4

All day long he has been sitting at the desk, paper work piling higher and higher but he never cared because he had nothing exciting to do after work. He sipped his cup of coffee and flipped the page over before signing.

He heard a soft knock from the door before it squeaked open. He raised his head to see who dared to enter his office without permission. He sighed closing his eyes and opening it. “Isn't your manager supposed to be the one doing all this paperwork?” He asked looking at the pile of papers in front of muhsin before he settled down on the visitor’s chair. “I know, but what would I do if I give it all to him? I don’t have anything to do besides work,” he responded while he continued with his work. “Well how about you go home and talk things through with your wife?” He suggested. Muhsin threw his head back laughing and looked at his friend who is also his cousin.

“Talk? Talk things through? Like what exactly are you talking about, Doctor Yusuf?” He spoke nonchalantly. He never takes things seriously when it comes to Amira now. “You should sit her down and speak to her calmly. Yelling at her all the time will not solve anything, muhsin. It will just worsen things.”

Muhsin hissed softly and dropped the pen together with the file he was holding. He rests his back on his office chair and sighed. “Look, Yusuf, I have tried every possible thing to make her change but it is not working. What do you want me to do? I don’t love her anyways...”

Yusuf shook his head in disbelief. “Please you should stop saying that. I understand she isn't willing to change but saying you don’t love her with so much confidence isn't just right, especially to her.” Muhsin continued his work and shrugged off his shoulder.

“When did you even come back from Yola? How’s yapendo?” Muhsin changed the topic because he knew how Yusuf would keep on insisting. “She’s fine Alhamdulillah. They're also coming back to Abuja soon I think after Hadiza’s wedding.”

They chit chatted more till muhsin was done with his work and they left the building together. “We should go to your house. I’m sure a delicious meal is waiting for you at home.”

“A delicious meal you say? You're joking right?” He laughed heartily. Yusuf slightly punched his shoulder, “stop joking around Muhsin. I know something delightful is already waiting for you at home.”

“I will not say anything because you'd think I’m accusing her but, let’s get going then. You’ll see everything with your own eyes.” Muhsin hopped into his car as Yusuf also did the same.

They both met at Muhsin’s house. “I will show you the reason why I never invite anyone, I mean anyone to my house,” he says as they walked towards the entrance. He opened the door and they walked into the grubby living room. Boxes of pizza and disposable cups lain around the living room. Pillows scattered everywhere. Her shoes, and scarfs careless scattered everywhere. What irritated him more was how the living room smelt and she didn't care.

She raised her head up and looked at them. “Oh, Yusuf, you're welcome.” She stood up from the couch while fixing her veil. For some reason she felt a bit awkward when she observed how he was looki around the living room in awe.

“What is all this Amira? I don’t even know if I’m married or I’m baby sitting. Just last night I cleaned everywhere in this living room but look at the filthy thing you did? Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?” He was enraged. Not that he couldn’t control himself but there were times that he gets fed up by her filthy behaviors. Yusuf didn't even get the chance to reply her greetings when muhsin started yelling at her.

“Oh ya Rabbi, there he goes again. I’m sick and tired of this bullshit of yours, Muhsin. What the hell? Why do you keep bringing this up when this is all your fault? You refused to let me hire a made but you keep ranting about the house being dirty, am I some kind of your slave? Now it has reached to the extent that you will embarrass me in front of your cousin?” Words flew from her mouth that she never cared to even think if they were right to be uttered or not. The argument grew from nowhere into a tornado. He looked at Yusuf and pointed at him to his wife, “you see? Total bull crap. I can't... I can't deal with this anymore....”

Yusuf attempt to drag him out of the room but he wouldn't bulge. Muhsin was stronger than him even though Yusuf was the oldest. He was too infuriated to let things go like that. “Listen to me carefully, you think all you do or say to me I can't do anything to you right? Are you even okay, Amira? Talking to your husband like I’m some sort of your play mate. I did not marry you to turn you into a maid but you are meant to cook and clean my house whether you like it or I have the right to add another wife in this house that will do all I want and make things right for me if you refuse to. You’re not the only woman in this world, you should not forget that.” His fuse simmered and fizzed like a firework in a chill autumn breeze, then he exploded with unrestrained fury. She remained as still as a cadaver and just as pallid, unblinking against his onslaught. Then, he stormed out of the house.

