KANO STATE, NIGERIA.

Amirah placed the last cutlery on the table with a wide smile present on her face, she asked the other maids to rest while she does all the work. She played the I didn't work all day so this is my time to do it and they agreed , who wouldn't. She just wants to serve the whole food to him, her ex husband who is now her master and boss, she can't help wanting to please him. The mere mention of his name have her all giddied up, she can't help it now.

Was it her coffee that brought all that out of him? She can't be all too excited, for all she knew, he's been eating that his whole time there because he also loves avocado like she does. She cooled off a little and stood by the side waiting for the couple to come out but only him did after few minutes. He is now dressed in his favorite set of sweats which she helped him choose years ago. A white shirt and grey sweatpants that tightened more around the thigh.

Jiham move ahead and serve him the food then return back to where they are, right beside him so he won't have to call any of them if he needs their service. She knew Imad don't like the maids in the palace so this will only make her feel more safe, he won't think about them. She held her breath when he took a spoonful of the food with mostly, avocado shining in it. He took it to his mouth and paused just when her heartbeat terminated, she couldn't breath anymore and waited.

And then he exploded after everything has settled in his stomach, he stopped breathing too and if his eyes were in front of her, she would've seen just how much yearn it is in his eyes and how everything is all back in the past and not present. It was his memory with Amirah when they were eating avocado by the side of her house without anything and she smeared hers across his once smooth cheeks. A ghost smile appeared, he's missed that innocent Amirah.

"Usayma!" He suddenly called out, startling all the maids standing beside her, she included. Her eyes widened, afraid he'd ask for her and her façade will blow.

"Coming, babe." Her voice called out from their room then she walked out featuring only a white towel around her. Her shoulder length hair falling softly behind her which means she's blow dried it.

"Oh, the food is read..." Her words trailed off because her mouth suddenly got closed by her husband's lips that descended on hers.

Usayma knew there is something that brought out that reaction from him and that is nothing but another thought of Amirah. They do have intercourse from time to time but whenever the thought of Amirah comes up, he is more urgent like he wants to wipe away her existence with just her lips. Usayma is already used to his rough ways so whenever he comes to do that, she likes it when he is like that, she must admit that.

He drew her closer to his body, their lips smashing into one while their teeth and tongue clash as they try reaching a lane that hasn't been drawn. His lips kept on smooching hers, her hands trying to catch any piece of clothing she can use to make sure her legs don't give up on her. Usayma keep on clinging on to his neck, not caring that they have audience, she just wants to satisfy her husband not to forget that she's been aroused since he shouted at her in the morning.

Amirah felt like vomiting, she wants to throw up all her guts, the chips she had earlier with them Kamilah is suddenly at the pit of her mouth. She swallowed harshly while closing her eyes to keep away her thought from running wild, to make sure she is not seeing what is in front of her. Her first husband kissing his new wife right in front of her while they don't even know that his first wife is in front of them, seeing everything. Amongst the maids.

The girls are squirming beside her but they can't keep their eyes off the couple, they look to be so engrossed in their open sex. Amirah only felt disgusted, why are they staring so hard at them like that? Amirah can't even stomach the thought of them together but they have tainted her mind already with the picture of them kissing, making out in front of them without shame. Usayma is only wearing her towel for God's sake! What is it they want to prove like that?!

Seeing as she can't stay there, she feels super asphyxiated with their contaminated relationship, she left the dining room and followed the way to the kitchen that leads to the backdoor of the backyard she spent her first and last morning married with her husband. A place he made just for them but they didn't even get to stay there for more than a day, she couldn't hold back the vomit so she move to the flowers and threw up everything she has in her stomach. Even the expensive lunch she had.

"Why?" She cried out to herself through crooked breaths, her eyes staring into the darkness in depression. Her shoulders are sagged, as if the tiredness of those three years is rolling off of them.

