One month later.

I used to think my life was the most complicated sad life ever but i was wrong. Being part of Adeelah's family taught me alot of things. It's even quite unfortunate that everything that happened, ended up affecting her the more. She's sensitively numb, acting like nothing was going on.

Her family were back to Nigeria while she and Abdul her brother stayed with their father. He's now able to recognize some other more people but he barely had alot of memories of them. Waking up last week, he asked of Nafeesah and it occured to me that she's the only one apart from Haneey and her mother who wasn't present.

Adeelah seemed to notice too but she barely talked to me after that day. We would meet and exchange gazes but she would say nothing. So, i decided to let her be. I arranged her flight back to Nigeria the same time her father would be leaving.

She's grateful for that in her silence and pinning gaze when i told her about it. Muhammad was giving me the silent treatment too. He walked past us that day and since then we had been acting strange around each other. I knew he was boiling in jealousy but now he had simmered especially that Adeelah was very free and friendly with him. I felt like she's doing it to hurt me.

I stared at them from the hotel corridor as she fed her father who seemed to now recognize her as Adeelah and not Aayat. They'd tell his therapist the details and she's doing a good job. He's engaged in a group therapy with patients like him. Now, he'd come in terms with Adeelah being older and Aayat being dead but it seemed, he never recalled that memory.

I could sense how broken Adeelah was. How she couldn't ramble what she went through when he was missing. How he couldn't even explain to them how he missed his eye, in lieu, he wanted answers from them on how he lost his eye. So they told him he had an accident and thus some of his memories were gone.

I walked to where they were sitting, Abba, Adeelah and Muhammad. I knew I wasn't welcomed but i sat anyway.

"Abba, this is Muhammad, my husband." He looked at me not Muhammad.

"Abba not him. This one right here, she circled her hand around Muhammad's neck and all Muhammad did was to hold her too. I was filled with protective jealousy, so i looked away. She's doing this because she hadn't forgiven me. She's doing this as a punishment of the crimes she held me accountable for. She's doing it just for the play.

Abba smiled at me and i squatted to greet him. He answered me smiling. "It's funny how I can't even remember my in-law. Is this Nafeesah's husband?" He asked.

"He's no one's husband Abba. No one's." She repeated. I chuckled along with them before Muhammad excused himself. Abba also excused himself so i used the opportunity to grab Adeelah's hand to the next door where i lived.

The moment we entered, I engulfed her.
"If you want to be held this way, you speak up not go about holding random men." She pulled back.

"Really? For your information, I married Muhammad not Ameer. Muhammad was totally there for me when you left. He's a thousand times better than you. Salisu you left me broken with a divorce paper. You didn't even care to come just once and say bye. Salisu i fainted out of shock! Because I didn't want you to divorce me."

I remained still. "Did you read the paper Adeelah?"

She looked at me. "I didn't because when i regained my conciousness all i wanted was to forget you." That's where the problem was.

I could swear on my life that what i wrote in the paper was just me requesting for a second chance. I even revealed to her that i was in disguise and why i was in it. I retrieved the story of us in Saudi. I called her attention to how much i loved and would love to have her as my wife. I made it clear that after that second chance if she didn't fall in love i will let her be. Then i told her i will be as far as i could be so she would think while i take care of some stuff. I even attached my number for her. It's nothing more nothing less. But even when we got married in her father's parlor, i never had the intention of divorcing her because i had talked to her father prior to that. He knew i was in disguise. That's why he even allowed me to have her as my wife.

"But I didn't divorce you Adeelah." Instead of shocking expression, she busted.

"Crazy! Why would you be lying Salisu? Why is your life full of lies? From wearing a disguise for whatsoever reasons, to being my chauffeur when you're one of the richest people in Africa to then coming back to say you didn't divorce me. See, i am going to be very honest with you. I don't even believe you're who you claimed to be. Because while with you, i have met ElMustapha. I understand you lie to survive but please not these two lies. That you're ElMustapha Kabo and you didn't divorce me." She finished with a warning face before she walked out of the room, leaving me stranded right there in a hazy world of mine.

I didn't even know how to begin this thing. Muhammad wouldn't make it any easier for me too. But he's the last hope i had. When i walked to meet him, tell him the story from A to Z and pleaded with him, he said only few words.

"We meet in Shari'a court as soon as we land in Nigeria because i have already filed a case against you. It's just a simple trial between me, you, Adeelah and her family. They have to witness who will be with her!"

"Easy there brother! No love should come between the two of us." I patted his shoulder and left him there. But when i left the hotel, i fled back to London.

****

"I don't seem to understand why my brother's will is missing at first, only to be found later." Baffa Kabo brought out the forged will and gave the lawyers as they were to finish making arrangements for inheritance. I wondered how he's able to do it. All i knew was he did it in his favor.

Maami told me something. She gave me the will and she said even though since she left the Kabo family, Baba Kabo had never reach out to her till a week before his death. He gave her the Will because he believed Baffa Kabo would never guess that it was with her. She kept it safe in a briefcase and she handed it over to me together with another pack where she had my birth certificate, the change of name papers and the picture of our mother.

