Chapter 87: Chapter 87

ABUJA, NIGERIA.

"Why did Dad suddenly call out for emergency meeting so early in the morning? I mean, isn't his new wife taking care of him well?" Amir yawned, closing his eyes with his bulky arms to stop the sun rays from hitting his sleepy eyes. His wife just had to slide down from his body to wake up like every other day though she normally stops to do what she needs to but today, he is unattended to because 'Dad wants to see us urgently, wake up' what the heck?!

"I don't know and stop talking about his wife like that, she's your stepmother. I'm going to go take a shower, bring our outfit out, please?" She made a puppy dog eyes before they moved to her daughter who stirred but didn't wake up. The lady wouldn't sleep alone that night, Bushra was really uncomfortable when she wanted her husband. Sneaky little girl!

"I know I'm good with fashion but I shouldn't be your fashionista." He rolled his eyes but knew he was going to do it anyway. Can he even say no to his beautiful wife? Ha, not when she is staring at him with the most seductive eyes to ever exist while her negligée plunged down showing her tantalizing creamy mounds. Ugh, what a sight.

"That's what husbands with fashion sense do. Okay, bye bye." She dashed to the bathroom before he could stand up and lock the door behind her smiling. That is always how her days starts, with a smile and felicity, also ends like that.

She came out of the bathroom to find both Amir and Anaan dressed and playing around with her phone on the bed. Her jaw hit the floor, she didn't expect to see that. Was she in the bathroom for so long already? This guy never seize to amaze her, with that thought, she shook her head and ferried to the vanity table to rub some lotion. If she dares to talk to them both, they'd end up being the last people arriving at this emergency place even with their house being closest to the meeting location. She's never wanted her husband like she did then though. Is it wrong to be with him and shun the meeting for thirty minutes? No.

"Didn't you see how efficient I am." He came behind her, scooping the lotion in his palms and rub it around her back and shoulder down to her neck and chest. She shuddered, biting her lip hard not to moan and everything will get ruined. His rough hands on her... the sensuality of it all is rocking her brain. Big time!

"Extremely efficient, good job." She kissed his bare arm before standing up from the vanity stool. The guy won't allow her to do nothing if she stays there for a minute longer for his hands are already strolling down to undo her towel.

"I don't get any reward for this?" He pouted his thin lips, his husky voice becoming much more deeper and darker that motivated the frisson that sucked within her. She glared at him knowing if anything were to happen, she will be the only one going down. The guy can go down on her and then disappear, she won't allow that in certain circumstances such as this.

"No, you don't get any reward for getting yourself dressed and your daughter." She shrugged, took the clothes he's brought out for her from the bed, her under wears included.

"Fine." He sulked, made his way back to the bed and picked Anaan then left the room. She knew he was going to give her her cereal while waiting for her to make them breakfast. Her heart swelled with love!

Darn it, she is in love with Amir Malik Masari and this kind of love is no way close to anyone she's felt.

She has loved Mika'il like her life but with Amir, it is as if he is her soul entirely. He's occupied her mind, brain, senses, heart, soul and even body in all honestly. She also loved that fact, it makes her feel alive and buoyant. The exuberance and ethereal is almost celestial and spiritual. His eyes on her makes her get goosebumps all over her body, it pebbles and stood at it's end. Oh goodness, she feels like this should only be felt in heaven and not on earth. It's an emotion she can't place a name on, it ran way too deep and raw.

She never knew she would feel something as close to what she felt for Mika'il, not in this lifetime at least but look at her, hopelessly in love with his brother. Maybe it shouldn't be called love. It should be the connection of the hearts and souls, not dared to place a name on it. She is glad to have finally move on, she won't want to be swallowed in her past for a dead person. In just a matter of months, her life has changed it's whole course for the better. Alhamdulillah, she wouldn't have been this happy without Allah who sent Amir to her.

Amir coloured her life with kaleidoscopic void of teetering colours. She won't ask for more. Just her, her daughter and Amir, the love of her life.

Her heart started beating as she wrestled into the Ankara gown Amir brought out for her. It matched his nude khakis and Janaan's mustard coloured pretty shirt and jean shorts. The Ankara took the whole colours, from nude, to mustard yellow and little trace of brown. It is sewn in an open flay gown that has pleats and two pockets on each side of it. She slipped brown slippers, tied the head tie in a simple turban and took brown veil to match her outfit. She didn't bother taking any bag, just slipped her phone and keys into her pockets. She can get all she wants there for Anaan in Afrah's room so she need not worry.

"Hey, teddy bear. What do you wanna have?" Bushra inquired, adjusting her pink apron splashed with so many small red strawberries. She's going to whip something for them in thirty minutes, just enough for them to arrive with others.

"Anything will do, babe." He is busy feeding Anaan, she smiled and just decided to boil sweet potatoes and egg sauce filled with soy sauce.

