Ever since my stepmother, Inna Habibah sent me the picture of my husband, Idris hugging a woman at work I hadn't been myself. First, she called and told me about it and when I could not believe it she sent me the picture as proof. The picture wasn't that clear so I couldn't tell if I knew the woman or not but I was just glad he had been caught by my stepmother, he might have forgotten she was a staff there as well.

I couldn't confront him about it, I was so naive and also baffled. The only thing I could do was ignoring him and also distancing myself from him. I didn't used to deprive him his marital right though, whenever he needed me on the bed I would make myself available for him but I would act like a robot - something he didn't like. He wanted positive responses from me!

Today, as soon as Amani and I prepared to go and plait our hair I went to his room to seek for his permission to drive out. As a married woman, I needed to sought my husband's permission before going out. It is a must in Islam for us to do that... in normal circumstances.

"AsSalama Alaykum" I muttered and gently walked into his room. "Permit us to go and plait our hair. Amani is already in the car"

He was operating his laptop so he pretended as if he didn't hear me. I had to ask again, and when I did he yelled at me. "Fucking what? If you want to go then go, no one will stop you!"

His utterance pierced my heart that I started giving his words different meanings. Was he sending me away from his house? Was he tired and impatient with all my flaws already? Was he telling me he cared no more? I was only reacting to the evil he did so he should not blame me for not being too nice to him like I used to.

"Fine, thank you!" I said and left his room with tears blurring my vision. I had to set them free hence I did. And before I reached my car in the parking lot I cleared my face lest Amani finds out what was going on. "Fasten your seatbelt"

"Okey, mummy" She uttered and did as I said.

Hence, I started the car and drove us gently to our favourite hairstylist few kilometers away. Her name was Maimuna, she was very good at her work. When we reached the place we met five people ahead of us, which means we had to wait. And while waiting, I decided to log into my WhatsApp at least to be less bored.

And just then, I saw a woman's picture on Idris' status with a caption that reads; "Can't believe pregnancy is making my Aisha to look more beautiful. Loads of love to you"

It was like she was the same woman he was caught hugging. That moment, I felt a heavy load on my head - like I was carrying the whole world on top of it. Before tears could escape my eyes I stood and walked outside to my car. I needed no one to tell me something was going on between my husband and her, something I literally needed to know about.

"Who's she?" I queried Idris as soon as he accepted my WhatsApp voice call. "Huh?"

"Which she? Aisha?" He said busting into laughter. "You mean you don't know her?"

"You didn't answer my question, Idris!" I said.

"Okey, fine. She's my best friend, ex colleague and also one of the best..." He was saying when I ended the call in tears. There was literally no need to hear more of his disappointing words.

I cried in the car until I could no longer cry. It had tinted glasses and could block the interior and exterior noise to relatively 95% hence no passerby knew I was even crying. And as soon as it was my turn to plait my hair Amani came and signalled me. Thus, I cleared my face and stormed out of the car like nothing happened.

"Oya, lets go my baby" I said as we gently headed back into the hairstylist's house.

Immediately we were done, I drove us back to house. It was Sunday, hence Idris was at break but I couldn't find him at home. What baffled me was the fact that his car was in the parking lot. Thence, I decided to consult our gateman and when I did, he testified to me that a woman came with a car and drove Idris out. "What?!" I didn't even know when I squealed.

"Yes, but Madam please don't tell him I was the one that told you this" The gateman implored.

I didn't say a word to him, I only ran back into the house and started arranging my clothes in tears. After that, I arranged Amani's own too and together we left to my parents' house. The whole mansion was surprised to see us, and judging from our luggage they knew we weren't staying for a short period of time.

"Manal, is everything okey?" My mother said getting hold of my hands. "Tell me, please..."

"I... I don't know" I stuttered while sobbing.

"What do you mean you don't know?" My father chimed in. "Did he divorced you?!"

"No, he... he didn't" I stuttered again.

"Then what's all this about?" My father said.

"I just..." I was saying when my stepmother cut in, she was the only one that knew my plight.

"Please allow her to breath, lets go inside first" She said signalling perplexed Asiyah, Farouq and Nafisah to help us with all our luggage.

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Thank you for reading #InsideArewa

Wow, this is heart touching!