Kano State, Nigeria.
2018.

Shaddad got out from his horror stricken self and prayed fajr before taking bath and decided to be casual today in his maroon singlet and jacket adding loose jeans to his long legs. He feels weird wearing that outfit because he can't remember looking so casual in normal days. He is always getting ready for work and work alone, or sometime, for coronations.

He knew Falak went to Cook something so he brought out his laptop to get some work done. He gave the Ward heads their list of work for the week to pass down to other doctors and also did that to the head nurse both male and female. He was never absent just to stay at home so the thought of working from home kind of sort his problem a little, he knew Falak won't let him go to work and won't even think about it again after what happened.

Another thought of Falak. He thought she would be those devoted wives he heard about but he didn't know what surprise awaits him. Falak is not anywhere near devoted or those dutiful wives, she looks more like those hot headed ones that act like the men while the men act like the women. There just was never dull moment with her and that is her advantage, he could use that as company for the time being before he gets to the root of everything.

Falak hummed as she finished with the pancakes and arranged the new dining table that smells new. She set the plate of pancakes that looks piled and too much for two people, put aside the syrup and added few more strawberries by the side of the pancakes to appeal the eyes. She kept the dalgona coffee she made in two huge mugs before setting to call Shaddad .

She still feels like she is dreaming sometimes because of everything that happened in the last month. It was rushed but she isn't complaining, she wanted to have Shaddad as soon as possible before she could lose him again. She's gone a long way to let him out her grasp, she won't do that even with a knife around her throat and she is at a gunpoint or so she thought.

Though she thought punishing him will make him angry, he looks anything but angry earlier that morning. It looks like he was amused and also horrified which she liked, she wouldn't have liked it if he was pissed. The Shaddad she thought she knew when she first came is different from the one she came to know. Entirely different like they are just twins without same personality.

The first one she met looks rude and too powerful that will make her pee on her pants if not for his beautiful features. There is just something about him that drew her in when she first saw him but when she started disturbing him in the hospital and started getting answers here and there, she knew that that Shaddad will make the perfect husband, not that she wouldn't of married the first Shaddad, she would in a heartbeat.

She judged him based on his mood when she first saw him. She learnt that judging people only leads to a lot of problems, questions and misunderstandings so she thought that if she gets to know someone, she can judge him clearly not that she has the right even after knowing the person. She got judged once and didn't like what people thought of her and when she sat down and thought about it, she feels like she's been judging people her whole life.

For instance, maybe Adama didn't really hate her and she only wanted what is good for only her children which brought envy to her heart. Maybe her sisters thought she was finer than them and decided that she holds no importance in their lives and her mother also. She's judged her mother immediately after her father told her about her and she almost backed out and refuse to come to the city but then thought about who will give her food, her father is no more and no one will take care of another person's child, they are not that generous.

She would've regretted her decision if she hasn't come. There are so many beautiful things that life has for her in plate and she can't wait to explore each one with her husband by her side. She loves him even though it feels weird deep within her but she knew that she can't live with anyone as her husband if not Shaddad.

A grave mistake she's made is thinking about getting married to Bilal. God saved her from getting tortured because even though Bilal genuinely loved her, he'd still beat her someday. Falak is wild and she can't tame herself nor does she want anyone to tame her. If it was Bilal that she played that prank on like she did on Shaddad earlier, she could already see her bruised body.

Thankfully, Allah brought some misunderstanding and she didn't think twice before cutting off all ties with him. And something that frightened her yet surprised her is, if Shaddad did hide something like that from her, she would've still get married to him. She just can't see herself giving up on Shaddad, not in this lifetimes nor the one next.

"Breakfast is ready, Statue!" She called when she got into the room and pursed her lips when she saw him using the laptop. Is the man a workaholic? Hmm, she is about to change that too.

"I'm coming." He rolled his eyes at the nickname because he didn't like it one bit. He is no statue!

The duo walked to the dining with Falak filling him in about what she cooks and how she cooked it and how she learnt how to cook it. She was getting hard time keeping quite and he could only imagine how his mouth will hurt when he talks like she does. He should get ready to buy seal tapes for her mouth, she talks a whole lot.

She decided to dress in brown jodhpurs and black turtle neck shirt because she has the day planned for them. Though she will look like a traitor for wanting to ride on a horse when she stopped him from going out, she just wanted to try riding on one horse with Shaddad. He rides horses like he does cars, he loves them so much.

