"Hey." I watch him walk round the bed to my side, he pecks my head. It's the first time he's come home early since his father's demise, it's been three weeks.

"How was Maama today?" I let out a loud sigh and pause the tutorial I'm watching.

"She didn't leave her room as usual. Didn't even step out today." I look up to him, "Adeel, I'm worried about her." He sighs and plops on the bed to take his shoes off. I get up to take it from him, he takes it back from me and pushes me gently unto the bed.

"Beela, I used to do all these things before we married. And I don't want you taking my shoes and socks because it shows my masculinity or anything, I'll do the things I can by myself. Ok?" I nod, still in total confusion. Nadir used to make me do all these things, even I did them to appease him so he'd spare me for the night.

"What I mean is, you are my wife. Not my maid, not my careless things packer. If I leave things around, let them be, unless they cause a hazard to you. I'll pick them up, ok?" I nod again and smile. He pats my hand.

"And about Maama, I've asked her sister in Qatar to come over, she'll be here in a few days." I nod and walk back to my space on the bed, I slip into the warm covers and shiver from the cold. Harmarttan is here.

I watch him pick out a towel and go into the bathroom, I press play on the tutorial and begin to watch. My mind doesn't stay with the tutorial I'm watching, instead goes to the man in the bathroom. Life has been hectic on him, so hectic. He just goes to work, comes home to sleep. He's lost weight and everyone of his siblings are missing their father.

"Nabeela." I lift my head, he's pulling a shirt over his head.

"When are you going back to work?" He asks and I bite my lower lip then lean back on the bed. I don't want to go back to work just yet, especially knowing that Inna Saude is in this house with Maama.

"I don't know yet. I don't want to just leave Maama like that. She needs someone to be with her." He sighs and comes to my side of the bed.

"Beela. Maama needs her husband back. Which is impossible. Inna Saude's presence here isn't very helpful too. That's why I sent for her sister. Her sister would probably know of her pain more and be able to walk through it. Because, honestly, I miss my mother and I want her back." He runs his hands through his hair and rubs down his face.

"I don't know if I should tell you this but Inna Saude told uncle Seidu that she wants to contest Baba's will in court." Adeel's entire demeanor changes immediately and he goes rigid. His shut eyes fly open immediately.

"When did she say that?" I sigh.

"Earlier this afternoon. Uncle Seidu was here." Adeel flies off the bed and I hold him back.

"Beela don't hold me. By Allah let me go. Because Wallahi, she'll return to Chiroma this night. I don't care how late." I hold his arm in a tight grip.

"Please. Don't make your mother more agitated than she is already." Adeel eyes me. I look away.

"I'll knock on her door, bundle her off to Chiroma and Maama will wake up tomorrow to find her mother in-law in Chiroma. I can do it!" He forces my grip away.

I rush out of the bed and pick the pink Hijab I used to pray at the foot of the bed and throw it over my body.

By the time I reach Adeel he's nearly Inna Saude's door. I hold him and wrap my arms around his torso stopping his movement.

" Dan Allah Adeel. Please." He stops and tries to calm himself.

I turn carefully until I'm holding him face to face. I look into his face and watch him calm himself further.

"She needs to go by morning. I swear she'll leave by Morning." He emphasizes on the morning making me heave a sigh of huge relief. Maama can solve it in the morning.

I gently pull him back to our room, all of the fight and anger gone out of him.

"Let me make you some calming tea." I walk down the stairs to the kitchen but stop halfway through when I hear voices.

I turn on my phone's recorder immediately I hear it's Inna Saude's voice.

"The boy isn't even his first son. Hassan was such a fool." He's talking about how Adeel was a test tube baby, who in the whole wide world says that a man that grown and looks exactly like is father isn't his father's son, should the poor boy hear it?

I cup my mouth and increase the volume on my phone to catch their voices well.

"Inna, what am I going to do. Hassan promised me a hundred million before that kidnapping incident. When I asked him, he rescinded his promise." Inna Saude utters a loud, long hiss.

"You'll take it from the money we get from selling his house." I frown.

Inna Saude doesn't have the power to sell the house? So what house is she talking about.

"We'll finalize the rest of the details tomorrow morning when I come here. Once Adeel goes to work, that boy has too much of that witch's character in him. Such an idiot, allowing his mother and wife to lead him by the nose." Anger Wells up in me and I pause and save the recording before climbing the stairs two at a time back to our room.

I meet Adeel tapping his phone, he looks up immediately I come in.

"So soon?" I pull up the recording and start to play it.

"Innalilahi. Ya Allah." He cups his mouth and listens on in silence.

"Inna Saude wants to sell this house. Is that woman mentally deranged?" Tears run down his eyes and I pull him in, taking my phone away from him gently.

"I'll surprise her. Wallah I will surprise her." He barks out a harsh laughter and gets out of my arms to lay down on his side of the bed, shaking with anger.

*******

Hi everyone,

I know sorry doesn't even begin to cut it, that it doesn't mean anything at all. But, I'm sorry.

School is taking like out of me, no one told me third year was going to be this tough. 😪😥😥. But, ejo, manage this small chapter, I'll make a commitment to write 100 words everyday.

And Inna Saude is looking for a beating abi😪? The woman sef don tire me😂😑😑

But, I pray I finish this book as soon as I can. I really pray.

TheOmoope.

P.s: Thank you all for 25k. 💃🏽💃🏽🍾🍾😍😍