Chapter 20
"Innailaihir wa innailaihir Raji'un. It's true, the headline state that " The Baba Gana B.G Industry is Changed to S.S industries as new owners Alhaji Sani and Alhaji Salisu Basheer decided to claim what was sold to them right before Alhaji Baba Gana's death and only delayed the claim for the mourning of the company's former owner"
I was seated, numb in my place as I heard the words that are started to weigh heavily on my chest. Juwairiyya decided to search for the real information on my behalf because I was scared of finding out what would shatter the little healing process I've started. There was no escape nonetheless.
"Those bloody Bastards" Intisaar exclaimed standing up and pacing the room
"Language Inti" Yusrah scolded as Inti rolled her eyes
"Who are these two to your father anyways? Juwairiyya asked
"Alhaji Sani Saleh, whom Maimai stays at his place is Abba's childhood friend and distant cousin. They grew up in the same place and got married in the same place too. He is the only one here in Abuja who is very close to Abba. He's like a brother to him" Zahra replied
"Alhaji Salisu Basheer is a business client to the company Abba once worked at, when Abba established his, Alhaji Salisu helped him get everything on track and considering he's very exposed into the business sector since he also has a company of his own, he became Abba's partner" I added and they all turned to me
"So what now? Yusrah blurted out throwing her hands around
"Maami said I should get back to her after everything" I said in a small voice
"I think you should go back and hear what they have to say"Intisaar said
"Yes, you have to go back" Juwairiyya added
"Of course I will go back and I know they will talk to me about it. Whatever happens I will get back to you and Maami" I replied then looked over to Zahra
"Rahrah will you tell Aunt Lima please"
"Yes" Zahra nodded 'I already sent her a message. I know she will call"
'I will leave now. I have to inform Hafeez about it. I will organize a conference call later to tell you how everything went out"
" Maimai, please be strong. We are all here" Yusrah said standing up to hug me and that was when the water flow broke. I couldn't hold it any longer and I let myself cry as the rest of my girls came to join in the hug. We stayed like that for a few minute before I stepped back, sent them a smile and left tea room with a teary face.
"Why isn't Hafeez picking my calls? I murmured angrily to myself as I stepped into the house
"Adderh Humaira you're back" One of the twins, Ameer said
"Yes I'm back" I replied looking around 'where is everybody?
"Ammar is sleeping, Mama is in Baba's study and Khadeejah isn't back yet"
"Ohh. I'll be upstairs then"
Looking past the twin, I ascended the stairs and went straight to the room. Performed ablution and prayed, crying my heart out to Allah and hoping everything will be okay. I mean it could really be that Abba sold the company and the money is to be kept with Maami for us to start something else. It is not the best decision he made for us but we can always start over, we can decide to open another refreshment company and continue from where he stopped.
After praying, I went to the bed, slumped on it and slowly closed my eyes.
^^^^^^^
"I'm so sorry Humaira" Was the first thing I heard upon opening my eyes
"Khadeejah, you're back" I said sitting upright
" I'm sorry for everything that happened" She said again coming to sit next to me 'I know you probably didn't know Abba sold the company"
"It's very surprising considering he didn't tell me he was going to sell it"
Khadeejah nodded "And he did"
"Or maybe he didn't" I replied looking at her as she turned to meet my gaze
"What do you mean?
I turned my eyes from her questioning ones and took a deep breath "I don't know but it doesn't feel right for Abba to just sell the company. It has been his dream for me to continue what he started"
"So you mean my father is lying? She asked surprised
"That's not what I meant"
"What do you mean then? That they forged the signature to have your father's property or what? She bursted out as I sat there looking at her
It took her a moment to realize what she said just as Ammar came into the room
"Adderh Khadeejah and Adderh Humaira, Baba and Mama are calling you"
"We are coming" She replied to him and he left. She turned to look at me again before standing up and leaving the room.
"I have called you here to clarify something" Baba's voice boomed across the living room as I kept my eyes pinned to the floor rug
"Humaira, your father sold his company to us, me and Alhaji Salisu right before he died. The money is transferred to your mother and she will receive it soon. His plan was for you, your sister and mother to have something to fend for yourselves as he knows you can not run a company. You have zero experience in business Humaira and you are a woman" He let the words sink in before he continued
'Don't let these woke people fool you, you as an Arewa woman can never run a company and this is us honestly doing you a favor. Here's the documents containing all the information. You and Khadeejah are to go to your house and get every stuff that you have left there because your house is also sold to us"
I snapped my head up to look at him as his words kept ringing in my head. "Baba what do you mean by the house is sold? The house at the moment is all we have" I croaked out
"You will get married soon and your mother is at her parent's house. The money will be enough to fend for you all and even sponsor Zainab's education. I'm sure your father left some little assets behind for you. Your life is simple, accept it as it is"
He grabbed the cup of zobo and took a sip then said 'Now you two should get going. Ohh, and also bring along your father's journal, the one with the recipes"
"I thought you bought the company, if he didn't give you the journal then maybe he didn't want you to have the journal" I said in tight voice.
"He asked us to take it but we couldn't due to his death. Now you go pick the journal, the driver will take you"
I barely nodded my head as I stood up and headed out to the car. Minutes later Khadeejah came in and we zoomed off without a word being said. I slowly opened the documents revealing everything from their agreement down to their signature, the money, the date….
The money, the money is not correct. It is not even 30% of what the company and the house is worth. Abba will never sell them at this price. I slowly raised my head looking out through the window as questions started aligning themselves.
Khadeejah's words rang in my ears again.
"What do you mean then? That they forged the signature to have your father's property or what?
I quickly glanced back at the signature to see Abba's signature, nothing wrong with it, I traced back to see the date but furrowed my brows. This was signed on the 8th and Abba died on the 7th.
"Aren't you coming down? Khadeejah snapped me out of my thoughts and I slowly alighted the car. I look up to our house, or former house and felt tears building up. This is where our memories and love lays, where everything started.
Sniffing back my tears, I headed into the house as Khadeejah used the key her father gave her to opened the door.
"The driver and I will start packing the few things left while you go take the journal"
I simply nodded and headed over to Abba's room. Carefully opening the door, I studied everything and walked over to his study. I sat on the chair and placed my head on the table before bursting into tears.
I cried for Abba
I cried for Maami
I cried for Zainab
I cried for myself
I cried for humanity
I cried for trust
I cried for pain
And I cried for my life
How destiny gave my life a not so careful punch.
After minutes of crying, I opened his drawer to reveal his journal. Carefully picking it up, I dust it and opened to the front page. There, his signature and name lies there and his plans for his company, then his vision, his mission and what he expects B.G Industry to be in the next few years. Opening to the middle page, I found his ideas and recipes for the new inventory juices he will be making. I took the journal and started heading to the door before taking a step back
This is not right. Abba didn't sell his company, it's so obvious.
He wouldn't sell it at a very insane low price and he couldn't possibly sign the papers after being dead.
They forged his signature, took all of his asset and knowing we are a weak point decided to fool us.
I quickly set the journal down to tear the middle paper. The recipe is all that matters and I will make sure to fulfill his dreams and start from where he stopped
"I will teach them a lesson and finish the game they started" I said out loud tearing off the paper and stuffing it in my bag. The door opened and I raised my eyes, meeting Khadeejah's intense ones.