Salim's POV

   We exited The Car and went into the House my eyes roaming About to capture My Wife but I didn't catch a glimpse of her. "What do you think?" Dad asked. "Sir?" I didn't hear what he said.

    "We'll talk about it Tomorrow, seems your attention is not here" Dad chuckled, "No Dad, I'm listening" I said embarrassed. "Don't worry,it's nothing important" he smiled and headed to his Chamber.

    "Where is Ummi?" I asked the Maid. "She is in Alhaji's Apartment" She said dropping A Glass of Water. "What of My Wife?" I asked. "She has not returned Home yet" she said and left.

    She knew I was coming back today,May be She got carried away with Work. "My Son" Ummi said hugging me. "Ohh Ummina,I miss you" I hugged back.

    "You should have just told me to go meet my Wife since you only miss Your Husband" I joked, "Shut up!" She spanked my back. "Are you competing with me?" Dad asked after coming in. "No Dad" I chuckled.

     "Ummi where is Surayya?" I asked again. "I hid her in my Room" Ummi said and Dad laughed at that. "Your Son has been so eager to reach Home and is all because of his wife so you should release her" Dad chuckled.

    "Ummi please" I whined. "Salim Ban Son Rashin Kunya, You're not even Ashame to ask?" Ummi asked amused. "No" I shrugged and Dad laughed more.

    "See your Son" Ummi gestured at me. "Don't mind Children of nowadays" Dad said. "She went Home after coming back from work. I asked her to go home so she can prepare something for you and clean up the house" Ummi smiled. "She should have waited for me so we can go together" I said.

       "She must be waiting for you but I'll appreciate if you eat a little before you go, I made it myself" Ummi added. "Sure" I said and we all headed to the Dining Area, "Wow, Jollof Rice" I exclaimed as I dig into it.

     "Salam Habiby,How was your flight?, Alhamdulillah Insha Allah. Your Love is waiting for you".Hayatie sent a message.

     "Can't wait to see you Hayatie,I miss you so much, I'll be on my way. I'm at Ummi's" I replied the message. "Thanks for the Dinner Ummi, I'll get going" I pecked her cheeks. "Let me escort you outside" she stood up. "Haba Ummi No, Don't worry" I sat her back.

    "Daddy Sai da safe" I hugged Dad and went out. I engined my car and was about to take off when Ummi came into the view. "Ummi what is it?" I asked. "Salim I want to talk to you" she said. "Okay Ummi,Go ahead" I came out of the car.

    "Let's take a sit" she headed to the Garden and I followed suit. "Ummi what is it?,you are getting me worried" I said. "It's about your Wife" she sighed. "What about her?" I asked worried.

   "My Son when I said you should not marry that Girl,You thought I was been naive. Now she's disrespecting your Mother" Ummi shook her head sideways, But Surayya said everything was okay between her and Ummi.

      "Ummi, Suraaya disrespected you?" I asked surprised. "You don't believe me right?,I knew you won't believe me" she said. "No Ummi,is just that,Suraaya is not like that" I tried defending her. I know my Wife,she wouldn't do anything that will make me sad or get angry with her. She's not the type that disrespect elders.

    "She disrespect me so much and even throw offensive words at me. Whenever I ask her to cook something for me,she will say she's not a slave In this house. She stays outside and sometimes she won't come home till it's past 10pm. She throw offensive words at me, I overhead her insulting me on phone one Day and when I confronted her,She disrespected me and even said that even if I try telling you about her bad Habits you won't believe me. My Son she even said that she will separate you from me" Ummi sobbed.

      I can't believe what my ears are hearing,but I know Ummi will never say bad about someone. "Ummi I am sorry. I'm Sorry for all she had done to you. I'll make sure I do something about this. You're the best thing that has happened to me and no one,No one can separate us. Okay" I hugged her. "Ummi please don't cry" I consoled her. "My Son please do something about it" she said.
 
    "Insha Allah. It will never happen again" I stood up to go. I'm angry and pissed off already,Suraaya must explain to me today why she did that to My Mother. How Dare she disrespect my Mother,The Woman who gave birth to me. I'm disappointed.

       "Ummi I'll get going. Don't let this matter disturb you" I hugged her and went straight to my car. If it was someone who told me that Suraaya did all that,I would have told the person he/she is insane. I never thought that Surayya can do this. I'm disappointed,and she must explain and tell me the reason why she did that.

