"And who said she's lying?" An all too familiar voice said standing beside me.

He looked down at me and smiled, wrapping an arm around my waist, he pulled me closely to his side. A shiver ran down my spine.

"And who gave you the permission to call my WIFE a liar?" Aayan asked Hasina blankly.

"I-I you, I mean—.." She stuttered.

I was tempted to say 'cat got your tongue' but decided not to.

"This should be the last time anything like this happen." He shot her a murderous look. "If not, then so help me God." There's an underlying threat in his voice.

Hasina gulped, she looks like she's about to pee her pants. People that were witnessing the exchange laughed. I caught Samira's look as she winked at me. Silly girl.

Aayan turned around with me still in his arms, and walked us to the car. He held the door open for me. "Thank you." I said quietly.

"What was that for?" I finally asked, when he entered the car.

"I dislike people like that." He simply said not offering any other explanation.

"Where's Audu?" I inquired.

"What? You're not happy to see me?" He joked making me smile. "I gave him the rest of the day off."

"Why?"

"Can't I pick my wife up?" He said his eyes on the road. He has been using the word 'wife' a lot lately.

"Yes you can, but why today?" Because I'm still confused. Don't get me wrong, I am happy that he did but confused.

"Uthman's mom has been bugging me to take you to her, so there's where we are going."

"What!?" I exclaimed, alarmed. "Aayan I cannot visit her looking like this." I yelp gesturing to my body.  I'm dressed in a simple A-shaped pink Ankara gown plus I'm all sweaty and gross.

"Meh, you look beautiful." He said taking his eyes off the road for a second. If I wasn't panicking I would have blushed beetroot because he called me beautiful.

"But—" He picked my left hand that was resting on my lap and interlaced my fingers with his and placed our entwined hands on his lap. "Relax okay, she's like a second mother to me. It's okay, she'll love you no matter what you look like." The tingly feeling is back again.

I kept staring at him. "What?" He laughed, glancing at me for a second.

Where are all these affections coming from? What is happening? What are we? I wanted to ask.

But said. "Nothing." Hoping that when everything will crash and burn, I'll be able to make it out okay, fine, alive.

We parked in front of a beautiful bungalow. Aayan rang the doorbell and the door was opened by his best friend.

"You guys are here, welcome." He ushered us inside.

We walked into the living room. The walls are painted brown with beige colored sofas. A door to the right that leads to the kitchen, and the other to the rooms probably. The house is filled with a sweet scent of bakhoor.

A plump woman walked in. Aayan stood up to greet her and I followed suit.

"Seat down, God bless you." She said taking a seat.

"Come, seat beside me my daughter." After taking a seat beside her, she asked how I was, school and all that and I replied with an 'Alhamdulillah'

A girl not older than fifteen walked out from the kitchen dressed in a simple gown. "Ya Aayan Ina wuni ?"

"Amina, lafiya qlau. How's school?" He asked with a small smile on his face.

"Alhamdulillah." She said taking a seat beside me. "Hello Ya Jawahir, I'm Amina." She introduced herself politely.

"Hey. It's nice to meet you." I told her with a smile on my face. The boys left saying they'll be back in a few minutes. Mommy went back to the kitchen and Amina led me to her room.

We chitchatted a bit and bonded more over our love for wattpad. She's currently in Ss2 and wants to be an architect like Aayan. She's also overly obsessed with Zayn Malik. I don't even know who he is. We exchanged contacts and promised to keep in touch. Wow! Since I got married my social cycle is expanding.

We sauntered back downstairs to have dinner, since Mommy insisted that we eat before leaving. "I hope this workaholic takes some time off to spend it with you." Mommy said to me after dinner.

"Hmm No oo. Mommy he doesn't, his work is his first love and wife, they are in a committed relationship." Uthman chimed in, his tone was like those nollywood ladies that normally complained, or butt into conversation.

Aayan glared at him but he didn't even seem bothered. "Amaryan mu, you should let him sleep on the couch." Uthman told me with a smirk on his face.

He has been calling me that since the day he came home to have lunch with Aayan. Amina rolled her eyes at her brother. "Yaya you've been bugging his amarya, go get yours." Uthman yelled a 'ke!' and Aayan snickered.

"Yes, ae gaskiya ne; it's the truth." Mommy said agreeing with Amina. "Please talk to him, maybe he'll listen to you. He's not getting young, I want to see him settle down like you did son." She told Aayan seriously. "And If he gets old, ba wanda ze aure shi; nobody will marry him. Girls nowadays like young lads. Zeyi kwantai." She added.

I can see Aayan struggling to maintain a straight face while Amina is busy laughing her ass off beside me and Uthman is sulking. I bowed my head down to hide my amusement. I cannot believe she said that.

"I'm trying Mommy, I'm getting tired but I'll keep on trying for your sake." He answered her, laughing a bit. I've never seen him behave so freely with anyone beside his family, not even mine. They must be really close.

Uthman kept mum after his mother's comment and request. We left after chatting for a while. They are very welcoming, I felt at ease with them.

