5:36pm.

People start to mutter amongst themselves as they looked at the woman wondering if she had grown two heads.

This made her chuckle, "I'm sorry, I realize how bad that sounded. Allow me to introduce myself again. To those of you who do not know me, I am Alhaji Edrees Bulama's first wife"

That elicited new gasps from the guests who do not know about that.

Hajiya Juwairriyya turned around to glare at her husband who shook his head. He knew what her glare meant, it meant he should put an end to this charade before Laure ruins the wedding but he knew Laure. She wouldn't go down, not after she started, not until she does what she's there to do.

Besides, isn't this what Hajiya Juwairiyya wants? Something to ruin the wedding? Albeit, she doesn't want the wedding to push through, the knot has been tied and her love for her son's happiness surpasses her hate for the Barau girl.

"—Well ex-wife; considering we got divorced when he married...." She gestured her hand over to Ammar's mother dismissively, eying her with disgust, "That white thing over there"

Hajiya Juwairiyya moved her glare from her husband to her former co-wife. She and her never got along and to be honest, she was more than elated when her husband divorced the woman. However, that didn't stop her from feeling angry when the man gave her a house in Abuja after their divorce, a house in Bauchi and a driver any time she wants to travel. According to him, he only did that because they have a son together, and he loves his son just as much as he loves Ammar and Anwar.

Liana who sat along with Maryam, Ummul Khair and Anwar along with Fahad and JD, turned her head around to look at Fahad, eyes slightly widened just like the Khair. The others didn't seem surprised by the news.

Anwar, JD and Maryam already know that Fahad is a Bulama. However, Khair and Liana didn't since Aydah doesn't speak of it. It's an unspoken agreement in her household to not speak of Bulama's. And since Fahad only uses his mother's surname, it was impossible for people to tell.

"You're Ammar's step brother?" Khair asked, to which Fahad nodded, face stoic. He simply kept his gaze on his mother.

He knew what she would do might ruin Aydah's wedding, but he wanted to be selfish and make that sacrifice. There's a lot that Ammar had been hiding from Aydah, and he knew that the girl would be hurt if she finds out. So, why bother to let their marriage go on built on lies when he can allow his mother to ruin it and save Aydah from a grave heartache? If that happens, he'll also get her.

So, he's hitting two birds with one stone.

It's a win-win situation for him.

"Well, I know what it feels like to marry a Bulama and I also know the bad sides of it. So, as a good aunt, I can't let my dear niece, Aydah go through that, right?" Laure continued. Everyone else kept quiet, listening to her.

Hajiya Hameeda looked away. She wanted the wedding to be ruined but is she willing to do that at that cause? Is it worth at the expense of seeing her own daughter embarrassed on her wedding day? Could she stand to be that type of mother?

She knew she should stop her before it gets too far, yet she couldn't move. She was in a conflict internally.

Hajiya Juwairiyya fisted her fist. She wanted to stand up and lash out, anything to stop Laure from speaking further. She didn't know what's going in Hajiya Hameeda's head but she of all people should know that is her sister opens her mouth, she wouldn't only say something that would ruin Aydah and Ammar's wedding but something that would ruin both families. Is the woman willing to risk that for some stupid anger towards her family?

Laure grinned, "I have a wedding present for my niece and it's--"

The microphone was snatched out of her hand. This made everyone snap their gaze to the person who did that. Their eyes widened.

Hajiya Kaka glared at Laure, "Keh Laure wannan fa biki ne. Haka kawai kinzo kin hana mu rawa!" She hissed turning around to look at the DJ. "Kai DJ sake mana waqa!"

The DJ perplexed, stared at MC for confirmation to which the man quickly nodded. They were all relieved that someone stopped Laure before she ruins the wedding for everyone. The DJ played another song, and immediately, Hajiya Kaka started dancing, making the others laugh.

Laure scoffed, unable to understand the audacity of the old woman. The two had never gotten along not even back then when they were neighbors back in Bauchi. The two had a mutual hate between them.

While everyone else got occupied by the song to care, Hajiya Kaka held Laure's hand and dragged her out. Laure tried to fight her way out of the woman's hold but the old woman's grip was tight as ever. Hajiya Kaka was determined to get Laure as far away from the wedding as possible. So, she only stopped once they reached a room. Pushing Laure in, she followed after her.

Laure swiveled around to glare at Hajiya Kaka, eyes narrowed in slits. Hajiya Kaka ignored her.

Soon enough, the door opened again and the newlyweds walked in, along with their parents and friends as per the elder's orders. Hajiya Kaka sent a message to Aydah's grandmother to gather everyone, and because she trusted her friend, she did just that.

Once everyone was there and seated, Hajiya Kaka turned around to glare at Laure. "Laure, I don't know what kind of imbecility is affecting you but I will not allow you to ruin this wedding!"

Laure stepped back, just as everyone else in the room had their eyes widened. They couldn't believe their ears. Did Hajiya Kaka speak English fluently? The woman that couldn't pronounce 'picture' correctly.

Hajiya Hameeda, stunned, leaned towards her mother who only had a smirk on her face. "Mama, is that really Hajiya Kaka?"

Hajiya Talatu's smirk simply widened. "Never judge a book by its cover" Was her only reply. She grew up with Hajiya Kaka so she obviously knew what the woman is capable of. The woman is one of those people that would go to any length just to humor everyone she comes across, even if it means acting stupid and illiterate.

But be wary of her anger, because then you'll see the Hajiya Kaka that studied medicine and worked as a medical doctor for 20 years before she retired willingly. She was never one to be swayed by money, which was why she had no problem acting like a poor person or dressing in such way. The woman alone had built over two orphanages which she still takes care of till date. Her wealth goes to that extent.

She simply preferred to use her money to build a better life for herself in the akhira not in the dunyah. That to say does not mean that her children suffers, no, they are all rich and successful. Mintako is a girl she adopted and claim to be her granddaughter only recently, and the woman is planning on sending the girl away to stay with one of her children in Sokoto.

"If you have anything to say to your niece, then say it here in front of everyone in the family. But do not dare try to discomfit both families in front of their guest. Don't you have any compassion in you? Talatu raised you better than this; you insolent child!" Hajiya Kaka yelled, eyes slightly turning red.

Laure scoffed, shaking her head in the process. "Compassion?" She raised a brow, turning around to glare at Hajiya Kaka. She scoffed again, extending her hand over to her assistant who followed them there. The assistant placed a handful of pictures in her hand. She then threw the pictures in Aydah and her husband's direction, "Does that boy have any compassion towards Aydah?!" She yelled, gesturing to the pictures.

Aydah leaned down and picked up the pictures, just as the others did the same—including the parents. There were enough copies there for everyone. On one side of the picture is a picture of Maryam and Ammar from their university days. It wasn't the one Laure showed her before, it was another one. On the other picture is another of them taken recently. Seemingly, only a few weeks.

Maryam gulped, squeezing the picture as she turned her head to glare at Fahad. "This is your doing, isn't it?" She said through gritted teeth.

Fahad simply stared at her then shrugged, "What? You are the one who did the wrong this, or was it me?"

Ammar shook his head, throwing the picture away. He turned around to look at his wife who remained rooted in her position, frozen and unable to speak. "Aydah..." he tried to hold her hands but Laure's words stopped him.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you Ammar..." Her words stopped him. She collected her tablet from her assistant and headed over to Aydah, handing it out to her.

She then pressed play on the video.

~*~

20/6/21.

Love, Jannah.