Assalamu alaikum.

I forgot to write this on the previous chapter because I was in a haste to publish before my battery drains. Well, it's just an appreciation. Thanks to everyone who has been following this story thus far! And those who drop a vote, comment and even share! Thank you very much.

****

Maleekah has finished taking bath and was getting fully dressed while the baby stayed with Inna. Inna's last born kept looking at the baby then at Inna. He was curious; to extent that he couldn't keep quiet.

"Inna?" He called, staring at his mother's eyes then at the little one on her hand. Wali rubbed his chin in thought before he talked.

"Inna where did aunt Maleekah got this baby?" Inna remained dumb and deaf to his question. Sadi and Wali exchanged looks and giggled.

"Hey, she just went into that room," Sadi pointed outside.

"And she chose a beautiful baby." He explained although he knew the actual truth. He was sixteen now but Inna thought he knew nothing. Wali was fourteen but he was behaving like a four year old. Sadi used to say it's because Inna pampers him and still let him lay on her lap.

Sadi himself, had no idea where babies were gotten from, once upon a time. When he was younger, Inna gave birth to Wali while he was away at the city and when he came back, Inna told him that the baby fell from the roofing of her room. She even showed him a crack and said that was where the baby managed his way out.

As young as he was, he didn't believe her but he didn't ask further. Instead, he had ran out to the backyard where his met his father laying on a mat, with a radio closed to his left ear. His father was dozing off while the news was being casted.

He had silently tiptoed and was about switching it off when the father caught his hand. "What are you trying to do? I'm listening to important news and you want to interrupt me huh?" Sadi had constantly shook his head in nay.

"But you're sleeping baba." He whined.

"Better quit whining. You're no longer a kid; now you have a brother." His father had taken a bit of kola and sat up.

"Sadi I have been talking since. You and Wali should give me some space. Fatimah, go and call Sadiqu." Fatimah blew a hot air from her nose in annoyance. Inna was shooing her way in the wise way. What was it that they will talk about that they don't want her to hear? She was also a grownup. Fatimah grimaced and stomped out.

Inna looked at Maleekah then scurried out a wrapped sheet from underneath her wrapper. She handed Maleekah the substance.

Maleekah turned it around before she opened the sheet. It was a yellow powdered substance. She looked at Inna in question.

"It is specially for you." Maleekah smiled, appreciating Inna's effort although she was still in thought.

"Mix it with musk. Make sure you have a sit bath with it. It will help you in regaining your normal body. Secure it somewhere safe as you can see I hid it under my wrapper. I've been using it too throughout my youthful days and it's effective. Now, hide it before your husband comes in. It's a feminine secret." Inna hushed.

"Thank you so much Inna." Maleekah guffawed while hiding it in the upper wraps of her wrapper. She was dusting it off in the toilet the next time she enters. How would she use something that she knew not of how it was prepared? Maleekah hissed in her heart.

"Assalamu alaikum." Sadiqu came in after saying the salaam. Inna looked at him with a proud smile.

"How's she?" He asked.

"Alhamdulillah. I think they will discharge us in the morning. Congratulations, my wish has been granted; I've finally seen my grandchild. Well-done my son, I'm proud of you." With that, Inna thought to give them some space alone. Because she could see how Sadiqu was begging her with his eyes.

When Inna left, Sadiqu turned to the door and locked it.

"We're at the hospital. What do you mean by closing the doors?" Leek asked, widening her eyes.

"Shush, lower your voice before Inna hears you and come back. Don't worry you're safe." Sadiqu sat by the periphery of the bed and collected the baby. He kissed her forehead, and cheeks.

Carrying the baby, he felt the weight of her responsibilities settling on him from within. He was now a father; someone who his kids will look up to. When they found out about her, Sadiqu was ready and had been saving up to bring up his children and cater for all their needs but Allah planned against that. Now, he had nothing except for the money he would use in buying a rickshaw.

Sadiqu felt his shoulder sag and became heavier. It was as if the loads of being a father had been dropped on them. Well, literally that was what happened. He remembered the way Saminu his friend became worried when his wife put to bed because he had no penny then. He had looked at Saminu, thinking that it was just a joke. Now when the queue reached him, he understood better.

