Hmmm!!!
I finished writing this tune Dazu, but my data no gree. Saura kadan na haqura😭
Anyways y'all!! Prepare your hearts!! It's not for the fragile. Get your popcorn as well.
Also, my comments!!

What happened after Asma received that phone call was pretty much a blur to her. In her mind, deep down, all she could think about was the urgency in the tone of the girl that called her, and judging from it, she knew she had no time to waste.

Suddenly, the people around her blurred, and whatever was going on in the Sokoto palace did not bother her in the slightest. The gossipmongers that are the maids, the not so innocent guards watching everyone's move, the calculating and cunning royals that all seem to have a beef with her, and her husband, whom she was starting to have trust in...they all blurred in the background.

Asma had no idea how she made her way back to her room, rummaging through he belongings as she pulled out a suitcase, and then began to dump contents in it. There was nothing orderly about her actions. Her actions were fast, impulsive, almost robotic and subconscious. She'd grab a handful of clothes from the rack, unbothered to remove the hangers, and then dump it into the suitcase with the sole intention of packing up the clothes she would need for her trip.

She grabbed whatever her hand would, her eyes blinded as her mind raced with thoughts of what could wrong, of everything that could go wrong actually.

There are so many things that could wrong within a few seconds, or within one.

Everything could be gone, lost, and reduced to smithereens.

Her fingers fumbled with the zipper of the suitcase as she tried to close it, her movements sloppy, and her mind a mess. She could not even grab the zipper properly, her mind not there but not being able to do such a simple action made frustration bubble within her.

A pair of hands reached out and took a hold of hers, halting her actions but she tried to fight against it, her mind set on one thing either.

"I cannot stay here." She mumbled to herself, shaking her head repeatedly as she tried to pull her hands away. "I need to leave, now...I have to. There is no time to waste." She was out of it, not knowing what she was saying or what was going on exactly.

A familiar suffocating feeling began to brew within her, her chest suddenly feeling tight, and her airway clogged. The familiar feeling of panic attack began to set it, and the realization had her nearly hyperventilating.

The hands holding her unsteady hands left, moving to the side of her face, grabbing it and forcing her head up. "Princess..." Amir Qasim's voice came through the fog of it all, his voice sounding so distant and his face, too blurry for her to see. "...look at me. Look at me." His tone was firm, holding her face steadily despite her body shaking.

She shook her head, her eyes blurring with unshed tears as her hands shook. "I can't." She breathed out, nearly choking on her words. "I need to leave. I cannot stay here. It's my fault. I need to leave..." Her mind was anywhere but the present, not knowing what she was saying, she could only mumble her inner thoughts, her words, merged together barely making any sense.

And even amidst that turmoil, Amir Qasim was the steady, trying to keep her bring her bac. "Focus on my voice, Princess. Snap out of it." He brought his face near, his eyes desperately searching for her.

His voice started becoming clearer to her, sounding nearer than it was before, and she could almost make out his face beyond the blur of it all. Still, she was lost in that loop, that her mind could only think of one thing.

"It's my fault." She muttered, choking on her tears. "I—It's my fault he's like this. He cannot die. If he does, he won't let me live either." Her last words were a mere whisper, but the intensity behind them was almost as much as the one that made her body shake so much.

Amir Qasim's voice came again. "Take a breath, okay? Focus on me, it is going to be alright. Breathe in, breathe out."

Asma blinked a few times more, his face finally coming to sight, and she tried to focus on his voice, and his actions.

"Breathe in...breathe out."

She repeated the action after him, mimicking his pattern as her body began to stop shaking, until she was no longer a mess, and was instead, left with the startling realization of what greater turmoil her life was about to fall into.

Her eyes glossed with unshed tears, holding onto Amir Qasim's, she found herself saying, now very much aware of her actions. "I need to go there," she said, her voice clearer, and a bit more composed. "I need to go to Kubi, now. I cannot stay here any longer." She was also vaguely aware that she could not up and leave without him knowing, as much as she wanted to.

