Chapter 33

Note!; There are five chapters all merged in chapter 33 because I unfortunately lost some chapters on wattpad. I have separated them as:

I II III IV V.

Enjoy!

[I]

Jadwa slept the entire afternoon and evening. When she woke up, she had dinner with her sisters. Zara and Hannan were engrossed in a heated debate over their Eid outfits while Jadwa sifted through her mail. Her dean had sent over three different assignments, each more daunting than the last. The questions initially seemed incomprehensible, but after rereading them, she began to make sense of them and commenced a brief research session.

The first two questions were particularly challenging, but the third was a complete enigma, which she decided to tackle last. She spent three hours revising for her two exams scheduled for the next day before finally diving into the assignments. The first one alone consumed over an hour, forcing her back into her study cycle. This continued until she wrote her exams early the next morning, receiving a good luck message from Imran just before heading out. She returned home, utterly exhausted, and collapsed into sleep.

It was the weekend, and for the past two days, her existence had been a monotonous loop of sleep and study. She woke up past nine for her gyaran jiki but decided to greet Baba as the women began setting up.

Baba had finished his breakfast. Squatting to greet him, he gave her shoulders a warm rub. "How are you, my dear?" he asked cheerfully.

"I'm good, Baba. How are you, and how is work?" she replied, matching his enthusiasm.

"All good, all good! How is your husband?" he teased, chuckling.

Jadwa ducked her head, embarrassed. Did he have to make it awkward? she groaned inwardly.

He laughed heartily before responding, "May Allah bless you," he prayed, and she murmured an "Amin."

"Jadu, your Ammi and I will be traveling with Ahmad. The preparations will be left to Ameerah, you, and Hannan. We'll shop for everything else abroad. Is that okay with you?" he asked.

Jadwa nodded. "MashaAllah. That's great. When will you be leaving?"

"During the week. They said you've been busy with your exams, so I didn't want to burden you," he explained.

They discussed the upcoming plans in detail, leaving Jadwa satisfied with the arrangements. With Baba entrusting the wedding preparations to Ameerah, her and Hannan, she felt the weight of responsibility.

After her conversation with Baba, Jadwa practically ran to Hannan's room. Hannan was on the phone, smiling at whatever the person on the other end was saying. It must be that boyfriend of hers she's been hiding, Jadwa thought, feeling a mix of curiosity and slight offense that she didn't know anything about him.

Hannan ended the call, murmuring "I love you too" into the phone.

Jadwa pretended to gag. "So this is how it is between us?" she said, tapping her foot on the floor.

"Like what?" Hannan burst out laughing.

"I had no idea this was serious," Jadwa said, pointing at the phone then back at Hannan.

Hannan shrugged with a smile. "It is."

Jadwa jumped on her sister, playfully strangling her. "Are you serious, Hannan? I thought we were sisters!" she slapped her arm lightly.

"I am sorry, you were too busy and depressed. There was no time to fill you in, but everyone knew," Hannan shouted mid-laughter as Jadwa landed more playful slaps.

"Since when?" Jadwa caught her breath, getting off her.

Hannan filled her in. They had met at a café, and things had gone well since then. He was Hausa from Katsina, sharing the same introverted personality as Hannan. They both wanted a small, intimate wedding.

"You see, it's not about having a gigantic wedding that will be the talk of the town or social media. It's about the barakah," Hannan said, and Jadwa nodded in agreement.

Jadwa had always dreamed of a big, fancy wedding, but recently, she had grown to hate the idea, not just because of the circumstances of her marriage but also the anxiety of having millions of people's attention on social media.

"Besides the evil eye, Hannan, I also can't wrap my head around the idea of Allah blessing you and cleansing your sins, and then immediately after, you choose to disobey Him," she said, her mind in chaos with these thoughts.

"You are right," Hannan said simply, sighing. "Something small and intimate will work for me, but I'm not sure they will do the same. He's the firstborn and only son. His mom might organize something big for him," she chuckled.

Jadwa stuck her tongue out at Hannan childishly. "See, we'll stick to the small events here, then you can go to your new family and have your big celebrations."

Hannan rolled her eyes as they continued to discuss their preferences for the wedding.

"So when are they coming?" Jadwa asked.

"Before they travel," Hannan answered simply, lying back on her bed.

"I cannot believe how our lives are completely changing this year," Jadwa said, letting out a deep breath and lying down next to her sister.

Soon, Zara and Ammi joined them, and they continued discussing everything for hours until Jadwa decided it was time to return to her assignment.

She was stuck on the last question, which wasn't as straightforward as the others. She cursed herself for thinking that doing an MBA would prevent her from getting married, and now she was juggling marriage, exams, and a difficult assignment to make up for missed scores.

She called her brother Ahmad, but he didn't pick up, so she decided to call Ameerah.

On the first ring, Ameerah answered. "Talk about the devil," she said cheerfully.

"Ugh, sis, when will you stop gossiping about me?" Jadwa said playfully, making Ameerah laugh out loud.

