Jannah anxiously bit on her lower lip while watching the road. She stared through the window at the multi-lane traffic, stoplights, sidewalks packed with pedestrians -business professionals heading to meetings, sounds of sirens, horns honking, people talking on their cell phones, the ping of crosswalk lights, delivery trucks beeping as they back up, brakes squealing, people swearing or yelling, heels clacking on the sidewalk, construction noise.

She's trying to do everything that'll take her mind off the fact that she is going to see her parents after many years. Since she got married, she only went to see them once which was few months after she was married to Adnan. They didn't come to see her in the city so they don't know Imara, she is dead now and she hadn't met anyone of her parents or family. It never bothered her, they never wanted her in the first place.

Adnan advised her to go see them though. Because no matter what, they are still her parents and family. They are going to regret what they did to her but for now, she should be the bigger person and go meet them which is exactly what she is doing. She wants to see her brothers and their wives. She's heard that the three of them all got married at the same time to some of their family members that branch out.

Her parents on the other hand, they are another story she is not ready to uncover. They know about Imara's death, Hajiya Maimuna told them about it but they didn't call neither did they pass their condolence. Why does that hurt more than them abandoning her? This is not the time...

A smile broke over her lips when she remembered what happened just few days ago before Adnan went to Tokyo. For some bizarre reasons, she didn't want to follow him this time around though he's tried persuading her to come with him. She told him she was going to meet her parents before her belly protrudes any larger. Just five months pregnant and she is almost the size of a whale -exaggerated- the tummy closed with large maternity Ankara gowns she's sewn. Oh, the discomfort.

Sleep was elusive that night for Jannah because Adnan was working the whole evening. She listened in vain for the sound of Adnan coming out from his study room a few doors away. Gradually she drifted in and out of a fragmented slumber that gave her no peace. She's missed having him around but she understands that he is currently going through some tough times with work. His harbor in Maldives is about to be inaugurated.

Waking from a vivid dream, she discovered that her legs were tight and knotted, and she flexed her calves to ease them. Immediately she was seized with a knifelike pain in her right leg, the muscle cramping and burning. She wasn't aware of making a sound, but she must have, for Adnan's voice suddenly broke through the darkness, and she felt his weight as he climbed onto the mattress to reach her.

"Mama..." he trailed off urgently, his hands sliding over her as she gathered herself in a ball of pain.

"Mama, what is wrong? What happened? Tell me-" He enquired again trying his best to sound composed but he is doing a dreadful job at that. He sounded like he was about to tear down any source of discomfort she's got.

"My leg hurts!" She gasped. It hurts so bad. It paralyzed her so that no movement was possible. "Don't touch me-"

"Let me." Adnan pushed her hands away and felt for her leg. "Try to relax."

"I can't." But she leaned back against him and jerked as his hand closed around her calve. He found the cramped muscle and kneaded gently until the agony began to ebb. Jannah let out a loud moan filled with gratitude and pain at the same time.

He stayed with her the entire night, watchful and vigilant. She found out the next morning that he couldn't sleep, he was guarding her throughout the night. Her heart soared but she made him sleep, forced him to do so for about five hours before he rushed to work. That was the last time they were together, he left the country the following evening. Now she miss him so terribly!

He made sure there are more than enough escorts to accompany her to her hometown. Bilal also went overboard by sending six SUVs with her, two soldier's cars one in front and one at the back all for the sake of her safety. She refused to enter at first but Adnan reminded her of what's happened few months ago with his friends. She reluctantly entered, Bilal who was the driver of the car she is in was not having it either.

Thinking about the devil and he appeared. "Still thinking about him, lover girl?" He asked, his voice teasing.

Jannah blushed, looking away from the window to hide her goofy smile. "I miss him. And he said he was only going to spend five days. When did he leave again? It feels like ages ago." She pouted, her eyes doglike.

Bilal smiled at that forcing his heart to get back to it's normal rhyme. He still has damned strong feelings for her which is why he stays away from her most of the time. "He left just two days ago leaving three more."

Jannah's eyes widened in a horrific way. "Three more days? I'm going to die before then!"

"Stop exaggerating it, lover girl. Why didn't you agree to use the plane? It would've been better." He changed the topic.

"I'm not much fan of it. The mere thought of plane makes me nervous and I'm not alone now so..." she gave a cheeky smile then checked her phone for any message from Adnan. Zilch.

