LAYLA POV

A week later, we were asked to evacuate our house, the bank secretary said we would not be able to afford the house anymore and our insurance cant cover up the expenses. Things became so tough for us ....we had to go beg a neighbour to spare a room for Allah's sake there was a dilapidated room behind the neighbour's house ...the paint is worn out, it looks abandoned but we had to take it that way, at least we had a roof over our heads. The neighbour being so kind allowed us to stay in.

FLASHBACK ENDED********

"Wont you sleep my darling, what are you deeply thinking about ?" my mom's voice brought me out of my reverie, it is already night fall plus we are also already in bed..mom and i share one tiny bed, she must have noticed i wasn't sleeping since my eyes are widely open, staring up at the ceiling

" Please try get some sleep princess, remember we have somewhere to go early in the morning IN SHAA ALLAH."

"Okay mom..Goodnight" I obediently replied to her then shut my eyes,...slowly drifting off to sleep.

The next day, we woke up to pray fajr (Dawn prayer) then took our bath in the tiny washroom attached to the room , my mom taking her bath first then i followed,....after we were done, we set off to my dad's close friend's mansion.

"Please pull over in front of that white mansion" my mom instructed the driver as we came into an estate and a very beautiful white mansion indeed came into view. We had to use almost all our savings to board a taxi here since it is too far.

" Here is your pay" my mom handed an amount of money to the driver then we got down ...the driver drove few seconds after counting the money.

(Krrr, krrr) my mom rang the door bell at the main gate outside, within few minutes the gate swung open and there stood a security officer.

"Please we are here to meet Mr.Harun, is he around?"
my mom calmly informed the security officer as he scanned us with his eyes from head to toe then said,
"please hold on a minute, let me inform him he has a guest, "  he then closed the gate again and left us standing out side, few moments later, he came to reopen the gate to let us in. We get a vivid view of the house now,.... Indeed the compound is  so big with quite a distance from the main house gate, i see the woods by the side of the house, it has such thick tall tress, with a lot of greeneries, such beautiful flowers making a decoration in front....this place is so beautiful i tell you. 

" Master awaits your presence in the living room, so kindle follow me to lead you to him"  The Security officer said to us, as we walk behind him.
We enter the sitting room and wow i am filled with awe and fascination. It has a long chandelier hanging from the top of the ceiling, the floor tiling decors are superb made of marbles,so clean and shining, i could almost bet you could see yourself in it, the couch is very broad plus looked very comfy , so soft i suppose ...am yet to sit on it ....a rich white soft carpet with beautiful white center table in the middle .
I mean everything screamed luxury.

" Salamualaikum" my mom and i greeted in unison upon entering the living room...its an etiquette in Islam to greet before entering a room
" Waalaikumsalam,  You are highly welcome, Mrs Abdullah and who is this beautiful princess here with yo?"  The man sitting on the couch spoke out with a wide grin on his face addressing us, beside him sat a woman, ...am guessing they be Mr Harun and his wife
" Thank you so much sir,...This princess here is my daughter, her name is layla" my mom responded with a broad smile and i smiled shyly too. I don't really know why but i don't feel that comfortable around Mr Harun's wife, she has such a mean expression on her face , she barely laughed or even smiled when she saw us, unlike Mr Harun who even stood up in smiles to welcome us and gestured for us to have a sit.

"Sulley, Please bring them water to drink," Mr Harun instructed the man servant who just walked in.

"So how have you been?" He further inquired from my mom.

" Well we've been good Alhamdullilah"

"Oh ok Masha Allah," Mr. Harun replied back to my mom.

Sulley brought us water, few seconds later and immediately left.

"So you can begin working today if you don't mind, i have already discussed everything with my wife right here" Mr Harun said to us as he turned his head to stare at his wife who has been silently sitting beside him all this while and having a stern look on her face like she wasn't happy we are here.

" oh yes" his wife simply said n kept quiet.

"You guys will have your quarters, which is at the left swing of the house, that is the servant quarters,...you will be the house cook as we agreed upon, and your little princess here can resume school again, don't worry about the school fees...i will take care of that. Mr Harun kindly said to us or rather my mom to be precise.

