in the mirror was anything to go by then he looked smashing cool and composed.He picked the hair brush from the dressing table and combed his hair into A̶̲̥̅ neat pile.
The bottle of cologne lay on the table,he sprayed some and sniffed in the air.
"Here i come." He said aloud and walked to the dinning.
"Honey,Nnamdi is almost through and i'm helping him out,i'm coming." Jane said from the kitchen when he heard Jacob dragging out the chair of the dinning.
Jacob relaxed and picked the morning paper,"Take your time dear,i'm in no hurry."
He had not even be seated for five minute when Jane appeared with A̶̲̥̅ tray of moimoi.She unwrapped it and used the table knife to slice it into small pieces,heat oozed out into the air.
"I was only joking when i said having moimoi for breakfast wasn't A̶̲̥̅ bad idea." Jacob said.
"You needn't have gone to much trouble."
Jane was glad that he was being thoughtful,she knew he had A̶̲̥̅ knack for moimoi and it's being A̶̲̥̅ while they served it so she decided to surprise him D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇§˚˚° morning" i just wanted to make you happy,moreover Nnamdi did most of the cooking."
Jacob picked A̶̲̥̅ fork to eat,but Jane stopped him."Its still hot dear,i'm sure you don't want to burn your tongue." She teased him.
"Can i have A̶̲̥̅ glass of cold water please."
"There's juice in the jug."Jane said pouring juice into A̶̲̥̅ glass.
"I know dear,i just want water."
Jane left for the kitchen and soon returned with A̶̲̥̅ glass of cold water,all of A̶̲̥̅ sudden she began to tremble causing the glass to fall from her hand.
Jacob was besides her in A̶̲̥̅ minute,"Sorry dear,what's wrong with you?"He stirred her away from the broken glass.
Jane only nodded her head as Jacob led her to A̶̲̥̅ seat.she was feeling dizzy.
He rushed to the kitchen to get her A̶̲̥̅ glass of water,"Take."
He put the glass to her mouth and she sipped like A̶̲̥̅ baby,"Stop fuzzing over me." She smiled.
"Are you okay now?" He asked deeply worried.
"Yes dear,i'm alright." She made to get up,but she couldn't.
"Just relax." Jacob stopped her.
Nnamdi had cleaned up the glass remain."Is madam okay?" He asked.
"Madam is fine,please get my car key from our bedroom."
"Baby i'm fine." She said but her voice was low.Without warning she got up and rushed to the toilet,vomitting in the closet.she leaned against the wall.Jacob washed her face and helped her to A̶̲̥̅ seat.
"Here's the key sir." Nnamdi said.
"Drop it on the table." Jacob said."You can leave us alone now."
"I'm taking you to the hospital right away." He said carrying her to the sitting room.He noticed that she had gained much weight,it had been A̶̲̥̅ while he scooped her in his arms.
"No dear,i'll be fine." She said after he placed her on the couch in the sitting room.she forced herself to A̶̲̥̅ sitting position.
"When have you been feeling D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇§˚˚° way?" He asked placing his hands on her body to feel her temperature.But her temp. was okay.
Jane sighed,"I'm okay."
"When last did you see your period?" He inquired carefully.
Jane's heart jolted A̶̲̥̅ beat." Are you A̶̲̥̅ doctor?" She feigned A̶̲̥̅ smile.
"Fine as your husband i want to know." His eyes not leaving her stomach.
Jane knew what he was driving at but she didn't want to get her hopes high for nothing.It would be worse if they found out that she hadn,t taken in D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇°s time.
"Okay i'm fine,finish your food so that you can leave for work."Jane tried to assure him.
"Promise me you'll go to the hospital before going to your store." His eyes looked pleadingly into hers.
Jane smiled,"I promise you." She seemed to have recovered her strenght.
Jacob held her hands and led her to the table,she sat on A̶̲̥̅ chair and watched him devour the moimoi.
He asked for more and Nnamdi served him more,he finished it too and drank some juice.His phone beeped and he picked it.
"That was Jaiye on the line." Jacob said.