And she was so close to doing so really. She might have even done so, if he did not show up.

Amir Qasim's tensed shoulders slumped a bit seeing she was no longer having the attack, and seemed to be aware of her actions. Releasing a relieved breath, he responded to her earlier statement. "You will." He assured her, one of his hand dropping to shoulder to give it a small, assuring squeeze. "I have had Khalifa book the earlier flight for you, and Karima back. She will accompany you."

She shook her head. "I cannot waste any time." It would be faster to fly there, but she could not sit and wait. She'd rather drive there if she has to.

"Your flight will take off in thirty minutes." He said, his gaze still holding hers as his expression softened. "I have the driver out there waiting as well. You will reach the airport by then."

Asma released a breath she did not know she was holding, feeling a bit better, relieved that he had thought ahead and planned that because she was too much of a mess to think of anything. In that moment, her usual composure was thrown out the window, because in that moment, she was living in the probability of her worst nightmare becoming a reality.

Of what could happen if Baba, the only one keeping things in check back at Kubi, passes away.

Chaos would reign, and she would be on the receiving end of it. Badly so.

The mere thought of what chaos awaits her back there had her eyes glossing again, a distant look taking over her features. Memories played in her mind, her heart aching with each scene that unfolds in front of her eyes, her mind taken back to the past.

Her future might turn out to be worse than that.

Amir Qasim, upon noticing her being lost, shook her shoulder. "Hey..." His voice softened, leaning down a bit till her eyes found his, and then he asked. "...what's on your mind?"

She swallowed down a bitter lump, her hands curling by her side. "He cannot die." She breathed out, feeling the tears sting her eyes once more, seconds away from spilling. "Baba can't die." She shook her head, a single tear slipping out of her eyes.

Amir Qasim's expression softened even more, reaching a hand out to wipe away the tear with his thumb, his touch light on the skin of her face. And then, wordlessly, he unfolded to his full height, using his other hand to pull her close to him, until her face was resting on his torso, and his arm went around her.

His embrace was warm, his cologne momentarily easing her racing heart. In that position, she too, could feel his heartbeat. It was strong, firm, and seemed to be racing as fast as hers. Or was that all in her head.

His hand that was around her patted her back lightly. "It will be alright." He assured her. "I am here for you. You're not alone."

Was it his words? Or was it the assurance behind it?

Amir Qasim has been all shades of weird recently, and she has been cautious of him entirely so.

However, in that moment, she did not have her guards up. In that moment, she chose to trust him. To trust his words, to find ease in it.

The knowledge that she is not alone, for once, eased her mind. It was even more so since it was Amir Qasim she had on her side. In that moment of vulnerability, she wanted to trust him—not that everything will be alright. No, the worse is about to begin.

What she wanted however, was someone that would have her back if so happens. And Amir Qasim is that shield, and that stability. In that moment, he was the only one she could see herself falling back to, and the same place she hated the most.

Who knows? If she lost Kubi's protection, Sokoto might be her safe zone. It is the only place she has otherwise.

Amir Qasim's hand on the back of her head grounded her back to the present, and she found herself letting go. Her shoulders slumped, her eyes momentarily closing as she leaned into his embrace. She was not hugging him back, but his arms around her was more than enough stability.

Not long after, the two found themselves making their way outwards, where the said car he mentioned earlier was waiting for them outside. Karima stood by the car, with her small, and only bag in her hand as she awaited the Princess. And the moment her gaze fell on her, her own expression mirrored Asma's—partially knowing what would occur in Kubi as well, and dreading it.

Asma did not shed a tear, not since after that first one. Instead, she has masked her expression, Amir Qasim's secure hand holding hers grounding her from floating in the orbit of worries and dread.

There were two cars there, one for security and the other being the car she would get into. Khalifa, and Sakina were there as well to see them off—all of them having their curious eyes on the couple that walked out hand in hand. Asma's suitcase already placed in the car.

They came to a halt in front of the car, and Asma turned around to face him.

