Hey darlings, sorry it took long to update, important author's note at the end, please read.

•••••

WEDDING DAY, 7:05AM

Asad shook his head with a frown etched on his face, he pointed at the paper on the table trying very hard not to bash the man's face in.

"What do you mean you haven't seen him?! He was here last night." He banged the table out of frustration.

"Okay look, we don't have time for this game you're playing, tell me what the hell happened with this man and how he got in yesterday," The man shook his head tears welling up in his eyes but Zayn didn't notice, or didn't care to notice.

He moved back and picked a paper then walked over to the man and kept it on the table.

"Zaliha Alhassan,," Zayn stated taking a seat opposite the man, "it would be a shame for her to be a widow, or you to be a widower don't you think?" The man shook his head then started pleading but Zayn didn't spare him a second glance, he collected the iPad that was in Asad's hand and turned it to the man's viewing.

A heavily pregnant woman in her late twenties stood on the side of the road, the worn out hijab doing nothing to protect her form the blasting sun. A girl who looked to be five years old stood beside the woman, holding her hands like her life depended on it.

"Your heavily pregnant wife," beads of perspiration were already on the man's forehead and with the tears in his eyes, he looked everything pathetic, which annoyed Asad more, for someone who was a threat to his family, he sure had no backbone.

"I have two snipers pointed at her, now you have five seconds to start talking or you'll watch them get shot" he tsked, "The idea of a single widow and orphan and doesn't sit well with me, a widower though, I can live with that."

He heard a phone beep and a deep voice resonated around the small room, "waiting on your order for execution sir."

"In five minutes if I don't stop you, go for it."

"Please please, I'll tell you everything I know but wallahi I was not part of it, I swear to almighty Allah I was not part of it, I was just there when he received the order but I didn't do anything, please please leave my wife and daughter alone." He cried trembling.

"Now we're getting somewhere," Asad muttered lazily, he sat beside Zayn who kept both phones aside, his hands folded on the table.

They wouldn't have executed the woman anyways, the man's loyalty of course didn't run that deep, they were right about that.

"Keep talking, I don't have time to waste, so let's get it over with we have a wedding to attend." That was from Zayn.

The man who had tears and snot running down his face, he didn't try to wipe either and mixed with the sweat, he was nothing short of disgusting, anyone would've been disturbed by the sight but being a military man, Asad has certainly seen worst and Zayn worked for the DA, defence agancy of Nigeria, the sight was a norm for him.

"It was two weeks ago, he was complaining about money and how the boss wasn't being fair, that he was getting a lot of money but paid the drivers a meager amount that wasn't enough for his lifestyle, he has a high state in things, he has three wives and eleven children," they both nodded for him to keep going, his voice got steadier the more he talked.

"He is always deep in debt before the month ends and sometimes he has run-over debts too,"

"Get to the point," Asad snapped tired of the sob story already.

"We both received alerts of five hundred thousand naira about a month ago, I didn't spend mine wallahi because I was scared of where it came from, but he was too neck deep in debt to care so he paid some of his debts and was talking about taking another wife, I warned him but he didn't listen.

"Two weeks ago, I received a call that I should work closely with the family and tell him what is going on, I think it's a he because it's always a man's voice, I told Muri about it and he said he'll do it, I tried to warn him against it but he didn't listen, that is all I know of this, I don't know the name of the person that sent the money and what he was told after that one but that is all I know, please don't do anything to my wife."

Zayn and Asad shared a look, the latter's frustration couldn't be missed, this was the only lead they had and it was pointless.

"Do you still have the alert on your phone," Zayan spoke after a beat, the man nodded immediately and pointed to his phone that was confiscated.

Asad reached out and picked the beat up tecno button phone, he pressed the faded buttons before handing it to Zayn.

"I'll send this to the headquarters and see if they can trace the person that did the transfer," Asad nodded and watched as Zayn hurriedly left the guardroom they used for the interrogation. He turned to the still sweating man with hard eyes, he wished he'd gotten a few punches in.

He quietly walked out and after a few minutes, two uniformed soldiers walked in, one stood at the door while the other one walked up to him.

"You did good, the boss would like to see you." He nodded and stood up on shaky legs, praying that Muri was fine and his wife too, he made a mental note to call her the second he sees the boss.

Wishful thinking on his part because too bad, the boss didn't care for a widow or orphan, and just like his friend he was shot execution style.

•••••••

Fahad trudged to his mother's room, it was only seven in the morning but it felt as though he hasn't slept the night before and worked the whole night, the former held some truth to it since he hasn't slept for the better part of the night.

