"What about that girl, what's her name again. The first born of Bappah Khaleel, she seems nice and she's obviously into you," his smile grew wider when he realized that he had annoyed his cousin with his silly suggestions. "Firstly that woman is not my type and secondly she's into you not me and you know that. Please you should stop it with this suggestions. I will eventually get married when the right time comes." Muhsin averted his gaze to the tv and chuckled. "You're not getting any younger big brother," he reminded him. Yusuf shrugged his shoulders and sipped his drink.

They both turned to the corridor where the entrance was when they heard the door bell. Muhsin gently arise from the sofa and headed to the door. He opened it and to his utmost surprise, she stood before him. She quickly lowered her gaze and greeted him.

"Afternoon," he replied. "My wife isn't around or you're here for something else?" He inquired looking at her. She fiddled with her fingers and nodded. "Mommy said I will be coming here every Saturday or Sunday to do the house chores and cook," she uttered, slowly gazing at him. He hesitated before nodding. He widened the door for her to walk in. She walked in slowly and headed straight to the kitchen after she greeted Yusuf.

He stared at her retreating back till she disappeared into the kitchen. Muhsin threw a pillow on his head to get his attention. "Wha- why would you do that? Who's she?" He asked. Muhsin threw his head back laughing. "Amira's mom sent her to clean. Aren't you surprised that the house looks clean now? Come let's go to the gazebo, she's coming out soon to clean the living room.

They headed out same time she was coming in to sweep. She heaved a sigh of relief when she found the living room empty. She cleaned the living room and also the dining before she cleaned the kitchen and headed upstairs to Amira's room.

She shook her head, amused; just three days ago she cleaned her room but it looked like it has not been cleaned for ages. She arranged her wigs back in where they belong before she made the bed and swept the room. She mopped afterwards and cleaned the bathroom. She used the same burning incense around the house before she moved back to the kitchen to cook. She scanned through the pantry, wondering what to cook. She folded her arms on her chest and heaved a sigh.

She heard a soft knock from the glass door. She looked at the door, he stood there waiting for her to unlock the door. "I wanted to ask you please, do you know how to cook tuwo? It will be great if you did."

She smiled a bit and nodded. "Good, all what you need is in the pantry and store. Please bring it to the backyard when you're done," he stated and she nodded again. He walked away as she slowly closed back the glass door.

Without hesitation, she started cooking what he asked to. She was half way through when amira sauntered into the kitchen. "Who asked you to cook this?" She implored, brows furrowed. Dalia quickly squatted to greet her but instead, amira repeated her question. "I.... He asked me to..." She stuttered. She couldn't even remember what was his name. Even when she has heard daddy called his name countless times when her father was sick.

He walked into the kitchen looking at Dalia, "are you almost done with the cooking?" He asked her and she nodded. Amira looked at him in amusement, "muhsin? But... but you know I don't eat that. Why would you ask her to cook that?"

He folded his arms on his chest, gawking his eyes at her. "Who did you inform you were going to come back now? Who did you even ask before going out? If you won't eat what she cooked then cook something else for yourself because she's not cooking anything after this." He turned his gaze to Dalia who was already panicking inside. "Immediately when you're done cook, I'm returning you home," he stated before he went back to the gazebo where he left Yusuf.

Amira hissed annoyingly and stormed out of the kitchen without giving Dalia a second glance. She exhaled, placing a hand on her chest. She continued her cooking till she was done with everything. She set everything on a tray and took it outside like he asked. He looked at her as she kept the tray on the centre table. "I will go bring some refreshments now," she informed and turned to leave but he stopped her.

"You should eat and get ready, I will return you home myself," he informed her. She slowly nodded before walking away. She went back to the gazebo with the refreshments before going back to the kitchen again. She went back to the kitchen and cleared every mess she had made before she moved to the living room to pray Asr.

After she had prayed, she settled down there on the mat waiting for him. She started drowsing off when he finally came in. "Let's go," he muttered as he headed towards the door. She stood up and followed him to the car. He dropped her off and went back home.

Every weekend, Dalia comes to their house and did the whole house chores. Most of the times, amira wasn't around. Sometimes she doesn't even get to see amira. And sometimes Muhsin was the one that returned her home when the driver doesn't show up. Mommy kept a close eyes on them as she warned amira about it but amira being the nonchalantly type, she ignored her mother's warnings.

