As Usman approached outside his legs began to quark. "What did I just do?" He asked himself.

'This is not like you, divorce and 3 times Usman why?' His inner voice asked.

  He stopped in his car for about 20 minutes not knowing what to do or why he was sitting without doing anything.

  He was still in his car when Malam Badaru (his father in-law) came back.

Malam Badaru or rather Alhaji increased his pace to the car. He sighed Usman's head bowed on the steering wheel.

  "Usmanu are still waiting for her?" He asked as he reached and knocked at the window.

Usman swallowed something. He didn't know what to call it. It couldn't be regret. It was too early for that. "No Baba I am leaving now, I will be back later." He lied.

  Usman clearly knew that he was about to regret the harsh decision he took. It was all his fault but he had to act like a man.

From there he drove directly to his office, he set up some documents then found himself  lost in thoughts. What will he tell his mother about today? What will be her reaction? He knew very well that she admired Zainaba.

Those questions kept tossing on his mind.

*****

When Baba entered the house, he noticed something was off. It was eerily quiet like a grave. He thought to ask his daughter what happened but he knew if he did that, she would have some hope. And he didn't want to raise her hope.

"Zainaba you better be ready on time don't let him wait. Are you hearing me?" He said, upon sighting her at the far end of the compound.

 "Uhum wait for what? He is not coming back, he ended everything between them." Umma pronounced fiddling her fingers.

  "What? Ended everything like how?" Baba asked, removing his cap.

 Umma gulped. "When you went out to accompany kawu, Abu picked on her husband calling him so many bad names and that made him divorce her and the worse part of it, is, he pronounced it three times divorce." Umma mentioned languidly.

Baba turned to face Zainaba. "Being a divorcee is what desire you right? If that's the life you chose for yourself, you are welcome." Her father said nodding his head vigorously before entering his room. Abu knew he was sarcastically talking to her. She knew he was angry. Umma was angry too. But truth was they would never understand how she endured Usman.

Umma turned to her with an icy stare and hissed saying useless trash before leaving for her room.

  Zainaba already knew she was in trouble. Her parents' faces clouded dangerously in her brain.

*******

Sa'ada was sitting beside her father down his chair, Malam Imranu who was sitting in his 3 legged chair. He was an old man of not less than 50 years.

  He cleared his throat before calling her name.

"Sa'ada!" His voice showed that, he wanted to discuss something serious with her.

She answered. "Na'am, baba." Paying more attention to him.

"Why do you made Usman divorce Zainaba?"

 "Wallahi Baba I don't even know he did." She replied, swearing.

"Then why do you keep going there? I mean his house, especially when she is not in the house?" He asked, removing his spectacle. He cleared his eyes with a handkerchief before he put back the spectacule.

Sa'ada opened her mouth agape and gasped. "Wallahi baba she is lying, she's jealous of me, I can only admit seducing him to marry me but not committing Zina."

  The father shook his head. "Why will you do that? Zainaba loves you Fisabilillah why Her man?" He asked in anger.

"I also love him Fisabilillah, with all my heart. After all, Zainaba and her husband had now broke up. Please Baba let bygone be bygone. We are getting married just wish us well." sa'ada said while leaving the room without listening what her father had to say.

  He just nod his and said "if that is what you choose for your self." He shrugged.

*****

Since the divorce incidence, Usman never picked Sa'adas call nor did he reply her message.

 She finished all the marriage preparation without hearing from him. Sa'ada was somehow not happy with the way Usman entreated her and she had no one to complain to. Zainaba was her only friend whom they shared secret together. Due to what happened, she knew she had no one to advise her.

*****

   Sa'ada was sitting in her room her chin was on her palm. She was busy thinking on what to do.

Maryama entered. She sat beside her.

"A'a our bride what are you thinking of?" Maryam asked.

Sa'ada hummed and said nothing.

 "Common girl say it or else your plight will get worse and you may become depressed. Boring sorrows alone doesn't solve your problem." Maryama said.

   "Maryama... Usman has changed. He never pick my call nor does he reply my message since his issues with Abu, his ex wife." She lamented.

 "Ayya you know better than anyone he loves her very much if not because he has passion in women his loves for her won't let him have an affair. For now you have to give him more time to get over her." maryam replied.

   Sa'ada scrunched her nose. "Which time Maryam? after all it's 2 weeks now!" Sa'ada said in a high pitch voice.

 "Well two weeks are not enough for a person who loves someone with all their heart to be over with them after break up he needs more time." Maryam said.

   "But why not we go to his office to discuss with him he may listen?" Maryam added.

Sa'ada grinned. "It's a good advice can we go now?" Sa'ada asked. Her face was already glistening with happiness.