"Call me as soon as you get there, okay?" His voice came, serious, and his eyes, a silent storm as they held hers. And yet, there was this delicateness in it that made her heart squeeze.

Asma offered him a small smile, along with a nod. "I will." She swallowed down a lump.

Amir Qasim's eyes searched her face for a moment, as if wanting to imprint every inch of her into his mind, before he leaned down to press a feathery kiss to her forehead, making her heart flutter once again. His kiss lingered a few seconds, before he pulled back, his eyes finding hers again.

"I will come see you soon." He promised.

Once again, she could only nod, her smile widening a bit more. "Alright. I'll get going now."

"Go ahead." He gestured to the car.

She pulled her hand away from his, turning around and getting in. Karima got in through the other door, and once she was in safely, Amir Qasim's gaze found hers once more, offering her a small, assuring smile before he closed the door.

The two cars set off, the one belonging to the security setting off ahead, and the one with the Princess following behind—all the guards stopped what they were doing and wished them farewell, throwing prayers and farewells her way as the cars zoomed off until they were past the gates and were no longer in sight.

Once they were gone, Amir Qasim sighed, then turned around and made his way back into the house, making a direct beeline to his home office. The door did not even close behind him before it was pushed open again, new footsteps storming in. He need not turn around, he already knew whom it belonged to without doing so.

His brother's raging voice followed behind him. "What the hell did you just do?" Tareeq's voice came, rushed, and forced.

Amir Qasim made his way over to his chair calmly, before he settled down on it. "What does it seem like?" He looked up, and found his brother's gaze. "I sent her back to her home."

"The hell you did." Tareeq snapped, barely able to keep himself calm as he stared at his brother in disbelief. Running a hand down his face, he exhaled a loud breath, trying to keep himself calm but it was proving to be a difficult task. He found Amir Qasim's gaze again, before he then said. "You know more than anyone what is going on there, and what? You're just sending her away?"

"What is going on here?" Another voice came, as their brother stepped into the room, his gaze calmly shifting between a fuming Tareeq standing, to the unbothered Amir Qasim seated. "What are you talking about?" Sadiq inquired, having heard Tareeq's voice all the way from outside the room as he was approaching.

Tareeq swallowed a bitter lump, before he turned to face Sadiq, giving him an answer. "He sent his wife back home."

Sadiq's brows drew in, "And so? I thought her father was sick." He stared between the two brothers, particularly at Tareeq, wondering what the problem is. "Is he supposed to keep her here?"

"Oh, for fuck's sake, Sadiq." Tareeq hissed, his teeth gritted as he stared at his younger brother, wondering if he could hear himself well. "Don't you know that stone brother of yours by now?" He gestured to Amir Qasim. "Do you think anything he does is a coincidence?"

Sadiq's frown deepened if possible. "What are you..." He trailed off, before his eyes widened, his mouth falling open a bit as realization dawned on him, and then he too snapped his gaze in Amir Qasim's expression. "Do not tell me you had anything to do with the Calipha's state?"

Amir Qasim gave him a pointed look. "Of course not. What do you think of me?" He eased back into his chair. "All I did, was send a daughter to see her sick father. I'm giving them back their daughter."

"What do you mean by that?" Sadiq's eyes narrowed, hoping it is not what he is thinking.

"I mean," Amir Qasim stated, ever so calmly. "She is not coming back here. Ever."

"What?!" At this rate, Sadiq knew his mouth would soon drop to the floor. "Yerima, tell me you're kidding."

"Does it seem like he is?" Tareeq exhaled a harsh breath. "He," He pointed at Amir Qasim, "orchestrated all this, do you not get it still? To appear as the perfect husband in front of everyone. Now, after the stunt he pulled earlier, who would believe he would harbor any ill feelings towards her, huh? Who would?"

"Still," Sadiq breathed out, with a shake of his head, his gaze falling on his eldest brother again. "She is your wife. You cannot just, get rid of her."

"Watch me." Amir Qasim's gaze did not waver for even a split second as he stared at Sadiq, his expression turning back to the usual cold one they all knew him with. "My wife?" He chuckled humorlessly, the sound sickening to both of them. When it died down, his expression turned ice cold again before he continued. "Was I the one that took her as my wife? Or was it not my family that arranged it."