" Oh thank you Mr.Harun, Jazakallahu khair, you indeed are a God sent , May Allah reward you abundantly and thank you for being so kind to us" my mom was full of gratitude and i too, at least our lives are about to take a good turn finally.

"Sulley!!' Mr Harun called out the name of  to his man Servant again and within few seconds he is standing beside us.

"Yes Sir, you called for me"  Sulley who would be in his late 20s replied back to his master.

"Please kindly show, Mrs Abdullah here and her daughter where there place of stay will be at the Servant quarters  ...she will be our new cook from now on ."

"Sure Sir,..... Mrs Abdullah please follow me " Sulley replied to his mater and turned to face us as he gestured for us to follow him.

"Thank you ones again Sir, ma " my mom said to Mr Harun and his wife who hasn't even said much and still with a frown.

"Oh your so welcome , Abdullah was my close friend and has help me before, so am just repaying and showing gratitude. " Mr Harun kindly said to us as we turned to follow Sulley to our quarter

We got in front of our quarter, few minutes ago, wow this house is indeed big, the wings are separated from the main house .

Okay so this is where you be living from now Mrs Harun,u know there are about 20 more  maids around including myself, the Boss has been looking for a cook for some time since they had to sack the previous cook due to some confidential reason.  But i hope you enjoy your stay here, and i will be looking forward to working with you thus after you've gotten enough rest."

Sulley informed us with a smile, he seems quite nice and respectful...but could also talk quite a lot.

"Thank you very much Sulley, I am also looking forward in working with you all' "
jazakallahu khaielr" my mom kindly replied.

" I will take my leave now, Salamualaikum and oh, this are the keys to your door."

Sulley bid us good bye as he handed the key to my mom and left.

"Oh layla, Alhamdullilah Allah is indeed a merciful God , He always got our back now lets go in and offer two nafla (prayer) of gratitude to Allah ."
My mom said to me in happiness, she has a wide grin on her face , i am also happy especially because my mom is happy, she does deserve it.

" Yes Mom , Alhamdullilaah" I said  to her smiling.

My mom unlocked the door and then we entered saying Salamualaikun in unison, and wow this place looks so beautiful and welcoming .
We have everything in here, a living room with an air condition , small dining table and couple of chairs around it, two bedroom also with an air condition, each with its washroom, a nicely furnished kitchen, "
"Its beautiful mom".

"Yes Habibti" my mom replied smiling.

"The rooms are two so you get one while i get the other, obviously the bigger one is mine hahaha" mom informed me and laughed.

'Sure boss, i totally understand " i salute her teasingly and burst laughing.

We then proceeded to go perform ablution and offered salat thanking ALLAH FOR everything and how far he has brought us.

*****/////********////*******//****

Mrs. Abdullah pov.

I came into the kitchen in the evening, i left  layla at the quarter, in the room, watching TV  and also relaxing, besides am the one doing the work here....., i must admit this  kitchen looks so expensive and beautiful, It has everything in it, i am to prepare something for the family tonight, so i thought of a simple delicious dish, which i pray  they will love, there was no one in the kitchen when i arrived , so i have been cooking for a while now until i heard someone clearing her throat. Seriously i got startled at first because i was deep in thought while coking , i turned my head away from the pot on the stove to stare behind me and saw Mrs Harun standing at the entrance of the kitchen. Oh this woman is indeed something she has a wired and uncomfortable look around her that makes one so uncomfortable . She is chocolate in complexion and a bit tall, always looking grumpy.

"So you, what is your name?" Mrs Harun wife asked me looking so disgusted .

"My name is Umaya Madam" i answered her with a faint smile, now am facing her,... she will be bit older than me.

"Now listen attentively
"1) Do not come so close to my husband
2) Do not come close to my children
3) Do not go too where you are not told to go , your
place is only in the kitchen.
4) I hate lies and Gossip

Do u understand ? i wouldn't want  you to use your witchcraft to kill my husband just like how you killed yours..mtchwee".

Mr Harun' s wife said to me full of bitterness, i could feel the sting of tears behind my eye balls ready to come out but i had to hold it back,  i have to be strong for Layla she deserves a better life.