BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA.

"How is that and what do you mean? We were only friends for months before feelings started jumbling much later." She frowned, leaning closer and regretting not accepting that sprite he's offered her earlier. He is slowly sipping it through a straw while he explained things to her. Should she ask for it?

Dr. Ali shrugged his shoulders, removed a few papers from another file and gave it to her. She read aloud the dark huge blocks at the top of the paper. "OLD, Obsessive Love Disorder."

She frowned again, her eyes raising to give him an inquiring glance. What does it mean? What is this man implying now? "This is every bit related to you. But let me explain first before we jump into how it happened and what had occurred."

"I think you need that cold drink, Ma'am. Things won't be getting any easier but the exact opposite." He stood up with a knowing grin, went to the fridge and removed something then stopped and threw her a look from across his shoulder. "Carbonated or non-carbonated?"

Her face heat up with shyness, she needs it so whatever it is he's put inside won't matter to her at this rate. Like he's said, things won't get interesting but he exact opposite, she's already sighted it. "Carbonated please."

He came back with Sprite, chilled one and a wine glass then place it in front of her. Mahnoor didn't bother using the wine glass, just uncapped the the rubber and quaffed down a large gulp, some of it running down the side of her mouth to her hijab. She scowled at the hijab then tried cleaning to no avail so she removed a tissue from the box on his table and cleaned her face. She should at least look presentable. She should stop taking these things in public, she always looks like a desperate clown. Passing a sheepish smile, she said. "My apologies, I'm a bit clumsy. You can start now."

He grinned at her adolescence, childish just like Aman had complained but in a charming way. "Obsessive love disorder OLD, refers to a condition where you become obsessed with one person you think you may be in love with. You might feel the need to protect your loved one obsessively, or even become controlling of them as if they were a possession."

Mahnoor caught his breath. "Why are you telling me this? Who is the one diagnosed with the love obsessive whatever? You are not revealing everything, it's too tight for my stressed brain to interpret."

"That should be Asad. He had obsessive love disorder."

She glared at him. She is starting to not believe anything he is saying. He said they have another disorder aside which sounds awfully the same but he explained it out that they aren't and now Asad had another disorder she does not know of? Are they even telling her the truth or plotting more ways to make her life more miserable? Dr. Ali looks nice but she can never trust Aman, he wants to see her always in pain for a tiny mistake. She'd agree everyday that he has mental disorder but her Asad, he is free from that.

Patiently, Dr. Ali gestured to the file in front of her that she should go through it. "I'm getting there. You are going to answer a few of my questions so we can make things easier." She gave a confused perplexed nod. "The symptoms are not always visible to people except the ones with the same problem. It starts from an overwhelming attraction to one person, obsessive thoughts about the person, feeling the need to 'protect' the person you're in love with, possessive thoughts and actions, extreme jealousy over other interpersonal interactions. So let's move on a bit with more questions so you won't feel left out.

"In all your stay with Asad, have you noticed repeated texts, emails, and phone calls or a constant need for reassurance from Asad?" He cocked his head to the side, taking off a pen from the table and playing with it while her brows danced in concentration.

She's remembered of course, it's not hard to be sure of that. She's noticed everything the man has just mentioned but if she agrees, it means he is saying the truth and at the end of the day she will find out she is still married to Aman. She wants to do everything she can to forestall the inevitable, monopolizing it will be good for her or so she thinks. Whether she finds out about anything now or later is still the same, she doesn't want to face the truth. It'll be too much for her. Accepting she is still married to her first husband, also coming to terms that Asad had lied to her and all their stay was nothing short of illicit tryst.

She choked on her saliva but gave a small reluctant nod. His eyes flashed with sympathy as if knowing what she is going through, she doesn't need it. Why didn't he stop it when he knew everything? She will ask that the minute she finds out what is going on and why the hell Asad did that to her.

"You've also noticed his difficulty having friendships or maintaining contact with family members because of the obsession over you?"

Mahnoor groaned and gave another reluctant nod, he's left his family for her after all. She's convinced herself then that he did it because his father was overbearing but with more things revealed about this disorder, she realized that he actually did that for her. He would've continued being a puppet for his father had she not joined the picture, she is sure of that. Why was she disregarding so many things then? Was she desperate for companionship or what? It makes no sense, she wasn't at all lonely to feel that sort of desperation.

