Kano State, Nigeria.
2018.

Falak begrudgingly made her way back to her office wanting to give them each a taste of their own medicine. Why does she even have to glow just after consummating their marriage?! She hates having them as friends at that moment.

She walked into the office and find them chatting with no care of the world. Infuriated, she sat down on her swivel chair and eye them one after the other, when they didn't turn around to acknowledge her presence in her own office she ignored them. Wanting to leave the room, she heard a knock on the door which got everyone's attention in the room, she yelled a come in and Anisa walked in looking happy and giddy as she ran to Falak.

"You won't believe what just happened in the corridor. Ya Allah, I'm so freaking happy wallahi and I hope I won't fall off right now. I need water." Falak could only stare at her with wide eyes but fastidiousness shining in her eyes brightly making Anisa more giddy to share her news.

"Calm the heck down now, Anee. Here, drink this." Falak passed her a glass cup sitting beside her table and continue to stare at the giddy girl.

"Okay, I'm now calm so let me convey everything to you so you can be happy along with me. I'm so happy, Falak. I want to so badly distinguish my heart." Anisa kept talking enthusiastically and Falak saw a tinge of tears shining in her eyes and she knew the girl in front of her is too happy and maybe even more than she is.

Falak didn't know anyone could be as happy as she is but seeing Anisa right at that moment with the tears if joy glistening and the tightening of her lips as it sends message of the happiness in her chest, she knew she is happier than her. She didn't even notice the other people in the room other than her and she still didn't. Falak is happy for the girl in front of her, whatever it is, it must be life changing decision which is happily made.

"Let me introduce you to my sister in-laws first seeing that you haven't noticed them." Falak chuckled a little when she saw the horrified expression taking over Anisa's face. She looks scared of something which Falak don't get what it is but will find out before she leave her office.

"Why didn't you tell me since?" She colloquially asked with a torturous smile and turn around to greet the beautiful women scattered around the office which makes her think how the heck did she not notice them then ponder how is she to know who is married to who.

"This is, Fikriyah and Madeeha, Humaid's wives. That one is Jabrayah and she is Suwaid's wife. Jaiyana is Huzaif's wife and Inayah is Asad's wife. Guys, this is Anisa, my friend." She introduced even though she is still mad at them and that is why she addressed them as sister in-laws and not friends. What they did is unforgivable.

"H-hello." Anisa uttered shyly and look down at the ground and that is when Falak took in her outfit.

She is wearing a tie wrap stripped maxi dress with crew neckline, a waist belt and regular long sleeves. She has her head tied in muffler with graphite veil holding a matching cross over Gucci bag and her legs are clasped with fog slippers. Her dressing sense makes Falak like her even more, she looks cute yet casual.

"Hi." They replied with a smile that makes her shoulders slump in silent thanking God for them being normal people and not haughty and supercilious.

There is something about wanting to be accepted and if she hasn't being at that moment, she's not even sure if they have accepted her but she would've worked hard to have them accept her. She needs to be accepted and would do basically anything to please them. They are about to be her sister in-laws too after all. If they show any sign of disdain, her soon to be fiancée will start having second thoughts and she don't want that.

She is not trying to impress them to get her way through the family, Falak already knows how she is. She is a five year old clasped in twenty two year old's body which Falak said she admired about her. How she gets comfortable in a new crowd is amazing along with so many gists in her stomach, there never was a boring moment with her. She has the power to turn a room into disco night in ten minutes so everything is possible in Anisa's lists.

"Now tell me why you came in jumping like a kangaroo." Falak got her attention once again and she beamed at her, her eyes back to their shiny selves.

"I was walking down the corridor after taking my mother to meet Dr. Shaddad and bumped into someone..." She trailed off and took a deep breath which is slowly eating Falak up as her fastidiousness is filtering up with each breath Anisa took in front of her.

"Come let's go away from these prying ears." Falak glared at her girlfriends and move Anisa to the far end of the office where her still empty white bookshelf sat. They lean their body on it and Falak nudged her to continue talking or she strangle her.

