ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

"I hate these freaking minions! Why the hell do I have to walk around with them not because I want to? They are just reminding me of how much I hate my housemate!" Fatima's ever proliferating hatred for Ahmad showed briskly on her face before it yawed depleted again.

Betsy pivoted and perused the situation but didn't find anything offensive as the two police officers are minding their business in casual clothing though the first time they came few weeks ago, they wore their uniform to scare everyone away. Betsy won't she she wasn't impressed by Ahmad's audacity. Fatima is the most hot headed person she's ever met but compared to Ahmad self assured moves, she paled in comparison. She keeps fulminating behind his back but Betsy is damn sure she's stopped disturbing his life like she's done before. Making every inch of his life miserable with slow corrosive movements.

This isn't the Fatima she's met at first. That other one wouldn't have lived with the fact that her father forced another man to marry her. She will ruin the man's entire lineage and then disappear from Nigeria to never be traced. Her father actually did a great job in handing her over to someone like Ahmad. Had it been any other man whether more powerful with more money or anything of that sort, Fatima would've forced him to divorce her long ago but with the ACP, there is almost nothing Fatima can do to evade him. He is intelligent, thoroughly connected and heavily armed with anti-Fatima to forestall all her plans till he permits.

It reminded her of what happened few weeks ago when they came back from Nepal. Fatima called her shouting and hauling insult around the whole house making it echo and disturb Ahmad from his peaceful slumber. Even with Fatima's multitude and myriad ways of making someone annoyed and thoroughly irritated, Ahmad hasn't snapped at her yet but Betsy is secretly wishing to see him snap and how Fatima will react to that. Those calm people are not easily irritated but when things don't go their way for long, they'll make things brighter in your eyes that you won't ever want to be on their bad sides. She's seen that part of her mother that left her father shaken for the rest of his days.

"Why are you screaming like a banshee? It's a wonder how you still have you vocals." Betsy had grimaced at the sound of Fatima's insults. On God, that girl can haul out unladylike words that could make anyone's mouth foul and dirty.

"If this man doesn't divorce me, I won't be held responsible for whatever happens to him. I swear to God." And she began to rant about how she's ran away from the country to Nepal only to meet him there that she swore she thought he was a ghost following her around because he became her incubus.

Betsy had to stop herself from laughing out loud at the scene displayed in her head. Fatima being speechless and Ahmad standing all mysterious in leather jacket looking like a total rug ready to take her down. Fatima admitted to being terrified when she saw him, her heartbeat escalating to a certain degree that she thought she might just get a heart attack. And then he dragged her back to Nigeria the very next day without her enjoying the new environment. Oh, the hatred she exhibits when she talks about Ahmad is almost palpable. She hates him more than she does her father which is unjust to him, he didn't do anything wrong.

He's told her what had happened with her father.

"He asked me to marry his daughter." Ahmad gave a rueful chuckle because then, he never would've imagined that he would end up married to the hooligan but look how fate merged them. "Of course, I didn't feel any tinge of guilt or regret when I turned him down but he insisted so I promised to get her a husband before the sun rises."

"It didn't happen?" Betsy answered for him in a croaked voice, she's cried while narrating Fatima's story about murder that her voice is still scratchy and husky.

Ahmad shrugged. "It didn't. And with my promise, I told him I will marry her if I fail to do so which is why I'm here unfortunately."

Betsy is now perplexed because she could be anything but stupid. "There is no way you couldn't get someone to marry Fatima Musa Babagana. Something is missing here, ACP. Her father is rich enough to buy her a husband but decided that he wants you to marry her, care to explain why you didn't just get someone, anyone?"

"That's true, I could've just gotten someone from the streets and ask him to dress like a nice person and then get them married, whatever happens from there should be her problem. You are right, I thought about it too but I'm not a bad person no matter how much Miss Babagana infuriates me. I couldn't fold the hands of a father beseeching his daughter's wellbeing. I had to get married to her albeit that has never been my intention." Ahmad couldn't believe he's talking to a stranger like this but she's the only person that connects to this part of his life and knows what he is going through.

