He was in his khaki, looking around the living room as he waited to see the place where Umma would come out from. He was in the office when she called him and asked him to come back home, that she was already at his house, and Al-mustapha had no oher chouce but to do what she said, because he knew it was something huge, whatever brough Umma to his house. She walked out of his room and her head was held up high until she came ot the living room and she sat down.

He sat down on the sofa beside her and crossed his legs, "Umma you called me while I'm in the middle of a serious meeting, I hope all is fine." He asked, but as he looked closely at her face, he read her facial expression and it was a mixture of different feelings. She was angry, nervous, and sad. What happened?

She crossed her legs as he did and looked directly into hsi eyes, because she knew that was the only way he could understand what she had in mind. "Because I stopped you from taking actions yesterday that's why you resort to not greeting me anymore? Al-mustapha, if you feel too proud of yourself because of the royal blood that runs through your veins, don't forget that I was in the royal bloodline long before you were born." She tilted her head upright so he could truly read her expression.

She pointed at his crossed legs and ordered, "Now, get yourself down and kneal before me. Greet me like every servant in the palace do, then we can proceed and talk."

Orders from Hadiza Muhammad Maiturare was something no matter how he couldn't feel or understand emotions, they were something he can never go against. And despite his khaki and the badge on his right breast that had 'Acp. Al-mustapha Muhammad Maccido', his knees went south and he knelt before her.

"Good morning, Mama Fulani, Allah shi kara maki girma da daukaka." He greeted, with his head hung down just like she ordered.

She didn't speak until she was fully satisfied with how he knelt before her and she cleared her voice, "Get back to your seat." he did, and she continued, "What I want you to always have in mind is, just because you're my son doesn't mean I won't punish you the royal way, I can be malicious, much more enigmatic than you could ever imagine. Now, what happened to your room? You came here and made a mess over what happened?"

He didn't argue, because that wa struly what happened. If not because of Umma, he didn't know what he would have done to Fatima Zarah, but still, he was not going to relent. If she lived in the Sokoto that he lived, and she went to court, where he usually visited, their next meeting might have already been scheduled.

"Why don't you try atleast for once and be a normal human, Mustapha? Why did you have her locked up in the station just because she brushed off your shoulder unintentionally?! Mustapha do you know that's something only monsters could do?! Do you want to reveal your true self to the world?!" Whenever she called him Mustapha with a harsh tone, he knew it was the end of it. He had done something that was surely unacceptable, not just in the royal house, humanity at large.

He still didn't speak, and she continued. "Who the hell you are that you won't be brushed off on? When someone bumped into you and mistakenly knock you down, will you send that person to the prison or you'll kill him right in the spot? Look, Al-mustapha, you aren't anybody until you fight for what is truly yours, and what happened yesterday might get along your pursuit!"

"Umma..." he began to speak but she cut him off immediately. "Haven't I told you that it's unethical when elders are talking and you talk right back at them? How many times do i have to teach you the way of live, Al-mustapha? Do you want us to start over? From the way a smile looks, sadness and everything?" He quickly shook his head, and she took a breather before she continued.

"The elders of the palace have called me yesterday about what happend, and I made a decision. You can't go against it if you want the seat of the caliphate. You must do as I say, get back what is rightfully yours! Fight for the Seat Of The Caliphate, Al-mustapha Muhammad Maccido!" Sometimes, she had to become a thunder, scaring off the demons of his sky until he understood what she meant, and now was among the times she had to be that bad mother to him.

"I'm sorry for disappointing you, Umma. And whatever the decision is, I'll truly adhere to it Insha Allah." The worst feeling was, they both knew he wans't sorry. He didn't feel remorse not did he feel that he did something truly outrageous. And she had to close her eyes at that, it was too painful to carry. Who turned her child into this?!

She sighed before she continued, "I told them she was the girl you wanted to marry before, something got along the way and you guys had a misunderstanding that's why she did what she did to you. For two people that are in love, fighting is natural."

He immediately looked up at her, "But we're not in love. I'm not in love. You know I've never felt how love feels like..."

Her eyes got tearu and she immediately flicked them back. "I know, you've never felt how love feels like. You don't even love me, your mother. But you have to act as if you're in love, you have to act normal. That's what normal human beings do."

He ducked his head down, because he needn't to read her expresson now, because he knew the kind of expression she had on her face whenever this isssue was raised. She was hurt beyond words could tell, she wanted to cry but trying so hard not to.  "I'm sorry, Umma. I'll do as you say."