He recalled the call with Zayn who confirmed the alert was from a blank account, it wasn't a surprise seeing how he doesn't leave any trace, if anything, he was expecting just that, they only hoped the man would return, but even as he thought of that, Fahad knew that wasn't going to happen.

He entered his mother's room after she replied his taslim and gave him permission to enter.

"Ammie," He called after greeting her. Barr. Salima turned to Fahad with a light in her eyes that warmed him.

"Yes habibi, cold feet?" She joked sitting beside him on the bed.

"No, not that," he breathed out, "I just wanted to see you," she smiled and intertwined their hands together.

"Everything is fine right?" She didn't wait for him to answer before adding, "You may try to hide it, you and your father but I know something is wrong, I don't want you to tell me if you don't want to but Fahad, please be careful," She squeezed his hands assuringly.

"Just a little misunderstanding." They stayed quiet for a moment before Fahad breathed a soft laugh, "I can't get on that plane ammie,"

"Cold feet then? For the turbaning?" She dismissed the mirthful tone he used. Adamawa most certainly is not one of his favorite places.

"Everything will be fine,"

"Ammie, I still see her unconscious, I don't think I can go back there." He stated in a small voice, ammie turned to face him directly so she can look into the his eyes.

"Huda is here and she's fine, I know you don't want anything to do with them but they are your family, they'll always be your family." She caressed his face, nostalgia hitting her.

She didn't believe in the tradition of being shy of your first born, Fahad is her confidant and best friend, she missed when he would tell her everything, when he wasn't saddled with responsibilities of being an adult, the times when his first thought is always, 'let me call ammie and run it by her first' she missed those times, but she is glad he was handling things well, she is glad that even after everything he has been through, he looks after everyone around him, and she has realized she has to accept that he is now an adult.

"I can't get these images out of my head, it's like I'm crazy because I see him too," He shook his head as if to get rid of the image "I feel like I'll see him the moment I step foot in Adamawa and Huda will be there again, unmoving, ammie I'm so scared."

"Okay habibi, breath in and out, I assure you everything will be fine, will it make you feel better if Huda stays here with me, or with Khadijah and layla throughout, and she'll facetime you when you land okay, just keep praying." She pecked his cheeks.

They sat in comfortable silence for about nine minutes before the shrill ringing of his phone broke the silence.

He swiped the answer button with a small smile.

"Lee, where are the pictures?" His body went rigid when he heard a shaky voice, he sat up immediately.

"Layla is everything okay?" She sniffed, it took a few seconds before she was finally able to speak.

"Hamma, can you please come over?" She choked out, she was definitely crying.

"Layla tell me what happened, I'll be there in a few minutes please tell me something, are you all okay?"

"Yes, please just come." The line went dead after that.

"What is wrong with Layla?" Ammie asked worry laced in her voice.

"She didn't say, I'll call you when I see what's wrong, please call baba and inform him." She nodded but he was already out of the room.

Fahad rushed to the car and drove out of the house all the while praying Khadijah was fine, his heart wouldn't be able to take it if anything happened to her. He steadied his trembling hands on the wheel.

He was almost at the house when he remembered to call someone for backup, his best bet was Shaheed, he doesn't talk to people so he is probably the only one that's not busy, when he didn't pick, he called Jawad who picked on the second ring.

"What's up groom, cold feet?" Fahad ignored the tease and asked him to meet him at Khadijah's house, he spelled out the address before hanging up, he parked outside the gate, ahead of the blacked out SUV he assumed Xavier had camped there.

He tapped the window with his knuckles but no reply, not a good sign.

He shook off all negative feeling and walked to the gate, he almost missed Layla's trembling figure bent right outside, he helped her up immediately.

She wrapped her shaking hands around him.

They walked to the car together and when he was sure she was seated well in the passenger seat, he walked over to the drivers side and got in. He gave her water after she calmed down.

"Lee, what happened? Is Khadijah okay?" She nodded absently, trying to steady her trembling fingers.

"Can you tell me what happened?" She nodded again and took a deep breath, her face was red from all the crying most probably.

"I received a call, I thought it was you, it sounded like you, that....that you had a package for Khadijah," he nodded waiting for her to continue, "I didn't think any of it so i went out and I saw a dark blue BMW, that type you liked driving back in Australia," He nodded waiting for her to continue, deep down he knew where she was headed but he wanted to hear it from her, hopefully it wasn't what he was thinking.

