Nana got ready to go to 'Dash Of Delish' in her favorite pearl trim belted button dress, a-line with pearl bishop sleeves. She's applying a little kohl and nude lipstick around her lips before walking out of the room to take Khumais to her in-laws.

Zayn left earlier saying he has a lot of work to do today and he wants to finish everything before Maaysa's wedding and that is just a week from today. Nana is graduating from the cooking school in two days and she can't wait for that. Asma told them that they were fast learners and so, they will graduate just after a month and a week.

"Good morning, mine." She chirped at a groggy looking Khumais who just walked himself put of his room and met her in the dining room where she placed his cereal.

He blinked at her, trying to remove all the traces of sleep looking g cute as he did so. Her heart tugged at that, she doesn't want to think of him leaving her all alone after spending so much time with him. She talked to Fahad a day before yesterday and he told her that he's back with Sakinah but she can keep Khumais with her for as long as she wants to. She jumped in joy and gave Zayn a bone shattering hug, he looks equally happy with the idea. She's just a little sad that they don't spend much time together again until weekend but since she's graduating in two days, she has so much planned for them before Maaysa's wedding.

"Now let's get you dressed so that you can watch Aunt mine getting her body pulled huh?" They giggled together at that since they both know how horrified Maaysa acts when her turmeric session came.

Her grandparents sent her their best turmeric and they assure her that it'll make her skin glow and so, she scooped some for Nana and Rukayyah. They were very grateful at her gesture, Rukayyah was touched at how Maaysa is taking her. She's giving her so much respect which makes her happy that she made the best decision. They are already like sisters and whenever they're together, they always have something to talk about and Nana gave them that space, they need it.

Maaysa's grandparents want to have traditional Indian wedding how it happened with both her sisters and she can't do anything about it so she let them do what they think is right, she'll just follow orders and get married to the love of her life and live happily with her new sister. It is only the Mehndi that is going to take place because all the traditional wedding is almost the same as the Hausa. It takes place in the mosque but they see no reason why she should go to the mosque that's why they want only the Mehndi and Nana can't wait to see how it's performed.

Nana still didn't get the time to talk to Rukayyah about what's wrong with her but she kept that noted that she will ask her before Maaysa's wedding. They've been very busy with different schedule. Nana going to teaching school whilst Rukayyah is trying to publish her book for food recipes. Nana is very happy for her and already booked for six -to give her mother, Hannatu, Rukayyah, Maaysa, Naazwa and Kaadira. Now that Nana is an expert in both parts of cooking, the traditional and foreign, she wants to have as many recipe books as possible. She can even make her own food sometimes by herself with Zayn telling her whether to add that or not.

"Now, let's go to Aunt mine." She grinned at Khumais who is dressed in a light thobe and sandals.

She clasped him to his car seat and started to drive out of their compound and to her in-laws which is only two minutes drive. She can't find Hidaya anywhere around the house since that incidence and she hopes she gave up on trying to get her husband because she's ready for a war if she doesn't back off. It's like she's trying to make what is happening in movies to happen to her but she won't give her that satisfaction and will tame her like a bull.

"Maaysa!!!" Nana drawled when she walked into Maaysa's room, only to find her sleeping so she threw Khumais on her which made her jolt up right like she was shocked.

"I was having the best dream of my life there." Maaysa whined, scratching her long brown hair that looks more like twenty birds' nest than hair.

"About Ya Mashhub?" Nana teased with a raised brow, Maaysa threw a pillow at her before remembering something and started to take Khumais to her laps, massaging his hair.

"There is a new housemaid here that Maa brought for Khumais. She said we're going to be very busy and he needs a babysitter for the week so she asked her to help." Maaysa explained, taking her phone from the bedside drawer to call someone.

Nana could see that she's talking to their other housemaid that she should send Khumais' one week babysitter. She likes the idea even though she wants to spend sometime with him, she is very busy and he has to wait until after the wedding before they get to bond up again like she wanted or she should stop visiting Zayn in the office and just come straight for her nephew.

They heard a taslim so they both chorused back a reply and ask her to walk in. A tall woman walked in with her faded fair skin glistening, like she just finished taking bath and applying oil. The girl looks very beautiful and quite familiar to Nana but she can't point her finger. Maybe she saw her when she was teaching in her former Islamic school or something like that. The girl only smiled before looking at Nana, recognition flashed and danced in her orbs but didn't say anything.

