Chapter 16: Marriage Contract.

In a situation like this, it would be odd not to have anxiety. What she's facing was legitimately challenging. In a way, it was a good sign, it shows that she could grasp the situation, that wasn't in denial as some folks were. Yet be sure to take good care of herself along the way, as best for her.
She restlessly looks around the open place – there wasn't any sign of him. She groaned softly as she checked her wristwatch. They agreed to meet by 2:00pm but it was almost 2:30pm already and he was nowhere to be found. Maybe she shouldn't have given him a chance – he was already taking it for granted before they even finalized everything.
'Don't worry, Miss. Mansur. I'm sure he's on his way," her lawyer said to her but she never cared to look at him or pay attention to what he was saying. She was more worried about what she was getting herself into. What if she ends up regretting it? Or it doesn't go as planned? What if she gets stuck with him and don't find her perfect match during the 12 months they'd be married? If she stands up and walks away right now, she doesn't have to involve herself into that stack of chaos.
As if her legs knew best, they failed her. She couldn't find the strength to get on her feet and leave the place. She felt numb—maybe her body knew what was best. It was best to stay and sign the agreements than to go back home to that inhumane being, Sadiq.
'I apologize for arriving late. I got caught up with something." He heaved a sigh out of relieve. It pretty much seemed like he ran to the place. Bushra averts her gaze from him and swallowed the lump in her throat. She should've fought her conscious and ran away. Now it might be too late to do that.
'Uh – it's okay. Shall we?" The lawyer looked at them both. Bushra took a glimpse of Mahir who already had his eyes on her. She cleared her throat and adjusted her seat. 'Yes, please." She could sense his eyes still on her. It made her feel awkward but he doesn't seem to care. 'Summarize the contract please," she said promptly. She exhaled, releasing some of the tension that had built up in her chest.
'Ok… this is a marriage contract between Mahir Adam Sani Dan-Musa and Bushra Mansur Ahmad. Mahir agrees to follow by Bushra's rules; No Intimacy between the two partners. No strings attached in whatsoever way. And the contract expires exactly one year after the marriage –This means also the two partners can look for their suitor in that period of time agreed." He summarized the contract.
Bushra let's out a shaky breath. She felt a lump sitting in her throat. This was it – if she signs the contract, there was no going back. If not, there was a penalty to be paid, and she hadn't disclosed that to Mahir. She didn't feel the need to because it wasn't essential. She doesn't love him anyway, there was no way anything could possibly come between them by the way they disliked each other. Spending one year together would cause more fight and they might even split up before the contract expires.
Her only hope was to find someone before the time comes.
Mahir looked at her. 'I'm very okay with this." He turned his head back to the lawyer. 'Where can I sign?" He asked, bringing out his pen from his blazer. Bushra snaps her head toward his direction. He wasn't even going to ask questions or justify?
'And you're also going to let me work!" She stated acutely. He shrugged his shoulders. 'Never said I was going to stop you." He signed everywhere he was told to and handed the contract to her. 'Your turn," he mouthed and smirked at her. She looked at him to the paper. How was he not nervous over this chaos? She could barely breathe or even think straight. She made the rules but she was finding it difficult to comprehend everything going on in front of her. Maybe she should back out of it. Maybe that wasn't a good idea. Maybe she shouldn't have agreed to any of this.
'Having second thoughts?" His deep, husky voice interrupted the chaos going on in her head. She blinked at him. 'Look, if you don't want to sign the contract, it's okay. It was your idea anyway. We could make agreements between us without inviting any lawyer." He spoke coolly.
'Yeah, so you'd end up defying the agreement at the end." She glared at him and snatched the pen away from him. With trembling hands, she signed the contract and handed it back to her lawyer. He smiled and made a stamp on it.
'Great, everything looks good to me. The only thing left now is you inform me the wedding date when it's fixed so I'd know when the contract would expire, Okay?" He clarified as he packed his stuff in a briefcase to go.
Bushra got to her feet same time the lawyer did. 'We will call you when the… date is fixed. Thank you very much, Mr. David." She informed and offered a smile. He shook hands with Mahir before leaving.
She took her bag to leave also. What was she going to stay for anyways?
'Hey… hey, hold on. We need to talk." He stopped her. His voice was calm and soothing for some unknown reason. She halts and looked at him quizzically.
'I won't take much of your time, I promise," he assured her. She hesitates at first—she doesn't see any reason why he'd stop. He looked at her pleadingly, making her to sigh and roll her eyes. She settled back down on the bench again.
He got to his feet and settled down beside her on the bench. 'Weird place to choose for a meeting like this," He said softly, looking around the less crowded park. There was a family of four having a picnic, and at a far end, there were two people – probably a couple. They were hugging and giving each other smooches after all. And then Mahir's body guards safeguarding the place and looking after their boss.
'I have to do it in an open place. You might never know who's watching or listening." She stated, her eyes never looked his way. She stared at the couple; the lady was feeding her husband and then she pecked him on the cheek – it was lovely, and Bushra wished she had that kind of relationship. Having someone to give you all their love and attention, care for you and do the most craziest escapade with you is what she'd want to settle for now.
'Why? What's wrong with someone finding out about this?" He looked at her when he asked the question.