"I got in the car, at first I thought it was you and," She shook her head, Fahad who had no idea how to console her took her hands in his and squeezed reassuringly hoping it would calm her down, even if just for a moment.

"He held a gun, he-he- said to tell you he's back and you should watch your back." She took the handkerchief he handed her gratefully and wiped her tears.

"He got out of the car after that, I was too shocked to move then I perceived blood, I don't know, it smelled like blood," her eyes were clouded.

"Hamma there was a man in the back, he was bloody, I–I think he is dead."

His heart stopped when he heard that, he wasn't there but even he knew it was a corpse.

"Where is the car?"

It took her a few minutes to reply, "I don't know where Xavier took it," he nodded understandably.

He leaned over in his seat and pulled her into a hug.

"I'm so sorry Lee, I... I'm so sorry you had to see that." She nodded against his chest, her arms around him.

"It's not you fault, he is a psychopath,"

"It's my job to protect you, will you be fine? I'll talk with Xavier." He didn't want to leave her alone, not even for a second.

The fact that he was very close scared him, he couldn't remember whenast he felt fear like that. He prayed for strength in his mind before getting out of the car, he walked over to Layla's side to open the door but stopped when he saw a familiar car parking right beside his.

He walked over and waited for the driver to open the door, not upto a minute, Jawad walked out with a white kaftan and babban riga, he removed the zanna cap and kept it back in the car before looking up at Fahad with inquisitive eyes.

"We're about to leave and you're not even dressed, what's up man?" He asked worriedly missing his agitated expression.

"What's wrong?" He asked his eye drifting to Layla that got out of Fahad's car with red eyes proof that she was crying. He walked instinctively to her, he couldn't find it in him to ask what happened, he pulled her into a hug.

"What's wrong baby?" He asked softly when he felt her shivering. He could swear he felt his heart dropped to his stomach when he saw her like that.

She didn't reply, instead she held him closer and sobbed.

Panicked he turned to Fahad who was resting against his car, a look of resignation on his face.

"What happened Fahad?" He shook his head meaning they'll talk about it. Jawad turned to Layla and pecked her forehead.

"It's alright now, I'm here love, please stop crying you know I hate seeing you in tears." He moved a bit so he could look at her, he wiped the few tears that trailed down her face. "There, calm down okay." She managed a nod.

Fahad's phone rang and he moved to the farther side of the street, close to where the security SUV was parked, the voice he heard made his blood boil.

"Hey, there cousin," the person on the other line snickered, "Your silence means you've gotten my message."

"Why don't you meet me? If you want to get at me then fucking come at me." He tried very hard to not yell, he heard laughter again, his grip on the phone tightened, it was a surprise it didn't crush under the force of it.

"This is more fun, come on you should loosen up a bit," He heard a sound in the background like a door closing before the voice returned, all traces of lark disappearing. "Now you listen to me carefully Fahad," he stated with distaste.

"She is just the first, next I might just have a picnic with Huda again, we got along very well the last time, and maybe your wife, a few hours to the nikkah right," he didn't wait for an answer before adding, "Well congratulations, it's time for retribution."

"Fahad," he called with unrepressed anger, "You better listen to me carefully, if you go anywhere near Huda I'm going to kill you with my barehands I promise you," he didn't wait for a reply before hanging up.

An image of seven years old Huda laying motionless in the backseat of a car appeared in his mind, he quickly shook his head and dialed her number.

"Hamma, where are you?" She asked immeditaitly after picking in a high pitched scream.

"Huda, are you okay?" She laughed then replied with yes of course.

"Is everything alright? Ammie is asking of you, that you left in a rush and Abu is also looking for you, can you please convince ammie to let me come with to Adamawa? I really want to go again, I'll sit with hamma Jay quietly I promise," she whined. Fahad who only heard of half of what she rambled told her he would call her back the hung up and closed his eyes for a moment.

"Shaheed just called, they are waiting for us, you know we have to be back before juma'at prayer and it's almost nine." Fahad nodded absently at Jawad who still had Layla glued to his side.

She looked calmer, thank God. He thought walking back to them.

Jawad held Layla's hand in his and stepped a few feet away from the cars, he lifted her face so they were eye to eye, it was a bit swollen.

"You'll be fine?" He asked, when she didn't reply immediately he added, "I'll stay with you, I don't have to go okay?"

"It's fine, I'll be fine." She assured even though she wasn't really feeling it.

"Are you sure?" He asked searching her face, for what? Even he didn't know, he needed to assure himself she was fine.

