EP__________1️⃣4️⃣

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"Son, how's work?" 

He sank into the soft cushions of the living room chair, one hand on his head, mussing his stylishly designed hair. "It's really stressful Dad work isn't fun at all." He uttered slowly. 

His father chuckled and said, "Aryan's business isn't static, it requires hard work and remember that job my friend offered me to give you if you are interested, it's just a few hours a day and you'll still have time to rest at home and oversee your company you can assign a trustworthy person to manage things there and you visit from time to time. But what did he do hajiya zaheeda? he even left the country because I insisted."

"Gsky Dad this time I need rest," Aryan said sidestepping his father's line of discussion.

"Look at him, thinks he can do what he said," dad replied.

"Dad, that was before fa and I didn't leave the country because of work, I left for a business trip and the reason I rejected the offer because I value my independence I want to stand on my own feet and build my own path."

"Tho munji, now what about our conversation?" 

He furrowed his brow, trying to understand which talk his father was referring to.

"Gidan Ku, nace gidanku Aryan so if I tell you something, if you stand up and leave, you'll just dismiss it right?" 

"Sorry dad, Mom please help dad understand my work situation."

"Waa ni ah ah kunfi kusa."

"About your marriage." Dad said.

Aryan's face frowned within a second, like he'd been given devastating news. 

"I'm listening to you, but you're silent."

"Dad, please drop this topic marriage is a matter of tim... " 

"Kai da Allah saurara min kaji ko, bana san iskancin banza da wofi I'm not seeking your advice since I've given you enough time, but you didn't introduce the girl you love to me. Now I'm telling you that I've found a wife for you and I expect you to get ready tomorrow to meet her. I don't want to delay the wedding aryan i want to see your wedding tun da rai na."

"Mom, please help me make Dad understand to be honest dad, marriage isn't on my agenda right now. Any girl you find would only be put in a difficult situation because I'm not ready for the responsibilities that come with marriage. When I'm ready I'll introduce the one I love myself but please let's drop this topic for now."

"Look Aryan, your father has already made a decision and he's already met the girl's father and talked to him," Mum said.

"I already told you so if you like if I married her to you put her in pot and cook her." Dad said again.

He just stood up and stormed out without saying another word.

"Kafi ruwa gudu kaji, but the marriage will never cancel," Dad said, eyeing the door Aryan passed. 

"But Daddyn su, I think we should persuade him," 

"Hajiya zaheeda Aryan is my son, I know him more than anyone, he's like honey you can't handle him without fire."

"But alhaji I'm not criticizing you, what I want you to understand is that we're discussing marriage now, so let's not do something we'll regret later. 

" Let him be, wanna duk buyayin banza ne he doesn't see the wife in his home that's why he's acting like this."

"Alhaji you can force a girl into a marriage with someone she doesn't love and things might work out after the marriage, but you can't force a man even if it happens regret will likely follow."

"Don't worry in sha allah they'll settle it themselves." Dad said standing up.

As he came out of the building, his driver stood up and walked toward the car, but Aryan stopped him, shouting, "give me my car key." The driver handed him the key, his hand trembling as he looked at Aryan. Aryan quickly got into the car, started the engine and honked the horn loudly, Without waiting for the gateman to fully open the gate he hit the accelerator and sped off at high speed not stopping anywhere until he reached majestic Mall.

When he entered, he went straight upstairs to the office section without responding to the people's greetings. He opened the door of the large central office.

Mansur looked up to see who had the audacity to enter his office without permission. His words caught in his throat when his eyes met the intruder's. He didn't need a second glance to realize the anger in his face. 

He stormed to the front of the table his anger radiating like a force that could split it in two. He started talking angrily, ta inda yake shiga ba ta nan yake fita ba, his words poured out relentlessly like a spoiled tap.

When mansur realized aryan's words wasn't going to end, he shifted his gaze away and tried to continue his work but before he could write anything Aryan snatched the pen from his hand.

"Eh because you're dealing with a madman in front of you, You take me for granted, I'm talking to you and you're just continuing to write, Kai ga agogo." Aryan said angrily.

