**Mina:** "What about the meal I served in your food bag?"
**Adams:** "Oh dear, my co-workers won't allow me to eat it in peace. Since they tried your meal once, they come to me every day asking for more. They really enjoyed it."
**Mina:** "Don't they have wives to prepare meals for them?"
**Adams:** "It's not just him. Both he and she enjoyed your meal. Everyone did, married and unmarried, of all genders."
**Mina:** "Awww, so my meals taste that great?"
**Adams:** "That's why I don't eat anywhere except for your meals."
**Mina:** "I'm touched by your kind words and humour. I'm grateful to all of you."
Adams stiffly moved to the kitchen with Mina as she gracefully collected the meal from the cabinets. She offered him a spoonful of fried rice, and he hummed, "Hmmm. Yummy..." She served a full plate of fried rice along with two chicken breasts and a thigh on a serving dish. He ravenously picked up a chicken thigh and gobbled it down. "Wow! Delicious!" he exclaimed, eagerly wanting to sit down and enjoy the meal as they returned to the sitting room.
He sat on the floor, legs folded in a swarm-waza posture, and began to eat, scraping the plate into his mouth and sucking his fingers. Mina laughed at his eagerness and playfully scolded him to take it easy. She jokingly served juice in a cup, saying, "Hello, hyperphagia! You eat like you've never eaten before."
**Adams:** "Where are my little soldiers?"
**Mina:** "Who are they?"
**Adams:** "There are only two little soldiers in this house."
**Mina:** "Oh! They are sleeping. You only remember them after filling up."
**Adams:** "The eyes see nothing, and the mind remembers nothing when the body is ravenous, and only food can restore normalcy and keep it safe."
**Mina:** "Hmmm! I see. Now, do you enjoy your meal?"
**Adams:** "Yummy and delicious! I enjoyed it, and I need more. What about the nanny? Have you spoken to your mom about it? I haven't had a chance to talk to her yet because of my schedule."
**Mina:** "Yes, we've spoken, and a lady is coming tomorrow for an interview. I hope she turns out to be the right person."
**Adams:** "Okay, that sounds great."
**Mina:** "How was your day at work? Did you meet the client, and how did it go?"
**Adams:** "Great! It went according to plan. I want to arrange the contract documents and the signatory list to finalize the deal."
**Mina:** "Great! I wish you all the best."
**Adams:** "Thank you, dear. In my lovely moustache, as the first man on Earth, with good humour, and in my bravest moments and cowardice, I stand here with both my strengths and weaknesses. My legs hold me up while my knees are weak; in my heroic moments, as I breathe and sigh, I won't just hum but show my regular handsomeness. I even stopped at the shopping mall to get some things for you, and some girls approached me asking for my number. Can you believe it? These days, women are asking men out on dates? This generation has gotten wild." His eyes widened as he spoke.
Mina listened intently, feeling a twinge of jealousy. "Did you give them your number?"
**Adams:** "No! Why would I do such a thing?" He frowned.
**Mina:** "Some ladies have lost their way. All they want to do is find a place to drop their baggage, often targeting married men. They don't realize how much effort I put into taking care of you to make you look so good and handsome."
Adams laughed and said, "Why are you taking this seriously? Calm down; it's not important. I love you, and no one dares to take a chance with your heart."
**Mina:** "You men are both a nightmare and a source of joy all wrapped up in one body, bothering us women. Ugh! I believe in love, and you made me do so, but don't laugh at me when I'm jealous. You have no idea how annoying that feels," she said irritably.
**Adams:** "I don't even know why I brought up those women. I have nothing to do with them, and I hope you trust me."
**Mina:** "Ugh! Trusting men can feel like being buried alive. But I do trust you."
**Adams:** "Alright, enough of this. Let's change the topic. I will always be honest with you; just know that you are safe with me."
**Mina:** "Go shower while I check on the kids." She headed to the next room.
**Adams:** "I'll sit for a bit before I shower. I'm exhausted," he said as he yawned and stretched, moving from the floor to the couch. He picked up the remote and changed the channel, hearing Mina's voice from another room, "When you're ready, please call me so I can help you shower."
**Adams (jokingly):** "Oh yeah! I'm ready right now. I've never felt this ready before."
**Mina:** "I'm just kidding! Why would I shower a grown man like you?"
**Adams:** "How did you manage that before?"
Mina said sarcastically, "Well, this is not going to happen today. You have to recruit those girls you met at the mall to bathe you from now on."
Adams replied irritably, "I've never felt so sick in my life. What is this?"
Mina burst into laughter and said, "I thought you were laughing because I sounded jealous. You made it seem like I was insecure, and you don't know how irritable that made me."
Adams left the room, saying, "Please pass me the candy in the shopping bag; I need some chocolate right now."
Mina responded defiantly, "You want to change the subject. You can't cut me off like that. We better continue with the conversation. Answer me!" She returned to the sitting room with the box of candy.
Adams pointed out, "Your phone is ringing—go get it."
Mina teased, "Yes, I can hear it ringing, but answer me before I pick up the call."
Adams hurried back to the room where the phone was and answered, "Hello..."
"Hello, good evening, sir," said a male voice on the other end.
Adams asked raspily, "Who?!"
The caller replied, "My name is Aliyu. I'm Mina's cousin from Kano, and my mom wants to greet you. We heard that you have a new baby."
Adams responded patiently, "Oh, yeah. How are you doing? Please let me speak with your mom."
Aliyu said, "Okay, sir. Here's Mom. It's her husband."
Adams greeted politely, "Hello ma, good evening ma."
Aliyu's mom responded excitedly, "Adamu, how are you doing, and how's my daughter?"
Adams replied, "We are doing fine, thank you. How is everything going with you?"
Aliyu's mom said, "Alhamdulillah. Congratulations! I heard that your wife delivered a baby boy. May Allah bless you and your family. May He provide for you and your family. Well done."
Adams said, "Amin! Amin! Amin. Thank you, and bless you too, ma. Mina is here."
Aliyu's mom replied, "Okay. Thank you; it's nice hearing from you."
Adams turned to Mina and said, "Thank you, ma. Here, it's your aunt from Kano." He handed the phone to Mina.
Mina said, "Good evening, Mama."
Aliyu's mom responded, "Amina... How are you? It's been a while. How have you been?"
Mina replied, "I'm doing great, ma. How's everyone?"
Aliyu's mom said, "Everything is going well, glory be to Allah. Congratulations! I heard you've given birth to a baby boy, and I wanted to call and congratulate you. Hope everything is going well?"
Mina responded, "Alhamdulillah. Glory be to God. Thank you, ma; may Allah reward you abundantly."
Aliyu's mom said, "Thank you. Take care of yourselves."
Mina replied, "Thank you, ma. Please send my regards to everyone."
Aliyu's mom said, "Insha Allah. Bye..."
Mina concluded, "Bye, ma. Good night, and have a peaceful night's rest."
Aliyu's mom responded, "Same to you."
After Mina dropped the call, Trisha woke up, hungry.