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"Ajike is awake. Alhamdulilahi."

Three days later, we are all outside Ajike's room waiting on Mu'adh to come out. Her new born was named Fatima Zarah for Ajike's mother. Still having respiratory problems and has to be in Intensive care unit till she gets better.

The  Dikkos and Hassans may never forgive what happened on Eid morning.

"She woke up about twenty minutes ago. Her mom is bringing Khayrat and Fawad." Nusaiba's red face smiles at whoever she's talking to. She left everything in Kano to be here. All of those who went to katsina have returned to Abuja. Ameerah and Afrah will be released on bail tomorrow Friday, all through the past few days, husband number one hasn't visited or called Katsina. Adeel says he gave strict instructions to be told if he did. Man is still so mad.

Mu'adh walks out smiling later  and hugs Fawad to himself. In the past four days, he hasn't gone home. Adeel had to bring him clothes to wear and force him to shower.

Nusaiba holds out her hand to me. "Let's go see her. I still have to go back home. Zarah isn't feeling alright. My Zarah I mean." I nod and walk into the plush hospital room with her. Ajike is hooked onto many machines and her dark skin looked tired.

"Babes, how far. I tell you say I want make you die yet? Wey you con dey coma for long like that. Dey scare person mama." Ajike smiles and holds out her  hands, I held onto one and hugged her to myself. After I left her, Nusaiba began crying into Ajike's bosom.

"I missed you so much blackie. I prayed and prayed and when  nothing happened, I felt as though Allah had taken my blackie away from me. Welcome back."

Ajike sniffles and pats Nusaiba's back in comfort. I stand there watching them feeling like an outsider. They've been friends for like forever.

"Sorry whiteie, I didn't mean to stay that long. My body was probably so tired. Coupled with the fact that the baby had stayed so long in me." Nusaiba stands up and wipes her eyes with the end of her green lace veil. Ajike turns her tired eyes on me.

"How are you Affy?" I nod and tell her I'm fine.

"I heard you were sedated for nearly a day?" She asks with an eyebrow raised. I smile and sit at her side.

"Who told you?" She smiles again and I guessed her husband did. She just woke up, how did they talk so much in so little time.

"I'm happy you are back. I don't know how I felt when I got that call from Maryam. I ran to the toilet to empty my bowels. I was so restless, hubby had to book me a flight to Abuja." Ajike smiles drowsily at Nusaibah's words and pats her hand again.

*****

"Stop those fake tears Ameerah. Just stop those fake tears. You weren't crying like this when you took my wife and swore to let those thugs of yours rape her,  were you?" Ameerah wails louder and takes sharp breaths, she's sitting on the floor in front of her parents. Mu'adh Dikko has been roaring fire all afternoon. Detectives assigned to the case found a voice note that Ameerah sent to her goons, that they'd have their turn with Ajike as punishment for stealing her Mu'adh. Rotten human.

Her mother has tears in her eyes too. I don't know how she's feeling. Her husband clears his throat and starts speaking.

"Mu'adh, all I have to say to you is just a few words. After that, my lawyers can take care of the rest. Our Prophet(PBUH) said that it is good to look out for family. We could have settled this issue as a family. Instead you had to keep my daughter in custody and make them arraign her. You could have taken your security people there instead of the police, now my stocks have dropped, my daughter is in the wrong light.  What do you think you are?, I still have the rights of a father over you.

You went out there and disgraced my daughter's name. Now, who will marry her?" He thunders at Ajike's husband who stares him straight in the eye, unflinching.

"You better get ready to be a polygamist. Because you will marry Ameerah." He says with finality. Ameerah stops wailing and sits on her knees properly, adjusts her veil and looks eagerly at Mu'adh. Adeel hisses long and low. I chuckle, I don't know who will tell this Uncle that his idea is a wrong one.

"Over my dead body. Never. You want my son to marry this criminal? this destiny killer?Astagafurrulahi. You lie. Wallahi. Seidu, you lie. You lie." Ajike's mother in-law stands up in trembling anger and  points a shaking finger in their uncle Seidu's face.

Maryam holds her and pulls her to sit beside her, I notice Adeel's hands clenching and unclenching in anger all the while. Khadeejah cries silently by the other side of their mother. It had turned into a Dikko Hassan meeting.

