ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA.

Fatima moseyed through the doors with her hands clasped around her messenger bag. Groggily, she bent down to remove her wage boots from her feet to allow her toes access to mingle. For some odd reasons she is more tired today than she'd been any other day and the need for her bed is closing up on her chest. She is hungry though, Betsy wouldn't cook anything for them because she lacks grocery and Fatima opted for the next option to come home with the hope that Ahmad made dinner for them and it seems so from the aroma in the house.

Gaining more energy, she threw the shoes around the hallway and walked in with a bright smile, she will get him to give her food or just snatch away his. When she walked inside the dining room and found many medium sized stainless steel chaffing dishes, she let out a hearty laugh of joy before helping herself with the audacity to open it even though the person who arranged them is clearly out of sight. When she saw the feast, she felt this flutter in her chest and her mouth watered instantly. With the thought that she is going to party, she left the dining room to the kitchen to hunt for her husband who happens to bring a gigantic smile on her face after a hectic day.

But she found a woman's back inside the kitchen with her back to her while she leans on the island. Fatima furrowed her brows in curiosity then rounded the kitchen to face whoever the person is that is standing in their kitchen like they own the place. When she saw the side view of the woman before she viewed her whole face, Fatima let out another shriek of excitement and hugged Adda-mama tightly close. The older woman smiled at the girl's excitement and hugged her back, disregarding her off mood and letting a fresh on take over.

Perhaps ahmad is right, she is a good actress than she's let herself take credit for. What has happened with him shall not be revived until they are together again because with Fatima, it's going to be an entirely different conversation, different smile and different questions with far better memories of the past.

"Adda-mama! What are you doing here?" She moved back to access the woman that stood like her mother her entire life. If only she's agreed to stay with heron Minnesota all those years ago, things would've been different.

She didn't want to leave her father's home because no matter what, she feels like her father is where her home is and where her safety lies but after many years of hardly seeing him and getting cold shoulders, Fatima realized she's made a mistake and by then, Adda-mama was busy building up her career as a jewelry designer under her father's company. Fatima didn't want to disturb the woman so she took a break and went touring Europe for a few weeks and she is back to normal. That is before her father came back and didn't inquire about her.

Zainab Babagana is a woman in her mid fifties but she looks not a day older than forty with her small petite frame and beautiful face. Nothing about her would speak that she's suffered because she hasn't, she got everything from her brother in a silver platter as she is the only relative he held dear to him. When Fatima saw the connection between the two siblings as she grew, she was galvanized that her father could feel something sensible for someone then embraced more of the fact that she won't ever get something similar from him.

"I'm here to surprise you obviously but seems like you shocked me with the news of marriage. Fatima and marriage? I was shocked out of my wits to say the least." Adda mama held a brow up as she looked through Fatima's expression which changed from joy to nonchalance.

"It's a long story I don't wish to start talking about until my belly is full. I thought the police man wanted to make the day special for himself." She placed her bag on the countertop and started untangling the mass on her head she calls turban. She's had a long day no cap and all she wants is a long bath, good food and hearty conversation with this mother figure of hers.

Adda mama's hand went to Fatima hair after she's removed it then held the length in her hand with a look of distaste. She knows what Fatima is going through and why her hair is never growing longer no matter what she used. She's tried giving her the hair cream she's used that helped her hair stop breaking and grow lavishly but when Fatima tried it, nothing happened. They've tried every possible thing and whenever she finds something that could help, she sends them straight to Fatima from Minnesota but still the result is as bad as it's always been. The girl is frustrated and from the looks of it, she's stopped trying.

"Your hair is shorter than I remember. How are you coping with the endometriosis? I heard Musa saying something about curing it completely but he didn't go into details." She touched the hair again, it won't even pack itself in a small ponytail now when few years ago, it would've make a ball size of an orange. Gratefully though, the hair is still soft and silky.

Fatima sighed, she doesn't want to talk about her hair at all. That thing is just going to dampen and dim her mood, she hates to go through another phase of endometriosis. "It is amongst the long story we shall discuss later but for now, I'm going to fresh up then come for this feast. Where is the police officer? His car is parked outside. Have you met him?"

Adda mama's eyes assessed Fatima's expression as she talked about Ahmad, she didn't use his name which means they are not really close or Fatima would've given him a cheeky nickname he would hate for the rest of his life but she said police officer. And her eyes lack any spark or interest, there are no emotions in her eyes that will direct her to something. There is nothing between the two but she'd be damned if something doesn't brew up before she leaves. She is going to help the two of them because they deserve each other, they are each other's cure even if they don't see it.

She knows Ahmad's problems likewise Fatima's, there is no better person to rant out their stories than her and when she says they are good for one another, it is true. They don't match in any aspect and they wouldn't have looked at one another twice had fate not brought them together but that is where she is coming from. Destiny had them merged together because the only cure they need is in one another.

"Go freshen up then. It's going to be a long night and yes, I've met your handsome husband. Bring him down with you, will you?" She didn't wait for her answer before she pivoted around to browse through the cabinets, she is not looking for anything as small they need is there on the dining table. She wants to end the conversation with Fatima so they could have a hearty one when she comes down.

Fatima shrugged her shoulders, packed her bag and crinkled cotton veil then make her way upstairs to her room where she slipped into the ensuite for a nice soothing bath. They are working on their last project in school going to mental asylum, meeting some therapists to see how their work is done and so on. Fatima was enthusiastic about the whole process because she likes practicals more than theories, they are more challenging. One of her professors jeered that she should take up medicine after this but she's never had the fetish for being a doctor so she declined without a thought.