"Qasim..." Tareeq called out in a warning tone, addressing by his name for the first time since he was given the title of Dan Iya years ago, now dropping aside the formalities as he found his gaze. "...do not do something you will regret."

"Never." Amir Qasim shook his head, unfazed in the slightest. "I am merely done entertaining her. She's had her fun, done whatever shenanigans she wanted. The Imam Hamza issue," He pointed out, "Allying with Gimbiya Umma, poisoning herself, pitting Giwa and Gimbiya Umma against each other, everything. Does she think I do not know what she was doing? Do any of you really think she is innocent? She is from Kubi after all, she is that monster's sister, and I will never accept someone from that family. Never."

The two brothers kept shut, learning of the details that left them conflicted.

But Amir Qasim was not wavering in the slightest, his gaze arctic cold to match his tone when he continued. "She wanted to play? I allowed her. But, I do nit have time to waste entertaining her shenanigans.

"She trusted you." Tareeq's voice was low, but the raging storm behind it was unmistaken. "That moment you two shared outside," He saw them, he saw everything. "She trusts you, Qasim. How could you do this?"

"That was her own choice." Amir Qasim's calm demeanor remained. Then, he scoffed. "Why would I ever want someone like her? Please." He shook his head. "Like I told you, I am done entertaining her. Now, things become real. And she, by whatever means I can, will make sure she never returns to this palace ever again." He was determined to make that happen no matter what, and he would.

Worst case scenario, she disappears completely.

And if that happens, no one would blame him.

Why? Because everyone in the palace now is a witness to his affection for her.

Who would suspect the loving husband would have anything to do with his wife's disappearance.

"If the Calipha truly passes," Amir Qasim continued, "This is where it will begin. I will ensure he never ascends the throne. I have enough evidence against him now." He found his brother's gaze. "This is the moment I have long waited for—to bring him down."

"Still," Tareeq exhaled a breath. "Isn't it too cruel to involve her in this?"

"Consider her collateral damage then." Amir Qasim said coolly. "No one cares about her anyways. Isn't that why she acts all high and mighty here? She is just as insignificant there as a speck of dust. Her disappearance makes no difference there, and neither would it here." He shook his head.

The two brothers exchanged a look, knowing there truly is no talking him out of this. He has made up his mind it appears, and there is no turning around.

Unbeknownst to them however, there was someone else aware of their conversation, having heard every single thing, word by word.

Asma, in the confines of the car as it drove to the airport stared outside, her eyes glossed with tears and her heart hammering behind her ribcage. Amir Qasim's voice flooded through the Airpods she has on, hearing the recording straight from the recording device she set up in his office. Her hand fisted by her side, her nails digging into her palm as she drew her lower lip between her teeth.

His next words shattered her heart.

"What do you do to useless things?" His voice dropped. "You get rid of it."

A tear slid down her face, followed by another, and more came pouring.

Amir Qasim has finally shown his true colors at long last.

And she, after all, turned out to be nothing but a speck of dust in his eyes.

In his words; useless.

***

I don't think I have anything to say😂

True true na ammilolo_ motivate me to write this chapter😂😂

She said Jannah don't be wicked.

My brain smiled😂🌚 you know the rest.

But wait wait waittttttt

I thought you wanted enemies to lovers now😂 ha!

These two there's no going soft. It's like they don't want peace either. Trouble here trouble there 😭

Amma yanxu Qasim haka ake😭 we are going to Kubi with a broken heart😭

Hmmm

Fear men. They will always be what?

Wicked!!!

Amma Qasim I trusted you!!!!

Chaiiiiii

Ni I don't have anything else to say.

This is where I leave Una.

Mourn ehn, sorry sorry.

Sorrow sorrows, prayers🫢🙂‍↕️

Don't dream of Kassim.

Please no trust men again, don't fall in love. Stay single.

Love always, Jannah Mia.