100 SENSIBLE comments for the next chapter. Before someone would write the entire alphabet in my comment section. Yes, I've seen all shades of you people. I've seen you finish!

I sha hope you've booked that therapist appointment.

KUBI CALIPHATE.

Life has a cruel way of playing tricks on you. That, Asma Aminu Maccido could testify to.

A few moments earlier, she was elated—over the moon even at the thought that Zayd would be out of her life, and for a split second, considered mending things with Amir Qasim. But just as quickly as that thought came, she was forced to accept it was all just wishful thinking.

That Amir Qasim, her husband whom had made vows to her just a few weeks ago, had went back on his promise and married Hadiza Jalo—the very woman he has assured her that he does not even consider marrying.

A scoff escaped her lips once everything dawned on her, and she found herself standing there, subject of Hadiza's snickers and smug smile, and Amir Qasim's guilt-ridden expression.

"Fulani, please, allow me to explain..." He took a step forward, his hand reaching out to grab hers, and his very touch felt like hot coal, making her instantly jerk away from him, putting distance between them. Amir Qasim's lips curved into a deeper frown at the action, but he dared not complain.

Hadiza snickered at the act. "Trouble in paradise." She had muttered not so lowly, in a song like tone, which they both ignored.

Asma's eyes narrowed at him, her heart hammering behind her ribcage, and the world felt as though it was spinning. She had to clench her eyes shut, her lips folded in as she held her breath. When she felt like she could no longer handle it, she simply turned around, quietly, and made her way back upstairs.

Not stormed, and not sluggishly.

Despite the fragments of her heart that chirped off along the way, she still kept her head high as she ascended the stairs, never once looking back. She heard the two talk behind her, Amir Qasim scolding following Hadiza's outburst, but she put up a mental block, her destination being nowhere but the bedroom.

Upon reaching there, she intentionally kept the door open, not locking it, and instead, stood in the middle of the room, her eyes flicking close once more.

"Breathe in, breathe out..." She repeated to herself, one hand moving to the spot where her heart was, feeling the organ thrum beneath her hand. "...1, 2, 3..." She counted the numbers, her eyes still closed.

"...19..." Her counting came to a halt when she heard the door open, and judging from the heavy footsteps, she already knew whom it was.

She heard his foot steps come to a halt behind her. A beat passed, before his voice came, lower than earlier, almost pleading. "Fulani, say something." She could hear the emotion thick in his tone, the dread, it was there. "Your silence bothers me."

She took exhaled a calm breath, her shoulders slumping before she peeled her eyes open. Her hand dropped from her chest, hanging limp by her sides. "Would you rather I scream, or cry instead?" She inquired, her voice calmer than he'd anticipated.

He shuddered internally at the tone. Her calmness was worse than her fit of rage really. "I'd rather you say what's on your mind." He opted for. "Let it all off your chest. I do not want you to hold things in."

A moment passed, before she released a heavy breath. "If you thought this would make me break then you're gravely mistaken." She had uttered, slowly turning around to face him, and her eyes, they were the coldest he had ever seen them be. "Do not forget, Kassim, I lost my entirely family because of you." Her eyes glossed, but she did not allow the tears to drop. "Is there anything you'd do that will break me further?"

A shaky breath escaped his lips, her words punching him right in the gut. "I know, Fulani. I know..." He whispered, stepping closer to her. He extended both hands, placing them tentatively on her shoulders, "...I know you hate me—"

A humorless chuckle moved past her lips, her hands reaching out to push his off her shoulder, and he allowed her do. "At least you know that much." She mumbled, before her eyes narrowed, and then she found herself asking. "I am curious however, what made you change your mind?"

"Huh?"

"Marrying Hadiza." Her voice had dropped further. "Weren't you so certain a while ago that you'd never marry her? What changed?"

Yes, she'd admit Amir Qasim was no longer the same man she knew him to be back then, but if there was one thing she knew about him, which she knew hadn't changed, was that he was a man whose mind was extremely difficult to change. When he makes up his mind to do something, getting him to do otherwise was as difficult as moving a mountain.

