KANO STATE, NIGERIA.

"I think I'm going crazy now, Afi." Amirah gulped, dropping herself on her mattress coming back from the palace all stressed and tired to bones. She even forgot to remove the takeaway of food from Uzair out of her bag, too slothful for that.

Afaf's face pinched with worry, she stood up and took the bag from the floor, taking out the takeaway pack and smiled widely. Today Uzair made her favorite then, spiced Lebanese kebab. Since the first time she tasted it few months ago, she got hooked and crossed her fingers all the time hoping he will do it soon and he did that thrice already. She's met the man and all she could say is Masha Allah, his wife is one lucky woman to have that man. A cook and beautiful face? Totally her dream for a guy.

She got back to the matters at hand after serving Najla. She could've sworn to hear the fear in Amirah's voice albeit not the one to get off her mavericks. "Why do you think you are going cuckoo?"

Amirah licked her lower lip, traveling down to what has happened that day in the office with Imad and her stupidity. Since the day she's flirted with him, she didn't do anything remotely close to that but the pinch is always there inside of her. Imad is taking everything from her sanity leaving her bare and vulnerable to his bites. Nowadays, he is always on phone with Usayma and it is getting underneath her skin. She made sure to interrupt whenever she could or leave the room if possible.

Does he know about her feelings for him and is doing this intentionally? Because seriously, he wasn't like that the first few days they were working together. It seems like she is burdening him now at work, he answers her with this hesitation and tinge of pontification which irked her beyond words. It all started because of her! Why does she have to open her wide mouth to compliment him despite having such horrendous past with him? She was stupid and still prepubescent.

If he knows about her feelings for him now or her eyes are betraying her to show it, then he is going to make it abysmal. An arsenal of pain is waiting for her if that is the case which she wants to desperately say she is ready for but she is not. How could she be? The pain she's endured for three years or more is enough to render anyone weak on the knees. She feels like there is no pain more pinnacle than the one she's gone through all alone by herself and still is.

That pooch again in her chest, the one that is trying to tell her to consider what Imad has gone through after she's abandoned him but she is focused on herself. The pain, the avalanche of it and the days she's spent on bed and in nothing but throe. But then, she is sure Imad had it rougher and tougher.

"It's Imad." She gulped, holding Najla closer to her as the little girl nip on her own kebab, smearing it all over her face and curly hair. "He is confusing me but most importantly, my love for him is at the point where I can't even hide it from him. I am sure my eyes are all lovey while staring at him all the time. I cannot help myself at this rate, Afi. I thought I had it all reined but clearly, that is my own imagination. He will definitely use this against me. Afi, I love him so much that it hurts." Deep breaths released. "Do you understand what that means?"

Afaf stopped kebab midway from reaching her lips after hearing what she's talked about. She is definitely in love with Imad, that is not news but to the point where she can't hide it away from him now? This is definitely news to her and not good one, a really disturbing one at that. Some might think this is histrionic but it is not, that is the reality of them now. This is one of the sporadic moments Amirah opens up to her so she will make use of it good.

The kebab fell from her hand back to the takeaway pack and she yaw around to look at her younger sister with eyes filled with comfort. "First, Ami, tell me whether there is any chance of your marriage getting mended in future. How many decrees was cut then? You never talked about it with anyone since you came back that night." Afaf crossed her arms over her chest, sure her appetite will be gone till the matter is out of the way.

Amirah stopped blinking or removing the debris of kebab off Najla's face and think back to that blessed or in this case, cursed afternoon her marriage with Imad got severed. He did say he's divorced her, she is not sure whether it was completely broken but he sure said the word divorce that night. His eyes were so mad at her that she didn't concentrate much on what he was saying only heard the divorce echoing inside her head. 'I divorce you!' But no one, two or three so there might be a chance right?

That silver lining huh?

"I don't know but I am sure it wasn't completely shattered beyond repair." She blinked back her tears, their marriage is definitely intact and nothing anyone says will shatter that truth she is holding.

She will get back with her husband even if the odds are against them!

"Then I will advice you to chase this love you have for him to the best of your ability. I've seen how you withered those days without him, I don't want a repeat of that. Go after what you want and don't let anything hold you back. Talk about your past, make sure to make him understand everything you are saying and what he means to you. But be careful, Ami. I don't want you hurt neither do I want you sitting idly and watching the love of your life in someone else's arms. If he knows your reasons, he'd accept you. I won't say it is going to be easy from this point onwards but just keep hoping and never fall down. Focus on your goal!" Afaf sighed, she is really going to endorse her sister in this in anyway she can.

She deserves this happiness even though it is just an ounce of it, she does deserve it all. This is something beholden and meant for her but at this rate, she is sure Amirah will have to go through so much to get what she wants. Thank God her sister is no quitter, she will fight till the end is knocking her off her feet. It is just a matter of time before she finds her own oasis but she hopes that is going to happen soon. It shouldn't be delayed!

Amirah beamed for the first time in a very long while and watching Najla smile back at her with utter happiness shining her eyes, she felt more motivated. This is her chance to get her husband back and won't make any mistake this time around. She will make sure all ways of mistakes are blocked and walled away from her life. She has more reasons behind what she did and if he'd listened to her few years ago, they wouldn't have been where they are. But seriously, she wouldn't have told him about it those days.

Even now, she is not sure whether she can explain everything to him and if he'd understand why they did all they did. What happened then was supposed to be top secret between her mother and her. Her mother took her promise by taking it to her grave. She is supposed to do that but her love life is currently at stake. Does it even exist? Would he understand her point of view or just judge her like everyone would?

