ABUJA, NIGERIA.

Bulama Residence,

9:09am

Finally, the big day is here.

Aydah's flat was closed off from anyone apart her two best friends, the designers, hair stylists and whatnot. Apart from that, no one is allowed there. Every other person and guests are piled in the main flat. Some of the guest whom the news of the date change got to them arrived early that morning, and that was a lot of people.

Aydah eventually got over the fact that she only gets one event and was determined to make the best of it; with no problem at all. The nikah is set to take place at 11 prompt and almost all the male have left to the masjid already even though there's still two hours left.

Aydah is still in her room having her makeup done. She looked down at her phone when she felt it ping indicating that a message came in. She smiled seeing that it's yet another wedding wish from one of her friends just like she's been getting since morning. She fixed her robe and raised her head up allowing the makeup artist continue his work.

Just as the makeup artist finished Ummulkhairi and Maryam walked in. Aydah smiled at them but the smile dropped when she saw the looks on their faces.

"What is it guys?" she asked looking between the two.

Maryam bit her lips and looked away while Ummulkhair sighed.

"Khairi what is it?" Aydah asked turning to face them now with her eyes squinted slightly.

Ummulkahir looked at Maryam for help but the girl just shrugged raising her hands in surrender making her sigh again, "Fine. But first promise you won't freak out" she said to Aydah in a supposedly calm tone.

"Just tell me what it is"

A man followed behind when Maryam and Ummulkhair kept quiet. The man is about a foot taller than Siddiqah and is all dressed up in a blue blazer which he paired with black trousers and a matching stripped suspenders on the top. A tartan bow sat around his collar with a sleek raven brogues on top of the white socks he has on. His bald head seem to shine from either having too much cream rubbed on it or from the chandelier glistening above; or both.

"Who is this kuma?" Siddiqah stared at the man weirdly whom has a grin plastered on his face.

"He is...." Ummulkahir trailed off.

Aydah raised a brow, "He is what?" she asked watching her two best friends with hawk eyes knowing that something is definitely up.

"He is a tailor" Maryam was the one whom mustered up the courage to answer.

Aydah's face masks with confusion. Only when the bits of information given to her began to puzzle in lace did she notice the zip up dress bah in his hand; a familiar dress bag in particular. She raised a brow, anger brewing up in her, "And what is this tailor doing with my dress bag?"

"Well you see..." Maryam fiddled with her fingers, "There had been a small, slight accident with your dress"

"What kind of accident?" Aydah asked internally hoping it wasn't what she's thinking.

"See we were...."

"You were—"

Maryam glared at Ummulkhair for pinning it all on her but didn't say anything knowing it's true, "I was getting it out for you when I saw that the cape is creased up so I gave it to one of the maids to iron it out"

"You asked a maid to iron a designer outfit?" Aydah asked, her voice rising slightly.

"I thought she will iron the crease out!" Maryam defended herself raising her hands up slightly.

"And what happened?" Aydah asked closing her eyes knowing that she'll not like the words that will come out of their mouth next.

"It's..."Maryam tariled off.

"Burnt" Ummulkhair finished the statement.

"So let me get this straight" Aydah said slowly, standing up, "You" she pointed at Maryam, "Thought my outfit is all creased up so you asked a maid to iron an outfit that wasn't even made in Nigeria. She burnt it, am I correct?" she asked calmly contradicting the reaction they were expecting from her.

Her two friends nodded knowing the storm is about to come.

"And what is he doing here?" she pointed at the so called tailor.

"I had him fix it" Ummulkhair said attempting to smile at Aydah in assurance, but she failed noting the way Aydah's eyes narrowed at her.

Aydah snapped her fingers at the tailor, "Let me see it" He brought forth the dress bag and laid it on an ottoman before zipping it open. He brought out the cape slowly creating as much suspense to all the people in the room including the makeup artist and his assistants whom watch the show quietly somehow finding it entertaining.

Maryam and Ummulkhair exchanged looks amongst themselves.

"What village are you from" Aydah asked her breathing becoming higher.

"Ma'am" the tailor looked at the cape then her.

"I SAID WHAT VILLAGE ARE YOU FROM?!" she yelled making them all flinch, "What is this?" she points to the thing in his hand with brows creased and lips set into a scowl, "Does this even make sense to you?" she asked with an exasperated and livid look on her face.

Her once complete off white cape gown with sequins all over is now half off white and half toyobo orange with green stones. It honestly doesn't even look like something a village person will wear.

"Ma'am this is exactly what I did for a bride once" the man stated with so much confidence as if that will mean something,

"When was that?" Maryam asked in horror of which bride in this decade will wear that nonsense and embarrassment.

"2009"

Aydah's body shook with anger.

The next thing everyone realized is the tailor being thrown out of the house like a shirt tossed out alongside with the cape and his no shirt or singlet. His shoes and shirt were flung out to the street for him too and his suspenders and bow followed last.

"It is just for the photo shoot you can wear the gown only" Suggested Ummulkhair as she and Maryam watch Aydah pace around her room after she had the tailor thrown out; she send everyone else out except her two best friends whom she is still very mad at.

"Yeah besides you have other outfits to wear after this one" Added Maryam pointing to Aydah's closet stock with many outfits all intended for the wedding day and events.

Aydah sat on her bed burying her face in her palms, "This isn't how I expected the day to began" she mumbled but they heard her.

Maryam and Ummulkhair exchange dlooks between themselves before they walked towards her, both settling one side of her; left and right.

"The day is just starting" Maryam said placing a hand on Aydah's shoulder.