"I wasn't gossiping. Your husband just happens to be here, and we were discussing some things," Ameerah said, and Jadwa's heart dropped. He hadn't told her he was coming back so soon.

"Oh," Jadwa said in a small, shy voice.

Ameerah burst out laughing, making Jadwa close her eyes momentarily.

"I am now dangin miji. If you don't obey me, I'll show my bad side," Ameerah joked, and Jadwa laughed.

"I am sorry, Hajiya Amira, please forgive me," Jadwa played along.

"Hmm, I'm now a gossiper, right?" Ameerah dragged.

"I am sorry, please," Jadwa said in a baby voice.

"Ewww, please only talk to your man like that," Ameerah teased.

Jadwa was about to respond when Ameerah spoke again. "Jadu, I'm coming tomorrow. Please make your chicken goulash and rice for me, please," Ameerah changed the topic.

He was saying something to Ameerah in Kanuri, and she responded, leaving Jadwa wondering.

"So because she has exams, she won't cook for anyone?" Ameerah responded to him, and she heard his simple "Yes."

"Jadwa, you knew me before him. Will you make it for me? I thought you were the best aunt?" Ameerah said in a hurt, playful tone.

"I am the best aunt, of course," Jadwa said excitedly, hearing Ameerah laugh loudly.

Jadwa chuckled at Ameerah's sudden laughter until it ceased when she heard his voice on the phone now.

"So you knew her before me?" His voice low and gentle

"I didn't say that" Jadwa defended laughing at the little bicker.

"Don't you have exams to focus on? Don't waste your time on Ameerah "

"I have only one left on Monday, and I'm already prepared for it," Jadwa said.

"What about your assignments? I was supposed to receive them yesterday," he said, and Jadwa rolled her eyes. Was he always like this? It's not like she's an undergraduate.

"I'm on the last one," Jadwa responded honestly.

"Alright, I'll call you later," he said.

"Alright then," she said, and Ameerah took back the phone.

"Don't let him break our bond, okay? I'll be expecting my hot, hot food," she said, and Jadwa laughed.

"This pregnancy is no joke," Jadwa said. "Please tell your husband to call me back," she added before bidding her goodbye.

Jadwa released a breath of relief after the call ended. What was that? she thought before returning to her assignment. Ahmad didn't call back, so she tackled it herself and did her best.

After finishing, she reviewed her work one more time on her laptop before sending the PDF to him. That was over two hours after they had spoken on Ameerah's phone.

Jadwa continued to revise for her last paper. So far, all her exams had gone well, thanks to her thorough preparation. She wanted to take time out of her day to cook for Ameerah. Not even thirty minutes later, she received a text message from Imran.

**Ya Imran**: Good job, darling. Go ahead and hand it in.

Jadwa did a mini dance while seated.

**Jadwa**: YAY. Thank you!!!

She responded excitedly before his call came in.

She closed her laptop and cleared her throat before answering.

"Hello, Assalamu Alaikum," she said.

"Wa Alaikumus Salam," he answered.

"Ina yini?" she greeted.

"Lafiya, how are you?" he asked.

"I'm doing good. How are you?" she asked back.

"Alhamdulillah," he said, and she heard the sound of him opening a door and getting in. "What are you doing?" he added.

"I was just studying," she said, but a sly smile crossed her face. "That's my only ticket to impress my in-law tomorrow," she added quickly.

Imran chuckled, then sighed. "You shouldn't bother yourself. Just rest well and study hard."

"I've been studying. That's all I've been doing for a long time now. I could confidently take the exams half asleep at this point," she blabbered.

"You do sound very confident," he answered.

"I am," she shrugged.

"I'll be expecting the greatest results," he said seriously.

Right then, Jadwa vowed he'd be the first to see her results because she was certain she'd be getting straight A's.

"Okay... I'll make sure to send them to you first."

"I'm sure you'll do great. We'll do something to celebrate," he said.

"Alright then," Jadwa said with a bright smile. "How was your trip back?" she asked.

"It was great. I came back last night," he answered.

"Oh, that's nice," she said.

"When are you finishing your exams?" he asked.

"My last paper is on Monday," she answered.

He was quiet for a moment before responding. "Okay, I'll come see you on Tuesday. I was just informed about Hannan's engagement," he said, and Jadwa nodded, aware that Hannan's engagement was set for Wednesday.

Jadwa's hand went through her hair, a mix of nervousness and excitement surging through her.

"Okay, InshaAllah," she said softly.

"Get back to studying. We'll talk soon," he said.

Jadwa rolled her eyes. "Professor much," she murmured under her breath.

"Sorry?" he asked, probably not hearing what she had said. Jadwa quickly changed the subject.

"I said I will study really, really hard," she said.

"Are you sure that's what you said, Jadwa?" he asked with mock seriousness.

"Mhmm, I'll talk to you later. Bye bye," she said quickly, holding back her laughter and ending the call.

Immediately after the call, the blissful yet annoying part of her day came when she was called to start her gyaran jiki. Today, it took many hours because she had mistakenly told Ammi that he was coming to see her, so they increased the intensity of everything. By the time they were done, Jadwa was too exhausted to even pick up her phone. She went straight to bed and slept off.

