MAKESHIFT HUSBAND (COMPLETE)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

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"Are you going somewhere?"

Yaks paused in his movements for a few seconds, then continued his movements.

Alhaji Yakasai knew his son's behavior of pretending he, Alhaji yakasai, didn't exist at all.

He subtly pretended not to notice the clothes sprawled all over the bed and the floor. Suitcases were lying on the bed too but yaks didn't stop any of his movements.

After emptying a suitcase, he opened the wardrobe and pulled out all the clothes inside too.

After scattering everything for almost thirty minutes, he found what he was looking for and sank to the floor slowly.

His hands were trembling as he opened the small case. Folded papers and pictures laid contentedly.

Yaks picked the small piece of cardboard paper lying on top all the others and read slowly.

"NOTES FOR MARYAM"

They were notes he wrote from the prison and he had been giving to tamin with orders that he passes them to Maryam but he never did so.

After a series of threats and beatings, tamin confessed that Alhaji had seized every single  note and kept them buried in his room.

Alhaji's face paled as soon as yaks dug out the box.

How did he know about it?

He braced himself and decided not to show his fear in front of yaks. He firmly believed in his heart that keeping the two of them apart was the best thing for yaks.

He would never allow his son to marry such a loose girl even if she came loose after meeting him.

"Don't look so heartbroken" Alhaji yakasai continued. "Sometime in the future, you will look back and realise just how much love I have for you to have separated you from that seductress"

"Shut up" Yaks growled lowly. "Just. Shut. Your. Mouth" he intoned slowly.

"It's high time you return to your senses" Alhaji Yakasai scolded. "I have lots of things to discuss with you and I'm hoping you will take over my underground business for a while. The security's getting real tight these days under this president so I can't do some of the things I used to do before"

Yaks remained in his position as though his should had flown out of him.

"Are you even listening to me?"

"Just shut up" he jumped up and grabbed his father by the collar. "I told you to shut your mouth already and you don't want to make me repeat myself"

Alhaji Yakasai froze out of sheer fear and terror. The killing intent in his son's eyes was unmistakable and he knew without a single doubt in his mind that if he didn't listen to him, then Yaks would really do whatever he wanted.

"Get out of my room" Yaks released him and turned his back.

"I said leave!!!" He yelled again. Rushing to the mirror stand, he threw everything to the floor and banged his fists on the mirror until it broke.

Shards of glasses pierced through his skin and drops of blood cascaded down his hands.

Alhaji Yakasai stood even more transfixed as he watches his son go crazy, destroying everything in the room. For the first time ever, he wondered if he made the right decisions or not.

"Wait!!" When he returned to his senses, Yaks had gone out of the room carrying a backpack and the box containing his notes.

"Yakubu!!" He called. "Where are you going?"

Yaks stopped.

"No matter what, you're my Father so take care of yourself and as for me" he barked out a short laugh. "I'm going away"

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Maryam stared at Kamal's worn out face wordlessly for a moment. He look so tired and even his beard looked unkempt.

The swollen area from where Salman had dealt him a blow the other time was yet to heal completely.

Just what happened to you Kamaldeen?

She mused silently.

"I've heard all that you said"
Kamal exhaled. "And I promise you I won't disappoint you. You have my word"

As soon as the words left his mouth, a certain fair lady's smiling face flashed through his mind and he held back a wince.

ZAINAB!

"I'll go get you some food" Maryam hurriedly excused herself to the kitchen.

She leaned against the kitchen walls and let out a sigh. All the words she said to Kamal rang in her ears again and again.

'I've decided to give us a chance'

'Only time shall tell if I made the right choice'

'Everything might not be worth it but everything is worth trying'(AUTHOR:WINKING AT UMM AISH)

She lowered her hand and rubbed her stomach affectionately. "Baby" she whispered. "Mummy is doing all of this for you"

She pushed back her overwhelming emotions and set up some food for her husband on a tray.

The word itself made her giggle as she tasted it on her tongue, she also wondered what she would call him from now on.

"My husband"
Too formal.

"Hubby"
Nope.

"Baby"
Definitely not!

"Mine"

'But he's not YOURS remember?'her heart taunted. 'Until recently, you were the other woman'

The thought depressed her for a few seconds.

While Maryam busied herself in the kitchen, Kamal was getting even more worried.

He'd dialed Zainab's number for the seventh time already and got the same response.

The MTN number you're trying to call, is currently switched off. Please try again later, thank you.

He didn't know why but an unpleasant feeling crept on him and embraced his heart. His instincts were blaring warning signs at him. Something was definitely wrong!

"Is something the matter?" Maryam inquired as she returned from the kitchen." You look really worried"

"Don't worry. It's nothing serious"

He would get back to Zainab later and try to settle her. Even if she wanted to hit him or cuss him, he wouldn't say one single word of disagreement but would let her do as she wanted.

He helped her with the tray and as he ate, they talked lightly over small matters.

"So when will you be moving back to our home?" Kamal asked after he was done eating. He leaned back into the chair and took small sips of Guinea Corn juice.

"As soon as I get better, we'll discuss some more."

He nodded and they watched the TV in silence. Maryam cleared the plates.

"I'll be leaving now" he smiled. "Can I...can I hold you?"

The request stunned Maryam.

"It's okay if you don't want to. I..."

The word "understand" got stuck in his neck as she wrapped her arms around him.

Gently, he pressed her against him and felt his worries fade away, as if only the two of them existed and everything else was gone.