Lola's nose tickled to the whiff of frying plantain that wafted through the house immediately she stepped in. The aroma made a perfect blend with fried eggs. Her stomach clenched to the scent reminding her she had not had a good meal since morning. At her parents' house, she ate snacks and drank some fruit juice. She kicked off her heels, feeling a certain relieve at her ankles that hurts from the four inches. Who was cooking? Can he cook? She mused as she walked into the living room with her shoes in hand, the shopping bag from Modan Luxury and her bag in the other. The neighbour next door was playing music at the highest volume. The pounding of the music gave her headache. It came from the flat Sandra said belonged to a guy named AY.

The television was switched on in the living room. There was a football match going on. She huffed. So he was also a crazy fan of football like her brothers and father. The situation of the living room made her flinch. Did some monkey invade the place? There were banana peels on the floor with a used tumbler and a crush carton of Five Alive drink. Within her few days of marriage to Joshua, she knew him to be disorganized. He kept things the wrong places which she disliked. She had chosen to be quiet but does not think it might last long.

Leaving everything she had in hand on a chair except the shoes which were on the floor, she bent down to clear the place, the banana peels in a plate on the centre table, the glass and empty Five Alive carton in hand.

"You should learn how to clean up when you finish eating" she said walking into the kitchen which was worse than the living room.

The kitchen island was a total mess with empty shells of eggs, plantain peels, wrappers of seasonings, some pinch of salt and a bowl that had been used to rinse pepper. The blender on the other end was used with pepper trickling down its sides. Next to it was a plate of fried plantain and on the burner, he fried plantain in hot oil.

"Welcome home" he smiled at her. Lola stormed to the waste bin where she dumped the banana peels and Five Alive cartoon. "How was work?"

"The same thing goes to the room" She continued. "You should keep your used towel back in the bathroom or in the laundry basket. Your shoes should be in the right place. That's how you came back from church yesterday and kept your clothes and everything scattered around the room. When you bath in the bathroom, the foam of your soap stays on the walls and shower cubicle. Rinse them! You press the toothpaste from the middle and not the end and you keep the toothpaste in the sink and not in the vanity. What I am trying to say is be organized. I am no maid of yours to keep arranging things for you" she barked showing how displeased she was. "Now look at the kitchen!"

The kitchen had clean lines and unfussy panelling which gave it an everlasting feel. There was an open-plan living space that was orderly and unadorned.

"You lack manners Lola" he switched off the burner and turned to her. There was little he could take from her. He was no man to allow her lash him like he was some houseboy. "A good evening won't kill you. I know we might not be having that good relationship but for once please be polite"

"And who are you to tell me that?" her nose flared.

"Someone who you are stuck with for life"

"Please stop reminding me of my melancholy"

"And you think I am in bliss? I am also in the same melancholy you are. You think I would end up with an egoistic woman like you if I had known this is how worse you can get" he slammed the spoon in hand on the monochrome granite top and strode to her.

He was taller even though she was a tall woman. He stood at 6'1 while she was standing at 5'8. God! What kind of trouble has he put himself into? Due to how he wanted her for himself, he had married her without care of the repercussion of her not having an ounce of liking towards him.

"Are you angry at me or something?" Her eyes held his annoyed eyes.

"I am angry at us! The two of us! Look at me! Look at you! I want this but you don't. Why did you marry me, Lola?"

Anger spike in her. The inferno hot like a lava. "If I had not married you, will my grandparents stop pestering me to marry you? Will you have gone and just accepted the fact that I don't want to marry you? I married you for the same reason my grandparents suggested you. You know why I am here? It's because of greed. My grandmother's greed. So, stop asking me a dumbass question!" she shouted, shoving him away. She started walk away

"You know it is baffling that you married me" His voice stopped her. "But at this moment, there's nothing we can do. You are stuck with me" There was mockery in his tone. Lola felt her body vibrate with fury as she stared at the man whom she wanted to do nothing but strangle.

"I just hate you more" she squeezed her hands in a way that showed how much she wished to strangle him.

"I know babe" he smiled. "Dinner is ready"

"I am not hungry" she grinded out.