"My decision is, you'll have to get married to her. I'll do all the necessary preparations, whatever it is that requires you, I'll let you know." Her lips didn't get the chance to clasp but shut when he abruptly looked at her and she nodded at him with finality written all over her face.

"But Umma..." She quickly shook her head.

"This is a royal order, don't call me Umma. You have to get married to her, Al-mustapha, and that's final." She stood up even before he accessed the words into his brain. She knew all he had to say, he wans't ready for marriage. He didn't even need a companion, a spouse, because all he would do her was hurting her because he would never be normal. They were only words capable of breaking down her walls and she'd have to cry her eyes out before she slept at night.

She entered the back of her jeep and ordered the driver to take her back to the palace. They were on the road when she picked up her phone and dialled Dr. Summayah. After a brisk pleasantry was exchanged, she spoke. "Dr. Summayah, as promised, your daughter has to clean up the mess she created. You know the excuse I used to cover up her mess. So, I've arranged for them to get married in a month, Insha Allah. What I said to back the mess up required for them to, I'm sorry if this won't be okay with her, but that's something that must be done."

Even before Dr. Sumayyah said a word, she had already ended the call. That was Hadiza Muhammad Maiturare, the iron lady with a single word. She said whatever she wanted and it had to be done. To whoever that got her way, he knew his life had ended. And those that haven't, they spent their whole lives praying not to. The driver swerved the steering wheel and entered the palace, and she heaved a sigh out of the relief. She loved the atmosphere of the palace amongst all palaces. Because it's a place she loved the most.

❀

Ever since she had the phonecall with Mama Fulani, she wasn't herself anymore. Everything got meshed up and she rounded up quite early at office because she couldn't concentrated. What jumbled her mind the most was that, she knew it had to be done. It's even done even before she mentioned it to her. Because Mama Fulani never said a word twice, it was always once. Just like if you got shot with a gun directly into your heart every knew you must die, that's how Mama Fulani's words were. Sharp and straight to the heart.

She got down from her car and was relieved when she saw Fatima Zarah's shoes at the entrance. She entered the house with a salam and met Fatima Zarah sleeping in the three sitter. A small smile curved her lips but then the arrow of pain shot her heart. Can she really embroil Fatima Zarah into this? Saying her and Acp. Al-mustapha weren't even compatible is like a waste of time. Everyone that knew them knew they weren't compatible.

It was already late in the evening and she proceeded to her room without waking her up. She took her bath, walked out and ate the food she mad for her and even before she was done, the adhzan had already been proclaimed. She softly woke her up and Fatima Zarah walked to her room while groaning softly.

They had their dinner together and were watching the television when Ammi looked at her and heaved a sigh, she turned with a smile on her lips. "What is it, Ammi? You don't seem yourself ever since you came back. May be a patient you're attached with died?" Fatima Zarah asked, and Ammi shook her head.

"No, Fatima Zarah, it's time to clean up the mess." She said with a voice that spoke her anguish.

Confused, what mess? She looked around the house and there was no mess that needed to be cleaned. And she couldn't remember the last time Ammi's room or any other place got into a mess. "Which mess, Ammi? Are we packing? You got transferred somewhere and you need help with packing? Or you're going to a seminar abroad?"

Ammi shook her head with a small smile dangling on her lips. "No, Fatima Zarah, the mess you created in the palace. It's time to clean it up."

She hissed softly and shrugged off her shoulders. "Ohh, that? What happened? He threatened to have me locked up for a week? ko gidan bursuna yaka turani? (Or is he sending me to a prison?)" Ammi smiled ruefully and shook her head agan.

"Then what is it, Ammi?" She began to get curious. Whatever had Ammi this worried was something even her, the fire needed to be worried about.

"Mama Fulani have told the elders you were his girlfriend and you guys had a misunderstanding. So, she wants you to get married in a month. Don't say anything, because even I can't help it, Fatima Zarah."

She laughed humourlessly and looked at Ammi, "Get married in a month? To whom? Don't tell me that idiotic fool, Ammi. Who the hell is this Mama Fulani and what gave her the right to think she can decide on that? How dare her? Ammi, call her and tell her that I'm not getting married to her fool and useless of a son, not in a month, not even in years to come!" She thundered, her eyes clouded with rage and Ammi knew if Mama Fulani was seated here, there's nothing that could stop Fatima Zarah from unleashing her fire on her.

"Come back here, Fatima!" Ammi roared, and the moment Fatima Zarah heard her called her Fatima, without the 'Zarah', she knew whatever this Mama Fulani was, her decision was already accepted by Ammi. Slowly, she turned, only because Ammi called her Fatima, and she knew it was a die or live matter.