He stared at her sleeping frame and his mouth had immediately became dry. His heart was thumping wildly, and he literally had to place his hands on his chest to feel if at all he was dreaming. Iman had never ever felt such an intense emotion because of anybody. Sure, he's had a girlfriend but when she dumped him, he had no need for a woman because his course is a woman in disguise. It gave him all the pleasure he needed at the time.

Her name is Maryam.

He inhaled deeply, hoping his heart would stop this crazy thumping but it only intensifies when he looks at her. She had a bandage round her head, and her braided hair was loose from the middle. It's obvious she had fell. She was lying on her side, she is slightly light skinned, her lips were fully pouted making him swallow. Was he going crazy? How on earth is a girl who he could not see making him feel really uncomfortable. He could remember when Bash had told him, if he feels that way towards a girl, then that person is the love of your life.

He had called Bash a fool and had knocked him on the head. If Bash is saying the truth then this is the weirdest thing ever.

     "Iman" he heard his name being called from a distance. He was already lost in these sudden overwhelming emotions. When a hand grabbed his shoulder, Iman jerked up. He looked up to see the girl's father with an evident frown giving him the daggers. He felt heat crawling up from his neck to his cheeks. It was so embarrassing. The CMD would add pervert to the list of things he hated about Iman and this was just a few minutes into their meeting. He would probably have a whole notebook filled up before the day runs out. He shifted his eyes from her, with a little difficulty.

     "This is Muhammad Iman, Junaid's son, the mighty doctor. He came in today and I am showing him around." The CMD explained in a bored tone. He really doesn't like Iman and he's really not making effort to hide his dislike in front of this man. Iman cleared his throat awkwardly, he refused to give his hands for a handshake, scared the man might turn out to be as mean as the CMD. So, he bowed a little and offered his greetings to the man who wasn't even frowning anymore. He answered Iman's greeting and turned his attention back to the CMD. They kept chatting about how one of his wives is being extremely disrespectful and apparently had shoved her co-wife who is obviously older from the husband's description. Iman knew he should not be listening to their discussion so, he retreated to the door. As he twisted the door knob for his great escape, the CMD caught him and cleared his throat noisily.

     "I have not dismissed you yet, Muhammad" his eyes turning into slits. Iman swallowed hard and nodded. The other man chuckled a bit at how alarmed Iman looked.

     "Let him be Faruku. He's just being modest, he wanted to give us space" the other man had explained but the CMD wasn't having any of it. He nodded in approval of Iman's little escape and Iman bolted out of the room. He came face to face with Bash who was obviously eaves dropping. He dragged his friend away from the door grumbling profanities. They sat on a bench steps away from the door.

     "He hates me. I am staying back in London" Iman stated making Bash cringe. The truth is Bash knows exactly everything going on in Iman's life. It would be heart wrenching for all of them if he decides to stay there. He needed to heal. No matter how far he runs from his problems, he would definitely have to deal with it some day.

     "Aren't you supposed to make the guy see why your father chose you to be his successor? You could change anybody's mind about you in a snaap of your fingers" Bash advised making Iman nod, but he shook his head and didn't say a word. They both sat in utter silence, until the CMD exited the room. Iman stood up from the bench and followed him with Bash from a respectable distance. Their your ended back in the CMD's office. He sat down and cocked a brow when Iman stood in front of his desk.

     "Aren't you going to sit down? Or are you now a body guard?" He taunted much to Iman's frustration. Iman knows this man would taunt him to old age if he does not put an end to his incessant disrespect, so he inhaled deeply.

     "With all due respect sir, you might think I am too young or inexperienced to work at this hospital, you might think I am done undeserving ignorant child pushed under your care by your friend, or think I am just some daddy's boy whose father is hell bent on making him a successor or you might think I am just some pompous brat who wants to show off being a doctor. I can assure you I am neither of those. I know you're entitled to your opinion, but I beg to differ. I am a student doctor who is days away from collecting my license. I love what I do with all my heart, being a healing aid to others makes me elated, infact it keeps me full. I appreciate the privilege that Allah gave to me and I would really appreciate it if you stop judging me just from my appearance and also accord me the respect I deserve so I can do the same" Iman had said calmly making the CMD furrow his brows. He had expected Iman to cower like a wet kitten and run back to the States but with all indication, the child knows exactly what he is doing and won't be scared away easily.

