ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA.

"I'm going without you." Fatima stood up and adjusted her hoodie, went to his mirror in search of a comb and brought her hair to its standing position. She is still breathing hard, it's taking all effort in her not to use her hand to hold her chest, it feels like her heart is about to wrench away from within her.

Ahmad grunted and stood up, he will have to go with her now that he's kissed her like that. All he wants to do is bring her back to the bed, shred away all the articles obstructing his view and have his way. It makes him hate Adda mama all the more, he would've done what he'd wanted had it not being for her presence below the stairs. He adjusted his shirt too, smooth his hair with his hands and followed Fatima out of the room. He knew why she didn't turn around to look at him, they would've tumbled back on the bed.

Adda mama stood up at the sight of them coming down together and knew instantly something had happened between the married couple. She bite back a mischievous smile and gave a polite one. She's going to get back her acting skills because Fatima shouldn't know that she knew Ahmad personally and something unpleasant had intertwined their past. Ahmad also got into his own act, his face nonchalant as he accompanied the ladies to the dining room. His stomach grumbled albeit quietly, Fatima still heard the sound and turn to give him 'I thought you were not hungry' look with flattened lips. He shrugged.

The whole meal was pleasant except that Ahmad made most part of it awkward and maladroit. Fatima can't help thinking that this is not the way Ahmad behaves with older women, something is not right but what couldn't be right? The other Ahmad would've been all over Adda mama trying to woo her with his charms but this one is just sitting there and eating his food without chirping into their conversations. Maybe he isn't feeling too good, she will have to offer more attention to them and see what is happening.

"I'm going to bed now. Good night." He stood up to leave, dragging his chair back a bit only to be stopped by Fatima's warm hand holding his wrist.

He stared down at her with furrowed brows that created a dent between them. "Sit down and have the dessert. You didn't even eat much of the food and you are hungry. Come on, sit down."

Ahmad gave a sigh before sitting down, not missing the way Adda mama's face contorted into look of surprise then mischief. Ahmad scowled at her, she shouldn't get any ideas in her head just because he complied to his wife's wishes. He is also coaxing and cajoling himself into thinking he is doing everything because he wants to bed Fatima again. There is no other reason why he is all over her, that should be the only reason. Something within told him he shouldn't be deceiving himself and there is something brewing between them that the both of them won't like at the end of the day.

He ate the raspberry cheesecake then stood up and leave, this time around no one stopped his escape. He let out another breathy sigh when he fell on the bed, the day's event dropping on his shoulders like bricks of stones. Adda mama here in Nigeria? Adda mama is actually Fatima's aunt? He's stopped trying to find out what is in store for him for the future, he cannot keep track on the things that could go wrong. He will just let whatever to happen, he can't stress over the future no more. He just wants Adda mama out of his home before the sunrises tomorrow. But with so much excitement portrayed by Fatima, that won't happen.

"What a grumpy rude man." Fatima shook her head and scooped another spoonful of the cheesecake he's left in his plate. There is no wasting of food now that she hardly gets better one from Asabe.

Adda mama smiled and continue to close the food with their covers. Ahmad couldn't even behave well around Fatima which makes her feel more guilt gnawing at her stomach. He really hates her so much that her presence alone is suffocating him. But there was no mistaking what she saw in his eyes when Fatima asked him to sit down and eat the dessert she's made. He can never say no to Fatima, that is something she's understood from that slight gesture. Whether he loves her or not, Adda mama doesn't know but there is attraction that ran deep for the both of them.

"I feel like he is tired from all the day's work. How about we talk while doing the dishes like old times?" She swiftly changed the topic as she arranged the used plates in a pile then started the journey of taking the remains of food to the refrigerator.