The next morning, Jadwa woke up refreshed, the scent of bakhoor still lingering in her room. She stretched, feeling a mix of nerves and anticipation for the day ahead. She had just finished her morning prayers when her phone buzzed with a message from Imran.

**Ya Imran**: Good morning. Ready to ace your exams?

**Jadwa**: Good morning! Yes, I am ready 😊

**Ya Imran**: I know you'll do great. Talk to you later.

With a smile, Jadwa set her phone aside and went through her notes one last time. She felt a sense of calm wash over her as she reviewed everything. By the time she left for her exam, she was confident and ready.

The exam went smoothly, as did the rest of her day. After submitting her final paper, she felt an overwhelming sense of relief. She was finally done. When she returned home, she found Hannan and Zara waiting for her.

"So, how did it go?" Zara asked, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.

"It went well. I think I did great," Jadwa replied, a proud smile on her face.

"That's our girl!" Hannan cheered, pulling her into a hug.

The rest of the evening was spent in joyous celebration with her family.

[II]

The next morning, Jadwa woke up early, refreshed from her long sleep. She took a leisurely walk around the house, enjoying the quiet before heading to the kitchen for breakfast. Once she finished, she went to wake her sisters, urging them to join her in Ammi's room where they all decided to have breakfast together.

The meal was eaten in a peaceful silence until Jadwa broke it.

"Zarah, when are you going back to Jordan?" she asked, concerned about her sister's education. Zarah hadn't returned after the semester started, and Jadwa had only just realized it.

"You were too busy with your new married life when I decided that I would take this semester online," Zarah said, earning a playful slap from Ammi.

"Please hurry up and leave this house," Hanan teased, making Zarah laugh mockingly.

"They're setting your date in a few days, and you're telling me to leave?" Zarah snickered.

"You're also not staying here forever!" Jadwa backed Hanan.

"Of course, but Ammi, at least I'm not the one leaving in a month," Zarah argued, and Jadwa shot her a look.

"Ammi!!" Hanan and Jadwa whined in unison, making Ammi laugh hard.

"Zarah, you'll be the one shouting and screaming when they leave. Don't talk too much," Ammi warned.

"God forbid!" Zarah exclaimed, and Jadwa got up.

"Ammi, Ameerah is coming today, so I'll be making lunch for us," Jadwa announced, throwing Zarah a glare before stomping out of the room.

In the kitchen, Jadwa took her time preparing the meal she had promised Ameerah. She decided to make lunch for everyone, taking pleasure in the quiet and focusing on her cooking. She also made a few mocktails, pouring them into big glass jugs just as Ameerah walked in. The sudden camera flash made Jadwa cover her face shyly at first.

"What are you doing?" Ameerah asked, her fake British accent making Jadwa laugh.

"Serving my dearest niece/nephew," Jadwa answered, playing along.

"So, what do we have here?" Ameerah asked as Jadwa covered the jug and walked to set the table.

"Ameerah, I look dead. Please stop recording me," Jadwa rolled her eyes, fixing her ponytail.

"No, you don't!" Ameerah laughed, making Jadwa glance into the small mirror beside the dining table.

She was in sweatpants and a top that was a size too small. Turning back to Ameerah, who was now focusing her camera on the beautifully arranged food, Jadwa felt a surge of pride.

"Thank you so much, my dearest chef Jadu," Ameerah cooed.

"You're welcome, mommy," Jadwa winked at the camera, blew a kiss dramatically, and flipped her hair, earning a hearty laugh from Ameerah before they both joined in the laughter.

MUHAMMAD IMRAN

Muhammad Imran came out of the mosque to find multiple missed calls from his stepmother. He sent her a quick message, explaining he was busy and would call back when he had a free moment. Returning to their family house, he checked up on everyone before heading directly to the different building at the other end of the mansion where he lived in since Sadiq got married, he saw Rahma.

"Ina Yini Ya Imran," she greeted, starting to squat when he gently held her arm.

"I told you to stop this when you're greeting me," he said, caressing her arm and pulling her into a side hug.

Rahma smiled. "How is work?"

"Work is good. Are you enjoying your stay here?" he asked, unlocking the door.

"Lily is busy with her exams, so I've just been hanging out with Fatima," she said with a tight smile.

Imran went to the fridge and poured them both a drink.

"What about your friends here in Abuja?" he asked, handing her a glass.

Rahma shrugged. "Khayrah isn't here, and it wouldn't be nice to hang out with them when she's not around."

Imran gave her a pointed look and shook his head. "I don't like your stay in Kaduna. When will you move here?" he asked, noticing her shoulders slump.

He didn't like her staying there; he could see her maternal cousin's influence on her. Given previous issues Rahma had gotten herself into, he utterly despised her being there.

"Whenever Mama agrees," Rahma sighed.

"We'll work on it," he said simply, moving into the living room to sit on the large sofa, Rahma trailing behind him and sitting next to him.

