"So...should i take you to the lagoon, or do you want to try round 2 of starving me?"

Laila glared at Sudais, clenching her teeth and crossing her arms over her chest. "I want to starve you...to death, hopefully."

He clapped his hands, his lips pursed in amusement that she so wanted to smack off. "Well then, i guess home it is."

At home-his home, she didn't have enough time to survey her surrounding, not that she cared to. All she could make up from the occasional glances off her phone in which Mami returned to her before her departure, was that the buildings were tall, taller than the ones at her home, and were painted in complete white with touches of black.

"It's past asr, my dad must be asleep by now and we can freshen up before you meet him," Sudais announced as the car parked in a 3-story building smaller in width than the rest.

Pride wouldn't let her ask him where they were, so she was going with her wild guess; a guest house.

Okay, maybe she was wrong and it wasn't a guest house.

On the second floor, Sudais looked awfully familiar with the musk odh smelling apartment that was furnished in grey. She stood for a second, surveying the lounge and its details over the sound of Sudais speaking.

"Where is my room?" Laila demanded after their bags had been brought in.

His Shoes paused halfway as he rose his eyes to her. Cocking an eyebrow, he side-eyed her. "You mean my room?"

Laila shook her head, her expression serious, "No, my room."

"There are many rooms in this house but I haven't heard any with the name: Sadiya's room."

"It's Laila." It felt weird being called Sadiya when no one called her that.

He shook his head, undressing further. "It's whatever i want."

Laila let out a scoff and walked to the troll bags to drag 2 of hers towards the door that was obviously the bedchamber.

Laila gasped as she almost fell to the side at the intensity of which Sudais flew past her into the neat, spacious room and disappeared into another door that was without doubt a restroom.

Laila got rid of the itchy material and sat in a robe and himar as she started to scroll through her phone.

An hour later, Laila walked alongside Sudais in a new set of Ankara with a medium cotton veil wrapped around her shoulders down to her midriff, while Sudais clad himself in a white jallabiya as he lead her to a tall flat in the humongous house.

He had only mentioned meeting his family and was met with a living room brim-full of women after they had walked past a few doors into the chilly, strawberry-scented flat.

Sudais lead a curt greeting to the women along with Laila who got the memo that this...wasn't his family. A few more doors, and then they were in a much smaller living room with floor-to-ceiling windows and a brown interior.

A lady rose her stuffed-up face to the duo and her eyes widened. Laila twisted to Sudais who had a similar look overtaking his features.

"Hafsy? What are you doing here?"

The girl, Hafsy wrinkled up her stuffed face while still chewing. Mouth full, she answered, motioning at the living room with her hand that held a phone. "I...live here?"

Sudais clicked his tongue, stepping out of his shoes and approaching the girl with a bowl and a loaf of bread on the floor. "I mean school. Mima is there. Wait," he glanced back to motion at Laila to have a seat and she sat on the rug opposite the girl. "Is Mima here too? Ko itama taje Borno?"

Hafsy shook her head, taking a handful of the bread and gesturing at another door. "Mima na Abuja. I'm here cause Adda is sick."

Sudais eyes widened, "Adda is sick!? Nobody tells me anything in this house. Yawshe?"

He didn't know his mum was sick? What type of son does that?

Hafsy shrugged, peering at Laila in intrigue as she stood. "Ina yini."

"Lafiya." Laila answered in the same careless tone.

The girl turned to Sudais. "She's been sick for the last four days but she's good now."

Sudais nodded, then narrowed his eyes at the girl. He motioned to Laila. "Gaisheta da kyau."

Hafsy's face scrunched up in annoyance but still did as she was ordered. "Ina yini."

Sudais beat Laila to the response as he shook his head and crossed his arms. "Hafsat, nace ki gaida ta da kyau."

Sinking back to her knees, Hafsy placed her palms on the rug and with a fake tight smile, slanted towards Laila. "Ina yini Adda...?"

"Anty Sadiya." Sudais completed.

