Luggage trolleys were ravaging the floors of the airport. Hustle and bustle with every second that passes mattering. Maa fell asleep while reading one of Ben Carson's novels while we were at the Business class lounge awaiting the call of our flight. Khalid was busy on his phone while i just stared at him wondering what had changed. When we were coming to London, at the Abuja airport, I remember how he could not not be away from me. But now, he didn't even spare me a look.
Do i talk to someone about this? I thought but decided against it. I thought, it's too early and it might not be something that serious maybe I'll just give him some more time. I was sitting on the single sitter to the left of the room, backing the door, Maa who had fallen asleep was sitting opposite me on a 2 sitter and Khalid was on rhe three sitter in between ours. I got up and moved to his couch and sat next to him. I tucked mt right arm underneath his left arm as I rested my shoulder. He didn't even move.

'Need something?' He said huskily.

'M'mm just you,' i replied softly. I waited for him to say something or to atleast embrace me or something but nothing until i fell asleep and he woke me up when our flight was announced.

After about 20 minutes we were finally in the plane. We stopped over at Istanbul because we had issues with BA in which we were supposed to take a direct flight to Abuja but things got messed up. At around 5pm we left Istanbul International Airport and arrived Nigeria at some minutes past 11pm. We got through security, got our luggages and headed outside where the driver was already waiting for us. I was so jet lagged and all i wanted to do was sleep!

Maa came home with us as it was already very late. Mama had sent some snacks to our house for when we returned. Immediately we got in, Habu, the driver took our luggages in as we all relaxed in the living room downstairs. I got the snacks and fruit drink Mama had sent over and we had some. She didn't send over any heavy food because it'd be too late to eat any proper food. At around 1:30am we decided to call it a night.

_____

'Subhanallah! I missed Fajr,' i exclaimed immediately after i woke up and checked the time and it was 6:20am. Khalid was clearly also just waking up as he was stretching and rubbing his eyes. I quickly performed ablution after he did and prayed Fajr, he didn't wait for me to finish performing ablution so we'd pray together. I just laid my Musallah behind his and prayed mine as well. I decided to go check up on Maa. I went to her room and peaked and i saw she was on her Musallah making supplications. Just as i was about going back upstairs, the doorbell rang and i went to get the door. It was Salisu from my In- laws house.

'Sannu aunty, kun iso lafiya?(well done aunty, hope you arrived safely)' he asked smiling with a food basket in his hand.

'Lafiya Alhamdulillah, ka shigo(Good, thanks to Allah, Come in),' i gestured with my hand and he kept the food flask on the dining table.

'Hajiya said i should drop some breakfast for you. It's mass and taushe with some pap,' he said.

'Ohh Mama is the sweetest, thank you so much Salisu, please tell her we'd come later in the day,' i said to him and he turned to leave. I took the basket to the kitchen were i started to sort out the food. I reheated it and set out the dining table and arranged all the food flasks. I went back to Maa's room to greet her and inform her that food was ready. As I opened the door i met Khalid squatted and was greeting her. I squatted beside her to and greeted her.

'Hope you rested well Maa,' i said.

'I did my dear, should be getting ready to get back home later. I'd like to visit your house Khalid before i go home,' she said turning to Khalid.

'Sure, I'll be going there later too so we can all go together,' He confirmed.

'Allah ya maku albarka ya bar ku tare(May Allah bless you and keep you two together),' she prayed and we chorused a soft Ameen.

'Food is ready, you two should come downstairs. Mama sent Salisu with some delicious masa I'm not sure you'd enjoy it cold,' I chuckled and got up with Maa. She trailed behind me as well as Khalid.

I served him and Maa the breakfast and went round to eat mine too. We ate in silence until Maa's phone broke the silence with Ya Rahma's call. She wanted to ask if she had returned home or was still at our place. I collected the phone, out it on speaker and whined at her for not asking about me.

'Please i need my mummy, i am 8 months pregnant i need her by me so stop shouting, it's just me and Ya sadiq in this house with Afnan, her dad has travelled' she said in a baby voice and I noticed Khalid laughing. She went to Maa's place when her husband travelled and it wouldn't be advisable for her to be all alone so she moved to Maa's place until her delivery.

