ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA.

Fatima confirmed that she is hearing things when the other line failed to continue talking. She kept quiet too, thinking she didn't even pick the call and is just imagining the worst thing her father would tell her is her getting married to a boor. She chuckled at her mad though, removed the phone from her ear to see whether it's finished ringing or not. Why would she think worst about her father all the damn time? Well, he didn't give her any reason for anything else.

But what she expected to see on her screen isn't what is right there in front of her which startled her. Seconds we're still counting which means she's been on that call with her father and he's said what she thought he did. Or did he not? She cannot be so sure as the pain might be the main thing jumbling her thoughts and hearing.

To confirm that the pain is actually being something in the ass, she hesitantly place the phone back to her ear and kept quiet. He didn't say anything but she could hear the sounds of shuffling and car honking from the other end of the line. Her brows came together again, willing her mind to stay intact and she shouldn't freak out. It seems like he really said something horrendous.

"Were you saying something?" She tentatively asked even though her pride is chastising her about talking, she cannot help it. Her father won't mind them leaving the phone like that for hours, he has the money for it but she lacks the patience.

Musa Babagana pinched the bridge of his nose. He wanted to tell her once about it and just off his phone till he comes back again to Nigeria but the way she went off after he told her made him stop. She might not be able to accept the fact that she got married to a total stranger that she dislikes.

Earlier that morning, he went to pray in the mosque that is in the mansion when he met Ahmad who regrettable stopped what he was doing to talk to him. There was no one in the mosque when he approached Musa Babagana with a heavy frown on his face. He didn't expect Ahmad to look so glum and sullen when he's expecting the news that he found a good husband for his daughter and he's off the hook.

"Good morning, Sir." He greeted, eyes looking brighter than someone who's just awoken. Or had he just woken up or has been awake the whole time hunting for a man for his daughter?

"Morning, ACP. Is there good news?" He is secretly wishing that there is no good news on another man but good news that his daughter will marry him.

Oh no, he is too straightforward for his liking but what can he do? He is going to leave the country as soon as his daughter is married to ACP Al-hafiz. His private jet is ready at the airport and his pilot is just waiting for his signal before he packs up and leave. Actually, he doesn't need to pack anything when everything he needs will be there for him.

He watched with vigilance at the man's expression, trying to read out whether he's found the man or it is he who found himself.

"There is no good news, Sir. For the first time, I couldn't keep my promise. Seems like what you want will happen but if you will give me more time, I can get that person as soon as possible." Musa. Babagana is already shaking his head at the idea of waiting and giving more time. What wait and what time? He does not have any neither does his daughter.

He didn't shroud away his smile and the naked glint of satisfaction in his eyes. There is no way God would've turned deaf ears to his prayers, his Lord is the greatest. Even He knew that this is the greatest match to ever exist and had to bring them together. He's snagged the best match for his daughter, he is the one for her without a doubt. Any doubt he's had until now had disappeared leaving cool satisfaction in his chest. His daughter will be in good hands or will she not?

Sticking his hands into his kaftan pocket, Musa Babagana grinned wide, a genuine one. "I'm afraid, ACP, there is no turning back or giving time."

Ahmad cursed underneath his breath, forgetting for a second that he is still inside the mosque with few other respectable people around the neighborhood inside. He didn't sleep the whole night going through all the bachelors he could find in Adamawa or places around -so they can come before the sun sets tomorrow- but came up zilch. There simply is no one worth it in all the fifty persons list he's searched up.

Either the person visits clubs more than he's been to mosque his whole life, or drinks away his whole allowance in some expensive bar, or they spend their daddy's money by going to catch cruise in some island with women, or they don't know a thing about their religion. Some of the rich folks even have underground crimes that is not registered in the police station but he dug them up. None could handle Fatima nor would she be able to tolerate any of them.

It makes him wonder how scarce men are nowadays especially in northern Nigeria.

Ladies now want readymade husbands -rich, ready to go abroad whenever, enough to spoil her daily activities, help her become a housewife, her car ready as soon as she enters, his house will be called heaven on earth- and they do exist but they don't have enough quality for marriage. They are not practicing Muslims, drink liquor like water, smoke, go clubbing, flaunt their girlfriends in front of you and so many bad things. It is hard to find a husband nowadays.

He's called his only friend in Nigeria -a lot are trying to get too close already but he's known this one since he was in Texas due to some work- Jameel Nabayi. The guy laughed about the story, even hung up the phone for good five minutes to finish laughing then call him back again. They haven't met since he came because he is away in Abuja doing some work but will be back soon.

"It is finally time for you to get shackled my friend. I would've agreed to marry her but man, she will roast me! She's not just anybody, you are talking about Fatima Musa Babagana. Man, you guys are match made in heaven. Craze sass and no nonsense, Tir!" He'd laughed some more before excusing himself.

Ahmad is still trying to get over the fact that he's failed at getting a husband for Fatima and he is to marry her in less than twelve hours. Why didn't he just get any other man out there for her to marry? She's never done anything good for him and he could punish her with the power her father gave him, it'd be easy watching from the curb. On God, is he that good hearted? He's been called cold hearted bastard his whole life but it feels different now.

He cannot do it to her, not after knowing the kind of pain she is going through but physically and emotionally. If he is to break her some more, he will never be able to live with it for the rest of his life. He's ruined her totally and nothing can redo her again. He couldn't bring his hands to talk to all those men because they cannot goad Fatima into becoming a better version of herself.

"But you can?" This question kept mingling in his head the whole night. He couldn't sleep, asking Lord for the perfect way out of this but ended up with nothing which means, the marriage may lead to something?

