Chapter 23: Chapter 23

ABUJA, NIGERIA.

Bushra kept tossing and turning on the bed even though Anaan is sleeping right beside her soundly with nothing to bother her while her mother on the other hand is tensed and tired knowing her husband is not with her but with another woman just up the stairs. She feels like going up to stop them from doing whatever it is they are doing, she don't like what she is feeling. The night has only just started but she can't keep up with it anymore, her stomach feels so queasy and she is far too tensed to sleep.

She's took some sleeping pills to help her sleep right after the event has finished knowing she won't be able to sleep even if she tries, it didn't help. She has been trying to sleep for three hours now straight with no valid good result. Her eyes are wide like she just awoke from sleep but only that she is tired to the bones. Moving on the bed alone takes great effort from within but she does it anyway, she has been that restless since the morning of that day.

And the fact that they are definitely consummating their marriage only struck more harder in her throat. Zara will do everything in her power to make sure she succeed in making them complete the marriage just so she could push it onto her face, she really is feeling extremely down right at the moment. Why does she have to live together with them knowing this empty feeling won't leave her? Why didn't she took the offer of different homes, she hates that woman.

Mika'il stared into the space after he walked into his new wife's room feeling aloof and detached from the earth. He just felt this devastation knowing he is about to mark another woman as his, could he even do that? If he's ever made a mistake he knew he will forever regret is marrying Zara even though he did it in his own will, he feels like he was drunk into doing that. It is so not his character to act out like that without seeking advice from anyone.

So this is shocking to anyone that hears about it.

Zara came into the room with a wide smile across her face which he can't bring himself to wipe out so he forced one to his lips too watching as she ramble about the gifts her friends filled in the next room for her. He is only staring into space knowing no matter how much he wants to give his attention to her, he won't be able to do that. His head, heart, body, soul and mind is entirely with his first wife. What is she doing? Could she be thinking about him too? Does she hate him now?

"Baby, we should pray right?" Zara's voice broke him away from his reverie so he stood up begrudgingly keeping away the urge to call his Beyoncé.

"Yes, let's do that." He forced a smile and help her into the bathroom noticing that she has changed from the clothes she came with into scarlet red nightie that did nothing to turn him on instead keep his thoughts more away.

After they prayed and ate like married couple always do, he became really awkward, afraid of what to do with a woman he doesn't love but is married to. She kept giving him signals whilst removing the robe atop her lingerie but he kept moving away from her. He hates himself at the moment because of the helplessness surging through his bones. He is a man, he should at least be turned on about the fact that he is consummating his marriage.

All men get excited with that thought but why isn't he? Why does he feel guilty that he is somehow cheating on Bushra?

All of a sudden his thought meandered to when he married Bushra, he didn't spend a minute further after they finished coxing up, he consummated it but now, he feels like running for the hills. Such grievous mistakes shouldn't happen, such tests are the hardest but the ones only one with tawakkul can pass with flying colours. All he needs to do is wrap his arms around the test and see where it leads him, Allah is always there and he knew his affairs shall be set right.

So with that thought he gave into her fruitless attempts of seduction and drew her into a kiss that looks really forceful while she try to expertly get through his clothing. Unlike when he was with Bushra on their first night, she was too shy to wrap her arms around his neck, he had to do that for her himself. Now as he kiss Zara, he can't help feeling that he is cheating on his wife but who is he to think that, he brought that upon himself.

Just like that, they consummated their marriage fruitlessly while they try to show each other some love. He really tried his best, he did all he could into that love making and he hopes she won't feel mad about his detached self, that is all he could ever do. With a sigh, he rolled around and try getting some sleep but he couldn't, he heard rustles behind him before feeling her arms around him then she fell asleep.

Ya Rahman, what has he done?!

Bushra took her phone from underneath the pillow and went on surfing through internet then Netflix but got nothing to do. She tapped WhatsApp, the app she hardly ever use but can't help wanting to see what goes on in other people's life. Everything is lifeless there as it is one in the morning, everyone is probably asleep except for her who seem to have develop insomnia that very day, she can't help sleeping without her husband's arms around her to lull her into the fathomless depths.

In the midst of that, she saw someone post something and that person happens to be her brother in-law, Amir. She immediately chatted him up which he replied instantly like he was waiting for her to do so. She knew he has so many people wanting to talk to him since they youngsters are always online during that time in the night. She really don't want to stop him from talking to his friends but she is bored so she took the opportunity to talk to him.

"What are you doing so late at night?" Amir asked as soon as he saw her message popped up, he is not one to chat with family members at night.

"Couldn't sleep knowing my husband is with another woman. Why are you still online?" She returned back the question which he replied again instantly, woah.

"I normally don't sleep early so here I am, I just woke up actually." Came his reply that has her raising her brow as to why he is waking up then, she let that slide. Not important!

"Hmm, I'm so bored right now. What should we do to take it away like something really funny of interesting." She might look desperate but she doesn't care, anything to take her mind off what is going on there upstairs.

"Video call?" He suggested after a while, maybe he was thinking of saying goodbye to his friends. She felt bad but at that moment, she wants to be selfish.

"Sureee!" She grinned widely, she totally forgets that there is something named such on WhatsApp, long time no see.

"Hey, you look like a truck just hit you. Are you really not sleepy?" Amir questioned looking concerned at his sister in-law, she looks really tired which is to be expected after such event she organized alone.

"Yeah, I know. I just can't bring myself to sleep, ya know? And this lady here is sleeping soundly with no care of the world." She yawed the camera to Anaan who kept sleeping not knowing what is happening.

