Kano State, Nigeria.
2018.

Waking up earlier than usual, Shaddad found that he was used as a bear. Falak draped her legs on his and has her head on his shoulder sleeping peacefully. Luckily, her hair is tightly in a bandage or it would've spilled all over the place. He now sees why she likes closing her hair when she will sleep, it was so long. Well, he is not used to seeing hairs so his wife's intrigues him so much, he can't help wishing she let it open for his eyes to feast.

He slowly removed her limps from his body and went to the bathroom for a shower. He got dressed into a frost coloured dress shirt, spider black waist coat and matching slacks. He just finished tying one lace of his shoes when he saw Falak stirring before saying a silent prayer and sat up. She looks beautiful even with her morning appearance. Blank, droopy eyes, creamy white face. Instantly, he moved his eyes to his Calvin Klein shoes and tie it in a quick strokes feeling her eyes boring into him.

"I am leaving for work, breakfast will be served soon." He said and started making his way to the door, he needs to be in the hospital because one of the doctors is absent and they have a surgery in two hours, he needs to make sure that everything is arranged accordingly and not risk losing anyone's life, especially not a baby.

"Good morning to you too." She said in a duh voice before narrowing her eyes at his outfit, he looks extremely pleasant. "And, you need to have your breakfast before leaving, it is good for your health and heard it is one of the most important meals for the day." She sassed dropping her legs from the bed to the hazelnut coloured lush carpet.

"I need to be at the hospital." Forgetting that she's lost her memory, he thought she would understand why he should be there but well, he should've saw that coming.

"Are you ill? Shouldn't I be the one going to the hospital and not the other way round?" She looked at him from head to toe before deciding to remove the trouble off his shoulders. "What is your profession?" She tilted her head to the left, she's been doing that a lot since after losing her 'memories.'

"A doctor, Cardiologist."

"And me?" She beamed acting as though she was so into knowing what she is, a very good pretender.

"Also a doctor, Paediatrician." And she stood up from the bed to jump in glee only to fall back down wincing at the almost none existent pain shooting through her legs to her whole body. At least it reminded her of her charade and not let it drop.

"Really?! I should go to the hospital too and maybe, just maybe I can regain something from my memories. Wait up." And she tried standing up again but fell dramatically clutching the injured leg so Shaddad rushed to her and took a closer look at the leg, finding nothing out of ordinary, he sighed before making his way to the bathroom and turned on the water in the bath, she can't stand in the shower cubicle, that much he knew.

"Let me assist you." He muttered lowly underneath his breath and picked her up in his arms taking her by surprise but she wounded her arms to his strong bronze neck to stay straight and not fall off. She can't believe how perfectly she fits in the huge width of his chest and shoulders.

He placed her down by the side of the tube and left to give her privacy. He can't believe how human everything feels, like her losing her memory is a blessing not a curse. The other Falak would've still being mad at him but this one is making his life a while lot easier but still hard with her teasing. Hearing the persistent doorbell, he made his way there to take the breakfast he's asked his stepmother to bring. He told her about wanting to take Falak to see a Neurosurgeon but she stopped him and told him to wait for a few days and if she still don't regain her memories then, he can take her.

He asked the three maids to arrange the dining table before they left. Going back to the room, he saw Falak sitting on the bathroom doorway looking bored with her lips set in a pout like a bratty child, that did something to him. He went to her and took her in his arms again, being careful not to touch her naked parts. She has a towel wrapped around her hair and the other is wrapped from her chest to knees.

He was distracted by her legs yet again, he can't help it. They are much more longer seeing them like this without any cape behind. He willed his mind to not go anywhere unnecessary and settle her down on the single black couch in the closet. She told him the names of the lotions she used and he got it for her and kept it beside her. He brought out his phone and started typing away just so he won't look as she oiled her calf. The image won't leave his head if he dare see that.

Once she was done, she limp her way to take the hairdryer from one of the wardrobes without Shaddad's permission, he doesn't want her to worsen her condition, he can't take it. He went behind her and stood closely in case if she falls, he will be there to catch her. Well, she didn't fall but her hair did. She removed the towel and dramatically whipped her hair, very sure that he is behind her and the water from her hair did sprinkle to his face and outfit, just small beads.

He took in the scent of coconut and settle it deep inside him, internally feeling like a whipped man. It's not like he wants to stop what he is feeling, he just doesn't know what to do with it and how to use it.

She sat back down on the couch in the closet and asked him to bring out the outfit she wants to wear. Just a simple medallion coloured linen and lace patchwork cape dress with regular long sleeves. She pointed at the cider coloured veil she wanted to match it up with and the cider loafers she bought together with Nevedita back in India, she loves that shoe to death. Whenever she is wearing something yellowish, she likes matching it up with it because of how comfortable it is and it just rhymes the moment.

After they had their breakfast, he took her in his arms and placed her in the car, the guards looking at him like he's lost his memory a bit when it is Falak they should be looking at like that. He drove them to the hospital in no time.

"Good morning, sir." Nawar walked into the office when he gave her the signal to do so, she looks good to Falak but she didn't talk to her, she still doesn't have her memories with her. She is wearing a blue maxi dress with white polka dots and has her pager in her left hand and a pen in right.