"Laila is fine."

"Anty or Adda Laila." He added, a cautious smile on his lips.

"Great. Anty Laila, ya hanya?"

"Alhamdulillah."

Well...number 1 inlaw that didn't like her.

Sudais disappeared into the door the girl motioned at, leaving Laila and the girl.

Hafsy crawled back to her bread while punching her phone and completely ignoring Laila's presence. Laila didn't blame her, she also disliked random people at random times.

Laila ventured on scrolling aimlessly at her phone, then decided she might as well start revising her courses if she was going to be facing school in less than a week.

Minutes went on until faint sounds of Sudais and a woman conversing started to emerge.

Laila clicked off her phone as she reflexly moved back on the rug after taking a glance at the tall, fair, elder woman who had a striking resemblance with the girl; Hafsy. Laila put on her big girl bulletproof vest under her fast, loud and visible thumping heart at the thought of conversing with her mother-in-law.

"Sannu da zuwa, Laila."

"Sannu Adda."

Once sat on the couch, with Sudais finding a spot beside Hafsy who seemed to loosen up and went as far as blocking him away when he reached for her bread, Laila slanted forward. "Ina yini, Adda." She couldn't exactly call her mother-in-law anty, right?

The woman with slowed movements and a gentle smile adorning her beautiful face for an aged woman answered. "Lafiya lau. Yaya hanya?"

"Alhamdulillah."

"Ashe abinda ya same ki kenan?"

Laila glanced at Sudais who was oblivious to the conversation as he and his sister fought over her food, glad to see he kept her name clean at home. "Eey."

"Toh Allah ya kiyaye na gaba, Allah kuma baku zaman lafiya. Hafsy," she turned to the duo who froze at her voice, Sudais used that as an opportunity to grab a handful of the shredded chicken and stood up over the sound of Hafsy whining. "You didn't get your sister her food and water." The woman turned to Laila. "Is there anything specific you want to eat, Laila?"

Laila shook her head and Sudais motioned at the floor with the bread and bowl. "Kinason bread da danbum nama?"

The old woman twisted to her son in disbelief, "Haba Abba. She comes here for the first time and you want to offer her bread?"

Sudais shrugged, aligning his smug gaze on Laila's blank one. "Toh, whatever she wants de, she's a daughter in this house and if we don't have what she wants, she can go find the kitchen." He rephrased and threw back her words at her, his muscles visibly relaxing at the feeling of accomplishment.

Meanwhile, the woman shook her head at the man's ridiculousness and yelled at her daughter. "Kina tsaye baza kije ki nemo mata abinci ba?"

Hafsy stomped her feet before disappearing into a curtain.

The trio further engaged in small conversations with Laila being the one on the receiving end of the questions.

Laila ate less than half of the food served to her but asked if the fruits, apples actually could be packed for her. Her mother-in-law waved it off and assured Laila that fruits would be waiting for her back at Sudais' flat before they left.

Out and away from most people, she voiced her protest. "You know it'd be nice if you told me ahead who we're meeting, right?"

Sudais's steps faltered as he glanced down at her and then back to the interlocked route he was leading. "I'm not aiming for nice but since you asked, That was my step mum, Mama Jummai but we call her Adda and that was Hafsy-"

"She's not your mum?"

That compelled Sudais to halt and turn to her as he crinkled his nose in disarray. "No, of course not. My mum's Arab. Shuwa. You'll know her when you see her." He shook his head in annoyance. "That was my second to the last sister, Hafsy. She's mean like that. Now, we're going to see my second step mum; Mama kaka she has one kid, Muhammad Murtala, but we call him Muri. She doesn't get along with no one but her son and my elder brother, so, we'll be quick."

From the time it took Sudais' step mum, Mama Kaka to step out and address Laila, Laila concluded she was also not going to get along with the woman.

Mama Kaka, a short dark woman with a non-faltering frown throatily answered Laila's greeting with a slight Yoruba accent.

