MAKESHIFT HUSBAND (COMPLETE)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

**

Kamal stared at her sleeping form. He closed the door behind him silently with a frown.

'Zainab has always been careless'

He mused, wondering why she'd leave the door unlocked.  She looked peaceful and he dreaded her reaction when he told her the news.

"Hey" he placed a kiss on her temple. "it's time to wake up you know"

Zainab stirred and a knot untied in her heart as she inhaled his familiar scent. She moved closer and wrapped her arms around him.

"I missed you"

Kamal's heart lurched and he closed his eyes. Forcing himself, he peeled her arms away and forced a stern tone to his voice.

"Get up. We need to talk"

Zainab took one look at his face that was devoid of any expression.

"Wait... I want to say something first"

Kamal's face paled.

Did she discover the truth somehow? Did someone let her in on the secret somehow?

"Zainab... Listen... I....I cam explain" he stuttered.

"What happened to your face?" Her brows creased and her fingers probed his face gently as if she was scared a single touch would cause him more pain.

"I'm fine Zainab. I just had an accident"

"An accident like this? Looks pretty specific"

"Can we get back to talking?"

She rolled her eyes at him.

"I just wanted to apologise for my behavior these past few months. I shouldn't have lost my cool or suspected you. I should have believed you enough to trust that you would not break your words."

She observed his silence and took his hands in hers. Giving them a light squeeze, she continued. "I'm really sorry my love. I never should have behaved like that and I deeply regret it. But there's less than two months now and soon, our lives will go back to the way it was, just us."

Kamal was taken aback by her words. He never expected an apology and to be honest, right now he didn't want an apology from her because it made him feel even more guilty.

He opened his mouth to talk but a loud commotion outside caught both their attentions. The noise disturbed Amir and he woke up with a shrill cry.

Zainab donned her hijab and carried the babe in her arms. Together, they walked to the source of disturbance.

Someone was pounding on the doors heavily. The person's voice sounded really furious as he struggled with the security guard.

Kamal opened the door, putting an end to the arguments.

He stood motionlessly, unable to utter a single word after coming face to face with the man outside.

A face that could mirror his own stared back at him, veins throbbing full of deep etched hatred. His eyes looked like he was ready to commit murder at that moment.

Reflexively, Kamal took a step back into the parlor and was tempted to shut the door in his face.

"You... You" he pointed. "When were you released from prison and what are you doing here?"

Yaks smiled and cracked his fist. "I'll give you a befitting answer"

With a lunge, his fist landed on Kamal's half swollen face and his lips started to bleed immediately.

"Who are you?" Zainab yelled. "I'll call the police. Stop it!!"

The two men were too deep in their scuffle that non of them heard her.

The security guard returned with another guard and the two of them peeled Yaks off Kamal whom he had beaten to a pulp.

"Let go of me" Yaks struggled wildly. "I'll teach that bastard a  lesson. You did it on purpose didn't you? You're doing all this to get back at me for all those years right?"

Kamal sat up and spat out blood. He rubbed the side of his lips and smiled.

"Why? Does it hurt you? Do you feel like dying now? It's none of your business actually."

Zainab stared at the two men confused. "Do you know each other?"

Yaks laughed maniacally. "Do we know each other? I guess when you two got married, I was still locked up."

He sized her up. "You're not so bad yourself but of course very inferior to my Maryam." His eyes drooped and he added "at least she was mine until your husband stole her."

Zainab pushed her anger down. "What do you mean by that?"

"Shut up Yakubu." Kamal shot up. "This is non of your business"
He shook his aching head wildly at his wife. "Don't listen to him Zainab. I can explain.."

"He didn't tell you?" Yaks butt in.

"There's no need to tell me anything. If you're talking about the girl his best friend begged him to marry, I already know about that and guess what?" She smirked, looking pretty smug. "It's less than two months left to their divorce. Soon, he'll divorce her and our life will be back to normal"

Yaks clutched his stomach as he became overcome by laughter. He dragged his arms free from the security guards and sat on the floor.

After laughing humorlessly for a few more minutes. He wiped his teary face and sighed deeply.

"I will tell you what he did not tell you or rather, what he doesn't want to tell you."

Zainab cast an uncertain look at her husband who had lowered his head and looked like a drenched chicken.

"The fact is, Maryam, your husband's wife, is pregnant."

"She's carrying a child" he added. "Your husband's baby."

Zainab shook her head. "It's a lie. I don't believe you. She dropped the babbling Amir on the carpet and walked to Kamal.

"He's lying right? Baban Amir qarya yake koh?" She grabbed him by his arms and pulled.

He let her pull all she wanted. Even if she wanted to slap him now, he would let her.

His silence was an answer enough for her. She pulled away from him and carried her son to the chair furthest from him.

Hugging Amir to her chest, Zainab started to rock herself without saying another word.

Yaks stood up and patted his buttocks.

"You think you've won?"

Kamal's word stopped him at the door.

"She's carrying my child already and unless i die, I will never divorce her Yakubu. You'll never have her."

Yaks turned slightly and smiled again.

"That's okay with me. Knowing that she loved me in every way before she did you is enough comfort."

He walked out and paused to add "I think I'm good enough for the mere fact that I'm willing to respect her choice. Unlike some others"

Other than Amir's soft snore, the entire room was enveloped in a tense silence.