I Am Able - S01 E05

3 years ago

I Am Able - S01 E05

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 5

Fatima.

Today, my timetable said I had lecture by ten in the morning but while snoring after having prayed Fajr, Qudrah called and informed me that the timetable had been totally changed and that the new lecture time was eight dot. I was astounded, thus I withdrew from my bed and got myself prepared for school. The time now was quarter to eight, meaning I was about to be late. But why would they even change the timetable without notifying us? At least a text!

I was so angry, the new timetable had ruined my morning sleep which would have given me more strength and ability to concentrate during lectures. Now what? I hissed and got myself prepared for school as fast as I could. After having done that I took my car key and G Tab before biding my mother goodbye and driving to school.

As soon as I parked my car in the faculty’s parking lot, I headed to the department to check the new timetable even though I was few minutes late already. I just wanted to be sure I wasn’t fed the wrong news.

While walking towards the notification board my eyes landed on the annoying guy that I met yesterday, the one that overtook me and also borrowed my pen. Yes, it was the so called Yusuf Dolari. I could remember seeing him writing his name in Dr. Marwan’s attendance list yesterday. Today he was wearing a very tight black longsleeve T-shirt and a very blue jeans which actually fitted him. He was fair, hence black and blue suited him quite alright.

Hey, why on earth was I even complementing him? I took my eyes off him, thence skimmed the notification board. Immediately I saw the new timetable I lifted my Tab and snapped it. Today I decided to bring my Galaxy Tab since I was unable to buy another pen yesterday and I wouldn’t have time to buy it before our lecture time. All these while, Yusuf had been staring at me – I could feel it, but I pretended as if I did not even know he was… standing right there.

And just as I turned about leaving the place he called my name making me to halt. Was he trying to hand me over my pen? I thought, not moving an inch. And what on earth would I even do with the pen again? I would use my Tab for today’s lectures and then buy new pen later on. I concluded and left praying he shouldn’t call me again. I was scared of him, very handsome but had ruined himself!

The lecture was taking place in Hall C5, with just few students. I knew many would miss it, especially those that didn’t have someone like Qudrah to call and tell them the time table has been changed. I took permission before walking into the class. The lecturer was a very beautiful woman, and she talked like an American. Was she an African – American? Practically, she had their accent, you know?

Qudrah gestured me to come sit close to her, she had secured a seat for me in the front. I nodded and walked straight to where she was and sat close to her. “Morning” I whispered into her ear while wearing a broad smile.

“Morning” She whispered back.

Judging from her jotter, they weren’t far so I concentrated on the lecture and as soon as the lecturer was done she asked if we had any question to ask and I stretched up my hand.

“Yes, what’s your question?” She said.

“Actually,” I said standing up to my feet. “I just want to add up to… to your explanation about Business Finance. Do I have your permission?”

“Add up to my explanation?” She smirked at me. “I am sorry, but I have said it all already”

Seeing how angry she was, I nodded my head with a smile and sat down on my seat. “Thank you, ma” I cheerfully said swallowing my idea.

“You’re welcome” She said about leaving the hall with her laptop in her hand when she turned to me. “And lest I forget, I don’t like late coming in my class. Next time, stay outside… and not just you, everyone that falls victim”

With that, she smiled and left leaving us with our mouths agape. “This woman is so mean” Qudrah said returning her jotter into her bag.

“And aloof” I added swiping through my Tab.

“Yes, and that reminds me” Qudrah said as she brought out her jotter again. “Here, snap what we did” She handed over the jotter to me, as if she knew I was technically just about asking.

“Thank you, dear…” I said and gently snapped the things I had missed concerning the lecture.

We headed out of the hall and I asked her how she knew about the new timetable. Was she called and apprised just like she called me? If yes, by who then? We both technicality knew, presently, I was her only friend. And unless she knew about the timetable since yesterday then I suspect she came as early as possible but why? After knowing our lecture wasn’t early morning in the old timetable, why come early?

“You are asking too much, Fatimah” She said.

“I… I just want to know why you’d chose to come as early as possible, though it helped both of us. I just want to know why” I said.

