Kano State, Nigeria.
2018.

"She's given birth to a baby boy." Falak grinned widely at the other occupants of the room trying to desperately not to jump in joy hearing her friend has given birth.

They are all in the hospital around six in the morning while Fikriyah has been in labour for three hours straight. Falak couldn't rest even after so much persistence from Shaddad since she is already showing at four months pregnant. Her stomach is huge making her grunt at why didn't she ask for small stomach during pregnancy in her prayers. She's always asked for smooth delivery, not fussy babies and all that but totally forgot about that.

Now everyone is asked to go home and come back after freshening up so Falak slump in Shaddad's arms and let him guide her outside the hospital. He's become more possessive when she started showing and if he could have it his way, she wouldn't leave the confines of their chamber till after delivering her baby. She goes to work though, goes everywhere she wants actually and he can't stop her. The little work is needed for her body and he supports, half.

The journey back to the Chamber was silent as she kept lulling in and out of sleep. During her first trimester, she hardly gets sleep in the morning due to nausea so every time she feels sleepy and dizzy. She just wants to sleep everywhere and anywhere she gets to place her head comfortably on. Her legs also started aching with small walks but she pushes herself forward since it is good for her body to exercise a little and she is no quitter.

Falak has loved every single bit of her pregnancy though. She didn't stop taking videos with little different from her physical appearance. Nothing really changed, but she has gained more weight which annoys her and makes her a bit insecure. Her face is more fatter and so is the rest of her whole body. Her girlfriends say pregnancy looks good on her but she doesn't think so, her body has gained few pounds and she don't like that her going to gym is going to waste.

Thank goodness nothing happened to her nose and her eyes didn't deepen inside. The first phase of pregnancy looks really good on her though. Her skin is glowing and she would agree with what Hudhafa had said when she started going to school and ask whether milk flows in her body and not blood. Her mother won't stop fussing about what she eats and if she eats well even before she started showing up.

Everyone in the palace found out about it before she started showing all thanks to her great mother, her persistent phone calls and random questions in front of people. No, she didn't tell her mother but when she saw her coming out from the gynecologists ward, she said she suspected something and so she asked the doctor who was quick to rant her out. She needs space in the Queen's heart to ensure her permanent seat in the hospital, wretched woman.

But Shaddad has suffered and is still suffering his life. She never craves until four in the morning when everything is quite and still, that is when she wants to eat mango. She asked him to go to the garden and pluck some for her, when he came back, she didn't want to eat it again. She also started hating his cologne and he had to change cologne while she likes smelling his armpit, weird but it calms her down.

When her nausea will hit her, she will rush into his arms and smell his armpit then boom, she won't feel nausea again. Shaddad was so afraid of that but knew it comes with pregnancy so he got used to it forcefully. She likes spending her days with him and her mother is thinking about giving her a maternity leave already which she blatantly declined. That is unprofessional and she loves her job. Well, to Falak, life has been super good for the last three months.

"Please don't wake me up anytime soon. I really need some beauty sleep if I can get one now." She yawned and snuggled into Shaddad who nodded his head and patted her back. She likes when he does that since her back aches sometime in the night.

She lulled into deep sleep and didn't wake up till around twelve in the afternoon and saw Shaddad closing his laptop then stretched. The slate sweatshirt he is wearing move upwards showing his perfect toned bronze skin his flexing biceps before he dropped his hands and pivoted. He saw her ogling at him and knew what she wants so with a smile, he moved to where she is and gave her a kiss which she turn into a hot make out session. Before they knew it, they are making love and then heard the Adhaan outside.

"Will you be okay?" Shaddad asked from the door, he is about to leave for the mosque to pray Zuhr and come back to help her arrange the medium sized suitcase she is going to take to Fikriyah. It is her gift to the baby, so many clothes were brought by her along with her own baby's.

"Yeah." She grinned then wrapped the sheet around her and went to take bath. She wanted to join Shaddad but was too lazy to even move a muscle and knew them taking bath together means spending more time in the bathroom.

After she bathed, she prayed and wore an emerald tie waist curved hem mid shirt dress with regular sleeves, a stand collar and belt. She added a black leggings around her legs and wore a black socks so she won't go into trouble when she will pray later. Praying with your legs wide in the open is haram and she likes being all prepared hands forth. She is now waiting for Shaddad so she can fix the suitcase and take it to her best friend.

"It's not too much, is it?" She asked for the nth time after locking the suitcase filled with so much blues and everything a baby will need from month one to twelve.

"Its not, just perfect." He kissed her cheek and she grinned still not used to that. She demand that he kiss her cheeks and lips so often and since then, he won't stop and can't resist.

"You don't kiss me now because I asked you to right?" She innocently asked, looking up at his eyes that are shining with so much adoration that she needn't want no more assurance.

"No." He shook his head and took the suitcase from her.

She wrapped a black veil around her and slipped one of her new brand slippers. Shaddad asked some maids to get slippers for her since she don't have much so she listed the colours she wants and they ordered it. Now she has each and every colour of slippers that she wants and wears them everyday. She likes flip-flops better though. She's worn it once to office one time and she got the stares of her life.

They left the Chamber and he gave one of the guards the suitcase so they can take it to Humaid's Chamber while he walks back to theirs to wait for her to arrive which is probably in the evening. It is a Sunday and those days are too boring without Falak and maybe he can catch some sleep, great idea.

