My Husband, Her Prey

Love resides in homes and in streets two. But this love resides in a beautiful home. At the far end of the street, a magnificent and two storey building stood fixed unto the ground firmly. It was situated at Lamido Crescent, Kano state. It was a well known house of a Judge;it was a no-go area for most of the people there, especially rascals. They all believed that going close to the house could land them in trouble. It was painted light blue, surrounded by lawns where bougainvillea and lantana flowers were used as edges to beautify the entrance.

At the entrance was the royal gate standing ravishly. Inside the mansion was a free style garden. It was furnished beautifully with swings and alot of garden adornments like statues, water fountains and rockeries. One could pinpoint the love of nature the couple had. At the far end of the garden, stood some topiaries which were carved into alphabets and it read. The queen; Halimah, and the king; Hafeez. At the main entrance that will lead one to the last corridor, there was a hedge that was carved also into alphabets aswell. It read; 'Welcome to our kingdom.' It was a modern garden; beautifully and skillfully adorned, constructed and designed by a specialist garden designer, the architects weren't left behind too; The house was well built. Ensconced on a royal peach headrest was Halimah with her Qur'an. Her cheshire eyes were fixed on the holy book. She was reciting surah al-noor with her mellifluous voice. She was eagerly waiting for his honour; Justice Hafeez Sani's return from work. She came back from her place of work earlier too. Just few minutes ago. Halimah heard a raspy sound perhaps coming from the door. She glanced at the wallclock and smiled. She gently closed the holy book, opened a glass covered drawer and kept it in gently. A smile kept making it's way on her charming face. She was happy he was finally back from work. She thought of him throughout at work today. Halimah was dressed in an ankle length skin tight trouser and an off shoulder dress. Her hair cascaded down her shoulder. Halimah sprayed a perfume and glanced at her console mirror before she walked majestically to the door and peeped through the hole. She peeked again but didn't see anyone so she opened the door slightly to check properly. She was sure she heard some sound. Before she became cognizant of what's happening or who was it, the door was pushed against her body and there she fell onto the floor. "Where's Hafeezu?" the woman barked. Haleemah's eyes inspected the woman. From her attire, to the way she was dressed, you could sense her intense love for fashion. The opposite though. Who was she? "He isn't back from work Ma'am. But I'm sure he will be back anytime soon. Good evening what would you like to eat?" Halimah composed her self and put on a polite smile. Whoever the woman was, Halimah was sure that she has nerves and from the looks of it, Hafeez himself must be scared of her and definitely the woman probably was among those held in high regard. "Save the formalities please.." The woman spat and stood up. She made her way to the kitchen. As soon she entered, her mouth flung open and her mind knitted some thoughts for her. 'So this is how big this house is. Look at the kitchen it's even bigger than my house, Hafeezu decided to keep this woman in this house. No way!' She thought as she inspected the house as though she was an environmentalist. She went to a corner in the kitchen and saw a door, she opened it widely. It was the store. Ten bags of rice. Cartons of drink, semovita, pasta and the list goes on. 'Hafeezu must be mad! He was bewitched!' She thought again. A woman cannot get all these from a man without using something to turn the man's head. Well, that was her belief. She opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water and a tin of coke. She checked some food warmers and served herself some food, she hesitated, looked back and forth and then closed it. It was Hafeez's food. Ya Allah! "Welcome Justice. How was the case?" Halimah peeped at her kitchen before she welcomed her husband. She wondered what the woman was doing at the kitchen. "It was good, i thank God all thanks to your support." She removed his suit and went into their room with it. She set a warm water for him and came out. "Your water is ready. My Justice." she finished with a teasing smile and a dramatic bow. "How many times would i tell you to stop calling me justice hmm? My colleagues call me that and when i come back you call me that what's the difference?" He whined and fixed his gaze on hers. Her heart fluttered and skipped a bit so she smiled. "The water will be cold." she dragged his hand playfully and pushed him into the bathroom. "Bath yourself now and come meet me downstairs i have a surprise for you; your