Everything I Could Ever Ask For

Chapter Four.

CHAPTER 4

Adnan's POV

It's safe to say that I have a phobia for girls. They are like this fragile piece of china that you're scared to hold on too tightly,because if they're held too tight,they're going to break. The only females I could stand was Umma, Zahra and her before things changed.

Her. It had been long I thought of her. I thought that i wouldn't have to think about her after that incident four years ago. I shut her out of my mind. But seeing Zahra's friend yesterday,what was her name again? Ilham or what? Ikram, yeah. Ikram reminded me of her. They were so alike that for a moment there I thought it was her. But I knew it couldn't be her. She...

"Ya Adnan, Abba is calling you." Zahra's annoying voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Okay,I'll be right there." I told her.

I stood up and went to Abba's room. I saw Zahra and Umma all seated. Was something wrong?

"Abba,Umma ina wuni." I greeted.

"Lafiya lau." They answered

I sat on the floor next to Umma and asked Abba why he called for me.

"Abba ka kirani."

"Yes Adnan, I called for you. I want to talk to you about something very important."

My heart literally stopped when he said that.

"You know I'm getting older now and this office work is really stressing me out. And since you studied business administration,I would like to hand over the company over to you." He continued.

I exhaled a deep breath I didn't know I was holding. I thought it was something serious.

"Okay Abba,no problem. I'll do my best to not let you down."

"But,there's a problem." Abba said.

The tone in his voice was scary. It said you have to do it and you have no choice. I tried to keep my face neutral.

"Abba,what's the problem?"

"I spoke with my business partners but they all disagreed. They said you are too young to look after the company."

"But Abba,I have all the experience."

"Yes I know but they feel that you're still not responsible. So I decided to get you married. It is the wisest thing to do."

At that,all the blood in my face drained. My blood ran cold. I wasn't listening to what he was saying anymore. My mind just went blank. I looked over to Umma. She gave me a sad smile. Zahra's face was pale,why was she even affected. I was the one who's going be forced to get married.

"But Abba..I'm not. .."

"No buts. You're a grown man now. You have to learn to take responsibilities and the only way you can is if you are responsible for someone." He said.

"And I give you a month to bring a bride home. If not,I'll marry you off to Baba Danjuma's daughter in the village. There's no time to waste. I need to retire as soon as possible to go for treatment later on."

I couldn't even speak. I nodded my head and excused myself from the room.

Many things were running in my head. Marriage. I wasn't ready for marriage. I didn't even date since her. I couldn't stand women. How could I live with a woman for the rest of my life? I was too broken to love again. I wasn't capable of love.

How can those business associates dictate that I was not responsible. I didn't need a wife to prove that i was responsible. The whole logic didn't even make sense to me. I just graduated. I had so many plans but now they've ruined my future. They've tied me down.

***

It has been two weeks since Abba dropped the bombshell of me getting married. Throughout those past weeks, I haven't even been eating well. I was depressed. Every single day Umma comes in and tries to console me but I didn't have the courage to even look at her. I partially blamed her for not speaking up and defending me. I knew what I was doing was wrong. Isolating myself from my family, and blaming them for something they had no control over but it was still hard to comprehend that I was literally forced into a marriage.

I haven't spoken to Abba since that day. I've been avoiding him like the plague. What bothered me the most was that if I didn't bring a wife ,he'll get me married to a village girl. I cringed even imagining that. A whole me,getting married to a local girl. Not happening. I really didn't know what to do.

I decided to call and confide in my only friend Waleed. Waleed and I have been friends since we were little. He knew everything about me. He was the only one I could stand at that moment. I called and he picked up in two rings.

"Hey bro,what's up. I feel honored that I was remembered today" Waleed's loud voice boomed from the speaker and I had to tilt my head to the side.

"Bro,it's not like that. I got myself in deep shit."

"Who did you kill? Oh my God,I can't help you hide any dead body. I don't wanna spend my life in prison." He joked.

I rolled my eyes.

"The only dead body we'll be hiding is yours if you don't help me."

He laughed. "So man what's up? Your voice says you're anything but fine."

I explained everything to him. When I was done, he burst out laughing. I swear I felt like wringing his neck.

"Seriously,this isn't funny. If you were in my shoes,you wouldn't even think of laughing." I said annoyed.

"I'm sorry man. It's just so funny. I can't imagine you marrying a village chick. But seriously,there's nothing I can do. Say lemme come over to your place and we'll discuss it."

I sighed. "Okay,till you come."

Few minutes later,I heard the doorbell and went straight to open the door thinking it was Waleed,but it turned out to be Zahra's friend.

When she saw that it was me,she started blushing. What the ...? Before I had time to react, Waleed came. I invited him in and we went over to my room leaving the girl by the door. But not before Waleed said Salam to her.

I plopped down on my bed and waited for Waleed to start talking.

"Man that was rude. You didn't even say Salam to the girl."

"You know I have no tolerance for all that s**t right?"

"Well,you better start getting used to it because sooner or later,you'll be living with that s**t as you call it. Who is she by the way?"

"Zahra's friend." I simply replied. "Enough about her. We are supposed to be talking about me remember?"

He sighed. "That's your problem. The way you treat ladies isn't right. I can understand with what happened years ago but you've got to move on and be happy. Not all girls are like her."

I growled. "Don't. Ever. Talk. About. Her. Again." I emphasized every word.

"Whoa man, easy there. Just trying to help." He raised his hands in mock surrender.

I calmed down. "But help me get a wife,you have connections. Just get me anyone." I said desperately. Time wasn't on my side.

"Dude,that's not how it works. You have to change your way of thinking. Try to give women chances. Because if you don't learn,no matter who you get married to, you'll never be happy."

I let what he said sink in and sighed.

"I'll think about it."

"You better do. Bye. I have things to do. See you later man."

I saw him out and watched as he drove away. I turned and was about going back into the house when I bumped into someone.

"Ouch." The person said

I looked up and realised it was Zahra's friend. I keep forgetting her name.

When she saw that it was me. She began stuttering.

"Oh,I'm. ..I'm...sor..sorry Didn't see you there."

I just looked at her. I wasn't a person who noticed things about people but her big round eyes captivated me. But they looked almost dull? As if she was going through something.

I realized I was staring too much then I turned my face and nodded.

"It's okay."

Then I left her standing by the door once again.

I went back to my room deep in thought when I finally found a solution. I knew who I was going marry but that wife to be of mine should be ready,'cause we're in for a long ride.