Wearing that lab coat isn't in her plans, she just wants to help people with problems like hers and that is it. She's got a surprise she will launch on their graduation day and a few secrets she will reveal that will have everyone galvanized. She grinned underneath the pounding water falling from her head to her toes. The faces of people after she's finished her speech will be worth seeing so she will make sure someone captures their expressions at that time, she would relish on that later on. She cocked her head to the side, the excitement is eating her up when there are few more weeks before that day comes.

Ten minutes into the shower, her stomach grumbled so she reluctantly left the wall mount brushed nickel shower panel and wrap herself in a fluffy fuscia towel. She combed through her night wears but didn't get anything for the weather which is chilly with harmattan knocking on their doors hard. She could hear the sound of the breeze from outside -swooshing, whiffing and whooshing like angry whispers- that promised dusts on their roofs. A punch colored hoodie is what she took along with soft baggy fit sweatpants. She felt cute when she looked at the floor to ceiling mirror hence a small selfie.

Not bothering to dry her hair, she got a comb through it and let it stand at it's end to allow breeze to calm it down then left her room. She's reached the top of the stairs when she remembered her aunt asking her to get her husband when she's done. She scowled, this guy is going to make her late but she reversed and trotted to his room in determined strides, her lips set because something just passed before her eyes yet again. All she could picture as she made her way to his room is her underneath him like those days ago, she gritted her teeth because the image itself made her shift uncomfortably.

For the past six days, they stick to their routine of praying fajr together and when he comes back home from work, he will ask her to recite all the supplications he's taught her. After that is done, he will add a few more dua's and tell her what they are meant for then ask for it again the next day. Fatima never disappointed, she always gives him what he expects and even more sometimes. She'd see the pride in his eyes after each session and when he adds few more, he will find out that she could read them while staring at it but off-head, she needs a whole day to do it. It's hard but she is getting there.

Upon arriving at his doorstep, she pushed the door open and entered the dimly lit room cautiously. She searched the room before she found his lone figure on the bed staring right at her with that passion filled eyes that always undo her. They've kissed almost everyday, a full blown make-out session that will render her knees weak and will leave him in a state of aphrodisiac no one can cool but the source of it. They've also had a few fun of having light conversations and sharing experience about one thing or the other which is why she wants to distance herself a bit from the guy, he is not good for her health.

She is getting way too comfortable in his company.

"Why are you sitting here in the dark when we have a guest and feast? Come on, get up let's go down." She placed her hands akimbo on her waist as she regarded him with chiding eyes. She looks like a mother hen scolding her naughty children.

Ahmad rise, his elbow placed on the bed while his head is resting comfortably on his opened palm, he regarded her eyes subtle gaze that swept from her head to her legs. She knew he found her cute from the way his eyes shifted to that look of appreciation. "The guest is yours and not mine, go down and have your feast. I'm not hungry too."

Fatima sauntered closer to the bed with narrowed eyes and pinched expression of an angry mother. "Don't make me mad right now. How could you be so disrespectful to my aunt? She came here and cooked so much food in hopes to get us have quiet and civilized dinner only for you to turn it down? Not going to happen. Stand up and let's go down there this very second before I lost my temper."

Ahmad regarded Fatima with his self assured expression and eyes depleted like her own. He can't believe for a second there he almost stood up and followed her like a headless chicken. The way she's commanded him, al relaxed and confident. Ahmad never knew he would comply to why Fatima will say but he had to force himself to sit down there on the bed and not jump at her every whim. What have you done to me, Fatima Musa Babagana?

Fatima had obsessed him from the first moment he had seen her in their college. There was no logical reason for it. Fatima was not the most beautiful woman of his acquaintance, nor was she particularly accomplished, he met her as a bully. She was sharp-tongued and opinionated, and her headstrong nature was far more suitable for a man than a woman. But Fatima held that pride on her head like no other person he's seen. She walks with air of confidence that would look hideous and grotesque on any other person.

Ahmad knew that he and Fatima were both too strong-willed, their characters designed to clash. The conflict between them at the jumping course was a perfect example of why a union between them was impossible. But that did not change the fact that Ahmad wanted Fatima Babagana more than any other woman he had ever known, not even his ex-wife Eleanor. Her freshness, her unconventionality, called to him even as he struggled against the temptation she offered. There is something refreshing about Fatima, something he cannot put a finger on.

Not able to fight the temptation, Ahmad snaked his arms and yanked Fatima to him. She fell unceremoniously on top of him and let out a gasping breath, raise her head and glare at him which he replied with a cheeky smile. Fatima blew a breath at the feel of his hard sinew body beneath her, all the hairs on her body stood at attention alongside the peaks on her chest. She opened her mouth to reprimand why he is drawing her and snatching her life a leaf when the pressure of his lips against hers quietened and muted all the protests beneath her tongue. Her eyes closed instantly as a sound remotely close to a moan unlatched itself from her mouth.

His mouth was on hers, gentle, searching, coaxing but sure as he cajoled a response from her. She was filled with instant fever, burning everywhere with scorching fire, helpless against the onslaught of a desire like nothing she had ever known before. Maybe she will never know anything more than this pleasure because Ahmad is the first person to kiss her and probably the last since she has no wish of remarrying in this lifetime. Her knees loosened and weakened like a jelly on plate, skin flushed.

"I can't breath." She drew her lips away from his and gulped down lungful of air while his mouth latched itself to her throat, he found a sensitive place instantly close to her pulse.

Her entire body flooded with warmth, she shivered as her long nails raked through his growing hair. She is breathless and so is he, his breath coming out in short gasps. He's never been this hypersensitive to anyone's touch, his head light as he shivered beneath her. All he wants to do is shred her hoodie and touch her everywhere, he is well aware that there is nothing beneath the hoodie she's draped.

"We have- a guest. Let go of me now." Fatima whispered when he began raising her hoodie to her head. Thank God for the better side of her cranium for kicking her brain and sending the message of why she is in his room in the first place.