Chapter 31: Chapter 31

ABUJA, NIGERIA.

The ride to the Masari resident was quite awkward since Zara couldn't say a thing and if she draws her into the conversation, she will just grunt or nod so Bushra stopped trying after the third attempt. She was just trying to help her calm her nerves. Yes, she hates her but she don't like seeing that type of Zara, it makes her feel like she has the upper hand. If they compete together even if it is to get Mika'il's attention, she loved that better. Oh well, she's tried her best and now it is up to Zara to make a new impression on her in-law.

As soon as they entered the mansion, Afrah ran to her and gave her a huge hug then took Anaan from Mika'il who glared at her for taking his daughter away. They feel like she only wants them to come so they can collect their daughter and disappear from the face of earth. There are three people Bushra won't bat an eyelash knowing Anaan is with them, Gigi, Amir and Afrah, they love her girl a lot. She smiled at the retreating back of Afrah playing with Anaan then her attention went back to none other than her famous cowife, the President's daughter.

Zara is awkwardly standing beside her at the door since they didn't enter inside, she made an evil grin publish itself on her face then ushered her inside so they can greet the main deal. On their way, she saw Amir walking around without a shirt showing his much more bulkier body than his brothers. He has a bowl of what looks to be cereal in one hand then spoon with another, a bad habit she told him to drop but old habits die hard. He likes eating while walking, it has ran deep into his blood that she can't stop him now. When he saw them, his eyes widen then he rushed out to get a shirt, she shook her head.

"Belle Meré!" Bushra chirped in a high pitched voice at the sight of her beautiful mother in-law walking out from the kitchen. Her face has never looked beautiful for some odd reasons so Bushra has it in her to tease her. Her small figure that Afrah took over rushed to where she is with a much wider smile.

"Favorite daughter, I miss you." She beamed enveloping her in her arms and she immediately melted with so much love. Her eyes dilated in happiness, she loves being in her mother in-law's arms. It feels like her own mother and sometimes much more than her very own mother, the woman is just special.

"I miss you more, my beautiful woman. I don't know why you look so sexy today but something has changed about you. Tell me the secret please." She poured, pulling away from him to see her mother in-law again. She is not trying to be on her good side or make Zara jealous of their relationship but her mother in-law has really changed. She has become more beautiful than she's ever seen her in those days.

"Stop with the compliments. Tell your father to compliment me if you want me to feel happy. The man has been so busy in the hospital that he don't notice." Her mother in-law pouted back, her eyes shining with mirth and admiration for her daughter in-law. She has always been like a daughter, the bond ran too deep.

"Ah, how could he? Daddy, daddy!" Bushra called into the house while walking inside to find her equally handsome father in-law. She saw him sitting in the family living room but stood up upon hearing the sounds of her calls.

"Eh, so much shrills for me? Pray tell, what is wrong now?" He smiled knowingly when she pouted, she didn't like that he said what is wrong. She kept that aside then took a glance back at her mother in-law who shook her head in wonder, she wants to hear what is going to happen.

"You didn't say mother in-law looks beautiful? Can't you see how young she's become that I'm jealous Maan will fall in love with her now instead of me?" She crossed her arms underneath her chest having already thrown the bag somewhere around the house. Whenever she comes, she throws her things and when they are to leave, everyone will start helping her get her things.

"Oh my, I didn't say it? Maybe I was just saying it in my mind when I thought I was whispering it to her. Come here, Dija." Hajiya Khadija slowly made her way to her husband in slow steps. She is quite shy when it comes to her husband in front of her children, they are all standing there including her new daughter in-law whom she has forgotten to welcome.

"Well kids, let's leave them alone for now. But Belle Meré, dinner is in five minutes." She called while ushering everyone out of the living room with herself. She smiled to herself, that couple always makes her believe in love when there seem to be no hope. Her eyes darted around the place then she saw Zara, she has forgotten about the girl!

"You didn't tell me you were coming here, why?" Kauthar questioned her as soon as she turned around to talk to Zara, she blocked her way. Bushra narrowed her eyes, the girl is acting like her girlfriend or husband.