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      "Suraaya,Suraaya!,Suraaya!" I called immediately I entered the House. "Habiby?,you're back?" She looked so innocent Masha Allah.

    "Suraaya why?" I asked,Why would someone with such a beautiful face and good personalities change,How did it happen. "Habiby what is it?, what's wrong with you?" She asked worried.

    "Don't answer my Question with a Question Woman!" I shouted and she gasped a little. "Ashe Baki da Hankali Suraaya?, I'm asking you answer me!" I asked moving close to her. "I don't know what you're talking about?" She moved backwards.

     "Stop pretending Suraaya. I trusted you so much, I Loved you with all my heart but you chose to pay me back by disrespecting my Mother. My Mother!,How Dare you!?" I asked gripping her arms. "I..I..You're hurting me" she gasped.

     "So what?,Is that all you have to say?" I asked feeling disgusted already. I'm boiling inside me and this her pretence is not helping things. I'm so disappointed and hurt. "Hayatie why did you do it?,Why did you disrespect Ummi and even lied to me that things were working out between the both of you, What has gotten into you,why the sudden change" I asked.

       "Habiby I can explain" she sobbed, "That was not what happened,Ummi is just trying to separate us,she is.."

      "Shut up,Shut your mouth,one more word about Ummi and I'll surprise you" I fumed with anger, "You're not even guilty of what you did" I spat. "This is not fair Ya Salim,hear my own side of the story at least, before judging. Do you know what I went through in your Mother's hands this past two weeks,No,But here are you yelling and shouting at me" she cried.

    "I'm tired of all this,I can't take this anymore. After dealing with your Mom's trouble I thought I'll be happy when you come back, but No, You surprised me by believing all she said about me. What did I do to deserve all this from you, Ya Salim?, Don't you trust me anymore?" She cried kneeling on the floor.

    "Your Mother never liked me,you told me she's okay with our Marriage, What's all this now, Where did I go wrong as a Wife or as a Daughter In-law?" She cried more.

   Her words clenched my heart, I should have listened to her own side of the story. I forgot about the hatred Ummi had for Suraaya,I thought she has accepted her.

   "Hayatie I.. I'm.. Sorry" I managed to say, I don't know what to say, I'm sorry for all the words I used on her, I am Sorry for shouting at her. She stood up and furiously went up to her room.

    I followed suit but she locked the Door behind her. What have I done?, How did I forget that My Hayatie can never do such. I saw the pain in her eyes,She was really hurt by my reaction.

    "Hayatie What are you trying to do?" I asked standing up, "I'm going to my Father's House" she sobbed dragging a trolley behind her. Ya Allah. This should not happen.

  "Hayatie please, it hasn't gotten to this, please" I begged but she didn't give me a glance. "Hayatie I am deeply sorry" I held her hand.

     "I should have listened to you first before judging,I am Sorry Hayatie, please find a place in your Heart to forgive your Habiby" I begged. "Leave me alone" she sobbed trying to free her self. "You're my Life,I can't leave you" I hugged her.

     "Ya Salim please leave me alone,I want to go Home" she cried more. "Hayatie please don't say that, I know I have wronged you but it wasn't intentional, please" I begged kneeling in front of her. "I need some space,just let me go" she walked past me and exited the house.

     "Hayatie please,kiyi haquri Dan Allah,it won't happen again" I followed her to the car. "I said I need some space Haba. Is this marriage all about you?, You always want things to be in your favour, what of me?" She sobbed.

     "Until you clear things with Ummi don't expect me back in this House" she said with a tone of finality and stormed out of the compound. She is just misunderstanding things, I always think for both of us, I can't remember been selfish in anyway. I was left with no choice but to be angry with her. Why would Ummi do such a thing?, What would Hanif and Abba think of me. I Love Hayatie so much why can't Ummi seem to understand that.

      Now the House feels so empty without her, I have to go bring her back. No Soul can leave without Life, She is My Life, She is My Life.

Surayya's POV

     The Anger in his face frightened me more, sending cold shivers down my spine. I tried making him understand that Ummi was not saying the truth but he didn't believe me. He kept Roaring like a Lion throwing unfavourable words at me.

   Ummi said lies against me, she made my Husband to yell at me,to get angry with me, The pain she made me go through wasn't enough, she had to lie against me, What did I do to that Woman to deserve all this.

    I have never seen this side of Ya Salim, he was very Angry, he really scared me, I understand that he is a Momma's Boy but that shouldn't make him to believe what she said.