"Because I made it?" he threw his hands out of frustration, a heavy puff of air escaping his lips. Joshua ran his hand through his waves as he ran his tongue over his lips. "You can't waste food Lola even though it was easy for you to get it where you came from" he laid a hand on his defined waist.

"Josh!" she raise her hand, anger whipped inside her. "You should know I do not want to have anything to do with you"

"But wasting food should not be part of it. It is a sin to waste food"

"Please I am not some kid to tell that" she hissed with a roll of her eyes.

"But you are old enough to know some people yearn for this same food somewhere else. Don't be wasteful" Those words stung her because they were true.

"Next time, do not cook for me!" she flipped. "I will hire a cook or buy food whenever I am hungry!" she moseyed out of the kitchen with a fierce movement.

"Wait!" his voice stopped her.

"What?" she twirled around to meet his gaze. His eyes were focused, brows furrowed together with a little confused look. Slowly, he walked over the island to meet her.

"Where is your ring?" he asked, his voice cold.

"Oh that!" she scoffed flipping her hair back. "I kept it among your ties" her arrogant eyes met his dark eyes "You might need it. It cost a fortune. The money will help you a lot. Diamonds are not cheap!"

He sneered throwing his head. When he looked back at her, his eyes had become callous, mouth pressed together in a firm line.

"Lola" he called in a tone that made his voice raspier. The tone was the kind that sends shivers of fear down anyone's spine which it did to Lola's.

"What?" she snapped trying to hide the fear his present look gave her.

"There are many things I can take" he stepped closer, his voice dangerously low. "But I also have things I can't take" he reached for her left hand. "When you knew you do not want to wear a ring" he brought his gaze to meet hers. He held them longer. Lola felt her inside crumble at that look, her heart sped at a race above normal "You should have refused the marriage proposal" he ran his thumb over her ring finger. "Dear wife" the corner of his lips moved up.

"I am not your wife!" she grinded out.

"Really?" he took another stride closer with a small lift of his eyebrow. Oh my God! Lola whimpered within. That look in his eyes can cause anyone to run away. "Are you sure?" he pulled her closer.

"What's wrong with you, Joshua?" She asked when his hand went around her waist. She tried to protest but his grip hardened.

"Do you really think so?" Only he knows what such closeness did to his body. Every part of him pounded with need as he felt the gentle press of her body against his but he was not the kind to force himself on a woman. He just needed to set some things straight "There are papers and people who can prove we got married" he dipped his hand into a pocket of his short and brought out the ring. "Our marriage will still trending online when the news gets out" he brushed away the lock of hair that fell across her face, his knuckles caressing the side of her face.

"I am your wife to many but to me I am not. You and I are not husband and wife!" she tried to get away but he held her closer.

"I won't accept that, Orekelewa" he shook his head, voice still low.

"What's wrong with you Joshua?" her voice shook. Fear laced her eyes.

"I do not like it when men flock after what's mine"

"I am not your property!"

"Yes but you are my other half. You complete me. You are my wife" he leaned close to her ear to whisper. Her ear grew warm at his words as she cringed away "And I expect you to respect that. This ring" he took her hand. "It's meant to be here" he slid the ring into her finger. "It's perfect here" Lola shut her eyes hard, her breathing a little bit faster as the ring slithered down her long finger. In her chest, her heart pounded. "It is not for sale" she opened her eyes. Her eyelashes went up to reveal brown eyes which were the colour of brandy.

"I am still not your wife" she gnashed each word out one after the other.

Her breathing hitched when he brought his lips few inches away from hers. She flinched and became rigid in his arm. There was no space in between them. He had her held to his in a possessive way. His grip around her was harder. Lola's breathing laboured.

"Joshua" she squeaked out.

"I can if I want to. You know right?" he told her, lifting his eyelids to look into her fear filled eyes. His breathing caressed her cheek. He felt the thumping in her heart. She was scared. He could tell from the way she shook lightly "Will you believe you are my wife then? I love your dimples though" he caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. "Don't ever remove it again, Lola" he turned away letting her go. "I won't accept such thing from you"

Lola was shaking. Her nerves were jittering. She felt sweaty all over. On bobbing legs, she turned around to leave.

