Katsina.

"She is in there?" Mariam asked, adjusting the awful veil she's used to wrap her head around. They don't really expect her to keep wearing that right? She'd suffocate.

"Yeah and she is alone. Much better." Madina murmured before opening Mariam's car —which they got driven by some guy while they took the plane— and climbed out the other following in tow.

Mariam looked around the lame state with unease and abhorrence. She's been to many places in Nigeria but she's never been to Katsina for reasons she doesn't know. The place gets to be exasperating. Of course there is heat everywhere since it's just February but why on earth is this place trying to asphyxiate people? The heat is too much and together with dust, that's just holocaust plus.

Silas told her to be in this exact location at this time but he told her nothing more. He's been talking with Madina but not her. Suspicious right? But Mariam is not bothered since the entire thing is making her cringe and wince whenever she thinks about it, that is all the damn time. She thought she was going to get over the attraction she had on Abbas but after seeing him that day face to face, it intensified. From erotic dreams, to them fighting like cat and dog and some other weird nightmares she cannot predict.

Maybe she is really meant to be his wife or this wouldn't make any sense.

The duo entered the furniture showroom, an empty place with so many colors that made Mariam's eyes bleed. Why would any woman want a lemon green sofa in her room? No, how? She shrugged her shoulders at the thought.

Everyone has their own favorite color but whoever it is that gifts her anything lemon green, Mariam is going to burn that thing in front of the person then give them the finger. There is no worst color in her eyes than that.

She'd give the store credit though, it is ladened with so many foreign furniture from set of sofas, a posh dining table and chairs along with beds and whatnot. They trudged inside, Mariam deepening with curiosity about the place. Her hand flew to a white leather sofa and the complete set gave an L-shape. She'd get something like that whenever she is going to renovate her house in Gwarimpa.

"This is a real gorgeous set. That's a Mitchell Gold Co." A woman said from behind her making Mariam jump in start.

Turning around, she beheld the sight of a beautiful woman holding a piece of golden flower vase in her hand. She's got an exquisite body frame for someone who looks as old as her mother. She is a bit taller than Mariam, her body slight and Fulani like with dark skin instead of fair like they always have. Her straight nose, peach lips all inundated in her oval shaped face. She's got to be Fulani.

Wearing on a charcoal slacks and white button down shirt with a lap coat lolling at one side of her shoulder. She is definitely a doctor.

Mariam wanted to tactlessly tell the woman she's startled her when it clicked, this woman looks familiar. Like someone she knows from the past or she's seen someone that looks exactly like her. Of course! None of her features were like Abbas's but they still manage to look alike in some kind of way. The semblance cannot be said in particular but it is apparently there.

She backtracked and forced a tiny smile to her red lips. "Yeah, very pretty."

"It'll look good in a house if that person is neat or else, that is brown you've bought." The woman chuckled before raising her head from the set to look at Mariam.

Mariam saw when her breath hitched, her eyes twitched and the hesitation she's had before she gained her composure. It was the reaction of most people when they see her up close. Her mother said she's got this charisma that made people stare at her longer than intended with intimidation.

Something happened at that moment, Mariam is very sure of that.

"And fortunately, I'm just that person." A grin crept it's way to Mariam's face without her knowledge. She is not forcing herself now, the woman's presence is kind of tranquillizing.

"Really? There hardly are neat women now since all of you young ladies are extremely lazy. All you do is hang around and order maids." The woman teased, softly touching the sofa Mariam was staring at.

A shrug came from Mariam's shoulders. "I've been brought up to wash my underwear every time I bathe since I was six. I got used to it."

Madina came to stand beside her at that moment, her smile pleasant as she greeted the older woman in front of her. The glint in her friend's eyes tells her that something is brewing and she doesn't want to include her. Madina always liked playing the mysterious lady though she sucks at that. Now Mariam is more curious than ever at what she's been doing outside when they'd walked in together.

"Two pretty young ladies in a furniture store? Who's getting married amongst you?" The woman questioned, positioning the vase in her hand on a table beside them.

The girls looked at one another then shook their heads. "None of us." Mariam affirmed though her stomach leaped. Reason? Unknown.

"We're just here to get our friend a wedding gift. She's getting married this week and we forgot to bring what we bought so here we are." Madina lied straight through her teeth, her smile never faltering.

Okay. . .

"You guys are from another state then? Or country?" The geriatric asked, eyes widening when she said the country. It's only Mariam that doesn't look Nigerian. Duh.

"From Abuja."

The woman's smile faltered at the mention of Abuja. Mariam had an inkling why it does but she kept that aside. Did her son tell her he was beaten by some goons because he's disrespected a woman? Does she know about them? An emotion Mariam had felt little of in her entire life slowly gnawed at her. It was guilt.

