Strength wasn't about someone's physical makeup. It's the ability of the heart to withstand alot of pressure without yielding. Adeelah figured out she's a very strong woman at heart with the way she's handling things almost all alone.

She often wondered, although being careful not be ungrateful to the numerous blessings Allah had endowed her with, why fate chose her upon all the people in Abba's life. Why would all this befall on her? Why would she be the one to find out about it all? She would often shake the thoughts away since she had no answers.

Adeelah's usually wake up to offer a midnight prayer even before her alarm shriek. It had became a routine for her, a new habit in fact, for three months. She just couldn't sleep a whole night without praying except if she's off prayer. Even on those days, she would found herself awake. No number of tossings on the bed could make her sleep until she's offer some tahleel or tasbih.

The whole situation reminded her that life's not a permanent dwelling. She had been living carefreely for all her life and now, unexpectedly, everything turned haywire. She would only thank Allah in such a situation and hoped to pass that trial successfully.

Forth the incidence, as she sat alone in her home, she often delve more about her religion from various sites and channels. She also acknowledged that, it's a blessing, if looked in the positive way.

"You're lost in thoughts." She heard him say.

Being together for such a time, only one thing changed. Muhammad would sit with her unless she's sleepy. He would often allow her to leave the parlor first before him. Somedays he would sit at home all day long and Adeelah wondered if he had a work to do. She's suddenly turned to scaredy-cat, always thinking negative on his source of income. What if he had partnered with Abba? What if Abba knew him through that dirty route.

Adeelah knew her mental state, no matter how she trief to remain steady, it would never be normal. She's become a very different person-in not a good way.

She's become paranoid with everyone around her. She felt as if the world was completely a bad place. Whenever she felt that thought surfacing, she would quickly intercept it with any prayer that came to her mind.

Adeelah knew if not for Allah's mercy in her, she would have been in the psychiatric.

"Are you sure you're fine?" Muhammad asked again, shifting close to where Adeelah was sitting.

Adeelah heaved, which had also became habitual. "I am fine."

Muhammad knew it was a lie. He wished he could tell her why he married her in order to ease the tension in her head. He pitied her, because everyone could tell from a distance that Adeelah was hanging on. He would often hear her weeping and there's nothing he could do. Perhaps it's time to destroy those boundaries he set for himself in bid to help her. He'd rather help her by being emotionally there for her. She's in need of a shoulder to lean on. He could read that from her silence. Either way, she shouldn't worry because he would eventually bring peace to her doorstep by God's grace. It's just a matter of time.

Muhammad held her with her regards especially now that she's under him. She's a woman of strength. He had seen how she's there for her father, how she's manage to write her final examinations in mid of all the brouhaha, and how she's trying to fit in her home.

With so much admiration visible in his eyes, he rustled. "Come here."

Adeelah was reluctant at first, but when his large arms encircled her, she found herself cocooned in his hold. She wanted to lie to herself that his hold wasn't soothing. Needn't, she succumbed and agreed it was nothing but soothing and to be with him. She felt as if she was safe there, as if nothing could harm her again. The first time he lifted her at the hospital, her head against his chest, she felt the same and that's why she wasn't able to scream.

Muhammad tightened his arm at her back, nudging her to snuggle more into his chest. He felt a sense of protection spark in him. The urge to shield Adeelah from anything bad, dawned on him.

"You're always safe here." He said in an earnest voice. Adeelah was so dear to someone he held so dear. He could protect that person with all his might and same way he could protect Adeelah. Even though the person he was doing all this for, had zero idea, Muhammad was certain he would love the surprise.

As odd as it sounded though, he was working based on facts, he had never seen the person in person but he virtually knew about him and he had seen his pictures. Muhammad knew all he was doing was crazy. It didn't make any sense. But he's just sure ElMustapha Kabo, even though they had never met, was his brother and he learnt that the customised name on his wrist watch 'Heer' was none's name other than Adeelah's.

That's it. Other reasons were in his diary. He hoped Adeelah would find it. He hoped to meet ElMustapha face to face one day.

But there's another person in the picture. Someone he doubted.

His name was Salisu. And he worked as Adeelah's chauffeur.

Adeelah shut her eyes. She didn't want to think of anything else, she just wanted to stay there, for as long as it would last. She would have let her thoughts wander to that same person her heart ached to have, but it would be too wrong. So she focused on being with Muhammad. He wasn't that bad anyway. Somehow she put it in her mind that Muhammad too wasn't there to stay long. She's mindedly prepared. Her life had been a dice, it could roll to one or six. Either way, wasn't a loss.

But she's careful. Extremely.

