Nigeria, Abuja.

Driving through the familiar streets, Khaleel pulled over at Ya Maamah's house that is addressed in the extravagant part of town. He watched as the security man walk over to him and when he asked him to call the owner of the house to confirm his arrival, he sighed rolling his eyes. This is what he gets for not coming home for a long while and well knowing his brother in law, he will go to any means to keep Ya Maamah and the kids safe.

"Hand him the phone" Ya Maamah command when she answered the phone even before he got the chance to tell her about his surprise visit. When the security guard collect the phone, Khaleel could hear her taunting him for not checking the visitors list because his name is there.

"I am sorry Sir!"

"It's fine" he waved him off practically because he is not in the mood to talk. When he parked behind the series out cars, he got down and strolled inside the house were Ya Maamah is waiting for him by the door.

"Hello Ya Maamah" he greet nervously as she glared at him.

"Wait for me in my room"

"Sure" he nod his head removing his shoes and walking up the stairs, to the third floor were her room in by the right. As expected, the room is neatly arranged with the scent of bakhoor filling the air. He laid on the bed exhausted as his conversation with Aamirah played over and over in his head

Few minutes later, Ya Maamah walked in with three women behind her each holding food warmers. He didn't even protest rather he let her pile a plate with food

"How did you know I was visiting you?"

She glared at him pushing her phone towards him, when he stared at the screen. He saw a message from Batool which says,

Dearest sweet Ya Maamah, please go easy on my Habibiey not because you have no right to correct him but because he is going through a lot. Thank you and please make sure he eats! Love you sister. Kisses to my babies!

"So tell me, how can you hurt someone who loves you this much"

"Ya Maamah.."

"Just eat and we will talk about it. As much as I want to torture you about this you need to eat"

Without any complaints or arguments, he ate the mountain of friend rice and jollof rice with corn salad, when he ate half he looked at her with pleading eyes.

"Ya Allah! Your a big grown man with two wives Khaleel. Don't let me force the food down your throat"

"Ya Maamah wallahi I'm full"

"It will be embarrassing if your nephews enter the room and see me feeding you.." she tease shrugging off her shoulders depriving a small smile from him.

"Thank you for the food. It was delicious"

When she pushed the intercom and called for someone, two girls rushed back inside and cleared the plates leaving the sibling alone.

Ya Maamah stretched her legs forward from were she sat on the flush pink fluffy carpet "Okay spill, what's been going on in your life.."

"A lot. I'm sorry Ya Maamah. Sorry for everything and being so distant, your the closest thing I have to a mother and I just.. I hurt you" he sighed softly feeling the heaviness on his chest.

"I'm not mad at you Khaleel. Well, at least not now, I'm over it. You need to learn to communicate with me, I worry about you so much Khaleelu and when I don't hear from you, it breaks my heart"

"I'm sorry. I promise it will never happen again"

"Good cause next time I won't take it lightly with you" she cleared her throat. "So two wives huh? Bravo! His is that going?"

Chuckling, he slipped from the bed and laid beside her on the floor. "Your saying that like it's a bad thing"

"It's not. Just that I can remember those days when I used to take care of you and now your taking care of two wives? That's insane"

"Ya Maaamaahh.. please" he groan as she laughed.

"On a more serious note, you know as your sister and mother I have to tell you the truth. Islam put stringent conditions on a person who wants to marry a second wife. He must be able to provide and maintain the family, and also deal with both on basis of justice and fairness. In Chapter 4 (Surah an-Nisaa), verse 3, after allowing the Muslim men to marry two, three or four wives, the Qur'ãn immediately says:

"but if you fear that you will not do justice (between them), then (marry) only one..." (Surah an-Nisaa, 4:3)

"And you do not have the ability to do justice between the wives, even though you may wish (to do so)..." (Surah an-Nisaa, 4:129)

So tell me Khaleel, do you have the ability to do justice between them? If yes then Alhamdulilah if no there will be serious consequences"

He took a deep breath letting what Ya Maamah said sink in. When he looked at her with tear filled eyes, he is sure of his answer more than anything in the world. "It won't be easy but I can do it Inshallah. I know what I signed up for"

Ya Maamah smiled, "then why are you crying? Haba Khaleel. A big man like you with two wives"

Ya Allah! He will not live to hear the end of this two wives talk so she laid his head on her lap and cried silently wishing he can tell her all about Aamirah and her case so she can help him but knowing very well Aamirah will not appreciate that, he said nothing. It is her story, not his.

