Kano State, Nigeria.
2012.

Falak didn't go far from his office even after he chased her out. She stood outside waiting for someone to come and ask her to give him something but no one did for the next hour so she decided that she will do that herself. She is tired of him ignoring her, that's not what lovers do back in her village. They spend time with each other and then get married before living happily ever after.

"Hello, can I sit here for a moment before my mom gets me?" She asked quietly, hoping she sounds as ladylike as possible. She knew her voice can be too ebullient and perky so she manage to minimize it and act like a lady, maybe he will start liking her too.

"No." He fixed his lazy gaze on her, waiting for her next move and words because from her stance and posture, she looks like she's ready to argue.

"But my mom asked me to come here." She is lying and they both know that, Hajia Karima would never ask her to come to Shaddad.

He only sighed and turn his head back to his laptop to continue with some research, talking to her will only waste his precious time and every minute counts in the office. They are trying to get medicines and other machines to some villages so they can help them cure some of the diseases going around there. His father is already giving him those sort of duties to carry on before he gets to the throne.

Falak didn't talk but she sat down on the chair and kept looking at him. She didn't know when she started rambling aimlessly how beautiful he is till he flaunted his lashes up and look at her with those fascinating, charming, captivating charcoal eyes. Her eyes widen and her lips suddenly went dry, like a sandpaper or even something drier than it. She looks like a deer caught in the headlight, her famous look. She forgot that she always say her thoughts out loud and now that he heard her, she's done for. The words were not good!

"A piece of advice, be biting onto your tongue so that your thoughts won't be coming out. It's irritating!" And he went back to work after that. The way she rambles about how she loves him and how handsome he is, it was quite frightening.

She's not supposed to be happy but she was. This is the longest she's heard him say ever since she met him. Wow, she never knew he could talk like this and that is why she kept going to and fro in the hospital just so she could hear him talk longer than few lazy words directed to her. She's beaming, the smile on her face will put the sun's to shame, it's huge and beautiful like an Angel's.

"Thank you, I will surely try doing so." She finally closed her teeth after saying those words, he could see her from his wired glasses.

"Out." He mumbled, not bothering to raise his head to see whether she's left or not. Her sight alone will make his day bad and talking to her, that should be out of question, he doesn't want to see her ever again.

Falak did as she was told since she's happy that he talked to her longer than the other times. She went to her mother and helped her a little before going home to start studying for her upcoming final exams.

Everything is happening so fast and Falak can't even wrap her head around everything. She needs to pass the exams so she could start achieving her goal, becoming a paediatrician. Before, she wanted to become a paediatrician just to accept his challenge but how that she saw how her mother is saving children's life, she just wants to do that herself.

The exams rolled around and she aced them all, everyone was proud of her even Shaddad who didn't bother joining the little celebration of sweets. He just silently sat down at the dining table and look at them after Masrooq checked the result on internet and told them the good news. Imad was the first to hoot before the others all congratulated her.

Oh, she managed to bring them all in her wings. The brothers couldn't resist the beauty not that they were trying to, they were just not comfortable with another member and don't like talking like she does and that's their difference.

She was hurt that Shaddad didn't even look at her and kept eating his meal then disappeared after finishing. There was no sign that he was proud of her or even a glint, not even a smile -something she's never seen- was etched across his lips. He sat there as emotionless as always, only that he ate the food more silently so as to not attract attention from them. She needs to do something before she leaves for school, in one month.

"Congratulation, may Allah bless your union and your marital home." Falak gave Jabrayah a tight hug, like she's not ready to let her go.

The wedding took place earlier in the palace, inside the throne room. The bustling around the palace kept going on from week before and more guards were sent to make sure everyone is safe and sound within the palace and the estates around it. Three daughter in-laws stepped into the house that very day and Falak couldn't be happier, nice sister in-laws are hard to find since the one back in her village is not one of them.

She just finished saying her goodbyes to Madeeha and Junainah so that their friends can finish the little ceremony of collecting money from the groomsmen. Since Jabrayah is her friend, she is going to stand alongside Jabrayah's other cousins to collect the money.

