Chapter 82 51: B

"Is everything alright, your highness?" Without turning, the driver asked him and Mujaheed smirked at her. "Everything is alright, you don't have to worry." He immediately turned to look at her with laughter dancing in his eyes. "Careful who you beat around, my lady. That might be the crown prince everyone will risk his or her life to save. And why wouldn't I say that? You're my wife, aren't you?" She rolled her eyes at him, "This girl is a proof that I'm your wife, isn't it? But still, how can you say that out loud?" He playfully pinched her cheeks and she swatted his hands away and turned to look at the window. The rate at which they were moving was so slow and leisurely that she thought it might've been faster if they walked there themselves. She wondered if the driver wanted to show himself up that he was driving the crown prince or it was the prince that wanted to see the palace after such a long time, but she dared not complain about it, because this might be their usual way of driving around the palace. "Still what? Are you shy, Fareeda?" He turned her blushing face toward him and his eyes held hers with so much love in them. "I think you should get used to moments like this, don't you think? I'll make sure everyone speaks about how lucky you are to have such a lovely husband." She rolled her eyes, "You weren't this naughty before, it's as if your identity of being a prince has spoilt that part of your conserved personality. What changed you into this?" There was a smile on her lips but she was rolling her eyes at him as though furious, but she was just amused, cherishing the best part life has given her. "I told you, I'm a spoilt brat here. So I might act matured somewhere else, but this feels like home, and home to me is always love, happiness and being yourself. And what changed me? Your love, I love you soo much!" He planted a rough smooch on her cheeks and Fareeda had to duck her head into her laps before she silently screamed. "Mujaheed! Your driver is still here, what will he think of me?! Not even me, I don't matter, you! What will he think of a cheesy prince?!" She whispered through gritted teeth, flashing him a murderous glare. He ignored her and began to talk to Muhaseen, "Muhaseen, do you know what? Your Maama hates me so much that she doesn't even want me to peck her, do you perhaps know her reason, my darling?" He nuzzled his nose on her and all she did was laughed at him. He looked up at Fareeda that was still murdering him with her eyes and spoke nonchalantly as though nothing was wrong, "I think I should start speaking to Muhaseen in both French and Fulani, don't you think?" This time, she didn't just punch him once, it came in three painful punches. "You're driving me crazy!" She wanted to scream. So he had always been this calm in situations she always thought he was faking his calmness? So after all, it proved to be his true self. He chuckled, "With what? With my love?" She rolled her eyes deadly at him and spoke through gritted teeth, "Mujaheed, by Allah I don't want to make a habit of beating you until I bruise your ego of being a prince." "Bruise it, damage it, I don't care. Because when I'm with you, I'm just a plain man, no titles attached, just Mujaheed, a husband and a father." She wanted to swoon at that, but she knew he might act stubbornly when she did that. The car came to a halt and she immediately opened her door, "Don't even think of coming anywhere close to me, and for Muhaseen, let's speak to her in Hausa and English, don't you think? Since everyone here speaks either French or Fulani, she'll find her way around those two languages. Because it will be frustrating and Nenne will make sure to roast me alive if we visit them and Muhaseen doesn't understand what they're saying." She chuckled and watched him walked over her. He entwined their hands and nodded his head. "I wouldn't want her to start with that lecture of how we're claiming to be the newest generation parents, and we think not teaching our child his mother tongue is actually civilization when all it is is just shaming ourselves as parents." Fareeda threw her head back and laughed. "How do you know her so much?" She looked up at him while they walked further into Baffah's chamber. "I've stayed long enough with her in Sardauna, and when she came to us after you gave birth, we sometimes spend hours chatting with her and you know how she always nitpicks about something? I'm proud to say I've changed her perception about a lot of things." "Don't brag," she chuckled and rolled her eyes at him. "There was a day when all she could talk to me about was how good you are, I've gotten myself a good husband, I should be lucky to have you...yen yen yen. I wonder what she would say when she finds out that same Mujaheed she sees is a crown prince in such a powerful kingdom, she might want to come here and see it for herself." There were in a long corridor that she was sure had no one but them, he stopped and turned to face her with laughter, love and ease on his face. "What is yen yen yen?" He asked with a hint of laughter on his lips and Fareeda rolled her eyes. "Fareeda what is yen yen yen? I'll be forced to bring out whatever words you have hidden in those lips." She immediately took a step back, glaring at him. "Don't even dare do that, what will you say if someone walks on us?" He kept following her until she had her back rested on the wall. He held