"Khaleel are you okay?" He heard her gentle voice asked but instead of getting a reply, she got a very serious question, a question she was not expecting.

"Can you tell me about Mama? Please"

"Khaleel.."

"Anything. I just want to hear about her"

Exhaling a deep breath, with a bright smile on her lips, she said "There was this time Mama and Baba got into a heated argument. They rarely fought and when they did, it was the worst thing ever. I remember going inside Mama's room with a letter Baba has written, when I handed the letter over to her she sent me back with it. They kept sending me back and forth writing letters instead of talking it out so when Baba handed me another letter, I went to my room and opened it, Ya Allah I regret reading it..."

Khaleel laughed despite the tears rolling down her cheek. "What was in the letter?"

"I won't tell you"

"Come Ya Maamah! tell me please"

"It was basically sweet romantic words and the last part said something about conceiving a baby.."

Khaleel laughed cringing at that. "What baby?"

"You"

He choked on nothing watching Ya Maamah with horrified eyes. "what?! Are you sure?"

"Seeing that they went on a trip two days after their fight I would like to believe they conceived you there.."

"Ya Maamah! Ew! Gross"

She laughed shrugging off her shoulders. "you asked for it. What's my own?"

"I miss Mama"

"Me too Khaleelu but she is in a better place inshallah. You just pray for her okay? She needs our prayers more than anything"

When they heard the call to prayer for Maghrib, Khaleel stood up and made way for the door, he almost stepped out when he turned around and walked back to her engulfing her in a bone crashing hug.

"I love you, thank you for everything"

"Love you too my big baby, the one with two wives"

Ya Raabeel Aalameen!

Ya Maamah will not be the death of him..

He simply refuse to let that happen.

***

Pain.

Endless agonizing pain burning in the pit of her stomach. Gripping her, chocking her. Aamirah cannot believe the amount of emotions whirling in her head.. sometimes, when she laid on the cold bed in the hospital and her eyes close tightly, she will imagine a life she has always dreamt of but never lived.

A life without this much pain and heartache.

A life without constantly worried someone will know what happened to her. What they did to her..

She cannot believe Khaleel told Batool. How will she face her now? When she knows how she was physically and emotionally damaged. When she knows how they touched her, raked their filthy hands on their body and forcefully took her virginity. Ya Allah! She can never face her! Never! Not until Batool's memory is somehow erased which is utterly impossible.

She shifted on the bed struggling to calm her erratic racing heart. When she breathe through the wave of pain that washed over her, the door pushed open and Khaleel walked inside holding a wooden brown picnic basket. She averted her gaze away from him quickly hating how much of an effect he has on her

"Assalamualaikum Aamirah" again, with the soothing shivers running down her spine Aamirah.

Ya Rahman! She can't handle this anymore.

"Batool sends her regards and well, food" he said dropping the basket on the table and bringing out a warmer of hot chicken pepper soup and a bowl.

When he sat beside her on the chair, he gently said, "I am sorry"

New wave of hot tears trailed down her face leaving a permanent mark, she unwilling turned to catch a glimpse of him "the doctor will be discharging you today. Will you like to go home with me?"

Another piercing pain shot through her chest. As if she has any option regardless of how bad she hates the idea of staying in the same house with Batool. When he noticed the flash of emotion that passed on her face, he cleared his throat

"Not Batool's home. Our home"

This time, she dared open her mouth. "Don't.. I.."

"I want to. Besides it's nothing new"

She took a deep breath wiping away the wetness on her face. "Thank you"

"Your my wife Aamirah. It's my duty" he gently hand her the bowl of soup careful not to brush her hand in the process. Not because he doesn't want to but because he knows she is not ready for that phrase just yet. He left to sign the required paperwork while she thoughtlessly sipped her soup appreciating Batool's effort.

