Unedited, unrevised.

****

Yar tsana smiled as she dressed in an abaya, she was in the makeup studio of a random makeup artist. Her makeup was intact and had concealed her imperfections. When she went out of the studio, she went under her wheel and stayed in the car. She spray the perfume and wore the khol in her eyes. She's all set for Ammar. She had asked Balale her errand boy to monitor Ammar and he told her that Ammar had just parked at a store. Smiling, she began to drive fast, ignoring all the drivers insulting her.

She arrived at the store and parked. She checked herself again in the mirror and cleared her voice before she swallowed a mint sweet which she believed it would add sweetness to her already sugarcoated voice. She walked in, her dual perfume, of powerful scent drawing the attention of people around.

She had already received information about what Ammar was wearing. When she sighted him from a far, she inhaled deeply. She kept tracing him until he finished shopping and faltered out. She saw him stopped to talk to someone. There she walked faster to where she parked her car, near his'. Yar tsana was tactful, careful and wise. She opened her bonnet and removed the wires that held the car battery. She went under the wheel and began to bring the car to ignition. As expected, it refused to ignite. She hissed countless times when she saw Ammar opposite her. He didn't say a word, hence she was pushed to come out of the car and seek for his help.

"Oh ya Allah, assalamu alaikum gentle man." She said calmly, now Ammar looked at her. At first, he held his breath, stunned with her beauty. His eyes suddenly inspected her abaya which was very loose. He was surprised of how modest she was despite her beauty and nice voice. He had met countless beautiful girls whom without no difficult succumb to his wishes. And most of them were not chaste. Now to see this woman, he felt something. He wanted her.

His friend had once told him that he had never been in love. Ammar was just infatuated with most of the girls.

Yar tsana barely hide her joy. Now that Ammar's attention was on her, she casted her eyes down.

"Please help me check my car. I called my mechanic but I couldn't reach him." She sought in what seemed to be a shy manner.

Ammar heaved. "Wa'alaikumus salam. Okay let me check."

"No no, don't stain your hands or your clothes. I have tried. I just want you to help me with a hundred naira. I emptied my change in there."

"Why don't I drop you? Where do you stay?"

"No, my daddy will be so mad to see me in a man's car. I will rather take the motorcycle. Let me reach him again." She placed a faux call and it didn't go through. She hissed and slapped her face.

Ammar studied her for a while. "You should explain to him thereafter. Please come in."

"Okay if you promise to explain to him when you drop me. I don't want to commit sin by being with a man alone." She pouted.

Ammar smiled. How thoughtful was this woman. "Trust me. I won't harm you." And he opened the car for her. She aimed for the backseat claiming to be pious.

"Please switch to the front." She did that because she knew she had already imprinted a good image of hers in Ammar's head. She had heard he was a silly person and loved mingling with girls. With the way he acted though, she felt like the sorcery didn't work on him. He didn't look like he's possessed already. But she would wait and see. Maybe the effect of the charm takes time.

"My name is Ammar."

"I am Mabroukah." She shyly replied. Ammar asked for the direction of her house and she showed him.

He didn't forget to collect her number. For, this time, he was ready to settle down. And if Allah wills, Mabroukah was already his wife.

****

Fatimah's wedding was tomorrow already. Adeelah had been planning especially now that she felt like Fatimah was a bit happy. She didn't like inquiring about people's life and Fatimah wasn't an exception that's why she didn't ask Fatimah what had transpired.

She wanted to spend the night in Fatimah's house for the whole week but Abba said no. She didn't ask him again, for she knew he won't back off.

Nafeesah was back at school, Haneey was back. She was the only one that remained and she would go back soon to submit her approval letter and then go to Abuja.

While Nafeesah was away, she had been engaged to her boyfriend. Adeelah was surprised of the sudden arrangements but she didn't ask anyone.

"Adeelah baby, please come and help me in the kitchen." Hafsatu called her.

Adeelah looked at her for a brief second. "Okay let me finish reciting my azkar."

"I am asking you to come and you're telling me this? Why are you so disobedient?" Hafsatu shouted.

Adeelah laughed. "Can you imagine? I said I am coming, I am doing something important. Is it because I was soft in my speech that's why you think you can order me around? Aunt I am coming. I am what? I am coming. If you can't wait, then..." Adeelah shrugged and turned away. Hafsatu bit her lip. Oh Allah. She wanted to beat Adeelah so bad.

"Don't come. Stay, stay..."

"That's better." Adeelah said and left the parlor. When she sat on her bed, reciting the azkar, she sighed. As soon as she was done, she decided to go and see Hafsatu.

