I don't know why everyone kept seeing me as the bad person. My husband and now my kids. They thought I am crazy but, only I know the reason why I'm like this.

I could remember what has happened in the past. That's why I decided that I won't allow any man to treat me in the same way my elder sister has been treated. I will never be treated like trash. Never!

My family used to be poor. We came from a very poor family. But, my Dad used to be friends with my elder sister's husband's father. Then, both my family and my sister's husband's family set an arrange marriage for the both of them. They got married but there's no happiness after their marriage. My sister tried so many times to make the marriage work but her husband would not even give her any chance to.

" She loved her husband a lot but he doesn't. The only person he kept calling unto was another woman's name. Then, he couldn't do without her, and in return, my elder sister had to face the consequences of our parent's decision because to him,  she was just a substitute bride. Jadwa was the only woman he considered as his wife even though, he hasn't married her yet.

Everything was still clear in my head. I could remember how it all happened then.

             _ A few years ago-

I was hiding in the room when I heard them arguing because of his lover.

"Ibrahim! What did you just say? You will take her in as your second wife or what did I just hear you say?."

"You just heard me. I will marry her and no one would dare stop me, not even you or my parents."

" Then you must be kidding because I will never let you do that. Never will I ever let that dream of yours come true. I won't allow that stupid dream of yours comes true. Like you want to marry her? You won't marry that lady and bring her into this house? After three years of our marriage. Maybe you've forgotten and I think I should flashback your mind, you were nothing back then. I made you what you're today. Today, you're boldly standing in front of me only because of my decision. If I had not agreed to marry you, then your parents wouldn't have transferred all of the wealth to you. You wouldn't have been in this position that you're in today."

"What exactly is my offense, tell me? What have I done to you? As a responsible and good wife, I loved you, care for you, and respect you a lot and yet, I didn't get what I was supposed to get from you in return, and now the new plan you've come up with is to get married? To that woman? Never! I will never allow that I'm promising you this. For as long as I'm still your wife, you will never marry that woman." 

"Look, you can show as much drama as you want but what I will do, I will surely do it. For goodness sake! I can't just understand what your problem is.... Already, you have known that I don't like you at all. I'm only in love with some other woman and... I've never considered you as my wife. Not now or in the future will I ever do that... I was only telling you now so that you won't be surprised about the news or when I brought her home... That's why. So, you have no right to question me." He told me, nonchalantly.

" You must be joking Ibrahim. Tell me exactly what you want from me? What exactly do you want in a woman that I don't have? What else do you want me to do to prove my love to you? Yes, our marriage was an arrange marriage, it didn't base on love but we can still both work it out. I don't know why you're treating me like this only because you didn't want me as your wife. This is not my fault! And you know that."

" It's entirely your fault! This is all your fault! If you had..... If you had not agreed to this stupid marriage then, maybe, none of us would have been in this state today."

" I also didn't have a say, Ibrahim. Both of our parents are determined to get us married to each other. Just because I don't want the marriage doesn't mean that I will ruin my parent's reputation. You don't want this marriage, likewise I too. But what can we do? They decided for us because they felt like it will be the best decision for us, for everyone. And even I thought that, after our marriage, we could both work this out but you don't want to... As it's now almost four years and there's still no love in your heart for me..."

" What have I done to deserve this from you, Ibrahim?." My sister asked in tears.

" Nothing, purely nothing Habiba. The only problem I have with you is that you're my wife. I don't want you as my wife, I hate that title to the core.... So, you should mind your business and I will mind mine too."

" Never! I will never let that happen. And if you try to act smart with me, don't forget that father in law is on my side and will always be. Just think about it, how will he take in the news? That his son was about to marry another woman and take her in as his second bride.... Once h me learns about this, what do you think will happen then? Will he just sit back, watch you and allow you to do that?." She asked him, smirking.

Maybe, that's his weak point- His father. He fears his father a lot and would make sure he does anything that will make him happy. That was why he agreed to marry my sister.

"Sorry to burst your bubble sweetheart but father is already aware of everything. He knows about everything and in fact, he can't do anything to me anymore because.... I'm now the Chairman of that company and not only that, I now have the right to all of the properties owned by Rabiu."

" What?!!!"

