April 19.

Karaye, Kano.

Khadijah Daaihah's POV

I watched as Adda Anee calmly put on her studs, taking her time before proceeding to maneuver her head tie and applying makeup on her face.

She then applied a roan lipstick, the perfect shade to her lilac ankara mermaid gown. You know what she did next? The woman proceeds to pick up her Samsung snapping pics of herself like she has no care in the world. Can you imagine?

She should be anxious, nervous, and apprehensive even! And every other word that would fit in the category but no, she's calm.

I don't see how she can be so calm on a day like this.

I'm not the one to meet them yet I'm the one freaking out. I'm trying to make sure everything goes as planned; there are no side holes or loose ends in this matter. It took me hours to get her lazy ass out of the bed, into the shower and to dress up. You'll think I'm the eldest between us.

Well, today is the day Adda Anee's supposed and potential in-laws are coming to visit, both to see her and for the 30th anniversary.

The entire family is coming, ranging from the father to the youngest daughter; I think her name is Afnan or Minal. I don't really know. They arrived yesterday together with other guests, then stayed at the royal maisonette. Today, they'll be visiting the royal palace. The elders still won't tell us the family name, so we have to wait and let our eyes see.

I am shining my eyes well.

"Adda Anee, for Allah's sake! Please, I beg of you, hurry up!" I pleaded; tired of bossing her around. What's the point of it when she'll not listen to me? She'll just remind me that she's the eldest between the two of us.

She snapped another picture of herself before setting her phone aside; she then flashed me a smile, "Daihaah, why are you so worked out? I'm all dressed up already"

"Because....Becauseyoudon'twantthismarriageandi'mafraidyoumightwanttosabotageit " I replied in one breath.

Her face held an amused expression "Say it again please, slower, and this time in English" She did not bother to hide the smile on her face.

I inhaled deeply and exhaled, deciding to repeat myself slower this time "Because you don't want this marriage and I'm afraid you might want to sabotage it" I said before releasing a breath I didn't realize I was holding in.

She chuckled "Yes, I do not want it, but still, it's my wedding. So, you should chill out. I'm not going to attempt to ruin it in any way"

"Okay. If you say so. But you still have to put on your laffaya" I reminded her.

She looked over to the bed where the pitch black laffaya laid. The candelabrum making the lapis lazuli on it shimmers. Hajiya Kaka gave it to her as a pre wedding gift "I know" She said before looking at the time on her phone whilst fixing the gold wristlet on her wrist "We still have about 15-25 minutes before they get here, so that means I can enjoy my life before they arrive"

I nodded my head in agreement.

I slumped on my bed, picked up my phone and saw a message from Muhsin.

Muhsin~ Mutumiyar.

I smiled.

Daihaah~ Yaya Sweetheart

Muhsin~ Iye?! What am I seeing? What is Yaya Sweetheart again?

I laughed at the terrified emojis he sent with the message.

Daihaah~ It's true na. Don't you know that if a guy is older than you, you should call his name with respect?

I stifled a laugh while Adda Anee sent me a suspicious look to which I shrugged feigning innocence.

Muhsin~ Toh fa...

Daihaah~ Yesso Ya Bae, Uncle Boo, Sir Darling, Honorable love, Mr. Sweetheart...

Muhsin~ Please stop, this is endearment abuse!

Daihaah~ Are you sure Yaya Love?

Muhsin~ Yes Hanty Other half, I'm 100% sure.

Daihaah~ What is Hanty Other half kuma?

Muhsin~ Ehen na, that's my new endearment for you

Daihaah~ Ya Rahman! Just forget it, when are you coming back?

Muhsin~ Soon, so take care of yourself ok?

~If anything odd happen remember Allah Subhanahu Wa ta'ala is with you, you're not alone.

I stared at my phone. I tilted my head slightly and creased my eye brows in perplexity, my lips stretched into a tight line. His sudden change of mood confusing me. Nevertheless, I choose to ignore it.

Daihaah~ Ok...In Shaa Allah

"Daihaah help me with this please!" Adda Anee said holding up the laffaya in her hand.

"Ok" I stood.

Daihaah~ Bye! I got to go, I'll call you later.

I kept my phone aside and walked towards Adda Anee to help her with it. Thankfully, Ummi's never ending practice on how to wear a laffaya properly like any other girl made me a mastermind when it comes to fixing laffayas. So, in ten minutes, we were done. Adda Anee really looks like a bride dressed in her laffaya, I couldn't help but stare in awe.

I wiped away my fake tears and sniffed "Awww, my dearest sister looks like a bride" I cooed clamping my hands together as I stared after taking a few steps back.

She rolled her eyes but a small smile graced her lips "You are so dramatic" she said shaking her head slightly.

Just as I was about to reply, the door kicked open and in walked the craziest person I know--our cousin, Mahira. No, she's the second craziest. My best-friend definitely takes first place in that category.

"HELLO LADIES!!!" She yelled.

Mahira is Baffa Lamido and Inna Nana's second child. She's nothing like her parents; she's nice, carefree, and bubbly. She's also that kind of person that is blunt, she always says what's on her mind and that's why she doesn't get along with Inna Nana much.