After killing the engine, Aayan alighted the car and opened my door offering me his warm hand, which I gladly took. He closed the door and locked the car. We walked over the threshold and into the house hand in hand.

The feeling of his soft warm hand is making my heartbeat accelerate. Something I've never felt before.

"Goodnight." I said to him as we stand in front of my room. He took a step forward, cupping my face with both hands, he placed a warm kiss on my forehead making my breath hitch.

"Good night Jawahir." He said walking away. I finally got my feet to move and I waddled into my room. What was that? Ohh Aayan what are you doing to me?

I took a quick shower and went to bed. I recited the azkars for sleeping, recalling the events of today with a smile on my face, I drifted into a slumber.

************

I'm in my room back at my parents house sitting down on my bed with a book on my lap. I heard noises coming from downstairs which is weird because I'm the only person at home.

I kept the book aside and went down to see what's going on. I saw a manly figure dressed in black all through.

"Hello." I said feeling extremely scared. "Who are you?" I asked again, my voice and body shaking with fright. He turned around and his face was covered with a face mask. He started stalking towards me and I kept moving back. I am really terrified, I looked around to see if there's anything that I can use to hit him to protect myself but there was nothing.

I attempted to scream but he quickly stride towards me and covered my mouth with his gloved hand. "If you dare scream, I'll cut you." He hissed putting a knife on my throat. I whimpered when he applied a bit of pressure and I stopped struggling.

Ohh Allah help me! Who are this people? Ya Rabbi help me escape from their clutches. The man who's holding me nodded to something behind me, I couldn't see what since I'm facing him. A strong metallic object hits me on the head and everything blacked out...........

**********

A chocking scream racked through my chest making me bolt into an upright sitting position. Inna lillahi wa Inna ilahi rajiun. It's just a dream Jawahir, it's not happening again. It's over. I chanted in my mind trying to calm myself down. My heart is drumming so loud and fast around my ribcage.

I tried to close my eyes but the nightmares got worst and more vivid. I woke up with a loud scream this time that echoed through the night.

AAYAN

After saying goodnight to Jawahir. I sauntered back to my room. I have no idea why I did what I did but it just felt right.

The months after returning from London were okay. I gave it a thought and I remembered what I promised my beloved mother. I said I'll give it a try. But that doesn't necessarily mean I have to love her right? Because it's far from that. I don't. I'm trying to gain a very comfortable relationship with her. I do not have to love her to make this marriage work. With respect, and appreciation I believe everything will work out perfectly.

I took a quick shower and changed into a light Jallabiya. I sat down to get some work done. Wow! I am really a workaholic. But being occupied with work keeps my mind from wandering into places I do not want to go. It keeps me busy and occupied.

I heard a loud scream. Who is that? 'Jawahir' I gasped. Quickly keeping the files aside, I dashed to her room. Luckily she didn't close the door so I barged in. I heard muffled sobs coming from the direction of the bed. Is she okay? What happened? I began to panic.

I slowly walked closer to the bed. She's curled up in fetal position with the blanket wrapped tightly around her body. When I got closer I heard her mumbling incoherent things, it sounded like 'please, I'm sorry'.

"Jawahir." I said, cautiously touching her a bit. She let out a painful cry and struggled to move away from me and closer to the head board.

Ya rahman! What is happening? It looks like she's having a panic attack. I quickly but carefully sat down on the bed beside her. "Jawahir! it's me Aayan okay? It's okay." I said wrapping my hand around her.

She shrieked a bit. "Hey." I cooed. "It's okay, I'm here, nothing will happen in sha Allah." I gently said patting her hair in a soothing manner.

She calmed down, sniffing a bit. I laid us down with her in my arms. She placed her head on my chest and fisted my cloth with her small hand. Pulling the blanket, I covered our body.

When I thought she's asleep, I attempted to leave but she let out a small sob and wrapped herself tighter around me. "Please don't leave me." She sniveled.

"Shhh, I'm not going anywhere." I said laying down again. She returned to the same position with her head on my chest and my arms around her.

"Can you please recite the Quran to me? That's what Mammie usually does." She said quietly, I almost didn't hear her. Mammie usually does? This means that it happens frequently.

Rubbing her head and back soothingly, I recited Suratul Maryam till her breathing even out.

I looked down at her. The tears on her face have dried, her hair out of place. I moved the hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear, running my fingers through the soft strands. So soft I could do it all day.

Focus Aayan.

What could be the reason behind this? What happened that this frail and young girl is having nightmares and panic attacks? These were the questions running through my head.

But the one with the answers is sleeping soundly in my arms.

I need answers.

Hello peeps again🙋

Two updates in a day🙌🙌💃💃🔥🔥

How are you? How's life treating ya? I hope Alhamdulillah.

How are you liking the book so far? Please, please lemme know 🙏🙏

Jaw is having nightmares 😰😭😭💔💔

What could possibly be the reason?

I love this chapter. I feel like their relationship will improve after this......or NOT. Hehe😹😈

It was really hard to write that nightmare😬😬😶. I hope I've tried 😓😓.

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