"Why do you think we are all asked to come here? Even mom and dad?" Murad asked his younger sister who only shrugged as she gazed at her parents walking inside the large living room meant for guest.

Well, that is the only place that can take over ten people with more breathing space and ventilation. Everyone is invited! Her brothers and their wives, her parents and Afrah is already face timing with Anaan which means she is needed there too. Ha, remaining only the head of the meeting and his new bride to arrive. As soon as she finished thinking that, they graced them with their presence looking like a dream couple. The two and both fine in their own way, they'd produce fine species.

"Knowing you all have things to go do as soon as we leave here, I'm going to go straight to the point and make it quick. I am not sure if any of you can go on with your day after revealing such a thing but I hope you take it well..." He trailed off when another voice echoed it's taslim from the door and request whether he should come in. He is the scholar he's invited, a close friend of his from Sokoto who arrived at Abuja at the right time he needed him.

"Please come in!" Alhaji Malik answered back in an equally loud voice before the man with greying beard meandered in. He is featuring sky blue getzner babban riga, fine Zannah Bukar cap on his head looking fresh and graceful.

Pleasantries were exchanged around the whole living room, mostly, the elders were the ones talking while the youngsters sitting on the floor are just creasing their brows trying to place the puzzle in place.

What is this great scholar they always see in television doing there in their home when a family meeting is about to be conducted? Whose future is about to be shattered with more knowledge? Their stomachs are all in twist for there is no way something hideous, repulsive and vile won't take place and ruin some lives before they leave that place. It is just a guts feeling they cannot shake off.

Alhaji Malik Masari cleared his throat few minutes later, permitting his eyes to fall on all the individuals in the room lingering more on Bushra and Amir. Ha, that didn't go unnoticed and didn't make them feel even the slightest bit happy but much more perturbed, restless and stiff the whole time.

"Since we are all here, let me break the news that might make some of us here happy and some extremely heartbroken. Mika'il is not dead, he is alive and well." He dropped the bomb, closing his eyes for a second to not see what he doesn't want to. The room is now pin drop silent, not even the ones playing with their feet continued, it halted in a screeching stop.

No one said anything for another five minutes before Mujaheed opened his mouth, "He is alive? How is that possible? We've prayed and buried his arm ourselves so how?" Exactly, what everyone has in mind, bugging them but their lips are tightly shut.

"Well, Zara is the cause of everything that has happened and from the investigation I've conducted yesterday when Mika'il arrived, it concludes that she faked their death. She stole a hefty amount of money, one billion in general from the country's budget and ran away with Mika'il. She's fed him some strong drugs. We found benzodiazepines in his blood, the strong ones that cause memory problem, confusion, drowsiness, light headedness and so on. Most of his memories are absent but by tomorrow, he is going to regain everything. I could've waited till tomorrow but I can't! You all should know that and why I called our Mallam here, is because I want to know the position of Amir and Amani's marriage." The duo were in shock, only blinked after hearing their names called.

"Assalamu alaikum." Sheik Abubakar Adam Sokoto greeted but none replied aloud, they couldn't do so except for Alhaji Malik and his new wife Badriyah who weren't in too much shock now. They had time to digest it whole of yesterday.

"A questioned was asked, is it permissible for me to marry my brother's wife after he divorces her?

"All praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Master of the former and the latter people, our prophet Muhammad, his family, his companions and those who follow them in piety and righteousness until the day of resurrection. Let's proceed: If your brother died or divorced his wife and her iddah (woman's prescribed waiting period after divorce of widowhood) ended, there is nothing wrong with marrying her, as long as there is no impediment that prohibits the marriage. Such as being breastfed by her, or her mother, or sister and the likes of it.

"Otherwise, the principal ruling is that your brother's divorcee is lawful for you. Allah has mentioned the women a man is forbidden to marry and a brother's ex-wife is not included among them, after which He (Exalted be He) says: [All others are lawful -Surah Nisa' 4:24]." The Sheikh finished, clearing all doubts and confusion of those who listened and were out of shock.

"And another question was asked, can a man lie about being out of his mind when he divorced his wife so he could stay with her?"

"Whether talaq is said in an inebriated state or in normal state, it was talaq." Mika'il who is silently hearing everything felt his heart dropping to his knees before the man continued, "There is a second view from our scholars though. 'Uthmaan (ra): The one who is insane or drunk cannot issue a divorce.' Or because he has lost control of his will, he is like one who is compelled. Based on that, the divorce mentioned does not count as such. We praise Allah may He be exalted, we ask Allah to make us and everyone else steadfast. It is also up to this person to be truthful because this is between him and the Almighty, he knows what is inside the heart. If he's divorced her in his right state of mind, then he should not lie about it. Allah knows best."