'Hmm it's not your fault, we'll be coming home later InshaAllah,' with that, we ended the call and finished our breakfast.

We went back to another round of sleep until around 11am. I got out the shower and I noticed Khalid who was already ready in short sleeve dark green kaftan standing by the bed as if he wanted to say something. I was still in my towel but i went to him and made him sit on the bed. I was elated that he wanted to talk.

'Do you want to say something? Can we talk about whatever it is that is bothering you?' He pinched the middle of his brows and let out a sigh.

'Asiya...' he began and kept mum again. 'I seriously don't know how to begin to tell you this, but—,' we were interrupted by a call from Maa for Khalid. He got up immediately and went to her. I quickly got ready in a blue and pink flowery ankara. And draped a blue veil over my head. I didn't want to stress with tying a headgear. I picked up my phone and put in my black Charles and Keith bag and beadwd downstairs. Habu was taking Maa's boxes to the car and we all headed out. I knew he wouldn't be able to continue talking in front of Maa so i let it slide and decided we'd talk when we get back home.

We drove down to my In-laws house where we were welcomed warmly by Ya Musa, Mama and to my surprise even Amira was there. We hugged, greeted, laughed as we'd not seen each other in a long time.
'Asiya my dear, i must say you've done a good job looking after my son, look how plump and fresh he looks,' she laughed and hugged him.

'Even he has done a good job at looking after his wife, she's got a different glow on her face,' Maa added and we all laughed. After dhuhr prayer, Ya sadiq came over to pick up Maa. I missed him so much and ran to hug him. We caught up on some things and I promised to go home the following day to see him and Ya Rahma as well. Immediately we heard Baba's car coming through the gate, i noticed a sudden change of mood in Mama and Khalid. Mama trying not to make it obvious sent i and Amira to the room.

What's going on here? I wondered. We stayed in the living upstairs and I turned to Amira.
'What's going on? Why didn't Mama allow us Atleast greet baba? You know I've actually noticed something off in Khalid as well. Amira is there something everyone is keeping from me?' I asked her almost crying in fact because i felt i was being left in the dark and it wasn't fair.

'Ya Asiya...' she began softly and suddenly Baba's voice came from downstairs.

'Where is she? I hope you have done what have asked you and i hope you have convinced her, mt forehead was creased and i was confused. It was clear he was talking to Khalid. I turned to Amirah and she had this 'I'm sorry' look on her face.

I got up to head downstairs she tried to stop me but I ignored her.

'Good afternoon Baba,' I squatted as I greeted him.

'How was your trip?' He asked and he looked at Khalid.

'It was okay Alhamdulillah,' I answered and i got up to stand.

'Khalid i hope you have told her all i told you otherwise i could help you do it,' Baba said in a cold voice.

Khalid, Mama and Amira who had followed me down all looked disturbed. I asked what was going on and Baba was about to speak when Khalid interrupted him.

'I will tell her once we get back home baba, this is not the—,' he started.

'Khalid talk to me? What is it? What are you all hiding?' I asked and now i was getting really agitated and panicking.

Khalid got up and came to where i was standing.

'Please sit down we'll talk about this in a clam situation—,' Khalid said and tried dragging me to sit on the sofa.
I freed myself immediately.

'Tell me what is going on!' I yelled.

'I seriously don't know what you've done to my son but he seems scared of you. He can't even relay a simple message,' Baba began and i was shocked.
Mama shut her eyes as if to say she was defeated. Khalid put his hands on his waist and tried to stop baba.

'Baba, i told you I'd tell her myself, she's my wife. I know how she is. Please i know how best to do this,' Khalid said and now i was beyond confused.
I just stood there staring into space as if everyone was just deciding on my life for me.

'You've been saying that since last week!!!! How long will i wait?!' Now Baba had gotten up and was raising his voice. I got really scared and stepped back and Amira held me.

