Not edited.

Yasmeen couldn't wrap her head around the fact that she's married to Asad. But, it isn't just that. The idea of being married feels surreal.

Her? Married?

So, she's now a married woman? To Bros nonetheless?

No. it all feels like some joke or something. One that she's still yet to accept.

Then again, she wasn't surprised that her father would marry her off like that. She expected it to be honest, she just didn't think it would actually be possible just like that.

"Having spoken to Asad, I could see that he's a good man." Baba said, after he sent Nusaiba to summon her to his living room. It's the same day she has been married off to Asad. It was a Friday, after Jumuah prayers and a little after three.

The guests—her now husband's family--had left about an hour ago, when he summoned her to talk. To be honest, she didn't want to go because she feared it would be him scolding her again.

The thought had her mood dampening, then it lifted only because being married means she'll leave the house and he won't even see her to scold her. She had been hoping for the day she'll leave the house so she won't have to live in fear of him again, and it's now happening.

That's probably the main reason she agreed to marry Asad. Any chance she can get to get away from her family is welcomed with open hands. She has spent her entire life living like that...she wants none of it again.

When she greeted the old man after settling on the carpet, he answered in his usual dismissive tone making her heart beat wildly behind her ribcage. A part of her, a small part was actually hoping that since he had married her off...he'd be less cold.

But, he's still the same.

Judging from the first statement he uttered though, she couldn't exactly tell whether he actually believes Asad is a good man or he's just saying it. Nonetheless, she took in a breath and allowed her shoulders to slump, not saying a thing to him.

"He explained the situation, and asked for your hand in marriage instead." He added, his voice low but his tone, not so cold. "In case zaki cigaba da wannan halin ki na banzan, I thought it would be better off to just tie the knot kafin ki qara bata mana suna. Kiji chan and do whatever, you are no longer our responsibility, but his."

Yasmeen flicked her eyes close, her heart clenching even more. It hurts. His words hurt, but it's like he doesn't realize it. To be honest, it's time like this that she wishes he's not in her life. Is this how parenting works? To say whatever, you want to your child simply because you give birth to them?

She didn't want her thoughts to dwell on that, so she forced herself to keep them aside and instead focused on the fact that she will soon leave the house and no longer deal with this.

Making sure to keep her lips shut, she quietly waited as he continued.

"Considering the circumstances under which the nikah took place, you will be conveyed to your new house in a week in shaa Allah." He stated, flicking his eyes to rest on her figure. She wasn't staring at him, but rather at the carpet that suddenly piqued her interest. "Thankfully, I haven't cancelled your documents yet because he works in Birmingham too, so you'd live with him there."

Yasmeen knew that, considering Asad already told her. She had already processed everything initially with her whole marriage with Rafael. The man doesn't live there, but he apparently has to work there for a while, so he planned to take her with him initially. Everything has been processed already, including her transfer to another university to finish off her studies since she still has a year left.

She wasn't exactly bumped about the whole not moving abroad thing after the wedding had been called off—considering she had other pressing issues. Now though, she couldn't deny that she's glad she would still leave.

Who doesn't want a change of environment? She loves Nigeria, but with everything going on—especially with ASUU threatening to go on strike, she wouldn't want to miss up on the first chance to complete her studies elsewhere.

She has been in BUK for about five years now, and she's still in level three over a four-year course. If Asuu goes on strike with her still in the university, who knows how long she will spend again. Perhaps, seven years?

It wouldn't be surprising.

"I don't really have much expectations from you, but, kiji tsoran Allah, Yasmeen. I know you aren't a bad kid, and that the people you surround yourself with are the ones that influence you to act out of place. But, kiji tsoran Allah" He repeated, his tone grave. "You are now a married woman. There are things you've done before that you cannot do now. You have a husband now, don't take that lightly..." And then, he went on with his warning and whatnot.

Truth be told, Yasmeen zoned out at one point. A part of her knows she will go through this again before she is conveyed to her 'husband's house'. God, just the thought of that made her want to laugh at the absurdity of the situation, and at the same time, sit and wonder whether it's all real.

Nonetheless, after a while, she zoned back just in time he finished the whole nasiha. He then dismissed her, and like always, she didn't wait for him to say it twice before getting on her feet and disappearing.

She then headed to her room, and to say she was glad there's no one there would be an understatement. She expected her sister to be there, or maybe Amina knowing how nosy the two are. However, much to her luck, they aren't so she could get some time to herself.

Taking off the hijab she had put on to meet her father, she placed it aside before settling on the bed with a sigh. She took in a deep breath, and now that she is crowded by those two women and not under the scrutinizing gaze of her father, she could finally breathe without feeling suffocated.