"I am not done yet" Joshua stopped her again.

"What stupid thing do you have to say again?" she screeched with every fibre of her body flipping around. She had been frustrated enough. He scares the wit out of her at the moment.

"About going to club and giving that guy a lap dance yesterday, I won't take such thing. I will let it slide today but next time, you might not like what I will do"

"You speak like you will whip me"

"No" he dipped his hands in his pocket. "I won't neither will I touch you. I am not the kind to beat women. I am not like that but I can do worse" He smirked.

Lola walked into the room on wobbling legs. The room was a mess when she entered. He had kept his clothes from work dispersed around the room. The bed was in a puddle of mess. He was working before he went down. Papers were distributed on it. She kept everything in her hand in the closet and flounced back into the room to arrange it. As she did, she felt she would burst from anger. Inside, her anger rose to the peak. It surprised her she had not had that symptoms, chest tightening and itchiness. She kept his dirty clothes in the laundry basket, his shoes in his shoe rack and packed up his work into his bag.

She could not take it anymore. She felt suffocated. It was like she would die. She felt tired. Just few days and she felt tired. She sat down on the bed, her shoulders slumped. It started like the new rise of water. Tears brimmed her eyes. Maybe she was really proving to be difficult as he said. Maybe she had to just accept fate as her mother said. Maybe she should give him a chance like Lolu said. She might really get peace of mind.

She can't keep living like this. She needs to live happily. He wants to and she kept pulling back. She wants to get away from this thing called marriage and he wants to stay. Maybe she had to take the risk. He might be different but does she still want to when he had acted that way down there. What's wrong with removing your wedding ring?

A bead travelled down her cheek and the rest broke out like water from a dam. He frightened her tonight. His behaviour did. A sob left her trembling lips. She lowered her head. Without holding back, she cried out.

In the living room, he had lost appetite for food even though it was one of his favourites. Today, he met his friends and he was a laughing stock among them which added to his agony.

He had four friends. Dikko, the Hausa man, happily married to a girl his father arranged for him, works as a computer programmer and IT consultant in a company that pays well. He was happily married and had been one of those who sympathised with him. Ebuka tried consoling him and encouraging him. For once, he saw the serious side of Ebuka. Bobby, the Yahoo boy, the one who lived on illegal money, had laughed at him. Boye had wanted to laugh and had mocked him saying he bit off more than he can chew.

Bobby had stalked his wife on Instagram and Snapchat. He said something about her life being on instagram except her love life and family life. He called her traveller, someone who had once enjoyed life and lived life to its fullest before coming to Nigeria. He had checked her photography page and said she knows her work. She was a good photographer. It was because of that page that he knew she had a shoot for that day.

Joshua leaned back with a heavy sigh. He admits he was a messy man but there are ways to tell him and not talk to him like he was nothing. She lacked manners and she had whipped anger in him when she spoke. He just could not take it. There were better ways to say it, more polite and gentle and he would have apologised. He needed to apologise for scaring her in the kitchen, for acting dangerous. He could always do it. He rose to his feet to meet her in the room to apologise. When he got to the room, she was asleep on the bed in her working clothes. How tired had she been?

-----

"He dropped you home?" Amina screamed, shaking her friend's shoulder.

"Yes he did" Atikah twirled around, looking pleased. She had that dreamy look that never seem to fade since her last meeting with Jafar.

"How? When?" Amina sat down at the edge of the bed.

"When I went to show mummy's new arrivals to his mother" Atikah sat next to her friend. "I decided to stay back so that I can get the chance to talk to him. During dinner, I asked him if he could drive me home and he agreed" Her smile was the one of happiness that grew from within like the opening of a bud into flower. It came from deep inside her into her eyes.

"You this girl you are full of mischievous things"

"I could not help it. I like him" She admitted, feeling giddy. "You know I asked about that lady he was with at Walida's wedding"

"You did not do that?" Amina spelt out one after the other, her eyes wide from bewilderment.