The Imad she's known would understand but this one? She won't say anything about him, he feels and looks different from every angle and aspect. Even the semantic parts she thought were frivolous are now not so quibble. This Imad might downright repudiate and she will have no right over him to force him to listen. She's wanted to tell him everything with time but she is not ready then and now too. He deserves the explanation albeit he'd label it as eclectic now.

God, this is going to be harder than she thought.

"We ain't gonna give up, huh?" She kissed Najla's cheek feeling the taste of kebab there but she didn't care.

Najla smiled in that breathtaking way that makes everyone's heart stutter and come to a halt then she answered as if she knows what she was talking about. "No give up!" She gave a toothy smile after talking in that mellifluous voice of hers.

Amirah's smile widened at the girls words taking it as a sign universe is showing her. "Never"

*~*

"Good morning, Mr. Imad. I've arranged the files on the desk like you've asked me to yesterday and forwarded all the crucial emails to you." Amirah greeted as professional as she could when her boss walked into the bureau.

He is exhibiting this tanned William Westmancott ultimate bespoke one button lapel suit, crisp chocolate dress shirt and matching tie. His Italian onyx cap toe bals shoes are making this elegant tap on the floor. She gulped down her breath, forcing the compliment from rushing out of her lips and only tightened it short. She is now desperate for his attention and she is afraid her reaction don't hide that much as she would like. He wouldn't respect her after that.

God, this is so freaking harder than the further maths exams she's had to write all those years in highschool.

"Good morning, Ms. Adam. And thanks for arranging them, I was thinking the whole time here. And I'll get down straight to the mails." He gave her this smile that almost genuflect her but she stood straighter, holding the edges of her desk to steady her suddenly wobbly legs.

She cannot stay there for her sanity is on the brink of rolling down the floor and one more smile from Imad will have her rushing over to him for a bone crushing hug just to feel those strong arms wrapped around her in a warm and safe cocoon. She does not have the right to do so, legally or illegally. While legally they might just be married, illegally she's broken the guy's heart to think about being all comfortable with him and cozy.

She jumped off the chair as if injected then gave a sheepish smile when his attention yank to her. "Can I go get something to eat? I haven't had breakfast and I'm..." He dismissed her with a wave of his hand and she gratefully ran out of the room to take deeper breaths.

God, what is wrong with her? She bowed down a little to sigh then straighten her spine and decided to go see Lateefa. She is the only one that could help her at this rate, not even Kamilah's good advice will work. She needs to do something crazy and the only cuckoo person she could think about is Lateefa.

"Ah, I feel like a celebrity today. Niall Horan just left my office." Lateefa laughed at Amirah's confused gaze before beckoning her closer to sit on her desk while she stood. "Don't mind me."

Amirah scoffed. "You are always confused with your life." She stated the irony, it sounds more like her than Lateefa though.

"Tell me about it." Lateefa shrugged, playing with the penholder on her desk before bringing her minutiae eyes to her friend again seeing that something is clearly wrong and written broadly on the tension marring them. "Spill it out. What happened or what is about to happen or what do you want to tackle?"

Amirah sighed, of course, Lateefa will understand when something is wrong with her. "It's about Imad. I need help."

Lateefa stood straight, her arms under her chest to scrutinize Amirah. Her fingers are twitching on her thighs, her movements repetitive. She has this willingness to do anything and everything to get Imad, no matter how crazy and stupid it might look. She doesn't care about society's values, morality or good judgment. And she does not care how others feel as long as she gets what she wants. As long as Imad is by her side, everyone and everything should be disregarded since they can take the world.

Her lips are chapped and dry so she is constantly saturating it with her spittle. This excessive and manic energy is rolling off of her.

"Spit it out, Amirah." This tone is ladened with business.

It is now or never. "I love Imad, so much." She looked around as if someone is listening but no one is there. She just don't want to see the look in Lateefa's eyes whether negative or positive. "I want to get back with him no matter what. I don't care if it's going to be something crazy and stupid, I'm ready to do it all. Just tell me what I should do." The vulnerability, desperation, and emotion-choked voice gave everything away.

Lateefa knew about the love the duo have for one another, she just don't know where to start from. Imad clearly loves Amirah but something happened in Italy that she wants to find out because after that, Imad was a bit distant with Amirah and her topic. If Amirah is willing to make the move, then Imad will be easily triggered inside their lair. This should be good arrow, they should bring Imad's love and reawaken his heart.

Maybe, just maybe, they might be able to hold the last edge of real love in the world and think Cupid didn't forget about them after all.

"Go after what you want, Amirah. Confess your love for him and try your very best to get him back under your wing. It is not like he loves his wife, so this should be easy. Forget about everything else, focus on your own feelings and how beautiful this might turn out to be. Put in your head that Imad has been yours from the beginning, this won't be less than a challenge. But you will have to be strong." Lateefa dropped her hand on Amirah's tensed shoulder like a suffragette.

Same advise uttered to her by her older sister only different words used here and there. Then so be it, she will get her husband back in her arms come what may!

She left the office with determined footsteps at her wake. She inhaled through the nose and exhaled through the mouth. Her movements are precise, back pushed back, and posture strong. Her chest is fluttering in giddiness of what she is about to do, her muscles tightening in anticipation of what is to come. Lips pressed together firmly, she made it back into the bureau where Imad is still working on the aforementioned emails. She moved closer to the desk and stood right in front of it, only the desk obstructing the two from being inches apart.

Imad slowly rose his head to look at her questioningly having felt her presence back in the room and in front of him. His eyes shoot wider when all he could see is the vulnerable Amirah he's been with those years ago. The one he fell in love with and the one who had no maverick bone in her. He blinked twice then snapped the back of the mountain pen he was holding in between his lips in thought. He is patiently waiting for her next move which came seconds later.

"I am still in love with you, Oreo!"