Shaddad nodded and she started talking like gas spilling; "Sir, there is a woman with heart disease and she is here. Dr. Kareema asked me to strictly send her to you and not any other Cardiologist, she is outside. Should I send her in?" She jumped from feet to feet not getting why Falak isn't talking to her and also what she is doing in Shaddad's office not her own Ward.

"Yes." And she went away after giving Falak a small smile which she replied to with her own.

....

Shortly after Nawar closed the door, a woman walked in. She is wearing beautiful white lace with pink and green triangle pattern sewn in buba. She wrapped a golden veil around her shoulders and her bag matches her the veil with her shoes. Falak was impressed, just from that look, Falak knew she is someone important and rich in the society. She looks like those elite that will go through any length to see the best doctor in the country because they don't want to die early, they think they have more to do on earth.

A young lady followed behind wearing fog coloured jallabiya, she wrapped a black veil in muffler just like Falak and is holding YSL charcoal bag with matching slippers. She looks good but didn't look so good when Falak saw her eyes landing on her husband's handsome form. His body is clasped tight waistcoat and his bulging muscles from the frost dress shirt, wanting to rip it apart. Falak brought out her phone and zoomed, taking the picture secretly and closed his face with a yellow heart before sending it straight to her Instagram story then came back to life, seeing the two women sitting in front of her husband.

The woman and Shaddad started talking about the problem while the lady only stared at Shaddad. She looks to be about the same age as Falak or younger than her but not as beautiful. Falak didn't like the way she types on her phone before going back to stare at him. It looks like she is drawing him or something. She didn't talk though, she only lie down on the couch she is sitting on and tried sleeping but the jealousy is blinding her so she left her eyes open to see what is going to happen again.

When the women left, she sat on the couch crisscrossed and narrowed her eyes at Shaddad who for some odd reasons felt her gaze on him and shift his attention back to her. Seeing the narrowed eyes and the flaring nose, he knew nothing good is going to come out from her mouth so he waited.

"Didn't you feel her gaze on you? Why didn't you tell her to stop looking at you like that?" She glared hotly at him, not helping the jealousy burning in her and she knew if not that she has memory loss, she would've killed the woman but the one without memories need to act gentle.

"Who are you talking about?" He looks utterly confused at what she is talking about.

"The young lady that just left. She was looking at you like she wants to eat you alive but you didn't do anything! Isn't that illegal?!" Her voice is raising and cracking because she didn't stop to breath in between words.

"What young lady?" He was getting frustrated with her words and questions, she is not making any sense to him she is just babbling out words like a robot.

"The one that just left with her mother or aunt or grandmother or great aunt or great great mother or whatever." Shaddad would've banged his head on the wall if he was standing and would've done so to his desk if not for his laptop standing on the way.

"I didn't notice any young Lady!" His voice rose an octave and she noticed.

"You didn't?" She narrowed her eyes and look at his reactions, it is true he didn't notice any Lady and she agreed. Besides, she knows not to worry about Shaddad with a woman, he isn't even comfortable with her as his wife talk less of any other lady outside.

"Yes." He breathed out, forcing his attention back to his laptop.

"I don't like the way she was looking at you, I only have the right to do that." She furrowed her brows thinking she said it in her mind but she should've known by now already.

Shaddad only shook his head after hearing her thought and decided not to reply or cause another problem for himself. She isn't lying though, she is the only lawful person to stare at him but he is not going to agree with her just like that. The woman can make him do the most craziest things and think about the most sleaziest thoughts so he rather let her be.

"What is wrong with the woman?" She inclined her head and pay her whole attention back to him changing the topic completely.

"She fractured her sternum in some car accident with a seatbelt. She thought it was her heart and I told her to come back for another x-ray in two days." He explained professionally but his hands are still hitting on the keyboard.

Falak nodded and place her head on the throw pillow sitting on the couch and slept. Some minutes later, she yawned and woke up, checking her phone in process to check the time. It was already four, time to pray Asr but Shaddad isn't in the office. When she heard the door to the bathroom opened, she raised her arms waiting for him to pick her up so she could perform ablution and pray together with him. He did go and picked her up then placed her on the stool in the bathroom and fetch water in a cup for her to perform ablution.

They prayed and she sat down on the couch again waiting for him to ask her to get ready so they could go home but he didn't for the next thirty minutes.

"When do you usually go home?" She inclined, patiently waiting for him to finish his shakara. He was arranging some files on his desk and it looks like he is doing it alphabetically which reminds her of her own pending work. She needs to finish this charade soon.

"Six." Came his reply and she let her jaw drop, she knew when he goes home before their marriage but after, he doesn't stay late as five.

"That long? No, we are going home now. Even after you get married to me you come back home around six?"

"No."

"Then why not now? No, don't answer that, let's go." She sternly said and he had no other choice but to stand up and follow his wife like a headless chicken.

*****
Yoyoyoyo!
How are you all? I'm fine if you're wondering and I know I've been updating regularly and that is why you guys don't comment much and if I don't see much comments here, by Allah I won't be updating regularly. Yup, maybe after a week, how does that sound?????!
RQ; Would you rather get married to a poor man who is deeply in love with you or to a rich man who doesn't know what love means? Like Shaddad up there? If I'll get Shaddad, I want Shaddad😹 You?

Aishatu.