She nodded, then looked down breaking eye contact. She heard him sigh.

He turned to Fahad and saw him standing in front of his car his phone to his ears.

"Okay, I'll call you immediately we land, call me if you need anything," She nodded again.

Jawad stared at her for a bit before gently rubbing her hands assuringly, his eyes drifted to her lips but he quickly averted his gaze.

"Don't answer any calls if they're not from home," whatever it is that happened must've been real bad if she was crying like that, and with that man on the loose, he didn't want to take chances.

"Layla," he called her name softly, "Promise me you'll stay safe, don't go anywhere please, I won't be calm if you're not safe," he pecked her forehead then moved back a bit, with their hands intertwined, they walked the short distance to the gate.

"Safe journey," She managed a small smile and his lips turned up a bit too.

"Thank you, I love you." He stated without thinking, he couldn't tell the emotion that showed on her face but she it was between acceptance and relief.

He didn't expect a reply, he opened the adjoined door for her and waited till she closed it before walking back to the car. Fahad looked up when he heard footsteps.

"You two are fine now?" He asked nodding in the direction of the house.

"Let me worry about that, let go of some of your burderns Barkindo, I have it under control."

He studied Fahad for a bit, it didn't take much to notice his tense shoulders and the hardening in his fore head, he whole persona screamed 'furious'.

Fahad nodded assuringly, "we'll be fine." He nodded at that then walked over to the car, his father has been calling and news like that wasn't something he would want to tell him on the phone.

They both got into Jawad's car, Fahad who didn't argue about sitting uselessly made Jawad realize just how bad whatever happened must've been.

The car ride was silent, Jawad with thoughts of Layla on his mind, last night had been okay, more than okay, he tried to repress a smile as thoughts of Layla clouded his mind.

They weren't fine fine but they were in a much better place.

"We're going to talk this night Layla, please we can't keep doing this," He'd pleaded with her after she pulled away from the hug, reluctantly.

She nodded wordlessly, a shine in her eyes, his heart did multiple jumps when he recognised it and associated with the old Layla, the Care free Layla, the Layla he'd fallen in love with.

He held her hands and they walked to the gazebo that they vacated just hours earlier with Fahad and the rest.

They sat facing each other, her attention elsewhere but he knew she was aware of him.

He let silence reign between them, she will talk in her own time, and he wanted her to know he'll wait for her till the end of time.

"I called after you left," Layla said lowly after a few minutes.

He looked confused for a bit before nodding in question, she understood and elaborated.

"I called your home phone," She stated this time more confidently.

She was tired of pushing him away, most of all he deserved the whole truth, he deserved to hear everything, she owed him that much at least.

"I didn't know,"

"A lady picked, she said you didn't want to talk to anyone." His eyebrows creased and a frown marred his face.

"I don't even know, are you sure you got the right number?" She eyed him in the dim lighting. It was a rhetorical question of course, he knew even if she was unconscious she would call all the numbers she could reach him with.

"I'm not sure if it's a maid or who, but Lee you know my assistant and secretary are both men." She nodded and let silence envelope then again.

"Aren't you hungry?" She shook her head not really understanding if he meant it as an actual question or silence filler.

"I ate before leaving Khadijah's."

"Lee, let's talk please, I know that night was—" He stopped to find the right word, "—Pretty messy, I'm sorry I–"

"–It's fine, I understand," She cut him off so as not to make it awkward. She's never seen him like that, now that she was thinking about it, he was always pretty well put with her, always strong for her, it made her feel bad and undeserving of him.

"Honestly Lee, I can't live without you," His voice was soft, she took a deep breath, he sounded so sincere, so pure, so true, her heart ached.

"I know it's hard, I don't even know what's holding us back, I don't want a toxic relationship with you, you've been through so much already, I want to be your peace." She averted her eyes from his, she might just burst into tears from seeing how raw he was being with her.

All the years in between, from his sister's death to his parents, she saw the truth in the dim light, he was broken, he just did a good job of hiding it, and it hurt to realize he hid it from her too, or maybe she was too blind to notice and it has been there all along.

"I want to be your peace too," She whispered, throwing in the towel because she was tired of fighting her feelings for him.

"You are Lee, you just have to accept it and believe that I truly love you Layla, so much, at times I wish I can just switch these feelings off because I don't understand how much you control my emotions, Lee I love you so much that it kills me to be away from you, it hurts to know that you want to be away from me but I love you enough to do that, if it'll make you happy

"So much that I'll attend your wedding even if I'm not the one you're marrying, and I'll be happy even though it'll kill me but the fact that you're happy will give me peace, and if your happiness is with someone else then I'll be happy for you Layla, I promise you."