One day when he was on his way to return her home, he parked the car by the roadside and looked at her. She raised her head up in awe knowing there weren't at the house yet. She slowly turned her head to look at him. "What's wrong? Did the car breakdown?" She asked softly. He smiled as he shook his head? "Can I ask you something please?" He asked. She hesitated before she slowly nodded even though she wasn't comfortable with the conversation.

"I can't help but wonder; is this how wives are supposed to treat their husbands? I mean you have seen how my wife is." He questioned. He had been wanting to ask her that question because she was different, he observed. Whatever she did was alluring.

She slowly shook her head. "No, I don't think so. I mean that is not how I saw my mother treating my father. Maybe she doesn't know how to handle things as a wife because... I have kind of noticed that's how her mother is, being uncaring but not that I'm eavesdropping on them or anything."

He looked at the road and had a thought about what she said. He returned his gaze to Dalia. "Even if she was not taught, she should know how to at least clean, do some things..."

"Well, you're right. But have tried talking to her about it before?" She asked. He threw his head back laughing a bit. "I have lost count of how many times I have spoken to her about it. She is so entitled and stubborn. I just... don't know how to handle her anymore." His sigh was of a soft deflating; it was as if a tension was lifted yet left him with a melancholy instead of relief.

"Oh please don't give up on her that easily. I am sure you talk to her in a polite way maybe she will consider that and change, just as long as she truly loves, she will definitely change for you. You have to also be patient with her. When she's fire be water, not be fire at the same time, you'll always end up fighting and things would get worse. And don't just let her do all the work alone, sometimes help her. Cook and clean together. Make it fun for her not difficult or boring." She advised. He looked at the girl for brief seconds. He wondered; how could someone that young be so intelligent and wise?

He knew how Amira could be so difficult sometimes and he knew Dalia's advised might not work but that was the best suggestion he has ever gotten from anyone. "You're actually right, Dalia. I really appreciate this great advise, thank you." Her smile widened as she nodded.

She advised him more on their way till they finally arrived at the house. He thanked her again before she dropped out of the car. He watched her retreating back till she disappeared. He rested his head back on his chair, suppressing a smile. If only he married someone that actually respects him and understand that he is the man of the house, he wouldn't be there frustrating himself about anything.

After isha prayer, he went back home. He met Amira pacing around the living room like she was about to strangle him. He closed the door and stepped into the living room. "Muhsin where have you been? You left with that girl since after Asr but you're just coming back? Wait who even asked you to take her home when you know that daddy's driver was coming to pick her?"

He chuckled softly and shook his head. The audacity she has to question him about his whereabouts. "Look amira, I'm really not in the mood for any of this tonight. I am begging you to leave me alone if you do want to have a peaceful sleep tonight." He finished talking and started walking towards the dining room to eat dinner. She blocked his path as she placed her hands on her waists. "What do you want please?" He asked tiredly. "Is it because I'm the one in love with you that's why you're treating me like garbage in front of that girl? You are always yelling at me or saying hurtful words at me all in front of that village girl."

He smiled a little while he brought his hands from his pocket. "Okay come," he muttered as he widened his arms for her. She glared at him and looked away. He moved closer to her and enfold her in his arms. "You're right and I am so sorry about that. I shouldn't be yelling at you that way in front of her. I am sorry."

She looked at his smiling face, he was apologizing to her. Something he had never done before. She exhaled and placed her head on his chest. "But you have to stop being rude to me too and start taking responsibilities of the house. Don't you feel ashamed that mommy had to send that girl to come clean your own house?"

She hissed and pushed him away, "there you go again. Why do you enjoy doing this to me muhsin?" He raised his hands up and shrugged. "Okay, okay I'm sorry. Now, I have been wanting to ask you, when are going to stop taking those pills? It's been almost a year now, I want to see my own child." He held her closer and wrapped his arms around her.

"But, babe we've talked about this before and we agreed after two years of before that," she murmured as she placed her head on his chest and slipped her arms around his torso. "If that's what you want, then I am willing to wait," he whispered back, though he really didn't mean that. It would only cause another commotion between them if he tried to argue. And Dalia was right, whenever she was fire he had to learn to be water.