As Adda mama do the dishes,Fatima toweled it and keep it aside. None of them could strike the first conversation but they felt it heavy on their heads. They cannot go asleep without discussing what has happened for the past few years that they couldn't share with one another through phone. Fatima have a lot to say to the woman but for some peculiar reasons, the words are stuck in her mouth. All the speech she's made during the dinner in her head just dematerialized like it's never been thought. And she is usually not this nervous about anything, nothing could shake Fatima off her high horse.

Few minutes passed before Adda mama found her voice and broke the silence. "Maah, why are you married to Ahmad if you two are not in love? Did he blackmail you?"

Fatima wanted to laugh out loud at that but she settled on chuckling. "Do you think anyone could blackmail me in this world, Adda mama? I don't think so."

Adda mana shrugged her frail shoulders in answer to her question. She knows how powerful Ahmad is and if he decides to do something, there is no one in the entire world that could stop him from doing so. Maybe Fatima doesn't know the man she's married but Ahmad's connection will surely shock the most influential man in the world. Maybe that is why he is using the disguise of eye lenses to hide away his real identity. That man can buy a whole country if he wants to without having to talk it with his mouth. Few words put in the right place will get him what he wants.

"You didn't answer my question. How did you two end up married when there clearly isn't feelings in this tryst?" She pressed, taking another towel from the rack to clean her hands then place them behind her as she lean her hips against the countertop.

"Your brother decided to get me married to him." Fatima made sure no emotion slipped from her stoic face for she cannot afford looking hopeless and helpless when she is done with her father for good. She won't let the mere mention of his name make her wither like a leaf during winter.

Adda mama blanched in surprise, her mouth hung agape as she stared at her niece in disbelieve. Could her brother do this to his only daughter? Get her married to someone for why reason? He clearly doesn't know who Ahmad is to want to have a relationship with him but what reason does he have for this union? Ahmad made sure there is nothing about him in the internet. Even though her brother is also strong when it comes to pulling strings and offering connection, he won't be able to dig up something Ahmad doesn't want him to. Then why the sudden need for a liaison between his daughter and the ACP?

"Can you tell me why he thinks marriage between you two will work? I can't begin to fathom where my brother's head is and how it works. Getting you married forcefully like that time of jahiliyyah? Is he mad?" Adda mama is enraged, it can be seen all over her face as she breathed through her nose to keep herself from flushing. Her hands are shaking, her nostrils flared and eyes slitted in menace.

"About that cure he told you about. Dr. Mujida said that we have two options. It's either I get married or I undergo surgery that will render me infertile and he made the decision for me before I even wake up. He got me married to ACP and I'm very sure he gave him money before he agreed to marry me. We both hate each other from the first time we met, I don't see why anything will get him to agree to marry me if not money. Your brother, I hate him so much Adda mama." Oh, the hatred is there even before she spurt it out. Adda mama could see the damage her brother had done to this young lady and even she can't bring herself to forgive him. He is an imbecile, not worthy of Fatima.

Adda mama drag her away from the kitchen and together they made their way upstairs without a word. She permitted Fatima to lead her to her room where she opened the door, turn on the lights and sat her down on the bed. She is out of words yet again. She doesn't know what to say to Fatima bout her father's behavior is for it's obvious that whatever he does is for his own benefit but this time around, she is not sure about his motives. Maybe he really wants to help Fatima from becoming infertile after all? But why to Ahmad and not any other man out there? Is there any ulterior motive?

"Dear, why do you think he bought Ahmad with money? Your husband doesn't look like someone that would be bought with few millions." She threaded on the better side again. She didn't acknowledge the hatred of Fatima for her father because she feels like she doesn't have any right to interfere with those emotions. If Fatima says she hates Musa, she is damn sure she has a very good reason to do so.

Fatima's brows furrowed since she's never allowed herself to think Ahmad was bought with money. Why else would he have agreed to marry her when they clearly abhor the mere thought of one another? Her father always uses his money to get what he wants and ACP Al-hafiz is like every other greedy person that exists in the world, especially police officers. They are all money mongers, they want nothing but money since they have the least pay in whole Nigeria serving careers. He married her because of her father's wealth which he is currently bathing in.

