Kano State, Nigeria.
2018.

His brothers surrounded him and still, Harith isn't there but they didn't want to think much of it. They all look so concerned and worried so he sighed and closed the door to his car and lean his back on it. They move closer yo where he is and narrow their gazes knowing he won't say anything easily so it's better if they gang up on him, maybe he will talk seeing them many.

"What did the kidnapper say? How much?!" Huzaif asked and Shaddad only then noticed the black bag he is holding behind him, he's brought the money he asked.

"Fifty million and I should go alone." Came his curt reply and since he don't have the money, he should wait for his brothers to give him so he won't have to go through much trouble. He just needs to get to his wife as soon as possible. She must be scared of those darn people since she isn't used to that.

"Here. I thought about arranging hundred just in case but this bag contains only fifty. The one Suwaid is holding has the other fifty so, here." Huzaif passed the bag to him and he took it gratefully then settled in his car. Memories of that morning with Falak sitting where he was sitting makes him nausea so he didn't drive the car and took another one.

"Be careful, we have trackers in all the cars so just dial the emergency number when you need us." Yazid looks more worried about the health of Falak than the rest of them since they were closer those days.

Shaddad nodded and get into the other car then swerved back to the destination he was sent without hesitation. His only concern is to bring Falak back home and punish her like he'd wanted to that morning. At least, they will have something to joke about other than the depressing thoughts of kidnapping. His heart thumped loudly in his ears at the thought of losing Falak in his life. She is the oxygen now in his life, he can't live without her, No.

From the time he's been with her, she became a breath of fresh air. Just not having her by his sight that night twisted some senses in his head. There was never a night that they weren't together ever since they got married and that is the first time making his house a nightmare for him. If he had known where she was, he wouldn't have being so worried about her. She could be in danger right that moment and he is helpless about the situation which has never happened.

He is always ahead of everything but this time, he feels back and so helpless when his wife is concerned. He hates the lack of control in his life. He despise being uncontrollable! There is nothing he despises as that in his whole life and especially in situations like this. Falak is too good to have enemies or haters around the globe and world wide. It should've being one of the Princes or even the other Princesses brought in the Palace but not his wife. No, he would surrender himself in her place and gladly get himself killed. She has a lot more to do with her life and is still young. There are a lot more things for her to explore while he has already did his except exploring her like he's wanted to.

His phone rang, jolting his thoughts into a halt and he picked the call through his Bluetooth and listen attentively since it is a private number that called him just like earlier. He could have the number tracked or even do it himself but he don't want to risk Falak's life because of his foolishness. Since what this kidnapper is doing is illegal, he will make sure this person or people pay for ever getting him worked up and worried. His heart throbbed in fear for the first time hearing someone's voice in his ears.

"Statue, please come and get me." He heard Falak's voice in the phone and it's like she has cried for a long time as her voice is hoarse and deep.

"I'm coming." He said in determined voice and heard her calming sigh from the phone. She trusts his words and her heart switched to being an optimist when he uttered those two words.

"Don't come here now, Dr. Shaddad." The kidnapper took the phone and started saying in taunting voice making Shaddad's jaw to clench in anger. He hates being taunted by some lowlife. He is a Prince and the future King for goodness sake! Who the heck does this person think he is to talk to him like that?! Shaddad wanted to have him locked in jail but tightly clench his fists to calm himself down so he won't do anything stupid and put Falak's life in danger.

"Why?" He settled one the one word or he gets his wife into trouble.

"Because you could bring some cops with you and the money might not be complete since it's dark. Wait for the sun to rise." And he hung up the phone making Shaddad furious, apoplectic and enraged. He feels this burning need to make whoever this person is to suffer for the rest of his life. First, he kidnapped his wife for just fifty million naira like she was an object that needs to be sold. Then he has the nerve to disrespect him like he was a commoner and not the future King of the State he is in. And he lastly has the audacity, gall and courage to ask him not to do something.

Who the heck is this person and who gave birth to him?!

Since he was left with no other option, he parked the car by the sidewalk seeing the other guards that try to be as enshrouded as possible but it wasn't really a good work. He phoned the chief security and ask them to leave him alone or they lose their jobs. They were persistent but left nevertheless and he lie down his head on the steering wheel to catch some sleep but he only got nightmares so he took his phone out and look at the endless photos Falak took in his phone.

He was passing by through his photos when he saw her wearing a white shirt and some maxi skirt that stopped at the calf. The white shirt is see through and she wasn't wearing any bra making her nips prominent and he had to zoom to make sure he wasn't too aroused with washing her face in the morning that he started seeing thing. It isn't even a photo, it is a video made from Instagram hands free for five seconds. He saw her smiling at the camera then grinned before she stopped the video and true to his words, he wasn't seeing things, she really wasn't wearing anything underneath except the black vest that showed it signs.

Shaddad shut the phone immediately not liking where his thoughts are wandering off to, that is not the time. But does she know about this video she did in his phone and that she wasn't wearing any bra? No, she wouldn't have done that and he was sure of it. She didn't know that they were prominent to anyone's eyes and he thanked God that one thing he is sure of is, his wife's photos will be safe. No one has ever tried touching his phone except for his wife.

Seeing that photo did nothing to calm his raging heartbeat or his aroused self so he brought the phone out and continue to scroll but being careful not to open that other video. There are a lot of more videos of hers with smiley faces, funny faces and naughty ones. When he fell across a selfie of hers in ankara fitted gown, Shaddad knew he was at his breaking point. It looks like she sent the photo because as far as he knows, he  doesn't have Snapchat all and she used a filter. She was sitting down on their dining chair, her hips made a voluminous curve as she was sitting down and there is little cleavage, she was smiling.