He knew if he stayed longer, things would worsen. Yusuf briskly apologized to her before he followed his cousin outside to the parking lot. Muhsin was already in his car seated, head against the steering wheel. Yusuf entered the passengers seat and looked at him for brief seconds. “You shouldn't have said that to her Muhsin. It was too harsh...”

“What was too harsh in my words? Her words weren't anything right? I am always the bad person right? Besides, I only stated a fact. By Allah If she does not change her ways I don’t see any reason why I won't add a second wife within few months, just watch me.”

Yusuf was loss at words. He couldn't argue anymore. Muhsin was right and whenever he declares something, it stays that way.

**

She paced around the room panicky, thinking of a way to tackle the problems she was facing. Her phone vibrated from the side drawer, jolting her out of her reverie. She hissed loudly and walked over to the phone. “Oh, Karima, I’m so sorry you haven't seen me. I will be on my way soon,” she uttered and ended the call.

She sighed and kept the phone back on the side drawer. She picked it up again and called the one person she knew that would help her. “Mommy, good morning. Mommy, I don’t know what to do. I want to go out but muhsin is really mad at me and he said if I don’t start taking care of the house he would add another wife and I know he's very serious about it.”

Her mother was silent for bit before she hissed. “What have you done again, Amira? I know how rude you are and you must have said something to infuriate him.” Amira burst into desolate tears, “mommy what should I do?”

“What should you do? What sort of question is that? You should clean your house and cook if you don’t want a co wife, that’s it! The choice is upto you.” Mommy stated. She increased the volume of her wails when her mother uttered the word ‘co wife’.

“Wait this girl, Dalia is even around and she isn't doing much in the house, I will send her now to help you clean up the house.” Amira instantly nodded as if she was in front of her. “Yes mommy please send someone now. I am heading out in an hour. You should send her before I leave.” She didn't even wait to hear what her mother would say again when she ended the call.

She sauntered into the bathroom and had her bath before getting ready for the day. She was about to leave her room when she heard the door bell. She smiled and stepped out of the room. She walked down the stairs, passed the living room to the door.

Dalia raised her head up when Amira opened the door. “You must be the girl to clean my house right?” She asked. Dalia nodded before she greeted her. “Come let me show you what to do,” she said instead of answering her greetings. Dalia gently walked into the house and followed Amira to the living room. She looked around the dirty place but never changed her facial expression.

“You're going to clean the living room, the kitchen and the rooms upstairs, after you're done, you cook dinner before my husband comes back from work. The cleaning equipments are in the kitchen. I won’t be back early.” She started walking away and left Dalia there looking at her in awe. She had to do all of that alone, same day? She heaved a sigh looking at the wall clock. It was already passed 12 noon.

She walked towards the kitchen Amira showed her and started the work. She cleaned the living room first, the guest toilet, the dining and kitchen. She sprayed the whole living room and dining with the air fresher she found in the dinning room show glass.

She performed ablution and took the mat she found in the living room to pray. She stood there looking around as she wondered where the Qiblah is. She dropped the mat and wore her hijab before she walked out of the house to the gate to ask the gate man. She came back shortly and prayed before she continued her work.

She headed upstairs wondering which room to start with. She opened the first door which was muhsin’s room. She closed it back when she saw everywhere was already cleaned, include the toilet. She entered the next room which was Amira. She hissed softly and entered. She wondered how a human being would live in such dirty place. She first changed the bedsheet before doing anything. Her eyes caught sight of a picture on the side drawer.

She picked it up and stared at them. So he is Amira’s husband, she mused to herself. She shrugged her shoulders and dropped the picture before she continued with her work.

By the time she was done, it was past 3pm. Amira’s room was too dirty to be done in just few minutes. She moved to the show glass she saw when she came into the room earlier. She opened it, beaming, and brought out some of the burning incense that was arranged. She noticed none was touched when she was cleaning the place. There was a pack of artificial charcoal and a burner in the show glass. She picked some of the burning incense and went down stairs to the kitchen.