Just after she feels more good, twenty minutes into letting all those tears fall down her face like a damn sluice broken, she stood up and made her way inside. She hasn't cried in a long time and it feels good letting all of it down, allowing them to roll and rock. Ha, if only those tears could also wash away her regrets, she would've been pure of any guilt by now. And the heartbreaks too, they wouldn't have been there. So fresh and frJihan

But look at her there hiding and ruining her makeup and façade all together. Why is she even feeling bad when they are being all lovey dovey with one another? They are married for goodness sake while she is not with him anymore, divorced and away from one another for more than three years all because of her! She does not have the right to wallow there in self pity when she brought this upon herself, no one else did it for her. She sounds pathetic actually.

"Where have you been, Ameena? Their Highnesses took it to their room finally and we are dismissed for the night." Jihan explained as soon as she sighted Amirah walking back inside with a plate so they won't think she went to do something. She's closing her face with the veil, her makeup running down.

"Oh, that's very polite of them to do." She rolled her eyes, feeling the irritation chirping inside her voice so she cleared her throat not wanting to rise any suspicion from this very intelligent woman Jihan.

"I know right. It is as if they wanted to make love in front of us but thankfully, her Highness threw a plate and that is when they remembered about us." Lubabatu walked inside the kitchen while fanning herself with her hand in an exaggerated way. Amirah smiled a little at that, Lubabatu is what she is.

"You wouldn't have commented if they were going to do it, Lubs. Don't pretend to not like the free show you've watched." Mansurah laughed, joining them inside the kitchen with Aidah right behind her smiling mischievously.

"Well, that was freaking intense I tell you. From the looks of it, the prince is one heck of a beast in the bedroom." Aidah laughed loudly, eyes shining with mirth not knowing Amirah is quietly fuming inside ready to blow up.

"That is not appropriate to say about your master, Aidah." She couldn't keep it in so she blew out, her hand flying to close her face as she takes deep calming breaths. If she doesn't take control over her feelings now, she will definitely lose her head in process and everything will be ruined for her. She still have some more time in the palace, she can't risk it.

"Whatever. Let's leave now before we start hearing what we shouldn't." Mansurah put the last plate in it's rack before making her way out of the kitchen and chamber all together the others following closely behind.

"Aren't you going to Uzair's today?" Aidah furrowed her brows when Amirah said she will be heading home. She usually goes to Uzair, get her food then she leaves for home with it. They know her condition back at home and support her thoroughly.

"I don't feel like going there today, besides, I'm sure Afaf is full so is Najla. My regards to him please." She smiled at them then hastily made her way to the gates, a long trek there but she was in a hurry and didn't want them to see her runny makeup.

As soon as she arrived home, she washed her face right outside the house from a tap connected to their house before walking inside looking utterly tired, depressed and dejected. First day of working two jobs and her head is about to blow off as if she's been working for a long time. This is not what she wished and totally took her by surprise. She never expected her day to turn out like that but look what Karma is doing to her.

First, she met Imad as her new boss making all the thoughts of her getting hired at the end of the day fly out the window. Also the fact that he didn't acknowledge who she is made her chest ache in a way she cannot put into words. All her insecurities are now coming out to play a role, she's always been insecure right from the beginning. It has always being Imad who tells her how amazing she is and once upon a time, she overcame that insecurity but not anymore. She can't say anything about that now.

Second, she met her two best friends from highschool and even reconciled instantly showing just how true they are. Fortunately, she didn't have to say much about what happened the past three years as they understood her more than she thought they would. It makes her feel more guilty and dirty. It will always be her fault! She ruined everything that is perfect with her own hands, she does it herself right from the beginning!

And third last but not the least, she had to watch Imad making mouth love with Usayma! It was something she wished can be unseen by her but sadly, that is a nightmare she will have to keep living with. She works as their chambermaid after all! She thought cooking for him like the old Amirah would make him happy but seems like it did the exact opposite. There is no doubt now, Imad has moved on and she should also do that same thing for both their sanity.

There is no use bringing up the past now, is there? Then again, she won't ever be able to forget Imad in her life for the guilt is gonna eat her whole. They need to talk about it before they move on, she cannot do it for the life of her. She needs his forgiveness more than anything in this world!

