Kano State, Nigeria.
2012.

In the morning, Falak didn't bother taking a bath before walking to the dining room so she could see if Shaddad really has a lookalike or it was just her eyes playing tricks, swindling with her. The best part about going to the dining room is that, she is going to see Shaddad clearly and not with tired eyes and hallucinating senses. She should see him often before she goes to school, starting from today, she will keep stalking him.

Time to start hunting him!

She flushed when she saw that there are more visitors around the dining room she was escorted to. She asked where they where taking her and they said it's not the family dining room, it's the general one. She didn't know that there are more guests waiting for her to come before they dig in. If only the ground could open and take her whole at the moment, it's embarrassing and she is hardly one to be discomfited.

Shaddad stopped looking into his phone just like every other person in the room stopped what they were doing. The damsel who just walked in caught everyone's attention like flame and they are moths. She looks effortlessly beautiful with her eyes looking so small, her long nose red from embarrassment and her bow lips looking more pink than usual. He was entranced, hypnotized, spellbound!

The pink silky pajamas she's wearing makes her look small since the set is bigger than her. It kind of made her look cute also in it and the black veil managed to reach her upper stomach. What on earth is wrong with his senses this beautiful morning? Maybe because he is hungry and was dead tired yesterday, yes, that should be the only reason he is complimenting her. A ghost smile appeared across his lips when she ran back from where she came from.

Falak hurriedly went back to the corridor and exhaled, that was so embarrassing and she could hear them chuckling. She went back to her room and get a long soft red hijab from her wardrobe. When her mother brought the hijabs for her, she was ecstatic and couldn't wait to get rid of the tattered one she brought from the village. Even the hijabs here are more beautiful and even looks like something straight from Makkah or Medina.

"That was so embarrassing, you should've told me that there are people there." She grumbled to Ashir and Khamis, feeling the need to put the whole blame on someone.

"We also didn't know that a lot of guests would be there." Ashir defended, taking his stand behind her and together they went back to the general dining room.

"Good morning." She greeted, her eyes dropping down to the ground to see where she's walking to, she heard Imad's voice calling her name so she traced the sit to the one close to Shaddad.

She still got the looks she was trying to avoid when she came back. Red colour is the most beautiful colour a girl with her skin complexion would wear to brighten the whole room. No one could miss the beautiful human standing with hijab in the middle of the room, even with her head down casted.

The room chorused with good morning before the maids started bustling in with different type of food, drinks and fruits. Falak's stomach growled angrily because she can't remember when last she ate. Yesterday went by pretty fast and that's why she didn't even remember having lunch and dinner, she only had breakfast. Now that she remembered, her stomach wouldn't stop growling and so she stood up and served herself first.

Filling her plate to the brim with Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes and scrambled eggs with sausage. Shaddad did a double take at her plate because he can't see her finishing that food. He minded his business and started eating his served food by one of the many maids around the table. He hates eating in front of people who can't keep quite in the dining table and don't have the etiquettes of eating. No, he hates lousy people in general.

"Ya Falak, are you going to eat all that?" He heard Imad asked from the other side of her and saw her nod her head in yes. Wow, she is a glutton, she can't even talk because her mouth is full.

His uncles and aunties are sitting all around the table and they kept throwing words to Falak, no, not bad words. They all want to get to know her but she is only giving small answers because she wants to fill in every corner and crevice in her stomach before she starts functioning. He knew better not to ask them all to keep quite, they had history.

Falak didn't see the newly married couple around the table so she asked her mother and she told her that they won't be joining them till after a month, they should spend sometime together and no one should disturb them. Falak only nodded because she's already planning on going to see Jabrayah, she begged her to spend the little time she has with her before going to school. She is the only friend she could share her problems with.

After breakfast, she went to get ready so they could drop her in the hospital but saw Jabrayah's call, crying for her to come with sobs in between. Falak kept everything about going to see Shaddad and went to her friend's aid. Could it be that Suwaid tried doing something to her? Oh, she hopes not and then again, Suwaid is not one to do that, he is always gentle.

"What's wrong?" She didn't even wrap the black veil around her head and took the first black clothing she found in her drawer which is a black jallabiya with golden small stones all around it.

"I can't fulfill this right, Falak. I don't even know him and he wanted to consummate our marriage yesterday. I told him I was tired and I can't do anything so he agreed and we prayed before going to bed, I couldn't sleep." Jabrayah sobbed, saying those words in between hiccups. She knows that God is not pleased with her in the least bit, no woman should do that to her husband.

"Calm down and let's solve this." Falak's eyes widen because Jabrayah is committing a very huge sin. She's been told by one of her Islamic teachers that if a woman does that, Allah will not be pleased with her.

"How are we going to solve this?" She asked after taking a huge gulp of water from the jar next to her.

Suwaid left the house earlier and he doesn't look mad to her so that's a good sign, they should solve this before he gets back and guests will start coming in like it's their house. She hates feeling so stressed and tired all by herself when she is supposed to be happy. Well, she didn't know that she was going to get married after writing waec and it took her off guard.

"I told you to give him a chance, Ray. He is a man and you can't expect him to just have you around as a wife. I don't know much about this marital stuff but I'm sure your mom has already told you a lot about it. Give my brother a chance, he's not that bad." Falak almost pleaded with her eyes, this is a serious issue.

"I'm trying to do so, don't you know? I just don't know how to get that comfortable with him." Jabrayah explained her own part.

"Go with the flow, he will make you comfortable." Falak cheered before asking her to take a bath and wear a beautifully sewn blue ankara that she removed from her walk in closet.

"I will leave now because he is back, you know what to do." Falak wiggled her brows before sauntering out of the house bumping into Ashir and Khamis, she asked them to drop her at the hospital which they did.

Shaddad grumbled underneath his breath, what is she doing in the hospital again today? Doesn't she get tired after all the ups an downs she did yesterday? He smiled coolly before closing the door to his office, he could see her from the window as she try to look for an excuse to come into his office. She knocked but he didn't bother talking to her, she should think that it is locked and he is not there.

"Where is Dr. Shaddad please?" She asked his assigned nurse, Nawar.

"He doesn't wish to be disturbed." She forced a smile to her face so she could look polite to her future sister in-law. The only thing she hates is that, they are getting too close for her liking. This is the closest she's ever seen him with any girl and this small girl is trying to get all the attention.

Falak feel the anger bubbling inside of her. She balled her small hands into fists and close her mouth with the fist so she could stop the agonising scream of anger that is about to surface. She is very sure that her face is red from the anger. She knew he was trying to avoid her, but for what reason? Just because she wanted to see him? She is very angry, she needs to do something.

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Yoyoyoyo!
How are you all? Another update is here and I hope you loved what you read. Um, I don't have much to say today so let's go to random questions so we can have some fun there. Don't forget to vote, comment, share and tag.
RQ; Would you rather be locked in a room that is constantly dark for a week or a room that is constantly bright for a week? Hmm, I hate darkness so we are going to settle with bright here. I even think I have phobia for dark places😂 You?

Yours truly,
Aishatu.