"My mum will be here on Saturday. I need you to behave yourself." Abubakar said,typing on his phone.

"So you came back home simply because your mum is coming here? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Salma asked,glaring at her husband. "I am your wife not your slave. You can't just do whatever you like." Abubakar has spoiled her mood by coming back home.

"Are you out of your senses? Have you forgotten who I am? I won't tolerate this nonsense from you. I don't want to hit you because my mum is coming over. Don't push me to do so." He hissed out loud and left the living room.

Salma sighed,holding her head. A leopard never changes its spots. She was wrong to think Abubakar is a changed person. He is clearly still the same Abubakar.

Saturday came earlier than expected. Salma was not really happy about her mother-in-law's arrival. The woman is just like her son. You can never satisfy her. She complains about everything.

"How is everyone? I hope you arrived safely?" Salma asked,placing a water on the table. She bow a little to show respect to the aged woman.

"They are all fine." She scrunched up her face in annoyance. Salma wondered why she was so angry.

"Don't you have food in this house?" Hajiya Fadila asked,glaring at her daughter in law.

"I will set the table." Salma said and walked away.

"There is no kid to welcome me in this house. They should at least have food if they don't have kids. Useless people." Hajiya Fadila murmured. Salma heard her loud and clearly,but pretended she did not.

"I have served your food. You should come to the dining." Salma smiled at her with the hope that she will get one back.

"Bring my food here. I don't want to eat in the dining." Salma did as she was instructed. Anything to avoid trouble.

"You should have fried fish not chicken. I wonder what you can do right." Fadila glared at Salma and continue eating. Everything about Salma annoys her.

"I will take note of that." Salma said.

"Where is your husband?" Fadila asked like she just remembered she has a son.

"He is not at home." Salma replied.

"Where did he go on a Saturday? No wonder you don't have kids. He doesn't even stay at home." She took a gulp from the cup of water and glared at Salma. Her eyes might hurt with the way she glares at Salma.

"Didn't he tell you I had a miscarriage?" Salma asked. She didn't like how the woman was talking as if she is barren.

"That was one month ago. Is that not enough time for you to get pregnant again?" Fadila shake her head,thinking of where to get a new grandchild. These people are clearly not ready to give birth.

"Just one month? Did he tell you how I lost the baby?" Salma couldn't stop herself from asking. The woman is talking like she isn't a mother. It's not easy to have a miscarriage and get pregnant after one month.

"You were careless. You couldn't even take of ordinary pregnancy. How will you take care of a baby then?" Fadila asked with raised eyebrows. Salma stared at her unable to say anything. This woman is just wicked like her son.

"My sister got pregnant two weeks after her miscarriage. What is your excuse?" Salma didn't answer her. "I want a new grandchild. I am tired of the old ones. It is either you give me a grandchild or I find someone else for my son. The ball is in your court." Fadila glared at her one more time and walked away.

What gives the woman the impression that Salma cares if he gets pregnant again. Honestly it won't be a surprise if Abubakar decides to get married again.
...............
Two weeks have passed since Hajiya Fadila came to their house. Those two weeks haven't been easy for Salma. Having a mother-in-law who complains about everything and a husband who doesn't care is not easy. The woman said she was spending only three days in their house but ended up spending two weeks.

Salma was very happy the woman is leaving. She will finally have peace.

"I want to see at least two children in this house the next time I am coming here. If you don't get pregnant and give birth in the next nine months,I will make sure I throw your things out of this house. I hope I am clear?" Fadila asked.

"Yes." Salma nodded. She remembered what her father told her the last time she saw him. She has missed him so much.

"Let's go." Fadila said to her son. They both left the house with her luggage. He was taking her to the airport. She lives in kaduna with her husband and Abubakar's siblings. The flight will take her to Abuja. A car is waiting for her there to take her to kaduna.

Salma sat on the sofa and closed her eyes. The past two weeks have not been easy,but her problem is gone.

Abubakar came back home after dropping off his mother at the airport. Salma didn't expect him to come back but she was glad he did. He stayed with her for almost two months even though they were not really on talking terms. They talk only when necessary.

Salma should have known better than fall for her husband's trick. He left home for two days again. He didn't return till the fourth day.

"Who the hell do you think you are? You think you can play with my emotions? Why are you so heartless? You left me in this house for four days." Salma was tired of Abubakar. He always disappoint her whenever she thinks he is changing.

"Can't you talk? What happened to your mouth?" She asked,holding his shirt. She knew she was playing with fire by doing this.she lost a baby the last time she talked to him like this.

"Leave my shirt." Abubakar said,calmly. Salma didn't fall for his calm voice. She didn't release his shirt.

"I said you should leave my shirt." He was still calm with her. She glared at him and tore his shirt.

"Salma!" He bellowed and slapped her hard. "Are you mad?" He gave her another slap and started beating her. "You think I don't know what I am doing because I have been quiet? You will regret your actions today." He slapped her,kicking her stomach.