     "I understand you. I appreciate your boldness, it has made like you a little. When you get that licence, be a hero and come down immediately. We could use some fresh blood" the CMD joked making Iman smile. He exited the office and bade the secretary farewell. He expected to meet Bash outside but he was nowhere to be found. He used the stairs as he swiped through his phone. The time is already 5:15pm and his thoughts went to the older man upstairs, If he doesn't plan on being late for his super important journey, he had better start leaving.

When Iman got to the reception and had not caught a glance of Bash, he exited the building and headed straight to the parking lot. The keys are with Bash, but it would not hurt to sit down and think a little before the crazy guy realizes he's left the office a little while ago. He leaned on the car and watched people go in and out of the hospital. He commended his father for building such a gigantic hospital, it's nice that people are really admitting themselves here, it means they do their work diligently and working diligently meant happy and healed patients.

Just then, the car with the young girl as the driver parked beside him, and the same younger girl who seemed to have grabbed Bash's attention almost and hour ago came down. She looked sad, and had wiped her tears before pressing the remote to lock the car. He groaned frustratingly knowing this would have been an opportunity for Bash to talk to her, yet he had surprisingly disappeared from the face of the Earth.

When he saw her with a duffle bag, he realized she is the one whom the older man had stated would be sleeping with the girl sleeping inside. He felt his heart tug, on remembering her sleeping form. This one is the Zarah, Maryam's sister.

     "Quit this nonsense" he had warned himself before stuffing his hands in his pocket. As he looked up, he saw Bash standing in the way of the girl like an idiot. His lips weren't moving, he literally just stared. Iman could see the red light, Bash's heart would be broken if he doesn't say a word. He literally jogged there and smiled at the girl whose frown deepened.

He shove Bash really hard and the dummy beamed making Iman groan. That made the girl smile tiredly. She stared at Bash a little, then she turned her attention to Iman.

     "I guess he's the one who is smitten by me" Zarah had said and Iman nodded making Zarah chuckle. She side tracked Bash and headed to her sister with an evident smile on her face. Iman grabbed the car keys, glared at Bash before storming off to the car.

     "I did not know what to say!" He yelled and jogged towards their car.

     "Get your ass in, let's go. I need to see Islam Mr puppylove" Iman teased and burst into laughter, while Bash got into the car with an obvious frown. He knew her name, but opening up to Bash about her meant telling him about Maryam. He could not trust himself to talk about Maryam without giving a whiff about his attraction towards the girl. So he inhaled and turned on the ignition.
*****

Maryam opened her eyes slowly, the lights were deem so it did not hurt her eyes. She stared at the ceiling for a while, when her vision wasn't blurry again, she turned to her right and then to her left. There was absolutely no one in here with her. She waited for a while, but no one turned up. A pain from the pit of her stomach rolled up to her chest.

She breathed in and out, but the pain wasn't going away. She felt her eyes sting, tears brimmed her vision and she burst into cries. She could not swallow this one, it hurts like hell. How could they abandon her here all alone? How on Earth could someone be forgotten this easily. She let the loud sobs leave her mouth, and tears cascading down her cheeks.

She dragged her hand to her chest where the constricting pain is obvious and tapped on it slowly but it did nothing to change it. She was soon wailing, demanding God take her life and save her the burden of being casted away like a used tissue paper in her mind.

She was so engrossed in her cries, she had not heard Zarah come in. Not until Zarah hugged her before she realized she hadn't been alone.

"Maryam why are you crying? I am here, it's okay. Please don't cry" Zarah chanted allowing her own tears escape her eyes. Maryam hugged her tighter and cried harder. She had never ever appreciated any body's presence like she does today. "I went to get some fresh air, I was here all along" Zarah explained randomly not knowing her disappearance had been the trigger if her cry. "The doctor said it's nothing serious. He stitched and said to keep you under examination for a few days and you'll come back home to us" Zarah explained again trying to soothe Maryam's deepened cries.

After a few minutes, Maryam calmed down and her head started aching. The doctor injected her, and soon Maryam had fallen into a dreamless sleep. Zarah stared at Maryam with so much pity, she wondered how she had stupidly been mean to Maryam all this while, and how she had casted the girl aside. Maryam is the definition of goodness, the girl is broken alright, mentally, emotionally, and ofcourse physically. The scars ok her body inflicted by her own birth mother and some from Zarah's mother. It was like everyone literally dumped the whole of their frustration on Maryam yet the girl had harmed no one, no one at all.