As if Laila wasn't present, the nonchalant woman in a cross-legged position threw her question towards Sudais with her stare still on Laila, despise evident in her tone, she mumbled. "Wannan ce...the girl they gave you?"

Gave him? What was she, a bag?

Yeah, technically she was given to him by her dad who should've been here to witness the disrespect thrown at his daughter for his impulsive decision.

In the same dismissive tone, Sudais replied. "She's the one."

"Ohhh..."

He had had enough of the nasty look, if it wasn't for Baba alhaji, she wouldn't even see his wife not to talk of disrespecting her, he stood up. "We'll go see Baba Alhaji."

They got nothing more than hum and Laila let out a loud breath of relief once they were out.

It wasn't in her place to complain, because again, she came from a royal home, a big house but the walking was getting to her heavy thighs.

It was past Maghreb and Laila was to pray in his mother's chambers-his real mother, who was apparently on a trip to her hometown with his sister but would be back the next day. She didn't. Just sat and pretended to. What was the need to? She had prayed and prayed and what did she get? Got sent off to nothing she signed up for with no idea what to expect.

After, Laila was so ready to hit the bed but still got up to meet her father-in-law.

The nice man who had once inquired about her graduation was seated on a prayer mat in a large lion-themed living room with no couches and plenty of ottomans.

He answered their salams and ignored their presence as he continued to drag the chasbih between his fingers.

Laila kept glancing at Sudais who was sitting with 2 ottomans placed behind his back with his legs stretched and crossed at the ankles, his attention on his phone and his demeanor completely relaxed. Guess he was comfortable with his dad.

Laila, on the other hand, sat tensed up with her ankles tucked under her butt, her upper body rocking back and forth in nervousness, sweaty palms clasping and unclasping to rub the moisture on her laps while holding her breath to try and slow her raging heartbeat.

Baba Alhaji concluded his prayers and twisted to them, only Laila noticed because she was the one paying cautious attention to the man, "Ina yini, baba."

With a voice less welcoming than when he was at her house, he returned. "Lahia Halima, ya kike?"

"Alhamdulillah. Ya jikin Adda?"

"Haa! Adda will be fine, but, Alhamdulillah."

Laila didn't know what else to say, instead, she squirmed under the scrutinizing gaze of the old man.

Following the silence, she heard a dismissal towards Sudais.

Laila didn't raise her head but closed her eyes and removed her glasses at her dread over the sound of the door creaking close after Sudais.

She continued to bite the insides of her cheeks and hold unto her sanity while Baba Alhaji continued to stare at her.

"Baki kyauta ba, Halima." Well, that was not something new, sir. So, get on with the insults.

To him though, he only wanted to talk some sense into her. Not insult her. "Ko kin kyauta?"

Laila shook her head. Admittedly, she shouldn't have bolted. But, in her defense, she was scared, Daddy shouldn't have married her off.

He started slow again. "Your dad would never do anything to hurt you. Kinsani de ko?" She nodded but truth was, her father was right but he had a twisted way of making his point. She wanted to be angry and ignore every other reasonable sense. Deep down, she knew Daddy married her off impulsively to Sudais, but he wouldn't have done it in a thousand years if only she had listened to him.

Parents were almost, always right about their instincts. And, although he made it hurt, he had Laila's best interest at heart.

"Marrying you off to Sudais without your knowledge was not part of the plan and i am deeply sorry for that...I came in search of a well-mannered and beautiful wife for him since he is not getting any younger, and, you were the best of the best he could have ever asked for," The man paused to level his breath, "We should have let you two get to know each other but your dad insisted on it this way...As a father, with 5 daughters, I understood his situation and agreed, knowing and praying that Allah showers this union with his endless blessings...Because i knew I would've done the same thing if I was in his place..."

Laila's head swayed back and forth, her teeth sinking into the walls of her mouth as she bit back stupid and unwanted tears.