Just like how she can think clearly now.

She thought getting married would make her feel different, or something in her would change. But, nada. There's no change in her or anything.

It honestly doesn't feel true to her. It just feels like everyone is just saying it but she'll wake up and realize that it's not real.

Perhaps, it's because the nikah happened just like that. And because there are no people trooping around, dressed in their regalia and the house bustling with happiness thick in the air. That has to be why she's still finding it hard to accept the reality.

However, as she sat there and tried to gather her thoughts, her mind drifted back to her last conversation with Asad before she made up her mind on marrying him.

"You...have a daughter?" She questioned, after he had dropped the bomb.

Asad nodded with an ounce of hesitation. "Yes" He answered. "I have a daughter."

Yasmeen blinked, her head tilted to the side slightly as her brows drew in. To say she was taken aback will be an understatement. Not that she expected much from him, or that she knows anything about him, but she simply didn't expect something like that.

So, he has a daughter? She didn't expect that.

He simply doesn't look like someone who has a daughter of his own.

"Okay..." She doesn't know what to say exactly. When she finally gathered her thoughts, she looked up to meet his eyes. "...so you have a wife then?" It's only natural to expect that. Him having a daughter equal to having a wife, right?

He shook his head, his eyes not once leaving hers. But, he wasn't staring at her in a way that made her uncomfortable, there was nothing of such. She could only guess he held her gaze so he wouldn't seem like he's lying.

"No, I don't" He voiced the words out. "Just a little kid." He didn't elaborate, and her best guess is, he doesn't want to talk about it.

So, she didn't ask. She feels like it's enough for him to even tell her about the kid, some men wouldn't. Perhaps, him saying that he doesn't have a wife means they are probably divorced?

She is curious as to what caused the divorce to be honest. But, she didn't want to pry...yet.

"Why are you telling me, though?" She wanted to know. Despite having a nonexistent love life, she has a feeling not all men would even bother to tell her about that. "Why did you tell me you have a daughter?"

Asad's lips slanted into a frown. "Shouldn't I have told you?" He questioned, seeming genuinely confused. "I just felt like it's the right thing to do." He still feels like it's the right thing to do.

"I know but, aren't you scared I wouldn't want to marry you because of that?" He couldn't help but voice out. "You know there are women that wouldn't want to marry a man that has a kid, especially one whose mother isn't around" She means no harm with her words, but she needed to hear his response to this all.

He was quiet for a few second, his head tilted to the side and his frown deepening. As his brows squished together, she could tell the wheels in his head are turning. "So...I should hide my daughter's existence just so I can get married?" That is all he could deduce from her words. He then added. "Then, I'd rather not get married then."

If anything would make him choose between his child and something else, then he doesn't want it.

Yasmeen watched him quietly. There something about Asad then that intrigued her, something she has longed to see in someone. "So, if I'm right, you'd choose your daughter over anything?"

He nodded, without an ounce of hesitation. "My daughter comes first to me, and anything that will get in the way of that is not needed."

That was what helped Yasmeen make up her mind.

Perhaps, it's because she never had a father that loved her like that, but Asad earned himself a spot then. All her life, having lived with a father that doesn't care about her, all Yasmeen ever wanted was a man that love and cares for his kid.

She doesn't care if he will love her or not. She has seen enough marriages around her that discouraged her of the whole marriage concept. The marriages she has grown up seeing taught her that love isn't what keeps a marriage together. It's tolerance, and patience.

Perhaps, it's not all the same but since that's all she grew up seeing, she has no hopes of having a loving spouse.

Since she can't get that, all she hopes is for someone whose heart would stay soft for his kids, always, so her children won't go through what she went through.

And she saw that in Asad. She could tell he's a man that will love his kids, and hopefully not turn out like her father.

So, the existence of his daughter that would send other women away, is what brought them together. She made up her mind because of that.

Before he left that day, they had talked about marital expectations and everything, in case she agrees to the marriage. Though she had already made up her mind, she didn't tell him then and instead focused on talking about what to expect, and how they will compromise everything.

It's the first time since she met him that they actually spoke without getting on each other's throats, and to say she was surprised will be an understatement. However, she knows that it's only for a moment.

At the end of the day, she is still Yasmeen, and he is still the same Asad she met before. Two crazy people living under the same room.

Their marriage is bound to come with drama.

~*~

Later that day, when everyone has retired to their rooms, Yasmeen was about to head to bed when a knock came on the door. Her brows drew in, as she wondered who the person could be. For all she knows, Amina had left already after disturbing her with Nusaiba, and the said woman has retired to her room after her husband called.

Yes, Nusaiba is married.