She didn't expect anything since he is a Royal and Prince nonetheless. They all ride the horses all eids in a tradition called 'hawan daushe' and then go around the whole state on that horse wearing loads of clothes and heavy head turbans. They even did a small play in the palace on their wedding day in the morning. She saw Shaddad wearing white babban riga and black turban with gold at the highest top, differentiating him from others.

"How's it?" She asked when he took his first bite and took a sip from his dalgona coffee, he let out a small moan.

"It's good." He whispered with a nod, showing her just how much she likes it.

Falak finished and waited for Shaddad to finish his before she pack the dirty plates and cups but another idea struck her and she watch silently as he finish his pancakes and sipped everything from the dalgona coffee.

"You see, I should not pack the dishes alone, that is not what wives do alone. The husbands should also help their wives. Now stand up and let's do the dishes." Falak placed a large creepy smile across her lips and he closed his eyes to sigh, she is making him pay for what he did and he knew that.

He stood up and took the plates while she took the cups. She did the dishes and forced him to clean them before she takes them and arrange. Shaddad only shook his head because he knew she was trying to force him to be romantic and also to make him suffer in her little tricks, he won't back out. He enjoys her company a whole lot, more than he thought he would.

"Let's go riding. The horses look good enough to graze down the wet grasses." She said to Shaddad as they make their way out of the kitchen and to their room where she asked him to wait for her.

Shaddad took in her outfit and nodded in agreement but didn't like that the guards will see her like that. Well, if she is going to walk out like that, he will stop her and ask her to change. He knew more things about marriage than he thought he did so he did a few pats to his back happy that he expanded his knowledge in Islamic school and those Mufti Menk's videos are helping a lot.

She came out with a knee length kimono and a veil tied tightly around her head and also added cowgirl's hat. She looks beautiful, rugged but hot all at the same time. She grinned and twirled around him, handing him one of his rarely worn sunglasses and she also slid hers to her eyes.

He was hesitant about wearing the shades but sighed and wore it making her whistle loudly and moved back to assess him from head to toe. She joined her thumb and forefinger in a he looked good way and added; "You don't look bad, Statue." She grinned when he glared at her through the shades, she could feel it because his glare always burn her back.

They walked out of the Chamber and Shaddad's guards were immediately hot on their tail though they are trying to give the couple some space. The duo went to the stable where more horses than she cares to count were kept with five hyenas, eight snakes, eleven monkeys, nine camels and a lot more donkeys too. She didn't bother looking at where the dangerous animals are and just went to the Royal horses were kept so she could choose.

The field is huge and there is another barn that has cattles, from bulls to cow to steer and back to pigs and sheeps. She's never seen too many animals in her life even with living in village where there are too many cattle's for them to use. She didn't get what they are doing with pigs though and the pigs looks quite neat for their own good and that is seeing slight pink here and there.

"Which one is your horse?" She asked when the stablemen stood up and bow to assist their future King.

"This!" He moved forward to pat the black stallion's face and Falak shuddered visibly because the thing is glaring at her as though she has stolen something precious from him.

"This thing? Isn't it too scary and it already hates me." She glared back at the horse which earned some shrouded laughs from the guards that try concealing it with a cough.

The pure raven horse kept glaring at Falak whilst moving his ugly nose but if she will be truthful, the stallion is pretty, the thing just hates her at first sight when she loved it's owner at first sight. Shaddad was looking at the whole glaring contest in amusement. How can someone be glaring at an animal and even think that that animal is glaring and hated them? God, only Falak would think that.

"You can choose from those." He slowly said pointing to the row of more gentle looking horses and she fell in love with the pure white one instantly.

"Hey!" She beamed at the daisy mare who looked delighted to see her and she didn't waste any minute before asking the guard to bring her out, she is so beautiful.

"Duh, she love me and I hate you. Stop looking at her like that, you philanderer!" She scolded Shaddad's horse when she mounted on top of it with the help of Shaddad who she demanded that he help her.

"Stop talking to them like that. It is okay, he will get used to you." Shaddad defend his horse and they started walking slowly enjoying the sun bathing them and the slow crisp wind gushing past them. It was peaceful.

*****
Yoyoyoy!
How are you all? Hmm, how do you like our couple up there?! What is Falak doing o???! Hehehe, I'm liking that super woman so much. You guys should please hit this comment section well and I might double update on Friday. How does that sound???!
RQ; Would you rather have your legs removed or your eyes? Biko, none of the above. You?

Aishatu.