Mansur looked up and said, "wai Aryan When did you belittle me this way? You always take out your anger on me whenever someone makes you angry."

"But at least you should ask me what's wrong with me or who made me angry.

Mansur hissed and said, "I know any useless thing makes you angry you don't need someone to make you angry, ai the person that can live with you sai an hadamai da rubutun dangana dan whl sai ya kai zuciya nesa even me I don't know how to deal with you that's why I'm patient if not I would have sold you by now."

"Are you tell me this mansur ? okay thank you it's not your fault I brought myself here." Aryan said throwing the pen at mansur before headed out of the office.

Mansur called out, " And you're going without telling me what happened?" 

"Sai naji shaqa ubana," Aryan said as he slammed the door.

Mansur laughed because sometimes Aryan's action just made him laugh. He focused on and completing his work and clocked out since it was already his closing time.

When he sat in the car, he pulled out his phone, entered the contacts and dialed Aryan's number, but he didn't pick up. He continued calling saying, " you come and vent your anger on me and left without telling me who turned you on, I won't leave you until you pick up this call whl."

He looked at his phone and saw that it was Mansur's 12th missed call. He furiously picked up and said, "Malam Dallah what do you want?"

"If there's no talk of holes, what brings holes?(idan ba rami me ya kawo maganar rami) Where are you, my friend?" Mansur asked.

"I don't know, don't disturb me please," Aryan replied.

"Okay, I won't disturb you but please tell me where you are?" Mansur persisted. 

"Leave me alone," Aryan said, ending the call.

Mansur looked at the phone after he hung up, thinking about the things that had made his friend angry he knew Aryan got angry quickly, but usually he'd calm down after venting his anger, but today he still seems angry.

Mansur was about to start his car when his phone buzzed. He looked at it and saw a message from Aryan he picked up the phone and opened the message, found that it was his location. He put the phone away and started the car, leaving the mall compound.

He just pressed the horn once and the gateman opened the gate for him. He hit the accelerator and entered the house, noticing the haphazard way Aryan had parked. He pulled into a spot next to Aryan's car, parking his own vehicle with precision before stepping out and walked toward the luxury building.

He went straight to Aryan's bedroom and met him coming out of the toilet, seemingly after performing ablution.

Aryan was aware of Mansur's presence but acted like he didn't see him. He walked toward his bedside drawer, picked up his wristwatch and started putting it on. 

When Mansur saw this, he went to the toilet to perform ablution for the Magrib prayer that was being called.

When he came out, he didn't find Aryan in the room, so he went out and saw him in the parlor standing, seemingly waiting for him. As he saw him, he walked to leave the parlor without saying anything to him, so mansur followed him saying, "Wait for me Mana." 

Together, they headed to the mosque next to Aryan's house and didn't return until after Isha prayer.

When they entered the living room, they fell onto the cushions. Mansur looked at him and said, "What's going on friend?" 

Aryan was quiet, as if he wouldn't answer him. Then he spoke up, "Can you imagine? My dad wants to force me into a marriage."

"Force marriage?" Mansur repeated with a hint of surprise. Aryan adjusted his seating position and told Mansur everything that had happened. 

Mansur burst out laughing, slapping his thighs in amusement. Aryan glared at him, feeling like giving him a dirty slap. "What's funny?" he demanded his eyes fixed on Mansur.

Mansur composed himself and said. "Doesn't dad know about your habits? But wait did you accept?" 

Aryan looked at him curiously, "Why are you talking like you don't know me?" 

Mansur replied, "Ah ah, ni kuwa na ma farin sani since I've witnessed how you humiliate every girl who shows interest in you in the name of love to the point where she curses all men around the world not just you."

Aryan hissed and said, "Man, I'm leaving this country tomorrow."

"To where?" Mansur asked. "Don't tell me Kai ma Duniya zaka shiga because dad will force you into marriage." Mansur ended with a provoking laugh.

Aryan gave him a stern look before saying, "My problem with you is that you're stupid wallahi, I just want to leave because this conversation with my dad has soured me on this country I need some fresh air, Get me a visa to dubai and book a ticket once you've got it."

