Aisha traipsed to where she is, took her shoulders in both her hands and pivoted her around. She didn't hug her, she doesn't know how she feels about body contact because not everyone loves just anybody touching them, just like her. She must be too comfortable with you before you get that chance.

"You are insecure about your body?" She asked in a mild voice enough to balm any gaping wound but not Jannah's.

"I'm not and I can't tell you why. Even I don't know why I don't feel bold in my own body. I love my skin though." She blinked away the tears, looking anywhere but at Aisha's face because she cannot do that.

"I get it. But I'm going to force you to walk around like that. It's a new assignment so you can get comfortable in those dark glowing long legs and svelte body that is elastic. I actually love your body. You gave birth but nothing will give that away if not Imara herself or maybe the little stretch marks I saw earlier but those are freaking normal! You brought a human into the world, it's not an easy breezy work you do everyday." Aisha couldn't help it now so she embraced her, tightly.

At first Jannah was weirded out for a few seconds there then she slowly raise her hands to wrap them around Aisha's back, gently placing her head on her shoulders. It was two minutes later of Aishatu just rubbing her back in an emollient way that they pulled away. Jannah blinked back her tears, looking at Aisha in a new light now.

"You are my friend right? You won't ever betray me or turn your back on me if something ever goes wrong in my life?" The questions fell from Jannah's lips before she could think with the rational part of her head.

Aisha gulped. She doesn't give her friendship away just like that. But she could clearly see that Jannah's friends from her hometown let her down just like hers did her when her father died and they suddenly yaw poor. They are in the same boat of having fake friends that do nothing but dilapidate your life. Turn their backs on you when you needed them most, it is daunting.

At that moment she vowed to become Jannah's best friend. She is going to protect her from any evil, even if that person happens to be her husband himself. The Draco.

"I'll be your friend, Jay. And I mean through thick or thin. Even when you don't need me, I'll be there, I promise." Her eyes filled up with tears for reasons queer to her.

Jannah let go of the hijab around her and gave her new friend another hug filled with gratitude. In that hug, she felt her heart lightening and the rhyme perfecting. Jannah could feel goosebumps heightening from tactile sensitivity, her chest expanding. She knew deep within her something good is coming out of this friendship of theirs and she is looking forward to it. Even the bad times as long as they'll face it together.

They pulled away minutes later knowing they all felt the change within.

A genuine smile that reached their eyes split their faces, their eyes lightening up with another glow different from any they've seen in each other's eyes few weeks ago. Their face softened, all tension leaving their facial muscles and their entire body. Aisha held Jannah's hands in both of hers, she gave it a squeeze that was returned enthusiastically. They are like two young teenage girls after escaping the claws of death together.

Aisha was first to stand up, clapping her hands together. "Now that aside, I already love the way you walk so that's out of question. Next, we have makeup."

Jannah scrunched up her face, looking a bit like Imara. "I don't like makeup. Can't we skip that?"

Aisha rolled her eyes. "The other Jannah doesn't do makeup and this one too shouldn't do it? Is that how you plan on making him go cuckoo?" She crossed arms beneath her chest.

"Well, subtle one it is then." She looked down at herself questioningly and lean forward to close herself with the hijab she threw on the floor when Aisha snatched it away.

"Not under my watch. Now move that sexy ass to the vanity. We don't have all day. Your husband is coming back in a week or two, or so I heard from Hajiya." Aisha mumbled the last part knowing she is not supposed to disclose something she is not sure about.

Jannah sat down quietly for a few minutes watching Aisha arrange the the makeup stuff on the vanity table. An idea crossed her mind. "But don't you think it's better we do this while he is away? I mean, Mother should call him to tell him that I fell from the stairs and he should come back home."

"You think he'll come back because you fell from stairs? The man is literally married to his work." Aisha rolled her eyes, she is not his aficionado.

"Right but she can force him to come back. He listens to everything she says albeit reluctantly with a large scowl." Jannah imitated that but couldn't, she's got soft and more effeminate features.

Aisha chortled. "Don't do that. But I'd love to see his reaction with a scowl after finding out you are suffering from amnesia. Please don't go easy on him."

"I won't. Not after coming this far." A gleam entered Jannah's eyes and their eyes met in the mirror, a silent message passed.

For the next two hours, they spent it with brushes, concealers, foundation and eyeshadow. Aisha gave up on teaching her makeup because her dark skin looks more beautiful without it so she showed her the basics. Winging eyeliner, brushing mascara, a little eyeshadow in different styles and designs depending on her outfit, how to line lipgloss, lipstick and lipliner.

"I'll teach you how to curse later. I heard he hates when people curse, he is not a fan of it. Always scolds Ammar whenever he is at the vicinity." Aisha's eyes gleaned wickedly, she sure is satanic.