°

Rukayyah sighed after editing a wedding video for the nth time, she hadn't been concentrating and her thoughts kept jumbling up. At this point, she doesn't know what she's thinking and can't help but feel sorry for herself. She's almost at the depressed stage. Thank God she didn't see any sign of depression from what she googled because she laughed at any joke Mashhub will make. Even he could see her mood jumbling but made sure she's not in that self pitying stage or regretting her decision. His wife is more important to him than anyone so he took two days off work to stay with her.

"You look sad." He noted, tracing his fingers around her arms, unconsciously sniffing her pleated hair.

"I am not." She whined because he has been saying that since morning when she was trying to make chicken fajita stuffed avocados but made a little mistake she had to it all over but still forgot to slice tomatoes.

Mashhub stood up and went to take his phone from their room, he dialled Zayn's number and waited for him to pick up. Maybe everything is settling down on her because the wedding is coming close which is okay for any woman to feel like that even though she's the one who made the decision. Sharing your husband is not an easy task and he's afraid she won't want the wedding to take place which means he'll have to go back on his promise to Zayn's father. He'd do anything to make his wife happy, even going back on his words.

"Hey, Man! Is your wife home?" Mashhub asked straight away, he just can't wait for his wife to come back not looking sad and depressed.

"No, she's at the cooking school. Why?" Zayn's voice asked as he shuffled around in his office drowning a cup of hot coffee while looking at the pistachios, fresh raspberries and snacks, lunch grilled courgettes with cheddar cheese cubes, peppered salami and rocket salad his wife sent him earlier. He can't wait to devour that, knowing his wife did it.

"I think Rukayyah wants to talk to her. Can you send her over from there please?" He requested, sounding desperate which made Zayn narrow his eyes at this serious Mashhub.

"Right away." Zayn hung up probably to call his wife. Mashhub sighed, happy that his friend is very understanding.

Rukayyah was standing by the door, letting silently hot tears roll down her eyes at her husband's consideration. How she got so lucky to have him? And now she's going to share him with another woman and everyone will expect him to do what he's doing to her right now. That's not what is making her more sad, she can't make him happy. The guts feeling that kept squooshing it's way to the bottom of her heart making it quiver in sadness and anxiety. Will their love lessen after he found out about her problem?

"Assalamu Alaikum!" Nana's voice yanked her out of her reverie as she kept playing with her camera -a gift given to her by her cousin, Fahad.

"Wa'alaikum assalam, come in." She answered and even from her voice, Nana could tell that something is really bothering her friend.

"You look so down." Nana swept her eyes up and down Rukayyah's figure who is fastened in appetite lace chiffon patchwork, mid-calf with v-neckline.

"Because I'm so down right now." Rukayyah playfully rolled her eyes before asking Nana to sit down on the couch next to her. Nana sat down, rather cautiously like Rukayyah will turn into a Wolf and remove her throat.

"Tell me, what's wrong?" Nana yawed Rukayyah so she could face her and tell her everything that's bothering her.

"I don't even know where to start. I think I can't give birth, Nana. I feel like I can't ever be a mother because, it's been almost three months and I've never missed my menstruation even for a day. There is just this gut feeling that I'm afraid of and I don't want it to be confirmed so don't advice me about going to the hospital, I won't." She explained, her throat aching because she finally said it out in the open.

"Everything is possible, Uks. Just because you don't give birth in the next ten years, doesn't mean you won't ever give birth. Don't you see how our prophets had been tested? Ibrahim with fire, Yunus with patience, Sulaiman with kingdom, Dawud with war, Yusuf with separation, Ayyub with illness, Harun with betrayal, Nuh with flood, Musa with tyrants, Yaqub with blindness. Don't you see, they have been tested and only your imaan will help you at times like this.

"Never doubt what Almighty has in store for us. We fail to see the big picture, we focus on only what's in front of us. He knows best! People think Allah won't answer their prayers, but remember, the teacher is always silent during the test. Don't forget, whoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. Pray and Allah will show you the way, don't feel down because of a test thrown your way. Face it with a smile and I know, Maaysa will always be there and your husband, don't forget that he loves you for who you are and not what you'll breed him." Nana hugged Rukayyah close after her long speech.

Her friend is going through that pace in life where only the ones close to you will bring you out of it's hollowness and she thank Allah for giving her friend the most understandable husband out there.

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AN/ This book is still lacking support and I don't know when I'm taking it down, it might be soon.

Aishatu.