Amir is in his usual sweats his eyes filled with sleep but he doesn't look at all sleepy. His eyes filled with adoration as he stared at sleepy Anaan, he has always loved that girl so much so staring at her sleeping form in the phone is really amazing. Bushra seeing that, a real genuine smile spread across her lips knowing there is someone out there that loves her daughter a lot, she always trusts him with her daughter. He spent the whole day babysitting her, he is going back to school soon.

Few hours later, she is laughing really loud at a joke he made almost waking Anaan up beside her but muffled it behind her palms. Her eyes started dropping slowly but she don't want to sleep, she wants to keep talking till dawn then sleep the whole flight to New Zealand, she don't want to deal with Zara at all. She could either act like the mature one and let her sit with him or be childish and cling onto him.

"You should sleep, B. I will be here to punish all the demons keeping you away from sleep." Amir joked again watching as she yawned loudly whilst nodding, she needs that sleep.

"Kay, goodnight." And she let the phone slip from her fingers then slept soundly like her daughter was doing beside.

Early in the morning, Bushra's alarm rang from beside her, she groggily turn it off and went back to sleep only for her to feel Anaan climbing atop her stomach, she knew there is no more sleep left for her. She sat up holding Anaan to her chest and kissed her good morning then took her to the bathroom to give her a bath, she closed her with one of Mika'il's towels and strolled to her room to change her clothes.

Her heart still feels heavy while her eyes are dropping slightly with fatigue but not sleep.

Zara grinned widely upon opening her eyes knowing she is sleeping right beside the love of her life. Mika'il is still sleeping with a frown adorning his lips, his eyes are tightly closed. She smiled at the sight using her index finger to trace his full brows while her mind went back straight to the night before, she loved every moment of it. She couldn't have asked for a better husband, Mika'il is all she wants.

With a small revenge plan up her sleeve, she stood up and made her way to the bathroom to take a bath but then changed her mind. She removed the red lingerie robe she wore the night before and then made her way out of the room wanting to teach her co wife a lesson or two. She made sure her phone is in her hands, she typed quick message to Hanan for her plan before moving down the stairs to her co wife's side.

Making sure her shoulder is opened where she gave herself a hickey, she move to the kitchen while holding her phone to her ear, calling Hanan. She saw the woman of her mind standing the middle of the kitchen making some baby food. Woah, she always forget about them having a baby, that won't be an obstacle to her though, she knows how to deal with those mini creatures. She needs to tackle the creator of that mini stuff before coming back to that.

She is wearing yoga pants and white shirt letting her hair loose behind her back, which Zara is awfully jealous of and wish to cut it off or burn it. She never lets anyone see her hair, she always use wig but she couldn't use one the night before and Mika'il didn't mind too so who cares? She just don't like that the woman have something she doesn't or she should rephrase that to some things.

"I can't tell you how happy I am right now, babe. He was so loving, giving me so many hickeys and all." Zara giggled knowing the woman is listening to everything she is saying because her hands halted in the bowl before she continued to do whatever it is she was doing.

Probably making food for her baby, poor her.

"Are you in front of her yet?" Hanan asked instead, she read what her sister planned and is supporting her hundred percent.

"Oh yes! He was gentle too, I felt like a princess for a moment there. Did you see the lust in his eyes upon seeing me with this lingerie you gave me? You won't believe it." She giggled some more feeling happy that she is putting Bushra in her place.

She has her hands tightened on the spoon she is holding, Zara couldn't be more overjoyed with that fact. Just a little game of hers and the little birdie is already too jealous and is about to snap a poor spoon. She don't know that this is just the start of the game, there are a lot more things worse than this but for now, baby steps for the baby girl. The woman should've thought about this before crossing her.

"Keep going girl, but you should probably hang up soon before she gets too furious, she shouldn't be mad at you on your first day." Hanan advised after laughing for twenty good seconds already imagining what is happening there.

"I will tell you everything when we get back from our honeymoon. I have so many surprises planned for us. Marriage is amazing wallah, do get married soon, babes. Now bye, love ya!" And she hung up the phone featuring a lovestruck expression which Bushra isn't seeing but she needs to act well.

"Oh, I didn't see you there. Good morning." Zara greeted Bushra seeing that she's ignored her, she wants to bring out some emotion from the lady apart from jealousy. Maybe fury?

"Me too, morning." Bushra smiled brightly at her which Zara finds weird, she should be glaring at her or throwing tantrums around the kitchen.

"I was just searching internet whether I can use something for my sour body? I feel so sour, every muscle is itching in pain so I thought I should ask you what you use." Zara smiled innocently knowing there is no doubt, Bushra will be mad at this.

Bushra could only stare angrily but didn't let it show on her face, she noticed the hickey but she knows it is also not her husband's so she let it slide. She heard everything she's said and knew she was exaggerating it too, she won't talk about that part anytime soon. What? They are a married couple, they are allowed to do as they please and now she is asking her this stupid immoral question?

She knows just how to deal with woman like Zara and will definitely put her in her place. She is raging for war huh? Bushra will show her just how much she knew about wars. She can't come into her kitchen talking to her like this, she will regret it.

"Oh, I didn't use anything since my husband was the one who ran the bath for me before I awoke, also gave me a bath if I could remember clearly, so... I don't know." Bushra made a sad face like she is disappointed about not knowing but she is right, Mika'il did all those things for her after their first night.

Zara is about to burst due to anger and if she were fair, her skin would've yawed scarlet due to the fury scorching through her veins. The woman has some nerve to stand there talking to her like this when she is just taking everything lightly. This is like starting a war the first morning after she entered their home, she will be damned if she lets this woman climb all over her. She just declared war!

Bushra five, Zara one.