He swallowed a hard lump in his throat and let his phone fall on his thigh. Falak wants to kill him and he knows she is doing it all naïvely but still. He won't say he's never fantasized about his wife because he has, more than once. She is a woman and no man would not think about her like that only if he is too God fearing and knows she is not his to fantasize about. Falak is a correct woman and before her, he has never thought about any woman in his life. She is first and hopefully, last one too.

God, he feels like a Pervert then he remembered about the lessons he heard from Mufti Menk. He was open when he talked about marriage and said there is nothing to be ashamed of when she is your wife and halal. And he made you in pairs. But he is still so shy about any husband and wife relationship since he never try going deep into that relationship. He silently prays everyday that Falak don't bring that talk and when she did in the morning, his heart throbbed in fear but also desire. He knew what to do.

Seeing the sun peeking down the horizon startled him as he didn't know when he slept and dreamed, a dream he's never had. It was erotic and is ebbed with Falak in different webs. He sighed and got out of the car to pray. He has water in his car so he opened one and performed ablution then prayed facing the Qibla and he was done. He saw a missed call in his phone and checked whether it's the kidnapper and he was the one.

He didn't like that he's missed a call which will make them think he doesn't care about his wife and they will take her or worse, kill her. He can't call back so he anxiously waited for them to call him back and while doing so, he looks around the area and see where he is. He is in the silent part of Kano, he's been driving the whole night and didn't bother checking where he is going. He just let the GPS take him to the sent address and now he is afraid he's never been there his whole life. He is risking everything to get his wife.

"I can see your car parked by the sidewalk. Turn to your left, that clearing, move forward and keep walking. Don't hang up the call." And he did as he was told after taking the money from the car. He moved forward to where he saw a white paint painted and has a big O so he thought of stopping there.

"Now, keep the bag there and go back to your car." Shaddad furrowed his brows when he didn't see Falak anywhere around the place and they expect him to keep the money and leave without her? They must be nuts.

"Where is my wife?" He questioned, still looking around to see any sign of Falak but she was nowhere to be found.

"She will be with you in no time. Leave now!" And he meandered back to his car waiting silently for Falak to magically appear like they said and he saw her walking to where he is with a wide grin and is now dressed in some old Fulani clothes that looks slightly too big for her.

His heart thumped in his chest and he started walking to where she is while she half run and they met together in the middle. He didn't stop himself from hugging her and she hugged him back with equal enthusiasm if not more. Only Falak would be grinning in situations like this and even wearing the kidnappers sister's or mother's clothing. Who would have the courage to do so? And it looks like she has taken a bath too.

"I was with your mother." She mumbled into his chest and he froze.

"What?!"

"Your mother. She is in there if you want to talk to her." She pointed at a small hut where she spent her night and where her mother in-law is anxiously waiting to see whether her son would want to talk to her.

She hopes he does though.

•~•~•

Falak smiled knowing Shaddad will be there to take her home in no time since the phone call but when she heard one of the masked men telling him to stay till morning, she almost gauged his eyes out in anger. There are three men in mask apart from the Prince she heard talking earlier and her mother in-law. They demanded fifty million naira making her eyes to widen as she's never seen that amount of money in her life and don't know what they will do with so much money.

Doughnuts and hot chocolate was brought to her by the Prince like it was said but she didn't see his face. She was in a light sleep when he walked in and kept the said things for her then left. Her mother in-law said he has some other work to finish before coming back as if she cares. She could care less about where he goes because she hates him with every fibre of her being and if she leaves that place, she will tell everyone about what he did.

She heard him talking about holding her captive and taking her to another country so they could start their life together and she is afraid of her life. Why will they want to take her away from her husband and how is she going to marry another person after she wasn't divorced and her husband is alive and healthy just out there searching for her.

Her mother in-law walked in with a smile on her face and she looks so beautiful if not for her evil ways of getting money from kidnapping, Falak would've liked her. She doesn't look like wicked mother in-laws and they would've gotten along just fine. Now she is stuck with hating the woman that gave birth to the love of her life.

"I want to help you." Her mother in-law said in more like a whisper.

"Help? After kidnapping I don't think I need any help." Falak sassed before biting on her tongue and gave her an apologetic smile. She totally forgot about her saying her mind all the darn time.

"The Yarima wants to take your to another country but I know my son cares for you. He will come for you and when he does, I will make sure the familiar voice you heard is not here or he won't let Shaddad take you. Get ready before the sun rise and wear this as a gift from me." She passed her the cream coloured set of Fulani outfit to wear and showed her the bathroom.

"Thank you?" She said it in more like question but took it.

She don't know why she is trying to betray the Prince, her son but she is happy that she is in her side and not the Prince's.

"I like you, dear. Take care of my son on my behalf." Her mother in-law gave her hand a squeeze of reassurance.

"What did you do to get banned from the state?" Falak's curious side ask and her mother in-law could only release an apologetic smile.

"I can't tell you. But ask Shaddad to tell you what his biological mother did. I am ashamed of what I did and I terribly regret it." Silent tears rolled down her cheeks making Falak's heart to tighten.

"Why are you doing this then?" Falak couldn't stop her words from sprouting out of her lips.

"I need money and this is the only way." She shrugged and moved her gaze to the floor.

"Who helped you? The hospital is always heavily guarded so how come?" Falak feels like a journalist interviewing someone.

"With the help of someone close to your family. The Prince helped with everything and here we are."

"Oh, okay." She didn't ask anymore, not that she has anything to ask.

*****
Yoyoyoyo!
How are you doing? I know you all were expecting some spoilers but till next chappie, I will drop the bomb inshaAllah so anticipate. Happy New Year and Juma'at Mubarak in advance🎈❤️
RQ; Would you rather watch TV for hours or read paperback books? Paperback!!! You?

Aishatu.