6 HOURS

THE MEETING

Chapter One

My name is Marwan, and this is my story. It’s a story of how I lost everything that was dear to me. Hanan, my beautiful wife of seven years. Hassan and Hafsah, my beautiful twins. They were my world, my everything. And now, they’re gone.

I’m in hell now, as living without them is something I cannot bear. I’m in hell, and I’m burning up. My heart is on fire, my soul is scorched. Every breath feels like ash in my lungs.

This is my story, and I hope someone, somewhere, will find a way to talk to Hanan. Tell her I’m sorry. Tell her I regret my indiscretion. It was the work of the devil, a moment of weakness that consumed me like a wildfire. I’ve been living in bitter regret ever since. I will never do it again. I am sorry. I have no peace. Someone, please, tell her that I love her. Tell her I love my kids. But I’m in hell, and I need her to save me. This is my story…

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The whole saga started when my boss at KPI Solutions told me I had been selected for a training exercise in Abuja. It was exciting news, the kind of opportunity that could propel my career forward. I rushed home to share it with Hanan, my heart pounding with a mix of pride and anticipation.

“When is the training starting?” Hanan asked, her voice soft but curious. She was always supportive, always my anchor.

“It’s starting on Friday and will finish on Sunday evening. I’ll be on the first flight back to Kano on Monday morning,” I explained, trying to sound casual, though my excitement was bubbling just beneath the surface.

“Toh, Allah Ya bada sa’a, My Em. In sha Allah, it will be successful,” she prayed, her hands clasped together as if sealing the prayer with her faith.

“Amin, Mai Twins,” I replied, using the affectionate nickname I had for her since the twins were born.

It was a Tuesday, and I had two more days to prepare for the trip. But my excitement wasn’t just about the training. No, there was something else—someone else—that had been lurking in the back of my mind. Muhibba.

I met Muhibba while doing my monthly shopping at Welcare in Kano. Ironically, I was with my wife and our twins, Hassan and Hafsah. Hanan was carrying Hafsah, while Hassan walked beside me, his tiny hand gripping mine. It was a picture-perfect family moment, one that should have been untouchable. But it wasn’t.

Unknown to me, Muhibba had noticed me the moment I walked in. I liked to think of myself as handsome—a mix between Salman Khan and Tom Cruise, if I may say so myself. Tall, fair, with a strong jawline and a beard that framed my face perfectly. I was the kind of man who turned heads, and Muhibba’s gaze was no exception.

As I stood in the aisle, scanning the shelves for the special Bounty Chocolate that my twins loved, I heard a soft, sultry voice beside me. “You have a beautiful family.”

I turned to see her, and my breath caught in my throat. She was tall, almost as tall as I was, with an elegance that seemed almost otherworldly. Her black Abaya clung to her figure, accentuating every curve, every line. A musky, intoxicating scent wafted from her—a blend of Humra and Lady Bella perfumes that made my head spin. She stood slightly turned away, as if she didn’t want anyone to notice her speaking to me. But I noticed. Oh, I noticed.

“Wow, thank you,” I said, my voice steady despite the sudden rush of adrenaline.

“Your wife is beautiful,” she added, her tone casual, almost innocent. But there was something in her eyes—a flicker of mischief, of danger.

“Thank you,” I replied, my heart pounding now.

“But I’m also beautiful,” she said, her voice dropping to a whisper.

I froze. What the hell was happening? She turned fully toward me, her eyes locking onto mine as she did a slow, deliberate 360-degree turn. My Adam’s apple bobbed as I swallowed hard. She was stunning—breathtakingly so.

“What do you think?” she whispered, her lips curving into a sly smile.

I swallowed again, my throat dry. “Yes, you’re also beautiful,” I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

She smiled, a knowing, almost predatory smile. “Thank you. Please get your number ready. I’ll meet you in the perfume shop to collect it. Your wife is coming this way.” And with that, she glided away, leaving me standing there, my mind racing.

Hanan approached, Hafsah balanced on her hip. “Mai Twins, what else do you want?” I asked, forcing a smile.

“Nothing, My Em,” she replied, her eyes searching mine for a moment. Did she sense something? I couldn’t tell.

“Lemme get us some perfumes,” I said, handing Hassan over to her. “Then we’ll be on our way.”

“But we already have perfumes, My Em,” she said, her brow furrowing slightly.

“There’s one I saw that I want to check out,” I lied, my heart pounding as I walked toward the perfume shop.

As soon as I stepped inside, I saw her. Muhibba. She was waiting for me, her phone in hand, her eyes gleaming with something I couldn’t quite place. Excitement? Danger? Both?

“Give me your number,” she whispered, her voice low and commanding. I recited it, my hands trembling slightly as she keyed it in.

“My name is Muhibba,” she said, her eyes never leaving mine. “What’s your name?”

“Marwan,” I replied, my voice barely audible.

She smiled, a smile that sent a shiver down my spine. “I’ll be in touch, Marwan.”

And just like that, the first thread of my unraveling was pulled.