She had never felt so close to him till this days. Even so, she still remind herself that he could be aloof sometimes. So distant and unfriendly. Despite that, he's not austere man. He's only kind to her for his own reasons. That's all.

Muhammad patted her back. "Don't you worry, i am here whenever you need me."

Adeelah was being puritanical to her heart. She didn't want to fall in a situation she can't handle. So she put it in her mind that, whatever he would say, she wouldn't allow it get to her.

She would first of all try to get to know him before any feeling got involved. She knew it's a hard task but she would try her best. This time around, she wouldn't let her heart mislead her. She would carry her compass brain all along the journey. Unless the brain decided to betray her, then she would be left with none option.

Adeelah was thinking of how to set those boundaries when sleep stole her away. If she had control over it, she would have stopped herself from sleeping on his chest. Even though he's her husband.

Muhammad stared at her innocent face, sleeping like a baby. As much as he wanted to look away, he couldn't. After catching himself smilinfor the fifth time, he decided to just take her to bed. He gently adjusted Adeelah and took her on his arm. As began to march to her room, he heard as if she's saying something even though he was sure she's deep asleep.

"No dear heart! You can't love him until you fully know him! Until you what? Fully know him!" Adeelah slurred.

As unreal as it sounded, Muhammad couldn't help but release his stifled laughter. Immediately he tucked her in the bed and faltered out, he busted.

Interesting!

Muhammad reached his room feeling so excited. After he laid on the bed, he found himself scolding his heart too. No love, not this soon, not ever.

*****

In his black Kaftan, he walked briskly to the cafe he had been invited to, by the strange man. His feet was slightly covered in dust, which he generated from the way he was walking. When he reached the fancy cafe, he noticed that people were casting him glances. He wondered why because left to him, he's well dressed.

Not intending to embarass himself, he stayed standing. He would rather wait for the man that invited him to come around. Few minutes later, the man came in all his poise.

"I'm sorry i kept you waiting." The man said, extending his hands for a shake.

He shook it back and they sat outdoors on a sitter. A minute later, a woman dressed in uniform brought them coffee with pancakes.

There was a little silence between the two men. The one in black only sat like a drenched goat, frightened and uncomfortable.

"Please have the coffee." He urged.

"My name is Muhammad." He said in a proud voice.

"Salisu." The man in black answered back.

Muhammad couldn't hide his smile. The kind of smile that one does when someone has downgrade his sense. When would Salisu learn to be himself? If all the people believed him to be Salisu, then he Muhammad, would never. Because he knew the backstory, he knew it all via his numerous investigations.

So in order to not stir a confusion or unreasonable tension between them, he decided to just let it go.

"Yeah i was told, your name is Salisu. I am actually looking for someone trustworthy to be my wife's chauffeur. A friend recommended you."

Salisu grinned. Memories of Adeelah rushing into his head like adrenaline. It suddenly sent flights of emotions in him. He's terribly missing her and wondering why Abba or Adeelah didn't reach him. They were supposed to reach him after reading that paper.

"That would be nice. I will gladly work for you, i like you at first glance. You seem to be a nice man."

Muhammad nearly smiled again. Salisu didn't recognise him to be that man that caught him when he was in Abuja.

"Thank you. I'm travelling out of the country for six months. So for that span, you would stay at the house. You can move your mother into the house. She may like my wife's company. Or rather they will enjoy having each other around. Adeelah would be nice."

The last sentence hit Salisu's eardrum so loud. It felt like a gunshot, like a bombshell. He didn't know when he released the mug in his hand and the coffee washed away the dust on his feet. It wasn't so hot as compared to the inferno scorching in his system. He's sure he heard this man right.

Adeelah? His Dillaliya?

"Subhanallah. Are you fine?"

"Ye... yeah i was..." Salish trailed off.

Muhammad knew it wasn't fine but he decided to let it as Salisu wanted it.

"You begin work next month."

"Thank you Sir." Salisu said with courtesy.

Although his mind wad far, albeit they talked. When the man walked away, Salisu punched the air.

It's not the fact that he Adeelah was married again that dissembled him but the fact that in those paper, were something he wrote.

A revelation for her.

But he never divorced her!

It meant neither Abba nor Adeelah read the papers.

Lord of mercy! This situation was beyond him. He didn't even know what to do! He rushed out of the cafe and headed home. Even within the vicinity of his room, forth pacing, he didn't find a solution.

But one thing was, once again, he would be Adeelah's chauffeur. Till he figured out what to do.

But the other man in him warned him that it was religiously wrong. So he resorted to work as her chauffeur but with one condition!

He would tell Muhammad about it before he starts work.

*****

There's it! Digest it all😂😂😂🎉