9

Love maybe only a four letter word. But it is more powerful than anything in the world. It can alone make you the happiest person in the world, or the saddest. And for Sohana, it made her the happiest woman in the world.

He takes good care of her. He showers her with love and affection. Whenever she needs him, he's always there for her. The last thing he wants to see in this world is her tears. It breaks his heart and makes him weak whenever he sees her tears.

She sighed and muttered Alhamdulillah. "What is my lovely, adorable wife thinking of?" He asked and plumped down next to her on the couch. He handed the bowl of fruit salad he made for her. "Thank you baby" she grinned. "Anything for my wife" he voiced and kissed her cheek.

"So are you excited about our trip to Maiduguri?" He asked wrapping his arms around her shoulder. "Y-Yes of course I am" she answered and smiled. "Are you sure?" She questioned. "No" she sighed. "I'm scared" she mumbled. "Scared of what? So what if they don't like you. My parents do. And most importantly I love you." She smiled and pecked his lips. "I love you too."

"But.." she started. "No buts, I'll be right by your side through thick and thin, I promise" he assured and gave her a side hug. "I've never been to maiduguri you know" she chuckled nervously. "Well my darling, you'd love it there" she smirked. She rolled her eyes "it's still not better than katsina." He gave her a weird look that says 'is something wrong with your brain?'

"You know that's a big lie" he argued. "No hun, it's not and you clearly know that" she stated and left the gazebo. "The war is not over" he yelled. "Yes it is!" She yelled back.

"Hmm what are you doing?" He asked snaking his arms around her waist. He planted a kiss on her neck. "Trying to make sandwich and you're not helping" she chuckled. "You look cute today." He turned her around and crashed their lips together. She sighed and started kissing him back.

"Hey!" Someone interrupted there little chemistry. "What? How did you..." she cuts him off before he could finish. "How did I get here? Well, that's easy! I've been knocking at your door for a very long time but nobody opened the door and I called your phone, you didn't pick so that's why I decided to check the back door and luckily, it's wide open" she explained. "Oh my phone" he touch both his side pockets. "Probably upstairs" he shrugged.

"So what brings you to my house? Aren't you supposed to be in maiduguri?" He questioned. She came further into the kitchen with her suitcase. "Yes, Mommy said I should follow you guys when you're leaving which is tomorrow right?" You could swear she's someone innocent or to be trusted.

Sohana cleared her throat. "Can't you greet?" He said sternly sending daggers to Noor's way. "Oh Hi" she said dryly and sauntered into the living room. "Care to explain" she crossed her arms on her chest and raised one brow.

"Aunt mamii, abba's elder sister" he started. The lady that hates me and wanted to ruin our wedding. Yeah I remember her. "Yes I know her, what about her?" She interrogated. "That's her daughter, Zaynab" he stated. "Oh" was the only thing she said and continued making her sandwich.

"What's wrong honey. You look down!" He held her waist and rested his chin on her neck. "Nothing!" She snapped. "Sohana" he turned her around. "Look at me" she said grabbing her chin and turned her face towards his direction. "I told you what aunt mamii wants me to do will never happen Insha Allah, not now nor ever. So please calm down. You know you are and will always be my only wife." His word made her feel a bit relieved.

"Ya Sultaan I'm really hungry and it seems like your wife haven't cook anything for lunch yet!" She said and smirked at Sohana. "Sorry, I'll cook something for you now" she stated. "Don't worry, I'm not ready to die yet!" She snapped and turned her attention to Sultaan. "Ya Sultaan please can you buy something for me at eatcom, pleaseeee" she pouted and batted her lashes.

"Baby cook something sweet for us like you always do, I'm going to the barrack to do some unfinished business. I'll be back soon." He kissed her cheek before leaving the kitchen.

Noor made sure he left before she turned her gaze to Sohana. "You!" She said through gritted teeth, pointing at Soha. She marched towards Sohana. "You snatched him away from me! He is the love of my life and you freaking knew that, yet you went ahead and snatched him away!" She spat.

