Five years later.

"What do you say?" Sadiqu asked sitting on one of the sofas available. It was their new house which they relocated to, a year back. Sadiqu was working with NNPC. Life was fair on them recently. They liked to say it was a rainbow in the rain for them. Things were falling into place after those years.

"Why do they have to transfer you there? Tell me you didn't requested for it." Mimi eyed him, munching on a cookie. Mimi was just on another level. Since the day Xurannah dropped her at the compound of Inna's house, Sadiqu started treating her like egg. He's always there and that opened a chance for her to be fragile and be doing whatever she liked.

"I didn't. Coincidence."

"Hmm." She ignored him and continued watching the movie shown on the television.

Sadiqu ran his hand across his face, not knowing what to say. Mimi was tougher and from the look of things, she could decide not to talk to him for the days ahead and there's nothing he could do about it. His shouts doesn't shake her. His anger doesn't frazzle her. At the end he just had to apologize.

"Please listen to me," Mimi briefly looked at him. What does he wants? He had been talking of transfer to Bauchi since forever but she didn't like it. She preferred Kano.

"I know what you want there. You want us to go back there so that it will be easier for you to be seeing Leek. Don't worry I will invite her to this house, that way you will get to see her daily." Sadiqu's jaw dropped open. He didn't know what to do again. Since the day Mimi found out that he visited Leek twice, she started being sarcastic about Bauchi.

"Stop saying this mana. Why are you so bitter over what I've apologized?" Mimi laughed.

"Oh you want to speak with her?" She then fetched her phone and dialed Maleekah's number. On the second ring, Leek picked up.

"Hey Mims," Mimi changed it to handsfree.

"Hey Leek how're you? How's your business going? I've seen new designers on your site and I will send them to you via WhatsApp so that you will package them for me. By the way it's Yusrah's father that wanted to say hi." She smirked at him. Sadiqu swallowed a lump. He tried talking but his voice died at his throat.

"Hi, ho..w...arr...how are you Maleekah?" He croaked looking at Mimi.

"Fine." When Leek said that, Mimi cut the call and sighed.

"What's all that?" He asked on a high pitched voice. Mimi yawned nonchalantly.

"I'm sorry," he finally said in a low voice.

"You're not sorry. I want to tell you something. I'm tired of all this, okay? Late nights chat, late night calls with her? Going to see her? I'm tired just choose. Either to marry her and have her forever or to let her go forever." Mimi remarked.

"But you know it's not possible. Maleekah is Yusrah's mother and time to time we have to meet. It has always been like that; divorced parents usually see one another because of their child." Sadiqu was careful of his choice of words.

"I know. But they don't feel something or anything. In your own case, I see love in Maleekah's eyes. I see pity in your eyes. So?"

"It's okay to pity someone. Mimi stop doing this please. Maleekah went through a lot."

"It's five years already. Five good years man. Even if she's hard as tortoise back, five years is an enough time to move on. I..." The ringtone of her phone stopped her from talking. She picked the call.

"Okay I will be on my way." She said into the phone and cut the call.

"Maama just called me. General's siblings and other NGO owners came. We need to have a meeting on ways to solve this societal problems. Develop new approaches and completely involve reputable individuals. I'm waiting for permission to go." She was still sitting down, not moving an inch and not showing any interest on going out. Well, if he wished, he should allow her to go, if he wished he should say no. It doesn't make any difference to her.

One thing was, she will continue to ignore him.

"We need to sort out this issue at hand first." Sadiqu said, resting his hand on the sofa.

"I'm sorry. You know it. I don't expect you to be thinking of anything negative between I and Maleekah. Wallahi if you don't want me to see her, I won't. If you want me to tell you whence I speak with her, I will. All I want is for peace to reign. Please. And the key is with you." Mimi smiled.

"Should I go?" Sadiqu nodded. Maybe by the time she will be back, she has forgiven him.

"Thanks. Don't worry I will come back soon. And yes I cooked for myself, you can take a plate from it." Sadiqu laughed.

"You're so troublesome Meema."

"Mee what? You know I don't like that name." She giggled.

"I don't even feel like driving. Please just come and take me." She whined.

"At your service ma'am." Sadiqu dramatically bowed. Mimi fisted her palm and blew his arm with a laughter. That one laughter, resolved everything and they didn't realised when they deeply immersed in a conversation during the drive.

