KANO STATE, NIGERIA.

Amirah's date is in about an hour and minutes and she is currently trying to finish the last touches of everything in the chamber. They were working the whole evening, cleaning and arranging places because the female royals are going to visit Usayma in her chamber the next day for lunch. She's obediently asked whether she should go there to the main chamber but her royal majesty was having none of it hence, asked them to make everywhere look spotless.

"Do you think she is here to inquire about our marriage?" Usayma had asked Amirah when the news of her royal majesty wanting to have lunch with her other daughters in-law in her chamber reached her.

Amirah mulled over why the woman wants to see Usayma and that too in her chamber with other royal princesses. As far as she knows, her majesty Hajiya Karima is a very nice woman and is never vile only when it comes to her duty. She does not hate Usayma, she is very sure of that and was only mad at her son for what he's done -something she found out just recently from the son himself. So this might just be a harmless lunch of getting to know each other and welcoming her into the family.

Amirah hates the sound of it, she abhor the mere meaning behind this lunch in her chamber. This was supposed to be her home, with her kids and husband building perfect family not for some foreigner who is clearly not in love with him -do not love one another- to reside in and get welcomed so warmly. She swallowed a lump.

Every inch of her space in Imad's life is getting occupied except his heart which she is ninety seven percent sure she won't conquer.

The cacophony of the whole situation makes her feel awkward, as if her cover is blown already and they are doing this intentionally to hurt her. She wants to see how this is going to end and gladly, the next day fell on Sunday and she is not needed in the office. But what if one of the princesses point her out? Not everyone is dumb and blind to makeups, some could see right through. She cannot risk it, decision of adding more makeup and stay shadowed.

How did everything reach to this? Where had everything gone wrong in the plot of her getting back with Imad? Because he is ready to allow her in his heart anymore?

"You shouldn't worry, I think it's going to be alright. Her majesty is a nice woman so she probably must've forgiven Imad and is willing to welcome his new bride." Amirah reassured halfheartedly. That is the last thing she wants to do but she is Ameena not Amirah.

Usayma gave a suspire filled with relief and hope, as if her words were the her pain reliever. "I hope so, I covet that, Ameena. Now let's finish everything."

"Why are you in a hurry?" Aidah sighed in a hurried breath, pushing her hands to her waist so she could take a deep breath. She just finished sweeping underneath a chair.

Amirah bit her lower lip, knowing everything she sprouts out is going to be a lie and it is getting to her. She does not want to become a liar but circumstances won't just have it. She's been abstinent about it but you cannot hold back for when your entire existence is all a charade that doesn't exist.

"I am going to meet my mother's younger brother tonight. He leaves this night and he wanted to see me to discuss some issues regarding the family. I don't want him to find out that I work here, he will take away all the money." Her voice took that edge of pain that sporadically emerge.

Aidah's face became sympathetic and she patted her shoulders. "Her Highness already know about you so I think you can ask her permission to leave early today. Those uncles are always not nice."

Amirah thought about it, she could take advantage of being close to Usayma for once and leave for this date with Nazir. She is willing to give him a chance since he's been insisting for weeks already. He told her he was serious, she spiel everything to her sisters and Husna one night and they think she should give it a shot, especially Afaf.

She's heard how unmovable Imad has been to all her persuasion so she wants her sister to be happy and moving on is the root for it. If he does not want to listen and find out what has happened, he is not worth. No one is perfect, her sister wasn't too and she was just trying to make the bad good. The polemical conversation they had last was also a root that they should stop harrying him once and for all.

Nazir might be a rebound but if Amirah is willing to move on with him, they will support her hundred percent. She will ask the girl to tell him everything and hopes he won't dump her like some others. Some men want their women perfectly clean and clear, a shiksa too. While some despise the mere mention of a divorcée or widow, she hates those kind of men with every fibre of her being. But Amirah is beautiful and young, no one would even suspect a thing.

