THE HEARTS REAWAKENING

38: MISUNDERSTANDING.

KANO STATE, NIGERIA.

Imad is all smiles and whistles the next morning knowing there is no burden on his shoulders anymore. Whatever it is that is ruining his life, he's tackled it except for one which he won't bother thinking about anymore. His family are with him now and he is definitely going to be extra occupied these days, with his sisters in-law, nieces and nephews all over the palace. He didn't know they got that much and didn't notice them the first time he came.

The breakfast yesterday was eventful with his whole sisters in-law there and their children except for the men, most of them are not there like Shaddad, Harith and Masrooq, the doctors in the house. Maybe they all have some emergency but why is Falak at home? She usually is hot on her husband's tail everywhere they go but not that day. His lips thinned after finding out she was encouraging his brothers to beat him up with a cable.

"Ah, who is this stranger with us, Mom?" Falak had questioned when she walked in with three maids behind her holding her children while she held onto one. The triplets are already walking but they will slow her down.

Imad glared at his sister for halting his conversation with one of his sisters in-law, Jabrayah. She didn't even give him a second glance and instead tuck her children on the dining chair, sat herself comfortably on the other side of her mother and his father took the other side. Imad didn't get to talk to the man, he was too busy answering his subjects even on the dining table to get the aperture to bring his own cries.

"Full family, huh." Marawiyyah who just walked in smiled widely seeing Imad, she gave him a quick hug then settled herself on the other side of the table.

Falak scrunched her brows and glared at her best friend stroke sister in-law. "Why are you hugging stupid strangers? Have you forgotten about your manners or do I need to inform Yazid about it?"

Marawiyyah had rolled her eyes at her friend's drama, she won't let Imad slip off this one very easily. "Stop being so harsh on the little guy, he's apologized."

Falak scoffed, wiping the drool that went down Fakhir's face then huffed out breath to look at Imad squarely in the eyes, the guy passed the time she's given him to come apologize. She wonder why their mother easily accepted the mutinous brat like he didn't break their hearts and disappointed them. If she were in her mother's shoes, she'd lock him up for a whole day in a dark bathroom before forgiving him at the last minute. That is if he didn't asphyxiate in the bathroom.

"Well, he didn't apologize to me and I don't want his stupid apology. He thinks he can crawl up his mama's thigh whenever he wants and do all sort of nonsense. Not with me." She blocked him out the whole breakfast and all his attempts to talk to her.

He's messed up big time since she gets that mad at him. She was the only one who bothered about going to his office to talk to him, no one else but she is enraged by none other than him. He gulped, her anger is something he does not want to face so she will do anything in his power to halt that fury. He nodded mentally then offered her a ride to the hospital, the quelling glare she gave him was enough proof that this won't be easy.

"What's wrong with my hands?" She'd asked in a pontificating way, hands akimbo on both sides of her tawny designer palazzo pants.

A sigh of suspense left his lips, she won't be easily placated. The woman that fed her husband latrine on their first night for revenge should really be given an award. And she loves that husband, just needed to get out her wrath on him. Then who is he to think he has a chance just by offering her a ride.

"Good, now disappear from my sight." She had sashayed out of the palace to their own side to get into her car.

Upon arriving at the building, he made his way inside his bureau knowing his next obstacle might be in there waiting for him. He thinned his lips and entered, she was sitting there lying her head on the table as if she is sleeping but then she stood up abruptly as if he's startled her. In those quick seconds, he's already taken in her outfit and because it was somewhat tight, he took in just how wraith and emaciated she looks.