****

Mimi looked at Sadiqu with a straight face. She furthered to checking kettles around and found them empty. Sadiqu watched with keen interest and a lopsided smile.

"I told you there's no water and you're behaving as if you don't understand your native language anymore." Sadiqu raised one of his brow up and turned to leave still trying to hold his laughter because Mimi was wearing an unexplainable look.

It has been over two years since water stopped flowing through their taps. Government said they were working on it. It wasn't something new to Sadiqu. They were used to using very dirty water before tap water came. In fact, he grew up using dirty brownish pond water. All they did was to boil it and filter it with cellulose gotten from plants. Others consume it like that.

"So where was the water I used for seven days gotten from?" She asked, giving up.

"I paid some boys to draw it from the well. You know it's twenty naira per draw. This generation is raising smart kids that know how to look for money, helter skelter." He informed her, adjusting the button of his shirt.

"Why don't you pay them this time around?" Mimi sat on one of wooden chairs in the compound. Inna has travelled to her relative's house together with Yusrah where she will spend a month. Sadiqu knew she just gave them space.

"Because there's no need. You equally have hand. Please pick up a bucket and go. You're even lucky we have a well now. Ten years back, we use pond water." Sadiqu remarked with nonchalance.

Mimi got tired of the way he's talking at her. Well, even the last few days, they're just skirting about the house with small hi and hellos.

"I don't like the way you treat me." She said, weakly. Mimi used the tip of her finger and pushed back her tears.

"What have I done now? I want to drink tea before I go out." He replied.

"But the school is on holidays." She opposed.

"I have a shop to attend to. Remember?" Mimi turned away her face feeling defeated.

"But since you're new to this, carry one bucket then I will carry one. Let's fill the drums. Today's work has been cancelled. Oya..." Mimi gasped. He was really serious about it. Before she could utter a word, Sadiqu was out of her sight.

Blurrily, she looked at him giving her, a long hijab. Mimi collected lazily and wore it. Without a word, she picked a small blue bucket while Sadiqu carried a black bucket and a silver mettalic one.

"That's Yusrah's bucket. You must be kidding me to say this is all you can lift. Whatever, you are to fill one drum and I fill the other one. Then you fill quarter of the other one while I complete it for you. That's so nice of me, ayy?" Mimi nearly hissed. With glare, she pursed her lips and dashed out.

Sadiqu cackled before he followed her out. He met Mimi few feet away from him, as though she knew where the well was situated at.

"That's not the way, ma'am." Mimi rolled her eyes and followed his back. Mimi watched as he reduced his pace such that they started walking side by side.

They were silently walking when they sighted a group of children playing. Amidst them was a very young one whom could only crawl. He had a handful of sand and was about putting it in his mouth. Mimi looked at Sadiqu and then raised her brow.

"Why don't you go and stop him from eating sand?"

"Why won't you?"

"I don't know him." She replied.

"I don't know him either." Sadiqu shrugged.

"But," he cut her off.

"Listen. Don't even try going near him. His mother might be peeking time to time from her window. And if by any chance she finds your hand on her child she may scar you in this whole village. Just leave things the way you see them." Mimi stared at him and sensed that he was serious.

"That's crazy."

"That's our village for you. We all did that and we survived." Mimi imagined her daughter to be eating that sand.

Tragic!

She's sure Asnah would be fled out for checkup. Mimi thought everyone worry about their kids until after they started the foundation. She thought those people that were negligent on the affairs on their kids were very few. She had no idea that those people dominate half of the country's population.

"This place is far. I'm getting tired." She whined.

"I guess you've never walked this long. Had it been you get involve in the activities of your foundation, you would have been used to all these. That foundation is just a fashion for you. You are not involve in the real work. Lazy as always." Mimi sent a deadly glare at him.

"What makes you I am lazy?"

Sadiqu wanted to answer but the loud cry they heard, all made them look to their adjacent. Some group of women were wailing and rolling on the ground as if they were afflicted with mental illness.

"What's with them?" Mimi asked, a little bit scared.

"Let's see." They changed the direction of their paddings to where the noisy crowd stood.

"Hello, what's happening?" Mimi asked one lady around. The lady was carrying an immunization box with her. Others have the long string of the box strapped on their shoulders. They looked so terrified.

The woman breakingly dragged Mimi's hand aside and heaved a sigh.

"We came to immunize their children. Those women you see over there are screaming because they found out that we immunized their children on the streets." The woman explained checking her log book and jotting down something.

"I don't get it at all." Mimi fluttered her lashes in confusion.

"Mimi let's go!" The veins on Sadiqu's face were showing. It was evident that he was angry. Mimi looked at the woman then at Sadiqu. Curiosity won't leave her. Why will grown up women be shouting this way? It must be something alarming.