Jane almost froze on her seat,she went pale. Facing the other side,she quickly changed her countenance least Jacob caught that look on her face.
"I'll be on my way now,so make sure you see our doctor,and be good dear." He said getting up.
"Let me get my briefcase from the bedroom,duty calls." He returned and kissed her goodbye before leaving for work.
Jane called Nnamdi to clear the table,before wobbling to her bedroom.
.................
She stirred in her sleep,and carelessly opened one of her eyes,effortlessly opening the door.The ray from the window fell on her face.
She yawned lazily and got up to close the blind,the glass of water and A̶̲̥̅ satchet of paracetamol lay on the dressing table.she wondered who had dropped it there.
Just like A̶̲̥̅ flash of lightening.she remembered what happened in the morning.she let mind relish their earlier conversation.
"⌣̶·̵̭̌·̵̭̌✽̤̈̊aм̤̣̲̣̥̈̇✽̤̈̊·̵̭̌·̵̶̭̌⌣ i truly pregnant?" She said aloud asking no one in particular than herself.she pressed her stomach but she didn't feel A̶̲̥̅ thing.
What if she was indeed pregnant,Jacob would be so happy.His joy would be overfilled.
She remembered she had taken the drug,but she felt better now.Jacob had made her promise to see their doctor.It was some minutes past eleven already.
She rushed to the nursery,"̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇§° room will become alive." She smiled to herself.
Closing the door,she took her bath and dressed up.Nnamdi served her some of the moimoi,it tasted good.she ate A̶̲̥̅ small portion before leaving for the hospital.
She hoped that when her husband returned at night,she would have some piece of good news to share.D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇§° were her very thought as she drove to their hospital. "
.........................
"Adetoun be calm." Rekia said cuddled up on the sofa,she looked tired even after A̶̲̥̅ four hours straight sleep.She sipped from the glass of hot tea,her eyes on Toun who stood by the window,pulling the curtains apart every minute to check if Hannah had arrived.
It was some minutes past two when she noticed that Hannah and the men she had been sitting with were no longer inside the club.Adetoun had rushed outside but her friend was not there.It had taken another twenty minutes to squeeze through the people swaying on the dancefloor to reach Rekia,who seemed to enjoying every minute of her time swaying her lips,and shaking her butts much to the delight of the men dancing around her.
They went around the club,the ladies,the game room and every available space to make matters worse she wasn't picking her calls.
They approached the security men,and gave A̶̲̥̅ good description of Hannah.The security who attended to them said he had seen the lady enter into the car of one of the men and they drove off,and it didn't seem like she was forced or drunk.
Their hands fell when they heard D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇§˚˚°,Rekia was relaxed but it seemed Adetoun was worried.
Rekia had explained to her that,Hannah was old enough to take care of herself and that she would be fine.
"You keep asking me to relax,but how can i?when she hasn't returned,its almost twelve noon." Adetoun said her eyes stuck on the big wall clock that took solace upon the cream wall of the sitting room.
"Worrying will not bring her home,i just have A̶̲̥̅ feeling she's alright." Rekia sighed.she picked her phone and dialled Hannah's number,the phone kept ringing but unfortunately it wasn't picked up.
"She's not picking her calls too,i've been having D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇§˚° strange feeling since you propped the idea of going clubbing last night."Adetoun said taking the seat nearest to the door.
"Are you saying D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇§˚˚˚° is. My fault,i didn't force you guys along now." Rekia said her voice had grown high by A̶̲̥̅ pitch.
"Ofcourse you didn't,you only coerced us into going." Adetoun answered.
"I see,i'm not going to fight you over D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇§°." Rekia hissed and stood up walking briskly out of the sitting room.
After we left the club house,he drove me straight to his place.He owned A̶̲̥̅ big bungalow in Satellite town,chevron estate."She didn't know how she came about D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇§ sudden boldness.
"He asked me to dance for him and i did,he wasn't enjoying it and asked that i pull off my dress and don't ask if i did because i did.I felt so good dancing with only my tube and pants.I could see D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇§˚˚° happiness surging through his popping eyes."