"You come from a prestigious family, and deserve to marry into one. I can't say Sudais is perfect, his...anger and impulses just like mine get in his way sometimes, but i know for the sake of Allah he won't treat you bad...It is by the nature of our background to stomp our feelings for others we wish as our partners, so long it is for the betterment of our people and reputation. We sacrifice, we live in patience, and not always in love..." well, he could tell that to someone who didn't know that because she she was trying to hold back her tears at the hard truth. "Whether you grow to love and understand each other, which you Insha Allah will, I am trusting that you will treat each other right. Kina jina?"

Laila struggled with her words and when she finally caught them, her voice cracked, her tough girl foundation completely collapsing. "In-ina jinka...Baba..."

Baba Alhaji's fingers rose to shake, a look of concern overtaking his face. "Kar kiyi kuka. Kiyi haquri. Shi rayuwa haka yake. You don't always get what you want. You plan and Allah plans. And, his plan is the best. Remember," he lifted a finger, "Whatever turn of event in your life, Allah is choosing the best for you. It's where he wants you, whatever happens, please and please...do not blame your father. He's a confused and hurt father, but a loving father, still. Kina jina Halima?"

Nodding, Laila caught the escaping sob from her mouth by covering them with her palm.

"Sannan, shi aure ba abun wasa bane. Take. It. Seriously. Ba'a wasa da maganar Allah. Ku rike Allah, and all will be well, Insha Allah."

Holding her breath, she continuously nodded. "Thank-thank you."

"Ba komi. Allah ya muku albarka."

"Amen."

"Allah baku zaman lafiya."

"Amen."

"Allah ya albarkace ku da zuri'a dayyaba."

Laila hesitated, They would get to that someday, right? "Amen."

"Good. Call Abba."

Laila sniffled and stood with a groan. She unlatched the door and peeked at the lobby with a couch and metal chairs until it landed on Sudais' figure that sat cross-legged, his right ankle on his left knee as he gently rocked on one of the waiting chairs.

"Psst! Hey!" Laila called in a whisper. He raised his eyes off his phone in confusion before it turned to realization. She waved him in.

Shoving his phone into his pocket, he walked through the wide door, "Angama gulma na in kenan."

His dad lightly convulsed with laughter before shaking his head. Even Laila smiled as she closed the door and returned to her position.

"Kai waye da zamuyi gulman ka?" He motioned to Sudais from Laila. "Kinga halinsa ko? Se haquri fa."

Laila smiled, then turned to Sudais who was a few feet away, "Toh ya zanyi." She muttered loud enough for the duo to catch.

A smooth conversation ran, mostly Sudais and his dad doing the talking, and Laila couldn't help but admire the duo. Looking at the father and son talk like best friends had her unconsciously smiling. She had always yearned for a relationship like that with her dad but well...

At the adhaan of Isha prayer, Sudais offered to escort Laila back to his place.

At the door that Sudais had widened for Laila, Baba Alhaji said. "Don't hesitate to come and report him to me if he ever upsets you, Halima."

Raising her mock narrowed eyes at Sudais, he mirrored her expression, sucking his bottom lip into his mouth, "I won't." Knowing him for less than 24 hours, he'd definitely be upsetting her.

He turned to his old man. "Kayi sabon ya, you want to erase me. What about if she upsets me?"

The old man raised a surrendering palm. "Se kayi haquri mana."

Sudais threw his head back and let out an exasperated sigh.

***

Monday, 21st January 2019.

Stretching her limbs, a yawn escaped her lips and then a gasp. Her hand flew back to her body after she had hit something. She squinted her eyes to make out what she was looking at. She wasn't seeing anything so she stretched her arm out for her glasses which she then tucked into the back of her ears.

"That's your breakfast they brought." Laila didn't need to see the owner of the voice.

With no holding back, she set free her pipe of annoyance, voice still croaky from sleep. "Over here you people just wake up and start eating without brushing your teeth?"

He shrugged, drying his neck and face with a towel. "You can go ask the maid."