favorite food." She winked and closed the door of the bathroom. For a moment, she had forgotten she had a visitor. This man could be the death of her. Halimah wore her knee length hijab because of the way the visitor was looking at her, she knew it was an accusing look. She descended so fast and lo! She collided with the visitor on the last three steps. "Sorry ma'am i was attending to h..." "Cut that. I was coming to check what the two of you were doing, stupid girl!" The woman snapped with disgust. Halimah became tongue-tied and continued stepping down. She sat on a stool after making sure she set the table. She switched on the lights and switched the power of her aquarium and aqua creatures started swimming around. It was an artificial one; staring at it gave her joy and peace. It allowed her dwell in the thoughts of her darling husband. "Hon' Bun," he called out descending but he met his aunt sitting by the stair with her hand supporting her chin. "When did you arrive aunty? You are highly welcome." He blabbed, scratching his head. If only he knew she was coming, he would have warn Halimah about her. He would have tell Halimah how the woman was. "Thank you. Is that the wife?" She twisted her nose and halfly closed her eyes. "Yyyes she is. Halimah." He stammered because her facial expression scared him. "Happy married life then." She threw her hand in the air emanating her lack of concern. "Thank you aunty Mariya. Let's go and eat." And she followed him as if she hasn't eaten earlier. He pulled a chair for her at the dining and she sat. "Hon bun!" Hafeez called out but Halimah was lost in thought. She's been totally carried away by the swimming fishes. Hafeez checked the kitchen but she wasn't there. Then he remembered where she could possibly be. He smiled and walked to where she was. As expected, Halimah didn't acknowledge his presence. Hafeez shook his head then silently tiptoed behind her and began tickling her. Halimah gasped and yelled. "Scary scary," he laughed. Halimah beat his chest playfully and shot him a smile which melted his heart right away. "Can we?" He offered his hand and she gladly took it into hers. They walked to the dining unknown to them, aunty had been looking at them; she kept cursing them in her mind. Which type of shameless couple were they? She asked herself. What was wrong with this woman? "Serve her first." Hafeez signalled Halima to prevent the unfold of a drama. "No i have eaten," she stopped Halimah from her serving her. Halimah wondered why the woman was sitting on the dinning chairs if she had eaten. She should have taken one of the cushions in the parlour and give them some space to eat food. Halimah nodded and as if being tickled, she shrieked. 'I hope it isn't justice food she touched'. She served him coconut rice with italian vegetable soup. There was cheese cake for dessert and an appetizer. He smiled broadly;it was his favorite. Halimah served herself and then sat down. "What the hell is this Halimah?" Justice Hafeez shouted, pushing away the plate. Halimah's heart thudded before she stood up and try to look at the place he pointed. Halimah? When did he started calling her Halimah? Well, a hungry man is an angry man. Wham! She looked. Cockroaches. Three freaking cockroaches dancing on top of Hafeez's food. No, they were dead but what brought them there? When did they enter? "I swear i knew not about them. There wasn't cockroaches when i finished cooking..i..i.." She trembled. Her eyes brimming with tears and her hands were shaking in fear and surprise. How will she explain this better? "There was even broomstick and strand of hair in my own plate of food that was why i gave up eating. Hafeezu you brought a dirty woman as a wife." Aunty Mariya bellowed. "I will cook ann..other food.. I am sorryyy...Justice, i had nnoo idea about the cockroaches." she stammered and started packing the cutleries. "No!" He raised his hand and stomped out. Halimah looked at the path he followed with tears blurring her view. She had never seen him behave this way. Hey. It is me again! I could smell drama ahead, I'm in love with this book so let's tag and share to our friends. Your votes and comments determine the continuation of this book. Who wants to hear from khadijah's side?

Halimah remained rooted at the spot. Her knees felt weak and her legs felt heavy; she has never dreamt of a day like this in her life. It's really unbelievable. Hafeez was too sweet to behave that way. That too, on spur of a moment. "What are you cooking up in your mind now? To poison him tonight huh?" Aunty Mariya looked at Halima from head to toe and hissed. Halimah had heard of stories about mother in-laws and aunt in-laws but she discarded them all thinking that it was all a fairytale and fiction. Now having the woman in front of her made her stomach churn.

