6

Briefly, a dark, wispy cloud eclipsed the crescent moon. For a few shadowy moments, it looked like there was a halo around the cloud, a dull aura of lunar luminescence.

Mahir smiled at the appealing skies. He took in a deep breath and exhaled before he entered his car. He started the ignition, feeling serene at the idea of going out in public without men bigger than him protecting him like he was some sort of priceless gold. To his parents he was — but they overdo things sometimes. Especially with the guards. 

It was a Sunday evening, and every Sunday, Mahir goes to the Gym center to work out together with Mansur when he had the chance. Tonight, Mansur was off work and they were meeting there.

He pressed his fingers deeper into the steering wheel, finding comfort in the familiarity of the grooves. He had his favorite Surah on, recited by one of his favorite reciters, Mishary Rashid Al-Afassy. The windows were up and he didn't have a care in the world.

He zoned out of the house and headed to wuse zone 2, where the gym he goes to was located. 

His eyes were focused on driving but his mind seemed to wander around. And it always went back to two things; his father making a fuss about the amount stolen and their account manager, Bushra. He doesn't know exactly what to call her – rude or someone that stands for their rights. 

Her mouth was always full and ready to spill out whatever she had in. She always had something to say — never afraid of him or anyone that comes attacking her with words. She wasn't afraid that he had the power to end her career with just a phone call. She wasn't afraid of the worst things that could happen. She had her head straight and knew what she was doing. If it wasn't for her, they wouldn't have made that much progress in finding out who was behind the money stolen. 

He was impressed by her work not her. He never for once looked at her differently other than the fact that she was just an account manager. Nothing more, nothing less. 

He could admit that she was his type of girl, the time he wants to marry. But he'd never look at her that way. It can be any girl with the same personality but not Bushra. 

Having the thought of making her his wife sent chills down his spine. It stung him to think of that. He shook his head but the thought didn't fade like he wanted it to. 

Imagine if he did marry Bushra. He was the bossy type and she was the type that cannot be controlled. He was self-centered and she self-obsessed. That would be fiasco if they married each other. Him with the venom mouth and her with the spike — a catastrophe. 

He arrived sooner than he expected. He alight from the car and spotted Mansur's car in the parking lot. He headed towards the building and halted – he forgot his phone in the car and also forgot to lock the car. 

He heaved a sigh and turned back. He was acclimated to having his securities doing everything for him. From holding his phone to opening doors for him. They wouldn't even let him walk if he'd give them the chance. They vouched to protect the only Adam Sani Dan-Musa's heir even if it meant sacrificing their lives. 

He fetched his phone and locked the car before heading into the gym. He spotted Mansur at the pulling bar. He strolled through the few men and machines to catch up with Mansur. 

"Thought you weren't coming," Mansur said, almost breathless. He paused and sat down on the flat bench to catch his breath. 

"Yes, I had to run some errands for Mommy before I was finally allowed to come out." Mahir stretched out before moving to the smith machine to start his workout routine for the evening. "How long have you been here?" Mahir asked despite the fact that he was incurious about it. 

"About thirty minutes ago," he answered and gulped down a bottle of water. "And you're sweating this much? You're so weak," Mahir jokingly said.

"Ha-ha, very funny. Rub it in my face that you work out more than I do. At least I get to see the mysterious girl you're dying to know whenever I want." He finished talking and got to his feet. Mansur walked away, knowing well that Mahir wouldn't let that slide. Just as he thought. He heard the down of the barbell hitting the floor, followed by Mahir's footsteps. 

"Who are you talking about? The girl from the hospital? You met her? Why didn't you call me? Hey, would you just stop and tell me what you mean?" He bombarded Mansur with questions as he tried to catch up. 

Mansur hopped on the treadmill and turned it on to his satisfaction. Mahir did the same with the other treadmill beside mansurs'. "The girl you're looking for. Oh, I mean you were looking for. But really not important anymore, right? You said you were over it." Mansur said purposely. 

"I... but it's... it's good if I get to meet her, right? At least thank her," Mahir Uttered apathetically, as though he wasn't getting worked up over the fact that Mansur gets to see her but he can't. It wasn't fair. He deserves to know her. It's been so long but he hasn't given up. He expected her to show up in his office but she never did. Was she playing hard to get?

"Ha! No, no you said you were done with her and you don't want to know who she is anymore. Wanted to use psychology on me, huh? Funny." Mansur chuckled softly and Mahir hissed, and focused on jogging. 

"Anyways, I told her about you and she appreciates that you're concerned about her. And she still wishes to keep her identity confidential. Mahir, you have to understand that she only did it for the sake of Allah. Just appreciate that and move on." 

Mahir pretended as if he didn't hear him. He increased the speed and focused on his workout. 

An hour, thirty minutes, they were done for the day. They headed out of the gym, sweaty and in pain but reached their goal, and that's what matters. 

"Look, I'm sorry if you think that I don't want you to meet her. I do but Mahir you have a problem. You're overbearing and self-centered. Here's the thing, I'll tell you everything about her but— you have to earn it, agreed?" 

Mahir stared at him for a minute and nodded. "How do I earn it then? And I am not bossy or selfish!" He furrowed his brows. Maybe he was a bit bossy but that does not have to do with meeting the mysterious girl that has been making him have chaotic thoughts. 