"Why else do you think someone like him would marry me? He came from Texas to work in Nigeria! Maybe he found out the pay won't be enough for his lavish lifestyle..." She made emphasis by widening her arms to gesture around the room. "...and jumped to the first opportunity he got to marry me. I've torn his face the first day I met him after our marriage, burned some of his important documents, cut the middle of his hair while he was sleeping, tore his uniform, drop his phone inside water, put a sharp stone inside his shoes. Adda mama, I've done so many things to get him to divorce me but he didn't. Why? Because he is getting my father's money! No man would've endured all that without knowing he can list it out and get something for his patience."

Adda mama's expression showed how horrified she is with the things Fatima had listed. She did all that to Ahmad and he didn't send her packing to her home? And the fact that Fatima believes he is married to her because of her fathers money makes everything far more unbelievable. She can't wrap her head around that knowledge. Fatima is beyond why she's thought but Ahmad's patience is something she never thought was possible. Why didn't he divorce her and send her packing since clearly this marriage is for her benefit and not his? Why is he still married to Fatima? This questioned swarmed in her head without answer.

She'd be damned if she doesn't find out though, blackmail him if she has to. Why did Fatima result to violence? Adda mama groaned inwardly, she didn't teach her any of these things.

"Fatima, why would you do that to your husband? Even if he wasn't your husband, how could you think of burning someone's clothes, documents and whatever the hell it is you've done. That is not right." She shook her head still in disbelieve while Fatima only shrugged her shoulders like it was no big deal. Ahmad really did go through all that during their first weeks of marriage, she's vowed to make his life miserable after all.

"I know your brother will compensate with hefty money. Cheddar is what talks in such matters." What she's done didn't touch her, not at all and she'd do it again and again if she had to. What? She is not wicked, just fulfilling an oath she's taken.

Adda mama banged her head behind her on the headboard. "You are a hopeless cause, Maah." She yawned, her eyes glossed over in process. "I'm so tired and need sleep. Can you go to your husbands room now? I am going to use the room for my stay here."

Fatima's mouth dropped to the floor. Go to her husbands room? Is this woman alright or did the hit she got from the headboard twisted a few nuts where it shouldn't up there? Why would she ask her to go to her husband's room after they just talked about how much she despise him and all the terrible things she's done to him? She intentionally didn't tell her that things are a bit better that they were few weeks ago because she wants to avoid something like this. She is a psychologist, she knew what someone is going to do before he or she does that but the woman shocked her. Maybe she wants her to commit murder before morning?

"Do you want me to commit murder, Adda mama?" The older woman shook her head with a perplexed expression on her aging face. "Then why are you asking me to go to his room after all the things I've listed here?"

Adda mama decided to play innocent. "Because he is your husband? Where else are you to sleep if not in his room?"

"We are not on good terms and we don't share rooms. I'm going to go down the hallway and sleep in another room. Goodnight." She stood up to leave but stopped when Adda mana made a small sound behind her throat that sounds awfully like laughter.

"I've locked all the rooms, dear. Just stay with him for today and we shall see what will happen later on." She didn't lock any room but knowing Fatima, she believes whatever it is that comes out from her mouth and she won't check whether the other rooms are locked or not. Perks of being someone's favorite and most trusted person.

Fatima grumbled and stomped out of the room, her mouth pursed in annoyance. She made it to Ahmad's room, it's dark and she could hear his soft snores from the bed. Had she not being too tired herself, she would've woken him up and ask him to give her spare keys to the other rooms. Instead she made her way quietly to the bed and slipped inside the covers beside him instantly feeling the warmth of his body radiating to hers.

Before she fell asleep, she could vaguely remember feeling his arms around her as he spooned her. Maybe he dreamt that she is close to him? Well, she is not complaining because a body like his is meant to warm and protect someone against the Arctic bite of winter.