"Aunt what should I do?"

"Just go since you don't have an ounce of manners in you! Go!" Adeelah was hurt but she walked away without a word. Hafsatu was lucky that she didn't want to talk.

"Tell that dumb man to go and refill my gas cylinders." She said, going after Adeelah.

"Which dumb man do we have in this house?"

"Salisu mana. You of all people know him better."

"He's not dumb aunt. He's my chauffeur and he deserves some respect." With that, Adeelah walked out to deliver the message. Hafsatu had remained at the spot. She had noticed something since last week and she wanted to figure out what was it. Something was fishy.

*****

Hidaya had been feeling an unbearable pain below hee stomach. She was just five months along. Feeling it beyond her power, she limped to Ameer's room and knocked.

By the time she pushed the door, she was almost touching the ground.

"Ameer..." She moaned in pain. Ameer jumped from his bed to the door.

"What happened Hidaya? What's it?" He said as he carried her on his arm to his car. He was dressed in a jallabiya but he didn't care. His wife wad dying. When he got in the car and began driving to the nearest hospital, Hidaya was breathing had and had began to bleed.

There he reached the hospital and it was confirmed that she miscarried the baby. He called his mother to inform of what happened as Hidaya was asked to stay at the hospital. When the news reached both women they cried together. As if it was the end of the world. Little did they know that the root of their problem was Beebo.

It was Beebo who sacrificed Hidaya's foetus to her sorcery. How was she connected to Hidaya?

Ameer decided to go out and buy something for them. There he found his car missing. Someone had stolen it. His headache intensified, headache for losing his unborn child, for being be-sorcered, and for losing his car. And so he fell unconscious.

It was doomsday.

*****

Adeelah sat with Fatimah on a chair as Fatimah got dressed. She had been made up at home and was preparing to go to the event centre. Adeelah had wanted to invite Ameer but when she called him and didn't reach him, she gave up.

She then received a call from El-mustapha. They talked for five minutes and she told him that her best friend was getting married. He asked if he was invited and Adeelah said yes. He promised to come.

"You left Salisu with an empty stomach since morning. Adeelah be kind! Go and take some food to him." That being said by Fatimah's mother, Adeelah remembered that she came out with Salisu early in the morning and she asked him not to leave in case she would need him.

"I will take the food right way. I will be back Fatimah." She said.

Adeelah had been feeling light in the head since her attention was brought to the fact that she left him hungry.

When she reached out and saw him sleeping under the shade of a tree, she felt like crying. She salamed loud but he didn't hear her. Salisu was deep asleep and she knew hunger must have contributed.

"Sa... Um..." She trailed off. She didn't want to say Salisu and she didn't find any name befitting.

"Salisu!" She gave up. Salisu fluttered his eyes open and saw her. When she saw that he was looming at her, she looked away and walked to the car. And he followed her.

"I thought to bring food for you."

"Thank yoy Dillaliya. How's the bride, Fatimah? Is her groom as fine as your Ameer?" He asked. Lord! He's back with his runny mouth.

"Salisu if you will collect this food, you better collect. I am heading back."

"Okay thank you very much for being a caring wife. I know cats are caring, you know? And oh they're so loving. Dillaliya thank you." He blabbed.

"Salisu you know it's Adeelah and you can say it. For Allah's sake stop calling me Dillaliya, I hate the name with passion."

"Let's have a deal then. Are you in?"

Adeelah nodded.

"You find me a new name and I give you Adeelah."

Adeelah almost hiss. What's wrong with this man? Few days ago she was feeling all cozy about him but now he's back to being annoying. He would never change.

"When you finish eating just go home. I will use Fatimah's house car than for me to be with you. And I am having a special guest at the wedding. I know you want to go there. You won't ruin my day and disgrace me in front of my special guest. El-mustapha Mahmoud Kabo, is his name for your information. Ameer and El-mustapha are the stars in my universe now. I am choosing one." Adeelah said all that to annoy him.

"Dillaliya, you said you will be calling me Thalis? Or Habib? I didn't hear you!" Adeelah felt like slapping him but she gently walked away. Salisu laughed at her back.

He got under the wheel and drove away. He drove away feeling happy just like that. He would attend the wedding and see how disappointed she would be. But instead of going home, he drove to brigade. To see his Goggo.

His beloved Goggo. Whom he would soon bring Adeelah for her to see. Yes, on the day they would go to Abuja. Goggo would see her daughter in law.

With that, he sighed. May he win Adeelah's heart.

****

Salam alaikum. How're you all? Alhamdulillah I am fine, hale and hearty. Thanks to those that checked on me.

So what's your thought?