The weather was extremely hot. Manal had to sit on the ground in the backyard because the place was cool. The air there was amazing because the Gardner had not come to cut the flowers for that month. She was staring at the sky and smiling happily at all the shapes formed by the cloud. she really enjoys nature. she didn't notice when a masculine figure sat close to her. "Manal, whats so amazing about the sky?" Asked Afan. She was startled, she immediately shifted a bit so their body won't be touching.

"Afan, you scared me. Oh my God" She breathed in and out heavily. He chuckled.

"Sorry, why are you here when everyone is Inside watching television?. Don't you want to watch the series as well?" Afan Asked.

"I like it here" she responded calmly. One thing Afan liked about his brothers wife was how calm she was. It always seemed to make him laugh at how opposite his brother was. He even wondered how Cairo and Hadiza manage their lives together because they both are not calm. One bit!

"You are lying Manal. I know what's going on, I've been here for just four days and I can see how distant you and Cairo are. Why don't you go to his Room at night just Like Hadiza does?. Why don't you converse with him?. Manal stop pretending to be happy, I know you are sad" He said. She bursted into laughter. "I'm good Afan" She lied.

"You know I know well right?, So I know you are lying but I won't push you into telling me what you do not want to" He got up on his feet.

"Afan..." she called.

"Yeah, Manal" He responded.

"Don't worry too much Afan, I'm good. And I'm happy, okay?" She said. Afan didn't utter a word and walked out. Manal couldn't control the tears in her eyes and they fell. Afan was really smart, he could see she wasn't happy even though she had tried her possible best to hide her emotions. Oh Allah, she wished she could share her pain with Afan. She was already tired of her life with Cairo, all she wanted happiness. Afan on the other hand stood behind the window in the kitchen  staring at her, she didn't know he was there. He was sure his brother was treating Manal badly. Afan decided to go to his room, he took his bath and left the house for the task that brought him to their house.

~*~

Hadiza on the other hand sat elegantly on the huge chair in the parlor. She was typing away on her latest iPhone 13 pro max. She was busy scrolling through Instagram and laughing hysterically at the jokes on the gram. Oh she enjoyed Instagram so much, especially its reals. Manal, who wanted to take food to Mallam Hamza decided to pass through the front door, seeing that it was closer to the gate and she could call him to get it faster.

"Where are you taking my food to?" Hadiza said as soon as she sighted Manal.

"Your food?. I don't understand, how has it become yours?" Manal asked in a very polite manner.

"My husband bought it, so it's mine" Hadiza said.

"You forget he is also my Husband Hadiza" She said. The calmness in her voice was killing Hadiza.

"He doesn't love you and he never will. He hates you Manal and he wishes you were even dead Incase you do not know. Do you think that Cairo will ever love you?. HA!. You are a fool" Hadiza said in a very venomous tone. Before Manal could respond, Afan pushed the front door open. He had arrived just in time to hear what Hadiza was saying, he wanted to open the door but when he heard Hadiza screaming, he paused.

"He will love her, because she is better than you Hadiza. I don't even know what my brother sees in you, you are very Selfish and Wicked. Manal, lets go" Afan said angrily. Manal followed behind him as they both walked out of the door. Hadiza was stunned at Cairo's brothers audacity, she would make sure he pays. She thought. But little did she know who Afan truly was, she never knew she was trying to temper with the lions favorite toy.

"You shouldn't have scolded her, Cairo will not take it lightly on you" Manal said to Afan after they had both given Mallam Hamza his food.

"That's if he comes back to meet me" Afan said "And Manal, why didn't you tell me about how my brother has been treating you. I thought it would have gotten better between the two of you by now" Afan said as they both sat on the swing in the garden which they had strolled to.

"There was nothing to speak about" She said.

"Are you out of your mind?, you are suffering and dying slowly Manal. If it wasn't for Mallam Hamza, I wouldn't had ever found out that you had a heart-attack. I wouldn't know that my brother treats you like a maid in your matrimonial home. It's Enough Manal, you don't deserve this. My mother would never be happy to see you suffer like this. Never!" Tears cascaded down from Afan's eyes as he spoke. He could remember vividly how his mother treated Manal like a Queen while she was alive. It was sad to see her looking like a widow when her husband is very much Alive.

"I'm sorry" she managed to say in a whisper. She was in tears as well.

"I'm going back to GAJAN and I promise you that all your problems finishes today. You'll find peace, I promise" He said.

"Why going back so soon?" She questioned.

"The king Father needs me" He said.

"Grandfather?" She asked. "How's he doing?. The last time I spoke to him was five months ago when he bought me a gift I greeted him for" She said.

"He is good. He always speaks about you. the last time Cairo came to visit, He asked him why you haven't conceived and Cairo said that you had a miscarriage and the doctor said you should wait some few years before conceiving again. But now I know whats going on" He said. "I'll set everything right for you Manal, you deserve peace" He said. Manal could feel a weight being lifted from her head, it was as though Peace had washed over her.