***

Bauchi.

Zahrah's child blabbered and crawled to Maleekah's feet. Leek picked him up and started swaying him up. Zahrah got married to someone in the kingdom and hence she stayed within the kingdom but in a different and beautiful chamber. When Zahrah's husband is out to the emirate council or place of work, Leek often comes to Zahrah's chamber to have a chat.

"Rakiya?" Zahrah called out and a maid came in. She went out with the little kid while he started crying; obvious that he wanted Leek's company.

"I want us to talk Maleekah." They both sighed at the same time. They knew what that meant. It was going to be a heavy talk.

"I am not talking of anything related to this place. I'm talking of you. You as a being." Zahrah chimed while Maleekah only traced the hem of her veil.

"You need to move on with life. You've been stuck to that spot. I'm talking of the five years ago spot. Life is dynamic Maleekah. You're not over that man still. You've shown him the headlights and leglights or necklights whatever but he deemed to be uninterested in taking you back. Forget about him Leek. Love cannot be forced!" Maleekah felt a tear dropped from her eyes.

"But I do love him Zahrah. I still do."

"But he doesn't. Forget him. There's more to life after him. There are handsome, rich and kind hearted guys out there."

"Zahrah." Maleekah stopped her.

"I have some hope. But as you said love is not forced. I will ask him once and for all." Zahrah almost misplaced her hand on Maleekah's cheeks but she held them back as they twitched.

The door of the room got knocked. Zahrah opened. A maid bowed down.

"You're all needed as soon as possible by Gimbiya Maryama." Zahrah looked at Maleekah. Without another word, they marched out.

****

Mimi and Sadiqu stopped at Jameel's house. Jameel was now known as Sani. The story known by anyone was he was Sadiqu's distant relative whom had been staying with his mother and when the mother died he had no one left so he moved to Sadiqu's family. Some people believed them some did not.

"Sani, you need to take Khadijatou to the hospital and you too need to be checked." Sadiqu told him once they sat in a different parlour from the ladies. Jameel was running business and things were going pretty well.

"We're alone. Call me Jameel. I hate this Sani name with passion." Jameel grimaced.

"You chose it yourself." Sadiqu laughed.

"It was the one that came to my mind that time." They laughed.

"Hospital for what? Did she said she's sick?"

"I mean to say Lab. Before you guys go far it's good to know your status. Your genotype. My heart breaks each time Asnah is in crises. This children doesn't deserve what they go through. We shouldn't allow love to cloud our head. Go and have that test." Jameel nodded.

"You're right. Are Yusrah and Asnah still with Fatimah?"

"You know how they love her. They're still there. The house is so quiet without them I am picking them up on Monday." Sadiqu informed.

"Okay. What about those shoes we found out? I've been keeping them for five years now. Don't you think we should just discard them and forget about everything. It might be a tale.". Sadiqu shook his head.

"I have this doubt too. But something is telling me that it's not a tale." Sadiqu opposed.

"But how do you think they will give you that throne easily? You know you're calling for war. Just to come out of nowhere and say you're the heir. It's too blunt you know?" Jameel reasoned.

"It is. No matter how risky it is, I am ready to risk it even if it means loosing my life. Besides, it's easy. I will just go and meet Makama and other king makers. I will tell them the story and present the shoes. I'm sure they know of the story too." Jameel kept quiet after Sadiqu has talked.

"They must know. I'm afraid though. Afraid that the governor might not appoint you as the king since the current king has many princes."

"It's all politics Jameel. The governor knows me for your info."

"What. How? It seems like the odds are in your favour. Always lucky in life and always getting what you want."

"It's not like that bros. It's a test. Success, failure are all tests." Sadiqu reminded Jameel.

He added. "Former governor was Mimi's in-law. Current governor was my classmate. And I am not going to talk to him about it. When something is yours, it will fly to your doorstep." Jameel nodded in agreement.

Silence fell within the walls of the room but it was pricked by Sadiqu's ringtone. He stared at the screen before he picked the call.

Mimi's warning.

But he will hasten the call to avoid breaking Mimi's promise. He excused himself and answered the call. A minute later he was back with a straight face.

"What?" Jameel questioned.

"Bauchi is calling. The king is dead."