With the sad thoughts, Zarah had slept off. At exactly 1:35am Zarah felt a tap and she opened her eyes slowly. It was Maryam, she had woken up and had seen Zarah in quite an uncomfortable position.
"Come and lie down here, your body might pain you tomorrow" she had advised. Zarah yawned tired and slid into the moderate hospital bed beside Maryam and the two slept off almost immediately.

Back at home, Alhaji Matazu and Mommy had a heated argument. He had been so disappointed in her behavior, and it irritates him how unapologetic she was being about her stupid stunt. Mama had been with him through thick and thin, watching her scrambling to get up had broken his heart. He felt so guilty, because the older woman can easily give birth to Mommy. He had left the hospital after Zarah arrived with the thought of dealing with his younger wife.

     "Are you seriously telling me to leave because of a mistake? Nobody is above mistake and I have apologized for my actions, didn't I?" She yelled exasperatedly. She was becoming really angry at her husband and that older woman.

     "Sorry is not an apology. What is Maryam hadn't been behind her. Do you think she would have survived it of she had hit her head?" He explained for the millionth time so that she would see her mistake, because it is obvious she wasn't. "Maryam and I discussed her change of course. She explained to me that she doesn't want to be a doctor. But an Educational psychologist, so she could fix students who are going through alot at home, but wouldn't be able to say it. Let's face it, being a psychologist in Nigeria is just getting recognized, so she chose Educational Psychology so she could help shape the children's future so that there would not be anything hindering them from success. And I approved her decision......."

     "Why did she not come to me?" Maryam's mother asked feeling a little despondent.

     "Come to you! Don't make me laugh please" Alhaji Matazu stated with no amusement on his face. "Listen, just go home. I need space from you, and all your accumulated negativity. I'll come get you soon" he said exiting her part. Noorie had hidden herself in the adjoining bathroom so she heard everything. When she was sure her father had exited, she came out and hugged her mother. Her mother started crying much to Noorie's pain. The hatred she had for Maryam intensified, because she had successfully been the reason for their separation.

Noorie helped her mother pack, she picked her own box too, even though she hated being at her maternal grandparent's space, she would sacrifice her happiness for her mother.

     "Pick a few things for your siblings too, I cannot leave them alone with that witch. She would kill them for me" Mommy had said wiping a tear. She knew leaving with the children would make her husband call her back quickly.

The Uber came, and she dragged her box with her children threading behind her. They got in and zoomed off to her parent's home. On getting home, mommy fell into the arms of her mother bawling like a child. The children were dispersed leaving Noorie and Aliyah who are old enough to see their mother's displaced behavior.

     "Maryam has successfully ruined my marriage! I told you to keep her here with you but you refused. Now he has sent me out because of her" she had wailed scaring her mother. Her mother has always loved Maryam more than any of her daughter's children. Seeing Maryam in a bad light would be extremely difficult.

     "Where is Maryam?" Her mother had asked, ignoring the statement her daughter had made about being sent out of the house. She knows her daughter could be inhumane towards the girl. Her only question was, what had she done to Maryam that made her husband send her packing.

     "She's in the hospital, mommy push Mama and Mama fell on Maryam. Maryam's head cracked......"

     "Shut your big mouth" Noorie snapped at Aliyah who eyed her angrily before huffing. Mommy had stopped crying now, because her mother had stood still in shock. Her mother chanted prayers in mantra, she had quietly sat down without a word. She prayed silently that nothing happens to the poor girl.

To say she is shocked about her daughter's behavior is an understatement. She knew mommy loved Maryam's father like hell, she knew she had been the happiest while she was pregnant with Maryam. She knew how Mommy could not wait to give birth to Maryam. But when he had died in a ghastly motor accident, mommy did not cry, infact she stared in space for a whole three days. She hadn't even noticed she was in labor, not until she had seen the water trickling down her daughter's legs had she called her husband to come take their child to the hospital. The nurses kept mumbling about how she had been the first woman who hadn't made a sound in the labor room. When she gave birth to Maryam, she refused to hold her or even take a look at her. And when they decided she re-marries she did not refuse. She refused to breastfeed Maryam, so Maryam survived on can milk.

When her mother brought Maryam to their house, she had begged her to take her with her. She had showed her displeasure about Maryam being left with her. She had scold her and dropped Maryam thinking, if she cared for her child, she would fall in love with her. But, clearly that never happened. It's almost two decades and Mommy still habour hatred to the child of her first husband.