When Sa'ada and Maryam arrived at the office, Usman wasn't there they had to wait for some minutes as someone told them. They waited in suspense. Especially Sa'ada who felt like she was sitting on beds of nails.

 When Usman came back from where he was, he seemed to be in a bad. mood.

He managed to smile at them. "What brought you here?" He queried.

 Sa'ada furrowed her brow. "A'a don't tell me you have forgotten about us getting married, you promised me back then that we are getting married this month."

  He smiled and sat down on his office chair. "I did not forget but Sa'ada didn't you see what happened? I need more time to prepare and think of what to tell my mum." Sa'ada made a scowl.

"If not because of this divorce nothing will change everything will be as planned." Usman added but it made her deepen her scowl.

 "Mttts," Sa'ada hissed. "What preparation?" she asked taking a breath. "My problem with you Usman is, you are so clumsy." She added.

  Usman rose up. "What? Sa'ada, are you calling me clumsy?"

He mentioned in anger, "please leave my office before I do something that we will all regret." He said showing her the way to door.

  They left the office while Sa'ada was in tears and Maryam kept comforting. She kept telling her not worry her self.

   After they left he sat back on his chair and mumbled. 'Stupid girl'

      *******

   Usman looked like he reading news papers while sitting in his office but his mind was somewhere else, his phone which was plugged on charge kept ringing but he didn't hear it because he was lost in thoughts.

  His secretary entered. "Sir your phone is ringing," she had to speak louder for him to come out of his trance.

   "Please bring the phone," he said.

7 missed call.

He just hissed because he knew it was Sa'ada. Before he could check to see who called, another call came he just picked saying "Haba malama kin damen! (You're disturbing me mistress)!"

   "Usman what's wrong with you? Are you shouting at me? his mum's voice gave him a reply.

  "Sorry Hajiya. I did not check I just picked the call. I am sorry." He ducked his head down.

   "Whatever! I'm in front of your hause to drop Ummi and Amira but the gate man said Zainaba wasn't there for almost 2 weeks. Where is she? her kids want to see her." She asked.

   Usman felt his intestines twisting before he came up with a lie. "She went to Katsina for ceremony." he mentioned almost stammering.

   "Usman which kind of ceremony is that? Anyway, may she return safely." She prayed but her instincts were telling her Usman was lying.

"Amin Hajiya." He smiled.

   Mama knew something was happening especially when she remembered what Amira told her in the day.

The girl said, "Hajiya Babba do you know something?" She said, "no."

"Wallahi ummanmu and Abbanmu are fighting since yesterday." She swore pointing heavenward.

   Ummi interfered. "Wallahi she's lying," since ummi was the elder Hajiya paid no heed to what Amira said.

   'Amira must be telling the truth' she said to her self.

   "Malam manu we are headed to my in-laws house." Hajiya babba said to her driver. He just said OK and started driving.

   It was unfortunate for Hajiya to hear about the divorce, she sincerely loved Zainab. Although her in-laws put the blame on their daughter, she  knew that her son was the one to blamed.

  She stayed in her in-laws house for almost 2 hours and all she did was, comforting Abu.

   The kids were very happy to see their mum. Before Hajiya babba left, she gave Abu some cash and told her not to worry about the kids_ they will be visiting her regularly. That's the only thing that made Abu feel some relief washing over her.

   *****

  When Hajiya went back home, she called Usman and told him to come and meet her after work.

   He quickly finished everything and went directly to his mum's side.

  She was sitting in a prayer mat in her palour, he had to wait for her to finish saying her azkar.

  His kids were very happy seeing him more especially Amira he played with them while waiting for Hajiya.

   After she finished, he asked Baraka to take them with her and pay more attention to his mom.

 "Usman why did you divorce your wife?" Hajiya asked.

  He had no words to reply. He just put his head down.

   Hajiya continued to say, "I don't know what get into you but I'm sure you will regret it, it's not like I Zainaba was too good for you."

Usmab groaned under his breath.

  "For the first time when you introduce her to me I thought it was because she is bright and beautiful but I later understood that it was because she is kind and simple."

  "She is your world and you loose your world just because of some love or rather passion you have for another woman." Hajiya, his mother took a breath and continued:

  "You know how you lived as a victim of broken home and you let your kids to experience that!" She said looking at him in anger.

   "Hajiya it was a mistake," he said without looking at her.

  "Well whatever it's, I've already decided that you are not marrying that girl, Sa'ada and I mean my words."

  "But Hajiya..." He was stopped by the hang of her hand in the air.

"Kai keep quiet you have no words to convince me, please leave before I say something bad on you which will destroy your future." His mother bellowed.

  Usman left quietly not knowing what to do...