ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA.

Ahmad couldn't leave the hospital, not because anything is stopping him. Nothing is stopping him but concern that enveloped his entire being the minute he read what is really wrong with Fatima. He feels like this is wrong. That he should not leave the hospital without talking to her or at least, check whether she is fine or not.

The doctor might've said she is alright but is it wrong of him to want to confirm it with his bare eyes? He shrugged off the thought and opened the car, hurried back to the hospital and the room Fatima was pushed through earlier. Fortunately, there are no nurses to block his way and the guards Musa Babagana is with didn't stop him either. His aunt is also not there, no hurdles on his way.

Pale walls greeted him along with fluorescent lightening, calm enough to not disturb the patient. Instead of that typical hospital smell, the room actually smells nice. Something along lillies and another strong astringent hand sanitizer that the doctor and nurses had used. The alabaster hospital bed is pushed to the wall where a gargantuan window pose.

Fatima lie on the bed immobile in a tight ball. Her knees are close to her chest while her hand is stuck beside her on the bed with a iv. She looks so small and not so eminent which is a side he's never seen. The vulnerability looks like a parody in all honesty. Fatima shouldn't be associated with the word, she wouldn't like it at all.

He stood motionless, brows tight in concentration. He wants to gauge whether she is awake or not. His eyes narrowed for a few seconds before he concluded that she is sleeping. To his right, the bay window is open and sun rays is streaming into the room without obstruction, he made his way there and close the curtains. He stood there for another minute, thinking what the hell is he doing in her room and why couldn't he just leave the hospital after he's successfully handed her over to the doctor? She wouldn't have helped him had she been the one.

Shaking his head, he paced closer to the bed and check out the heating pad across her back, down her spine around her waist. It is turned off which means it is not doing it's job there. Worried that she might bolt awake due to the pain, he removed the one around her and changed it with another new packaged one. His hands swifts and fast.

It was after he's adjusted the last pin of the heating pad that he realized he just opened her back and did something no non-mahram should've done. He blinked, there hardly was ever that time in his life that he lost control of situations. What is Fatima Musa Babagana turning him into now? She's bringing out so many sides of him he is never concerned about which is starting to worry him.

Thankfully, she is wearing hospital shirt that stopped around her knees and trousers that is way too large for him to see anything. He suspire, that was never his intention so he couldn't recall what he's seen while doing his operation. But damn it, he could feel the hotness, silkiness and softness of her skin underneath his palms! His head throbbed from the left side as something overwhelming urged him, he cannot name what it is but he could feel it all around him.

He couldn't stop himself even if he wanted to. That is how Allah has created him, to help anyone while in distress which is something that has been troubling his life. Whether you slashed his body with an iron rod while he stares at you or murdered him, he would still do good to you when you are in need of it. But why does it feel different for Fatima? He's lost the normal mental focus and rationality, just to make sure she is fine. It makes no sense.

Hearing her soft sigh and moan of gratitude and the way she unfolded her long legs on the bed, he knew he had to leave. If she wakes up and find him there, she won't be grateful for what he's done as he himself is not proud of what he did. So with slow tentative steps, he tiptoed out of the room forgetting his catlike grace won't let her wake up.

Out of the room, he walked down the hallway to haunt for a nurse to stay with her. His uniform is getting him awful attention from the sad faces all around the hospital. He knew he's managed to get that from the genes of his father, attention seeking presence and it irritates him to no end. That attention is the cause and main source of the ruined family, nothing could justify otherwise. Bound by emotions, he hastened his pace and changed the scenario in his head.

When he reached the end of the hallway without bumping into any nurse, he read the name of the doctor sprawled on a platelet on the door 'Dr. Mujida' the same woman that checked on Fatima. She should be the best person for him to complain to about the lack of caregiver in Fatima's room. His right hand tightened in a fist, ready to knock on the door when he heard the quiet voice of Musa Babagana behind it.

Curious about this small meeting of theirs and knowing without a tinge of doubt that it is about Fatima's well-being, he checked around the place discretely to see whether anyone is passing by or is staring at him but zilch, it's empty from that side of the hospital. He leaned closer and listened with baited breathe as they discuss about what she's been going through for the last few years and the nonchalance in Musa Babagana's tone.

He only cares about his heir! He has two more children doesn't he? Why too much care of Fatima? There is something he doesn't know about the family he is living with and he'd be damned not to find out what it is.

He heard them talking about surgery and then marriage which confused him. Musa Babagana wants Fatima off his hair and the woman just added more fuel to the fire albeit she is doing it for the sake of Fatima. There is no stopping the man now, he will get Fatima married whether she likes it or not. She is in for it with her father, more heartbreaks awaits the lady. And when he listened to the doctor's reasons, he agreed that marriage is far better than that surgery that leads to infertility when they are not completely sure about the fertility.

"Fatima will get married before sunrise..."

Ahmad swiftly turned around and stalk off the hospital before anyone could see him. His head swarm with different stories and scenarios that should've been illegal and unhealthy to a human's four chambered brain. Seriously though, Musa Babagana is nothing but a beast. He hates his daughter and he makes it look like no secret to anyone.

More stories to dig up about the family, it'll keep him busy while the marriage takes place.

He stepped into the police station, answered a few greetings and make it to his office without inquiring about what is going or whether there is a new case he might be interested in like he usually does. Today, he's got more than a few things to cover up too before the sun sets. He wants to dig out the deepest secrets Musa Babagana is hiding in his closet. Except that it won't be easy, he is no usual man but a reputable one that will throw out any amount to have them closed.