"Seidu." Baaba starts, sighing.

"Let me correct a wrong impression, you are not Mu'adh's standing father, I am. His father signed all rights to me on his death's bed. You and your spoilt daughter can go to the pits of Hell. And rot there. Over my dead body will my son, marry your daughter." He finishes with fire flashing in his eyes.

Adeel is clenching his hand again.

"Uncle Seidu." Adeel starts in a calm voice. Looking in the direction of Inna Saude. Adeel had requested she come to Abuja. "I have two questions for Ameerah. One, how did you know Mu'adh's wife had tracking bracelet? Two, why did you team up with someone to try to kill my wife?" Adeel's voice grew  granite while he talked. He clenched and unclenched his hands over and over.

"Inna Saude told me about their security measures. And Shaytan made me do it. Wallahi Hamma Adeel, I couldn't have  think of something like that." Mu'adh Dikko snarls at her and she rears back on her knees.

She had come to Abuja after her and Afrah's bail was gotten in Katsina, Afrah is still in Katsina, in a psychiatric hospital. They had lied that the both of them were out of their minds. Uncle Seidu must have sneaked his daughter out for her to be here. They will probably have to pay fines and return to court immediately she returns to Katrina. 

"Inna?" Baaba asks and she nods.

He faces his mother. "Mama. How come?" She shakes her head and chews on Kolanut. Adeel hisses again and my knees begin to hurt.

This matter is turning out to be messier than we thought.

"I didn't know she was a useless girl. She just made me talk." I look at her in  unconcealed amazement, Ya Rahman.

Inna?, she made you talk. Are you a baby or did she drug you?

"Its OK." Baba says and we all look at him. What?

"This matter will go on in court regardless of whether or not you meet our requirements. But I'll  put back the count charges of attempted murder  if I ever see Ameerah within sixty feet of my wife, I and children.  Uncle Seidu, take back your mock order. I will not marry Ameerah. Never." Ameerah nods and Uncle seidu looked like he wasn't going to accept then he nodded gravely.

Mu'adh walked out immediately, his Kaftan billowing behind him. Adeel pulls me up and then Maama and we walk out silently from the parlour where we had talked. I rubbed my knees at the door, I'd been sitting on my knees for nearly one hour.

"Just imagine the audacity that Seidu has to threaten anyone. And Inna Saude will hear it from me. I only let her be in there out of respect for the Hadiths about respecting one's mother." I sigh and look out of the window of the car. Baaba has been so angry since we left Sanghui street. I feel he's most dissatisfied with his mother. Who wouldn't be.

"She just endangered their lives ni dai."Maama sighs and leans into her seat beside me. I meet Adeel's eyes in the mirror and he winks at me. What is wrong with him?

" The both of you can wait till you get home to make eyes at one another. Adeel concentrate on your driving." Adeel laughs out loud and looks in the mirror again. I shake my head at him feeling Maama's eyes on me.

Since I returned from the hospital, he's done so many heartwarming things, like prepare my date coffee for me before leaving for the hospital to see Mu'adh just the way I like it. And I noticed the coffee has been deprecating faster since we returned from Katsina. Someone has a new obsession.

"How's sales at the new shop Nabeela?" Baaba asks from the passenger seat and I sit up to reply him.

"Its been so good Alhamdulilahi, We've been known for using and selling original products so we've just banked on our reputation." He nods and Adeel smiles at me, I purse my lips at his antics.

"Do you ever consider having your own line?" He asks and my breath seizes. I haven't thought of it for at least five or ten  years from now.

"I shelved the idea for a few years from now so I can learn the ropes of the business first. It would be bad if I got kicked off the market." He nods again and says that if I need any help. He's willing to give it to me in any way.

Maama pats my hand beside me and I look out of the window for the nth time. How people who I thought would despise me love me so much is beyond me.

The support I should have gained from my parents is coming from total outsiders. Its so ironic.

********

Who loves what happened to the evil two? I feel so relieved now.  I can finally move on to writing other interesting things. 

This chapter is for @Deey_jah and @TeemahGujbawu.  I have problem with my network so I can't tag y'all 😫😖

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God bless you.  Have a great day.