" Yes, so in this current situation of yours, father will not be able to help you." He smiled, actually, a wicked one. " And like I had said, both of my parents have known about it already and not only that, the great news is that, they had gone to Balkis house to ask for her hand in marriage.... Don't tell me that neither of them told you anything? After all, you're their favourite daughter-in-law or let me say- Favourite... Daughter." He said the last part one after the other while stressing the words Favourite Daughter.

"They might have accepted her as your wife but I will never do! Not when I'm still alive!" 

"Can you imagine what you're saying Habiba? If you decide to die now, who will accept Balkis as the new second bride into this house? And again, all of your efforts will be in vain if you decide to die. There would be no fun in it, you know.  So.... my dear wife, you need to stay alive to witness how happily I will be with the woman of my choice. How I  happily welcome Balkis into this house. It all has to happen in your presence, don't you think?. "

" But at the same time, I do not care if you die or not. All that I care about is my would-be wife. And that's it!"

" So please, stop stressing yourself because no matter what you do, it will and can never stop me from doing what I thought is the right thing for me to do.  I'm a Muslim man! And what's my name? Ibrahim Rabiu." He asked and answered the question by himself.

" And as far as I know, a Muslim man can marry as many wives as he wants. If I wish, I can marry more than two wives... That's if I wish to!  I'm a Muslim and I can do it! It's Halal and not Haram because Islam had permitted it. It's acceptable for a man to marry more than one wife, with a warmth that only if that man is capable to and you know it, that I'm capable for it!" He paused and then continued.  " So, it's better you my dear wife stays in your limit and don't cross your boundary..... Is that clear?."

"Rubbish! Ru... Bi... Ish." She gritted in each word.   " That's what you're saying. I... Habiba, Binti Abdulwaheed (Daughter of Waheed) is not the person you're telling not to cross her boundary."

" If I'm planning to, will it be more than this? It can never be more than this. I was only fighting for my right, tell me, what has brought issues of boundaries into this matter? If there's anyone that's crossing their boundaries, then it should be you. You shameless man! You're not even considerate at all. I'm carrying your child you fool!" She screamed the last part at the tip of her tongue.

"You're what?!!!" He asked, in a surprised tone.

She told me she is carrying his child and we had both planned to surprise him with the news before he suddenly brought up the issue of a second wife. And thank goodness that he seems happy with the news because his face light up. I just wish that he can forget about that crazy woman and focus on my sister and her baby.

I pity her a lot. If I get married someday, I will never be intimidated by any man. No man in this world will control me.

"You're pregnant?!  I mean, real pregnant?." He asked, again. My sister nods her head in affirmative and smiled.

"Wow! That's great then! I mean, even your junior wife is pregnant too. Two great news at the same time. Wow! This is just too fantastic!." He exclaimed happily.

What?!!!!

" Wh... What did you just say?!!!." I questioned as water of tears started to flow down my cheeks, freely. I can't control it anymore. I wanted to but I just can't. It has started to become unbearable.

Did he just say that my sister's junior wife? But he was saying all this while that he wants to marry her, it's not like he has done it.... has he?

"You... You haven't married her yet, right? Then how did she... How did she end up carrying your child? How comes she's pregnant for you?."

" That's because I had paid for her dowry (Bride price) for the past three months. She wasn't comfortable anymore staying all alone by herself and that's why I have decided to bring her here... To our house or what do you think?."

" But you were just saying it earlier like, you just wanted to take the decision and like, you needed my approval first."

"Why will I need your approval woman?." He sneered.  " For what reason? Am I crazy?." He questioned himself.

"I'm not that stupid to seek permission from my wife before I make up a decision. I'm your husband and whatever I want, you must adhere to it if you want to stay in my house. And earlier, I was only saying that to see your reaction and like expected, you displayed the same drama as always." He said and I stood there dumbfounded. I just don't know what to do with him anymore. I feel like strangling him to death but I just can't. My sister would be mad at me and, I might go to jail.

Before marriage, I was aware that my sister hates him a lot, she never loves him. She had hated him so much for accepting their marriage but after the marriage, I saw her learned how to love him and accept him as her husband but this foolish man... He didn't bother to do that.

"You must be surprised right? Not only did my parents know about her but was also present the day I paid for her dowry and right now as we speak, she's also carrying my child."