Hannah lifted the glass of cold water and put it to her mouth taking A̶̲̥̅ long drink.she returned the glass to the table maintaining eye contact with her listeners.
"I drank as i danced and he soon joined me,it was A̶̲̥̅ very seductive movement,with ours bodies together and moving in the same rythm with great vigour."
She paused to catch her breath.
"In no time he began to kiss me,and before i could say Jack,my bra lay on the other side of the large sitting room and my pant had relocated too.We made passionate love.He made me A̶̲̥̅ complete woman right on the floor of his sitting room"
Adetoun gasped for breath with her mouth widely opened in surprise.
"I've been with him all day and we made sweet love the whole time Unclad in his sitting room."Hannah said.
"I hope you guys can breath now that you know that i'm fine and doing great."
Adetoun watched Hannah in amazement,she was trying to comprehend the jargons that were jumping out of her mouth,but it seemed A̶̲̥̅ hard task.If someone had told her that Hannah could do D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇§˚° she would have denied it ten thousand times.
"That's surprising coming from you." Rekia said after coming out of her ealier shock.
"I realised i was holding on to life too strong,i realise how much i needed A̶̲̥̅ strong man." Hannah giggled,A̶̲̥̅ beautiful smile washed upon her face.
"I'm prepared to enjoy my life,no holding back anymore."
"̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇§˚˚° is simply strange,you went to bed with A̶̲̥̅ man you met just last night,A̶̲̥̅ complete stranger."Adetoun said still in complete shock.She was panic stricken when it seemed her friend and sister had disappeared off the surface of the earth D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇§ morning,she had returned late in the afternoon.
Not only was she looking fresh,she looked radiant and A̶̲̥̅ new light seemed to have wash over her face.And the lady before her was completely different from the Hannah she left home with last night,the Hannah she knew would not have jumped into the bed of A̶̲̥̅ stranger just like that.she wished for the hundreth time that she had been able to convince them not to go clubbing last night.
"I've been missing something great for A̶̲̥̅ long time." Hannah laughed hysterically getting up,she kissed Adetoun on the cheeks and walked out of the sitting room.
"Do you think she's okay?" Adetoun asked moving closer to Rekia.
Rekia laughed, "She's okay,stop being over protective...what baffles me most is how the man was able to convince her to go with him last night and even had his way with her in A̶̲̥̅ couple of hours."
"To say i'm shocked is to say the least,i'm dead shocked my dear." Adetoun said looking at her friend.She wondered where and what all D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇§˚˚˚° would lead to.
The piercing sound of her phone interupted her thoughts,blinking on the touch screen of her phone was Kelvin's call.She smiled unconsciously as she picked the call,at least here was A̶̲̥̅ reason to smile and put the thoughts of Hannah out of her mind for A̶̲̥̅ while,....for A̶̲̥̅ while.
..................
"I can't believe you went through all that." Jane said dabbing at her eye with an already wet hanky,⌣»̶·̵̭̌·̵̭̌✽̤̈̊Ŧђɑ̤̥̈̊п̥̥̲̣̣̣kƨ̣̣̣̇̇̇̇✽̤̈̊·̵̭̌·̵̭̌«̶ to Lucy's story.
It was strange to think that beautiful Lucy was suffering because she was crazy in love with A̶̲̥̅ mad man-because every man who raises his hands to strike A̶̲̥̅ woman is mad and woe betide such men.
For once she thanked God for having Jacob for A̶̲̥̅ husband.She wasn't sure if she could withstand all that Lucy was going through.
It was pathetic how Lucy's so called lover boy had beaten her three times in her third trimester while carrying his baby.And when she finally put to bed,he bashed her for giving him A̶̲̥̅ girl and not A̶̲̥̅ bouncing baby boy.
He had rented an apartment for her far away from home and threatened her not to make any contacts with her family,friend or social media.Not recently that they packed into the same estate as Jane's.
And Lucy was so panic stricken that she adhered to his list of wants.He would drop by at anytime he wished and he even had A̶̲̥̅ spare key to the apartment and if Lucy was unfortunate to be out when he dropped in,she would receive the beating of her life and after everything,he would plead with her to forgive him,then make love to her,attend to her financial needs before leaving.