An hour more into the ride, the cars all stopped making Jannah worry. What is going on? Are they attacked? She started checking around anxiously waiting for Bilal to fill her in on what is going on but the guy was busy talking to Sam who was at the front. Bilal's shoulders relaxed when he was reassured that everything was fine just a little surprise for the lady.

The door to her SUV opened and she beheld the sight of her husband in all his handsome cutout glory. Her heart started beating harder, ears bleeding with zapping sounds. Jannah stared at him in absorption, hugging her arms around herself as she drank in the sight of him. So many times she had seen him in the most expensive evening clothes, cool, unruffled, and perfectly handsome, yet nothing or no one could compare with him as he looked right now, exuding unvarnished masculinity from every pore.

Yes, Adnan Ibrahim Attahir is not wearing his usual suits but a black kaftan!

"What?" She screamed in a hearty tone when he slid on the seat beside her. She had to touch his face and arm to make sure he is there beside her. Inside the limousine.

Adnan gave a heart stopping smile then frowned when he noticed that Bilal was watching them. With narrowed eyes, he pressed the button beside him and a partition closed between them so he won't see what is going on. Jannah laughed closing her mouth with her hand. She doesn't care whether or not the guy is acting rude. All she cares about right now is her husband sitting there beside her in kaftan!

She's been longing to see him wearing such outfit but nothing could've readied her for the way she feels and how handsome he looks. Oh, she wants to hide him away in her heart where no one will ever see him again. Why such handsomeness? Why is he so freaking handsome? And delicious? And splendid? And ravishing?

"I'm speechless." She added, falling into his arms that's already drawing her to him. But she doesn't want to squeeze his clothes.

"You cannot crease that. You look too perfect to be ruffled." She moved away still taking him in with utter devotion and absorption. Really?!

Adnan gave a wolfish smile. "I do? It's all for you, Mama. But you look more hot than ever. I need you right now. I don't care how or where we are or whom we are with. I want you. Come here."

Jannah's mouth hung open in wonder. She knew Draco could be sensuous and all, mostly with actions but wording them so naked like this? He's never done that. He was patting his thighs that she should get on them, Jannah is too shocked to move.

"Are you for real?" She finally asked when she regained her senses.

"Yes. Come here before I lost it, Mama." Whatever it was that she saw in his eyes that made her move to his laps was not normal.

Jannah crawled up his laps while riding her Ankara maternity gown up to her thighs. "Can he hear us?" She asked in a low voice remembering they are in a car and not their bedroom.

Adnan trailed his lips from her neck down to her bosom that's almost twice the size it was before. Perks of being pregnant. "No."

Her hands played on his head, she's removed the Zannah Bukar cap from his head so it won't be creased like his kaftan. "God, why are you so soft? The las-"

Jannah tried to hush him with her mouth, which in retrospect was not the wisest tactic. Adnan responded immediately, his kiss deep and demanding. There is no way she could've pulled away from such fervent kiss not when she's missed him too. He knew that and he is taking advantage of her always wanting to be with him especially after she got pregnant.

In the next moment she was on her back, stretched out beneath him. He braced enough of his weight on his elbows and knees to keep from crushing her, but she was still anchored securely, pressed into the leather seat of the car while he kissed her with slow, consuming ardor. He seemed determined to prove something, as if she didn't already want him, as if she weren't already weak with hunger.

Her mouth opened to his, absorbing the intoxicating taste of him, the smooth male heat, the erotic exploration of his tongue. She couldn't stop her hands from sliding over the heavy muscles of his back, the luxurious to the touch, thicker and more satiny than her own. She helped remove the kaftan from him, throwing it behind inside the open boot beside them. It doesn't matter where it landed as long as he'll be open for her.

"You are mine." He said against her throat, teeth and bristle scraping her soft espresso skin. "You'll never be free of me, no matter what you do."

She only half-heard the words, her body straining desperately against his, seeking the pleasure that only he could give her. "I'm yours."

Slowly Jannah lifted her hands to his chest, jumping slightly at the heat of his body. Her fingertips and the delicate rasp of her nails wandered through the light, silky-rough furring of his chest, savoring the solid musculature underneath. She traced the firm, symmetrical ridges of his collarbone, then splayed her hands over leanly fleshed ribs. Adnan's desire raged as he suffered under her cool, drifting touches, his arms stealing around her possessively.

"I don't know who is more naughty between me and you." Jannah grinned as she adjusted herself by the other end of the SUV so what they did won't be repeated.

"Definitely you." He answered, wearing back his ebony kaftan with lesser crease now.