Betsy stared at him in a new light, her eyes gleaming with appreciation and wonder. She's never thought of him as a nice person but Fatima made her not like him at all from the first time he came to pick her up. Sometimes we tend to despise the people our friends despise for the sake of friendship and loyalty but Betsy won't fight this again. Fatima will just have to deal with the fact that Ahmad is a nice person and she is the one in the wrong. He is going through so much because he's helped her. Fatima wouldn't listen to a thing though, she believe in what she wants to and not what others say. Opinionated.

"But how about her father's money and all? I'm sorry to say but even being a police officer, a high ranked and respectable one in Texas won't get you so much money to get this..." she used both her hands to gesture at the huge living room they are in"...log cabin mansion, drop dead cars and so much more we don't know. Did he really buy you? No offense." Betsy blushed and choked back her amusement behind her throat. It looks like he is tired of hearing such a thing. Countless times from Fatima and now even her friend.

Ahmad didn't know where to begin and what sort of history he should begin to narrate so he took the safer side. "My dad was rich before he died, that's all you need to know. Mr. Babagana cannot buy me." His last words echoed with emphasis which makes everything certain that Ahmad is rich or even richer than Musa Babagana. His words aren't just meant to send the message that he has enough money, but a message that he could buy Musa Babagana himself.

Betsy never say anything to Fatima about what has transpired between her and Ahmad, why should she? It won't make any difference to Fatima and if she is ever to find out her husband is richer than her father, she will stop at nothing to leave him in court before things get out of hand. Fatima loves her father and would always want to see him thriving no matter the rift between them so finding out her fiend is more prosperous won't be a welcoming news but rather the exact opposite.

"It makes us look badder." Hayaat exclaimed at Fatima's previous statement to her two minions.

Fatima gave her a haughty glare but didn't say anything, her eyes fell on Bara'a that is just a walking shell without the spirit she's once possessed. Her supposed husband isn't back from wherever he disappeared to and the police is still working on it. Usman Yakubu Dikko managed to ruin her life in the worst way possible but Fatima wouldn't have believed Bara'a to be that foolish to get married to a notorious rake. What had gotten into her to accept such foul offer from equally ill rated rich guy? Fatima didn't show no sympathy and acted like she didn't know what has happened, she can't deal with more emotions now.

She's also struggling with her own personal battles and Fatima knew her own battle is way more frightening than that of Bara'a. She didn't tell them anything about her marriage with Ahmad and she intend to keep it like that because why not, they are going their separate ways soon. There is no way he's ever thought of staying married to her his entire life, he'd go bald and have amnesia. She is going to take explosive measures that will stop him from staying married to her very soon.

"Why did your father suddenly want bodyguards around you though? You've been all alone your entire life here." Hayaat changed the root of her words, finding something suspicious about Fatima and Betsy. They've been too close lately and sometimes even going home together, Hayaat doesn't like the connection between the duo but cannot outright let them know.

Fatima suspire in anguish, she doesn't want to tell a story that is entirely a fat ass lie to conceal her own lack of upper hand for the first time in her life. "You can ask him that."

She didn't know that was what she was going to spurt out until she said it and then patted her back, she did a great job at keep her at bay. Now Hayaat won't ask too many unnecessary questions and make her head ache.

Ahmad reclined back on his chair, exhausted with the days activities. They've been out for kidnappers that were heard to be pouncing around Adamawa for the past few days. Normally this wasn't supposed to be their line of job but how on earth are they expected to stay idly in their offices when there are so much to be done outside the world? The army alone cannot fight those bunch of bandits and if they can do something then why not? And so far, they've caught five of them and are going to take them to court so the case could be handled there. They've killed so many little children, the image left Ahmad tensed and horribly hostile. He almost shoot one of them that tried running away.

Piles of dead bodies were beside them, some stripped off their identity while dried maroon blood painted the floors. There is no use of any verdict, they should be hanged and be done with. The fact that they are young men in their middle twenties or early thirties set him off too. At that age, with your strength and every inch of your life intact, why on earth do you need killing and kidnapping for a living? What's wrong with the effort you're using to kidnap and use it in something more agreeable and legal?

The more he unravels Nigeria, the more scary the country looks. He thought it was exaggerated, he's been proven otherwise time and time again.

