Her head laid on the pillow in her room. She couldn't even lift herself up, her body felt very numb. This was the Fifth day of staying in the cottage all alone. She didn't go back to the mansion, she stayed indoors all day long. Hamza has been of tremendous help to her as he used his ending of the month salary which was over a hundred and fifty thousand to buy foodstuffs for Manal and a cooking gas, he bought a fairy used gas cooker and cylinder which she cooks with. She doesn't even understand why he was helping her so much, she even offered to cook for him everyday but he refused. He swore he wouldn't collect the food, he also promised he was going to take care of her just like he would for his sister. Cairo on the other hand could care less about Manal's life, he thought that because of the 50 thousand Naira cash he had given Hadiza to give her had made her forgotten them. But unknown to him, that money was used to buy him a present by Hadiza. She used the money to get him a beautiful Gold ring which Cairo was happy when he saw. he felt loved and appreciated immensely. Oh, Poor Cairo didn't know that Manal was not given the money.

***

"Asalamualikum (Peace be unto you)" She greeted Hamza who was seated on a bench in front of the house. She decided to come out of the house though it was very hard for her to. She felt sick, but she wasn't going to tell Hamza. This poor man had done allot for her.

"Walaikumusalam Manal" He said. She had requested he use her name. She didn't like it when he called her Madam.

"I came to see you, Thanks for all your help and support. Hope you are doing good today?" She asked. He nodded with a smile and said "Manal you don't need to thank me, I told you. You are my sister, and in Sha Allah (By Gods Grace). our lord will bless us both tremendously" He said with a smile.

"Thank you" She tried her best not to cry again. She had lost enough tears, she was Tired of all the water works her eyes were making. Her eyes needed rest and she would certainly give it.

"Alright see you again some other time, I have to cook. I haven't had Breakfast, are you certain you won't eat?" she asked him yet again. He chuckled and said no.

"Alright I won't force you Hamza, take care" She waved at him and turned around and left. Cairo, who was standing in front of the window in his room saw them both as they spoke. What could be between them as to making her smile as she spoke to him, he thought. Well he didn't care, she could talk to whoever she wanted to. If she even decides to ask for a divorce in other to marry the gateman, he still wouldn't care. He couldn't wait for the day she would runaway from his life. Oh, that day would make him the happiest man on earth knowing that the local woman wasn't a part of his family any longer. He decided to take his bath and leave for work, he had more important things to do than stare at Manal and her newly found lover as he had referred to them as in his mind. He bathed real quick and got dress swiftly. He was already late for his meeting. He was also hungry so he immediately dashed out after spraying perfume and arranging his tie properly on his chest. On arriving at the dinning room, he met the place empty. There was no food on the table. "Damn it, I forgot that Manal isn't around no more" He hissed. This was the fifth day in a roll he was going to go to the office on an empty stomach. Oh God, he knew he was asking for trouble by not eating. His ulcer would most certainly speak in harsh tones once more. He couldn't let that happen, so he dashed into the kitchen and got himself an Al-halal pineapple cereal and milk which he mixed in a bowl alongside water. While mixing his cereal he piped at his Watch and saw the time was already 10:44AM, "Shit, I'm already late" He hissed. But food was more important to him at the moment, in the process of mixing his cereal, he could not miss the smell of burnt rice that filed the air. He knew very well it was coming from the cottage. "This stupid woman must be sleeping with the food still on fire" he muttered while stuffing his face with a cereal. On the third bite, a loud knock came through the door, it was Hamza and he was screaming. "Sir!" Hamza screamed. Cairo rolled his eyes and angrily stomped his feet his feet on the floor as he walked into the living room in other to see why Hamza was disturbing his breakfast. He pulled the door open and before him was his wife, in the arms of Hamza. Looking unconscious, it was Manal. She had fainted in the room and because of the smell of the burnt rice, Hamza was lucky enough to find her unconscious when he went to check up on her.

"What happened?" He felt a bit worried as he Asked. He immediately scooped her off Hamza's arm and dashed towards his car immediately. He didn't wait for the reply to his question. He dipped his hand into his front pocket and picked his car keys out. He drove out of the already opened gate in full speed. He couldn't let her die in his house. No way, that would most certainly ruin his reputation because he was sure people knew he hated her. He arrived at the hospital just in time and she was admitted immediately.
He waited in the waiting room as the doctors ran some test on her. After about 15 minutes, the doctor came out.

"Dr Emeka, what happened to her?" He asked anxiously.

"The situation is bad though but manageable, It was a mild heart attack" He said.

"Heart attack?, is there anything mild about that?. That's dangerous" He said.

"It isn't exactly a heart attack. It's like a weak heart, her heart missed a beat and she fainted. If you were even a second late, she would have died" He said.

"Died?. Will she be okay?" He asked.

"Like I said, the situation is tough but manageable. In this case she has a fifty percent chance of surviving. I'll try my best to ensure that she doesn't die. But I can't promise you that she'll make it" The doctor said. Cairo could feel his own heart skip a beat. Not of the type that made Manal bedridden, but of the type that comes with a tremendous weight on his head.