Halimah was dressed in an A shaped gown. A normal lady will just wrap a veil on her head. But this was Halimah; she wore a knee length Hijab; and put on her coat on top and walked to her car. She was going to work. That's how she normally dressed for work.

Justice Hafeez wasn't around. He had travel to one village to visit a random family, where he knew the family when he was dealing with an important case where a young girl was killed in the house she's staying as a maid after she's been raped. The sad thing was they had no evidence on whom did the goaty act.

He really pitied the girl's family and wanted to help them because they were so poor. He visited them out of pity on his own will;outside his profession since he's only entitled to pass judgement.

"Good morning ma'am." the gatekeeper greeted her when she drove her car to the gate. Halimah smiled.

"Morning Sir." she answered cheerily and drove out to work. While she was on the way, she kept replaying the cockroach incident in her head.

'How did cockroach get into the flask?' There was no one when she finished cooking. Again, she was sure that the warmers were clean. She was also sure that the lids were properly closed.

'Is it his Aunty that.. No' she quickly casted off the thought. She had to give people the benefit of doubt. The traffic light went green and she continued driving to her place of work; the bank.

She brought her car into a halt and alighted. Checking her wristwatch, she was virtually late. She quickly rushed inside, exchanged greetings with her colleagues and started seeing the customers that were waiting for her. She was among the staffs that were in charge of customer care service.

A long queue stood in front of her. She let out a puff. It was going to be a long day. One by one, she started seeing them off until she reached an old woman.

'What is this woman doing in a bank? Perhaps she was a non academic staff in a government institution and she came to collect her monthly salary' Halimah thought.

"Good morning ma'am. I am Halimah how may i help you?" She let the woman sat on the chair opposite her.

"Nasiru come here." Halima heard the woman call someone. A young man probably in his earliest twenties stood in front of her. When she looked up, she began to wonder what was this? The man had a tape around his neck and he was holding a scissor.

"Ma'am i came the other day and i was asked by one young man to bring a tailor(teller)." The woman innocently explained referring to the young man.

Halimah couldn't stiffle her laughter so she busted. "I swear he's the best tailor in my area." The woman explained acting all serious. She got no reason why Halimah would be laughing at her as though she was a joker.

Halima tried to suppress her laughter because it sounded rude to laugh at one's face. She was sure this was no one's handiwork but Sadiq's. He was her colleague whom they exchanged shifts with.

She was sure he didn't explain to the woman what a teller means and the woman thought he was talking of "tela" meaning a tailor in hausa language.

"I am sorry ma'am. But that's not what my colleague mean. See an example of teller here." Halimah opened a drawer, pulled out a teller and showed it to the woman. She explained to her bit by bit and the woman went back home and collected the teller from her grandson not after raining insults on Sadiq that he had made her lose her five hundred naira for hiring Nasiru;the teller (tailor).

****

"Hon'bun i missed your meals." Hafeez told her through the phone and she let out a sound smile. She missed him too. She wanted to follow him but because of work, she gave up.

"I missed you too mi hero. How's the project so far? I hope it's moving accordingly."

"There is progress. Alhamdulillah, i am coming back in two days because i have assigned some of my people to make sure the house is renovated. You won't like to see how that village looks like, people there are suffering. Next time i am coming with you."

"That's good. All the best then, may God see us through. I can't wait, i will transfer some cash to your account. I want a well to be dug; with my money." Halimah held the phone with her shoulder while she folded some clothes.

"Is my money not yours?" He rolled his eyes as though she could see him.

"It is but please allow me do this by my hard earned money please justice." Halimah whined.

"Where's the Justice? Hmm be careful with me with that Justice. Ha!" He warned jokingly. Halimah envisioned him to be raising his left brow and rolling his eyes.

"Okay then, you know i am joking right? Please my zawj. May Allah continue to bless you abundantly my everlasting love." She sighed hoping she succeeded in deceiving him with this lame words.

"Amen honey bunny. There you go, i will gift you the money then you will use it. You see it's yours right?" Hafeez wasn't allowing her to do as she wish.

She knew Justice will never allow her do it by her money. She didn't protesr, because she knew atlast he's going to win so she just thanked him.

"Maa called me today; they will be traveling to Saudi and since Fatiyya is still at school they are leaving her behind." He raised his eyebrows waiting for her reply. It was an indirect way of saying she's coming over to stay with us which he hoped Halimah would get it. Maa was his mother and Fatiyya his sister.

"That's so good. Fatiyya should then come and stay with us. Can she? Don't say no please." She mentally squealed. Target, gotten.

"Alright then but you will tell Maa by yourself because you have snatched away my Maa: she hears your words more than mine." Hafeez lamented.

"No problem i will call her right away." Halimah joyfully said, swinging her head. She was tired of being alone in the house initially. Now, it was a chance for her to have an additional company.

"Thank you hon'bun." He sighed. At least Halimah was being considerate and by his side.

"For what?" She frowned.

"Everything." And her face loosen.

"Anything for you mi hero." She smiled.

"Let's go and pray right?" Hafeez glanced at his wall clock.

She nodded and pouted as if he was looking at her. "Now you made me miss you more."

"Don't worry hon' bun. Just pray and read your quran like we are reading together. Take care of yourself for me." She answered and they cut off the call.

Halima prayed and prayed for all her wishes in her Sujood. She prayed for a blessed and peaceful family.

"Good evening Maa." she called Hafeez's mother and persuaded her to let fatiyya stay with her while they're away. She prayed for her for a safe journey.

Maa granted her request and said yes. She couldn't be more happier. Having a good mother in-law was she had pray for even before she knew she was getting married.

She dialled another number and waited for the person to pick the call.

On the third ring, the call was picked. "Idiot!" The other person squealed.

"Who are you calling idiot?" She feigned an anger. She was on a phone call with her sister; Khadijah.

"I missed you sis." Khadijah who was the elder one spoke. "I don't miss you." Halimah rolled her eyes.

"Then bye." Khadijah twisted her lip like she always do.

"Any bubbling news?" Halimah put the jokes aside and asked for her sister's wellbeing afterwards.

"I am expecting." Khadijah spoke in a low tone hoping Halimah didn't hear her. She was planning on making it a secret but she knew how nagging Halimah could be if she found out by herself.

"Seriously? How many months along? Have you started shopping? Which name are you naming the baby? Which school is she or he going to attend? If It's a boy will you marry him to my child?"

"Halimah!" Khadijah barked. "For goodness sake what got into your head? I am even wondering if you're a human. Look at how you buzzed me with zillion of questions per second. Ya Allah! How is bro Hafeez even coping with you?" They both laughed and reminisced about some memories.

After about an hour, they called it an evening and Halimah dropped the phone and began to prepare some food for fatiyya.

Fatiyya while on her way, she called her friends and told them she's now free. One of the friends even decided to join Fatiyya for a sleepover without Halimah's or Hafeez's consent.

It was time for chilling.

*please leave a comment as you read*