So, what changed?

"Unless..." She continued, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Unless, you'd always wanted to, and you lied to me—"

"I did not." He cut her, his voice firm, and she could see it in his eyes that he meant his words. Believing him was easier uttered than done however. "I never wanted to marry her."

"Then what changed?" She asked once more, her voice raising a bit, and all the emotions she'd been trying to keep in check threatened to spill as she vocalized every thought that had been swirling in her mind, not holding anything back. "When did it even happen? Was it before you sent me here? Or after? Were you already married to her when you came here and said all those things to me?" Her eyes stung with tears once more.

Amir Qasim ran a hand down his face.

She released a scoff. "So, you were." Her shoulders slumped instantly, the realization crashing down on her. "You have been lying to me all this while—"

"I have not—" He shook his head, but she'd cut him off before he could speak further.

"—I don't believe you," She gritted out, barely able to keep her voice down. "I do not even know who you are anything. I do not know if I should believe anything you say because all you've said to me has been a lie—"

He seemed barely able to keep his emotions in check either, but he was doing better than she was. "It's not—"

Her last string of composure tugged, and she was threading on a thin thread. "—Why should I believe you?" She snapped, her anger coursing through her veins. "Why should I believe a single thing you tell me? Why should I trust you—"

"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU, OKAY?" His last string of composure snapped before hers did, and Asma's words instantly died in her throat, because she was not used to seeing Amir Qasim like that. He swallowed a deep lump, his Adam's apple bobbing, before he closed his eyes, releasing a few calming breaths. When his eyes found hers again, they felt too intense, she wanted to cower away. "Because I love you more than anything," He took a step closer, and she took one back.

She blinked.

"Because you're my whole life," Another step forward from him, another step back from her.

Her lips parted, her heart racing behind her ribcage, but his intense gaze held her captive.

"Because my life has no meaning without you."

"Kassim..." She'd whispered almost like a warning as he continued to step closer, and she moved backwards, and she feared how much she had left to avoid him.

"Because everything I have ever done, up to this point, has been for you." His hand moved behind her head, just as she was about to hit the wall.

Asma's head tilted to the side slightly, realizing the position they were in, and her breath got caught in her throat. When her gaze found his again, he was mere inches away from her, and she could feel the warmth of his body, just as intensity of his gaze.

Still, her lips curved into one of those humorless smiles, before she asked. "And was marrying Hadiza also for me?"

Her words threw him off guard, and she could tell momentarily that she had gotten to break whatever spell he was lost in then. She took that crack as her chance to push him away, before escaping the trap he had held her in.

"Tell me, Kassim," She turned around to face him, "Be honest with me for once if your life, would you?" She arched a brow. "You were the one that told me we are old enough, that we should not let miscommunication get in our way. Would you be honest with me this time around?"

Amir Qasim held her gaze for a moment, and she did not miss the way his shoulders had slumped, before he finally confessed. "It happened after you had left," He admitted. "The day I came here."

Her mouth parted, the realization kicking her in the gut.

He married Hadiza the day he came to her rescue, merely a few days ago. The very same day he had uttered all those empty words to her. Everything, his words, his actions—they were all a coy to prepare her up for this moment.

She felt like a fool really to have fallen for it.

But he continued to explain, and she was not so sure she wanted to hear it from him any longer.

"It was just the nikah that took place. The conveyance and all, it hadn't happened yet. I wanted to inform you first—"

"No." She shook her head. "No, Kassim, you never intended to tell me. Heck, you did not even want me to return."

"Fulani—"

"Look into my eyes, Kassim, and tell me that you wanted me to return to Sokoto." She dared, her tone knowing, his voice through the wiretap she'd placed in his office ringing loud in her head, and everything slowly began to fall in place. "You never wanted me to go back, am I wrong?"

This time around, he did not hesitate, "You're right."

She chuckled humorlessly, looking away.