She let out a shaky breath, willing herself not to cry, when she agreed to talk to him, she hadn't expected him to say that,she didn't expect him to be so raw, so open with his feelings, she knew him enough to know no matter what, he kept his feelings underwraps to some degree, he doesn't like to express himself.

It reminded her of the time he told her that she made being him so easy, that everything was easy with her around, his exact words that night had been, "Breathing is easier with you by my side, you make it so simple to say what I feel Layla."

"I'll let you go this time, I give you my word but you have to let go of me too," She didn't like the taste that left in her mouth and it took a lot of willpower not to cut him off, with a slap or a kiss, her mind was drifting to the latter, she shook her head to get rid of the thought before she acted on it.

"You don't love me," She started with a confidence she certainly wasnt feeling. She used to be so sure of that, she convinced herself it was the truth and at the back of her mind she knew that was what was holding them back, that was the invisible wall she put between them.

He stared at her worldlessly, having no idea how to start replying to that, she helped him out.

"Jawad you're just in love with the idea of loving me and I can't live with that, I'm the last thing you have connected to Noor and you see her in me, you always used to tell me I'm so like her and I remind you of her, you love the idea of loving me because I'm like Noor but not because you love me."

Jawad's eyes pinned her to the seat, he looked confused then slowly the confusion morphed into what must be anger because his whole body went rigid, she hit a nerve and she knows. He let out a short mirthless laugh.

"Noor? I think you're Noor?" She shook her head ready to explain herself but he cut her off with another short laugh that wasn't doing anything expect making her nerves go haywire.

"And I don't love you, do you even hear yourself? for more than ten years, I've been dreaming of building a family with you Layla and you call that an idea in my head?" He shook his head again, he opened his mouth to talk but words failed him.

"Fahad was closer to Noor than you were, I don't see me following him like a lost puppy, this idea that you have in your head, wherever you got it from, get rid of it because the way I see you Layla, how I want you, trust me, it's nothing sisterly." He stood up and left her with that between them.

_____

"Where are you going?" His eyes snapped to Fahad who was looking at him expectantly. As if to reassure himself he was in the car, his eyes did swipe about the interior of the car before drifting back to the road.

"Airport of course, were already late." Fahad only nodded. "Wanna talk about it?" Jawad asked tired of the silence.

Fahad sighed and relayed everything Layla told him, he'd called Xavier who explainsed further.

"This is so dangerous." Fahad nodded.

"If Layla couldn't tell you two apart then it's a nightmare, I'm so sorry this is happening."

"If he'd only talk to me," he stated wistfully. "He threatened Huda, I don't know what I'm going to do to him if he goes close to her Jawad and I'm scared to find out."

"He wouldn't insha Allah." He replied with ameen, no more words were exchanged even as he parked the car in the airport parking lot, they both walked to the private hanger where family jet was waiting.

Shaheed was the first person they saw, standing casually against his car,multiple SUV's were parked which meant his father and alhaji Tafida Aliero were already there or the more possible one, they've left.

Shaheed confirmed the latter, they left with a few of their friends and Mahmud who chose to tag along and the others, only Kabir and Asad chose to wait for Fahad, Farhan was also running a bit late.

"Who's the pilot?" Ja'afar asked walking up to his older brother.

"Capt Moh," Kabir answered for him, he nodded enthusiastically before walking off probably to say hi, they were friends of some sort, in Fahad's opinion, Captain Muhammad is about fifty and was their father's junior back in school.

"What emergency had you running off?" Adnan who'd arrived late at night asked sitting beside his brother on the window seat of the plane.

"A few errands, did you talk with Salis?" Adnan nodded

"Yes, he said he is on it," Adnan scrutinized his brother, they all knew he has a bad habit of downplaying things so as not to worry anyone, and he ends up over stressing himself.

"Everything is alright right? Are you sure you're okay with this?" He only nodded wordlessly, Adnan accepted he couldn't make him talk if he didn't want to so with a sigh he stood up and walked to farthest side of the plane, his phone chimed with a message which has him smiling automatically.

قلبى:
Safe journey❤️

°°°°°°°°

Zayn sat beside Fahad with a small smile, his shiny black hair peeking from the qube cap that was perched perfectly atop his head, like the rest of the men he was attired in a white shadda and the babban riga had silver hand embroidery sewn on it.