Such was the routine for Lucy,he had accepted for her to work as A̶̲̥̅ teacher at A̶̲̥̅ close by primary school after so much pleading.
"I live in my own shadow Jane,at times i just wish i was dead."Lucy cried as she sat huddled up on the couch by Jane.The two women cried with none offering to console the other.
Jane for once felt relieved that she was not being fitted into her friend's shoe.She was sure to fall because it wasn't just something she could handle or accept.And if she was asked to choose between living Lucy's life and her current barren state,she preferred the latter.
Here was her friend,wishing death for herself,Life is indeed pathetic...
"Please don't wish for death,please permit me to speak with him just once." Jane didn't the frightened expression that creased on Lucy's face.
"I wish i could allow you to do that but i can't.I love him and my baby,i don't want anything to happen to the two of them"
"Is that to say you enjoy being treated D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇§˚° way,its not too late to stop him from hurting you.Moreover no one can oppress you without your consent,you have to stand up to him."
"Jane i'm confiding in you because i trust you,don't make me regret doing D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇§°,and i want you to know i can't go against him,i love him and i don't want to ruin his musical career." Lucy held on to Jane,her eye pleading with him softly.
Jane was quick to understand the unspoken message in each word,so she backed off moving on to neutral topics but it was A̶̲̥̅ bit difficult.
After A̶̲̥̅ while,the atmosphere eased A̶̲̥̅ bit and tthe two women where lost in their gist,it was some minutes to seven when she saw her off.
Jane returned to the sitting room,her heart A̶̲̥̅ bit lighter.
"So having A̶̲̥̅ child was not all that mattered in life."She said aloud to herself.
Look at Lucy's lover complaining of the baby's sex when she and Jacob could give anything to have A̶̲̥̅ baby.Either male or female.
Was love D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇§˚° blind? And would her almighty Jacob ever treat her D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇§˚° way.she doubted it,not her own Jacob smith.
Jane picked the bedsheet and dropped it again,she made the bed and arranged the pillow.Her husband was in the bathroom.
"Honey i can't wait to have breakfast.". His voice came from the bathroom.
"Its bread and tea,it won't take much of your time." Jane answered hurrying to the dinning.
After much persuasion he agreed to have breakfast,she helped him with his briefcase to his car,before returning inside to get dressed for work.
She had her bath and dressed,in no time she had A̶̲̥̅ breakfast of boiled rice with chicken stew,she went to get her handbag in the bedroom.she pulled back the blinds to its place only to find A̶̲̥̅ feeding bottle right there.
The clock stopped ticking for A̶̲̥̅ full minute,as she bent down to pick the bottle on the red wine rug.She must have forgotten to take her breath as she sat back holding the bottle with so much strength.
She remembered how that bottle had come to be in their room,if she had A̶̲̥̅ child the bottle wouldn't be D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇s˚˚˚° idle,she was responsible for its idleness.
She stood up and walked to the nursery,she sat on the rug and began to cry soiling her expensive lacy embroidery dress.she picked the little pillow and placed it to her bosom.
"Suck." She cooed the pillow rocking it like A̶̲̥̅ baby.
She removed her dress and bra,holding her bosom to the pillow..how can you even suck when there's no milk there.
"When will God give me A̶̲̥̅ child to nurse?" She looked up to heaven.More drops of salt water travelled down her cheeks.
"Oyindunmade!" Jane heard her name and looked up,she was surprised to see Jacob standing right there staring at her.
Pity was not what she found in eyes,it was anger and the first of its kind,she felt so embarrased for her action.she put her clothe in order and followed him A̶̲̅s he walked away from the nursery.
He was headed for the bedroom,the cool eyes that were cute to stare at moment before driving off to work were now filled with unspoken anger.He flunged the white file in his hands on the floor.
"I'm sorry." Jane said,but it was more of A̶̲̥̅ whisper.
After the last episode when Jacob caught her crying in the nursery,he had made her promise that she would not cry again.And here she was,just after three days.
"Sorry? For crying in the nursery or for putting A̶̲̥̅ pillow to your bosom?"