Halima couldn't fathom the whole situation and her gentle squeaky, clean heart didn't blame anyone. She quickly used her palm and wiped away her tears. Why would she blame the woman? To her, an adult won't do that. So she assumed that maybe the cockroaches got their ways inside after she's done cooking or they were in the flask. Anything, she could cook up as an excuse. She waited to hear the sound of Hafeez's car driving out but she heard none. "Aunty i am sorry please i don't know we have cockroaches, if you could stay a little bit longer i will prapare some noodles." she put on a botox smile whilst her heart was breaking. She didn't want the woman to have a bad impression on her since that was the first time they met. Halimah wanted to be on a clean slate with everyone around her. "I am okay, dirty woman me kama da aljana kawai (the one that looks like a jinn)!" Aunty Maria spoke and went out with her bag hanging on her shoulder. Halimah sighed, it was a relief having the woman out of her sight. Although her heart was still throbbing. Halimah felt like screaming but she needed to calm her self down and know how to confront her enraged husband. Hafeez used to be considerate but today she didn't know why he acted that way. Perhaps it's because she messed up in the presence of his aunt. No one would love that. She knew he must be disappointed. 'Nature brings peace to the mind.' Halimah sighed for the ninth time, hoping that she would feel better once out. She stood up and went to the garden. She dragged one of the wooden stools and sat down looking at the water fountain. Their he-peacock flied down to where she was sitting down; one of it's beautiful feather dropped and she picked it looking at it adorably. She took a handful of some grains and threw it to the peacock and it started eating and later on the she-peacock joined. "Hon' bun," Hafeez whispered from behind her. He had been at the garden too, trying to calm himself. He knew what he did was uncalled for but his heart acted upon him. "Mi hero..." She went into his arms and broke into tears. "I didn't know about them i swear..." "Shushhh.. I know honey bun. Don't cry." He patted her back in a soothing way. Hafeez could feel the rate at which Halimah's heart was beating. He knew she was flabbergasted. "But you are mad at me." she hiccupped, sniffing and muffling her cries. "I was not and I am not. I just gave us some space honey bun, i know you didn't do it. So don't worry let's go and bake waffles together. I'm sorry." He pulled her hair playfully. Truth was he was angry at her in the first place but when he sauntered out, something in his brain told him that his wife would never do that in her right sense. She raised her eyes and stared at him affectionately. He was just too good for her. For a person to apologize after wronging one, the person must be good enough. That's it. Once someone offended her and apologize, it's all gone to Halimah. "Let's go in." He pecked her forehead and led them in. Her heart was now on a different pulse. The pulse of the love she had for her husband. She could do anything for him. If marriage life with him meant bearing patience, she would be the most patient wife even if she's being hurt. Hafeez was worth all that and more. To her. **** On the other hand- the other side of the city, a bungalow was situated at Sharada phase three. The house was beautifully furnished. It was one of the biggest houses in the lane. Khadijah was dressed in an ankara kind of loosed clothes. Her face was void of any makeup rather it was glistening due to a lot of oil she rubbed on her face. She doesn't care about using all those cosmetics in order to look good. No, fashion wasn't on her list. She was sweeping her compound when she heard a knock and proceeded to open the door. It was Maama; her mom in-law. "Welcome maama," she hugged her. Maama was a regular visitor of hers. She normally visited her twice or thrice a week. "How are you khadijah dear?" she hugged her back smiling. Although deep down she was judging her. How could a woman dress like a maid in her matrimonial house. She expected Khadijah to dress good, smell nice and look breathtakingly beautiful. At least she was a very beautiful woman, endowed with all the curves and whatnot. "Come in Maama." she ushered her in. She finished sweeping and washed her hand. She served Maama spicy spaghetti and a date drink which she had cooked earlier. To add it up, she was a nice cook but she doesn't love cooking. Anything that will consume her energy was disliked by her. She preferred sitting on the bed or cushion all day. "Help yourself Maama." She smiled and went to the other side to call Khalifah, her husband. He was back from work a moment ago and was taking a nap. He loved her so much and he could do anything for her. If something will hurt Khadijah, he made sure he avoided it. But he wanted her to change. To look like those university girls that were always throwing themselves at him. But he doesn't know how to tell her. She could go haywire once he talk of another woman other than her. In order to live in peace, Khalifah dared not to talk to her in regards to that topic. "Maama is here." she whispered softly into his ears because she assumed he wasn't sleeping any longer. "I am coming." He waved his hand in the air. Khadijah nodded and left for the parlour and they started gisting here and there with Maama. Maama took khadijah like her own daughter. There wasn't any type of misunderstanding between them. At least, that was what everyone could see. Maama ate to her satisfaction. She wasn't famished howbeit, she ate. She loved coming to Khalifah's house because she's always served a better food. When Khalifah came out, Khadijah decided to give them some space to bond; she went into her room. She knew how protectively Maama could tell her to leave. So she left before that happens. "Have you finished