“Please tell me that your smile means good news?” Fahad asked sitting up, he kept the magazine that he wasn’t really paying attention to.

“Depends on the kind of good news you’re expecting,” Zayn stood up and removed the babban riga, he’d been trying to adjust it so he could sit comfortably but it wasn't cooperating.

“I’ll take any good news right now,” he ran his hand over his hair once, he’d ditched the cap till they get to Adamawa, in fact he was the only one not dressed. He didn’t see the point if he still had to change when they got there. He still saw no reason for the turbaning if he was being honest with himself.

“Well then, the body of the man in the car was of the worker-“he paused with a thoughtful look on his face, “-Murtala yeah that’s his name.” Fahad’s eyes widened at that.

“The same one that kept the letter?” it was a rhetorical question but Zayn nodded nevertheless. Fahad’s mouth formed an O-shape and he nodded. “They killed him, what the actual hell is wrong with that man?!” his voice rose a bit, Zayn only shrugged in reply because what could he say?

“We’ll talk more about it after this God forsaken event.” Zayn nodded and sat back¸ he closed his eyes for a moment before opening it back up.

Aliyu Haidar and Umar Farouq boarded the plane, they were the last two to arrive and after they got settled in, the plane took off. The steady motion of the plane calmed Fahad a bit, and as the plane took off and steadied in the sky, he felt a little light, like all his worries were left on the ground, he was thankful for the momentary peace and silence, he hadn’t realized that was luxury until just then, it made him wonder how long he’d been without that feeling of peace and serenity.

He prayed until the plane landed in Adamawa, his whole body stiffened as they departed from the plane and walked to the stream of waiting cars.

About six SUV’s were parked, with two uniformed men outside each car, one dressed in the traditional green and red attire associated with royalty and the other in a black suit. They all got in the car, Jawad in the same car with Fahad, Shaheed and Adnan in one car, Ja’afar opted to go with them at the last minute, Haidar and Umar, Asad and Zayn then last Farhan and Kabir.

Abba was forced to go with the elders much to his dismay, he’d wanted to be with Ja’afar who was the only person closest to his age but had been told it was either that or he stayed in Kaduna and waited for them, he chose the former of course.

Jawad noticed how tensed Fahad looked, he patted his shoulder and when he was sure he’d gotten his attention, he spoke, “It’s not easy being here Fahad I can understand, remind yourself that Huda is at home and she is safe, if it’ll make you feel more assured, call her.” Fahad wordlessly nodded and pulled put his phone.

“Hamma, what is Adamawa like now, has it changed?” that was the first thing she said which made his lips to turn up a bit, he replied with a simple yes, he heard someone call her name in the background, “Sorry hamma, it’s adda Waleedah they are going to adda Khadijah’s and I want to go with, I’ll send you pictures and you should do the same to please, and oh yes please remind abba to get everything on video for me, I love you bye.” He heard a beep indicating she has ended the call, he couldn’t help the small laugh that made its way past his lips.

“See, now stop worrying and go get this talba title of a thing, whatever it means.” Fahad only nodded, just a little bit more relaxed than before he called her.

He had sour memories of Adawama, the place both his parents had been born, it wasn’t the best of both their places on earth, and after the stunt his cousin had pulled on Huda, it was at the top of the list of his least favorite places in Nigeria.

He closed his eyes as they drove down the streets of Adamawa, he willed himself to reminiscence that fateful day, the first day he’d stepped foot on Adamawa soil.

°°°°°°

After almost twenty hours on the plane, first from Australia to Abuja and then from Abuja to Adamawa, he should’ve been exhausted, no he was exhausted it was his mind that wasn’t registering that fact or was it his body, adrenaline surged through him as he got in the car he’d had his assistant hire.

He checked his phone and typed in the location on there to the GPS before starting the car, he could hear his heartbeat in his ear. Only his assistant and personal security detail knew what was going on, he’d done his possible best to make sure his parents don’t find out, especially his mother.

The call from Huda’s principal had made his heart stop, it took him a full minute to realize he wasn’t breathing.

“Mr. Barkindo I know you said it is urgent that you take Noorulhuda with you but I hope you understand she needs to be back in school before her final classes and afterschool clubs, she is missing a lot of academic activities with the excuses you’ve been taking from us,” he kept quiet for a moment wanting to decipher what it was she meant.

“What do you mean she has to be back in school before her final classes, she is in school and I didn’t pick her up,” he finished already getting up, he told his secretary to cancel all his meetings for the rest of the day.