She turned on the gas that luckily she was taught by one of mommy’s maids. By the time she was done with the burning incense, the house was nicely fragranced. She sat on the carpet in the living room to rest a bit before Asr prayer.

A while later after she had prayed and well rested, she moved to the kitchen to cook. She opened the pantry wondering what to cook because Amira didn't mention anything to her after she had told her to cook. She stood there staring at the varieties of ingredients. She looked at the clock in the kitchen. It was almost 6pm. She knew she didn't know how to cook much fancy dishes but she managed to cook fried and chicken.

She was hungry by the time she was done with everything she cooked. She served herself the amount she knew it would satisfy her after she had arranged everything in the dinning room. She settled down on the stool in the kitchen and ate her meal before she prayed maghrib and started cleaning the mess she made in the kitchen.

The moment he walked into the living room, everything felt like a dream. From the sight of the spotless living room the aroma of food mixed with the burning incense. He dropped his briefcase on the sofa and moved to the dining room. He opened the warmer, mouth wide open. Amira did all this? She had finally decided to change. He smiled softly as he closed back the warmer. He looked at the kitchen door when he heard the noise coming from there.

He smiled gracefully as he walked into the kitchen. “Amira, you did all this...” He paused when he saw the tiny figure in front of the sink. She turned and jerked back in horror. She heaved a sigh of relief. “Sorry,” he murmured. “Where’s Amira?” He asked, brows furrowed.

“She's not back yet. Good evening,” she muttered, her head ducked. He massaged the space between his nose and hissed softly before heading out of the kitchen to his room. She rolled her eyes and continued with her work. She wondered why they both ignored her greetings. Maybe that was how they are, she thought.

She finished cleaning the kitchen and went to the living room. She settled down on the soft carpet and stared at the blank TV. She sighed softly and hugged her knees. She didn't even know if she was going to spend the night there or not. All she knew was mommy told her she was coming to help Amira with house chores.

She stood up sluggishly to pray isha when she heard the adhan. After she had prayed, she laid down there tiredly. She had never worked that much in her life. She tried to keep her eyes open but it was impossible to do that. Her body ached and all she needed was a good night sleep.

He walked down the stairs, into the living room and met her already fast asleep. He walked passed her and entered the dining area to eat his dinner. He had never felt so refreshed and calm in his own house ever since he got married to Amira. He looked around the clean dining area as he calmly ate his dinner. He gulped everything down with a cup of water and stood up. He went back to the living room and settled down on the sofa close to where she was sleeping.

He gently tapped the mat to wake her up. “Dalia, wake up.” She briskly sat up right rubbing her eyes. “Have you prayed?” He asked and she slowly nodded. “Okay stand up let’s go, I’m taking you home,” he informed her and stood up. He walked to the door as she also followed him after she had folded the mat and kept it in the right place.

She entered the car and they zoned out of the house. In few minutes, they were at the house. He entered thinking Amira was in the house but he wasn't. He met mommy in the living room alone. She looked at them in awe. “Muhsin, you're welcome. Where’s Amira?” She asked. He ducked his head as he greeted her. “She’s not back yet,” he responded. Dalia had already left the place after she greeted mommy.

“She's not back? She told me she was going to her friend’s house only, what’s taking her so long. I thought she would be the one to return this girl or you’d come together.”

He didn't pay attention to anything she had said. It would only irritate him more if he replied her or thought about it. He bade her good night and left. He didn't even have the strength to exchange words with amira that night.

Mommy picked up her phone the minute he left and dialled Amira’s number. “Where are you? Why haven’t you gone back home up till now? I thought you would be the one to return dalia instead your husband did.”

“Oh he has returned her? I was actually going to call him but I was afraid he wouldn't because I know he's still mad at...”

“Amira are you mad? So you’re telling me you left that girl all alone together with your husband in your own house because you don't have sense?” Amira wanted to hiss but she knew what would follow after that. “Mommy what’s there please? I trust him and that little girl wouldn't even dare try any stupidity with my husband. Trust me mommy, nothing will happen. I’m driving home now, we will talk tomorrow,” she finished talking and ended the call.

Mommy shook her head and kept the phone. She was not comfortable with muhsin bringing Dalia back home. Amira was too dumb to understand what her mother was telling her especially when he uttered those words about adding another wife.