She is simply at home because of her sister's wedding, and would probably head back to Abuja, where she resides with her husband after Yasmeen has been conveyed to her matrimonial home.

With those two away, and with no one else she expects to be there, she couldn't help but wonder whether someone truly is at the door.

But then a soft knock came again, confirming that someone truly is there.

Before she could react and head out to check, the door knob twisted and then the door was pushed open. Yasmeen was still standing by the vanity table, when soft footsteps approached her after the door was closed. Then, the person came in sight.

Mama.

Taken aback by her mother's presence, Yasmeen's breath hitched for a brief moment. Yes, Asad had already cleared the air and it's been a few days since that happened, but she is still yet to talk to her mother alone about it all.

The woman no longer shuns her, but there's still this tension in the air that could be cut with a knife. So, there's still unresolved issues.

Seeing here there though, Yasmeen couldn't help but wonder whether she should be glad, or scared. Then again, her mother's expression doesn't show that she's upset or something. So, it's good news...right?

"Mama..." She finally found her voice and breathed out. Blinking repeatedly, she turned around and got on her feet.

"Do you have a minute?" Mama questioned, her tone soft.

Unable to find the right words to use, Yasmeen could only nod...still in a trance like form. Don't blame her. She had never spent that long being on bad terms with her mother before. She doesn't know how to act in that situation, too scared to say the wrong thing.

If Mama noticed it, she didn't say a thing about. Instead, she gestured for the girl to take a spot on the bed beside her, and she did so quietly. With them now seated and engulfed with silence, Yasmeen hung her head low and fiddled with her fingers, tapping her foot repeatedly on the floor.

She couldn't dare bring her head up and look at her mother, in fear that they would go back to stage one. She doesn't want that.

A sigh came from Mama, slicing through the thick tension. Then, her voice came. "We haven't had the chance to speak with everything that has happened, so, I thought now will be the best chance we have."

Yasmeen didn't say a thing, not knowing how exactly to answer that.

She could feel her mother turn around to face her completely though, and she could see from the corner of her eyes too. "Tell me, Yasmeen. Be honest, do you like Asad?"

Taken aback by the question, Yasmeen didn't know when she whipped her head up to look at her mother with slightly wide eyes. "Huh?" Of all the things she expected her mother to say, it isn't that.

Mama blinked, blowing out a breath as her shoulders slumped slightly. "Do you like Asad?" She repeated, her eyes never leaving her daughter's.

Now that she has repeated it, though she had gotten it the first time, Yasmeen's eyes only widened even more. She looked down, unable to hold her mother's eyes. What is she supposed to say now?

The answer is definitely no. But, does it matter? They are already married, chapter closed.

"I see you don't" Mama mumbled under her breath, though Yasmeen caught it. She couldn't tell what else accompanied her mother's tone, was it disappointment? She couldn't really tell. The older woman's sigh came yet again, before she added. "You know, Yasmeen. It may seem like your father rushed the marriage without giving it much thoughts, but he knows Asad's family already. He knows they are good people and that he can trust them with you." Is Mama trying to defend Baba?

It isn't surprising to Yasmeen. Despite everything, the woman still defends her husband sometimes.

This happens to be one of it.

"It may not seem like it, but he cares about you." Had it been someone else told her that, Yasmeen would've laughed and call the person mentally unstable.

Because they want her to believe her father cares about her? Oh please. Well, yeah. She feels loved indeed thanks to his actions. She's sure he loves her more than anyone else.

Lucky her.

Though Mama couldn't see her face, she could tell that Yasmeen doesn't agree, and she couldn't blame her for it. Though the girl has never voiced it out to her, she could tell the man's action affects her.

She understands.

So, she chose to not dwell on that. Reaching her hand out, she picked up Yasmeen's hand and held it in hers. "My point is, Asad seems like a good man, truly. And even with that, I can only pray he will take care of you the way you deserve to be treated. I know the past few days haven't been the best, but everything will be fine in shaa Allah. This marriage of yours will turn out that way too da ikon Allah. Just have faith, be patient, and by Allah's will, all will be well, okay?"

Yasmeen's lips stretched into a small smile, as he looked up and met her mother's eyes. She nodded.

She knew her mother wouldn't apologize, and she wasn't expecting that. However, with that conversation of theirs, she knows it means they are now on good terms.

And that's what matters. 

~*~

I wasn't feeling this book's vibe at all, but I forced myself to write and well...this turned out better than I expected, minus not editing it.

Sha, manage this chapter like this. 

I NEED IGBO AND SHAYO...

Don't mind me, that is on my mind like this since I won't get a wedding here. 

Anyways, anyways, have a goodnight. These days, I have nothing to say in ANs again. 

Love, Jannah.