AT THE EVENT CENTRE

4: 21pm.

The groom and bride's family had just made their grand entrance. Everyone inside patiently awaits the arrival of the couple though some had started complaining about what they call 'African time'.

"Mama" by Kiss Daniel was blaring in the hall so loudly that the people outside could hear. The people inside didn't care though; people used that opportunity to showcase their wedding dance steps that they wanted to show.

Children weren't allowed in the event hall so all the children were either at home or the reception lobby. But children are always stubborn so they just kept running up and down with some of the guards running after them. Whilst running after them, one of the guards slipped and fell on the floor. This made the children laugh their asses off. At least they managed to keep the children in the lobby so they people couldn't spot them or could the children disturb people.

Outside, some people that weren't allowed in due to the fact that they do not have invitation cards were arguing with the security guards. Some kept swearing that by force by fire, by hook or by crook, by any menas, they must enter.

"Oga sai nashiga fa" One man said as he removed his gara making the people stare at him wondering if he is in right sense.

The security guards sighed in frustration, they had been bickering with people for over an hour now, yet, and this man is more troublesome than all of them. "Alaji we told you already, no invitation card, no entry"

The man hissed as he carelessly threw the babbar riga somewhere behind him, "Do you know my relation to the groom?" he asked, hands akimbo. His eyes bulging out as his lips set into a scowl.

"I don't care—" one of the guards started but the man cut him off.

"My uncle's cousin's neighbor's tailor's step brother's second cousin studied in the same university with Ammar a ingila! We are relationship o!"

One of the guards used his hand to quickly cover his mouth to stop the laughter threatening to escape but he couldn't help it, "So you're relationship?" he asked the illiterate man who nodded proudly as if what he said made sense.

"Yes. We are relationship. And hi will tell him that you pupil reject me in that hall" The man said as he beat his chest glaring down at the two guards as if his eyes will fall down.

"Malam how can they reject you?" One nosy woman asked from behind.

The man turned to glare at her, "Wallahi tallahi zan mauje ki idan baki rufamin baki ba. Da bakin ki awajen kamar butan shayi(I swear I'll give you one blow if you don't shut that mouth of yours up. With your mouth that resembles teapot)"

This shut the woman up quickly as her hand quickly flew to her mouth.

"Kalle ki, se wani shegen baki kamar aljanar qauye (See you, as black as a jinn from a village)" the man hissed before he turned back to the two guards. "Will you let me in or not?"

"No sir. We can't and won't let you in"

"Today you will see pepper!!"

Meanwhile, Mr. Okparakpo adorned in a bright purple suit and matching suit pants walked around to make sure that everything goes accordingly. Perched on his head is a black hat that resembles that of witches in TV and the matching shoes.

To him that is what he calls, swagger!

"Is the bride and groom here?" He asked one of the workers as he walked to the parking lot with two people trailing behind him.

"No Sir" the man replied.

Mr. Okparakpo stopped in his tracks and then turned to look at the man, "Why are they not here?" he asked, his lips scrunched up in anger.

The man looked at his fellow workers standing behind the old man for help but both of them just shrugged and raised their hands up in surrender. Clearly, he's alone in this; "I don't know sir" he turned to the old man, his voice coming out low in fear of what will happen to him.

"HOW WILL YOU TELL ME YOU DON'T KNOW?!" He yelled jumping while he did that like a monkey. Who knows? Maybe it's in his gene. "You see those rich people bah?" he pointed to the building they came out of, "Me and you, they will condemn us! Once they no see their bratty children, we are over, finished!"

The three workers surrounding the old man didn't know how the lack of arrival of the couple has to do with them. Nevertheless, they kept their lisp sealed.

"And you" he pointed to one of the two people that were behind him earlier, the lady, "What about the cake?"

"It's here sir"

"Hokay...hokay. And you oga black!" he pointed to the other man who without a doubt is dark skinned, but there's nothing wrong with that. Mr. Okparakpo just likes to call him that.

"Yes Sir"

"What about the wedding gifts people brought?"

"Sir...No one has brought any gift yet"

Mr. Okaparakpo tilted his head to look at Oga Black. He then looked around before he sat on the ground, his legs spread out and hands on the head, "I'm a dead man! You people are lying! They must've brought gifts o!"

"Sir...I'm serious"

"Shattap!!!" he yelled making them all flinch, "Haswear! Iffa lose my job because of you people, we will die together1 I will visit Ogboromo of my village and we will die all together!!!!"

While, in the reception area, the ones that do have the invitation card and got in were just snapping pictures up and down. Amongst which is, Hajiya Kaka. She is now dressed in a bright yellow shadda which was sown into a shirt and wrapper that resemble that of women back in the 1900s. A matching gwaggwaro sat perched high on her head accompanied by the same shade of worn out flats. She didn't care though. To her it is what she calls kwalabo.