"Why do you look so dejected? Something happened in the palace?" Afaf furrowed her brows, staring at her younger sister who keeps sighing and looking down at her feet in utter dejection. She don't like seeing Amirah like that, it touches every crevice of her chest.

"Afaf, do you think I'm strong?" She inclined her head at her older sister but her eyes are staring right at a sleeping Najla cocooned in a thin blanket, all they could afford.

"Is that even a question, Ami?" Afaf gave her the 'are you serious' look before deciding to boost her little sister's confidence. If not her then who? "Ami, you are the strongest person I know in this entire world. Don't think I'm saying this because I'm your sister but from a point of view of a lawyer. You've gone through so much at such young age but still push through and move on like it never happened. Failed marriage, lack of parents, wealth and even shelter. You handled everything more than anyone of us could, not even Ya Arwa could do what you did. Ami, I don't know we where would've been had it not being for the sacrifices you've made for us and for standing strong. You worked in disguise to feed us, bare the insults, handle the royalties and now even your ex husband and his new wife. If you aren't the definition of strongest role model, I don't know who is. So please, don't ever feel down about yourself."

"You are all we've got." She drew her into a hug, tucking her head to her shoulder like she's done before but not in three years. The Amirah she's known drastically changed into a woman who does not need sympathy but now, she is at the verge of breaking too.

"I-I needed that." Amirah stuttered, eyes getting misty all over again but she won't cry again. She's cried enough, it is time to be more tougher and set her life straight.

All she needs is her family by her side and she's got them.

"Hussy, why are you here so late?" Afaf asked, hearing the small taslim coming from the door and Husna entered holding a white plastic bag with triple A logo on it. Everyone knows what that triple A logo is for, an expensive store that opened recently in Kano by one young millionaire from Lagos, Aashif Ameen Ahmad.

"Long story short. You know that man I told you about? That Abdul-malik? Well, he brought this and I'm afraid of taking it to grandma so I'll let you guys have it and take little with me to show her. If she sees this much, you know how old-fashioned she is. Once he comes to greet her, I'll start taking everything be brings but for now, please have this." She place the plastic bag on the floor and started removing things one after the other.

It was a whole packet of KitKat then Maltesers followed right after before diary milk, snickers and some other different types of cookies. In the other plastic bag, there are different types of expensive perfumes inside that they could only let their mouth hang. Amirah blinked at everything there not because she's never seen them all but because she is finding something fishy with this guy they are talking about.

Men are difficult creatures, when you start opening up to them, they let you down and Amirah is just not feeling this so called Abdul-malik guy from her bones. Why would a guy buy so much things for someone he hasn't talked about marriage to? Especially nowadays that men always wait for their reward after being nice to a woman and giving her gifts. They want something in return, not all but most of them.

"Husna, are you sure about this guy? I mean, don't get me wrong or anything but the stories I've been hearing nowadays is quite traumatic that I don't want you to go through it. From this little gifts, he will start asking for something in return though you're a big girl and know what you are doing. Just be more careful, hmm? Talk to him about marriage and see how he responds before you jump into anything." Afaf took the words right out from Amirah's mouth and she nodded too.

"And I'm not even ready for marriage o. I mean, I'm going to write Jamb, Waec and Neco this year so it's gonna be hectic for me." Husna sighed, she don't want to entertain men right now at this stage where she is scooping out her future.

"Good, he should give you space and if he is serious, he will definitely come back when you're done." Afaf patted her shoulder before taking half of everything and gave to her. They can't exactly pick more than she wants, grandmother or not.

"It's too much, she'd ask questions." Husna whined, keeping more perfume for them but Afaf shook her head, she won't have it too.

"Say what you want to and even lie with my name but we won't take no more. Use them for your exams." She chuckled when Husna rolled her eyes at that, how soothing is that.

"Goodnight but if you don't see me in the morning tomorrow Ya Ami, know that grandma has killed me already." Husna grumbled and rushed out of the room to their own flat while hiding away from her brother. She don't want him to find her holding such expensive stuff, he'd know right away what she is up to.

Who guessed AAA? AASHIF AMEEN AHMAD is my protagonist in Dared to love, just a glimpse...