The person she is here for got beaten by her for a mistake he didn't make. An honest one too at that.

She wants to go back home and bury her head beneath a duvet. She doesn't want to get married but she wants to possess Abbas in every possible way that she could think of. He should become hers in every aspect and possible aperture but what is that way to every other Muslim? Yeah, that crap named marriage.

"Oh, that's nice." The woman's voice slipped her back to present. "I'm Dr. Hafsat by the way."

"I'm Mariam and she is Madina." Mariam was quick to answer, her lips moving before she could think. Again, something she doesn't do.

"What are you getting this your friend?" Dr. Hafsat began walking deeper inside the store taking her vase in tow.

Mariam was quick to collect it from her earning a widened eyes filled with shock and them she chuckled, Madina. A glare was all it took for the latter to gain her footing but the wonder was still written all over her face.

But the fact is, Mariam is also shocked by her action! As though her being polite isn't perplexing enough.

Why would she take something from a woman she doesn't know? She'd do that to her mother in a heartbeat but any other person could definitely go to hell for all she cared. Is it because this woman gave birth to the man she is obsessed with? That has to be right? There is no other reason why the nice Mariam is suddenly out to play some weird strange game. She is not up for that anyway.

She swallowed thickly. Things are getting too serious, out of her hand. It is disturbing and convulsing, almost giving her a whiplash.

Dr. Hafsat smiled at her then continued walking while Madina answered her question. "We were thinking about a night stand lamp? It is never too much in a house."

"That's brilliant. I'm getting a few things for my home as my son is getting married next week too. Too many weddings, huh? A night stand lamp will do just great in our rooms. Thanks for that idea, Madina." She lead them to the place where different sort of lamps are. Mariam fell in love instantly with all the lamps present.

If not for Dr. Hafsat, she would've bought more than five of them for her homes but she will have to keep a low profile on this. She shouldn't know what she does for living, at least not until after she's gotten married to her son. Then, she will allow all hell to break loose.

She's making all the plans herself without his knowledge. What will happen when he gets married to her and not the woman he is hopelessly in love with? Is he going to hate her? Of course. That is not even a question she is asking. The guy loathed her already. Getting married to him and making him turn down the love of his life will be the last straw. Then how is she going to achieve her goal? What will happen to this ache in her chest? Will it keep intensifying?

"Your son is getting married? You don't look a day over thirty?" Mariam teased from behind them, checking the lamps with feigned curiosity.

Mariam always knew what she wanted at first glance.

A giggle escaped Dr. Hafsat. "I don't? I'm forty six years old and he is twenty eight. Got married at eighteen, so in love and in hurry."

Madina caught Mariam's eyes at the age of the guy she is after. One year older than her? Just one? She almost dropped the vase in her hand because this cannot be happening! She knew he was young but at least she gave him thirty, three years older than she is. How is she going to live with a man like that? She's used to older men rocking their fifties and sixties. What will she do with a....boy?

"Wow. Getting married young is said to be a blessing indeed." Madina quoted, her hand on an antique orange lamp that Mariam had been eying.

Now they have the same taste too? Great. Just great.

Dr. Hafsat smiled in a reminiscing way. "It's definitely a blessing but with the right man. Any marriage when either the man or woman is not the best, that union is going to be a disaster whether early marriage or not."

"Yours is anything but, Ma'am. You sound happy talking about your kid and marriage." Madina smiled at the woman that's going to become her friend's mother-in-law but she doesn't know it yet.

They continued talking for another thirty minutes before Dr. Hafsat got a call from home that her attention is needed; the caterers are there in her house ready to take orders from her. She gave a look of disappointment at having to leave so early when she's just gotten into her full talking mode. She hardly talks to people her age, she refers talking to younger women like Mariam and Madina. They don't envy her for having a perfect husband, family and job.

"I'll have to leave now, girls. It was nice talking to you. If you don't mind, can you stop by for the wedding?" She rummaged through her bag to get an elegant looking wedding invitation to give them.

"It was great talking to you too, Ma'am. We'll surely drop by, In Shaa Allah."

The duo followed her outside the store where they watched patiently as she entered her charcoal End Of Discussion Accord only for the car to not roar to life. Mariam's brows drew together when she found one of her tires flat and slowly turn her attention to Madina who tried her best to summon her look of innocence and nonchalance but Mariam knew her better than that.

Mariam held one of her slim arms and tugged hard. "You did this, didn't you? Why did you have to puncture her tire like that?"

"I had to! We should take her home so we could see how their house is." Madina shrugged as she commented, tilting her head with a frown.

"Did Silas ask you to do this?" Mariam snapped, protectiveness sneaking it's way into her chest. Suddenly possessive over this woman and her belongings. Weird.