"We apologized at the same time but damn, that voice really made me shiver. I never thought the books I read could really be true as cliché as it sounds. His voice is too good, Falak. I know I'm going to keep dreaming about his voice for the rest of my life. His voice is so cajoling and has this tinge of tranquility that I thought it was an Angel who talked to me in heaven. Falak you should've heard the deep voice ringing in my heart, I can still hear it reverberating and echoing in my heart. My soul has never been susceptible like it was earlier..." She goes on with dreamy eyes drifting down the topic so Falak hit her arm quite painfully.

"Back to the topic poet." She crossed her arms around her chest a raise a brow in irritation.

"Oh, sorry." Anisa sheepishly muttered then giggle before clearing her throat since Falak didn't smile, she is too curious to care, "Do you know what he said? He said he's been watching me going in and out of the hospital and even went to greet my mom once. He went straight forward and said he is serious and wants to marry me but will like to talk to my parents first." She jumped on her balls, clapping her hands over her mouth remembering that they are not alone.

"Really? I'm so happy for you but who is he?" Falak grinned so widely that someone might think her cheeks will ache.

"Masrooq." She mumbled inaudibly that Falak had to restrain her hearing to hear what she said.

"What?!" Falak rose her voice and her smile broadened further if that is possible.

"Yes." Anisa shyly replied and Falak enveloped her in a hug which she happily returned. She's finally found her prince charming but he was riding on blue jacket.

"I'm so happy for you both." Falak truthfully said to her when she pulled away and gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

•~•~•

Falak stood up and made her way to the door after her day and went to meet Shaddad. She finally decided to stop being shy and just go along with the flow. This happens to all marital couples and she hasn't seen any of her sister in-laws acting awkward around their husbands and this shouldn't be a start. With her pulse racing the fastest it has never beaten but she is no quitter, she is strong and won't let something common amongst married couples come between them.

She opened the door, her peep toe clad feet clanking into the office, she saw him looking up from his laptop making her heart stuck in her throat and it pounds hard and fast. She plastered a smile on her lips and continue to trudge to the sofas she normally sits on and crossed her legs after placing her nude animal skin Fendi bag on the coffee table between the sofas.

Shaddad couldn't mask away his surprise when he saw her with so much confidence and self assurance which he didn't expect when he should expect. Falak is always changing like a chameleon and that reptile will even give space to Falak and bow down. He thought she wouldn't talk to him till the next few days which he wasn't looking forward to at all.

"You should go and congratulate Masrooq." She started the conversation, trying hard not to squirm as memories of the night before again padded into her head at the most inauspicious time. That is why she avoid his eyes like a plague, it makes the memories fresh and her body to heat up at the mere thought of it.

"Why?" She heard his confused question then rose her head to answer him, hoping he won't catch the twin pink dots on her cheeks.

"He's found a woman he wants to marry. Unlike you, it wasn't arranged and he proposed to her the best way possible." She added the unnecessary details to make him jealous when she knows how much of a statue he is. He only gave her a dry look and went back to his laptop.

"How delightful." He sarcastically replied bringing a beautiful shrill from Falak's mouth at his sarcastic self and how he rolled his eyes aloft and brought it back forth.

"But I'm serious though. This is a good news coming from your brother so stand up let's go." She chuckled a little still not getting over the fact that he rolled his eyes and acted all sarcastic, it was so unlike him.

"I want to go home." Falak's heart tugged when he said that but she won't let him slide from this.

"Then you should be fast let's congratulate him and leave." She stood up and took her bag then went around his desk and close his laptop putting it aside. She yanked at his arm and he let her take him along while he grunted to which she snorted loudly at.

"So unladylike." She heard him mutter behind her after he closed the door to his office and she turn around, leaving his hand and placed them akimbo on her waist.