Jane knew better than to answer him,"You know you're beginning to frustrate me with your frequenting that room to cry....i ⌣̶·̵̭̌·̵̭̌✽̤̈̊aм̤̣̲̣̥̈̇✽̤̈̊·̵̭̌·̵̶̭̌⌣ not even complaining,⌣̶·̵̭̌·̵̭̌✽̤̈̊aм̤̣̲̣̥̈̇✽̤̈̊·̵̭̌·̵̶̭̌⌣ i?"
"I hope D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇s˚˚˚° would be very last time that those actions would repeat itself,i hope that's clear." He said,she nodded and was about to pick the file he flung against the wall,but he was faster,he grabbed it from her and hurried out of the bedroom slamming the door hard.
................
Adetoun closed the bind after waiting up for close to two hours for Hannah's return.she knew what excuse she would give again.
Ever since they went to the club and she met that strange man she was always going to his place every weekend and all the free time she had.D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇s˚˚˚° was becoming A̶̲̥̅ wild habit she couldn't curtail.she had comtemplated on reporting the issue to Mother or Jane,but after so much delibration,she ruled out that option.
D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇s˚˚˚° was the second weekend that she was disappearing like D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇s˚˚˚° without any lead.she sat on the leather sofa and pouted her lips,she was feeling sleepy already but she couldn't go to bed with making sure hannah was safe in bed too.
She was already dozing when she heard her coming in,"Hannah look at the time its late and where are you coming from?" Adetoun's voice was laced with worry.
Hannah staggered backward,A̶̲̥̅ sign that she was tipsy."What...is your business with that?" She fired back,trying to control her legs that had defied her instructions to remain steady.
When she spoke alcohol stenched from her mouth,Adetoun shaked her head in pity."Just one night out and you've become something else."
A piercing hiss came from Hannah's lips A̶̲̥̅s she staggered to her room.
Adetoun nodded her head,and locked the door before making for her room to rest.
..................
The bottle of vodka was almost empty,he emptied the glass and dropped it on the table.His friends won him in all the games they played D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇s˚˚˚° afternoon.He wasn't feeling well and looked sad.
"I think something is wrong with Jacob." Jaiye said to Paul while they played snokers at an angle in the large court.
Paul cast their friend A̶̲̥̅ glance,it was obvious he had his head under water,"Let's ask him." He said as they both moved towards the table where Jacob sat accompanied by his drinks.
Jaiye pulled out two chairs,and signalled to the waitress who brought his favorite and served them.he slapped the lady's behind playfully,A̶̲̥̅ chuckle escaped from his throat,watching as she swayed away to attend to other customers.
"Old boy what's eating you up?" Paul inquired,an easy smile played across his dark face,he looked fresh and quite cool as he adjusted the collar of his shirt. Jacob raised his head to look at his friends,he picked the glass and made to refill it but paul stopped him. "If D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇s˚˚˚° is something we can help you with,kindly lighten your burden by sharing with."Paul's voice was light and laden with confidence.
"I'm A̶̲̥̅ married man,i have A̶̲̥̅ beautiful wife but i don't have A̶̲̥̅ child." Jacob paused to look at his friends,
"I'm not complaining,i'm sad but i'm not showing it...my wife..my wife is beginning to frustrate me with her constant tears.i ⌣̶·̵̭̌·̵̭̌✽̤̈̊aм̤̣̲̣̥̈̇✽̤̈̊·̵̭̌·̵̶̭̌⌣ confused."
Paul lowered his head as if he was thinking,he raised it to meet Jacob's eye." That's women for you,but you have to be strong to comfort yourself so that you can comfort her."
"I agree with paul,its not easy for her you know,and you have to be active in bed too,all women like that,and that's why all the girls like me even the married ones keep begging for it." Jaiye grinned his eyes trailing A̶̲̥̅ young lady who was walking to the far end corner to take A̶̲̥̅ seat.
Jacob lightened up A̶̲̥̅ bit,he thanked his friends and ordered for another round of drinks.Jaiye excused himself to make A̶̲̥̅ call.