"Well, while OLD is gaining more attention, it's relatively rare. It's estimated that less than 0.1 percent trusted Source of people have the disorder and your brother-in-law was quiet lucky." His words were sarcastic but it hit a nerve within her, she felt something like a bile rising to her mouth and she swallowed with great difficulty.

"I still don't understand how we are not divorced with Aman. Explain further." She got her throat to work, her oesophagus absent.

He nodded, eager to dive in deeper. "Asad was restless when he approached Aman few days after he was imprisoned, Aman refused without further explanation. Asad was very furious and called the wrong people for advise, that person happens to be our friend. We are friends with all of them, we have the same circle and everything so the friend told me Asad's plan few months later after your so called marriage over a cup of coffee after a tired day from work. Of course I was furious at him and decided that we need to tackle the problem before it gets out of hand. Our friend, I won't mention his name for safety reasons knew it was not the right time to talk to him about it.

"The guy actually knows that Asad married his first wife, Azima but didn't tell anyone like Asad had wanted. He got married with the help of her parents, guardians and so on, it was a silent affair. When we approached him, I found out he was deep into what he is feeling and whatever I say won't make any impact then I thought, why not give him some medications? He really needed it at that time."

Dr. Ali had dragged his friend, Hassan to go see Asad in Abuja, it was a long ride but he did it for his friend. What are friends for? They arrived at his office, he was in a meeting but they waited for him for another hour then he walked out with a large smile and told them the good news behind it. They were happy for his achievements knowing he was going to make it because he's done so much for his father's company to not be able to do so for himself.

"Why don't we go to some restaurant and relax and catch up? I have a nice suggestion in head." He gave that charming grin and for a second, Dr. Ali forgot why he was there in the first place. He suddenly felt that this Asad cannot do anything Hassan had said which is what brought the saying forth, never judge a book by its cover.

They agreed to the restaurant stuff, the place was nice so over their meal, they brought up the topic of wives and Asad was quick to talk about Mahnoor. "She is the best thing that's ever happened to me. I just love her."

"I can see that from the wide smile on your face. But how? I mean, she was your brother's wife don't get me wrong." Dr. Ali made sure his voice is nonchalant like his expression, he didn't even react when Asad made a face at the prospect of Mahnoor being Aman's wife.

"I know but she fits more with me than she ever will with him. Don't you know what he's done? She deserves far more amazing partner than he is. You know he's always been selfish, that's exactly what he's done throughout their marriage. Refused to come see her after the marriage till a year later and when he came back, he filtered her with nothing but pain and frustration. But the moment I set my eyes on her, I knew she was the one. I don't even know how it happened, it just did. Had I seen her before the marriage, I would've agreed to marry her. She is just fascinating, you know." Asad ranted and continue to do so with glazed over eyes, Dr. Ali knew what all those things mean.

Before they left the restaurant, he's called her three times already. First to ask whether she's awoke from her nap, then to ask whether she's eaten food and what she ate. The last one was the one they found ridiculous, he asked whether she is comfortable in what she is doing or if she was painting. Hassan and Dr. Ali both looked at each other in silent wonder and concern, the man won't convalescence soon at this rate. He came to a conclusion.

"You don't come for your monthly checkups anymore, Asad. What do you think we go to the hospital now? Hassan also needs one." He suggested, as stupid as that sounds, Asad agreed after much reluctance.

While they waited for the results, Dr. Ali went inside to ask for a doctor he knows in the hospital. Together they read the result and he asked the man to give Asad a few medication that he won't understand they are out of place and just mention some weird illness he won't bother finding out what it is.

"We really need to help him. Things are getting messier." Dr. Ali had told the aging doctor, his father's best friend and the father of the girl he is in love with.

The geriatric nodded, adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose. "Medications can be used to adjust brain chemicals. In turn, this can reduce the symptoms of the disorder. We can try anti-anxiety medications, such as Valium and Xanax, antidepressants, such as Prozac, Paxil, or Zoloft, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers."

"Well, we gave him the medicines but I don't know whether he's taken them or not?" It's a question which she is supposed to answer but her head is currently banging, she does not know what to do.

Seeing as she is not going to answer, he continued. "Few days after we heard about the accident, before we can arrange to come see him, his death reached us. We were all shattered and galvanized at the same time. I mean we just met few days ago and he is now dead? Just what in the world is going on? Aman refused to believe the death, thinking it was another trick to make him go crazy which was why his father arranged for him to go see his brother's final rites. I know more than everyone else that Aman is still not alright, the death shook him to the core. Well, all that brought us to one conclusion, Aman never divorced you and you are still his wife."