And Ammar is Adnan's younger brother at thirty and still very much single. Jannah met him only once three years ago when she gave birth to Imara.

"This should be between only me and you. Don't tell a soul, not even your next kin or your wife. I don't want you breathing a secret between the two of us that's why I came to you and not any other doctor. And Adnan trusts you." Hajiya Maimuna blinked her eyes, looked around the restaurant for any familiar face but no one.

Her son is smart and intelligent, she keeps that in mind whenever she wants to cross him. Like right now, someone they both know might be there and just like that she'll hear about this from her own son. She hates when he does things like that. Finding out things she is yet to execute, this should not go wrong.

Doctor Abdussalam in front of her squirmed on his seat and adjusted his bifocals. "What are you talking about? Why does Adnan trust me? No, why do you think he trusts me? He trusts no one, not even himself."

"I know but he'll believe whatever you say and I have a job for you." She licked both her lips mistakenly taking little of her lipstick with the move.

Doctor Abdussalam knew this sneaky woman in front of him is up to something. She's always been after making things tilt for her son and he knew this is no doubt another plot of hers. But what is this about now? Another reason why he shouldn't leave the country for a whole month? Because it didn't work the last time they tried and maybe the little trust Adnan had in him was shattered then.

"Do go ahead. We both know all your plans fail but you never stop trying. Your motivational speaker needs to be acknowledged publicly and should be added in the world's record book." He muttered sarcastically, leaning forward, closer to her.

Hajiya Maimuna narrowed her eyes. "Are you insulting me, Doctor? Because I can get my son to sack you right now and you won't get any job elsewhere. Want to know whether that'll fail also?"

He knew she was joking but whenever she joked about that, she is done playing around the bush. He's known her for a long time, since she gave birth to her last daughter Nawal who came out with weak lungs and had to be incubated and monitored closely at the hospital for almost two months. That was twenty five years ago or so, along those lines.

"I'm not insulting you, stating facts." He smoothened his greying brows with his thumb and forefinger. "Do tell me what I am supposed to do this time around. For both our sakes it shouldn't be about Adnan."

Hajiya Maimuna gave him a flat look. "What else should it be about? Your dying heart?"

The Doctor scowled, set his mouth into a thin white line. "Don't joke about that. My heart problem is not something you should always throw on my face."

"Then don't question me too much. Adnan is my son, I can do whatever I see fit with him. Don't poke your nose into something that is not your business—" He cut her off, something she loathes.

"It is my business because I am going to be involved. If you haven't noticed, you're sitting right in front of me probably going to ask me to lie again. Not my business still?" He raised a brow, his tawny handsomeness tightening with age.

There is no ounce of doubt that he was a handsome man many years ago. She is one to testify to that, she's met him twenty five years ago while he was enjoying pure masculinity, virility and manliness. He was tall, bronze skinned, lean and charismatic. She could remember how the young doctors and nurses change their gait whenever they see him coming or giggle hopelessly until he disappeared.

With a short chortle hidden inwards, she remembered when one of the married nurses fell down intentionally so he could rush to her and he did. Hajiya Maimuna had scolded her later on about her marital status and she should be careful next time but the woman brazenly told her "If Dr. Abdul will marry me, I'll leave my husband in a heartbeat" and she left.

How stupid was that? The guy was married even then!

"Please, I don't want to argue with you. I don't have your time today. I have so much to do." She faked a headache and docile tone that immediately got him looking worried if the brows he's just neatened came bunching in the middle of his forehead, is anything to go by.

"Are you sick again?" He is trying not to look concerned because they just argued but his tone gave it away.

"Not much." That move women pull, the sympathy to lure men to do their bidding. Maybe even the devil himself. "I just want you to tell Adnan that his wife fell from the stairs and have amnesi—" She gritted her teeth when he cut her off, yet again.

"She fell down the stairs? Then why are we here? Which hospital is she at?" He is already standing now, searching for his wallet to pay the bills.

Hajiya Maimuna rolled her eyes. "Sit down. She didn't, not literally anyway. That's just what you are going to tell him. You see..." She explained everything to him, not stopping to breath.

He gave a bewildered laugh when she was done. "You're insane. Totally crazy. Is this what old age is doing you? I can't remember studying anything related to your disease."

Hajiya Maimuna hissed underneath her breath. "I'm serious. He is neglecting his family and even you have to admit it's too much. He loves his business, yes but what about his daughter? I know Jannah is not showing it but she also needs him around. What woman doesn't? We cannot think of any other thing that could lure him. And he is my son, I know him."

Dr. Abdussalam kept quiet thoughtfully. She is right in some way. "I'll try and see how this will work. I'll add a few things to make it more believable. She shouldn't overdo it though, your son is perceptive."

She breathed through her mouth. "Thank you, Doc."