'I don't know – do you want someone to find out about the marriage contract?" She asked exasperatingly as she looked at him also. His gaze bore into hers and his eyes sparkled. Bushra hurriedly darted her gaze away. She found out she couldn't keep up with the stare.
'You have a point," he mouthed and looked away. The place fell silent, both engrossed in their thoughts. He watches the great outdoors, lost in the rhythmic percussion of the trees and wind. His eyes steady to the horizon, face aglow with the bright sun. His lips bear the semblance of a smile, just enough to show that he was enjoying his thoughts, whatever they may be.
Bushra cleared her throat so that he remembers her presence, but she stayed quiet, allowing him to stay lost in the moment a while longer. She needed the silence to clear her head also.
In the silence, Bushra had a pep talk with herself. She was only going to marry him just to get out of marrying Sadiq. And she was never going to get herself involved in any sort of romance or friendship with him. She had set up her mind; to get married with Mahir and find her perfect match. He was allowed to do that also -- she didn't mind. It's written on the contract anyway, and she didn't care whether he finds someone in the given period or not. She was going to focus on herself and that was it.
There was no way she was going to pay that amount of money if she breaches any of the written statement in the contract. Mahir was capable of paying the penalty—she wasn't.
'It's about time you start wearing that ring I bought you." He spoke, interrupting her pep talk. She looks at him quizzically. It wasn't because she didn't understand which ring he was referring to. 'Why should I do that?" She questioned.
'Because you accepted my proposal. And I bought it for that purpose." He told her, his eyes never left the view in front of him. The family having a picnic playing a game. 'Hm! So you'd ask me back for the ring if I have said no?" She dared to ask. That would've been so bizarre of him to do.
He shrugged off his shoulder. 'I knew you'd say yes," he said confidently. 'I see the way you looked at me when I proposed. You almost said yes at the moment but your ego overtook your emotions and you rejected me. But I knew you'd come back." It sounded like he was joking but his face says otherwise.
Bushra scoffed unknowingly. 'You are so full of yourself, Mr. Adam!" She stared at his sideburn in disbelief. He gazed at her and smiled delicately. 'I was joking," he assured. She looks away and scoffed again, fighting the smile trying to form on her lips.
'I wouldn't ask you for the ring back if you genuinely rejected my proposal. Actually, I will keep on showing up wherever you were until you say yes." His statement sounded serious, so was his face.
Bushra found it to be funny and she laughed whole-heartedly. 'That sounds so depressing and it's nothing like you," she said astoundingly. It didn't sound like something Mahir would do. He was bossy and arrogant – there was no way he'd keep chasing her to marry him.
'You have no idea what I am capable of doing."
'But… why me?" She asked him. He had told her his reasons but she needed to hear him say it again.
'I told you, I don't have anyone in mind. I don't even have a female friend – my only female best friend is my mother. I barely even speak to any girl, especially when they show sign of fondness. I quickly lose interest. And then you came up with the idea of finding our spouse after we get married. That's actually fair and impressive." He looked away when she smiled.
'How about you? Why does your father want to marry you off to your… cousin?" He asked inquiringly. Her smile dropped faster than the speed of life. The thoughts of the few nights ago came back to her. It was a dreadful experience. She still felt the agony and burden in her.
'My father is the first born in their house. And I had a cousin that wanted to get married at an early age and her father wilted the idea away. She got pregnant for her boyfriend, sadly. So, our grandfather made the policy of marrying off any female in the family after she's done with secondary school. The policy went on even after he passed away." Bushra was thirteen-years old when the case happened. They were in Yola at the time – she witnessed her cousin almost being disowned. It was a very catastrophic experience for the whole family. It brought shame to them.
'How did you manage to get to this stage without getting married?" He couldn't help but ask. She slumped her shoulders as she stared at the blank space. 'Got lucky… but not lucky enough," she uttered and looked at him. He looked alarmed – she had never seen him that way.
'I know you must think I live in some kind of a hell hole or something…"
'Of course, yes. I apologize but this is abusive! How can you marry a girl off at a young age to someone she doesn't love? How old were you when you graduated from secondary school? 15? 16?" He tried to talk calmly but it sounded like he was freaking out.
'17, and It is not abusive. And we get to choose our own spouses. Except if we don't have one. That's when we get married to one of our cousins. Why are you saying all of this? Your father also wants you to marry one of those malleable daddy's pets."
He chuckled and shook his head. 'I put myself into that situation. I promised to bring a wife home in six months and I failed. You know why? Because I was so occupied with your drama that I've totally forgotten about my promise. That's why I'm dragging you down with me."
She gaped her eyes at him in disbelief. The nerve Mahir Adam Dan-Musa has. How can he blame her for his selfish acts and then drag her low with him? She may or may not got caught up with him also but she wasn't going to blame him for letting herself get engaged with him.
'You can't just blame someone for your own mistakes. How was I supposed to know you were wife haunting at that time?" She asked him, her brows shooting up. He smirked spitefully. He had to blame it on somebody – and she was perfect for the trap.
'Well…" he got to his feet. 'The deed has been done, wife-to-be. I'll see you next week at my parents'?" He raises his brows, waiting for an answer. She stared at him inadvertently – it wasn't because he referred to her as his wife-to-be. She was going to meet The Dan-Musa Family? Next week?