IN TWENTY ONE DAYS

46; FISHY.

ABUJA, NIGERIA.

Arriving at the Masari mansion, she walked inside with bounces to her step after finding out that her father in-law is inside the house currently and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that she won't waste. She is going to make sure she talks to him calmly and teasingly to get through him, that is the only way she can get through her father in-law. He does not listen to serious matters, he likes it to look playful and a bit light. He is fragile now, he can't afford being so disheartened by something again.

A smile took over her face seeing her father in-law lounging inside the garden of the house with a newspaper and hot cup of green tea. He really should spend some times like this all alone with his peace, he should not wallow in self pity. Maybe they are both on the same page mourning over their partner's deaths, she hopes they can go through that without heart problem especially him, for his weak age. Their difference is, he's been married to his wife for thirty whole years while she is only married to Mika'il for two years, there are differences between them. His own heartbreak will run way deeper than hers.

"Hello there, old man!" She hollered from the door to the garden so he can acknowledge her presence before she arrives, he shouldn't be startled. Her moves much more stretcher when he returned the smile like he wasn't going through a tough heartbreak.

"Hello there, young woman." His teeth are shining while his hands fold the newspaper and kept it aside on the wooden table between the two chairs there. He looks fresher and calmer than the Malik Masari few days ago, it is definitely a good sign.

"You look much more happier, I'm glad." She beamed then sat down on the chair close to him forgetting about the etiquette of asking whether she should sit. This is her father in-law she is talking about, he is always cool with her.

"Same goes to you. What brought you here this blessed Sunday?" He has his whole attention to her, giving her closer look to see whether she is alright and not as she was days ago. She's been disheveled after the death of his wife and son even after what that said son did to her.

"Ah, you sound like you don't want me here, Daddy." She pouted then grinned again and continued, "I came to talk to you about something actually."

"Now I'm afraid of what you want to talk about now with those mischievous eyes. Can we postpone this 'talks' you want to have with me? I need some doses of energy to listen to you." He grinned at his ex daughter in-law's pout who is more like a daughter to him right from the beginning. He never treated her as a daughter in-law, he has been much closer to her than his own kids back then. She was the one who helped brought them closer as a family, he appreciates her effort and will forever be indebted.

"You don't want me to talk to you now? I feel like you have disowned me." She feigned being mad at him and turn her back to him in annoyance but then she heard him sigh so she knew she has penetrated the wall he built around the matter at hand. Maybe he has a hunch of what is going on, well.

"That's not it, spit it out now." He crossed his arms over his chest like a grumpy child. Everyone has been talking to him about this since a week ago, he is tired of hearing the same thing, they should let him be. It is not easy for him going through this and now another trouble? Please, let him grieve in peace.

"Daddy..." She took a hold of his hand in her gentle frail ones, her eyes fixated on his hand because this man is more like a father to her than a man who gave birth to her ex dead husband. He's built a place in her heart that no one can ever take, just like her belle meré did, the place is still void and filled with their memories together.

"You've heard about this matter not once or twice and you might think I want to say the same thing huh? No, I'm going to say it in a different way which might coax you to think about it." Her words were soft but the impact they were releasing are much stronger than the emotions surging through her blood at the moment. She can't believe there would come a day where she has to say this to her father in-law. Allah plans everything, it's amazing how the roles are being played and how destinies are changed. Some things are never foreseen no natter how much you feel you know.