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.