"Because I didn't know I was going to come, your Highness. My husband here decided to bring us out for dinner in your home, I hope you don't have any problem with that?" Was Bushra's sarcastic answer and Kauthar narrowed her eyes slitter than they were earlier.

"Sarcasm doesn't suit you, drop it. What is she doing here though?" Kauthar meandered closer to Bushra to gossip in her ear and she rolled her eyes. Fayha is rubbing off Kauthar, they shouldn't spend much time together.

"He has to introduce her someday and he decided to do that today. Can you like talk to her? She has been acting nervous and anxious which is really comical." Bushra chuckled then left the place hoping Kauthar would talk to the lady nicely. She needs to go find Anaan and feed her so she won't interrupt during the dinner.

"Hey, what's up?" Kauthar faked a smile at Zara whose face instantly lit up. Someone finally realised that she was standing there, they didn't want to notice her the whole time it started getting a toll on her.

"Nothing much. How are you?" Zara questioned, she is not one to talk awkwardly but something about Kauthar is unnerving. She can't exactly talk to her like she does most her friends, she is not one she can mess with, she can see that with her naked eyes.

Kauthar is wearing a business chocolate brown slacks, a cantaloupe dress shirt that is tucked inside the slacks. She has on matching chocolate brown blazer on top of it and her head is tied with a jet black office veil made in ridiculously tough looking turban. Her feet are enclosed in nude spool heels, she could walk perfectly in them even after coming back from a stressful day in office. She knows the woman is into business since the news don't keep quite after meeting a successful woman that dedicates her time and life in it. Everyone is holding their breaths knowing she will blow in her business whenever she decides to make it herself, there is no doubt.

"I'm fine and everything is good too. I didn't know you were all coming neither did the other fool thought about telling me." Kauthar shook her head not wanting to make Zara feel down because no one can stop talking about Bushra. They are just used to her, like a biological daughter in the Masari home.

"Oh, we didn't know about it too earlier." Zara forced a smile then look around seeing the surrounding now really quite except for the maids mingling around to arrange the dining room for them. She wants to talk to her husband's parents, they are her first priority but it's not bad that Kauthar decided to talk to her. It means a lot to her, she is moving a little forward and the Masaris are not that bad.

"It's okay. Let's go to the dining room, they will be there now." She ushered her to the living room whilst removing her blazer and set it aside. The woman is just effortless with her authority, something as small as removing a blazer makes her look powerful.

"Welcome to our humble home, Zara." Hajiya Khadija said loudly as she walks into the dining room with her husband, Bushra and Amir trailing behind them. Bushra had to part the oldies from each other, they were busy chatting away in the room like they've just met.

"Thank you..." She trailed off not knowing what to say since Bushra gave her her own name of endearment, it will look rude if she uses it. She feels uncomfortable with everyone eyes on her, her father in-law is not even smiling at all unlike when he was with Bushra and his wife.

"You can call me mother." Hajiya Khadija don't want to differentiate them in front of each other even though there is no doubt she likes Bushra much more than she'd ever like Zara. She actually dislike Zara, she is trying her best to make her heart at ease with her but she can't.

"Sure." Zara put her head down, playing with the cutleries in her hand. Why was she even acting like that, she has no idea. Mika'il isn't making it easy since he decided to sit far away from her, two chairs away to be precise just to sit with his wife and daughter.

There was nothing welcoming at the way she feels in the home but one thing she is sure of, she has found the weakness to strike Bushra Amani and she won't waste her time before doing that. If the so called renowned tailor thinks she is unbreakable, Zara is going to make sure she brings her to her knees. She has so much faith in the love she shares with her husband, she will have to use that love against them both. Oh, the fun that comes with if her plans go through but then again.

Whenever she plans against Bushra Amani, she never goes through with it. She won't give up though, this is actually just the start of the trouble that awaits the bubbly woman. She could feel it in her bones, she won't have to work greatly to get what she wants this time around. Nature, fate and destiny will do the work for her and she'd sit back and relax while watching the world turn against the little woman of knowledge. Zara don't like getting pitied at, Bushra made that mistake but she will make sure she never does it again.