"I said let's go!" He grabbed her hand and they pranced out of the crowd's dither.

Mimi noticed the thick veins on his face, still popping. He was also breathing loud.

"Why are you like this?" Sadiqu kept quiet, his hand still cupping hard. Mimi suddenly felt the pressure of his hand in hers.

"You're gripping my hand harder." She complained.

"I'm venting my anger."

"Did they insulted you?" Mimi knew him this well.

"I was just trying to explain stuffs to them. They told me some hurtful words. Words I have never heard in my life." Mimi kept mum.

"Why would they?" Mimi smiled. She felt him softening his hold. She knew what her smile was capable of doing.

"Look here." She showed him, her face, then smiled.

Sadiqu let out a whoosh. Mimi looked around, the street was less crowdy since it was still morning. She gently removed her hand from his hold since she's using the other, to carry her bucket.

Mimi used her thumb to touch the vein by the side of Sadiqu's head. She gently moved her hand around them all.

Sadiqu could feel the subtle massage all within himself, he could feel the way she was doing it with passion and wholeheartedly. Sadiqu want to believe it. He couldn't agree to the way her soft slim finger was affecting him. Like a flash, all the anger dissipated into the thin air. He felt light headed.

When Mimi noticed they were all gone, she sighed and put her hand down.

"I will have to be getting angry much often." He smiled after.

Mimi smiled.

"Thank you." He grabbed her hand and squeezed it. The atmosphere was giddy, through that silence, they kept their hands entangled as they walk to the well. There were no additional words spoken but the simple hold passed myriad of messages across their hearts.

They arrived at the well absentmindedly. Mimi looked at Sadiqu.

"Some people came earlier than us so we have to follow the queue. Place your bucket here." Mimi placed the bucket and looked at the women around and some young children.

Sadiqu smiled at her and gestured for her to follow him. Few meters away from the well, under the shade of a tree, they sat.

"Let me see your foot."

"My foot, why?"

"I want to see if it's sore. You have been complaining of tiredness."

"No. I'm fine." Sadiqu took hold of her foot and started massaging it gently. Mimi laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

She could trade the world for this moment. It was more than everything else to her. Although the relationship between them was kinda daft, she was glad. Mimi was happy that despite the daftness, they try to show their love for one another. That's all she asked for. A serene and peaceful love.

****

Bar Nuraddeen and Fatimah looked at each other. They were both gathering the courage to face Noor's mother.

"Nothing will go bad. Just trust me." Fatimah nodded, hugging her bag to her sides.

Noor opened the door that will lead him to his mother's apartment. He said his salaam and turned to look at Fatimah whom followed suit.

The parlour was silent as if his mother wasn't around. He directed the cushion for Fatimah to sit but she declined. Fatimah sat limply on the rug.

"I will be back." He ended with a smile to boost her morale. Noor could notice how careful Fatimah was. How she was moving like she found her herself in between thorns.

Noor pushed the door of his mother's room. When she lifted her head and saw it was him, she looked away.

"Good afternoon mother." He greeted.

"Fine." Noor swallowed a lump.

"I am with Fatimah."

"And so?" The mother readjusted her headtie and put the plate of Masa she was nibbling on, on top of the bedside drawer. She opened her bedside fridge and brought out a drink.

"What else?" She asked, uncapping the bottle.

"Should I ask her to come in?"

"Go out. I will come and see her for the first time. But whatever comes out from my mouth should not be a deal." Noor meandered himself out of the room.

"She's a little bit busy, but she will meet us in few seconds." Fatimah hummed to him as an answer.

They sat in suspense and silence until when his mother came in. The woman was really full of herself and she had all the accord. From the way her skin was sheen, her hair peeking from her turban and the way she was smelling of different incenses. Fatimah had to cast her eyes down in respect.

"Good afternoon mummy." Although sitting, Fatimah bowed lower than sitting but upper than prostrating.

Noor's mother looked at Fatimah carefully. She twisted her nose in a 'not bad' way before she looked at Noor.

"You came here to greet me and you have done so Noor. Kindly go."

"Is Baaba around?" Noor dismissed the aforesaid statement of his mum.

"He is not."

"Thank you mother." Fatimah stood up and did the same as Noor. They silently walked out, releasing a puff of breaths.

When they entered Noor's car, he handed Fatimah a bottle of chilled water.

"Flush it down. I know it's hot in there." Fatimah collected and mouthed a thank you.

****

"So why were you angry minutes ago?" Mimi queried. They had just brought the first round and were about going for the second.

"The woman insulted me."

"You hate it with passion." He swung his head in agreement.