Sheik Abubakar Adam Sokoto bid the family adieu knowing this is their time to stomach the reality and it is also a family matter he shouldn't interfere in. He left the room like he wasn't there to begin with had it not being for his strong words changing other people's destiny and future.

Mika'il has also walked in just in time to hear what the man had said. His heart shattered, he could hear the sound of it breaking as he stared at his wife, his Beyoncé.

Yes, he's finally remembered everything in his life, not a single bit has been absent. His father thought he wouldn't regain anything until tomorrow but he was surprised when he woke up to his memories flooding like waterfall. Zara really did a terrible thing he won't ever forget nor forgive, be cannot do that. She's ruined so many lives, his daughter's life included there.

Seeing the room breaking into another discussion except for Bushra and Amir, they were too quite. She's leaned on Amir for support, she couldn't even permit her body to stay upright and stiff, she cannot. Her head hurts, her heart ached, her body is stiffer than a tree. She would want nothing than to wake up from this nightmare cuddled to her husband and daughter on the bed. Everything should drift to the back of her mind as soon as she awoke so she won't have to think about it ever again or narrate it down for someone else.

Mika'il alive?! Zara egged everything out according to her wish?

They should've guessed seeing as they didn't see the faces of the deceased when they were reported dead. But then again, Zara made sure she left no stone unturned when she decided to plot their lives. She put Mika'il's ring on the dead person's, her own to on the female she killed with their own car! Ya Allah, she has committed so many crimes to get to Mika'il. Does she love him that much or it has yawed into unsuppressed obsession for her to do all that? She should've told her!

'What would you have done?' She asked herself but the answer will be, she don't know. If she knew Zara would go to that extreme to get Mika'il, she no doubt would've left him whether he liked it or not. Now, he's lost his memory, his mother died after a traumatic experience, she killed two people pretending to be them. What else had she done for Mika'il? Bushra's shaky hands reach out to close her eyes to stop the tears but they never stopped neither listened.

This is just one heck of a nightmare!

Amir on the other hand is processing what the Sheikh had said because nothing mattered to him than staying married to this amazing woman. 'Your brother's divorcée is lawful to you' kept echoing in his head like a broken recorder. There is no doubt the news lifted so many troubles and rocks off his chest and shoulders but then, trouble still lurks. No natter what happens, he won't ever divorce Bushra, even with the earth lulling around it. Not even the fact that his brother was manipulated, he still did divorce her when his senses were active. Which means one thing, the divorce is genuine and authentic!

Amir is trying to make up excuses, he cannot help it. He won't be able to live without Bushra, the thought simply left this acidic feeling in his chest. He will make sure he is not separated from her!

Mika'il have no excuse for what he has done, Amir won't be allowed to be held accounted for this. But what if he is asked to divorce her by the elders knowing it is wrong? Society might even go to the extent of believing he has his hands in what Zara did when he does not know about anything.

His love for Bushra is crazily mad to the limit of obsession, he can't live without her! If she leaves his life, he won't live life like that. Not after spending months with her as his wife, doting over her and cherishing her like she deserves. His life would be void, null, zilch, sleaze you name it.

He is sure someone in the family will bring the idea of him divorcing her but she won't go back to Mika'il, they both should lose her they'd say. But is he stupid to do what his brother had done? He wouldn't be easily manipulated, for even with the strongest of drugs in his system, he won't yell at Bushra talk less of divorcing her and cutting all ties with her, never.

But what if she wants to go back with Mika'il?" He clenched his fists at the thought. She wouldn't do that to him, would she?

Darn it, he does not have the answer for that!

"You are really alive." They heard Kauthar calling out as she stood up from the floor next to her husband to launch herself at Mika'il who has been standing there for a long time accessing his ex-wife finding comfort in his brother's embrace. He noticed how her body tensed up when Kauthar talked.

She hates him, she doesn't want to talk to him or see him. His heart gave another squeeze, he had to hold onto Kauthar much more tighter than he intended to. The onslaught of pain that racked through him is almost physical, as if he could feel it in his bones. His daughter stared at him for a moment earlier before moving closer to her mother. His perle! It seems the world is against him, his daughter has forgotten completely about him like he did her. Was he away for so long? Had he hurt her mother so badly that she is taking her side? He's messed up big time.

Amir didn't raise his head to look at him either, he is busy consoling his ex-wife. His teeth gnashed in anger, rage, wrath and frustration of not able to do anything.

They are now legally married and it is islamically accepted! He took deep calming breaths on Kauthar's shoulder to keep himself away from committing a crime just after coming back from the dead. He will deal with Amir later, he won't let him go scot free after marrying his wife! The love of his life, the mother to his daughter. No, he will never forgive Amir for this.

He knows about the crush he had on his wife, but he thought it was stupid something he got rid of but no, he sneaked behind as soon as the news about his death blew and married her.

The war is just about to begin.