"What? How is he the love of your life? How am I supposed to know that? How am I supposed to know that you like him. I barely know who you are. Look I don't have time for any of your shenanigans. Kindly leave, I need to cook for my husband." Noor was already raging.

"Karya kike er gidan matsiyata you must leave him for me" she shrieked and grabbed Sohana by her ponytail, bringing her down. She hit her head on the marble tiles. "You stupid bitch! We all know you're here for the money! We all know who you are, you're a freaking protitute. A whore! We all know you follow men around. Shegiya karuwa kawai" she rained insults on Sohana and marched out.

Soha stood up holding the side of her head. She winced in pain. She went to the living room and laid down before cooking lunch. She was half done when Sultaan came in. "Hey baby, what's wrong? You look pale" he observed. "Welcome home" she said instead and kissed his lips, ignoring his question.

"I hope noor didn't cause any trouble" he sighed. "Oh I didn't" she appeared from nowhere. "Where you listen to what we were saying?" He looked at her angrily. "What? No!" She gasped. "Get out!" He snapped. "But.."

"Don't make me loose my temper on you" he faced palmed his self. She scoffed and turned on her heels. "That wasn't very nice" Sohana chuckled. "Now you tell me what's wrong with you" he said and placed his hands on the kitchen counter and leaned in. His lips was close to hers. "Nothing, I am absolutely fine" she kissed his nose and escaped. She moved to the gas cooker to check up on the soup she was making.

"I know my wife well. What did Noor do when I was gone?" He asked again. "Baby, I said nothing"she chuckled. "Okay fine I'll just pretend like nothing did happen" he said and left the kitchen.

•••••••

The next morning, they left for borno state. It was a long and uneasy trip. They arrived a bit after Maghrib. They stopped at aunt mamii's house. He held her hand and gave it a quick squeeze. "I got you" he whispered. She managed to give him a fake smile. She starred at the large mansion standing before her. Flashy cars parked at the parking spot. Well trimmed flowers. Her husband is really loaded.

They went into the house and Masha Allah the house is well decorated. The two large chandelier above them made the living room look even prettier. Sohana liked The brown royal cushions and the large milk fluffy soft carpet with a big brown wooden center table. Everything in that house screamed money.

"Mommy!" Noor squealed at the sight of her mother. She gave her a bone crushing hug. "I missed you so much." Aunt mamii chuckled "how was your trip baby?" She asked and noor answered with fine. "Good evening aunt mamii" Sohana squatted down and greeted her. She pretended like no one was there and kept talking to her one and only child.

"Good evening aunt mamii" Sultaan did the same. "Kana lfy (hope you're fine)" she said majestically. "Fine alhamdulillah" he replied and settled down on the sofa. Sohana greeted her again. "Ke wai ana dole ne? Must I answer your greetings? You greeted me the first time and I didn't answer, must you do it again. What a stupid human being!" She spat and hissed.

"Aunt mamii!" Sultaan called out sternly. "What? Ko zaka rama mata ne? She did something wrong so I scold her, what's there?" She said guiltily. "So now greeting you is doing something wrong?" He asked looking at her. "Will you shut up!" she bawled at him.

"Sohana, let's go" he voiced and grabbed his wife's hand. "Where are you guys going? I thought you'd be staying at my house till it's time for you to go back to Abuja" she remark. "Yes but I've changed my mind. I can't stay in a place where my wife will be disrespected" he said sincerely.

"Unbelievable! Ke, so this is how you turn my son into? You have him wrapped around your nasty finger! Toh Allah ya fiki, shegiya bakar munafika." Those words made Soha's heart to shatter into million pieces. She was on the verge to break down but she stayed strong. She kept fiddling with her fingers.

"Haba aunt mamii what's the meaning of all this? Why are you insulting my wife like that? What has she ever done to you? Because I rejected your spoiled brat? That's why you're picking on my wife. Haba aunt mamii that's not...." the way she yelled at him made him to keep shut, looking at her.