"Exactly" Ummmulkhair agreed, "And in just three hours you'll become Mrs. Ammar Edrees Bulama" she teased Aydah whom turned away making them all smile at the sudden change of mood in the atmosphere, "Now does the future Mrs. Bulama wants to sit on her bed all day and sulk?"

"Or does she want to get up, dress up, and get the wedding started?" Maryam cuts in finishing Ummukhair's statement.

"Seriously" Ummulkahir said, all trace of lark gone from her face and tone, "It all depends on whether you'll let something this small ruin the wedding you've been planning on for years"

Aydah raised her head and looked at the girls with her lips set into a staright line. "Actually girls..." she stood up from her bed turning to face them both, "Let's get the wedding started"

Maryam squealed while Ummulkahir laughs gently, "Now that's what I'm talking about"

~*~

BULAMA RESIDENCE.

10:02am.

"Angon Siddiqah" exclaimed Anwar as he watched his brother put on a heavily brocade pearl white gara to finish his babbar riga look with the help of JD.

Ammar smiled standing upright while JD fixes the gara, "You can say that again" he replied making them all laugh.

"He'll not let us rest today since he's finally getting married" Anwar said perching himself on one of the numerous sosfa's in Ammar's room besidr his balcony door.

"You're not supposed to rest on my wedding day" Said Ammar one JD was done fixing the gara. He proceeded to put on his wrist watch and then made sure his hair is all styled up to fit a groom for the umpteenth time that day.

"It's a 24 hours something, it's nothing we can't handle" Anwar said poring himself some champagne in a wine glass. Afterwards, he picked up the glass and leaned back on the sofa crossing his legs, "Thank God we're only having dinner today after the nikah"

"Honestly speaking..." Ammar started picking up his Zanna Bukar cap which JD took out of his hold to help him with, "I prefer having all the events in one day. It carets less room for drama and believe me, Aydah won't respond well to wedding dramas today"

"Iyye..." teased Anwar after sipping his champagne, "Su I know how my wife will react"

"Shut up" Ammar galred at him playfully trying to hide the smiel on his afce.

"Well today he is going to be a husband" JD said for the first time fixing Ammar's Zanna Bukar cap for him. Ammar then picked up several perfumes and sprayed it on as if he's bathing in it.

"That's right!" Agreed Anwar. "So the great Zayn Ammar Bulama finally steps down from bachelorhood" he added feigning wonder. "Wonders shall never end"

"Idiot" Ammar picked up one of the throw cushions and aimed it at his brother successfully hitting his face.

The men laughed.

"We still have an hour to the nikah. We better leave now" JD said after checking the time on his Rolex wrist watch.

They all nodded in agreement each preparing to head out. Ammar reached out and picked up his car keys.

"What are you doing?" Anwar asked when he saw what his brother did.

Ammar stared at him with a raised eye brow, "Picking up my car keys. Why?"

"Come on bro!" Anwar snatched the key out of his brother's hold, "You're the groom. Watcha' gon' do with ya' car keys man?"

Ammar looked at his friend for help but JD just raised his hands up indicating he wants nothing to do with this.

"Anwar..." Ammar stated warningly.

"Ya Ammar chill! You have nothing to worry about let's go" he started walking ahead not waiting for them.

"Let's go!" he repeated when he noticed that none of them followed afterwards as they just stood staring at him.

JD then shrugged when Ammar looked at him again still not like the idea, "Let's just go" he pats his friend on the shoulder, "I hope this goes well"

~*~

"Ammar"

They all stopped in their tracks when they saw Hajiya Juwairiyya Umaimah in the living room sitting on one of the sofas when she called her name.

Ammar nodded at the two guys giving them the go ahead sign so as to have some privacy with his mother, "I'll see you guys downstairs" he said.

Once Anwar and JD left he walked towards her.

"Come, sit" She pats the space next to her on the couch.

He did as instructed and watches his mother cautiously. He knew she still wasn't keen on the idea of his marriage with Siddiqah so he is being cautious around her.

She looked at son fondly, "You look handsome" she commented with a small smile on her face.

"Thank you mom" he smiled back.

She sighed when she notices the way he kept looking at her warily, "You know I'm not going to make you call off the wedding right?"

He smiled slightly but didn't say anything.

"But that doesn't mean I don't want you to" she added making him sigh and look away knowing they're back to square one once again.

"Mom..."

"I know I know" she raised a hand to stop him, "It's not possible and for that I'm giving you my blessing"

He raised his head up instantly, "Are you really?" a hint of hope in his tone.

She nodded with a smile on her face, "But that doesn't mean I'm accepting her into my family as a daughter in law" she warned traces of lark disappearing from her tone.

"Mom she's a good person" he said in a tone that states that he's clearly tired of having this conversation with her, "Just give her a chance and get to know her"

Hajiya Juwairiyya Umaimah looked away, "You're running late. You better leave now" she said still not looking at him.

He sighed, "Mom..."

"You can't be late to your own nikah right? Just go" she offered him a small smile though it didn't reach her eyes.

He nodded and stood up the same time she stood up too. She fixes the folds of her gara for him though there's no flaw to it, "Allah bada zaman lafiya"

"Ameen" he said in appreciation that she at least wished him well.

They walked down the stairs together but parted ways when he headed to the parking lot while she heads back into the mansion crowded with guests that he doesn't know more than half of. Thankfully, they didn't see him otherwise they would have crowded him and made him feel uncomfortable.

Ammar stopped in his tracks when he looked at the parking lot and saw zero cars. JD's car wasn't there. Anwar's car wasn't there and neither was his. All other cars weren't there too.

He called JD but he didn't pick up. Same thing happened with Anwar.

"What the actual hell" Ammar muttered placing a hand on his forehead when he realized the situation in hand.

The groom is stranded.

~**~

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15/09/2020