Laila picked up her phone from the nightstand as she glanced at the other side of the messy bed. Recalling, she had told Sudais to sleep on the couch and as if she had said the funniest thing, he laughed out loud for a straight minute. Composing himself, he said and she quoted, "Do not let stupid movies or books get into your head that I'll sleep on the couch in my own house. I won't, you either stay on your side of the bed or take the couch if you're too uncomfortable because wallahi, ba abinda zesa nayi bacchi akan couch." Then the bastard proceeded until he was only in a boxer and a shirt before he got into the covers and Laila contemplated on stabbing the knife she was cutting her apples with into his jugular but that would lead her straight to jail, and well, she wouldn't like sleeping that close to her toilet. That'd be gross.

Anyway, she had told Sudais to go stick a knife up his ass when he woke her up for Subh by groaning that she had her period, but she didn't and that was why she was able to sleep-a not so beautiful nor comfortable sleep with a nightmare she couldn't even remember by the time she woke up.

She hissed, dismissing a notification about a seminar class that was supposed to hold the next day at the clinic.

"Since you want to know things ahead of time, then my family's throwing a surprise barbecue party that they think I don't know. But first, we have to go greet my elder siblings, take you to our house and be back before my mum's flight. Get ready, that's all in Jimeta."

Laila pretended to be deaf until she heard the door shut after him. Her legs wiggled under the covers in frustration, her hands thrashing the bed every which way as she let out a loud puff.

This better be done so she could get back to drowning her misery in school and blaming every single problem of hers on the school's system.

For someone who wanted everything to be done and ready, she took her sweet time video calling Maya, then read aimlessly on the internet about who invented cereal instead of doing the needful.

It was only when Sudais pushed the door open to find her still on the bed while he was already clad in a sky blue Kaftan with his low-cut black Fulani hair on display, Zanna bukar cap nowhere to be found, did she feel satisfied. "You're still not ready? The house in Jimeta is almost an hour drive from Yola fa! Mama's flight will be here by 1. Get up." He reasoned, going through the drawers in the nightstands before Laila sighed loudly. "Ni waye ke dauke min links ina ne?"

Over his annoying complaints, Laila plugged her phone into the charger and disappeared into the restroom.

Annoying the man with a permanent frown on his face who had changed into a grey Kaftan was so good. She smiled widely, almost maniacally, before gliding her bag strap up to her shoulder. "Let's go?"

"Eey. Bayan kingama wasting time ba. Witch." He muttered to himself, grabbing his keys.

On their way and in a gruff voice, he mentioned how his step mums were busy and the same as his dad, which was why they found themselves in the 406 car driving into the local government: Jimeta, from Yola town, both their loud scents mixing to give a unique one.

Against his will, Laila had rolled the windows down despite the aircon in the car. She didn't like being in closed-off spaces. Especially not with him.

If it was up to Laila, they'd leave the going to his sibling's house-which she had no idea how many they were as he hadn't said shit to her since they started their journey- and they'd wait until the barbeque party that every close relative in town was to attend to and she'd take the microphone, walk to the stage and do a little squat.

Then, she'd proceed like: "Ladies sneh and gentlemen sneh. I'm the one your son has finally chosen sneh-" then she'd raise a finger to correct herself, "Chosen for actually. I'm your new daughter in law from today henceforth. My name is Halima sneh. But they call me Laila's sneh,"

she'd raise her palms, smiling widely-fakely, "I'm a very straight forward person sneh. I don't promise to be a good wife to your son sneh," She'd take a step back and place a palm on her chest, her expression turning a little more serious,

"But, tell your son to treat me well and mind his business, as long as e want make i treat am well sneh..." then, her dimpled up smile will grow back and you'd mistake it for a genuine one when really, it had an underlying threat, "i no too normal sneh, but i go try to coordinate my self sneh. Thank you very much sneh. Please, enjoy." And then she'd bow and get off the stage.

