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It was three days later when Jannah finally came back to her real senses and cried the entire day from morning till evening. She hadn't eaten anything, only water that was forced down her throat by Aisha. Three days without Imara and life already feels like hell to her. There is no fresh air, everything is constricting and asphyxiating.

To top it off with the fact that she hadn't seen Adnan since the day her daughter died. The memory she's had with him at the hospital was blurry so she wasn't sure whether or not they've spent that time in an empty hospital room. Was it just part of her hallucinations to calm herself down and not think about her daughter? Or she was trying to console herself with the thoughts of him?

Either way, she's not seen him in forever and no one is talking about him in the house. She does not know where he is neither could she open her mouth to ask about him. She hadn't talked since the day she bid her daughter final adieu, begrudgingly so. No one disturbed her peace in the villa though, something she appreciated deeply. She won't be able to take any form of disturbance no matter in what shape or form it comes.

She refused to go back to the mansion because the memories there are going to keep haunting her. She promised to go back there the minute she gets better but for now, she is going to stay back with her mother-in-law, sister-in-law and best friend. It is so weird not having Imara around, she is not sure whether she is ever going to get used to Imara's absence. The girl that is always attached to her hips like a twin.

She is featuring a gaunt appearance, incontestable and notable weight loss, her face vaulted. Her eyes blink infrequently, drying once in a while because of that. And also wet and red eyes from too much crying. She's become non-reactive to stimuli or noises, lying in bed with no motivation to get up and do anything reasonable. There are grotesque lines all over her face, bags beneath her eyes and aging strokes making her emerge older.

Jannah just took bath that blessed evening after three days of reeking and stinking. Hajiya Maimuna stopped everyone from coming to greet her or pass their condolences, another thing she is grateful for. She is sure most of them are curious to know who is Adnan's wife and what does she look like. The world is probably in riot now after finding out about Adnan's private life. Everyone wants to feed on it while the man went on hiding. Or what is he doing right now?

Hope he hasn't forgotten about their agreement.

Disregarding anymore thoughts of him, she focused on comfortably lying on the bed though her back and chest hurts. Aisha already told her she would reawaken her ulcer if she doesn't eat and she could feel it slowly building up. She doesn't have any appetite and the last thing in her mind at the moment is food. She won't be able to keep anything inside her apart from water which is not helping her situation at all.

Her eyes fell on her phone beside her. Nawal kept it there that she should call either one of them when she wants anything. They are taking extra care of her which she finds nauseating when she got back to her senses. Why are they doing that? They should just let her grieve in peace, it won't change anything. Her daughter is dead, beneath the soil and in Allah's mercy by His grace.

Her phone rang as if knowing she's been eying it. She just turned off the flight mode and someone is already calling? Who could that be.

Mariam Maldives.

Jannah frowned recalling all Nawal had said about her. Is it stupid of her to judge her without even finding out whether or not she is the same person? What is there to find out though? Mariam is not a Nigerian, she is beautiful and lives in Nigeria. Everything Nawal had described except the fact that she wasn't rude nor arrogant when they met. She was welcoming, brazen and barefaced but nothing more.

She swallowed and decided to pick at the second ring. She needed someone to talk to and if that person happens to be her whore friend as Nawal had put it, then so be it.

"Hey, Jannah. How are you?" Mariam enquired the second Jannah answered the call sounding a little too breathy out of nervousness.

"Mariam, I am fine, thank you. And how are you?" She answered in a tone that lacked strength and vitality.

Jannah turned around again on the bed clutching her stomach, she needs food in that flat tummy of hers that is already merging with her back.

"I am fine too." She was quiet for a while before she added. "I heard what happened. I've been meaning to come see you but... I couldn't after finding out some things. Just know that I am here for you whenever you need me."

Jannah played with the edge of one triangle shaped pillow. "I know things about you that I wish you had told me yourself, Mariam. Maybe then, I wouldn't have judged you as much as I am doing right now."

She didn't answer immediately like she did the rest of her replies, she took her time mulling over what to say. "Nothing I say is going to justify what I do for money, it won't make sense. I'm sorry I hid those things from you and you probably found out from the wrong source. I hope we can still be friends? I really need you."

"If you come clean and tell me everything that is going on with your life, then I'll consider that. For now though, thank you and goodbye." Jannah intentionally didn't hang up because she knew she didn't call her so she waited for her to do the honors.

Mariam didn't hang up though. "I would've come down to where you are but your husband's sister is definitely going to be after my life. I know you've found out from her with everything going on. Maybe after you are done mourning, we could meet somewhere?"

Jannah thought about it for a second. "Alright."

"Okay. Sure." She was hesitant at what to do so she added. "May her soul Rest In Peace. I loved her a lot."

Jannah's tears rolled freely down her cheeks in abundance. "I know you did. You need to hang up now." She said through choked sobs and dropped the phone beside her on the bed.

She lied down on the bed and clutched her chest, her eyes yawed red as she bawled her eyes out for a number of times she cannot count anymore. She's suddenly at a loss of breath, she struggled to find her breath as she grimaced. Pressing her lips together to stop them from trembling, her eyes rolled leaving only the cornea inside. She's got Imara's necklace around her neck, the one her father gifted her but it is her favorite accessory. Even the pink toy that caused Adnan his health is cuddled in her chest.

Aisha walked into the room at that moment, holding a plate filled with food and chilled Pepsi in her other hand. They are going to go on a war today if Jannah refuses to eat food today. She's got nothing in her stomach for three days straight. She's finally took bathe today and looks like a human, she doesn't stink.