"Why?" Mahnoor choked, a sob about to break out but she tamed it down. She is not about to break down in front of this stranger, she is not weak at all.

"I don't know. He just said he needs to stay married to you, as a sort of punishment. I've talked to him about it but he said he's planned on more ways to make sure you suffer for all your deeds. He firmly believes that you are the reason his brother died, I don't know where that notion came from but he wouldn't move from it. There are so much he is hiding, so many secrets that will continue haunting him if he doesn't let them out. I'm afraid he will lose it all in that place without more medical care. The therapy he's been in won't have much effect." Dr. Ali shook his head, wondering just what in heaven is going on with the Ajuji brothers. Now brother.

Mahnoor looked horrified, her eyes wide at what he's said. Who killed his brother? What the fuck is wrong with this man's head? Is his brain shaking or nonexistent? At this rate, she is done asking what's wrong with man since he's clearly lost it all together. So she was right to feel that he was going to do something to her. He's planned something, that shouldn't be part of killing her, he wants her to keep suffering. Who else would he kill to make her suffer? Her parents? They are the only ones left for her.

She stood up, bagging the little sheaf of tenacity she has left. "Thank you very much. It's good knowing so many things after being left in the dark for awhile. I'll be on my way now." She adjusted her niqab and made her way to leave.

"Ma'am, I hope you can adjust your schedule someday and go to see Aman again. I feel like there are so much you need to know regarding the murder of your child. The truth you think you know might not be it after all." She meandered around and almost got a whiplash, her neck stiffened before she narrowed her eyes at him and went back to the table.

"Do you know anything about it? He killed my baby, I saw him doing so! Why do you think there is any other truth? He has reasons for killing a few months old baby? Or what he did is justified because he was intoxicated? I don't think so. Your friend is a murderer, accept that and move on!" She hit hard on the table, her palms vibrating with pain but she refused to acknowledge it.

He surveyed her, seeing the wrath and hatred in her eyes. Why do they hate each other so much? And why is Aman so adamant on not divorcing her because of some petty useless revenge? They clearly are not compatible for one another, he should've divorced her and permitted Asad to marry her instead of going through so many troubles that will end in nothing but more peril and catastrophe for both of them. Aman's head really is not moving forward.

"I don't know anything about it but Aman knows. One day, you will regret not going to find out the truth. Whether he has reasons or not doesn't matter, you need to know why he did what he did. You need closure!" The way he is persisting shifted something inside her.

"I promise you, I knew nothing about it. I just put one and one together and got the right answer with the right calculator. Now what?" Azima questioned, pushing down few grapes down her throat as she examined Mahnoor's disheveled form.

"I don't know. What do you think."

It's been two weeks since she went to the prison to see Aman and went to the hospital to seek more information from Dr. Ali. She's been getting closer to Azima with each passing day and finally decided that it was time to tell her what's happened, without removing a single bit of information. Azima told her she's predicted something off with Asad but didn't say anything while they are touring the world, having the best time of her life. He is always staring at his phone, she's always wondered what he was doing because while looking, he smiles.

Mahnoor has had many sleepless nights since then, even seeing Aman in her nightmares. Sometimes he will come laughing at her satanically or other times with a huge sword trying to kill her. She would wake up startled and sweating profusely. She's seen him once, he was telling her something about her son's murderer but she couldn't hear a thing. She got tired earlier in the morning and decided to tell someone about it, that person won't be her mother-in-law or any of her sisters-in-law.

Mahnoor is a nice lady albeit crazy and freaking childish when she wants to, Azima enjoyed her company. She is the only person keeping her sane in the manor because the people in the entire manor are cold and awkward. The sisters don't know how to act around her, her mother-in-law never tried a conversation with her and her father-in-law, that one is a different story. If Mahnoor decides to leave, Azima won't know what to do. What is she to continue doing here when there is no one to help her sanity?

"I think, you should go see Aman and talk to him. Maybe after the closure, you might get some good sleep and these heavy bags beneath your eyes will disappear. Like the doctor had said, closure is a good therapy to happy life. It helps us move on. Your own part, it'll be too much for you. Not finding out about your son's murderer's intentions, why your brother in law lied about divorce and so many more. At least reduce some of them by getting the ones you can. It tends to be too late to do something, act fast." Azima advised, took a deep breath and let it out.

It's decided then, she is going to go see Aman the next day.