Mansur replied, "But friend you misunderstood Dad he just wants you to be a complete man you know you're the only one left in front of him he just wants to see you build yourself and your own family like your siblings."

"Look at me mansur what did I lack that you'd say I won't be a complete man until I get married? Tho whl let me tell you any girl who accepts me as a husband will regret her life." 

"You won't get it Aryan, all the value you think you have will double when you get married you'll be a big man in the eyes of the world..."

"shut your mouth dallah if you are interested go ahead and get married I won't stop you." Aryan said.

Mansur gave him a dismissive look before saying, "If I intended to get married, are you enough to stop me?"

"ehen then nothing concerns you with my life."  Aryan ended standing up and Mansur followed him saying, "I know the truth is bitter but I must tell you."

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"Faryal, tell that idiot to stop coming near you I'm trying to control myself, otherwise I will deal with him," Jabeer said angrily.

Faryal sitting in her office looked at Jabeer with a mix of frustration and annoyance. She had just been dealing with hamdan who seemed to be causing more problems than solutions. Their relationship was complicated and she knew that hamdan only wanted her back but his approach was all wrong. Despite her lack of interest in him now hamdan always tells her that she'd eventually come crawling back because she wouldn't find someone like him he believed she knew he was special from the moment she approached him. The fact that she had initially accepted is that proposal to an unworthy man had created more issues and she was aware that settling with hamdan would mean being undervalued and disrespected. Recently hamdan had seen her with Jabeer and had confronted her, accusing her of following thugs he's even said he hope she didn't propose to him too. And that's when he showed up now using harsh words because she'd told him to leave her life, she warned him that she'd disgrace him if he came near her again and he left with threats saying, "we shall see," and with this tension still fresh Jabeer's arrived, adding his own drama to the mix.

Faryal finally sighed and said, "Please Jabeer let me be my head is hurting."

"It's okay but my friends are outside in the car Let's go so you can greet them."

Faryal gave him a dismissive look clearly annoyed before she controlled her temper and said, "Jabeer I'm not feeling well, you should tell to come back next time." 

"Ke saurara kinji ko, I won't keep persuading you You must go say hello to my friends joo."

Faryal was caught between Hamdan's and Jabeer's anger but she finally snapped looking at jabeer and said, "Look Jabeer, I'm not going to see anyone you should leave too da allah." 

Jabeer widened his eyes at her, "Are you talking to me like that?"

Faryal picked up her phone and left the office, saying, "Yes Jabeer, do whatever you like."

He shook his head, smirking and said, "You'd know that no one shouts at Jabeer." 

She stayed at the reception of her brand until she saw him come out and left the building. She got back to her office, packed her things and left.

Dad tried Aryan's phone multiple times, but he wasn't getting him and he hadn't slept at home, moreover throughout the day no one could reach him. Eventually, he called Mansur. 

After greetings, Dad asked, "How about your friend mansur?"

"Fine Alhamdulillah Dad, Is there anything?"

"No, I'm just trying to reach him and I haven't gotten him since last night." 

"Eh gsky his phone's are switched off, but we were together in the morning before he went to work." 

"Alright, tell him I'm looking for him." 

"Okay Dad In sha Allah." He said and then dad hung up the call.

He continues trying Aryan's number to pass on Dad's message but couldn't get through. That's why after work he went to his house. He met him in the living room, drinking coffee, wearing only long sweatpants and a singlet that exposed his shiny skin and six-pack abs. 

He responded to his salam, looking at him until he completed his entrance and sat beside him, the way Mansur saw him frown made him laugh. "Ango ango," he said, laughing. 

"Kaga in iskanci kazo Ka min you should leave my place."

"Ah, ah, me yayi zafi shi ba wuta ba. Today I'm not looking for trouble, it's Dad who's trying to reach you he gave me a message to tell you that he wants to see you. I tried your phone and didn't get you so I came myself."

He just hissed without looking at Mansur. Mansur pouted dismissively, stood up and went to the kitchen. He picked up a bottle of water and came out, saying, "See you later, and I mentioned what brought me here, by the way."