"I started hating it when I was twenty one." That revived an old memory in both their hearts. But they remained numb to it.

"I'm sorry about that. So why are they shouting."

"They don't want their children to be immunized. They believe that the drugs given to them stop people from giving birth and that, the person will eventually die. That's why you saw the other woman rolling on the floor like tyre. Her fear is, no one will marry her daughter because she has been immunized. Immunization means barreness in their dictionary." Sadiqu explained.

"What a belief! Can you imagine?" Mimi rhetorically exclaimed.

"That's villagers and illiterates for you. Most of them are living base on beliefs. Most of them kill themselves with agony and grief after one incident has occurred to them. They believe that occurrence of something deems them doom. They're very complicated and annoying humans. Although I am one, I find it really annoying."

"Is there no one to enlighten them?"

"They're hard headed like Pharaoh I'm telling you. They could hardly believe you." Mimi cupped her chin.

"You see, it's one of their beliefs that affected me. My leg..." Mimi's feet went cold. She stopped to look at him in pity.

"Let's go before the sun rises." Mimi, this time around, collected the buckets and walked side by side with him. They talked here and there on their way.

"I came first." An angry lady snickered at Mimi.

"How? I just went home to come back. How could you say that?" Mimi fired back.

"The rule is, once you leave without making a sign or telling someone, you have to join the queue from the extreme end. Now excuse me." The lady flung the buckets aside and put hers. Mimi didn't know what happened. She just wasn't in the mood of quarrel. These villagers were no match to her. Fighting with them was a waste of time.

So, Mimi found a spot to sit and calm herself before she meets Sadiqu under the shade.

"You're new here I see. Ramatu is troublesome. She often comes late and goes early. Just be patient. She's the district head daughter." Mimi looked at the lady beside her. She was about her age.

"Thanks for your concern." She smiled.

"What?"

"I mean nagode sosai."

"My name is Marakisiyya." Mimi looked at her, head to toe. She wore a different wrapper and a different dress that nearly passed her knee. She then put atop a big transparent veil.

"Mimi is mine. I live a little bit far from here. Fatimah's house."

"That's my neighborhood. Are you the new bride?" Mimi nodded politely. Mimi was surprised of herself. Yeah, she had been surprising herself over the years.

"Thank you. I will be back Mara." Mimi found the name to long for her. She left Marakisiyya there and met Sadiqu.

A glimpse at her face, made his heard slumped.

"Who touched you?"

"No one."

"Tell me."

"Trust me. No one." She fiddled with her fingers.

"This fingers, you will never let them be. Let me have a look." Mimi hid her hands away.

"They may look more beautiful with henna. Red henna." Mimi remembered she saw Mara's fingers stained with red. She would ask her, another time.

"Mimi!" She heard her name being called.

"I think it's our time. Let's go. You know I can't draw the water, I'm afraid. Lest I will fall into the well."

"I know madam."

"Stop calling me madam."

"Okay what?"

"A nice name won't hurt."

"Minatuwa? Mimiyata?"

"Ewww. Oh no p...lease. Something daring, something beautiful to hear." Mimi covered her mouth when she said that.

"We aren't lovers. Are we?" He wanted to disgrace her. Offense not taken then.

"We are a couple." She replied as he drew the last draw and filled their buckets. They began to walk while many eyes cast on them. When one's concentrated on one thing, every other thing around vanishes. They tend to notice that one thing alone. Same here, Mimi often forgets whosoever it was once she's with Sadiqu. Sadiqu was another world for her. And, they lived alone in it. Every other thing was like a zero behind decimal point. Unimportant and baseless.

"There are couples who aren't in love. And we are them. We were just brought together by fate. But do you love me Mimiyata?"

"Not again. What's Mimiyata? Please stop it."

"Okay tell me about your feelings for me then I will decide on whether to change your name or not." Mimi ignored him and started walking faster.

"That means we will stick to Mimiyata for the mean time." Mimi hissed.

"Okay stop walking fast. You know we are not the same." Mimi kept walking.

"Mimi!"

Upon calling her, Sadiqu laid his step on a stone and stumbled. The buckets left his hand and he failed to steady himself until when he fell onto the ground.

Mimi turned back on the moment and rushed to him.

"Oh my bad! Sorry, I hope you're not hurt?" She dropped her bucket and stopped to check his legs.

"This is what happens when you leave me alone. When you don't want to speak to me. You're my pillar," Mimi used her finger and covered his mouth. Women and passerbys' were looking and hearing. Before she knew it, they had been encircled with people talking nonstop. None of them dared to talk to them or help but they were there to gossip.