The moment the nurse walked back with a new set of clothes. Deep blue Abaya and matching veil, Aamirah instantly knew it belongs to Batool. She chocked on a sob when her hand brushed on the expensive good looking Abaya.

How can she..

Absolutely no way!

This is way harder than she imagined it to be.

A knock brought her out of her thoughts and Khaleel's voice followed, "If your done changing meet me in the lobby"

It took her approximately five minutes to gather her emotions and drape the Abaya that is extremely long on her. When she stepped out to the lobby, Khaleel sat there nervously typing away on his phone.

"Sorry I couldn't get your luggage. Someone has to arrange it and I was running out of time"

Aamirah nod her head following him to his car. When she leaned on the leather seat with the cool air conditioner kissing her face, he said,

"It's not too much and I apologise. I'll get things done for you soon Inshallah" she watched out the window tongue tied.

"Aamirah.."

There he goes again with the breath taking Aamirah.

"Just.. don't talk Khaleel. Please"

She can not crumble down and surrender to this unknown feeling boiling inside her so the only way to get herself in check is to stop him.

To stop Khaleel and his unbelievably sweet charisma.

***

Even after spending an hour in the bathroom. Scrubbing and washing her skin forcefully, she still manages to feel disgusting and very unworthy of any love or support.

She doesn't deserve any of this,

The beautiful three rooms reasonably furnished duplex,

Khaleel,

Batool's kindness,

Aunty Kulthum, Myra, JamJam and Kabeer.

Again Khaleel. She doesn't deserve any of them.

When she slipped on her night gown and black long hijab that Khaleel brought earlier, she slipped under the duvet while trying so hard to bury back the dark sorrowful memories that lingered in the back of her head.

She had called into sleep only to wake up drenched in sweat screaming loudly as Khaleel run inside the room with sleepy eyes.

He unthinkably touched her hand which derived a loud blood curling scream from her mouth. Khaleel moved back immediately

"Aamirah, it's just me, Khaleel.."

"DanAllah don't touch me! Please don't touch me. Don't touch me. Don't touch me!" She chant shaking as the tears roll down her eyes

"I won't touch you Mimi, calm down" he tried moving backwards frightened.

"Don't t-touch m-m-me" she breathe in between painful sobs.

He didn't know what to do to help her but seeing her in this much pain is beyond unbearable so walk out of the room searching for his phone. When he glance at the clock that said two am, he decided not to call Batool anymore so he quickly rush back to the room were Aamirah is curled up on the bed crying, heavily.

"I don't want to.." she muffled in her hoarse voice.

"Your fine Mimi, I promise, your safe" he sat on the couch opposite the bed.

"I don't want.. I don't want another baby. I-i don't want this"

He could feel his heart beating fast now at her revelation, cranking his neck he asked, "What do you mean another baby?"

"I don't want.." she paused "It's not the first time Khaleel. I-i'm tired of miscarging his child.."

This time, he really is sure Aamirah is still a big mystery he is yet to discover.

A broken mystery that he will unravel,

A mystery he will love so hard, her pieces will fall back into place.

When he finally got a grip on himself. He grabbed his phone and played the audio of the holy Qur'an. He set the phone beside Aamirah who is slowly drifting into sleep as lone tears escape her eyes.

He knows she needs time and assurance so he sat by the bed beside her and it took everything in him not to caress her hand and wipe away her tears.

Khaleel had started drifting off when he heard her voice. Soft, gentle broken voice talking lowly, "I'll pass this test. Right?"

He smiled looking at her in the dark as another tear rolled down her face. "Inshallah you will"

***
Assalamualaikum 🙋 hiiiiii lurveee!

Okkaaayyy Ya Maamah is just the best!!!🥺🥺 Right?

Get your TISSUE!! It's about to get really messy in here💁

What do you guys think? Mimi just keeps surprising me day by day.. it's, well, overwhelming and heart torturing😫

Thank you for the endless Love❤️ I love you guys soooo much even the ghost readers! HA!

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