"I did" Atikah shrugged like it meant nothing. "He said she's a friend. Her name is Osasere"

"Osasere? Is she Calabar? Because that name does not sound Igbo" Amina asked with distaste as if Osasere being Igbo or Calabar was not pleasing at all.

"No. She's Edo. I told him he just seem to never take his eyes off her on Walida's wedding day"

"You did what?"

"I told him he barely took his eyes off this Osasere on Walida's wedding day. He kept staring at her like...."

"Why will you do that? Why will you tell him that?" Amina exclaimed.

"Is something wrong in me telling him that?" Atikah question with a dumb expression.

"Yes! A lot is wrong! You are making him notice or think about something he had never thought about. He could like that lady and you were trying to make him see it"

"Why will he like her? She's a Christian and Edo. She does not have a chance with him. Jafar is Muslim and Hausa"

"You are right. They can never be together. His mother likes you too much Atikah. You are like the daughter she never had"

"I know and I like her too. She's like my second mother. We get along so well"

"And her son who she wants you for is just quiet. I think he's a shy man"

"He's a shy man and it's cute" Atikah squealed.

"Have you seen him since that day?"

"No. There had been no chance to meet him. I am actually planning to meet him today"

"Really? He asked you out?"

"No. He did not but I am going to his house"

Amina gasped out. "His house?"

"Yes his house" She answered in a bored tone.

"To do what?"

"Give him this Kaftan" She pulled a bag from the bed and lifted it in the air.

Excitement flowed through Atikah's veins like adrenaline. A smile cracked over her face as she stepped out of the lift. The giddiness in her body felt like she had gunpowder in her vein and the man behind the door she was about to ring had the match that will elicit sparks through her. All through her ride in the elevator, she had anticipated which made her sweaty. Constantly, she rubbed her palm over the silky material of her dress. Amina said she looked gorgeous. She hopes she was saying the truth. When the door opened, her heart started to pound in her ribcage.

"Asalamu alaikum" She greeted putting on her best smile as Amina had said.

"Walaikum salam. Atikah?" He was surprised to see her. It was there in the way those eyebrows of his went up. His slightly hooded eyes held little surprise. She watched his lips bloom into a welcoming smile that nearly had her releasing a breath of relieve.

"I am so sorry for coming without informing you" She apologised. "I did not have your number so I had no choice but to come uninformed. Your mother gave me your address. How are you?

"Alhamdulillah, fine. Come inside" He extended the door as he stepped aside.

"You have a beautiful apartment" Her eyes examined the room.

"Thank you. Please sit" He pointed at the sofa. "What can I offer you?"

Atikah laughed, putting the bag in her hand away. "Stop been formal Jafar" She threw a hand, her laughter ringing louder. "It' me Atikah. Speak to me like you have known me for long" The back of his neck reddened. Embarrassment had him heating up.

"I am sorry" He apologised taking the sofa opposite her.

"It's alright. Actually, I am here to deliver this" She held out the bag. He collected it to check its content.

"Oh, the kaftan. Thank you so much" He kept the back aside.

"You are welcome"

"But there are two. I ordered for one"

Atikah smiled. "The other one is a gift from me" He had started to reject when she lifted a finger in the air with a negative nod. "I won't take no for an answer" She waved the finger.

Jafar smiled as he gave up on arguing. "Alright then. Thanks so much. I like it though"

He had no idea how much butterflies rose at the pit of her stomach and the amount of joy that soaked her body. If she was alone, she would have squealed and laughed which she did when he left to his room. He came back almost immediately.

"Where is Umar?" Atikah's eyes searched the apartment.

"He's at Amma's place. He spends his weekends there"

"Oh, that's true"

"I am so sorry, Atikah. I will love to have spent more time with you but I have to be somewhere"

"Oh? Since it is urgent, I will take my leave" She got to her feet. "I want to have your number because I will love to hang out with you sometime. Maybe this weekend or anytime you are free"

"Em..." He started but trailed off as if not sure.

Atikah saw the hesitation in his eyes. "Come on. Just one outing" She pleaded.