Madina stood there motionless until she saw Nabil's palm in front of her eyes, as if that would make the sight before them hurt less. He gently steered her back and a few minutes later she found them back inside the restaurant, retaking their seats.

Her eyes moved to Nabil's hands that were shaking on the table and she let out a long shaky breath, feeling dizzy from what they just witnessed.

Nabil looked at her suddenly and brushed his tongue over his lower lip, "Madina, can we pretend we didn't see that?"

Madina reared her head back and looked at him like he just uttered a profanity, "I just saw my boyfriend's bloody lips on my sister's face and you want us to pretend like we didn't see that?"

Nabil held his head between his palms and stayed like that for a moment when he looked up, his eyes were bloodshot, "Trust me, that's the only option."

Madina let out a humorless laugh, hoping in that sound he would hear the ridiculousness of his words, "I can never pretend, i can never ever unsee that, it will be with me haunting me for the rest of my life. So, feigning ignorance might be the only option for you but not for me."

"Madina..."

"Ya Nabil, can you take me home? I feel sick." Madina closed her eyes and placed her head on the table.

Nabil quickly leaped to his feet, "Okay, can you get up though?"

She nodded but before she got up Maheer and Habiba walked into the restaurant. Madina closed her eyes again and turned her face away, unable to stand the sight of them.

"What's wrong with her?" Maheer asked as he took in Madina's state, "Babes, are you sick?"

Madina pressed her lips together, holding back a sob.

Maheer shifted his gaze to Nabil and raised his brows, "What's up, man? She was perfectly fine before we left."

Nabil placed his hand on Maheer's shoulder and gave it a squeeze a little too hard that Maheer instantly let out a wince, "God, what's wrong with you, Nabil? What was that for?"

"For keeping my girlfriend away from me for more time than you should have. I almost thought you guys were going to elope."

Maheer frowned at that.

Habiba smiled and rolled her eyes, "We went to domino's and there was a very long queue. That's what kept us long. And oh, if i ever think of eloping with someone then it's gonna be with you, Ya Nabs."

Nabil clenched his jaw, rage burning inside him but he needed to stay composed, so he looked at Maheer and said, "Take them home and I'm sure Madina will be glad if you don't ask questions. She just feels a bit sick."

Habiba raised her brows at him, "I didn't come with them."

"I have a very bad headache."

"She feels sick and you have a bad headache? Is it the Indian food or you guys couldn't stand each other?"

"Ya Salam! Please Habiba..." Nabil pinched the space between his brows, clearly trying to control himself, "Just follow them, I promise i will stop by and see you tomorrow."

Habiba scowled and stormed out of the restaurant. When Maheer began to walk out, Nabil stopped him, "Why are you in a hurry? I told you she's feeling sick!" He gritted out.

Madina turned and looked at them, "He can go, i will meet him in the car in a few."

"Are you sure you don't need some help?" Maheer asked as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"No thanks. I'm sure you don't mean it anyway."

"Madina..."

"Ya Maheer please! I will meet you in the car."

Once he walked out, she shifted her gaze to Nabil, her eyes brewing with tears, "Why would you make me go home with both of them? It's not fair."

"I'm sorry, I'm just not in the right headspace to drive, i have to stay here for a while. Just go home and have some sleep."

"Sure, like the sleep is going to come." Her voice was heavy with sarcasm.

Nabil huffed out a breath and looked down, "I will meet you tomorrow and we'll have a talk, okay? But please don't say or do anything."

Madina felt choked up again, she looked straight ahead and walked out without saying another word.

She looked out the window throughout the ride back home trying to suppress her tears and exasperation, imagining Maheer looking at Habiba in the back seat through the rear mirror, making fun of her and inwardly laughing at how stupidly ignorant she was.

Madina wanted to sob from the humiliation and betrayal, her heart ached so much she felt almost numb within. She wanted to hurt them so bad for how much they'd hurt her.

She wondered how long it had been going on, the thing between them. She wondered how many times Maheer had flirted with Habiba right under their noses. She imagined Maheer an hour ago in this car, whispering sweet nothings in Habiba's ear with his eyes darkened with desire before he kissed her neck, her...

Madina closed her eyes tightly, stopping the thoughts. She kept reciting 'Hasbunallah wa ni'mal-Wakil' until they made it home. And she didn't glance at Maheer when she hopped out and bid him goodnight. She was afraid if she did, he'd be found lifeless with his eyes ripped out of their sockets.

***

The hours stretched like molasses, and no matter how much Madina tried to sleep she couldn't, the moment she closed her eyes she would see Maheer smooching Habiba in his car. She had turned and tossed then finally got down the bed and prayed. She felt comforted thereafter.