"How is your wife?" she asked, sipping her drink.

"She's doing good," he answered with a small smile.

"How did you meet?" Rahma asked excitedly, dropping her drink on the table in front of her.

"Baba is her dad's friend, you know that, and her brother is a really good friend of mine," he said.

Rahma groaned, wanting more details. "Tell me more!"

"So you liked her when you met?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

He knew his stepmother despised the news of the marriage for many reasons, the most obvious being he didn't marry her niece Khayrah. Second, his step mom was Hajiya Rauda's friend, Adam's mother, and she had heard all the stories and gossip about what happened between Jadwa and Adam.

"She's so pretty, I couldn't stop looking at her," she said, clearly in awe, and he nodded with a smile.

"But she's so shy. I told Mama and Khayrah about her, and they got angry at me," she said with a sad laugh.

"You're still a baby," he laughed. "Next time, keep it to yourself, okay? There's no need to tell them things like that, especially when they're clearly against it." He raised his cup to her, and she clinked hers against it.

"I was telling Lily you and I are the real best friends, but she kept arguing with me till I got pissed. She doesn't even share secrets with you," she rolled her eyes dramatically.

"To prove her wrong, should we go out tonight?" he asked with an incredulous look.

"Yes!" she screamed, jumping up.

"What do you want to do?" His heart warmed at her excitement.

"We should have dinner and go bowling," she said, doing a mini dance, and he nodded.

Despite the tiredness and stress of the last week, all he wanted was a long sleep, but he didn't want Rahma to feel different. He wanted her to feel just as special as Lily, even with the barrier put between them by her mother. He wanted his sister close all the time.

"Get ready by 8," he said, and she walked to the door immediately.

"Done!" she squealed. He hadn't seen his sister this excited in so long.

"No tight or short clothing. I'll cancel it if you don't dress well," he warned, and she nodded.

"I am a changed person, Ya Moh," she said, running out and shutting the door behind her.

Imran got up and was heading to the stairs to go to his room when he saw a message from Ameerah. It was a video of Jadwa.

He played it and immediately stopped, leaning on the stairs to watch it. The dimly lit hallway did little to hide the wide smile spreading across Imran's face as he glued his eyes to the phone screen. He replayed the video again and again, each time captivated by a new detail. He watched the way her eyes rolled playfully at something Ameerah said, the way her dark red hair swayed with the movement. A sliver of gold peeked out from beneath her tiny top a- waist chain.

He couldn't help but admire how she went all out to cook that much food, the remnants of the feast overflowing on the kitchen counter. He knew she must be exhausted, yet there she was in the video, laughing and playing along with Ameerah around the dining, her joy radiating through the screen. And he, for one, was utterly bewitched.

He sent a quick reply to Ameerah and finally started getting ready for his outing with his sister.

[III]

JADWA

Jadwa was dragged out of the bathroom by Ameerah's persistent loud knocks.

"Didn't you say he was coming today?" Ameerah asked, hands on her waist.

"Yes, he texted me, until past five," Jadwa replied.

"And you're just sitting here?" Ameerah exclaimed, and Jadwa rolled her eyes.

"I have everything ready. I just need to touch up my face and wear that," Jadwa said, pointing at the abaya she had hung up earlier.

Ameerah looked at the wardrobe, then at Jadwa, before dramatically hissing, "God forbid," and ignoring Jadwa.

She threw her the paper bag she was holding, and Jadwa opened it. She was greeted by a beautiful scent that made a smile appear on her face. Jadwa took out a sage green fitted dress. It was simple, plain, and the fabric had a soft silk touch.

"Did you put turaren wuta on this?" Jadwa asked, even though she knew the answer.

"You're a married woman now. We need to have him wrapped around your finger," Ameerah wiggled her eyebrows. "This is strictly for married women."

Jadwa scrunched her face in mock disgust. "Ameerah!"

"Start getting ready!" Ameerah ushered, and Jadwa complied.

She sat and oiled her body while Ameerah gave her some oil perfumes to use. Jadwa eyed her suspiciously, not fully trusting Ameerah, but Ameerah opened them anyway and poured some drops into her palms.

After that, Ameerah brought hot natural charcoal from the kitchen, burnt some bakhoor, and forced Jadwa to sit on the traditional chair made for smoking the skin with bakhoor. While Jadwa sat on it, Ameerah steamed her dress again and helped her into it.

When Jadwa struggled into the tight-fitting dress, she was surprised by how low the V-neck was but also in awe of how beautiful the dress looked on her.

Ameerah smiled in satisfaction and sat her down to help with her hair. As she sat, Jadwa noticed how much cleavage was showing and shook her head.

"Uh uh, Ameerah, I can't wear this," she said honestly, seeing how her waist cinched deep and her hips showed prominently while seated.

"There's a veil that goes with it," Ameerah said, packing her long twists into a ponytail.

Jadwa sighed in relief. It wasn't that wearing a dress like this was the issue, or that she had never worn tight dresses before, but in her current situation, this was too risqué. She didn't want to give the impression of pushing herself on him.

