the office sighing because the one contract he has been hoping to find just crashed and burned. He raised his head up and breathed out through his nose to let out half of the frustration boiling within him.

He made his way towards his car hoping to get home before the rain starts. The raining season has started and it was a surprise to say the least. It wasn't Abdullah's favorite season for many reasons.

His phone rang from the passenger seat, he took the phone to see his friend's name Anas. The groom has gone MIA since he got married. Abdullah smiled because despite everything he has missed his friend.

"I got married and you abandoned me. Really?" Anas lamented feigning hurt.

Abdullah frowned at that, locking his car and relaxing back on the seat. He won't be able to drive when it is raining this heavily. He will have to wait for it to subside a little no matter how long it'll take.

"We did? I thought you wanted two months alone with your wife?" He asked, raising a confused brow at himself in the car.

Anas was quiet for a second then he let out a small chuckle. He really should do better when it comes to Abdullah. The man lacks a sense of humor more than anyone he has ever met. And he knew why.

Abdullah never had anything easy in his life and being the oldest brother, he has to make sure his siblings have everything while at the same time helping to discipline them. It wasn't easy for him right from the beginning.

"You never understand jokes, do you? Your sense of humor is getting more rotten by the day." Anas commented, giving his wife a thumb's up.

"You cannot blame me for that, can you? You were more than serious when you told me that." Abdullah grumbled out his retort.

"God, have mercy upon us but you are more hopeless than I thought. Anyways, can you stop by? I'm sure you're still at the office." Anas decided to stop beating around the bush.

"Yeah after losing that contract I had to make sure I know why they think our company isn't worth constructing for them." Abdullah raked a hand through his low cut hair as the disappointment weighed on him.

He was so sure that the contract was theirs and he needed the break to go to Egypt but they had to trample on that because they have a much better offer from Seoul? Seriously?

"Abdul!" Anas reprimanded, "It has nothing to do with our company or talent, you should know that by now. They wanted something else and that is alright. They are not the only ones we can work for."

"Yeah. I guess you're right." Abdullah sighed knowing this is just for now. He will overthink it for the next month.

"So, can you come over?" Anas persisted which had Abdullah questioning his friend's motive. Something must be up.

"Uh... it's raining now. Probably after it stops." He said then they hung up the phone.

It was thirty minutes later when the rain stopped so Abdullah started driving towards Anas's house listening to a podcast about fate. Whenever he is down like this, he needs so much to drag him out of the hole.

Maybe Anas might help. He has always cheered him up.

Arriving at Anas's new mansion, Abdullah parked his car and waited for a few more minutes to gather his scattering thoughts. He wasn't able to listen to the podcast in the first place.

He got out of the car and made his way to the front door while the rain drizzled on his white dress shirt since he had removed the suit. The hickory door was yanked open before he got there showing his friend.

Anas was dressed in a cerulean sweater and loose black jeans with socks. It might be Abdullah's head but his friend has added weight. This wasn't the Anas he left in this house weeks ago.

"Welcome to my humble home!" Anas declared, opening his arms wide.

Abdullah shook his head at his friend's theaterics. Some things just never change even with marriage. Well, except that he has gained weight of course.

But Abdullah isn't one to talk about things that don't really concern him. He would have asked what happened the past few days that got him all bigger like that. He knows his friend doesn't go to the gym either.

"Thank you for inviting me to your humble home." Abdullah made a face, his eyes narrowed.

"Did you just mock me?" Anas feigned horrified though his eyes gleamed then he drew Abdullah for a quick bro hug. "Whose company have you been in lately without me?"

"My computer." Abdullah shrugged entering inside the warm house.

He removed his shoes as he trudged deeper with Anas by his side. He knew the ins and outs of the house since they constructed it together. It was a dream Anas had which years ago they thought it would have remained that... a dream.

Sauda, Anas's wife came into view coming out from the kitchen with a casserole in her gloves covered hands. She placed it on the wooden dining table then turned around with a pleasant smile on her face.

Abdullah cannot help but remember the first time Anas met her at the mall and how she shunned him like a housefly disturbing her peace. He had no idea how Anas did it but a few days later they were in love.

Not exactly in love but they were talking about seeing each other because they miss one another? Abdullah was shocked to say the least but he was happy for his friend at the same time.

They had heard a lot about Sauda when things started getting serious between them. Abdullah was there to help him ask people around about her attitude, personality and so on.

Some people would say she is the most arrogant person to have ever walked the earth. Others said she was so brazen and doesn't talk to anyone below her standards. That is she hates poor people.

Others went as far to say their father wasn't as rich as people say and she goes out with men who sponsor her lifestyle. It was all baseless and lies but Anas had faltered a bit.

Abdullah, the one who knows absolutely nothing about love, told him not to believe them. Anas was so depressed he thought things were going to end then. Abdullah became more scared of love ever since.

It has never been his thing from the beginning. He is locked in his own world and his emotions are so closely tied he chose people he wanted to have connection with. He saved his friend though.

Sometimes people just hate you for no reason and make up a version of you in their head to console themselves into thinking they aren't doing anything bad.

Anas found out Sauda indeed has her own bad characters but there are things he knew he could live with and he believed that she was bitter about something. And they have understood each other since then.

A conversation that still played out in Abdullah's head whenever he sees them together replayed again for the nth time.

"You've changed me for the better." Sauda had said to Anas during one of their phone calls.

"I never thought you needed changing, babe. I wanted you as you were." Anas answered, a beaming proud smile on his lips.

Abdullah had listened even though he didn't want to but he was driving and nothing was playing in the car. Of course he turned them down after that though he kept wondering if he'd ever find something like that.

Anas has wanted this since they were young and has gone through a series of girlfriends even when they were hustling and barely had time. Abdullah on the other hand never tried.

"Ah, Abdullah. Welcome." Sauda greeted adjusting the edge of her dress.

She is wearing a coral maxi dress with bishop sleeves, bow tie collar and black veil wrapped around her. She has no makeup on her face except for the thin line of lip gloss she applied.

"Thank you. Your husband is too excited for my liking. Is there something I should know?" He raised a brow when she beamed too.

He was never close to Sauda till their wedding was close when she started having cold feet and freaked Anas out. Abdullah had to go to her house to talk to her and since then they were a bit more friendly.

"Oh, he will tell you. You know he cannot keep it in him for much longer. Especially from you." She answered then turned to her husband, a look of pure adoration in her eyes and Abdullah was sure his friend was featuring the same look.

"Interesting." Abdullah muttered as he strolled towards the dining table.

"I'll leave you to it. Enjoy your meal." Sauda called out, kissed her husband and disappeared.

While writing this I was thinking, Anas's story would have been gooooooood! Sauda would've been a badass character but well, we might get a glimpse. I mean that little cutesy demure conversation between them? Sisters MEN DEY!! Don't settle!

How have you beennnnn?????

QOTD: Would you rather be a famous artist but live in poverty or be a wealthy business person but be unknown?

When it is not hard to choose🫠