"—because I knew who you were, and it was only a matter of time before the people at the palace find out either." He was quick to defend himself. "I never wanted you to go back to living in the palace, knowing it was the source of your pain. You'd be safer far from the people there."

"That's not up for you to decide." She shook her head. "But you're right, I would be safer without them, without any of you, because I will not go back." Pressing her lips together, "Since we are on the same page, however, I might as well make this clear here, and now."

"Make what clear?" His brows drew in.

She squared her shoulders, masking her expression so he would not see her through. "That my days with you are over." She swallowed down a bitter lump.

He shook his head. "You do not mean that."

"Do I look like I am kidding?" She was not, not in the slightest. "Zayd is out of the image, we have both gotten what we wanted. Now, there is no reason for us to stay together, and I refuse to stay with someone like you that has never been honest with me. And let's face it, Kassim, what you and I have?" She pointed a finger at him, then at herself, "It's toxic, it has always been, and I am so sick and tired of it."

"What are you trying to say?" His eyes narrowed slightly, knowing where she was headed to, but not wanting to believe it.

Her hands fisted by her side, and holding onto his next, she parted her lips to utter the words that felt too heavy, but she did not think twice to utter.

"Divorce me, Kassim." She'd said, unwaveringly. "Divorce me, for I am so sick and tired of all this. I cannot stay with you anymore."

A scoff escaped his lips, before he shook his head.

"Kassim if you care about me even in the slightest bit as you claim you do, let me go..." Her voice dropped, almost pleading. "...please."

"No." His reply was instant, his expression hardening. "You must be out of your mind if you think I would ever divorce you."

"Kassim—"

"You're stuck with me for life, Fulani." He'd vowed, and she knew right from the look on his face that he meant ever word. "You'd only ever be my wife in this life and the next. No matter what. You made your choice to marry him, and I have made mine to keep you."

Her heart sank, her shoulders slumped. "Kassim, please. I cannot do this anymore." Her voice broke, her eyes glossing once more. And it took everything in him to stand his ground, but he would not save in, never, over this. "I am tired. This is all too much." Her hand went to where her chest was, "I feel so suffocated."

She was not sure how long she could stay strong. She'd done so this far, now, everything felt too much. Could she keep up living like this? No. That was the answer, she could not.

"Fulani, you can hate me. Call me selfish. View me however you want but," He exhaled a loud, determined breath, "But I will never let you go. Ke matata ce. And I will not be foolish enough to lose you."

"Kassim—" She ran a hand down her face, barely able to hold her tears back. She knew she was seconds away from collapsing and breaking if he kept on going like that.

"You're hurt, and exhausted, I know." He cut her off, sounding calmer than earlier. "I'd give you the space you need, as much as you want, I won't suffocate you. But," He raised a hand, "Never, and I repeat, never, bring up divorce to me again, because it won't ever happen. The earlier you accept that, the better." He took a few steps closer to her, making her turn her head away.

His hand reached out to take a hold of her chin between his index and thumb, forcing her head around so her gaze found his.

His voice was low, and grounded when he added. "You, are Amir Qasim's wife. You're my Fulani, and one day, you would be the Sultan's Fulani, just as you would be the next one's mother. My heart is yours; my body is yours, all that I ever possess has, and will only ever be yours. That will never change. I know words won't ever be enough so I'll spend the right of my life trying to make it up to you, I promise." His heart ached seeing the tears that spilled down her face, and he wiped them away with pad of his thumb. "I am sorry."

Asma felt more tears stream down her face, making her instantly turn away once more, pushing him away. "Leave," Her voice was hoarse, seconds away from breaking down. "I don't want to see you. Please just...leave me alone."

He suspired, but nodded regardless. Quietly, he turned around and walked out of the room, leaving her alone.

Asma waited until she heard the soft click of the door behind him, before she collapsed on her knees. The scream that tore past her lips was immediate, loud, and paralyzing even. It reached his ears as he descended the stairs, and his knees weakened almost instantly, his heart feeling as though it was being pierced by an arrow.