The cacophony sound of the Imam dropping the mouthpiece he just finished using to say a few words to the remaining people in the mosque dropping to the floor got his attention. He endorsed back to reality, watching closely at Musa Babagana's face filled with felicity.

"What is to be done?" Galore and hefty uncertainty could be heard and seen all around Ahmad but Musa Babagana is not about to care about what he thinks or feels. He is going to do what he think is right.

Brushing his two hands together against the Arctic bite of winter, Musa Babagana gave the mosque a once over and found out the Imam and few other committees of the mosque are around. He formed a harangue and diatribe without batting his eyelashes.

He got the Imam's attention with his hands then announced in a quiet but loud voice for them to hear. "We can knot a wedding right now, huh?"

Gasps and whispers echoed in the mosque, just five people but it was there. They are looking as though he is about to do something malignant or said something polemic. He just talked about marriage, completing someone's half seen and not ruining someone's life for goodness sake. He is not there to explain himself or inculcate his life story and what is going on in his household. Marriage shall take place whether they are there or not.

The Imam who seem thoroughly amazed and galvanized by his words took his time to reply. He looked around the mosque as if trying to see who is getting married there but couldn't place a single soul. To him, even Ahmad is married to someone but he doesn't know whom. He's seen him in the mosque once or twice with Zafaar so his thought is, the man is married with a child. Well, men are permitted to marry four men, aren't they?

"It is permissible and possible, Alhaji." He darted his eyes around again, desperate to feed in the deep curiosity corrosively eating his intestines. "Who is getting married now, if I may ask?"

There, he blurted it out without filter. What is done is done, his head kowtowed in little shame. He is a good man, and not at all too curious about people but what, he is also human!

Musa Babagana didn't mind, he only held Ahmad's hand and move forward to the front of the mosque where the other people are sitting. He sat down too, gestured to his male guard to go get something unknown inside the house to which he gave a curt nod and left.

With a shallow grin, Musa Babagana let out a surfeit laughter, it surprised them. "ACP here just agreed to get married to my daughter, Fatima. I want the marriage knotted now so I can leave the country in a bit."

Imam gave out a wide plethora smile9 of his own, seeming too excited with the news. Why though? There is no way Fatima had done something to make an enemy of him too? But then again, Fatima is everyone's enemy as much as everyone is her enemy.

"Ma sha Allah! This is a great news, congratulations!" Imam gave Musa Babagana his right hand for a handshake. Albeit blown and stupefied, he stood his ground to accept the news well.

"Thank you, Mallam Lawal. Let's proceed with the procedure huh?" Musa Babagana is grinning from ear to ear, it is contagious that the other people present returned one and congratulated both Ahmad and him.

Ahmad stood like a statue, as if not believing what the man is about to do. Getting them married that early harmattan morning without getting dressed or telling anyone about it? It's not like the marriage would mean anything, but still, the other people they live with have the right to know. If only he could talk to Fatima about it, she would've done her damnadest to stop it from happening.

His moves are desultory, can't wait to see how the man planned to get him married without waliy. He should've known though, no one amongst those geriatrics present in the mosque will refuse Musa Babagana. One of them stepped forward and even offered to be his waliy'. Ahmad knew the man, always at the front row in the mosque and his white beard reaching the top of his chest.

Everything was ephemeral around, him sitting beside his so called waliy, the elders talking and reading Quran and then boom, they pronounced that he is married to Fatima. That is when everything came crashing to him, jolting him off his dream. What the hell did he just agree to? Marriage?

God. A bile rose from his throat, he felt nauseous like a pregnant woman scenting something she disliked. He stood up quietly and left the mosque in brisk agile ground eating steps. He can't believe he just got married!

Back to reality in Fatima's hospital room, she held the phone in her hand, stupefied and angry.

"You said what again?" She implored the man that gave birth to her, her voice rude and curt but that could be damned.

"Fatima, don't make a scene out of this. It is just marriage. Dr. Mujida suggested it and I got you married to the best candidate of my choice who is ACP Al-hafiz..." She didn't listen to the rest, removed the phone from her ear and stared at it, forbearing all the insults that came to her head that she should haul at her father.

What she feels now is ineffable! There is nothing on earth that could describe what she is feeling, absolutely nothing!

"Can you take this phone from me and listen to whatever the fuck this man is talking about? I might be hearing things that will just make me turn the world upside down!" She threw the phone at Betsy who had good reflex and caught it while glaring at Fatima. It would've hit her elbow.

Letting it slide knowing how forward her friend is. She placed Fatima's phone to her ear and whisper so it won't trigger her. "Good morning, Sir."

A deep rustle and susurrus from the other side before a husky cold and intimidating voice answered. "Morning. Betsy right?"

Oh wow, he knows what is really going on in his daughter's life after all. Fatima shouldn't feel too neglected, or is she?

"Yes, Sir."

"Good. I just told her that I got her married to ACP Al-hafiz after Dr. Mujida suggested that marriage is the only solution apart from surgery -which will make her completely infertile. Explain to her that she is not under my care now and her husband will come for her. I'm out of the country currently." And the line went dead!

Betsy kept quiet, the phone still stuck to her ear as if she is listening to something other than the warmth of the device across her ear and cheek. She blinked. No wonder Fatima is about to lose her shit and batshit her in the room. Seriously? He got her married without her permission and that too to her worst enemy?

Oh no, this man is really as cruel as Fatima portrayed him out to be. Who does that to their child? Dysphoria, that is what she feels.

This man didn't know what he just did! He just caused and turn on a fire that can never be extinguished by anyone. Trouble is lurking at the edge of that room and the minute it blew up, she will have nothing to do with it. Fatima and Ahmad married? No seriously though?