'Asiya, all you modern wives now. I do not know what is stuck up in your head, most of you choose to delay bearing a child for reasons best known to you. Your body shape is all you care about. I know you lost a pregnancy once but that has been about a year now. I need to close a business deal and there's a share that needs to go t the heir of this family. I have told Khalid to tell you this since last week but now i can see you have wrapped him around your little fingers. I do not know what you are waiting for but a business deal is on the fence. If you do not choose to do this, there is a woman i have for him to marry and she will be ready to bear him a child until you are ready!!!' He dropped the bomb and left the room.

The next thing i found myself on the floor, with no emotions or expressions. I was blank and still trying to process all Baba had said. How could he be so mean?

'Asiya, please get a grip on yourself,' Asiya tried to help me up but i was still there. Khalid tried to help me up but i pushed him and got up furiously.
Now mama was crying on the chair she was sitted on. She also couldn't bear the sight.

'Leave me alone!I yelled at Khalid who was looking down, defeated.

He held my arms and tried to talk to me but i resisted.

'Does this explain your cold attitude towards me for the past week? Am i not your wife? Don't you consider me your personal queen any more?' I said the last part softly and the tears i fought back started streaming down.

'Asiya I promise you it's not like that. I have been wanting to tell you but i was scared of how you'd react, I didn't want you to feel pressured or anything, I—,' he palmed my face with his palms and i ket lose of them.

'Lies! You are clearly in support of this otherwise any good husband would have spoken to his wife about it. Are you tired of me already? Is our relationship circled around child bearing only? You more than anyone should know how much i want to have kids. I'm probably still scared that I'd lose another pregnancy especially with the implications that came after I lost the first one. You will not understand how hard it's been for me. All you had to do was talk to me Khalid, but you have chosen to go for another woman because that is all that's in you and your father's head! I stormed into fresh tears and he immediately engulfed me in a hug. I didn't fight back, i needed a hug...his hug. I cried and cried my eyes out until i was tired and developed a headache. Mama asked us to go home and rest then we can think about it with a clear mind. We got home after Maghrib and i was exhausted physically and mentally. I hadn't eaten anything since the snacks at my in law's place before the whole chaos. I went straight up to my room and sat on the carpet.
Khalid followed after me and asked if i wanted something to eat and i said no.

'I don't want you falling sick please. You have headache, Atleast eat something and take some panadol...you'll feel better,'

He got up and went back to the kitchen. He came back with some toast and oats and sat on the carpet and fed me. When i was almost done i burst into tears. He kept the plate and hugged me tightly.

'Khalid? Why did Baba say all those things? What does he mean by he has another woman? You won't leave me will you? Why doesn't he understand the whole situation? Why does he think I don't want to have kids? Why? And why didn't you tell me all this before hand ket me find out the way i did? That is what really hurt me the most,' I cried more.

'Asiya look at me,' he lifted by chin with his finger. 'You do not have to worry, I'm sorry for not telling you earlier and letting you find out the way you did. I was just too scared you'd hate me or your reaction would trigger your health that's why i kept being distant, i was scared Asiya,' I said softly and caressed my cheeks.

'As for Baba, I'll still talk to him, we'll find a way through and all will be well,' he smiled. He wiped my tears and kissed my forehead.
We prayed Isha together and finished the remaining oats and toast. I went into the bathroom to take a bath to relieve some of the physical exhaustion. He was already laying in bed and was following my every movement.

'So beautiful,' he said and i turned around from the closet. He walked up to me amd hugged me from behind raining kisses all over me.

'Mm uhh,' i moaned.

I turned around and wrapped my hands around his neck and w kissed passionately. He carried me around his torso and continued to kiss me as he walked to the bed. Slowly, he untied the rope of my silk robe, caressed my tits down to the navel.

'Uhhhhhhhhh,' i moaned.

'Why do you want? Do you want me to stop?' He asked in a deep, sexy and husky voice.

'I want you,' i let out softly.

I let him do justice to everything and gave each other a dose of what we wanted. It was a long night i must say.

Another Juicy and dramatic chapter eh? The main drama is still yet to unfold guys. Just hang in there and we'll all see it together. I smell serious trouble but ket me not give out too much information just yet!

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Asmaa out❤️