Assignment

“You see, all the wisest women had to do it this way.” ~ Mastermind

Rukaiya could not anticipate the probable reason for her to be summoned into Humayun’s office in the early hours of the morning. She dreaded that the conversation would be something uncomfortable she was not ready to talk about yet. The therapist and she were having progressive sessions almost every day, yet she did not want to talk about it with her family. She had no answer to their why. At least not with Humayun. In the absence of a father figure, he had been the best possible one she could ask for. Of course, she had learnt from a very young age that whatever she received in this house was a blessing she should be grateful for and never ask for anything that was not given to her. Yet she noticed the small things. Like how he never discriminated between Jalal and her. How often discreetly he would ask about her career or health and guide her, and how he looked hurt when he visited her in the hospital. The last thing she wanted him to feel was that he failed her. As she entered the chamber with a soft knock, she was surprised to find Jalal there. He acknowledged her presence with a reassuring smile, and Rukaiya looked confused as Humayun finished the papers he was reading, put them aside and removed his reading glasses to look up at her.

“Have you been sleeping well?” She nodded with a faint smile at his question. “Very well. Umm… I summoned you here today because I wanted to discuss something. Take a seat.” Rukaiya stood at her spot and refused. “No, it's okay, did I do something…”

“Oh no, no! He did.” Humayun glared at Jalal, who shrugged, making Rukaiya glance over her shoulder at him and back at her uncle. “Have you thought about getting back to work? Or what you want to do with your career…” He asked as Rukaiya nodded. “I assumed I still have a job I can go back to… if not…” She stopped at Humayun’s hand gesture.

“Jalal here wants to try his hand at some hobby.” Humayun sighed. 

“It is not a hobby, Baba, I want to…” Jalal stopped at his father’s stare, and Humayun continued.

“I always assumed he was going to look after the business after me. That is not going to happen soon… it seems.”

“If at all…” Jalal quipped as Rukaiya heard him. A smile formed in the corner of her lips. If there was anything that rubbed off on him from staying with Ajabdeh, it had to be the stubbornness. 

“In that case, I can’t trust anyone else to look after the business on his behalf…” Humayun shook his head. “Except you.”

“Me?” Rukaiya’s brows shot up as Humayun nodded with a smile. “You are family, and you are capable. I have seen you at work.”

“So… what do I have to do?” Rukaiya asked, still unsure.

“As of now, you train under me, learn the trade. Then you can be appointed as the CEO by the board when I step down. That way, you will be employed to control the business while Jalal still holds a majority share…” Humayun’s brows arched. “If you want a part in the profit, we can arrange for something…”

“But what if I am not good at it?” Rukaiya asked, a little scared.

“You will be because I will teach you the trade myself. You can, however, choose a different career path and do what you want… I just…”

“When do I begin?” Rukaiya’s question made Humayun smile in relief. “Whenever you are ready, my child.”

That night, when Rukaiya and Jalal sat on the terrace under the starry night sky, savouring the pizza he had just got, he thanked her.

“You know you just saved me; if you had refused, my dream would have gone down the drain. Baba would have never allowed me to…” Jalal contemplated.

“Perhaps this job is a good distraction for me, too. Sitting at home, talking to the therapist and seeing my mother alert and anxious was making me feel suffocated again.” Rukaiya said as she swallowed hard. Jalal looked worried at her.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asked with concern, placing his hand gently on her shoulder. Rukaiya smiled faintly. “I am, for real.”

“Then don’t talk about distractions. You know you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. I can manage both, and we will figure something out.” Jalal was quick to offer, “And no matter how busy our days are, I promise we will always have a conversation at the end of the day. Forever.” Rukaiya chuckled as he stared cluelessly. “Forever? Isn’t it a long time for a promise like that? Who knows where we will be…”

“Wherever we are, we will talk at the end of each day, no matter what,” Jalal said emphatically. “I promise you.”

Rukaiya nodded with a smile as she observed his worried face. “And I promise you I will try my best not to let the company sink.” Jalal smiled at her choice of words. “If Baba praises you, you are good; he barely praises anyone.”

“Then let's do this.” She agreed. Jalal shook her hand.