Muhaseen with one hand and cornered her with the other. "So what if someone sees us? You're my wife." And before she was able to speak, Mujaheed had sealed up their lips and it was a struggle until she freed herself from him. "For the sake of Allah, Mujaheed. You're a prince here, you should protect your reputation. They only know you're here, some doesn't even know you're back yet. Those that knows you're back hardly know you're here with a wife and a daughter, do they? What will people say or think of you?" She whined, pushing him away from her but he stood rigid as he was in her life. "Words spread like wide fire in this palace, you'd be surprised to know that the whole of Yaounde might've already heard that the crown prince is back. And what will they think about me? People always believe what they want to believe about other people, Fareeda. The truth might be right in front of them, but if they don't choose to see that, they will never agree to it. Be your old self that doesn't care about what people say, life is funnier that way." She rolled her eyes at him, but she knew all he said was true even though she would have to see a knife on her throat before she would admit to that. ? Baffah and his wife Yapendo Hajara were so welcoming that Fareeda wondered how it was possible for a royal family to give out love this much. Baffah made sure they visited almost half of their relatives that reside in the palace and even though it was tiring for Fareeda, she loved seeing his relatives because she realized that was the greatest pleasure she had been wanting to experience. She met his friend, Walid, and after seeing him in broad daylight today, Fareeda realized she had been seeing him sometimes in front of their gate whenever she wanted to go out and they would have their usual fight with Mujaheed. She had always thought he was part of those police officers just that he was an acquaintance to Mujaheed. Seeing him today made her smiled and she got excited when he spoke to her in Hausa, feeling thrilled that at least she didn't have just Mujaheed to speak the language with. When they came back, Mujaheed asked Nafisa to go and tell the town crier that he should announce that he came back and he came back together with his wife and his daughter. There were be a greeting session tomorrow where everyone was expected to come and see his wife so they can show their respect towards her. Fareeda wished he didn't do that because she felt it was like fixing the attention of those in the palace at her and the last thing she wanted was to have anyone's attention on her. She wanted to live here as silently as she could with no one but Mujaheed, her baby and his Daada. But he told her that was a tradition that needed to be done. They slumped on the bed immediately and Fareeda groaned, "But tell me, even though you live in the same palace with them, it takes you years before you visit some of them, right? I thought we're leaving the state." She said with an exhausted voice and Mujaheed chuckled before he pulled her to him and have her rested her head on his shoulder. "It takes me years, the last time I visited some of them was before I left for school the first time. We always meet in Yumma's chamber during occasions or if they came to visit her. But for today, it didn't feel as tiring as it used to be, maybe it's because I'm so excited." "Excited about what? That your old love is about to rekindle or what?" She heard as his chest reverberated with laughter and wondered what she would've done in her life without Mujaheed. She had home in him, safety, serenity and peace. "What is the love that's about to be rekindled? The only one my heart is capable of loving is my wife, and that's none but you." She rolled her eyes at him, "Didn't you see the way Yapendo Maimuna was glaring at me? It's a look mother's gives to the one's that snatch their daughter's happiness." "She might that way to you, but that doesn't mean Mairamou lives anywhere close to my heart, she's just my cousin to me. And I'm just excited because I'm going to see Kulthum again for the first time in five years. I want to know what she looks like now." "That reminds me!" She immediately jerked upright, "I need bring out our attires for tomorrow. What do you think I should wear? I need to look good to..." He pulled her back to the bed and laughed. "Relax, you're my wife, Fareeda. You don't have to look good for anyone but me. And one secret about you, you're irresistible, whoever meets you has no other choice but to love you." One year ago, she wouldn't have believed him if he said this, but today, she she believed everything he had uttered. ... It was so early when Fareeda woke them up and had them bathing because she was so nervous about meeting Kulthum today that she couldn't sleep. And no matter how Mujaheed complained that she wasn't even arriving any time soon, she didn't hear a word out of it. All she wanted was for them to wake up, get ready and begin to wait. They had their breakfast together with Muhaseen on the bed as she gurgled, reminding them they had a child that needed some attention. As Mujaheed ordered, by noon after they had left Daada's chamber, there were a lot fo servants and some of their relatives in front of their chamber that she got clammy hands when Nafisa asked her to come out to meet everyone. She looked at her with a polite smile and shook her head, "Do you think I could do this, Nafisa?"