She is not about to let her commit another mistake though, their relationship won't be based on a lie or deceit. If Amirah won't tell him, Afaf vowed to do so one way or the other. Her sister can't ruin her life while trying to save other's, it is not worth it anymore. The inauguration of this conjugal will have to be in her hands, not Amirah's or their dead mother's!

Nazir deserves to know about every step she's gone through in the past couple of years. The seriousness merged to this new found relationship seems to be leading to a marriage and that is exactly what she wants. A marriage filled with love, trust and sympathy. Every mundane thing about Amirah will be known to Nazir and the rest is for him to acquiesce if he still wants her or not.

It's better for them to clear the air before things get far and they won't be able to erase all the traces of fraud. If Amirah were to get another divorce from Nazir, her life will be over through and through. Some might even say she is cursed and never to be blessed with good marriage. Many things will be thrown their way but that is beside the point. The point is, Amirah will break if another marriage of hers got broken into smithereens. That is just a fact.

And her job there is to stop that before it ever happens, she doesn't want to even think about that happening to her baby sister.

She got galvanised after hearing her sobriquet from Lubabatu. "Meena, pass me the mopper bucket!"

Amirah did as she was told then made a move to find Usayma and ask for an early leave when Imad walked in, his suit out of the way from office but manage to look extra handsome. It reminds her of when he asked for the woman who cooked his meal that day, they pointed at Jihan and he only nodded and left. She begged them beforehand not to say it was her, that she is afraid something might go wrong and her siblings will suffer so Jihan took the whole blame for her like true friend.

He trudged inside the chamber while giving weird glances at the stampede maids and disarrayed room but didn't utter a word. It was straitjacket, he had to move through the royal couches to get to his bedchamber while answering their greetings in a pontificate manner that Amirah always loved. She finds it hot and thrilling when he is all aristocratic and presumptuous.

She didn't find Usayma so she explained everything to the other maids and left the chamber hurriedly. They promised to back her up and say she suddenly got sick, her menses decided to visit at that time and all that lie shits. She appreciates everything with hugs and ran out of the chamber straight to her home deep into the ominous obsidian sky. She was afraid shitless but made it back anyway, she knows the place like the back of her hand

Even forgetting to collect their meals from Uzair but fortunately, Afaf got something covered. She brought samosa and momos they made in her friends house, they can have that for dinner.

"You are late!" Husna is already inside the room and exclaimed as soon as Amirah walked in.

Her heart dropped for she was galvanised out of her wits, she had to drop her palm to her chest to stop it from stampeding again.

She glared at her when her heartbeat got back to normal. "Stop talking sporadically like this or give me heart attack one of this days. I have no money for hospital."

Amirah strutted inside the room and gave Najla a big hug and kiss earning giggles from the little infant. "I miss you, Naji!"

"Me more." The girl giggled again, pushing her small body into Amirah's in comfort to both of them. Amirah felt all the days arsenal trouble slowly dissolving into the embrace.

After a few minutes, she moved away and gave the infant a kiss on her oily cheeks -from the samosas and momos- then place her back on the floor to continue eating. She even offered her some but she shook her head, her date is in twenty minutes. There is no much time left for her to stay there and eat and gist with her niece and sister and tenant's granddaughter.

"You won't have to take any bath, it's already so late. Just step into those clothes over there without any complain." Husna acted like a boss, folding her hands underneath her bosom in that 'I won't take anything other than obedience today' way.

"Roger that!" Amirah rolled her eyes but did as she said anyway.

She took the Ankara from the table Afaf use to study and made it behind the curtain -a tattered wrapper hanged- to get dressed. She is almost same size as Husna, no she is actually bigger than her emaciated and svelte self but the clothes is one she sew few eids back which means she can't wear them anymore. It fitted Amirah perfectly even leaving some spaces blank and off any skin to close and fill it up.