Ya Lameen and Aisha-Hamdiya arrived early from Lagos where he worked as a custom.

"Oops! I didn't know you were sleeping, i would have waited." Aisha-Hamdiya smiled apologetically, sitting on her bed.

Madina sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, "It's okay, how was your journey?"

"You look..." Aisha-Hamdiya paused as she searched for the perfect word, "Like you didn't get a wink of sleep. Did you?"

Madina chuckled, "Ya Hamdiya, I was deep asleep when you came in. I just turned in very late."

Aisha-Hamdiya's eyes widened, "Now I'm sure something's wrong because Madina Ahmad L-Turaj never turns in late."

"Well, there's always a first, right?"

Aisha-Hamdiya looked at her suspiciously before she nodded, "I will let it slide for now. Our journey was terrible by the way, I threw up two times on the plane. I was so embarrassed for your brother."

Madina gasped and her eyes popped out, "Tell me it's what i'm thinking! Did you want to surprise us? Ya Allah! Ya Hamdiya tell me."

When Aisha-Hamdiya sighed with a solemn face, Madina's shoulders slumped and she let out a quiet breath.

"I'm still not pregnant, Mady. I'm starting to believe Gwaggo, maybe I'm really barren."

Madina looked at her, her heart pounding behind her chest, "She didn't tell you that, did she?"

"She didn't but I see the word glaring at me in her eyes whenever she looks at me, it was there  some moments ago when I met her. I don't blame her or your family though, it must be really hard for them to accept an outsider who still can't conceive even after six years of marriage, no matter how much she tries."

Madina held her hands and stared at their hands for a moment, "May Allah ease your affairs, Ya Hamdiya. I can't imagine what you're going through but just hang in there and be more patient, no condition is permanent and surely this too shall pass. Remember there won't be any storm that Allah won't carry you through, as long as your faith is greater than your fear. And when it's time you're going to prove them wrong and have your beautiful babies. In shaa Allah."

Aisha-Hamdiya looked up and blinked back her tears, "In shaa Allah, Madina. Jazakillahu khairan."

They heard a knock on the door which made them turn, Ya Lameen stood on the threshold with his arms crossed over his chest

"Hello, Madindin." He waved with a boyish smile.

Madina waved back with a bigger smile, "Hello, officer."

"You really have grown up, Madina. You usually welcome me with a bone crushing hug, now all i get is a wave? Where's Maheer? He should come and take his big princess away."

Madina instantly felt a lump in her throat, but she quickly smiled and said, "I missed you and Ya Hamdiya a lot. I hope you're going to spend at least a week here."

Ya Lameen shook his head with a tight lipped smile, "We're out as soon as the reunion event is over."

Madina pouted, "The event is tomorrow. At least add a day or two."

"I'm sorry, we can't. And don't ask me why, because you know why." He said, raising his brows for more emphasis.

Madina sighed and nodded. It was probably for the best anyway. She would vanish too if she could, being around her whole family was not something she looked forward to.

"Aisha, come let's go down and eat. You must be really famished after that..."

Aisha-Hamdiya quickly cut her husband short, clamping her palm over his mouth, "No babe, don't remind me of that please. God! I get goosebumps thinking about it."

Ya Lameen flung his head back and laughed before he took her hand in his and they sauntered out together.

Madina sat there on the bed with a small smile playing on her lips. She loved how her brother always held his wife's hand whenever they were together, he was so used to it that Madina was sure he did it instinctively sometimes. And he was always there for her, he was never not standing by her side, physically and emotionally, through everything like a knight.

Madina admired him so much more than their father. Their father never held mummy's hand, or protected her from his family like a knight. She remembered how he didn't say a word when Mama, Gwaggo's youngest sister, visited a year ago and called her a 'parvenu'.

"You came with nothing Yasmin. But look now, you're married to a Minister, rolling in money, wearing all the laces and supers you never dreamed of owning. You're a lucky parvenu, well, enjoy it while it lasts."

Hon. Ahmad just shook his head with an expressionless face while Hajiya Yasmin struggled to keep her tears at bay. Madina wondered if it bothered him at all. And she wondered for a long time what her mother did to deserve that kind of treatment from some bunch of ungracious humans.

Madina was beginning to doubt if her parents were in love anymore. If she didn't hear about the time he married her from Maiduguri even though everyone in his family was against it, Madina would've sworn her father had never been in love with her mother and she would have prayed day and night, every minute of every hour for her mother to break free from the shackles that were holding her and get someone who deserved her.

***

By Maghreb, the house was almost brimming with people, mostly guests that came to offer their greetings to Gwaggo. Madina just concluded her prayer when a massage from a number came through her phone.

-This is Nabil, meet me in the study room. Asap.