Ameerah took the scarf that came with the dress and wrapped it into a turban that showed the rest of her hair while Jadwa finished her soft makeup.

"Wear red," Ameerah pointed to the red lipstick.

"Ameerah, we are not going out. This is too extra," Jadwa reminded her.

Ameerah ignored her, picking a red lip liner and lining Jadwa's lips before proceeding to add the red lipstick.

Jadwa couldn't even be mad; the red lipstick looked stunning on her.

She stood in front of the full-length mirror and loved what she saw. She hadn't dressed up like this in so long. Ameerah came back with perfumes and sprayed them on her.

"Where's the veil?" Jadwa asked Ameerah as she put on her jewelry, and Ameerah handed her a sheer veil that matched the dress perfectly.

She sighed and went to see Ammi with Ameerah before he arrived, as Hanan was at work and Zarah was out with friends.

When Ammi saw her, her jaw dropped. Jadwa laughed. "When was the last time I saw you like this?" Ammi chuckled. "MashaAllah, MashaAllah!" she exclaimed.

Jadwa twirled for her, and Ameerah smiled gratefully at Ammi. "All thanks to me, Ammi," Ameerah pointed at herself.

"Don't let Muhammad leave until he pays you handsomely," Ammi joked, and Ameerah agreed.

Jadwa smiled shyly and sat comfortably on Ammi's bed.

"Is this not too tight on you? You are not going out, right?" Ammi asked.

"It's not uncomfortable," Jadwa said honestly. "And he's just coming to see me."

Before Ammi could respond, a notification sound came through Jadwa's phone, and she opened it.

Ya Imran: I am here.

It simply read, and Jadwa got up. "Ammi, Ameerah, he's here," she announced.

"Stay in the private living room downstairs," Ammi said, and Jadwa nodded. "Call us down before he leaves," she added.

[IV]

Muhammad Imran came down from the car, the plan was to take her out for a date after greeting her family. As he walked to the door, he saw her coming out. His eyes went to her face, then scanned her body. Imran's feet walked him to the front door because his eyes were completely on her as she gave him a small smile and adjusted her earring.

"Ina yini?" Her soft voice brought him out of his reverie.

He simply nodded and scanned her from head to toe before giving her a small smile and finally speaking, "Lafiya. Yakike?"

"Lafiya lau, Sannu da zuwa," she said, walking in with him to the house as he said his salaam.

She walked in front of him, and he noticed the way she walked, slowly and gracefully, in a way so feminine he noticed the walk of a girl and was a great sight enough to have him fixated on it for the first time.

He was too distracted to pay attention to where he was going, he just followed her to where she was taking him. It was a living room that had a wooden door she unlocked, and they got in. He sat on the couch, and she sat on the chair adjacent to his. Imran closed his eyes momentarily, her scent was doing things to him. What was she even wearing? He thought. The dress was beautiful, she looked beautiful, but he hated it at this moment because of the torture it caused him right there and then and the one it would cause later.

"How was Maiduguri?" Her soft angelic voice asked.

"It was okay. How is everyone?" He asked, his voice low and husky. His plan to take her out was thrown out the window; he had already made reservations for a private dinner with a special Singaporean chef, but there was no way he was going out with her whilst she wore that dress.

"Everyone is okay. How is Lily, Fatima, Ya Sadiq, and..." she thought hard to remember his other sister's name.

"Rahma?" He asked, and she nodded.

"She's doing well. We had a good time together not long ago, and she asked about you," he said, trying to talk much to ignore the effect she was having on him.

"Really? How was it?" She asked.

"It was really fun. We had dinner, and we went bowling," he said.

"That's so exciting!" Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "She schools here as well?" She asked.

"She's done with school," he answered simply, as he carried his phone to cancel the reservation he had made.

Jadwa got up, giving herself a knock mentally. Where did she keep her manners?

There were so many desserts and snacks arranged beautifully on the table, along with a blueberry lychee mocktail she had made earlier, along with other drinks.

Imran's eyes were on her with every movement she made, and she felt his eyes. She couldn't say a word; she just tried to keep her composure as she served the dessert on a beautiful dessert plate.

"What drink would you like to have?" She asked as he leaned back in his chair.

"What's the plan for today? Am I missing something?" He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.

"There's no plan, why?" She asked, her voice

barely above a whisper.

"So you dressed all up for me?" He asked, making her cheeks flush a warm rose color.

She kept quiet; she didn't know how to answer because she indeed really did dress up for him. Her fingers tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"Hmm?" He pressed knowingly, a smirk playing on his lips.

Jadwa looked away again after their eyes met. This had happened before; the flirt in him was back, and he wanted to make her fold. She took it as a little challenge and chewed on her bottom lip in response.

"You were coming, so I just-" she stuttered, hating it. She wanted to make him fold instead.

"Dressed up?" She said, bending a little to pick the dessert plate, momentarily breaking the charged silence.