“You will know someday” She said and ended the topic. “I am feeling hungry, mu je eatery”

“I also didn’t eat before coming” I said.

And together, with went to the cafeteria. While searching for the perfect restaurant for us, my eyes landed on a big eatery with a big L-Spot standing just by its roof. And without even a second thought I dragged Qudrah and I there, not because of anything but because it looked appealing to my eyes. I liked the decorations.

Just as we walked inside, Qudrah cleared her throat an uttered “Wow, wow, and also wow!”

“Wow is right” I uttered looking around. “It’s really awe…” I couldn’t complete my words when my eyes landed on Yusuf, he was sitting with a guy – perhaps his friend. And judging from all indication, they really had devoured whatever they might have came for already.

“Lets go over there and sit” Qudrah uttered heading to an empty table. I trailed her with Yusuf’s eyes not moving an inch from me.

As soon as we sat down, that was when Qudrah saw him. She tapped me and then gestured to me to look at him. I only smiled and told her I knew about his presence already. The waiter came and respectively handed the menus to us.

“I want just coffee and burger” I said handing back the menu to him. “Make it quick, please”

“Okey, ma” The waiter said waiting for Qudrah.

“Samosa and a cup of tea. Add lot of milk and also ginger” She handed back the menu to him.

“Okey, right away…” He said and left.

Just then, Qudrah reminded me about Yusuf. He was looking towards us and I was literally uncomfortable already. “Lets just ignore him, if he gets tired he will take off his gaze” I said.

“Ignore him? No, I like him” She said.

“You are playing with fire” I cautioned her.

“As if you know him” She huffed looking back at him. “I love his sexy eyes, nose infact I love everything about him. He’s so perfect wallahi”

“Mtsww” Was all I could utter to her.

As soon as we were served we ate quietly to our satisfaction. It was after we were done we realised Yusuf and his friend had already left.

“Where are they?” Qudrah asked scrutinising.

“Do I know?” I rolled my eyes.

She didn’t say anything again, she summoned the waiter about paying her bills when I told her not to worry. I gave him my ATM card and he charged us using their POS. After that, we headed out of the restaurant. Qudrah couldn’t stop looking around, I had to ask her what really was wrong with her. She must be sick!

“You won’t understand, Fatimah. That guy is just unique, I’d like to be his friend” She said.

“Huh?” I uttered with my mouth agape.

“Hmm, forget it kawai” She said and then continued. “Lets go and wait for our next lecture, I don’t like missing the first seats”

That was how we went back to the department and waited for our last lecture. After that, we went to my car and I drove her home before driving myself back home. Just as I stepped my foot in our sitting room I found my father yelling at my cousin brother, Munir in anger.

“And how did the fire even started? You were supposed to be in the factory taking care of things on my behalf but you left to God knows where, and now my cement factory is gone!” He said and continued. “But you will see!”

Our cement factory is what? I had puzzled. I so much wanted to ask but who was I to do that? I was nothing but a child whose father didn’t like her, whose father didn’t want to hear her voice, whose father wished she wasn’t born!

As soon as he noticed my presence he glared at me and walked upstairs to his side. Munir, however hissed and left as well. Now what? I headed upstairs to my mother’s room and saw her making video call with Umm Salmah, the wife of the Defence Minister. She was her best friend. Just as I was about turning to leave I heard her said “I am sorry for the fire outbreak, wallahi I was shocked when I saw the news in the morning. I am so sorry…”

“Don’t be, it’s a test from Allah which I clearly understand. And by the way, we have another cement factory in Suleja” My mother uttered.

“That is good. So, how is Fatimah and her school? Sun fara koh?” The woman asked.

“Fatimah is fine, sun ma fara lectures already” My mother said and turned to me. “Zo nan…”

No argument, I walked closer to her and sat on her bed. Thus, I greeted the woman via video call and she asked about my faculty and department before saying her nephew was studying in the same department with me.

“What is his name and level?” I asked.

“Adnan, and I think he’s in 200level” She said.

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