"Prove it. Prove that you deserve to know her, because that girl is priceless I'm telling you. Just make sure you don't end up falling for her." He gave Mahir a pat on the shoulder and entered his car, and left the place. Mahir stared at his car drive away.

Fall in love with her? He doubt that. His only target was to know why she helped. It was obvious that it wasn't for free — else, she would've disclosed herself long time ago. Maybe she was waiting for an opportunity to use it against him. 

His phone chimed, interrupting his thoughts. It was his mother asking when he was getting home. He left two hours ago but she was already getting worried by his whereabouts when she knows he's probably still at the gym. 

Mahir exhaled sharply. It was better he gets married soon, to gain his freedom to go out and stay out for as long as he wanted. He hopped into his car and left because he knew she'd start calling soon.

**

It was Monday again. How quickly did the weekend go and now she was back to default. Just on Friday, she had her usual dinner with her best friend, Madina, at their usual spot. Saturday, her only and younger sister gave birth and she couldn't be more excited as she was at the moment. Sunday, she spent all the day sleeping and reading some books. 

Now Monday was here again, and Bushra couldn't deny the fact that she wasn't as happy as she used to be when Mondays came. And she had no one to blame for ruining her Mondays but her boss and Mahir for pressurizing her over the case of missing chunk of money in Dan-Musa's company account. 

The day they'd close that case successfully, she vowed to celebrate. She has been in such tough spot before but the clients were not as disrespectful and bossy as Mahir was. 

He thought that'll make him attractive? Being rude or harsh on someone doesn't make you more attractive — especially when you think it does. He was just a guy with beautiful face and an unpleasant personality. It made her feel sorry for the people under him. How do they cope with his crap? She would've resigned the first week of employment if she was working under him, she thought. 

Bushra shrugged it off — that wasn't her problem to worry about. She had much in her plate already. Her own worries were enough to hunt her for eternity if she doesn't take action on it. 

Just as they came back from the hospital the previous two days, Bushra met her father, as he asked her to after they were back from the hospital. 

They discussed about the matter he wouldn't keep silent about. He gave her two choices — marry Sadiq and he'd make sure she continues her work or bring him a suitor in six-months. She wasn't going to choose the first one, obviously. She chose to bring someone home in six-months. 

She had six-months to bring someone home. How? She doesn’t know. And if she didn't, her father was going to choose a suitor for her or even worst – marry her of to Sadiq. Ya Rabbi! 

Isn't that illegal? She challenged her father. But he claimed he was going to let her get to know the man he chose for her if she failed to bring one home. Which man was he talking about? Sadiq? What doesn't she know about Sadiq? The part where he’s a playboy or he had a short-temper? She had heard and witnessed how he easily hits his siblings due to anger that he couldn't control. And it was always about something you wouldn't even care to get yourself worked up about. Sadiq is stingy and contemptible. 

She had pointed out all that to her father but he chose to play deaf ears, despite the fact that he has witnessed some of Sadiq's ill-mannered behaviors many times. He still wanted to stick that boorish man to her? What has she done to deserve that? 

She should've given one of those men that asked for her hand in marriage when she was in the university. Why did she foolishly, blindly rejected each and everyone of them? Some were 10 times better and richer than the so-called Sadiq her father loved so much. 

If she had accepted, she wouldn't be in such tough spot. Now she was left with either marrying the man she hated the most or bring a total stranger into her life in under six-months. 

"Miss. Mansur?" The woman called out again. Bushra snapped her head up to find the security woman standing in her office. "Hmm? Sorry... I..." Bushra stuttered. She hasn't even had her morning coffee yet. 

"The manager wants to see you right now," she said cordially and exited. Bushra stood up — she was expecting that call. And she had two of more ideas for the reason she was being summoned. It might be she was going to get fired or Mahir filed a complaint against her. Or the Bank way getting sued. Her mind was engulfed with negative thoughts.

Either way, she was ready for whatever it was her boss had to say. She exhaled sharply as she adjusted her blazer. She sauntered out and headed to the manager's office.

With each step she took, her heart pounced against her ribcage. Her stomach churned over and she felt sick for that brief moment. What if she actually gets fired over that? Mahir is nothing but a threat to her career. He had made not just her but the entire team worked up over the matter of his father’s missing money. She shivered, but it wasn't from the cold air conditioning blasting the whole hallway. It was the thought of losing her job.

She felt a lump in her throat but she ignored it. She ambled over to the office door, leaving behind her worries and fears. She knocked gently and halted till she was given permission. She strolled through the door and walked farther into the office.

The manager looked up and smiled at bushra. She gulped and all she could manage were small steps. “Come, sit here.” He motioned her to sit. She nodded and settled down facing him on the client’s chair.

She steadied her breath and try to calm the panic. He smiled at her -- that was a good sign, right? “Great news, we have discovered the person behind the money that was stolen from Dan-Musa’s business account.” He proclaimed cheerfully. Her head jolted back as she tried to process what he had told her. “Everything has been cleared, now you just have to be very careful next time please. We can't lose a client like Dan-Musa. So we have to make sure that does not happen again and gain their trust back even though Mr. Adam assured me that nothing’s going to happen.”

She felt the muscles of her heart tighten with incredible joy. She had never felt relieved of something like that. Her breath caught as she stared at him. “Wh--- who did it?” She asked after finally reviving from her shock. “I was informed that it was his father’s personal assistant. And the man has been arrested. We have to wait for further explanation.”

She exhaled a long sigh and nodded -- a smile appeared on her lips.