Her veil fell from her body to her arm. She didn't notice it, but he did. Imran leaned back on the couch, his eyes devouring the view in front of him, shamelessly. It was right for him. Many thoughts juggled through his head, thoughts he would have scolded himself for before, but now, he watched as her skin shimmered under the light, the necklace sitting pretty in her cleavage. He watched her come forward to hand him the drink and keep the dessert plate on a stool next to him. As she moved, his eyes followed her, a predator tracking its prey,  Silently, he watched. He closed his eyes momentarily; her perfume, a sweet, floral scent, was doing things to him. It always had, but today he felt a pull toward her he had not felt before. He closed his eyes momentarily to suppress it, but the image of her was as clear as day. He opened his eyes again to find her going back to sit where she had initially sat.

"Sit here," he tapped a space next to him. His voice was a low rumble that sent shivers down her spine.

Jadwa nodded. To avoid walking through the small space in front of him, she decided to go around the center table, the silk of her dress whispering against her legs as she moved.

Imran sat up, gently his fingers brushing against her arm as he reached out. He gestured for her to follow the path she was avoiding, and she did. Jadwa put the veil back on her body, but the sheer fabric only showed more, making her look even more seductive.

His hand left her arm and moved to her wrist as she walked in front of him. Jadwa felt too close to him, the heat of his body radiating against hers. She gave him a small smile to mask her nerves, a butterfly taking flight in her stomach.

His arm circled gently around her back, making her lean on him. He wasn't leaning back, but she was comfortable, the scent of leather from his couch filling her senses. She used her free hand to move her ponytail from pressing on his shoulder.

"You look beautiful," he said in a low voice that sent shivers through her body.

Jadwa shyly looked forward, avoiding his eyes. A blush crept up her neck as he held her hand.

"I like it," he pointed at her lip, and she turned to him to see what he was talking about.

His thumb went to the corner of her lip when she turned to him. "What are you trying to do to me, Jadwa?" he asked.

Jadwa, nervous with a fluttering heart, shifted, but her movement only made her snuggle more into him.

"Nothing, what do you mean?" she said in a slow voice, acting oblivious.

"Are you trying to seduce me?" he asked, his hands moving to her waist and caressing it gently and slowly.

"Am I seducing you?" she mustered the courage to speak up, trying to mask the feeling she felt in every part of her body from his touch.

Imran smirked and leaned back with her on the couch, still holding her close. "Isn't it obvious?" he asked, his voice a dangerous murmur as he brought his face closer to hers. The air crackled between them, thick with her unspoken desire.

They spoke so softly and low that if anyone else had been in the room, they might not have been able to make out what they were saying. Jadwa shook her head.

"I'm not sure," she said, her voice barely a whisper, turning her head sideways to avoid his gaze.

But he gently turned her head back to him again, his touch surprisingly tender considering the heat in his eyes. He lifted her chin, his thumb brushing away the stray tear. "I want to look at you," he said simply, his voice rough with emotion.

And she looked at him for a second longer, drowning in the molten depths of his eyes. His gaze devoured her, observing her eyes, then around her face, lingering on her lips. Her own eyes followed his, a map charting his desire. Then his eyes moved lower, not looking back up even when she thought he would.

Jadwa bit her lip a little harder, the feeling a dull ache compared to the torrent of emotions flooding through her. As she watched him, his touch distracted her, making her look up. He gently took hold of her necklace, the silver cool against his fingertips, then let go of it gently, but his eyes did not leave there. Her veil slipped again, but for the life of her, she couldn't fix it. She couldn't move, she just let him look, a captive butterfly pinned to a display.

His tongue poked his inner cheek before he moved his head backward and took in a sharp breath.  The sound echoed in the otherwise silent room, heavy with unspoken yearning.  As Imran finally shifted his gaze to her face, his eyes met hers. Jadwa saw the raw intensity in them, dark with lust.

She looked away, unable to meet his gaze, scared he would see the effect he had on her. Embarrassingly, she laid her head on him, her cheek pressed against his chest. Fiddling with her fingers became the only thing grounding her in this whirlwind of emotions.

"You should have your drink," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Imran simply picked the drink off the stool next to him with his other hand and took a sip.  The clink of the glass was a jarring sound in the charged silence.  After a few sips, his other hand moved from her waist up her back, his fingers tracing a slow, burning path up her spine. Jadwa shivered, a mixture of fear and something else entirely coursing through her veins.  She continued fiddling with her fingers, but the nervous habit now felt like a futile attempt to dam a flood.

"When are we going to see our house?" he asked, and Jadwa, absent-mindedly, didn't even get what he said.

"Hmm?" he asked, taking her other hand.

"Sorry?" she said, her attention back to him.

"When are we going to see our house?" he asked again, his tone as if nothing had happened, as if he hadn't just undressed her with his eyes.

"After Eid?" she asked, looking down.

"That's fine," he said.

Then a knock came through the door. Imran didn't take his hands off Jadwa, holding her in the same position. Jadwa sat upright, his hand unmoving from her arm.

Ameerah came in, and Jadwa felt shy about their closeness.

"Ya Moh!!!" Ameerah called excitedly.

"Ameerah! How are you?" he smiled, getting up.