   I need some space from this marriage. I'm scared of that Man at home, He is not my Husband.

   I drove into the compound and went into the house ignoring the Worker's greetings I went upstairs and saw Ya Hanif and Aunty J laughing at something.

    "Auta?" Ya Hanif called,
"Surayya?" Aunty J called almost together with her Husband. "Auta did something happen to Salim?" Ya Hanif asked and I nodded my head negatively. "Is he not suppose to be back today?" He asked again. They knew something was wrong with me.

     I felt tears running down my cheeks and I just let them floor unbound. "Surayya" they all rushed to my side giving me more strength to cry. "Surayya please tell us, what is wrong?" Aunty J asked. "I..I...." I sobbed.

    "Let me call him" Ya Hanif said and went out. "Surayya tell me what is wrong, why are you with a Trolley,Did you have a fight with Salim?" She asked worriedly. "Let's go inside" she gave up asking.

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   "Hanif has told me all that has Happened but Surayya I want you to know that every Marriage has it ups and downs. You shouldn't give up so fast, Why did you leave your martrimonial Home without your Husband's permission?, I have talked to him and that will never happen again, Follow your Husband and go back Home, You are not spending the night here" Abba said making my heart to clench in pain.

      I don't want to go back to that House. "Abba Dan Allah" I sobbed. "No Surayya, you are going back home with him, I want the best for you and your martrimonial Home is the best for you, Your Husband is Sorry for what he did So also His Mother. You are going home with him" he added.

    "Abba Wallah I don't want the Marriage again. She is going to kill me Abba, She hate me" I cried feeling hot tears dripping from my eyes. "Kul!, I should never hear that from you again, A Woman should protect her Marriage and also try her best to see that her In-laws are pleased with her. I did not raise you to be a weak African Woman"

    "Salim take your wife with you, Such thing should never happen again, I married my Daughter off to you because I see you as a Responsible Man, Don't disappoint me. She is an Amanah, Don't brake the trust" Abba said to him.

    "Insha Allah Abba, it wouldn't repeat it self again. Ayi Mana Afuwa" I looked at the Direction the voice came from and our eyes met.

  Recalling how Scary and Angry he looked earlier made me Sob more. I should have just went to Maami's house, I know she wouldn't have forced me to go back home with him.

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   I have been ignoring him since we came back and he didn't force me into a conversation. I'm angry with him for believing what Ummi said about me and for Shouting and yelling at me all because of it.

     It hurt so much that after tolerating her she had to do this to me, What kind of hatred is this. I changed Into my Nightie and threw my self on the couch. I'm feeling very tired, both physically and emotionally. After coming back from work, Ummi asked me to come home and clean up the house saying it must be Dusty, I never knew she was planning something against me.

     "Hayatie" I heard his soft voice. "My Name is Surayya, or have you forgotten?" I asked,

   "Hayatie please forgive me, I know I have wronged you" he held my hand.

    "I didn't mean to shout at you or frighten you, it will never happen again, I promise. I know I messed up today but believe me you are My World, I can't live without you please forgive my short comings" he pleaded and I nodded my head. "I've heard" I simply said. "Thanks" he said and I just smiled.

     "I'm also Sorry for what Ummi did to you, Mercy told Dad everything, I can't believe you went through all that but didn't tell me, you should have told me"

    "It's okay, just that it hurt so much that you don't trust me enough"

   "Don't say that again, I trust you so much,I don't know what got into me, I'm sorry" he kissed my hand.

    "Look How Ummi spoiled this beautiful Day for us, Let's go to Bed" he helped me stood up.

     "I miss you so much Baby" he whispered into my ear, "I miss you too"

     "Are you sure?, Then show me how much you miss me" he flirted and I chortled. I rest my head on his chest feeling his Heart bit and savoring the moment.

    "Your Heart is beating fast" I said and he nodded his head. "It's beating fast for you. Touch it and tell it to calm down" he placed my hand on his chest.

    "Dear Heart, Relax, I'll always be with you, for better for worst, I Love you" I kissed him. "You see, is getting normal" he whispered and I chuckled.

    This is what I want, a Happy marriage and I'll fight for it. "Hug me please" he whispered and I did as he said. "Bismikallahuma Namutu Wa Nahya. Sleep tight Hayatie" he placed a Light kiss on my Forehead. This is better than a Million kiss on the lips.

       I Love my Husband, he is my Pride, he is my World, he is my Paradise.

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