But well, if she did that, she'd probably find herself back in Daddy's house going for round 2 of an abrupt marriage. And guess what she was doing 40 minutes later?

Huh. Wait for it.

Laila was kneeling/sat on her legs as she faked a wide smile at the fair chubby woman with a genuine smile on her face as she inquired about Laila's well-being.

Aisha Talatu Idris Mamman, Sudais' elder sister whose house they currently were in was a woman who looked to be around her mid-forties living in a lavish house with kids and teenagers all around. She didn't seem to know about Laila's fake kidnap or bolt and if she did, she neither showed nor inquired about it.

Moving to Sudais who was on the floor as he played with a 4-year-old boy who seemed to recognize him the moment he stepped in, the mother screeched. "Captain Acici!" Sudais facepalmed as he shook with embarrassment before twisting to his sister, his smile hidden.

"Haba Dadda!(Big sister!) Nifa yanzu mata gareni. Yakamata ki dena qirana wannan sunan. Haba. Me haka?" He exaggerated, his hands flying every which way.

The woman didn't seem to care, she laughed out loud and continued to add, "Acici! Acici! Acici!" She twisted to Laila, "Ko ya dena cin breadi kamar barawo?"

Laila backed the woman up, "Be dena ba." Liking as the bickers between the siblings went on until it finally died down and after their greetings, Aisha said something that had Laila liking her less, "Kasamu mata baqa, kyak kyawa, Abba. Allah bada zaman lafiya."

Although he did sense the complexion issue she pointed out, his smile didn't falter. "Amen. Amen." And then their conversation went out with Laila zoning out.

Although she was supposed to be used to it, it didn't make it hurt less. I mean, even her family nicknamed her baleri; the fulla version of black, as she was the only dark skin in her family.

But, did she have to mention her complexion before the compliment?-which now sounded like an insult? Absolutely not.

So, Laila gave curt answers until their next destination. Their home. When they had gotten it, or when it was furnished, she had no idea. It was a few houses down Aisha's house.

The house, moderate in size looked not so new from the parking lot, the paintings in milk and white. The interior though screamed Mami. The woman must've chosen the furniture for the 2 bedroom flat.

Furnished in mostly mahogany red-brown, She didn't dwell much on it, only took note of the 2 bedrooms, 3 restrooms, one in each bedroom and another in the living room. Dining, a kitchen, backyard, 3 living rooms, one large, one medium, and one really small with only two couches immediately you walk past the small foyer. All fully furnished.

Waste of money de. It wasn't like they were going to live in Yola.

Maybe he had cooled off, maybe he hadn't. But, he explained on their way, "Bello, next in line, is my elder brother and Dadda's younger brother, although we call him Bobbo(big brother). He is my mum's firstborn. Has 2 wives, the second one is nice. He is most likely at work so we'll be quick."

And damn, they were quick.

Laila liked the fact that they left the tension-filled house. It was obvious both the women didn't like Laila, the first one, didn't hide it, and the second faked it.

All in all, their daddies.

Soon, she found out; that like Bello who was his mother's firstborn, Aisha was Adda's firstborn and they were the oldest in the family. Followed by Sudais and the rest that she hadn't met.

Back at the manor, Sudais dropped Laila at his flat and mentioned he'd be getting his mum from the airport alone.

Laila was glad, she couldn't imagine if she had to listen to one more word about her being dark-skinned by women on bleaching products. She should've faked some sickness and stayed back in bed.

Why could people just never mind their businesses?

Most importantly, why couldn't it be; you're beautiful Laila. Not; you're beautiful for a dark skin.

Why couldn't it be: your skin is so smooth. Not: your dark skin is so smooth?

Why couldn't it be: your skin is perfect. Not: you could've been better if you were a bit lighter like your mum. Well, because Laila took after Mami's skin, only darker than it.

Everyone that had said something like that to her had a black ass and black genital covered up by their stupidly expensive clothing just like Laila's.

So then, Why. Was. It. Such. An. Issue?

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