"I am okay, how are we?" Ameerah asked, moving to give him a side hug.

"We are doing fine," he said, and Jadwa got up to put aside his cup.

Ameerah showed him something on her phone, and Jadwa watched them silently as he kept nodding, wondering what it was.

"Should I send my account number?" Ameerah asked, Then a knock came at the door. Imran didn't release his hold on Jadwa; he kept his arm around her as she sat up straight, his touch unwavering.

Ameerah showed him something on her phone, and Jadwa watched silently as he nodded, wondering what had caught their attention.

"Should I send my account number?" Ameerah asked playfully, and he gently knocked her head.

"Ammi said you should pay me! Otherwise, I'm not sending," she defended herself.

He said something to her in Kanuri, and she grinned widely.

"I'll resend it," she beamed. "Ammi is coming downstairs now," she added, prompting Jadwa to adjust her veil before sitting back on the couch handle as he continued chatting with Ameerah.

Imran glanced back at Jadwa, giving her a small smile as she re-entered the conversation.

Ammi entered, and Imran respectfully sat on the floor, offering his hand in greeting as they exchanged greetings in the traditional Maiduguri culture. Their exchange was brief, and Ammi soon departed with Ameerah trailing behind, closing the door behind her.

Imran stood up and turned to Jadwa, who remained seated on the couch handle.

[V]

Jadwa looked up at him, puzzled why he hadn't resumed sitting on the couch.

"I should leave now," he announced, and she furrowed her brow.

"Why?" The question slipped out before she could filter her thoughts.

A small smile crossed his lips before he checked his watch. "It's almost Maghrib," he explained.

"But you can pray here," she suggested, standing up abruptly, surprised by her own insistence.

She stood before him, her innocent eyes searching his face.

Imran cupped her face gently in his palm. "You're making this difficult for me," he murmured, caressing her cheek with his thumb.

Jadwa blinked, understanding his unspoken words, and blushed shyly.

He bent slightly, enveloping her in a hug. Instinctively, Jadwa's arms wrapped around his neck, as she tiptoed and he nestled his head against her neck. She felt his breath on her skin before he spoke softly, "You smell so good, but maybe don't wear this scent around me again, at least for now," he requested, pulling back slightly.

Jadwa nodded, hiding a small smile. She was gratified that he noticed these details about her, realizing she wasn't the only one affected by their closeness. She mentally noted to stock up on the same oil perfumes and layers of scents she wore that day.

Still in the embrace, her hands around his neck and his on her lower back, the silk fabric between them felt impossibly soft.

Jadwa wore a shy smile, which faded when she caught him gazing at her again. Their faces were close, and he took his time staring into her eyes before his gaze drifted to her lips, the deep red tempting him. Back and forth, he looked between her eyes and lips.

He leaned in, closing the distance, and placed a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose before brushing his lips against her forehead.

Jadwa smiled, her heart fluttering with butterflies in her stomach. His actions felt natural, comfortable, as if this intimacy were a regular occurrence. Aside from the guest-like formality she felt, there was no awkwardness.

Releasing her, he allowed her to withdraw her hands from his neck.

They walked out together, and she mentioned bringing Anaya over along with Rahma.

"Rahma is leaving tomorrow; she'll be back to bring the Lefe," he informed her, reminding Jadwa of the upcoming festival preparations she had almost forgotten.

"Oh, right," she acknowledged. "Then bring Anaya tomorrow."

"She's busy studying," he mentioned, opening his car door.

"It's just one day," Jadwa pleaded, her eyes betraying her with a puppy-like look.

"Okay," he chuckled, suspecting Zarah and Anaya had conspired, knowing Anaya had to focus on her Islamiyya exams and couldn't hang out with Zarah as much. They knew how to get what they wanted.

He took out a card from his wallet and handed it to her. Jadwa furrowed her brow, puzzled by the card.

"Use this from now on," he instructed, and Jadwa eyed him incredulously.

"Why?" She asked, still staring at the card.

"You're under my care now. I don't want you spending your own money, especially your parents'," he stated seriously, taking her hand and placing the card in it.

"This can wait; I don't need it now," she protested, handing it back.

"Jadwa," he maintained his casual demeanor, though his dissatisfaction was evident. "I'm serious. I don't want anyone else doing my job. You're no longer your parents' responsibility," he asserted firmly.

She couldn't argue, nodding and holding onto the bank card as he settled into his car.

"When Anaya comes tomorrow, get whatever you need for Eid. It's getting closer, and then go out and enjoy with your sisters."

"Thank you," she murmured, feeling awkward and unfamiliar. It was foreign, almost wrong, but she realized she hadn't even prepared any clothes for Eid.

"You're welcome. I'll call you later," he said before driving off, leaving Jadwa to ponder the card in her hand with a smile before entering the house to find Ameerah peering from the doorway.

As soon as Jadwa entered and shut the door, Ameerah began jumping and screaming.

"Did something happen?" Jadwa inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"What could have happened?" Ameerah countered, teasing Jadwa with a wink, causing her to roll her eyes.