His used his thumb and forefinger to soothe the throbbing headache sprouting out. He's had a long day and hope he will be lucky enough Fatima won't cause any drama, he is not up for it. She's been causing unnecessary catastrophes the whole three weeks they've been back from Nepal, she never failed to do so continuously without tiring. Her energy seem to surprise him sometimes for she is never tired no matter what she does. She wouldn't sleep the day they came back and result to playing music the whole night, no jet lag.

The only place he knew she's getting punished is when it comes to food. She never eats in the house now. She's always on her way to school and when she arrives there, Betsy is always there with her food in hand -she always stops at the Babagana mansion to take her lunch from Asabe - and Fatima is immensely grateful. She's yawed thin since she's left her father's house without good food and enough mental stability to allow her to swell out. He still goes a day or two without seeing her in the house but it doesn't mean she doesn't distress his days and peace of mind.

His phone rang on the table causing it to vibrate on his thigh. He wanted to ignore it but that's something he cannot afford to do as a police officer. Well, this is his personal phone and not office's. He checked the caller ID and saw Dr. Mujida's name written in capital letters like he's always saved names. When did he save her though? He cannot remember doing that during their last encounter or any previous one. With a tentative flicker of his wrist, he answered the phone and turn it to speaker, he doesn't have the energy to hold the device.

"Good afternoon, ACP Al-hafiz." She greeted in her usual carefree mellow voice, he could already picture her expression with a wide smile on her face.

"Good afternoon, Doctor." He responded, his tired sleepy eyes opening a little to concentrate on what she's about to. It looks like it's something related to Fatima and also quite serious.

After they exchange some more hearty pleasantries, she got quiet for a few seconds as if gathering the information. Her expression changed to that pinched with concentrated concern and also fear that they might not know and understand the danger lurking behind Fatima's life now. Dr. Mujida loved Fatima from the first time she's met her, she is the second person she's met with endometriosis and she sympathize deeply because the last patient couldn't make it. Hers was such complicated one around her ovaries and she was desperate to have her third baby, it didn't happen and she died during childbirth. Fatima is just a young girl, she doesn't want to see her life ruined because of her stubbornness.

But shouldn't she have called Fatima to tell her about what is really going on? Well, she knew Fatima well enough to know the girl won't give a damn about what she says until it's too. She is too reckless and mutinous so Ahmad is the best option here, her father's phone isn't going through.

"Yes..." He prompted because he partly expect her to tell him Fatima is in the hospital after some horrible accident.

He sat up properly hissing at the splitting headache trying to divide his head into two but the way Dr. Mujida paused her news isn't welcoming. The thought that Fatima caused some more trouble for herself didn't sit well with him. She should keep it to herself for once and be out of trouble. If he doesn't get bald and old from his mother's odd behaviors since he grew with her, then he will soon fade away and disappear into thin air when it comes to being with Fatima for a few months.

Dr. Mujida cleared her throat. "It's about Fatima." Another pause then she continued. "I know you guys didn't pay any heed to my words the last time I called you here but I'm afraid there will be a huge price to pay if you don't go through it before her next cycle begins in just three days. I've been keeping tabs on that and maybe she's forgotten about it but I haven't. If it doesn't happen, then I'm afraid Fatima won't pass this cycle. When I saw her ultrasound, I knew this coming month won't be easy on her which was why I suggested the surgery to her father then the marriage but you two are still taking things lightly. I cannot do more than this." She sighed annoyingly. "I hope you understand what I'm talking about?"

Ahmad's eyes are now wide open and the sleep evaded him sooner than he'd wanted. What on earth is happening? He's forgotten about him leaving the country during he next cycle. But if he leaves, then he will come back to Fatima's corpse in his home or hospital.

"I do."

"Good. I don't want to talk to her about it, she will make a mountain out of a molehill. Please, just do anything you can. Force yourself on her if you have to, it's for her own good and she will understand that sooner than later. I'll talk to her tomorrow and see where it goes. We need to help her!"

Ahmad was rendered speechless, something that usually takes more than a few words of intimacy to get to him. Is she talking about him raping Fatima? Maybe this woman doesn't know what she is saying after all. How could he force himself on Fatima of all people? No, how could she possibly think he can force himself on anyone? He'd rather pay for her operation as soon as possible than go through any trouble of being close to Fatima Musa Babagana.

And if she dies, then it is her time and there is nothing he or anyone could do to forestall it. She will only die when her time comes.