Kano State, Nigeria.
2012.

After Shaddad got Harith to come to his office, he gave a skeptical and inquisitive look to his brother because he never, like never ever saw anyone in Shaddad's office and not even patients. He deals with the patients in each Ward he's working at but not his office so seeing Falak perched, branching on his chair like a bird to it's roost, makes him double take. She doesn't look very comfortable and he knew she did something to Shaddad because he also looks too uptight, not that calm.

Harith would've sworn if he was asked that Shaddad didn't know his façade had dropped. He mentally laughed because the two will be like Tom and Jerry or even something worst, they are very opposite. Maybe, just maybe, she's the one to bring him out of his thick shell, the invertebrate has a very unyielding, sturdy backbone. Shaddad is definitely going to kill him if he knows what he's thinking so he stood straight.

"Why I'm I here?" Harith asked in a deep voice, letting a ghost smile appear across his lips and if you're not looking very well, you won't see it.

"You're taking her with you." His short words only confused Falak. Why is he talking less? Maybe because his mouth is smelling? There is no reason for someone to keep talking like he's being forced. Olfaction.

"Come here, village lass." Harith called just to annoy her and Shaddad.

Falak did give him a look of distaste while Shaddad just threw a lazy glance at him. He was mad that he called her what he usually used but didn't want to show it just to stop the teasing from going any further. Not that he likes her, he just didn't like the fact that Harith wants to start using the name only he could use, was it jealousy about the name? How's that even possible?

"That's not my name." Falak grumbled, taking her books from the table and sliding them into her bag, wearing back the loafers she removed earlier.

"But you didn't stop him from calling you." Harith teased with a serious tone which made her blush, he's right, she's never corrected him. Or did she secretly like the name too?

"Whatever, let's go." She walked out if the office leaving the men to talk to themselves. He's right because it never occurred to her that she should stop him from calling her village lass but now, she will start stopping him.

"Come with me." She jumped a good feet away from the ground because he took her off guard, she thought he was going to stay there for awhile and she is to admire the place more.

"Are you always serious?" She asked silently running to where he's standing since he has linger feet than her and she has to run to catch up with him.

"I think so." He raised a brow, looking down at her with a ghost smile appearing. She's his sister, why should he be all too serious with a girl. He's always like that with his brothers but never too playful, that is the only blood they share except for Asad who likes laughing at anything.

"Why though? I mean, a little smile and soft laugh won't hurt or does it hurt you guys? I don't know but in my village, everyone laughs at my silly jokes but you guys don't even spare me a glance which makes me feel unworthy. I mean, I do like brother figures and I know having figures won't hurt. Now that Suwaid, Huzaif and Humaid are talking nicely to me, I feel loved. Why can't you guys be like th-." He cut her off when he opened the door to his office and guffawed, a veey melodic sound not too deep but not too soft either.

She didn't know what to do. Should she stare at Harith as he laughs or look around the beautiful office. She could remember Asad saying something like he's specialized in oncology and she only remembered that because there is an award sitting at the front with his name written as the best Oncologist of the year 2012, just the year they are in. Well, it's already ending so maybe they hosted the event some days before she arrived.

His office is different from Shaddad's. Though both of them don't have colours around, she could feel the little comfort it vibes. A little brown, grey, black and blue didn't hurt the eyes while Shaddad only have black and little white. Even if he does have an award, he didn't display anything of that sort on his table, it is very bare for her liking. She should get them a flower pot, the ones they do back in her village.

"I'm not always serious but I don't like laughing." He yanked her put of her reverie, circling his desk to sit on his swiveling chair.

"Hmm, and I should believe that? You all were just looking at me like I was an intruder when I first got here and I felt like I was intruding." She pouted a little, moving closer to the aquarium she saw by the side.

"It's called aquarium." He answered when she shot a questioning eyes to him.

She nodded and glanced back at the aquarium in amazement. The village people said the truth about city 'you will see a lot of thing in the city that will make you think you've being dipped in heaven for a little while' and she is not going to argue. Now that she's seeing these things, she can't begin to think of what there is in heaven. If the city people have this, then what will the heaven have for them?

"It's so beautiful." She whispered, tracing her lean finger around the fishes, colour riot fishes.

"They are alive." He told her, looking with curiosity as she pasted her face on the discolored glass to get more view of the fishes.

"Really?" Her eyes widened in amazement, she never thought that there are these type if fishes on earth but now, she will have to touch it.

"You can touch it." He laughed when he saw how she removed her hand from the water and ask him with her eyes, always enthusiastic when curious.

She took one of the chairs that is in front of him and place it near the aquarium where she could see the fishes swimming quietly and innocently, just free. They continue to talk about a lot of things, mostly, related to the hospital and her studying medicine. Everyone is taking this course very seriously and she don't see why. She can do it because she wants to do it and must do it, if she has this motto stamped, there is nothing that's going to stop her except if Allah wills.

"I like you." She laughed when he mimicked how Shaddad likes keeping his calm self.

"I know." He sighed almost dramatically, thinking how they manage to get to where they are. They spent two hours talking about everything and nothing and now it's time for maghrib so she asked for the mosque around and he guided her. They are standing in front if the mosque, one for females and one for males.

"You all are arrogant and I am starting to like arrogant people." She rolled her eyes heavenward, trying to roll it around but she can't

"You better because arrogant people are awesome." He mumbled, his face stoic and she's used to them getting all stud when they are outside.

He walked away to the males' mosque before she could reply, shaking her head sideways, she ferried to the mosque and performed ablution before saying her prayer. She didn't know her way back so she stayed there for five more minutes but then stood up, not able to sit in one place for a very long time when there are places to explore.

The hospital lit up with so many lights and she awed, it was so beautiful with the orange and white lights. After touring around and finding herself in the packing lot, Falak was about to shout for help since there is no one here and it is darker than the other places. She saw someone walking towards her and got ready to fled away that was before he stood in front of her.

Was she looking at him for a long time that she didn't see him coming towards her? She sighed when she saw that Shaddad was going her one of his famous lazy looks that she is used to now and kind of liking? Not sure if she likes it but it looks very good on him.

"What are you doing here?" His ever so bored voice asked, standing very tall in front of her, like some statue.

"I was looking around the hospital after praying with Harith but got stucked here and I was about to scream when I saw you coming towards me and though-" he stopped her just with a brow raised, she's talking too much.

"Follow me." And he pivoted to go back to the hospital hearing her light footsteps running from behind him. She's too childish for his liking!

He didn't like that she's getting too close to his brothers, now she has four of his brothers by her side and in no time, she will have them all wrapped around her fingers. Whoever managed to bring Harith out if his stoutness, then that person will break all his other brothers, well, not him since he's calmer than them all and they took after him.

He can't believe that she's already breaking them. He hardly ever see their smiles but now, he even saw Harith's ghost one that he was trying to hide earlier. And the way the village lass is saying his name 'Harith' she has another accent added to it. What is it with her and creeping into their hearts just like that? She's not that beautiful!

*****
Yoyoyoyo!
How are you all doing? Ha, I like that you all love this book and thank you alllll for the comments even though most of them are 'update soon please' I'm glad you like it❤ More comments please....
RQ; Would you rather lose all of your money and valuables or all of the pictures you have ever taken? I want all my pictures please 😂and money too... You????

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