"Are you this stupid? Mubarak! Innalillahi wa inna ilaihir rajiun! So this is what she has turned you into; a little toy that she plays with. You're a disgrace to this family wallahi" she shook her head. He sighed and calmed his self down. "Where's our room?" He said instead.

"I'll order the maid to show you" she said dryly and picked up the intercom. The maid came in shortly and took them to their room. There was a mini living room and a large plasma Screen TV. "Hey I'm sorry for what happened back there" he started. "It's okay" she smiled sweetly. Deep down she was hurt real bad.

"I just don't know what's her problem with you. She's just, oh Allah this woman" he sighed. "Okay baby don't stress yourself because of this please. I got this! I'll protect myself, I promise you that." She pecked his lips. "Are you sure?" He asked holding her waist tighter. "Yes my love I'm sure" she murmured and grinned. "I love it when you smile" he smiled to and kissed her cheek.

"How long are we going to be staying here?" She asked unpacking their stuff. "We'll be out of this town in seven days or less Insha Allah" he responded.

As she was done unpacking, she sauntered into the ensuite and had a warm relaxing bath. She slipped into a pink skirt and blouse Ankara. "You look cute, MashaAllah." He smiled. "Thank you, now dress up" she said and pushed him towards the wardrobe.

He left for the masjid to pray isha while she prayed in their room. She prayed to the one who created her to continue blessing their marriage and protect them from evil.

She rose from the mat and folded it. She removed her hijab and folded it too. "Salamu alaykum" he muttered coming in. She answered keeping the hijab and mat in the closet. "Dinner is ready" he announced. "Let's go and eat" he added. "Okay" she murmured and took her veil.

They met Noor and her parents already sitted. Sohana squatted and greeted aunt mamii's husband. He's the complete opposite of aunt mamii. So jovial and full of smiles. "How was your trip?" He asked still smiling. "Alhamdulillah" they answered in union.

Aunt mamii and noor kept sending daggers soha's way. She didn't even know they were doing cause her head was hung low. She wasn't comfortable eating around them. "Are you okay?" He whispered and held her hand under the table. She smiled and nodded.

After dessert, Sultaan and Sohana went back to their room. "You barely touched your food or dessert" he started. "I don't have any appetite" she answered and laid down. "What's wrong? Are you sick?" He questioned intimidated. "No I'm fine! I need to sleep, good night" she muttered.

"At least wear something comfortable" he advised. She sighed and rose up. She changed into a pink baggy t shirt with black leggings.

"Mommy is looking for you" Noor barged in. "Is that why you have the audacity to barge in like that?" He snapped. "It's my fathers house, I can do whatever I like" she claimed and hurriedly left. "Perks of being the only child" Sohana uttered and chuckled. "What does she want again" he sighed.

He met aunt mamii and her little spoilt brat in the living room. "I thought your tail will be tagging along" aunt mamii said dryly. Noor laughed but it quickly died when she came across Sultaan's dead glares. "She's asleep" he said.

"Hmm Mubarak you've changed. She changed you. You were never like this before, you never talk back at me but now you've learned to do that" she observed. "I'm sorry if you think I am disrespecting you aunt mamii, but when it comes to Fatima I can.."

"You can what? Disrespect your own parents right? Or beat me?" She spat. "No I didn't mean that" he said calmly. "Ikon Allah!" She exclaimed. "Aunt mamii I'm really tired" he rose to his feet. "Good night" he added. "Allah tashemu lfy" she replied looking at the tv. "Ameen"

"Mommy you said you were going to make him marry me. You know how I love ya Sultaan" Noor pouted. "Don't worry my baby. Bi'iznillah you must marry him. He's meant for you alone. Just give me some time kinji ko" aunt mamii assured her. She squealed and hugged her "you're the best mommy ever."

"Anything for you. We'll make his wife's life miserable. She must regret ever marrying Mubarak. Wallahi I must make life living in hell for her."

Oh sweet aunt mamii how are you going to do that when you're in Maiduguri?