He had this nervous feeling plus an overwhelmed feeling etched on his heart. His love for Maleekah increased to a lot of folds. At least, she had given him the gift no one has ever given him. He would cherish her for life, grant her all her wishes by the will of Allah.

"Have you done the tahnik?" Sadiqu smiled, Maleekah has done her part by giving him this and his own part was to make sure his child never lacks anything. And then, they will try their best together and groom her into a beautiful woman with the best character.

He averted his gaze to Leek who kept on yawning, it was obvious she didn't even heard his question.

Once his eyes settled on her face, he could see through her soul. How drained and tired she was. Despite everything, Maleekah has tried. He couldn't deny that. Not every woman will continue staying with him after she has watched him became nothing.

"May Allah bless you." He whispered to her ears and gave her back the baby. Sadiqu zipped off their kit and brought a date and zam zam waterto give the newborn as per sunnah rite.

He chewed it and put it in the baby's mouth. She licked it as though she was an expert. Both Sadiqu and Maleekah got lost at stating at her.

Sadiqu collected her back.

"What do we name her? Ammi or Inna?" Sadiqu would love to put Inna's name but he wanted to make Maleekah feel good. He wanted her to know that her opinion really mattered and they both had rights on the baby.

"The choice is yours." She tactfully answered. Sadiqu stared at the baby for some few seconds. He felt like neither Ammi's or Inna's name suited her.

After saying the adhaan and khudba in her ears, he put her in her crib.

"She's Aishah. May Allah give her the ability to acquire a lot of knowledge." He said with a smile.

Maleekah felt her eyes becoming pepperish. He named his daughter after her? Oh Allah!

"Ameen." She answered with a cracky voice that held her emotions. How could she love him less? He was her everything.

"I suddenly lost my speech. But do put it at the back of your mind that I love you always and it has intensified today. May Allah help us in bringing her up and guide her in the righteous path. May she be the coolness of our eyes. UmmAesha, may Allah bless you and build you a house in Jannah." Sadiqu prayed while squeezing Leek's hand.

"Ameen. May you be the best man,I and her will be proud of. AbuAesh and ZawjAesh. Beautiful!" Leek smiled, setting the tears that had been knocking her lids, free.

"Ameen, goodnight." He kissed her forehead with sincerity and immense love.

Maleekah closed her eyes in pretense that she was sleeping once Inna came in. Instead of the sleep to come, she dived into thoughts. It was a thought of her baby and one person whom she was certain that he will come the next day to scare her off with more confusing informations. She knew Sadiqu was also awaiting her answers for behaving erratically seven months ago. But, how could she begin explaining? She was almost hundred percent sure that Sadiqu will take it as a baseless reason.

With those kind of thoughts, her soul veered to a peaceful and blissful sleep.

****

The next morning, chatters and laughter could be heard right from the ward passages.

Maleekah's siblings, aunties and cousins filled up the place because it came as a surprise to some. They didn't know about the pregnancy and they haven't seen her long time.

"Congratulations." Zahrah said to Sadiqu.

"Thank you Zahrah. I thought you're at Bauchi."

"I am staying with sister Hanan." She shortly replied.

"That's nice. You go in and see your daughter. She looks like you." Zahrah cackled and made her way in. Sadiqu made his way out on contrary. He needed to go home and refreshen up since they were now a lot of people around Maleekah.

"Kai!" His eyes were to the ground when he heard that. Sadiqu raised his head and saw aunty Tasneem. He wobbly squatted and greeted her.

"I want us to talk." Sadiqu casted his eyes around and found a place then extended his hand, showing her the place.

Aunty Tasneem glared at him and followed him.

"It's about Maleekah's postnatal care. She told me you said no." She said, typing something in her iPad. Sadiqu felt like she was doing it to show him their differences. Well, offense, not taken.

"Yes I prefer to see her with me. Inna can take care of her." Sadiqu said trying to sound polite.

"So that you will kill her with herbs and hot water huh?" Sadiqu smiled.

"We don't kill people. In fact, you can come to our village and ask around. We've never killed a life even by mistake."