"Let me help you stand up." He placed his hands in hers and they flew out of the crowding, basking away all comments. When they reached home, they decided to extend the water fetching till the next morning. The one they had will suffice them until then. They cooked and cleaned the house.

"Mimiyata, come." Mimi angrily shifted to him.

Sadiqu drew her close, and made her head to lean on his chest. Mimi could feel the beating of his heart erratically.

"When I say the word love, who comes first to your mind?" Mimi stayed mute for a minute.

"No one." She honestly replied.

"What if I say life? How do you define life?"

"Life is being alive." Mimi smiled.

"Then what's love?" Mimi looked at him in the eye. His eyes were moisty and oily. She failed to stare at them for so long.

"Love is having an affection for something, showing care, you know. But let me ask you. It's my turn to ask you."

"What's love to you?"

Sadiqu cocooned her in his arms and smiled.

"Love is all that you said. But it's more than that. There's no madness in love. The word 'busy' doesn't exist in love. There's no grudge in love. There's no selfishness in love. There's no perfection in love. Rather; Love is peaceful and serene. Love carries a light and tranquil-ed ambience. Love creates time out of no time. Love makes flaws beautiful and accept them the way they are. Love means forgiveness and forgetting. Love means sharing. Love is patience too.  In short, love is life. A meaningful life— the simple and most amazing life. So life is love and love is life." Mimi sat on her own. It was like he was lecturing her. Sadiqu was teaching her how to live with him.

"You're quiet. What?" Mimi shook her head.

"I forgot to say something. But, you have to close your eyes and promise me that you won't scream." Mimi agreed by nodding.

"Love is Mimi. And Mimi is life." Mimi's lips spread to a smile. The words were short but she could feel them settling within her. She could feel how heavy and light they were, as they made the hairs on her skin stood still.

"Don't open your eyes yet." Sadiqu placed his hand on her eyelids.

"What again?"

"Don't you have anything to say to me? Nothing to your love?" Mimi widened her eyes.

"I am not in love with someone."

"Yes you're not in love with someone. But you're in love with..." Sadiqu pointed at himself.

"Keep deceiving yourself." Mimi mocked.

"Let's see who's the deceiver here. Are you up for it?"

"Ever ready! What's the deal?" She asked eagerly and ready to win. Mimi remembered the day he threw a dare at her. Her cheeks warmed up.

"Okay close your eyes once again. The first to start talking in cracks loses." Sadiqu didn't know why he was finding it hard to do what he intended. Perhaps when she closes her eyes, it will be much easier.

The bridge of his nose slowly moved forth, the crook of her neck. Mimi's breath hitched when she felt his breath fanning her neck.

"We're still in the game. Right?" He lessened the tension. Sadiqu let his hand roam wherever it wanted to go.

"Yes." Her voice was sound and clear. She's hellbent on winning. Doesn't she feel what he's feeling? Was it true she doesn't love him?

"You have a beautiful brow." He brushed it gently with his finger. And then brushed the other with his lips.

Mimi held her breath. Sadiqu smiled in amusement.

"Are you alright?"

"Very." There's hesitancy in her voice but she tried all she could to mask it off.

"That's good." Gently and slowly, he stared at her, taking in her facial features. Sadiqu pulled her nose and asked her to open her eyes. Mimi did.

Hers and his eyes locked to each. They  screamed an unadulterated love and passion for each other.

"I can't believe it all. It seems unreal and surreal. You're mine after all those years."

"Power of destiny."

"And love."

"I told you I don't love you. I rea-" her words died at her throat when he took her lips in an unexpected kiss. It took her all her will to remain calm and respond to every message he's sending. Sadiqu pulled away midair.

"So?" Mimi knew why he did that. She knew it was a trap and she's afraid to fall into it.

"Love to you is Mimi and love to me is that villager." She doesn't care, all she needed was him. Mimi webbed her hands on his shoulder and stared, giving him all her permission.

It's official, she has lost it. And it doesn't hurt. If Mimi is Love, then she's willing to give her all. She's willing to spend the rest of her life with him.

"Assalamu alaikum!" They heard a bang on their door. Who's there in the mid afternoon? Sadiqu groaned and went to check the door. Who could be this interrupter? How could someone come and ruin this moment for him? The moment he doubt if he would ever get it again. Like for Mimi to surrender herself willingly, he had to make good use of the opportunity before it slips.

With a groan, he opened the door.

"Leek?"

"Yes me, Maleekah." She flashed him a smile.

*****

It feels like I'm loosing my writing skills. Am I? I haven't written in a long while.

Okay, I'm sorry for the long wait. I hope this makes it up thou.

Two weeks break, that means update if only the number of votes and comments will increase.

Don't forget the usuals.

Goodnight.😁😁😁

- Aesh.