He knew one thing then. At that moment, he was the one that had hurt her the most.

He'd hurt his Fulani.

But that still wouldn't make him divorce her. Never.

~*~

Karima, whom had gathered her thoughts, had come to accept the fact that she was married to none other than Tareeq—the same man she'd been crushing on all this while. The soldier, and the prince. She was his wife.

It felt surreal that she'd made up her mind to ask him about it when he came back home. However, for the first time since she was brought into the house, she'd put some effort into dressing up for him. She'd rummaged through the outfits that had been brought to her by the maids, looking for the most representable ones.

Truth be told, she couldn't pick initially. They were all too good. But she'd been wearing the abayas, she thought of wearing the atampha for a change. And so, she picked it out—the leaves patterned olive green atampha sewn into a straight, short sleeves gown with a cape-like blouse on top, reaching her knees. After showering once more to get rid of the food scent on her, she changed into the outfit, tying the head tie in the same manner she watched Asma makes hers usually.

It took a few trails, but she managed to tie it, or at least make something that resembles it.

Picking up a veil to match it, she completed the look by spraying perfume and slipping into some shoes.

By the time she was done, she heard the sound of cars pulling up outside. She glanced through the window, her gaze falling on two cars that had just pulled up, and soldiers spilled out of it. Her husband caught her attention, standing at the center of it all, instructing the others. His assertion stood out in the way he spoke to them, and the way they all dispersed to carry out whatever task he'd assigned to them.

She drew her lower lip between her teeth, almost wiping away the lip gloss she had on, before a smile made its way on her face. Seeing him make his way into the house, she quickly turned around and rushed out as well, composing herself once she reached the stairs before she appeared like a messy teenager in front of him.

Her heart fluttered, the butterflies in her tummy having the time of their lives as she descended the stairs, trying to make herself appear as composed as she could be.

She spotted him as she neared the final steps, he'd stepped in with two others, speaking in hushed tones. Her shoes, though flat, still elicited enough sound to announce her presence, and when he tilted his head up, their gazes clashed.

Blood rushed to her cheeks, her smile widening.

Tareeq arched a brow in question, before dismissing the men quickly, whom turned around and vacated the place, leaving the two alone. He closed the distance between them, going to stand in front of her.

"Is everything okay?" He'd asked, almost tenderly with knitted brows. It was a rare sight to have her smiling that brightly at him, it took him off guard. His hands had reached out, almost instinctively to take a hold of her arms, and her heart fluttered at the action.

She looked down at his hands, before finding his gaze, and for a moment she mentally scolded herself for not noticing it early. She should have known from how he was acting.

Instead of the endless istigfars she'd been mumbling these past few days however, something in her heart bloomed, and her smile reached her cheeks.

She parted her lips to break the news. "I—" Her word were cut off midway by the sound of his phone ringing.

He pulled the phone out with one hand, as if to end the call, but upon noting the caller ID, his expression changed.

"Is something wrong?" She inquired, glancing at the phone.

He pulled himself away, but she'd already seen the name. 'Asma'. She frowned, one person instantly coming to mind. Before she could confirm if it was who she thought it was however, he'd quickly excused himself, ignoring her words, before bringing the phone to his ear.

All she caught from the conversation as he walked away were a few things.

"...calm down and stop crying, okay? I am coming over. We'd figure out what to do then..."

Karima blinked, watching his retreating figure as he disappeared behind the doors he'd came in, till his voice could no longer be heard. Her heart squeezed, an unwanted thought crossing her mind but she pushed it away. Instead, she'd worried whether something had happened to Asma—she did hear him say something about her crying.

Could it be that something has happened to the Princess?

Then again, they did not seem close in the slightest. So, maybe it wasn't her.

But if so, then which Asma could it be? Was it some other woman that had him worried?

Her train of thoughts were cut short when the sound of the front door opening came once again, and she looked up immediately, expecting to see him return, her smile had returned. However, it disappeared just as quickly when her gaze fell on the person that came in, someone she'd never expected to see then and there.