The Ankara has this colour combination of orange, golden, navy blue and tinge of white. It is sewn into a gown, flay one with pockets but looks awfully good on Amirah as if it was made for her. The head tie is quite large too so she beamed and gave Husna to tie it for her in a fine turban. Who doesn't want a large head tie. She can't do that thing to save her life and if she does, she'd look like she is ready to pound okra by the sidewalk, seriously. She's never been happy wearing Husna's clothes, she feels beautiful.

Both Afaf and Husna are staring at her strangely but there is no denying they felt happy the girl is finally excited to do something. The last few days had been anything short of depressed, sleepless, pensive and zombie looking Amirah. Behold, she forces a smile for the sake of Najla but other than that, the woman was a shell of love and rejection. She was more guilty than ever.

Replaying all the polemic conversation she had with Imad that blessed morning in his office was depressing. The plethora of guilt that rolled on her shoulders rendered her weak for most of the days but she pushed forward like she's always done. She was all philistine and ribald which was something they never wish to see. She is crying inside and there has never been anything more disheartening than that.

They almost made the decision of going to talk to Imad themselves -though Husna don't know much about the truth likewise Afaf- but refrained when she told them all about Nazir that same night -the only time they get to talk due to her busy schedule. She said he's been nice to her and even told her he is willing to marry her anytime if she wants. She didn't give him an answer but when he asked her on a date, she accepted.

He made her feel beautiful again, like she is worth all the trouble. He's dotted over the places she land her feet on, became a slave for her and there is no way she could turn down that act of kindness after a long time. He won't allow her to buy lunch or go home with her legs, he'd call an uber for her. There are times she thought he would capitulate, he never did and never once complained about her not giving him her all. He is being so patient with her.

Imad's love is corrosively eating up her heart but she will give him every other thing he wants. Her freedom, her loyalty, her sincerity, body and soul. If she cannot give her heart, she can take it serious like he is doing and be honest with him which is something she is about to do. She won't tell him more than he deserves to know but enough that he can decide whether she is the one or not. She won't hide a thing from him, never again.

"You know what to do right, Ami?" Afaf asked, giving her sister a once over. It's been so long since she looked this good and beautiful in Ankara. They are always tattered beyond repairs.

Amirah licked her lips only to earn a quelling glare from Husna for taking quarter of the surfeit lipstick she's applied on her lips. "Yeah, I understand and know what to do. Don't worry, I'll be okay."

Afaf's eyes teared up at the thought of this not working out, she'd be doomed forever. She don't want her sister facing more hardships and rejection, she cannot face another breakdown from Amirah because she is sure the colleen might not even wake up. She wants this to work out for them with Nazir, she wants him to be the man Amirah deserves. She'd be damned if it fails, not only Amirah will go down, they all will.

She gave her a hug, a comforting big sister one. "I'm proud of you and whatever it is that happens after this, is meant to happen. Just have faith that everything is for the best whether good or bad, Allah is there and knows what is better for us. He never sleeps, Ami, He never does."

Amirah almost teared up but put her big girl panties and gestured for Husna to bring Najla and they should all join the hug. And she felt safe, happy, complete and whole. With her family by her side, nothing could ever go wrong at any point.

So she left the house to the car waiting patiently for her outside, a white 2020 Hyundai Elantra, she almost peed her pants. The car is so beautiful and standing there in their plebeian area makes it stand out but panic took over hoping none of those area boys sighted the car and decide to pay a visit. She hurriedly settled inside the car like she was chased and didn't even bother looking at the person inside till the car started moving.

Totally unaware of the person following them behind in another ebony car, discrete enough that they didn't notice it in the dark. This person is going to be following each of their moves from now till he was asked to stop. No one would believe who asked him to do such a job but he will do it for the myriad moolah he'd get from this job. Follow then around, keep close eyes, report back to the anonymous person immediately.

It was supposed to be only the girl but now, the man is entailed.

Jannnnah, can you see what I did there? I'm trying the anonymous stuff😹 It might make sense shaa.

Anonymous o, who is it again?