I thanked her and left to ponder on how to confront Baffa Kabo. Clearly, in the Will, Baba Kabo had requested that i should change my name back to the original name and claim my wealth. As per his own wealth, i should be given half as compensation, the other half should be divided into three, one for Maami, one for his relatives and one for charity. Other words were on how he was deeply in regret. He showed his repentance in the Will. I was happy on his behalf and for the fact that he didn't let Baffa Kabo harm me, i forgave him right away.

I mumbled a prayer for his soul and my father's soul rest in peace.

So when the lawyers finished their talk with Baffa Kabo, i followed them outside.

One of them was Baba's trustworthy lawyer who had his signature under the will. So i brought the original will and gave him.

"Compare the two and tell me which one is the original."

He laughed dryly.

"I was playing the game along with him till i catch him red handed. It is high time he reaps what he sow." The lawyer sounded confident but I wasn't. Baffa knew well how to play this game. He had been playing it for thirty years.

I tapped his shoulder. "In my opinion, we should set a trap for him. As you see, he's trying to completely relocate back to Nigeria. Only Allah knows why." He agreed with me and i only sighed, hoping all will go as planned. My head was aching badly and it had every right to. My life had been in sections and once i open a section, i close the other.

Now, it's time to open a selfcare section. Not family related or Adeelah. So i called Othman and asked him if he was free because i would love to hang out, have coffee and read an inspirational book. Now out of my main concerns in life, newspaper and family ditched.

Sometimes you have to allow yourself breath a fresh air, let your head be clear for once. Enjoy and spoil yourself.

****

Ever since they came back home, Adeelah failed to understand who this Muhammad was. He was a total different human being. She expected him to talk endless about how worried he was when she got missing. At first she thought it was all stress when he first raised his voice on her, a day after she spent the night at her family house.

"You're not spending another day here!" He said in an authoritative voice. In no time, tears filled her eyes and she bid her family bye before following him back.

Now seeing that he hadn't touch the doughnut she made as breakfast while she was waiting for him to have a taste and tell her it's nice, Adeelah knew it's high time to talk. She didn't want to live with Muhammad as though she's living on needle cushion.

"I'm sorry if you think all that happened to me, happened because i went out without your consent. I tried to call you, wallah." She swore, fidgeting with her fingers, sounding as innocent as a child.

She peered under her eyes and saw that his jaw was still hard.

"It's better if you speak up because i have zero idea on why you're upset!" She remarked, her personality taking over. Being such innocent and calm was never in her. It's just a persuasive attempt and since it's not yielding, she would rather be herself and breath properly.

He looked at her. "How could you have an idea when you head is filled with the idea of hugging someone! That someone too, my brother. And for the worst of it, you're married to me. How belittling is that!"

Adeelah's palm suddenly went to close her mouth.

"Did you just say Salisu is your brother?"

Muhammad narrowed his eyes at her. "When did i mention Salisu? Who again is Salisu?" He asked, forgetting he knew someone with that name. Forgetting that his brother had told him about being Salisu.

"He is my chauffeur. My most complicated chauffeur."

Adeelah went close to Muhammad.

"I mean Adeel ElMustapha! I don't even know which name to choose! Salisu is my favorite though." Realizing what she just said, she began coughing till Muhammad thought it was real and he brought her water.

When she took three gulps, she became nervous to keep the cup down because she could feel Muhammad's gaze burning her skin. Mustering up some courage, she faced him.

"I can't believe this! Isn't this good news? You should be happy that you found your brother! You should be very thrilled gaskiya. Wai ma tsaya, wait, why are you seeming like you're not happy with it? Like the both of you are not excited at all! Why?"

Muhammad scratched his nape and spoke in a very calm manner.

"Why will we be happy when we all are interested in the same woman? He claims that he's married to you but i know if he is, there's no way you will be married to me. Why will i be happy when all i see in you is love for him?" Adeelah's forehead started to sweat, she swallowed something hard.

Was Muhammad saying the truth? That she's in love?

When she didn't say anything, he added.

"There's no need to ask you if it's true or not. You two may decide to gang up against me. He said Abba witnessed the marriage and now Abba lost his memory. I'm not giving in to this your scheme. The court will judge between us." Muhammad stood up to leave.

"You messaged him last, so I'm not going to lie and say I don't think you both planned your abduction." With that, he took his keys and went out of the house with his car. Adeelah could hear him locking the gate from outside.

She was too limped with his words to even move a finger. Instead of being angry, she pursed her lips and started asking herself questions.

"Toh why will he be jealous when he had never shown that he loves me?"

"Besides, it's Salisu i knew first. I didn't say anything about loving him though. He had been my husband but he is my chauffeur. Nothing more. Isn't it?"

"This Muhammad is even troublesome. What if the judge asks me to choose between them?"

"But wait above all! I am Mrs Adeel because I didn't see any divorce papers and Salisu is saying he didn't divorce me. Is he to be trusted?"

She kept asking questions that deep down in her heart, she knew the answer to some. Since Muhammad preferred the court, they would go there.

But for now, Istikhara- prayer for guidance it is!

May Allah choose the best for them all.