Her lips parted as the woman approached her, going to stop in front of her.

"Karima, right?" The woman had inquired; her lips curved into a seemingly permanent smile that had Karima instantly wary. "I'm not sure if we have ever spoken before, but there's plenty of time for that now that we're part of the same family."

Karima's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You—"

"Hadiza Jalo," Hadiza had introduced, her shoulders squared. "Daughter of Sardaunan Sokoto and soon to be Zinariyar Sokoto. Amir Qasim's second wife."

"Wife?" Karima's mouth fell open. Was the woman being delusional? When did that all that? Then again, she seemed sane but could what she said be true? Karima thought they were over those rumors phase long ago.

Then what was this woman spewing then?

"That's not your concern for now," Hadiza waved off, "Point is, I am here to help you."

"Help?" Karima arched a brow, her voice low. "Why would I need your help?"

"Because like I said, we've both married into the same family." Seeing the surprised look that took over Karima's face, she then added. "Consider it a peace offering. I know you're Tareeq's wife, and that you really like him. So, I am trying to help you keep your marriage, before someone ruins it for you."

Karima's eyes narrowed slightly, wondering where the woman was headed to. It was question enough that she knew of her marriage when she only found out that day, but what was this she was saying about saving her marriage?

But then, Karima was curious, and as such, found herself asking.

"Who wants to ruin my marriage?" She figure it would not hurt to hear the woman out. Besides, she was not stupid enough to sit and watch someone ruin her marriage, especially not after she'd never dreamt of getting this far.

"Who else?" Hadiza's smile morphed into a smirk. "Uwar dakin ki. The same woman you've been slaving away to, Asma. Tell me you weren't curious seeing the way your husband rushed out once he'd received her call."

"How did you know that?"

"I know a lot of things," Hadiza's smirk widened. "And I also know that if she wanted you out, she'd make him do that. Haven't you wondered before why she was so much against him and you being together?"

"That's because she cares about me."

"Oh, no, no, no." The woman tutted, shaking her head. "It's because she wants him to herself. They have history. And let's be honest, do you really think she, a princess, would allow you to be on the same level as her after you've slaved away your entire life to her? Haba Karima. Tell me you're not naïve enough to believe that. Ai nasan kinada wayo."

A scoff escaped Karima's lips. "And why should I believe you?"

"Because I have nothing to gain out of your marriage of course," Hadiza shrugged. "Asma however, well, I guess you'd better see these for yourself. Since you believe they do not know each other, then explain these pictures of them together on countless occasions." She extended her hand out to Karima, who took it cautiously. As the younger woman watched the string of pictures, sure enough of the two people together at various places, she felt as though a bucket of ice had been dumped on her. Hadiza took that as her cue to add. "How would you explain these pictures then? And him rushing out instantly on her beck and call?"

"These..." Karima's voice was almost in a whisper when she looked up, her gaze finding Hadiza's. "...where did you get these? Why..."

"Because they are lovers." Hadiza blurted calmly, "Or more like, were lovers. Asma, the woman you've trusted all this while, and your husband, Tareeq, were lovers. You've been played, Karima."

****

Anyaaaa Hadiza Qarshen ki Zaiyi kyau kuwa??? Anya????? Ke ba shedan ba sai hada fada anyhow.

Wait seff, what did Asma do to deserve this from you ne kam??

Kai Kuma Kassim ya haka??? You've broken our Asma! Hankalin ka ya kwanta?? Iye Nace hankalin ka ya kwanta????

Ah, see me see person o😭

Kai but Asma I feel for you. Sorry ehn Mamana, a qara haquri, auren kenan. I bet you didn't expect this when revenge blinded you to agree to marry the werey.

Amma lai yanxu Kassim this is how you want us to live with Hadiza? Haka Rayuwa Tace? Shikenan we are not your wives??  Toh ai hikenan .

Toh jamaa this is where I leave you guys. I'll be awaiting my comments.

Love, Jannah Mia.