52
Maryam's POV
With a really dozy mind as I walking like someone who's about to faint anytime soon, I and my twin sister entered my mom's cake shop. I still remembered when I used to come to the shop and many customers will lined up on me but now, everything has changed. Mom has many workers now and her business now moved flowly for her.  it was still unbelievable how I still manage to work my way to shop when I was even too drowsy to do anything today.
Maimuna brought me out from my thought. "Sis are you sure you're fine?" She asked with so much concerns in her voice.
"Erm.....yes I'm".  I answered with a fake smile.
"Is it about Kareem?".
What? How did she know?
"Sis, I know I never liked him from the very beginning but he's really a changed person now, don't you think it's high time to forgive him? I mean, you've thought him a lesson already, just try to forgive him and move back to your husband's house"
What? Was it Maimuna who was saying all this things? She of all people! 
"What are you saying" I said laughing a little.
"You know exactly what I'm saying and you know what I mean...please forgive this guy! He's learnt his lesson already... You truly deserve to be happy.....That's why he came to our house yesterday"
"You knew?!"
"Of course I know...in fact, he talked to Dad and Mom and I won't lie to you, he's really a great man now....please Sis"
"But-"
"Don't say anything for now,today is our day. First time in our life, we will be able to celebrate our birthday together, let keep the past aside for now... OK?".
"OK Sis"
"Good"
"But where could Mom and Dad went to? They had both left home early this morning. Have they forgotten that today is our birthday? Nobody wished us happy birthday " Maimuna complained with a sad tone.  " Even my own husband refused to wish me today, and he's always not like that". She added.
I shook my head smiling a little bit at her. "My dear sister, you knew how busy they are and moreover, the most important thing is to thank Allah for sparing our lives to witness another year again,and we did that already this morning. We prayed and we've given sadaqah out. To me, that's the main thing".
"Yes I know that but, at least this would be our first time that we're celebrating our birthday together. Seriously they ought to wish us happy birthday".
"You complained too much,come on let get in and help the rest with the work, since you've taken a day off from your work. And don't worry, I know definitely mom and Dad will be back and will both wish us wish us".
"Okay then".
We were in the shop already when we noticed that everyone seemed not to be around. Where could they have gone to?  Who opened the shop then? 
"And where the hell is everyone? Are they shitting me?!". Maimuna asked scanning the whole shop.
"She and her swearing". I thought shaking my head.
Really confused, we walk towards the baking area. It felt so weird that it's only the two here at the shop.  Just as I was about to open the door linking to the kitchen,  a very very loud greetings bombarded us.
"Happy birthday Twins!"
Mom,Dad,Khalid,Kareemah, Maimuna's husband and the little angel,with the staffs.
Oh! Now I know why everyone was not around,they were all here waiting for us when in fact, we had thought that they've forgotten about our birthday.
For a moment, I thought I was actually sleep walking.
This is all that jerk fault! 
"Oh my God! Mom! Dad!".  Maimuna exclaimed.
"Thank you Mom and Dad". I said in astonishment. Indeed this is a great surprise.
Apart from the early call from my mother in-law and father in-law,Khalid, Kareemah and lastly the thoughtful Mansur, here I am with my love ones celebrating my birthday with me and my twin.
"Mom!". I hugged her and so was my sister too.
"We love you two girls" my Dad said as he hug us.
"We love you too" we both said. Clasping my cheek in the process I was about to cry.
Mom and Dad came with a big two cakes covered with one in a strawberry colored and the other chocolate color in their hands. It was big but it was shaped like a strawberry cupcake. One was exactly my taste while the other was my twin taste.
"Oh my God! This is so beautiful! " I gasped clasping my chest.
********
"You look sleepy" Mom said.  "Are you sure you don't want to go home and rest?...it's your birthday you know"
"Mom, I'm fine seriously. I don't need to go home and after all, I was the one who has insisted to help you today".
"Okau dear, you can do anything you wish to do today but please my dear, I wouldn't want to make you sad on your birthday... Don't you think it's time to forgive your husband?"
"Mom! I-"
"Maryam listen to me attentively.... I know...I know what this boy did to you was very bad but believe me, he's really now a changed person,I can vouch that for you. He truly loves you and he has realise his mistakes,you're no more a kid,you ought to have given birth and start nursing your own children, don't you think?"
"You forgive me too right? Then why can't you forgive your husband?"
"But Mom-"
"Maryam owé kan mán lo bá yi wìpé Ti àbá díju àó ní má ìgbá ti èni ré màkojá (there's a saying that says: if we close our eyes all the times we won't know when the good person will come to us). This boy is really a good boy and if you let him slip away uhmm àfayí mó kòma ló regret ré o (uhmmm, you might regret it o)
"But Mom shéy etí gbàgbé gbó gbó nkàn tó ti shéy fúmi ní? (But Mom have you forgotten what he has done to me?)
"Mió gbàgbé òmó mi but tí èléshe bàti mà èbíre kòyi pé Lóri ikunlé má oró bé? (I didn't forget my daughter but if a sinner has known his fault you don't take too long too forgive, don't you think so?)"