Besides, she's found the weakness to haul at.

-

Hanan sighed, her legs leaving the table to stop the leg extension she's been doing for thirty minutes now. Due to the pandemic of corona virus, she is not going back to school anytime soon and they will start that online trouble again. She doesn't like staying in Nigeria but since this is her fate, she shall finish it soon and look for another country to do her masters. Medicine is not an easy course and she never thought she could go through with it, she still can't believe she is working on becoming a gynecologist.

"Watch out!" She rudely yelled at the person who just bumped into her throwing away her weekender on the floor. She hates those sort of encounters, they are too cliché for her liking.

"You watch out, rude woman!" A voice that sent shiver down her spine due to the strong undertone that laced with so much roughness. She's never heard a voice like that, not even the guy she has once crushed on when she was younger.

She just bumped into him too during her rounds in school and he looks like he was in a hurry to go get his siblings so she didn't get to see the mans face then, his voice made her fall in love instantly. She'd visit the place every time in hopes to catch a sight of him again but no such luck and she's never allowed herself to even be close to men she could fall for. This man though, his voice is something else and she don't like it at all. She thought she was immune to feeling after what she's seen through her life.

"You are the rude man." Her head rose to stare at the tall specimen that looks ridiculously familiar. She hissed when she realised who he was, none other than Bushra Amani's older brother but she don't know his name neither does she want to.

Bushra Amani is now her enemy since she is her sister's rival, not that she's ever liked anyone for no reason. The guy shouldn't be as handsome as he is with his dark bronze skin glistening with sweat which means he just finished working out in the same high class gym she visits, hmm. This should be meant only wealthy people like her not the man who stared at her like she is nothing but a public nuisance.

Yeah, the guy is definitely rich since she heard that they are all some high end soldiers but it doesn't mean she likes him at all. His tall physique mixed with his sturdy shoulders makes him look like a giant in front of someone as small as her but she is not one to be intimidated, she's seen far lot more than he had, she was sure. She squared her shoulders seeing his height really looming over her and he raised a mocking brow with a smirk she badly wants to slap away from his face given the chance or if she were as tall as him.

"We both don't want to argue about that now since we've seen each other's face and we know each other. Don't deceive yourself, you are nothing but a bitter woman so I don't see your fault. You can apologize and we shall keep this behind us." He crossed his arms over his chest really intimidating her this time around, just why?!

"You expect me to apologize to you? Do you know who my father is?" At her last statement, he guffawed loudly and if he hadn't made her feel like a fool, she would've bathed in how rich and husky his voice sound. This man is definitely ready to die and he will die in her hands.

"The daddy card, eh? I thought you were someone yourself." He gave her a look of mockery while taking in her skin tight and tight vest she has on.

The way he looked at her made her feel dirty and conscious of her body, like she wasn't enough when that is the last thing that ever crosses Hanan Yakasai's head. She actually never cares what people think about her but the way this particular guy stared at her in that peculiar way, she can't help feeling low. Mostly, she feels underdressed and he is chiding her about it in his mind, you never know. She usually has a kimono but she hasn't finished getting ready to leave which is why she didn't wear it on.

God, why is she being such a wussy sissy because of an enemy's brother?!

"I am Dr. Hanan Yakasai, I have my identity." She huffed feeling like a child because of him. Does she have to play the daddy card now? She never does that, everyone knows who she is for heavens sake. He does too, he just wants to put her down from the looks of it.

"Oh, really? Well, nice meeting you. I'm Major Murad Danbazau." He didn't raise his hand to shake neither was she looking forward to touching the stupid man that makes her annoyed, conscious and angry at the same time.

"I don't care who you are, don't cross me again." She made a move to leave but he blocked her path, his arms still crossed underneath his string chest. The fucker had to look like his sister, they are just too beautiful all of them.

"You are going to apologize before you leave this place." His eyes are serious, she knew there was no way out for her even if she calls her father. The guy is a hard nut, it is written all over his face.

"Are you for real?" Her breathe quicken, what is he doing to her now?

"Try me!"