making the decision?" Maama eyed him. She knew how stubborn her son could be. He had a thick skull. Maama had been talking to him recently about something but he was always dodging. "About?" He scratched his nape trying to remember. It wasn't like he has forgotten. He normally sleeps and wakes up with it on his mind. He was just not ready for it. "I am certainly sure you haven't forgotten. Will you answer me now?" Maama noticed the way his eyeballs were rolling. That made her understood that he was only pretending. "Maama i don't want to get married." He whined. That's the truth. "Whether you like it or not Khalifah you are marrying my niece. I allowed you to marry your choice. Now it's mine; Final." His mother bellowed at her normal pitch of voice lest Khadijah will hear them. "Maama, it's not that i don't want to hear your words but i got married just three months ago. It's too early to go for another wife plus i don't have the money to start again." Khalifah said that, thinking that it was an escape route for him. Maama smiled victorically. So it was money problem. She thought it's because of Khadijah. "Worry not Khalifah. Money is not a problem, i will take care of everything by everything, i mean everything. You will get married again after your first anniversary atleast we have been fair on Khadijah right?" she tapped his shoulder acting like an understanding and considerate mother. He beamed. "Yes Maama, that's more than enough. Thank you so much Maama. If not because i am broke how will i refuse an additional wife? Being surrounded by women is a blessing." He grinned while deep down he was already regretting what he's about to do to Khadijah. "God bless you." she stood up to leave. Khalifah called Khadijah to bid Maama bye. She escorted her to the gate and returned. "Khadijah my queen, my only wife." Khalifah praised his wife when he finished eating his lunch. Khalif was a lecturer. He's rich moderately but stingy, he loved his wife so much and his family too. "My buttercups." she smiled as she sat down where he sat watching a movie. "Why are you looking gloomy?" He asked when he noticed some weird expressions on her face. He hoped she didn't heard his conversation with Maama. "My friend's husband is bringing a rival to her. She's only married for two years; that is quite early but'cups. I really pity her." She finished shaking her head sideways with tears at the brink of her eyes. "That's so unkind of him to be frank. But what could she do? She has to accept it that way; it's her destiny." Khalifah spoke innocently. Now what will happen once she gets to know that he was also adding a wife? Khalifah felt a sweat threatening to form on his skin. "But'cups don't bring a rival for me please. I am a jealous woman. I don't want to share you with any woman." Khadijah begged with a puppy face. The thought of sharing Khalifah with another woman always weaken her limbs and constrict her heart. "What will i do with another woman when i already have you; full package? Dee you are my one and only wife forever." Khalifah swallowed a lump. He knew it was a lie but he had no option. She smiled because she trusted him and she had no dubiety about his words. She trusted him with all that was in her. And she was very certain that he meant his words. She is his only wife and she will be the one and only. Forever. In her dreams.

One month later. Khalifa was busy with wedding preps without telling his wife about it and she didn't get a slight hint about that. Because he's shown her all signs that he would never marry after her. So she rest her mind on the peace plate. Albeit the wedding was in nine months time, he had bought some boxes and asked her to keep it for him. Khalifah knew the tactics to use on his wife. He also mastered the way he would give her an answer whenever a question pops. "Keep them safe, Dee. They are Maama's own." He had said. Nothing came to her mind so she kept them as she was instructed.

"Dee, do you know anyone that deals with shoes and bags?" He shamelessly asked. He had no fear because Dee trusted him with all her might. "Let me see," she tapped her chin in a thinking manner. "Oh yes my friend fatima sell classy shoes and bags." She finally recalled smiling at him. The sight of him alone always bring a smile to her face. She loved him more than words could explain. And more than she could explain too. "That's good. This is one hundred thousand, i will like you to go and buy it tomorrow. When you buy it, put it in one of the boxes. They are Maama's property too." He quickly finished and started going out. Despite everything, he felt like she will sense the transparency of his lies. Because, he wasn't a guru at the lying thing as his friends said. Well, he's going to surprise them all. "Size 38 please dee." He peeped through a window and reminded her, his heart pounding. It happens whenever he's lying. "Alright but'cups." she shook her head at him. Khadijah took her phone and called her friend to reserve the items for her. Her friend wondered why Dee would be the one to buy and keep the items whilst Maama has daughters. Because it wasn't her right to say a word, she kept mum and told Dee to meet her the next day for the things she would be purchasing. *** Meenah was perched on a chair at the most stylish restaurant. She placed her father's car key on top of the table that was meant for two people. Her face was baked with a heavy makeup that looks like it will weigh three pounds. Her outfit was a pallazo paired with a top. She was chewing a gum and typing away in her iPhone. From the looks of her, she's waiting for someone impatiently. Khalifah briskly rushed to where she was sitting; this was their first meeting or rather date as it's called. He dragged a chair and sat. He was virtually late because of a hold up he encountered along the way. "Well done beautiful," he complimented. Her perfume hit his nose and he inhaled the scent deeply. The scent was so enticing and it sent chills down his spine. Feminine perfumes were one of his weaknesses which Dee failed to realise. Meenah diverted her attention from her phone to him. She looked at him from head to toe. Yes he was the ready made she had been looking for; he's fair, handsome, long nose, sideburns, beard and whatnot. She smiled inwardly. 