"My beautiful daughter.. Think about it,this boy truly deserves you and you also deserve him. I can still see it in your eyes that you love him...don't give some people hope that they still have a chance in your heart"
Some people? Who are those people? Could Mom be talking about Mansur? Come to think of it, she never likes him unlike Dad and Maimuna.
"But-"
"Your mom is right Maryam... Please give this boy a chance again. I promise you, he won't repeat the same mistake again".  Dad interferes too from the back.
"Okay Mom, Okay Dad. I'll think about it"
"Don't think about it, act on it my dear"
"OK Mom" I said as I excused my self.
What's really wrong with this Kareem? What charm has he cast on my family.
Kareem this Kareem that... Now I can't do without hearing his name.
I really hate you Kareem Abdulazeez.
"Happy birthday my darling wife" 
Why can't I forget him just for a while?  I blinked my eyes as I remember what happened between us.
Darling wife? How dare him! 
"How dare you!" I pronounce angrily  pushing him away from me "I'm not your wife,don't ever call me that! The marriage between us has already been over!" I yelled at him walking away from him. But who was I kidding?  I was still his wife. 
"Maryam" he called as he follows me.
"You've already eaten the dinner you wanted to, and you've greeted me also.. What else do you want?"
"A lot " he replied back immediately.
"There are many things I want from you,there are so many thing I've been wanting to tell you" he said moving closer to me.
"Maryam"
"I don't want to hear anything from you...Now leave" I said opening the door wider for him.
He came closer to me and close the door "it's already mid- night Maryam,are you seriously driving me out?!"
"I'm very serious. You've always come home late then, remember? So why not now?" I replied bluntly. Seriously? he has done more than that to me.
"Maryam" he said softly as he scratch his nape "please let me stay,I've been meaning to talk to you... Please just hear me out please" he begged.
"Please Kareem, just leave me and don't come back again...I'm with someone else now". 
" With someone? You mean, that back stabber Shabsuma? But I'm still your husband!!"
"Fuck" he grunted as he pressed his body on me "That back stabber? Do you even know what you're doing? I'm still your husband do you know that?"
"That was before and not now...and moreover you never like the idea of me being your wife so why now? And yes, I'm with Mansur so keep your hands off me now because-"
Before I could finish what I was saying Kareem placed his lip on mine as he imprisoned my body in his arms. I shivered in both surprise and disbelief. You know it was that time to slap someone's face repeatedly for kissing you without your consent but for some reason, you were surprise why your body wasn't even doing anything to object to it.
I knew I was in complete awareness of what was happening but it seems like I couldn't afford to put it to an end. May be I'm going crazy now. What happened to my self control? I was still shivering even though I was leaning on the wall,if not because of Kareem's arm enveloping my body I would have fall down
I dont't know how long it took us but I decide to let my self  in. And then, he ended it. He gasped air to breathe and I did the same. We both look at each and lock our gaze.
"I was your first Maryam and I'll be your last. I'll make sure of that". He said caressing my cheek.
Realising what I just did,I became totally angry at my self, I slapped his hand away from my cheek. Even if it was too late for me to object,I still try to raise my ego. I was ashamed of what has happened and in order to hide the shame, I needed to show my pride.
"Don't be too confident of your self". I said sourly.
"I can't allow that Mansur Shabsuma or anyone else to be with you"
"Oh! And why can't he be with me?"
"Because you're mine...you are mine Maryam" . He said, claiming me in a scary tone.
How dare him! Now he was claiming me?!
"Wow! Very nice of you Kareem Abdulazeez" . I said sarcastically.  I found a way to escape from him trap, I was between him and the kitchen counter. I moved faster to the couch,took his suit and threw it at him.
He looked at me in bewilderment. "I've never been yours and I'll never be yours!" I said with so much rage in me.
"Now get out!!"
He looked at me again with that sad eyes. "I'm sorry".  He said.
I cut him off with my right hand.  "Let make one thing clear. Sorry or not, you don't have a place in my heart anymore. Let just get divorce or something, divorce me Kareem and leave me alone in peace"
Kareem didn't move nor does he say anything. He shot me a worried stare and dropped his shoulder. "I know I've done a lot of things to you that made you hate me so much in this way Maryam. For so many times, I know I made your life miserable,I questioned your character, I maltreated you and hated you but please, if only you could give me a chance...I'll like to prove my self to you"
Chance?! He was asking for a chance from me?! Did he ever give me the chance when I was with him? I begged him to love me and those times did he ever listen to me? Now who was he to ask me that? To give him a chance.
I walked past him and went back to the door."I've already moved on Kareem, and I hope you'll do the same too. Let just get separated in peace". I said as I open the door for him.
"Please leave and don't come back again"
Finally he move towards me and said. " It's been already two years Maryam, two years of our separation. Isn't it time to settle our differences?".   He asked.
Maryam! Hello! Are you still with me?"
I blinked my eyes,Mom was there in front of me "yes Mom"
"You seem lost, I wonder if you ever heard was I had just said".
"I'm fine, Mom".
"Well, you have a visitor... The Governor son".  She said before she walks away. I shook my head smiling a little, I never knew why Mom never likes Mansur.