“Excuse me,” he didn’t know if the tone meant she was shocked or annoyed, “But you were here an hour ago, I wasn’t on seat then but her class teacher informed me just now.”

He wanted her to desperately be speaking another language because he didn’t want to understand whatever it was she was saying.

“Mrs. Sanders, I didn’t pick her up from school.” That shut her up, the line was quiet for a while before she cleared her throat and said something about conforming what he said. He didn’t want to take any chances so he called Xavier immediately and asked him to meet him at the school.

They found the man that had impersonated him and picked her up, and thankfully they got the location a few minutes, he wasn't very smart with his loose ends or he simply didn't bother to clear his trace, maybe he wanted to be found.

Fahad disregarded any logical thinking that showed the possibility of it being a trap as he drove into the warehouse.

He opened the door and stepped out, he used his hand as a shade from the scorching sun and looked around for any sound of life, there were about five containers in his line of vision, he mentally calculated how long it would take before back up arrived, at least ten minutes, he couldn't just sit and wait for those minutes so he decided to search the containers first, he turned in the direction of the closest one when his phone rang, he didn't bother checking who it was because it would be a chore in the sun, he put the phone to his ears and froze when he heard the voice, it sounded just like....him.

"Hello cousin brother, I'm so glad you made it in time for this reunion," The voice was coming from the phone but he could hear it from somewhere around, which meant he was close by, he didn't know what to do so he opted for looking around and trying to find him.

He stood about ten feet away from Fahad with Huda beside him, she looked relaxed which scared Fahad, he had on shades and a p-cap which hid his face pretty well, Fahad made a move in his direction when he felt a force hitting him square in the head.

******

Fahad opened his eyes with a start.

"Are you okay?" He turned to Jawad who looked worried, he was looking at him with inquisitive eyes.

"Yes I'm fine," He managed to croak out.

The driver stepping out made Fahad realize the cars had stopped, the door was pulled open moments later and he stood face to face with a guard dressed in the red and green he'd seen earlier, he wasn't the one that joined them in the car he could tell.

The man greeted him respectfully and started the royal praise singing which sounded like grating to Fahad's ears, he hated all of it.

A man most probably the waziri (vizier) walked up to them and ushered them in.

The whole turbaning was a flash in Fahad's mind, he couldn't tell if it was because he was overwhelmed with the amount of activities or if he zoned out of the whole process simply because he wasn't interested, what was on his mind was when he'd come face to face with the Lamido of Adamawa, as tradition deemed, he was supposed to go and greet him and seek his blessings, none of which he wanted to do.

Even with the rawani (royal turban) that covered his face, Fahad saw similarities between them, eyes that looked so much like his father's.

He didn't fully relax until the plane took off, he released a breath he didn't know he was holding.

He still wasn't back to normal even when they drove back home and he took a quick shower before they left for the mosque for juma'at prayer and his wedding fatiha. He still wasn't used to the fact that he was getting married, a small part of him had mentally just registered it as Jawad's wedding because between them, he was the only one they'd looked at as the one who was to be married.

He wore another white kaftan, this one with light brown embroidery on the babban riga, the zanna bukar he'd chosen for the event had touches of the same shade of brown.

Layla had forced him to pick that saying it matched Khadijah's outfit, she had a whole photoshoot planned, he didn't know how Khadijah felt about that, he didn't know how to feel about that too, a part of him wants to do it, if just for history, his first marriage, his wedding that wasn't with Noor, he forced his eyes closed and opened it after a few seconds, he knew they were red.

He looked at the made bed, his mother must have had someone do that because he hadn't made the bed when he left in the morning.

Three little boxes lay there, and his testoni shoes on the carpeted floor. Layla had planned everything officially making herself his valet and fashion adviser.

He wore the ring that was in one of the boxes on his left little finger, the right hand had a smilar plain silver band.

He raised the left hand to his face scrutinizing the ring, he didn't need anyone to tell him dada had kept that there, his heart tugged when he recalled where he had seen it before.

"Aren't you dressed yet groom?" Ammie walked into the room holding a tray in her hands, he quickly walked over to her and took it from her. "Thank you." She smiled warmly at him.

She sat on the bed and watched as he wore the cellini moonphase Rolex watch on his left wrist, he donned the cap on his head and turned to her with a charming smile. Barr. Salima smiled through the tears, he looked so much like his father especially with the smile on his face.

"You look handsome habibi," she pecked his cheeks and walked to his mostly bare mirror save for cologne and a few things, she had someone bring in new collections specially for his wedding. Her hands hovered over the sealed boxes before she settled on Creed's spice and wood, she sprayed it on him with a prayer on her lip.