"Keh kill me fikcha" She said stopping one of the girls she saw passing by.

The girl looked at Hajiya Kaka in confusion then at the Nokia keypad phone she handed out to her, "Excuse me?"

"Fikcha, fikcha...hoto. Kill...kashe me fikcha" Hajiya Kaka said as she struggled to find the right English words.

"In dauke ki hoto?" the teenage girl asked in Hausa once she realizes that the old woman speaks Hausa and understands it more than English.

Hajiya Kaka grinned as she nodded, "Eh. Kashe mun hoto. Kill me fikcha. Ko bah aka kuke cewa ba ku turawa? (Yes. Snap a picture of me. Or isn't that what you English people say?)"

The girl just smiled and nodded knowing that trying to correct the old woman will be a waste of time.

"Hungo" Hajiya Kaka said extending the phone to the girl again.

He girl wondered how a person can take a picture on such phone, "Let me take a picture with my phone instead" the girl suggested.

"Zaki turo min ta 2go kenan?"

2 what??? The girl wondered.

"Eh" she just nodded just in time the old woman started posing.

The first pose is when Hajiya Kaka stood like a statue; her face remained stoic as if someone murdered someone in her family.

Click!

The second pose she placed both hands on her waist and grinned.

Click!

The third one she leaned on another old woman and they both raised their hands doing the peace sign pose.

Click!

The fourth one Hajiya Kaka hugged the wall. Yes, the wall.

Click!

~*~

Soon enough the couple arrived and made their grand entrance. Anwar followed them to the event hall after he went home, showered and changed into another outfit.

The party was in full swing, ad occasionally, people were called out to give speeches on the newlywed couple. People danced and rejoiced, finally, something was actually going correctly that day.

IJO AYO by Skales ft. Olamide was played and the song was blaring throughout the event hall. And because of how the beat of the song is, everyone couldn't help but show their dance moves.

Even Hajiya Juwairiyya and her husband danced on the dance floor accompanied by Ammar and Anwar. The happiness of the family was something everyone could see on their faces. Though Hajiya Juwairiyya wasn't exactly keen on the idea of Ammar marrying Aydah, it was still her son's wedding so she wanted to enjoy every last bit of it.

From the corner, Mr. Okaparakpo who was also happy was dancing to his heart content. You should see the way the slim old man was dancing in his oversize clothes like a chicken. It is what Hausa people call "Agwagwa a zani"

He didn't care about anyone though. The old man danced and danced. Along the way, he removed his cap and was twirling it in his hand as he danced.

Hajiya Kaka who was showing off her dance moves spotted him and the old woman decided to join the old woman.

Soon enough, Hajiya Kaka and Mr. Okparakpo were dancing, people had to shift and give them space. She raised the edge of her Zani as it was restricting her from dancing the way she wants. Along the way, her veil acme off and it was soon tied around her waist while Mr. Okparakpo's shoes were nowhere to be seen.

Hajiya Talatu and Ammar's grandmother were dancing too, but they were showing off 'senior moves' which consisted of them swinging left and right and occasionally shaking their shoulders. However the two women were going along just well. They were both laughing at something one of them said.

After their dance, the bride's friends along with the groom's friends were called out to dance along with the couple. The guys had fun chucking money at the girls while they danced to their hearts content. Ammar was just spraying money on his wife as the two danced and when the naira bundles in his hand finished, everyone thought he would stop there.

He didn't stop though. He pulled out a dollar bundle and started spraying it on his wife. Applauds and cheering filled up the hall as the teenagers pulled out their phone and videotaped the moment. People gave space to the couple who danced like there's no tomorrow. Everyone could see the happiness and love in their eyes unless that person is blind.

WAIT by Teni was played when The Baraus were called to dance. Hajiya Umaimah along with Alhaji Hameed Barau walked out accompanied by Bilal, Hammad, Ahmad and Aydah. The family surprised everyone when they only focused on spraying money on Aydah who danced with her brothers. When she was dancing with her mother, Ummita embraced her eliciting applauds from people. The moment was just too heart touching to Aydah that she couldn't help but shed a few tears which Ummita wiped for her.

For the first time in Aydah's life she really did feel that her mother loved and cared for her, and that made her cry more in her mother's arms.

The happy family danced and danced to their hearts content and soon enough it was time for the parents of the couples to give their speeches.

The bride's mother was called first. Hajiya Aisha Hameedah fixed her veil and just as she was about to stand up, someone walked to the stage making everyone freeze.

The woman walked towards the MC and snatched the mike out of his hand. She then turned to face the crowd with a wide smile on her face, "Good day everyone! What a nice event this is, everyone looks so happy" she chuckled, and the people that had no idea whom she is and what her capabilities are smiled along.

The two families watched her with a surprised expression masking their features.

She only smiled and brought up the microphone, "Well, to those of you who don't know who I am, my name is Hajiya Laure Mai Kashe Aure"

~*~

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