Settling on his swivel full chair, he opened his laptop to start warming himself up only to be interrupted by a knock. Only one person comes into his office so he answered without raising his head to see who it was. Constable Ashiru walked in just like he's expected, his uniform a bit greasy like he's worked in a workshop before reaching the office. It states that something has happened and he would be interested in whatever it is.

Constable Ashiru furthered to his table with this air of thrill surrounding him, it for Ahmad excited and suspicious. Why would he be so happy about any case that is not related to Fatima? He is usually more excited and enthusiastic when it comes to her but this couldn't be about her, could it? She is there lying on a hospital bed fighting for her life without knowing the drastic turn it is about to take.

The constable dropped a new file on his desk, used his hand splayed downwards and pushed it forward to Ahmad's front. On the file, a name is written 'Usman Yakubu Dikko.' A name he knew all too well and has been familiar with it since his arrival to Nigeria.

"What is it about?" He is already opening the file but his curiosity won't allow him to wait and read. Constable Ashiru's enthusiasm is getting to him.

"A girl filed an FIR against him earlier. She claimed that he assaulted her because she wants to expose him. Technically, the lady is his secret hidden wife who is tired of being hidden and wants to blow out. He force fed her pills and drugs to abort the baby inside her. We are now looking for him but he's flew away from the country."

Ahmad don't understand why these rich folks think they can do whatever they like because the law is lenient on them. He cannot have this going around when he wants the country to move. A case of assault usually is a strong one but here in Nigeria, it is like a normal occurrence. Whether married or not married, a man have no right to assault a woman even if she is a madwoman on the streets.

"Who's this woman and where is she?" He stood up, adjusted his cap and pistol behind him in reflex.

Constable Ashiru saluted. "She just left the station but I can call her back immediately. Her name is Bara'a."

Alhaji Musa Babagana sighed in concentration, disregarding his wife's concerned face for he wants to think about this by himself. They just came back from the hospital few minutes to dinner and he is not at all hungry for some odd reasons. He's finally found a good reason to send Fatima away from his roof, he is going to use this chance no matter the circumstances. Fatima won't come back to his house.

Adeelah got tired of keeping quiet and chirped in between his thoughts. "What are you think about so deeply? You haven't told me what you discussed with Dr. Mujida."

"The only option we have now about Fatima's case is to get her married while we can and before her next cycle or she undergoes surgetry that will make her completely infertile. Her uterus and ovaries will be removed to avoid the pain but no baby in future." He explained gravely, his hands clasped and lowered to his jaw to support his lulling head.

Adeelah's eyes widened in astonishment and concern. Why would it lead to this so suddenly? She's been getting about with it for so many years and so suddenly they need surgery or marriage which of both Fatima won't agree with? Tearing her apart will ruin her for eternity but what about marriage? Is it going to ruin her too or she would find change later on?

"What are you going to do about it now?" Adeelah moved closer to him on the resting sofa, hands braced on her two thighs like a student getting scolded.

Musa Babagana gave a shrug of nonchalance, as if he hasn't planned everything all.

"I'm going to get her married obviously and that too before the sun sets tomorrow." His eyes are glazed over but he knew what he is doing.

Adeelah is his wife whom he's married years ago, not because they were in love but because they wanted to help one another. He doesn't mind. He's stopped believing that love still exists and is meant for people like him. He hardly ever gets time for himself, talk less about someone he loves. After his separation with Fatima's mother, there is nothing on earth that will arouse those feelings within him. Not under the circumstances in which they separated from.

But Adeelah is a great wife like her name. She's loved Fatima since the day he told her about his little daughter back home getting taken cared of by nannies. She got desperate to marry him so she can become a mother figure to Fatima which happened but Fatima was a bitter child since then. She knew the feelings of getting abandoned by her own father and mother and the things that haunted her life.

Even after knowing the little bits about their relationship, Adeelah never tried mending their relationship nor mingle herself through their web. She allow him to handle what he wants to handle and abandon what doesn't suit him well. Though she sometimes chirp in her ideas regarding Fatima on what and what not he should do. It doesn't matter since he doesn't listen to her until it meets his own judgement.

He hopes she won't interfere in this though, his patience is thinning and anything she says might be used against her.

"Why the hurry? You still have a month away before her next cycle." Adeelah frowned her brows, desperately trying to see past through his facade and what he is planning.

Musa Babagana shrugged his lean shoulders. "I'm leaving the country in three days and don't know when I'm coming back so I should get this over with before I'm gone."

It is the truth though, he wants to leave not because it is a must for him but because he needs that as backup plan and excuse to give anyone with questions at the tip of their tongues. People will suspect why he wants her married as soon as possible without any reasonable idea. A business deal is what he is going to strike from abroad immediately. Some other useless group might come up with her being pregnant, you never know.

Adeelah's expression thinned at the news. He is leaving the country again not even a week after coming back? This is unfair to her but she will not talk about it for now, she will do so though. This time around, she might just end up following him if he spends more than few months. Whether her sister is here living with her or not, she will leave for her husband.

"Do you have anyone in mind?" She asked, instead of going and surfing through her own personal problem with him.

"I don't have anyone but I think I might as well start browsing through our line. I don't want anyone reeking poverty close to my property or daughter." He made a look of distaste for those plebeians. They were mostly set of shameless people in a sheaf.

Leaning closer again, Adeelah asked with utter curiosity. "Who is he?"

"Yakubu Dikko's son that recently came to Adamawa. Usman. I hope he is still here. They won't turn down the proposal."