Both Junainah and Jabrayah are still very sad, even after meeting their grooms and talking things out with them, Falak doesn't know what to do anymore. Junainah looks more sad than Jabrayah though, only God knows what's happening between her and Huzaif. He also doesn't look happy, unlike Humaid and Suwaid.

They are all going to stay in the palace since all the grooms have their flats ready made. It was the King's plan all along to give them each a flat where they can live with their wives and another huge flat for children when they grow up. Falak was amazed because that was a brilliant idea there. The week has been stressing though there wasn't any event, she kept going up and down for her clothes, saloon and makeup.

When her makeup was done, Falak couldn't believe that she was the one sitting there. She looks straight out of those expensive vogue magazines. Her nose was longer, cheekbones are higher, eyes popped and lips more shaped. She freaked out at first, swearing that she is not the one and the mirror has magic in it. She said that those pokings and rubbings won't make you this beautiful but after assurance from her mother, she settled down and then smiled again at the mirror, seeing the person smiled back.

"Amin, thank you for everything, Falak." Jabrayah sobbed. She can't believe she's now a married woman at the age of seventeen immediately after graduating from highschool.

"I'm your friend, you don't need to thank me. Give my brother a chance, he's the best person out there and even the first to open up to me. He likes you, just try and be friends, hm?" She kept a reassuring hand on her shoulder and smiled before walking out of the maroon and golden room to stand with the others in the living room.

After the little ceremony, Falak was more than tired -that she didn't give the groomsmen any chance to get her number, many asked- so she started walking back into the palace with Ashir and Khamis with other two behind her. Ever since the wedding started, more guards were given to them also because the King said that, this will be the best opportunity for any rival to attack and so they should not take any risk.

Falak was stumbling on her high heels, feeling the makeup getting heavy on her face. Stepping her foot into the palace, she closed her eyes for two seconds thinking that she could catch some sleep before continuing to move inside but then bumped into someone. The sleep vanished from her eyes when she saw another tall human standing in front of her, she doesn't know him.

"Hello! You must be the beautiful Falak I heard about." The man's husky voice yanked her out of her reverie because he looks almost like Shaddad but just friendlier.

"Uh, yes. And you are?" She raised a questioning brow with tired eyes filled with curiosity.

"Arif, Humaid's younger brother." He smiled brightly, showing his pearls.

"Oh, nice meeting you but I'm too tired to talk now so I'll meet you tomorrow?" She asked hopefully.

She really wants to find out if he looks like Shaddad in the morning or it's just because she's missing him and that's why she's seeing things like that. She hasn't seen him the whole day and because they didn't have breakfast all together, she hadn't seen his head for more than twenty four hours which is the longest she's went without seeing him.

"Sure, you get some sleep. Good night." And he is out of sight along with his babban riga.

Walking a few more feet front, Falak bumped into another talk huge man. What is wrong with her bumping into people anyhow? And she started rambling about how people should look where they are going before they end up breaking her into two. She raised her face to see another stranger only to be met with Shaddad lazy eyes and droopy lashes. He looks tired also, ha, looks like she's not the only one.

"Sorry." She mumbled sleepily but didn't move from his warmth. Is it possible that she is no more tired because of the warmth his body is transmitting into hers?

He nodded and stepped away, her body is too soft, too fragile. He never knew that someone's body could be this soft and warm. Not even a baby's body can be compared to hers, it's almost too soft for someone to handle which makes her look more fragile and innocent. She is just a bairn who thinks love is when your heart beat faster than it's normal pace. He reassured his wild mind.

Falak swooned, he looks so yummy in kaftan. How she wished she could call him hers, only hers.

****
Yoyoyoyo!
Another update is here from your favorite author. I can't believe we're already in 8k and stuff, I swear I'm overwhelmed and had to update immediately. Thank you all so so much. Continuing voting, commenting and sharing please. I love you loads😭🖤
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Aishatu.