Madina closed her eyes and let out a weary sigh. She folded the mat she prayed on and walked out of her room only to bump into Habiba who was about to walk in.

"Hey, is your Ya Maheer coming today? I left my earpiece in his car yesterday."

Madina fixed her eyes on her before she brushed past her, "I don't know, you can call him and ask. And if you like, go and get some juicy pizzas from there."

Habiba gasped, looking offended, "Excuse me?!"

"I do not wish to repeat myself." Madina didn't glance at her and just before she walked down the stairs Habiba yelled, "I swear i will get back at you for that."

What could you possibly do to hurt me more than yesterday? You've already scarred me for life, sister.

Madina chewed back the words and walked off, not turning back. She let out a deep sigh as soon as she entered the study, Nabil was sitting on the couch cross-legged and when his eyes fell on her, Madina almost flinched from their darkness.

She gulped and took another step in, "I'm here."

"Come and sit."

Madina balled her fists and took in a deep breath before she sat beside him on the couch, leaving a good space between them.

"How are you?"

Madina resisted the urge to roll her eyes, "Far from fine. I'm really bad at pretending, you see. Bottling things up is not my thing."

Nabil smiled a bit, in spite of himself, "I'm sorry you had to witness that."

"It's not your fault."

Nabil leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees then pressed his fingers into his eyes. Madina analyzed him for a brief moment, he looked so messed up, almost lost, disturbingly vulnerable like what they witnessed yesterday damaged him more than her.

"She's just twenty three." He spoke suddenly, his throat bobbing up and down, Madina's eyes followed the slow movement, "I don't know why she chose to screw up her life at this young age. That too with her cousin, who's her sister's boyfriend. By Allah, no matter how deep I think, i just can't wrap my head around it."

"They could have easily told us the truth about their feelings for each other and get married and do whatever they like with each other." Madina paused and sighed with her whole body, tears stinging her eyes, "Sure it would have hurt but not this much."

Nabil nodded and turned to face her, "I want this to be a secret."

"Why?"

"Think about your parents, Maheer's parents and most importantly the strong ties between us. I know we've been terribly wronged but i don't want to see our families breaking apart because of us, they have always been connected and believe it or not they are the most important part of our lives. The hurt and consequence are going to be bigger than you think. And remember whoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this life and the Hereafter. Please Madina, think about it."

Madina closed her eyes and finally let out the sob she had been holding back. His words had tied her hands completely, she hated that everything he said was nothing but the truth. Nabil took the tissue box on the table beside the couch, placed it on her lap and let her vent her anger through her tears.

She looked up after her tears subsided and said, "Fine i will keep it a secret but I really can't stand them... I don't know how to do that. Ya Rabbi!"

"You must endeavor."

"Can i ask you something?"

Nabil nodded.

"After yesterday, are you still in love with Habiba?"

Nabil looked at her for a moment then quickly looked away and nodded again, a confident nod, "Yes, i am. What about you? Are you still in love with Maheer?"

Madina looked reflective, "I don't know. I don't think i have ever been deeply in love with him but i was willing to marry him regardless. "

"Then why are you hurt so much?"

"Because i never thought my own sister could go to any lengths just to hurt my feelings." Madina looked up as a tear rolled down her cheek, she wiped it away angrily, "I know i shouldn't have been surprised but it crushed me into more ways than i could've ever imagined. She gets to be mean to me, gets to have everything she wants, gets to do all the dirty things she desires and still be the perfect one to Gwaggo. It's not fair, is it?"

Nabil swiped his tongue over his dry lip, "Don't think too much, Madina."

She got up on her feet and wiped her tears with the back of her hands, "And she gets to have a lover who still loves her even after he caught her cheating. Ya Nabil you'd better bring her back to her senses before she makes you leave yours behind."

"Madina..."

"I should probably go, I feel drained i need some rest. Good night."

"Madina, wait."

She paused, when she turned she saw him holding a pink box of cupcakes she hadn't noticed before, "Cupcakes. I hope this makes you feel a tad better. Please accept it."

A little smile touched her lips, "Thank you I think it will go a long way, sugar helps me feel less frazzled. I hope you got some for yourself too, you look more disheveled."

His white Jalabiya was in contrast to the darkness that swirled in his eyes, he looked sleep deprived and almost ready to drop.

As if sensing she'd noticed, Nabil straightened his shoulders, tucked his hands in his pockets, and adjusted his posture, removing all traces of distress on him, even in his voice, "Don't worry about me, Madina. Have a good rest."

"I will try not to. But just so you know Habiba doesn't deserve you. Good night." With that she turned around and walked out. When she peeked into the box in her hand, six sugar cookie cupcakes with star toppers greeted her.