"That was Bimbo." He said falling into his seat like A̶̲̥̅ pack of card.
"Bimbo!" Jacob and Paul called at the same time.They had found out that their friend was cheating on his wife and had both spoken to him about him,to which he promised to change.
And it was D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇s˚˚˚° same Bimbo girl calling again,"I have to go now." He said getting up.
Jacob watched Jaiye leave,he wondered if his life would come to A̶̲̥̅ point where he would cheat on his wife.
"God forbid." He spat.
Paul cast him A̶̲̥̅ look,"Are you alright?" He asked.
"Yep..i ⌣̶·̵̭̌·̵̭̌✽̤̈̊aм̤̣̲̣̥̈̇✽̤̈̊·̵̭̌·̵̶̭̌⌣." He answered,nothing under the sun would ever make him cheat on Jane.He glanced at his wristwatch,home called.
............
"Adora darling come to mummy!"
Jane called,beckoning to the baby using her hand as A̶̲̥̅ signal,the baby looked towards her and A̶̲̥̅ smile formed on her face as she walked towards her.
In one clean sweep,she lifted her and placed her on her laps,"How are you?" She asked,the baby nodded her head and smiled,Jane looked up to see Cynthia coming in with A̶̲̥̅ pair of shoe in her hands.
She handed the shoe to Jane who examined it," I think i have something like D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇s˚˚˚° already." She tried the shoe on,it was just her size.
"Aww..it looks good on you,i'll be offended if you don't take it." Cynthia said feigning A̶̲̥̅ frown on her face.
"Look i have enough shoes as it is,i like D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇s˚˚˚° color and its A̶̲̥̅ nice shoe but i'm not taking it."Jane insisted,handing the shoes to Cynthia who accepted it from her.
Cynthia gave the shoe to little Adora,"Now give it to mummy jane." Adora obediently collected the shoes and faced jane.
"Say please." Cynthia said.
The baby smiled again,"ppplse" the baby said.
"I'm sure you don't want to refuse her." Cynthia laughed,as Adora placed the shoe on the floor and began to play with it.
Jane was forced to accept it,that singular word from little Adora touched her,she fought back the tears that burned the back of her eyes.Cynthia led her to the balcony that overlooked the pool,Jane loved coming here each time she visited the Olasupo's,it was A̶̲̥̅ beautiful sight from where she stood.
"Do you know that Jaiye didn't come home last night." Cynthia said.
"He said he was with Jacob and their friends,i don't believe him anyway."
Jane thought of what to say to her friend,"Perhaps its work."
"Work?did i hear you say work? If he decides not to work again,he won't suffer A̶̲̥̅ minute of his life,his parents are wealthy,so are mine and he's also in money,what else does he want?" Cynthia said.
"Its okay,i trust him,so relax and stop worrying your poor head." Jane said."About my birthday." She looked up at Cynthia deftly changing the topic.
"Oh my,i almost forgot." Cynthia's face lit up in excitement. "We really have to plan A̶̲̥̅ large party."
The two women stood discussing for A̶̲̥̅ long period of time about the proposed party.And the things they planned to buy.Cynthia suddenly went pale,Jane helped her to A̶̲̥̅ seat and brought her some water.
"Are you alright?" She asked,collecting the glass from her.Cynthia nodded and inhaled deeply.
"Do you think i should call your husband?"
Cynthia smiled,"I'm fine."
"I hope you've not been thinking Cynthia." Jane looked worried now since her friend wasn't speaking.
"Jane i hate to see you look sad,that's why i didn't inform you that i've taken in,and i'm two months gone." Cynthia explained in one breath,her eyes on Janes.
Jane thought her head would explode at first,she let the information she had just received sink in as she found herself A̶̲̥̅ seat too.
"Jane please don't feel sad because of D̶̲̥̅̊ɪ̣̝̇s˚˚˚°,i'm sure you'll have A̶̲̥̅ child soon." Cynthia tried to comfort her friend.
"I'm fine,just don't mind me." Jane said getting up,she stayed A̶̲̥̅ while before leaving.
To be continued at 9:30pm.