"Did I say I want to know?" Sadiqu looked at her. Aunt Tasneem was about his age and the reason he was being soft was because she was an aunt to his wife. So instead of giving her an answer, he kept quiet.

"You're allowing her come with us. If not a village man, who will take up a challenge that's powerful than him?" She was meaning to hurt him. Sadiqu stood up from where he was squatting while she sat on a plastic chair.

"Yes its true and it turned out that the village man is the father of your grandniece. And you have nothing to do about that. Aunty TasTas, have a nice day." He waved and faltered away.

Sadiqu looked at his leg and sadly smiled. Hadn't been he stayed for another minute, he was surefooted that she must jape him about his disability.

Setting his foot out of the hospital gate, Sadiqu heard the blow of musical instruments. It was an augury that Leek's grandma has arrived.

Baba, Leek's father was away on one of his numerous trips but he has called and offered his congratulations.

Sadiqu stopped a cab and hopped in with a jumbled mind. The pressure on him was getting harder and he knew for sure, they would not stop until they achieve what they wanted to achieve.

****

"DanAsabe! When did you came back?" Sadiqu met his cousin on his way back home. He has just dropped by the village bus stop and was taking the lane that will lead him to Inna's house when he sighted DanAsabe.

DanAsabe was older than him; the first son to Malam Habu, his uncle. Malam Habu got married before his father hence he had an older son.

"Woo gurgu ya na ganka haka? Hey cripple, why did I see you this way? I heard that you're rich but... How far?" Sadiqu turned his face away. Spreading of news in his village was faster than wildfire.

"Fate played it role but alhamdulillah things are falling back into place. How's Lagos?" Sadiqu managed to ask. He knew how much DanAsabe envied him but he thought everything has become a history.

"I left my family there." Family? Sadiqu widened his eyes. DanAsabe was notorious as everyone had marked him to be troublesome. Tired of constant fingerpointing, he woke up one morning and said he was leaving to somewhere. That time he was almost thirty years old.

"But no one knows about it?" Sadiqu asked.

"They all know." He answered scratching his head that was full with hair. The sides of his head had been shaved.

"Congratulations. I'm happy you did that. At least you've done something responsible. But please change as you can see, forty years is knocking your way and still your parent are angry with you. You-"

"Kai kai kai. What are you saying without chewing? Kai gurgu ka fita a ido na ko in ci ma mutunci. Be careful with me before I deal with you." He pointed his forefinger in warning.

"I'm sorry. Chill yourself." Sadiqu apologized.

"Is it me you will tell English? Who tell you me is no no English. If you is enough try me and saw how me is hitted you with grammarcomposition." Sadiqu held DanAsabe's arm.

"Calm down. You know English better than me. I won't even dare compete with you. My regards to everyone at home." Without waiting for DanAsabe's rambles, Sadiqu headed to Inna's house.

On his way, he trespassed where his former farm was. He stopped to peep at it; there was nothing in it. Mimi hasn't even used it. Part of his heart, squeezed at the remembrance of the incident. Well, that incident was the catalyst to all that has been happening to his life. Mimi was solely the reason for the turn his life took.

From going to London, to Inna starting up a business which she was still doing. To meeting Maleekah and marrying her. It was now nine years; how time was moving fast. He was once upon a time, a twenty one years old young man now he was thirty. Maleekah and Mimi were sixteen and fifteen respectively. Now, they were twenty four and five.

Once there, the door was open and no one was there. He took his bath and checked the kitchen. There was food in his flask. That meant, Fatimah had cooked and maybe she's gone to the neighborhood.

Sadiqu finished eating in the compound and went back to their side where he layed on the bed and rewind to his former thought. Has Mimi ever felt like giving him back his farm? He could remember when she wanted to talk about it when they were at the camp but he stopped her from doing that. He should have allowed her.

He tossed to the other end of the bed and hissed.

"Why can't you leave my thoughts Mimi?" He said out loud.

"Because she's meant to be your wife." Sadiqu thought he heard something. He looked around and there was no one. Then he came to a conclusion, he was just hallucinating.

***

Yes, we're moving somewhere.
Watch out.
Qilqilqilqil.😂😂✌

Don't forget the usuals.