"I didn't hear you say that yesterday." She hauntingly say in mock anger but the way his eyes immediately cast down makes her heart drop. She only meant to tease him so the topic about the day before won't come disturbing them all the time but what is wrong? Is he mad at what she said or is he just embarrassed and shy about it all?

"Uh, let's go." She cleared her throat and whispered, thankful that there are no people around the place since it's time for some other doctors to take charge for the evening shift.

Shaddad silently followed seeing the way her shoulders tense, he don't know what she is thinking but knows it is something wrong. His aristocratic strides move to where she is and he demurely place his hand on her shoulder which took her by surprise and she jumped on her feet. She look up at him and he saw her shoulder visibly slouching it's posture and she beamed, back to her go luck self.

Arriving at Masrooq's Ward, Falak bounced on her steps ready to go and tease Masrooq senseless about what happened. She saw him sitting on his sable swivel chair furiously typing away on his laptop as he adjust his glasses. He looks so eager to finish what he is doing but Falak went ahead and plop on the chairs in front of him together with Shaddad dominating figure taking up the whole room.

"Woah, to what do I owe this pleasant visit?" He raised a brow clearly taken by surprise seeing Falak and Shaddad in his office. That was a first and maybe it is about to snow in Nigeria. Shaddad has never been in the Radiology's Ward, maybe only for his Chief duties.

He is wearing three piece Armani navy blue jacket that fitted his upper body really good and is wearing crisp white shirt underneath. The first two buttons are wide open showing his chocolate skin neck and little of his hard chest. His long legs are adorned with matching set of navy blue slacks while his legs are encased in set of Royal black dress shoes. He looks good and there is no wonder Anisa fell head over heels.

"Heard from a little birdy that you are about to get engaged." Falak wiggled her brows and showed him her set of pearls.

"You already heard?" He asked in his deep voice and a small smile bloomed on his face before he went into details.

So he's met Anisa few weeks back in the hospital with her mother and he asked what was wrong, he got the information. He often visits the Cardiology's Ward to see whether they are back or sometimes send someone to check it out for him. From seeing her behavior and how she manage to get herself close to Falak, he knew she must be a good person. He wanted to ask Falak about her first before making any move but he got impatient and went ahead to ask for her phone number which she gave after little hesitation.

Masrooq has never been one to be serious and look around his surroundings so Falak won't have to worry telling him to take care of her friend that is more like her little sister. And from the fondness she's seeing in his eyes, he feels something for the girl.

"I'm a proud mama." She sighed dreamily and turn to look at Shaddad who was intently hearing his brother talking.

"And why did you bring your Statue here?" He laughed when Shaddad's attention whipped to him and he saw the warning shining in those depths of orbs. There is no need for him to word them out, he could feel it.

"Oh, he is here to congratulate you. C'mon, should I step out for brothers moment?" She mocked when he didn't move his mouth to congratulate his brother and she is determined to not leave till he congratulate his brother. She don't mind lying on the couch at the far end of the office. She is just too shy of sitting in the confines of Shaddad's car alone with him and back in their Chamber. Thank goodness she removed the sheets and changed them before they left. Her stomach clench at the thought again.

"Congrats." Shaddad stood up and adjust his waistcoat then snuggled his hands into his slacks pockets.

"Thanks, bro." Masrooq grinned not able to stop himself. Hearing Shaddad talk is quite refreshing to him since he hardly does. He wonder how Falak deals with him though.

"Very nice of you. Now we shall take our leave but don't leave any detail about what happens when you go there to her do you understand? I don't want her to tell me you guys kissed while you say you only hugged! And mind you, it's haram." Shaddad gently took ahold of her hand and started dragging her to the door much to Masrooq's surprise.

Woah, is that really his brother?!

*****
Yoyoyoyo!
How are you all doing? A double update huh?! Toh, flood me with comments and blind my vision while I update the next chapter that has Falak rolling out her secrets😹 It's going to be fun guys.
RQ; Would you rather stay with your brother at home for a day or go to the market with an annoying grandmother? By Allah the first😹

Aishatu.