****

Jameel and Sadiqu were on their feet since. They were just thinking of how to sort out things. Where will they begin?

Jameel sat down limply and stood up. "If I should advise you, just let them be. You've a stable job now. Life is going algood. What else are you seeking for, Yaya?" Jameel asked. Sadiqu gave him a manly smile. That made Jameel to look at him intently.

Age doesn't lie. Sadiqu had some strands of grey hair in his beard.

"If not all this your beard will turn grey soon. You've a lot of grayish strands already." Sadiqu punched him playfully.

"It's a blessing. It's not a sign of old age you silly."

"You get my point. Just leave them alone and let us live our simple life. We're not complaining. Are we?" Jameel was adamant. Jameel wanted no trouble. At bit, he's seen and went through enough situations. He doesn't need another. If that, was a choice.

"There's one reason why I won't let them Jameel. I have a dream to achieve and I can actually visualize that dream when I am the king or a governor. Politics is a dirty game and I don't have all it takes to play it so set that aside. But look, this throne presented itself to me from no angle. I shouldn't play with the chance. I will make sure i make my dream come true even if it means loosing my life." Jameel was just listening. He knew how his brother was. If Sadiqu said he wanted to do something, he must do it. Talking out of advice now won't solve the issue.

"What dream?"

Sadiqu smiled and shook his head. "Actions speaks louder than words they say. Just watch me." Jameel hummed.

"Do you think Inna will allow you do all these?"

"No one is bringing Inna into this issue till the very last stage. Inna is an obstacle." Jameel nodded.

"Are you willing to help me Jameel?" Jameel kept mum. He then extended his hand to Sadiqu for a shake.

"Rocky and rigid." The two gents smiled.

*****

Later that night when Sadiqu had switched off the television, he decided to tell Mimi. It looked like she didn't heard it from Maleekah but again he doesn't want to tell her. He wanted her to know but not from him.

He switched the television on and sat back on an inclined cushion.

Mimi came into the parlour in her nighty.

"I thought we're sleeping." She said, padding towards him.

"Come sit here." He patted the spot next him. With no argument, she sat down looking at him. Sadiqu briefly closed his eyes, inhaling the scent that toured the parlour completely.

"And what's this perfume called?"

"I mixed them up." She smiled triumphantly. She knew they've grown because there was a time that when she dressed nice, no compliment. Look nice, no compliment. Cook nice no compliment. It made her mad. What would it reduce him if he makes a three words comment? Mimi complained to Maama. Maama told her that most of men folks were like that. But Mimi can reset it. Hence she confronted him.

Sadiqu changed thereafter. If he goes out to work and comes back to a frowning face, he knew it's either he had forgotten to compliment or say something. Communication is the key in all relationships; if only it will be realised by many.

"We're going to watch news." He sighted the remote by the side of the television. Mimi's eyes fell on it too. She knew he's going to ask her to bring it so she jolted up and brought out.

"May Allah bless you." She smiled.

"Ameen. Those days you will only collect it without saying thank you because you feel like you're the master of pride right?" She teased.

"What? You see this your mouth? I am going to cut it off if it doesn't stop blurting things anyhow at me." Sadiqu retreated in the same manner.

Mimi rested her head on his shoulder. "But we're friends, aren't we? We're garment for each other, right? We stay together by being one team right?" She all asked him.

"Yes we're." He answered.

"That's why I love you a lot. Because you're the best of them all. My husband is the superior to me, my king and his dutiful subject I am, ever ready to serve him." Mimi smirked in her mind. It's a trap and she knew he's definitely falling for it since she's sparked his manly pride.

"No, my wife is my friend not my subject. We share opinions and play together." That's it. Although what she said has painted his ego, it also soften his heart. Mimi kept mute as he switched the channels to news channels.

The headlines caught her attention. She read it and looked at Sadiqu.

"Is this real?" She asked by surprise. Mimi hiked up and went to fetch her phone. She checked the notification bar and saw Maleekah's message.

'Congratulations to you two. You've killed our granduncle with your prayers. And no, we don't need your condolence visit.'

Mimi's blood thinned. What was Maleekah thinking? Mimi shoved the phone to Sadiqu.

He reached for it and read the message.

"What's she trying to say?" Mimi shrugged.

"There's a problem." Sadiqu sighed.

"I told you to just let them be." Mimi finally said. Sadiqu let out a dry and short laughter.

"I am sorry but I am up for the war. If you think you're scared, go back to Maama and Baaba for the mean time. But I must get this throne." Mimi swallowed something bitter.

"That prince Abdallah is very dangerous. Please don't start this," tears were threatening to fall out of her eyes.

"His power is Allah's creatures while my power is Allah, the creator of all creatures." Mimi knew that was right but still . . .

"It is going to be fine. Don't worry. I am going to Bauchi tomorrow. And you know the transfer is effective by Tuesday."

Mimi didn't said a word again. She looked at him as he blabbed but she doesn't even know what he's saying. Her brain had geared to five years ago. When prince Abdallah took her away. Now she feared he would do the same again. She's afraid of everything.

"I am going home." She whispered below her normal voice.

"It will be fine habibty," he drew her for a hug.

"I promise you. I will come back to lead you to our kingdom in a month. It's a promise."

"I will come back in a month sweetheart. We will live a new life with our baby. I promise." General Aliyy had said but he never came back. In fact he even divorced her. Was the same thing happening again? Mimi bursted.

"Please don't break my heart. Please." Sadiqu held her tight in place before he began whispering.

"I won't break your heart habibty. I will be back for you. I will only be away for a little while. Please take care of yourself for us. I will be back, I promise. Just pray okay? If possible I will be back in less than a month. Just don't tell anyone why I left. Just let them think it's because of the transfer okay?" Mimi didn't flinched.

"Are you hearing me?" She nodded slowly. Despite the fact that everyone around him was against it, he doesn't feel weak. Each second, he feel his zeal growing bigger. He would make it by Allah's will.

He slept with that on mind.

******

Inna looked at Sadiqu with pride.

"Qarin matsayi ne kenan ko me? Are you promoted or what?" She asked once he told her that he would be leaving for Bauchi.

"It's a transfer Inna. The promotion too, will follow it. Just pray for me." Inna smiled. She dropped the handfan she was using and turned on her rechargeable fan. She sometimes forget about it because she's used to using handfan. Her house had been refurbished and she had resumed to selling tofu packaged in beautiful boxes.

"May Allah bless you." Sadiqu said an ameen.

"No news yet either from you or Jameel?" Sadiqu sharply looked at her. He knew what she meant by that.

"Not yet." He answers briefly not wanting to talk more.

He tried all ways and blocked the brought up topic before he bid her bye after checking up on two of his brothers. One of them graduated from the university recently. The other was in his third year. Sadiqu made sure he listened to their needs all the time. He doesn't want any of them to fall on the dangers of life.

Maimuna too, was back to schooling. She was in her second year in a nursing school.

From there, he went to Fatimah's house and picked the kids. He took them to Mimi. They did another farewell and thus, he left for Bauchi.

"Hello Bauchi your new king is on his way." He said.