He could only think about how his life has changed drastically all because of that village lass. She's become a part of him that he can't breath fresh air without her. She is so refreshing and pristine. Without her, he wouldn't have felt multitude of things and with her, he feels a lot that it suffocates him sometimes not knowing the meaning of them. He can't put words to so much of them and only go with the flow.

One thing is for sure, he can't live another day without Falak.

•~•~•

Falak couldn't fulfill her promise to go to Amirah's house some days ago and she wants to badly go there and find out what is going on before her baby brother lost his head. He's been calling her nonstop and she is tired of telling him later and tomorrow so she is going that very day. She told Shaddad about it and he was really not too into the idea but agreed that she should go and be back early.

She got dressed in set of fern ankara sewn in maternity gown and close herself with grease veil and matching slippers. She got so many of her ankaras sewn in maternity gowns when she started showing, she don't want people knowing about her pregnancy unnecessarily when she can close it. She has lots of them now sitting in her wardrobe and has only worn three. She likes the smell of new clothes in her drawer always.

Leaving the palace, she arrived at Amirah's house in no time. With the help of Imad, she gave the driver the address and he got there without struggle. She dismounted out of the car and made her way to the house knowing the occupants of the house knew about her arrival. The Royal cars cannot be missed and with the people entering her house that moment, it is enough for them to know about her arrival.

The door was opened for her by one of the guards. She walked inside with elegance and enigmatic poise looking every inch a princess and royal. She said taslim and was quick accompanied into the living room which was spotless but also screams middle class. The brown and cream couches are torn and the foam inside is out in the open. The brown carpet closing the cemented floor has some burns here and there. There are some clothes stacked on a one sitter chair by the far corner of the room.

The paint is worn out from the rain. Most of the parts has removed itself from the wall leaving it agape while the small old golden decorations they use has dirtied to the point of no return. It looks like the people in the house are trying hard to make it look good everyday.

She sat down elegantly and didn't feel the need to feel conscious of where she is sitting. The house looks neat and smells some parting incense burner so it is all cool by her. Shortly later, a woman walked out wearing a rubber hijab and beamed at the sight of Falak then sat right in front of her on the couch. She looks exactly like Amirah which confirms that she is Amirah's mother. She's never met Amirah's family and only saw Amirah's photo too.

"Good afternoon." Falak greeted with respect and a kind smile marring her face. She looks delectable and no one could resist his heart warming at that innocent smile.

"Good afternoon, your Highness. You are here to meet Amirah I assume?" She asked with her own motherly smile which sooth Falak's nerves of meeting new people.

"Yes, that's right. And please, no your Highness, just Falak." She chuckled a little like the woman with manners.

"Amirah, someone is here for you." The woman called out before she stood up and told Falak she will just bring refreshments for her which Falak declined.

Falak smiled when Amirah walked out in long walnut hijab that closed her feet. She looked down as soon as she saw Falak sitting on their couch and she looks out of place in her classy expensive outfit. Amirah's heart thud in her chest not wanting to talk about whatever it is Falak is there to talk about. She is already wallowing in her own self pity and if Falak talks about it, that will be her end.

"How have you been?" Falak asked when they exchanged pleasantries and she wants to calm the nervous girl in front of her.

"Fine, Alhamdulillah." She answered in a thin voice. Her voice is already thin and with guilt eating her up, it is more thinner like a whisper.

"Imad wanted me to check whether you are alright and in good health." Falak kept quite for a little while seeing the girl move around like she is about to pee then she added, "He wants you to please call him as he is desperate to hear whatever it is from you. I will take my leave now." Falak smiles and stood up taking her Prada purse along with her.

Amirah didn't know what to do but when she saw her mother motioning that she should follow Falak, she moved around and accompanied her to their small gate seeing guards scattered around the area outside her home. The cream gate is yawing brown and the paint has been chipped from one place or the other. They live in ghetto and children like playing football right outside their house while their gate serve as the court. They've talked and stopped when they got tired of the children's behaviour.

"Drive safe." Amirah whispered, she talked but it came out like a whisper so Falak turned around with warning blazing in her eyes making Amirah stagger back. Is she that kind woman that was smiley minutes ago? Is she going to kill her now that they are alone and send her with the guards?

"I just want to give you a little warning. My brother loves you more than he does his life, so think multiple times before you play with his emotions. I don't know what happened between you guys and I don't want to know. Just be careful before making your next move. Don't hurt my baby brother or you will see the worst of me. I am going to be your worst nightmare." She raised an intimidating brow before placing back her smile on her lips.

"O-okay." Amirah stuttered, minutes away from peeing her pants at the look Falak gave her.

"Good. Have a nice day." Falak pulled her into a quick hug before she left with a wave like she didn't finish just threatening her.

Falak doesn't regret giving that warning to Amirah at all. The lady hurt her brother and from the looks of it, she's hurt him so deep for him to fail exams and have huge bags underneath his eyes. That is something gigantic but she won't want to find out or she'd kill the girl in anger. Its better to stay in the dark in such situations than take your head where it shouldn't be. That doesn't mean she is anyway less mad at Amirah and she isn't even his wife already.

She wasn't ready for what happened back at home though.

*****
Yoyoyoyo!
How are you? Double update huh?!!! 💃 Don't forget to comment on both the chapters and I will update much more often😁
RQ; Would you rather have an Indian wedding or Maiduguri wedding? Umm, me I love Maiduguri weddings so Maiduguri it is. You?

Aishatu.