"I am sorry,Abubakar. Please forgive me." She cried out. He didn't stop beating her till he was satisfied. He was sweating furiously after spending almost 40minutes on beating her.

Salma lay down on the floor unable to move any part of her body. Abubakar has beaten her to a pulp. He sat on the sofa,staring at her. He was obviously tired.

"Get up and go to the room. I will be there in a jiffy." He said not taking his eyes off her. She didn't answer him because her mouth hurts. She has been badly injured by Abubakar.

He got up from the sofa and picked her up from the floor. He took her to his room and drop her on the bed. She knew what was coming next. She didn't make an attempt to stop him because she was weak.

Abubakar unfastened his belt and raped his wife brutally.

Is Abubakar a human being or a beast? That was the last thing on Salma's mind before everything blacked out.
...........
"Thank you so much doctor." Abubakar said to the female doctor. He had to call her to check up on Salma.

"You need to stop beating her. Just take a look at her body. It will take her at least two days to walk normal. This is the last time I will come here to treat her. You can't continue like this." The doctor said and walked out of the room. She is also a woman and she can't take something like this. She feels guilty anything she sees Salma in that state.

"Water." Salma managed to croak out. "Abubakar!" She called. There was no sign of him in the room. She tried to move her hand,but it was heavy. Her whole body was hurting. Abubakar opened the door and walked into the room. Salma stared at him,wondering what she did wrong to him.

"You are awake." He said sitting close to her on the bed. Salma averted her gave from him. He is probably here to apologize. That is what he does most of the time.

"How are you feeling?" He asked,nervously.

"Don't act like you care." Salma scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"I brought food for you." Salma just noticed the leather he was holding. She was busy staring at him that she didn't notice the leather. He helped her sit up and adjusted the pillow. She didn't say anything to him. He brought out the takeaway pack and opened it. He fed her,quietly. She was too hungry to fight with him.

Three days past with Abubakar taking care of her. He went out today and promised to be back by 2pm. Salma was bored staying in the room so she went to the living room to watch film.

She was watching a film when Abubakar walked into the living room. He went to the kitchen and came out with two apples and a knife.

He sat on a sofa and ate the apples,quietly.

"Where is my food?" Abubakar asked Salma who was engrossed in the film she was watching.

"Your food? I didn't make any food. I am sick so how do you expect me to make food?" She continue watching her film.

"Go to the kitchen and get me something to eat." Abubakar ordered. She look at him wondering what has gotten into him. Is he joking or what? How does he expect her to cook?

"Didn't you hear me?" He snapped.

"I can't cook. My body still hurts. Please don't start. I haven't recovered from the last beating." She said,staring at him.

"You are very stupid. You haven't recovered from the last beating huh? I will deal with you today." He got up from the sofa and slapped her.

"What has gotten into you? Do I look like a punching bag to you? You keep hitting me at any given opportunity. I won't tolerate this nonsense again. I have been keeping quiet but not anymore." She glared at him and tried to walk away.

"Where the hell do you think you are going to?" He held her hand,stopping her from walking away.

"Leave me alone!" She yelled,glaring at him. Abubakar has pushed her to the wall and she won't be responsible for her next action.

"What will you do?" He didn't leave her hand. He held it tighter.

She look at him and slap him hard across the face. "That is what I will do." She didn't let his angry face scare her a bit.

"How dare you?" He raised his hand to slap her back,but she held his hand. "I will deal with you today." He unbuckled his belt and hit her with it. She was already used to the pain so she didn't care.

"The only thing you are good at is hitting me with belt. I hate you,Abubakar! I hate the day I got married to you!"  Salma yelled,crying. Abubakar didn't stop beating her. He hit her with the belt and slapped her.

"I will kill you today." Abubakar threatened,punching her stomach. Salma managed to carry the glass cup she used to drink water earlier. She hit the glass cup on his head.

"How dare you!" He yelled,touching his head. He was feeling dizzy due to the glass cup she hit on his head. "I will kill you today!" He tried to take the knife he used to cut apples earlier on the floor,but Salma picked it up before him.

"Give me the knife." Abubakar ordered,walking close to her.

"Stay right there! Don't come closer. I swear I will stab you." She moved back,warning him to stop. She hit her back on the wall. There is no way she could run away. Abubakar moved very close to her,trying to take the knife from her.

"Give it to me." He said,dragging the knife with her. She pushed him back and stab his stomach.

"Salma" He called,faintly.

"Abubakar! I am sorry. I stabbed you by mistake. Abubakar!" She called,shaking his body. She tried to remove the knife from his stomach,but it was late already. Abubakar was lying on the floor lifelessly.

"I am sorry,Abubakar! Please wake up. Please Abubakar. I need you to wake up." She cried out.

"I don't hate you,Noorie." Her mother said,barely above a whisper. Noorie was weeping quietly on the floor. After hearing her father's story,she couldn't help but hate him. She doesn't know him,but she hates him already.