She kept it back before turning to him, she shook her head and picked musk oud by killian, she sprayed him with it too, making sure to put it on his neck and behind his ears, Fahad couldn't help the small laugh when she did that, he'd learnt that from her.

She adjusted the babban riga on his shoulder even though it wasn't in the least crooked, she was avoiding his eyes so he wouldn't see the tears in them.

"There, my handsome youngest groom," He laughed, her hands that was on his chest feeling the vibrations.

"You always call me old and now suddenly I'm young," She playfully hit which made him laugh more.

"Well you're young now, I don't even see any grey hairs," He gasped dramtically which earned him an eye roll.

"Ammie, if you keep standing here complimenting me though I'm not complaining, I'll miss juma'at prayer and maybe my wedding too," This time she shit him hard.

"Don't say that." He nodded and watched as she took her henna stained hands off his chest, only then noticing the intricate designs, he loved red henna.

"May Allah bless you as you take this next step darling, may Allah be with you my love." She whispered tearfully, "stupid tears,I said I wasn't going to cry at your wedding." He laughed and kissed her forehead.

"I don't want to see you crying either ammie," He wiped the tears with his thumb and watched her, she was still trying to fight more from falling.

Together they walked hand in hand and stopped when he stood at the door, he was going to the mosque with his brothers and friends, they were probably already waiting in the assigned vehicle, a mercedes benz sprinter cargo van, it was Ja'afar's idea, though he would've loved to drive himself to the mosque in his Audi, Ja'afar wasn't having any of it.

"I have so much to say to you Fahad I don't think eternity will be enough to say them, I'm proud of the man you are and I'm the luckiest woman on earth for having birthed you, I know this is hard for you but just know that I'm happy, I'm proud of you for doing this, for taking this step," she took a deep breath, "Go on so you won't be late, I love you." With a long kiss on his forehead, he walked to the car and watched as Ja'afar tried to convince everyone they could fit in the eight seater.

"There's no way that car will be enough Jay, let it go." That was from Adnan whose head was already aching from the pointless argument.

They were more than ten, just Fahad's friends and the Aliero's and with cousins, even a twenty seater would be too small for them.

"Okay Jay, you can go with the guys while I drive Fahad," Jawad didn't wait for a reply as he started for his car.

"Well, I'll go with my car too because I don't know who'll drive it home for me, bye." Shaheed was the second and before he could blink, he was left with cousins his age, they shrugged and got in the car.

"No old men anyways," Someone he couldn't remember his name cheered as the driver put in the drive.

.........

Fahad could've sworn he missed a part of his life, from when he got in the car with Jawad and they drove to sultan Bello mosque in unguwan sarki.

He couldn't remeber when they sat in the mosque for the Friday khutba (sermon), even the congregatory two raka'at juma'ah prayers, there were a lot of people and a lot of security present, he only had to look a bit before he saw uniformed men around them, his father had taken an extra caution with security.

He had only a bleary idea of what happened after that, meeting Khadijah's father in the crowded mosque and her two brothers in law, Farhan had been close by, pleasantries being said, speaking to the chief imam, his father's close friend Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami joining them, they said a few prayers, he couldn't tell want was being said for the life of him, what he did remember vividly was when it was announced that Khadijah was wife.

He is married. The realization almost knocked the breath out of him.

•••••••

Assalamu alaikum loves, hope everyone is fine, I'll try to make this quick.

Thank you all so much for the love and support and prayers, it means a lot.

As you all know I'm starting exams insha Allah next week, so I'm putting this book on hold for now so I can focus completely on my studies, help me with your prayers and thank you for understanding.

Now, secondly, I know a lot of you love this book and all and it's very close to my heart honestly, it's the first book that I can be proud to say I wanted people to read, that I proceeded to publish to the world and most importantly, my first northern based book ever.

For someone who doesn't like lenghty books this has been going on for way more than I would've liked, I'm not taking the book down, not now anyways, that was the first thing I wanted to do but then I thought of you all that support and love it, it wouldn't be fair on you.

I made a few changes in chapter ten and chapter twenty one, same with forty one, you can go ahead and see that, also I'm changing the description, that's that, I really hope y'all are not bored of this book🥺
Thank you all so much for your support.

I made this chapter extra long (7.5k+ words) so you have something to hold on to before I'm done with exams, yeah we'll meet in December, *runs*.

School na scam sha

Amyrah