ZIYAD

The sound of my phone ringing wakes me up. I grab the phone just before it stops ringing. I'm immediately greeted by the time. 10:17am.

I can't believe i overslept today. Am always up before 8am because work starts at 10am.

I quickly unlock the phone and check my call logs, it was Noor calling. I sit up and call back, she picks up after the first ring.

The sound of Nabil crying is the first thing am greeted with before she manages to calm him down. I smile before talking in hopes of getting her attention.

"I'm sorry, he has been bumping into a lot of things lately, he's still getting the hang of the standing thing. I don't even know how he got out of his play pen." She says in one breath. I can imagine her facepalming as she says the last part.

"It's okay, how is he? Hope he didn't get hurt?" I say.

"No he's okay. Faisal took him, he'll be fine. How are you?" She replies sighing.

"I'm okay, and you?" I say.

"I'm also good Alhamdulillah. Mubarak told me what happened and I wanted to check up on you. Are you really okay?." She says with worry evident in her voice.

I rub my face and exhale. "I'm coping, things are not what I expected them to be and honestly all I can say is Alhamdulillah." I say.

She goes silent for a few seconds as if thinking of what to say. "Insha Allah it will be okay, Allah is always with the patient and the honest. So don't worry." She says and coughs a bit.

"Thank you so much, i appreciate you checking on me." I say with a smile even though she couldn't see it.

"You're welcome. When will you be coming over? I'll make jollof rice for you." She says coughing again.

"Yeah I was thinking maybe..." I'm interrupted by her coughing again. This time even more coarse.

"Are you okay?" I ask concerned.

"Yeah, I'm good, probably just catching a cold but I'll take something for it." She says.

"Okay then, take care of yourself. Am gonna go now, I have a lot to do today but will call you when I'm coming over insha Allah." I say and she replies with "insha Allah,bye." Before ending the call.

I get up and head to the bathroom to take a shower and freshen up. I decided to wear my navy blue caftan today with a zanna bukar cap. I grab my favorite black leather wrist watch I got from baba as a gift and put it on before spraying my creed perfume.

I head downstairs to the dining area and I meet Amma setting the table. I help her and we sit down to eat. While eating lunch with Amma, we talked a bit about work and honestly I was very relieved that she took it well. She made tons of duas for me and hoped for the best.

After lunch, I head out to my car and get in. I turn it on but the engine begins to make weird sounds. I forgot it was due for a service.
I manage to get halfway to the shop before it completely stops. I get out of the car and open up the bonnet. I tried touching a few things but it wouldn't work. I check around and noticed the problem was coming from the fuel pump. I sigh in defeat and close the bonnet.

"Great, just great!" I mutter. There was no sign of a taxi anywhere and it was sunny. I get back into the car and unlock my phone. I call Mubarak, his phone rings multiple times but no answer. He must be at the hospital.

I call my mechanic and we talk a bit. I explain the problem and where I currently am and within a few minutes he arrives on his motorcycle and starts working on the car.

"Sir If you're in a hurry I think it would be best if you just attend to your matters and leave me here because it's gonna take some time and I may have to tow it to the garage." He says.

I wasn't really in a rush but I needed to go check on a few things at the shop, make some calls and send out a few deliveries.

"Okay then..." I say "I'll get going, let me know if there's anything else."

I check my phone to see if Mubarak has called back and just then I notice the Uber app. I smile and tap the app and immediately called for a driver. I can't remember the last time I used the app.

The driver arrived within a short period of time and I got in. I sigh in relief when the cool air conditioning hit me.

"Good afternoon sir." The driver says.

We exchange greetings and he makes conversation, mostly talking about the weather and the economy. We arrived at the shop in a short time and I handed him his money before getting out. Just then an idea hits me. Am not sure if it's a good one but it's definitely worth thinking about.

I stand in front of the shop lost in thoughts, looking at the uber as he drove away.

I shrug it off and go inside. I'll consider it later.