"No, he didn't."

"What if she asks us to go inside or bump into the guy there? What then?" Mariam demanded her eyes widening at the thought of meeting him again.

Dread, sackful of it fell on her shoulders. But longing streaked along her skin like gossamer cloak.

"We won't, I'm sure." Madina frowned.

Together they made their way to the Dr. Hafsat's car, she's already dismounting from it. Her brows came together in between her forehead as she frowned down at her car. She was sure as hell her tire was perfect when she entered the car earlier in the morning and went to the hospital.

"What happened?" Madina questioned, looking around the car then feigned concern. "Oh, the tire is bad."

"And I need to be at home now." A fine line appeared between her aging forehead. She hates keeping people waiting.

"Can we drop you off?" Mariam offered, her smile coming back to place.

"You'll do that?"

"Why not?"

THE next day, Dr. Hafsat awoke with a new feeling of newness and freshness. She took her bath, went down and ate breakfast with her kids except Abbas who's left for work like his father, very early. Her car has been brought back yesterday, repaired. Instead of driving to the hospital where she works, she went to her husband's. There is something serious she wants to discuss with him.

"Good morning, Oga." She greeted her husband giving him a small hug before settling on the sofa inside his office patting the space next to her.

Confused at her presence so early in the morning and business mode, he went to sit down close to her. "Morning, Madam. You here early in the morning? Hope all is well?"

"Oh, everything is fine. Maybe even more than great." She grinned at him before it faltered. She's about to say something he won't agree with so she'll have to thread carefully.

He kept quiet and watched her, waiting for her to talk. "Uh.... About Abbas and this girl, Surayyah."

"What about them?" His brows rose close to his hairline as if he knew what she was about to say.

She hesitated a great deal before she murmured. "I really don't want him to marry her. The feeling got stronger yesterday because I've seen a lady I would want him to marry. Can we do something to stop the marriage? I am dead serious about this so you should stop smiling like that."

He stopped smiling immediately. "What do you mean by you have someone you want him to marry? Why don't you like this girl? You never liked her right from the beginning and there is nothing wrong with her."

Dr. Hafsat hesitated and sighed. "There is this girl I met yesterday and instantly, I only pictured her future with Abbas. I swear I felt it in my bones that she was meant to marry my son and not Surayyah. There is nothing wrong with Surayyah but I don't like her. I don't know why I despise her so, but the feeling is intensifying."

"Intensifying as in how? Just because you've met a girl yesterday you want your son to marry? Do you know anything about this girl or even her parents? Why do you talk sometimes like you don't know what you're saying?" He gave her a look that says 'you're out of your mind' right.

She squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath then release it. "I knew it was going to sound strange and stupid but I'm serious. I think if Abbas gets married to Surayyah, I won't be able to like her at all. I'm selfish and stupid but that's the truth I've been hiding for a while."

"Why didn't you say so until now? When invitation cards have been given out and there are only mere days to the wedding? Do you know what you're saying?" A muscle in his jaw ticked, anger surfacing slowly but surely.

"I know."

He was quiet for a long time before he sighed. "Are you saying we should cut this off?"

"Yes."

"You are out of your mind, Hafsat! You don't know what you're saying and I'm very sure you don't think about your own children's future. How would you feel if something like this happens to your female children in future?" He stood up and started pacing the length of his office.

Dr. Hafsat pinched the bridge of her nose as her eyes glistened. "Trust me, this is the last thing I would want to do to any girl but I will take it as a sign from Allah. That whatever it is involved in this marriage is not good for my daughter. I will be hurt, that's definite but it was Allah's plan."

"I don't know what to say. I cannot really talk to them about this." He sat back down on the sofa.

"I'll allow you to think about this for the rest of the day. Whatever you decided about the marriage, that will be the best. If this is Allah's plan, they will get married and if it isn't, they won't." She stood up and took her tote bag.

"You've wrecked my thoughts." He shook his head but draw her into a warm hug.

He's been with her for a long time to know what she feels and what she thinks. But this, he cannot really place a finger on what is going on here. He will talk about it. Because this might not be too bad for Abbas but be ominous for Surayyah. He cannot imagine one of his daughters getting married into a family that the mother of the groom is not into her. That is all shades of disaster in forms and shapes.

"I don't even know why I don't like his union with Surayyah. He will think it is because they are poor but I swear that is not it. She's just not the match for him. She doesn't bring out that side of him which he shows to only family, the aggressiveness. He is only kind to her. I bet he's never scolded her in all these years." That was part of her concerns anyway.

"And let's not forget that we have Abbas in this war. I don't know how he is going to react to marrying another woman that is not Surayyah."

"He will have to."