As they ascended the stairs to Jadwa's room, she confronted Ameerah with folded arms.

"I'm never trusting you again," Jadwa declared, earning a laugh from Ameerah.

"What did I do now?" Ameerah feigned innocence, producing a large white leather bag.

"I am never trusting you again," Jadwa repeated, prompting Ameerah to burst into laughter.

"You should start taking these once daily, alternating. I'll tell you when to start taking them twice daily," Ameerah instructed.

This wasn't new to Jadwa, Ammi and Ammi's sisters had been giving her various aphrodisiacs from Maiduguri, and now Ameerah had brought hers.

Jadwa sighed heavily as Ameerah explained the instructions. "These are potent. If you accidentally overdose, don't come crying to me to call Ya Moh for you," Ameerah joked, earning a disgusted look from Jadwa.

"Ameerah, you do this too?" Jadwa fake-cringed at the syrups before her.

"So what?" Ameerah hissed. "You'll be the one begging me for more a week after they take you to that house," she teased.

Jadwa shook her head disbelievingly at Ameerah. The night fell swiftly, with Hanan and Zara returning, and they planned a menu with Ammi for Hanan's engagement the next day.

"Jadu!" One of the women preparing the Gyaran Jiki called out for Jadwa, Hajje Hilu.

"Kullu yawn Ana bas binadiki?!" (Every day I'm the one looking for you?) she exclaimed, hands on her hips, pointing at Jadwa.

Everyone burst into laughter at Jadwa, who dramatically placed her hand on her chest.

"Ana?" (Me?) Jadwa quipped, understanding a few words.

Hajje Hilu entered the room and pulled Jadwa out, causing everyone to laugh harder.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry," Jadwa apologized, exiting the room.

*******

After the long, exhausting session, Jadwa decided to call Imran to ask if he had reached home safely. When he picked up, he sounded asleep, and she almost slapped herself for forgetting that normal people sleep earlier than she does.

Imran, on the other hand, was in a deep slumber after battling with his mind all evening. He stirred awake when his phone started ringing past ten and saw Jadwa's name on the screen.

"Hello, Assalamu Alaikum," he mumbled into the phone.

Jadwa bit her lip, checking the time before responding.

"Wa Alaikumus Salam. I'm so sorry, I had no idea you were asleep," she apologized.

"It's okay, baby. I'm awake now. How are you?" he asked sincerely.

His voice did strange things to Jadwa. Lately, she found herself inexplicably affected by him, questioning her own reactions.

"I'm good. I just wanted to call to hear if you reached home safely," she said, turning off her room lights.

Imran chuckled softly, his voice deeper than before. "I did. It's almost eleven, and you're just remembering me now?" he teased.

"Ameerah kept me busy, plus Ammi and her women might just end me anytime soon," she replied, lying down and speaking in the softer tone she reserved for him alone.

"Women? What women?" Imran's curiosity was piqued.

"Gyaran jiki! It's so exhausting at this point. It was nice at first, but twice daily is literal torture," she complained.

Imran paused for a moment. "Should I tell them I don't like it? Maybe they should stop?" he teased back.

"Yes, Ya Imran, if you talk, they'll listen," Jadwa said excitedly, her voice betraying her amusement.

"It's for me," Imran replied, smiling despite his lingering sleepiness.

"how can I ask you to stop something I like? Kiyi hakuri, ki cigaba, (be patient and continue)"

Imran's thoughts raced, her image was the only thing on his mind even after he'd come home, worked out, showered, and tried to sleep. Now, talking to her about this, he knew sleep would evade him unless he fought it.

"Okay," Jadwa responded, feeling a warmth spread through her body.

"I'll sleep on the phone," Imran decided, choosing to sleep off his restlessness.

At first, Jadwa didn't quite understand what he meant.

"Can I?" he asked, his voice raspy and low.

"Yes, you can," she breathed, her voice almost sultry.

Imran closed his eye. He didn't fall asleep immediately, but he'd rather stay like that until he did than hear her voice when she wasn't physically near.

Meanwhile, Jadwa lay there, wanting to hear more of his voice, holding onto the phone until she drifted off. Imran heard her slow, steady breathing and knew she had fallen asleep. Not long after, he too succumbed to sleep until it was time for him to go to the mosque.

*****

Sadiq rang the bell at his house, usually, Imran would wake everyone up, but today he slept later than usual. When he finally got up, he hurried to freshen up, perform ablution, and grab his phone to rush to the mosque, realizing he was running late.

As he walked to the mosque adjacent to their house, Imran decided to wake her up.

"Jadwa, Jadwa," he called softly, hearing her stir.

"Naam," she responded in her sleepy voice.

"Get up, it's time to pray," he gently reminded her.

Jadwa sat up, remembering they had fallen asleep on the phone.

"Tohm," she said, clearing her throat. "I'm awake now."

Her tone was almost childlike in its drowsiness. Imran's heart swelled with contentment; he had always hoped for days like this, and now he was living it. He ended the call and entered the mosque to pray.

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