MAKESHIFT HUSBAND (COMPLETE)

CHAPTER TWO

Not just Kamal, even Maryam had a look of shock on her face.

Marry him?

She was not really that close with her brother's best friend. Maryam always felt he was too serious and had often wondered how their relationship with Salman managed to last this long.

Her brother was the typical example for someone who lived in the moment without stressing for what the future might bring.

She stole a peek at his face and swallowed when she saw the deep furrow between his brows.

He wasn't happy about this. Displeasure was clearly spelt on his face and Maryam smiled bitterly. Who would be willing to marry someone like her anyways?

Her dreams for a happy married life was quickly fading and she was just realizing how naive she had been to assume she could simply stand up and walk away from everything.

"Of course it doesn't have to be a real marriage." Maryam's mother quickly added, seeing that he was intending to reject her request.
"It will be just for a year or six months at least. Just until everything dies down. You also live in Keffi with your wife don't you?"

Kamal nodded woodenly.

"Great. If you divorce her, then there's no need to come back here either. My sister lives in Europe so she could stay there for a while as we look at other chances."

Kamal calculated all the cons and pros in his head and wasn't surprised to see that the consequences outnumbered the pros.

However, Salman and his mother had done a lot for him and he was sure that if it were the reverse, Salman wouldn't hesitate one bit but would accept the marriage.

"Shikenan Mama" he relented with a heavy sigh. "But I will have to make some preparations and then I have to inform my wife"

Mamie nodded her head in understanding. "There is no need for any preparations Kamalu. I've already bought a house for the two of them as they are all that I have and the moment the wedding fatiha is done, a photocopy of the deed will be given to you. It's in Low coast You live in Sabon Layi right?"

He nodded again and Mamie stood up, a bit pleased that things had turned up better than they would have.

"Well then, there are other preparations to be made." She headed for the door that led to the inner house. "I'll leave you two to talk a bit"

Silence descended on the two people after Mamie left.

"Uh.. I just want to say... Thank you"

"I didn't do it for you"

Kamal interrupted her even before she finished speaking. His eyes were fierce and passed on the message even before his lips did.

"Don't even think for a moment that I am doing this for you or that I am happy doing this. If it were just for you, I would have simply watched you and dusted my back to walk away. Your actions disgust me Maryam. No, you disgust me. It's just for a year at highest, remember that"

He left without a backward glance and for some reason, the pain of loosing Abdulhaqq couldn't measure up to what she was feeling now. 

So low, unwanted and disgusting at herself.

Merely hours ago, she was a bride to be, she was happy and she'd spoken to her groom who couldn't wait to have her in his arms but now.

Now she had no value at all. The man she was about to marry had just made a stop to any thoughts she could possibly fancy.

********

"What do you mean you're getting married?" Zainab, Kamal's wife shot up from her seat and stood arms akimbo, heaving like she had just finished a marathon.

"Calm down Zee baby. Calm down and listen to me"

"Get away from me" she hit his outstretched hand away. "Don't even touch me you liar. That's why you've been blabbering on and on about destiny and things that happen leaving us with nothing to do right?"

She put her hands to her head and laughed, a sound filled with mockery and pain. "Allah ya isa Kamal. You have cheated me. What haven't I been able to do for you? I have given you a son, I have been a good wife and I have tolerated your relatives and all these three years you suddenly want to get married and you're telling me the wedding's this week?"

"Stop your nonsense Zainab" Kamal thundered and she shut her mouth immediately. She knew her husband very well.

Kamal had a very good temperament and wasn't easily angered however his temper was really hot and once he became angry, it would be really difficult to calm him.

"I have told you that I am getting married as a favor. Maryam means nothing to me and she will forever mean nothing to me."

He took a step closer to her to hug her and this time she let him embrace her. "Zainab you are the only one I will ever love. Believe me"

She raised her tear stained face to look at him. "Then promise me Kamal. Promise me that you will never look at her as wife and that you will never touch her or love her. Promise me this"

Kamal frowned. "I don't have to promise you anything my Zee baby. Just have faith in me koh?"

She looked at him in the eyes for a while and felt satisfied by the level of sincerity she saw in them. Only then, did she press her cheek on his chest, her arms tightening around him as though someone would snatch him away from her.

Zainab had a kind heart and a good personality but she loved her husband a lot and was extremely jealous and possessive of him.

Left to her, she would prefer that no other woman laid her eyes on him and she even had fights with Kamal sometimes over the ladies he associated with.

Kamal placed a kiss on his wife's head and sighed. He loved his wife too and really didn't ever consider getting married again. He only hoped that nothing would happen and that he would be able to stay true to his words.

*******
The wedding day came like a blur and before she knew it, women were screaming the wedding chants.

Maryam didn't know what her mother told the family members but no one looked at her with disgust or hatred. Rather, they all sympathised with her and tried to comfort her.

"So you're married now"

Salman walked into the room his sister was sitting in alone. "Congratulations" he leant against the wall and crossed his arms.

Since three days ago when the truth of the matter came to the surface, he avoided his sister. He felt it was his fault. If he hadn't been so busy trying to grow up and be a man, then maybe he would have noticed when she started to drift away. Maybe he would have seen the  signs, then maybe he could have been of help in some way.

He wanted to be angry at her, he wanted to yell at her, he wanted to scream and say a lot of awful things to her but when he looked at her, he could still see the little sister who always chased him, trying to grab a hold of his shirt as he remained out of reach.

Perhaps he had been running too fast and she got tired of chasing and hence, she took another route. As their eyes met, Salman couldn't even bring himself to apologise to her.

"Congratulations" he said softly and left the room.