'I hope he's stinky rich ' because i want to distract everyone's attention on instagram. A slay queen like me should have a rich man. But darn! Mum said he's married but who cares?' She talked in her mind before she composed herself and returned the smile. "Good evening." She spoke in a voice which sounded like she had been practicing the way she will talk to him last night. Truth was, she had been rehearsing for days. She wanted to have his heart cuffed with hers in their first meeting. He was carried away by her mesmerizing beauty. Her long nose travelled down, close to her well shaped lips and it stopped there giving a perfect view on her oval shaped face. Her almond eyes were shining like star and were twinkling. "How are you? I am amAl-Khaleef but people call me Khalipa and i hate it." He wanted to sound cheesy and funny altogether. She's successfully had him hooked already. "I'm fine. My name is Aminah I know you know that but mummy calls me Meenah." Khalifah stared at the way she was talking and moving like a cat. It touched a part of his brain that sent shivers to his body. He came back from his reverie after hearing her talk again. Right at the moment, he forgot he had a wife at home. And that was how the pleasantries were exchanged. The date went well; since both of them left with a satisfying smile on their faces. They all fell in love at first sight and were hoping and looking forward to the big day already. *** "Mummy, he's everything. He has all the characteristics I'm looking for in a man. . He's a ready made husband material. Thank you." She hugged her mum squealing. When her mother talked to her about him and said he was married, she wasn't happy with the news at all. Meenah thought she would see a young Alhaji before her. Perhaps with a big black shade and an oversized clothes. "Don't remove my ears yet Meenah. Now go and keep those keys before your oldman comes back and start... You know?" Her mum laughed. She had also been training Meenah for days in order to impress Khalifah. That's why she even asked her to take her father's car with her. "Yep mum. You're the best." Meenah carried her bag and sped to her room giggling and almost bouncing. When she reached her room, she bounced on her bed and started removing her jewelries. Once done, she went for a shower and changed into more comfy cloths. 'Why didn't i know him earlier? I would have been the first to win his heart' she thought. MeenahBabe as she's being called was always stuck at home. They weren't living in the same state with Khalifah. Now that they had relocated to Kano and she had met Khalifah, she wished she knew him earlier. She laid on her stomach as she logged into her Instagram account. She wanted to upload the pictures they took together with Khalifah but decided against it. 'I want to surprise everyone' she smiled. Scrolling through the newsfeed, an username caught her attention. *Khadijah Ameen* she knew the name. She decided to send a friend request since the account was private. She waited for few minutes waiting for a notification but none came so she logged out, dropped the phone and went to fetch some food for herself. Love was so beautiful to make her forget about eating her food. Back there at the restaurant she didn't eat anything in order to be impressive. She only took a sip of a juice while her stomach cried for food. **** "But'cups where have you been?" Khadijah asked Khalifah when he came back. He went out while she was taking her bath without telling her. Khadijah had been worried because that was unlike him. "Ehm...uhm..you see.. I went to school. I asked some students to come. I gave them a test." He concluded hoping she won't ask further. The way he talked sounded like he was just learning how to talk. "I missed you Dee.." he quickly added to let the topic slide. He quickly went in to his room with the excuse that he was going to take a shower. He too, began to scroll down his gallery. He looked at the pictures: they were perfect. He didn't know much about Meenah even though she's his cousin. She didn't know him either. He was glad that she didn't know anything not even his wife. He smiled happily. That was a nice one. Khadijah decided to log into her instagram account. She only have an account so that she will not be lonely in the house; she was a graduate. Her husband didn't permit her to work but promised to give her a capital to run a business. She saw a friend request *Amina Muhammad* it was not a private account so she went through the posted pictures. It was her secondary school best friend. "Yeeeeee.." She squealed and quickly followed her back. Few minutes later, a direct message came in. ~hey -- hi amina ~your name seems familiar. Which school did you attended? Khadijah smiled. She was elated to meet her best friend after they lost contact of each other. -- i attended Kano capital. You? ~ Dije? So you are the one. Aminah typed a laughing emoji. --Nino i am. I am so exhilarated to see you on here. ~me too Dije. How was life all these while? -- Life had been good. I am married and expecting; three months along. ~wow, That's great. I am so happy for you. I am getting married too, very soon. -- MashaAllah that's good news. I will surely attend the wedding. Hope i am invited. ~~ See you. You will be the maid of honour. They kept chatting and bonding. It was obvious they missed each other's company after almost a decade. If only they knew what destiny has in store for them, things would have been different. But none of them knew.