"Rise and shine, Mon Cherie." She placed the tray on the bedside table and sat down on the edge of the bed touching her shoulder.

Jannah said nothing to her, the tears seizing to exist now with the presence of Aisha in the room. Just when she thought the tears have finished, fresh ones will appear out of nowhere. She ignored Aisha for a long time until the latter's patience thinned and she turned her around with both hands.

"I know you don't want to do anything but wallow in self pity and depression but it is time for you to eat something and come downstairs. There are a lot of people there wanting to see you. Not for our sakes but for your own sanity." Aisha begged, her eyes fixated inside Jannah's hollow ones.

Jannah looked away from those pitying eyes, her heart constricting inside her chest because for the first time she's realized how selfish she's been acting the whole time. They were all worried about her well-being and it is not like the death hadn't galvanized them too. Just because she is Imara's mother doesn't mean she should grieve more though she's got every right to do so. She was her daughter! She gave birth to her!

She took a deep breath, bit her lower lip hard to stop herself from crying again. It is so awkward and weird imagining how life is going to move without her daughter. Will she be able to do that? That is not a question because she must move on, she doesn't have any other choice in the matter. It is a test and she shall pass through all the tribulations, even with her heart bleeding profusely.

Stretching her arms, Jannah took the plate of Chinese fried rice, side salad that's dressed with ring onions, a large part of chicken that looks to be the breast and yummy looking pecan beef sauce. She swallowed bitterly, her throat working uncomfortably at the thought of eating food. It looks amazingly delicious but she's got no appetite to enjoy the bliss in front of her.

She raised her head to look at Aisha who only raised a brow in silent command that there is no way out. She gulped, took the spoon placed beside the plate and started toying around with the basmati rice. Aisha who's never known for her patience waited with surfeit of it, her arms crossed in front of her. Jannah knew she must get something in her stomach with that look hauled her way.

Aisha doesn't look good too at all. Her entire face is blotchy, her eyes with heavy bags and they look puffed and raw and red. She's also lost weight because her collarbones were not showing few days ago, now they are exhibited on her chest proudly seasoning the otherwise flawless golden chest. Her cheeks are also sunken, sprucing up high cheekbones that appear out of place on the chubby woman's pretty face.

Jannah ate fifteen spoonfuls of the rice, a little chicken and the pecan beef sauce then she was done. Aisha accepted that with a begrudging frown bedecked on her face, she looks too serious. Jannah waited patiently for her to talk, her throat feels heavy.

"You can come down now. Let's go together because you need change of scenery. If you don't want to meet people, you can go to the garden and sit there for a while. The weather is amazing too." Aisha smiled, it is contrived but it made Jannah happy in some twisted way.

She stood up from the bed, her legs wobbly from not working with it for a while. Aisha was there by her side, keeping the tray away. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Jannah croaked out, her voice sounding more throaty than usual. Feeling Aisha's strong arms around her, Jannah found herself hugging her best friend.

Aisha smiled and reciprocated with a much tighter one, the flow of tears waltzed with haste. Jannah choked on a sob, her shoulders wracking hard.

"I've really lost her right?" Jannah sobbed again, her words muffled in between Aisha's clothes and shoulders.

Smoothing a hand down Jannah's back, Aisha murmured in a calm voice though she was also crying. "You haven't. She is in a better place and you both will reunite again Insha Allah. Just pray for her, that's all she needs right now."

"I still can't believe it, Aisha. It feels like a nightmare but the pain is real... it is excruciatingly painful and antagonizing." She sobbed again, pulling away from Aisha to sit down on the bed.

Aisha knelt down in front of her, genuflecting on her knees. "I won't promise that time is going to heal you but you need to be strong for you to move on. Brace the fact that she is in a better place, her final abode. Everything will be fine by Allah's Grace and Mercy."

"I want to stop crying but whenever I think about her, the fact that she won't be with me ever again. That I won't get to scold her for eating too much cookies and sugar. I won't hear her squeals as she watched the television or tuck her in bed. I won't be able to cuddle with her again or just be her mother." She sniffled, her entire face muffling.

Though Aisha was still crying, more tears fought their way down her face at Jannah's words. Why do they hurt more hearing them out loud from her? Why does it feel like their lives is coming to an end? Or are they failing this trial? Or this is just another form of grieve because she didn't feel like this when her father died, it was different but not any less painful.

"Allah will reward you for everything as long as you embrace that this is your qadr. Don't overthink it. It was Qadr of Allah and it is the best for you, that's all you need to know. There is so much strength within you, have faith in yourself and Allah's plans, you will overcome what you are face. We are going to go through this together." Aisha hugged her again, finding comfort in her own words.

"I love you, Shatu. I really do. I don't know where I would've been without you. You are a blessing in my life, know that." Jannah whispered quietly, her tears drying up completely.

They will get through this together, she is not alone.

"Oh, I know. That is why there is only one Aisha Hashem Garo in the world. Now let's go see Hajiya. You won't believe how much she's lost weight too. I mean, everyone has lost weight in this villa though we don't know about Draco..." Aisha trailed off and bit her tongue for the slip. Maybe she doesn't want to talk about him now. He's abandoned her again, after all.

Jannah stood up nonchalantly. "Let's go see how they all look because I'm sure you've lost more weight than everyone. Look at all those bones. We need to get you fed." Jannah jeered while touching Aisha's collarbones.

Aisha swatted her hand away and narrowed her eyes. "You should look at yourself in the mirror first before you mock me. I look way better than you, trust me."

Jannah frowned but refused to go see the mirror afraid she might cry again.

Ya hakuri?