She gave him a look. "Are you serious? You were the one who came in all horny and wanton. I can't believe we did that with Lalu upfront." She buried her face in her hands.

"He did not hear a thing. And so what if he did? Aren't we married?" He slid her closer to him and held her, he just needed her close.

They arrive at Bauchi State around noon, Jannah was not happy to find out that her favorite brothers just left town. When she entered the house, there was no nostalgia or anything close to that. The fact that she's never had a fun memory in the house made things easier for her. Two of her aunties were dead, so she heard from her small niece. It was so easy passing by each room and keeping a bag of rice, money spaghetti, oil and other food stuff.

Greeting her parents was the worst of all. Everyone in Bauchi already knew that Firdausi the daughter of Mallam Yahya who married the rich city man is there with them. The sirens Bilal ordered to be turned on immediately after they arrive there made sure of that. Jannah didn't want the attention at first but then thought, why shouldn't they know about her arrival? She was the girl they all despised for what she did.

"Ina wuni, Abba. Umma." She greeted them both on her knees, Adnan had to help her but he stood beside her not kneeling or crouching.

They are the people he loathed for making his wife insecure. He greeted them nevertheless. They gave birth to the love of his life.

Her mother looked at her for a long time so did her father before they answered. "Lafiya kalau, Firdausi. Ya hakuri?" -Fine, Firdausi. Condolence.

She frowned, not liking the way they are sounding sympathetic as though they are. Chameleons. They are doing it because of Adnan. No one wants to be in his bad books. But why toy with her emotions and the death of her own daughter? Nevertheless she gave them a curt reply eager to leave the Bauchi soil and be with her husband.

"Hakuri da godiya." She raise her hands up for Adnan to help her up which he did.

"We're leaving now. Have a nice day." Adnan muttered to them, his hand around Jannah's waist aiding her out of the room but they stopped them.

Both her mother and father stood up from the mattress they were sitting on. Their faces yawed remorseful, everything crumbling beneath them as they viewed the large tummy in front of her. That reminded her mother of her own twin sons, they left the state two years ago because they don't want to get married to the women they chose for them. They've heard nothing about them since then.

They don't want to lost their daughter again. They already planned to go to the city but she got there before them hence their words in Hausa. "We are sorry for everything we've done. We have no excuse but I know how kindhearted you are which is why Allah blesses you with such a loving husband and family. I'm sorry you lost your daughter, I cannot imagine the pain you went through. And we weren't there. I'm so sorry. We were in the wrong for thinking children shouldn't be close to their parents. That was a stupid logic we shouldn't have worked with. We grew up like that with our parents so we thought we'd do the same but time has changed.

"Have it in your heart to forgive us and..." her mother trailed off anxiously then sighed before continuing. "...your father is battling with lung cancer."

Jannah gasped, her hand that is holding one of Adnan's tightening in a bruising grip that Adnan didn't mind. She curved around to take her fathers frail body in and indeed he looks fragile, he's lost so much weight from the last time she's seen him. Why? Oh, what's happening? Is he going to die now? Is the cancer advanced or can it be treated? She's got so many questions.

"Why? How?" Were the only words she could get out because her head is jumbled, in shambles.

Her mother looked down at her hands. "You know he used to smoke a lot. The doctor said that was the main cause of his disease and there is nothing they can do now to save him."

Jannah sharply raise her head to meet Adnan's eyes, he knew what that means so he immediately reassured her. "I've stopped long ago. I promise."

She continued perusing over him with wild fear in her eyes. Adnan knew he had to calm her down since that is not good for the baby. He gathered her in his arms and murmured soothing words in her ear not minding that her parents are there watching them like hawks. Is this really Adnan or he's got a twin brother she got married to in the city? They've heard so many things about him but being emotional and loving was never mentioned!

"I've stopped since you returned back to the villa. There is nothing in my drawers, check them again when we go back home. Don't worry, hmm? Nothing will happen to me. You're stuck with me forever." He sounded so awkward but he had to do something.

Jannah pulled away from him after awhile, her eyes radiating tears as she gazed at her father. "I'm sorry you are going through that. But can't we send you to a better hospital? Or maybe abroad? You cannot sit idly and wait for death to arrive. You need proper medication."

The two parents looked at each other then break down in tears. Oh, they are the real losers. Look at their daughter still being loving after all they've done to her. Adnan is one fortunate man to have JANNAH.

Alhamdulillah!

The End!