"Heyyyy" I squealed walking towards her, before engulfing her in a tight bear hug.

"Damn girl did you gain some weight or somethin'? Cuz you're looking great, not so skinny like before" She said to me giving me a once over.

I smiled shaking my head. "You'll never change"

"Hey! Where's the fun in that? I can't be as boring as y'all now" She replied waving her hands in the air to explain her point.

She turned to Adda Anee who is staring at us in amusement "And oh my Allah! If it isn't the bride of the year, my beloved Fatimah Aneesah!!" she squealed rushing over to where Adda Anee stood to hug her.

Yes, she's that weird.

"Mah-ira, too—tight" Adda Anee said chuckling.

"Sorry not sorry!" Mahira sneered releasing Adda Anee from the embrace.

"Oh and by the way, your in-laws had arrived already, they're waiting for you" She added shrugging her shoulders with a sly smile on her face.

"THEY'RE HERE?!" Adda Anee and I asked at the same time—eyes wide as saurcers.

"Yeah, like 5 minutes ago. The elders sent me to call you, and it might've slipped off my mind" She said slowly knowing that Adda Anee is about to blow up. One thing Adda Anee despises is tardiness, she hates being tardy.

"You know what? I can't deal with you right now let's just go before they get any more ideas about me being a tardy daughter in-law!" Adda Anee nearly yelled out of annoyance.

Mahira and I stifled our laughter as we help her to where her soon to be in-laws are waiting.

~*~

There's only one word to describe Adda Anee's mother in law;

Nice!

She's like the nicest woman I've ever met. But for some reason, her eldest daughter, Zainab Samhah doesn't think so for reasons I'm unaware of.

Her other daughter Ameena Afnan doesn't talk much, she just smiles whenever a conversation is directed towards her. I really couldn't help but stare at the two girls, are they even Nigerians? Because they definitely don't look like it. They look almost Arab, but then again Anty Rabi, their mother looks Fulani, so...I don't know anymore.

This is really messing my mind.

We still don't know which family they're from. 'We' as in I, Adda Anee, Mahira and our younger siblings.

But, judging from the unwavering smile etched on Umma's face, I'm a hundred percent sure it's a very rich family. That woman and her obsession with money and fame greatly baffles me.

We are still yet to meet the potential and supposed groom, along with his immediate brother and father. They're with Baba and the male elders; we'll meet them later on.

Although Adda Anee is pretending to not be fazed by all these, I can still see pass her facade. She's nervous and anxious about all this. It must be overwhelming having to have an arranged marriage you're unaware of, meeting your potential in laws and groom all a few days before the wedding.

"So, Aneesah dear, where do you want to reside?" Anty Rabi asked Adda Anee who remained unable to say a word.

Excuse me what?

"Shouldn't Yaya be the one to ask her that?" Samhah spoke up for the first time in a while.

"Young girl there's nothing wrong with your mother asking" Umma who is seated next to Anty Rabi said, quick to jump in.

I looked over to Anty Rabi who has a smile on her face, but it didn't reach her slightly narrowed eyes. If you don't look really close, you wouldn't notice it. Afnan looked between the duos and released a fed up sigh.

"Yeah right!" Samhah huffed looking away.

What's going on?

"What the jahannam is going on?" Mahira who's sitting next to me whispered.

"I don't know" I whispered back.

Mahira's eyes widen in interest "Oh family issues! Me likey. This is our area of expertise" She gushed shaking her head suddenly interested. This girl, her love for gossip and lack of sense is nothing new and surprising.

"May Allah bestow upon you an iota of sense my dearest cousin" I said lightly patting her shoulder.

"Amen!" She dramatically answered back.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, the guest went to eat food which we joined them. Hajiya Kaka prepared a special feast for them which I'm glad wasn't awkward at all. I actually got to bond with Samhah, she's a really nice person and it seems like she's only rude towards Anty Rabi, her supposed mother.

Later on, together with Anty Rabi, Samhah and Afnan only, Adda Anee, Mahira and I waited for the groom, his father and brother to arrive.

We sat at Baba's chambers. Abba, Ya Moh and Ya Abdul joined us; Ya Abba and Ya Audu are with Umma and Hajiya Kaka running some errands. The male guests had returned to their maisonette but will be back any minute from now.

Adda Anee kept fiddling with her fingers while I tried to assure her all will be fine In Shaa Allah.

"Oh they're here!" Anty Rabi informed just as the door opened.

All our heads snapped to that direction including Adda Anee. Our jaws dropped and hit the floor, our eyes dilated and were wide as saucers.

In walked three identical men, and believe me they look like triplets if not for the age difference. All of them are of same height and facial features, and wide grins etched on their faces—except one.

The one in the middle seems to be the father, but he looked nothing over 50 years, there are no wrinkles on his face at all, not one. The one to the right I think is the groom; he doesn't look over 30 years while the one to the left might be the brother who seemed to be in his twenties.

Then it clicked.

THE EL KHABIRS.

Oh My Allah...

"Well, damn, aren't they striking?" Mahira whispered making me send her a glare.

I looked over to Adda Anee who is staring at the groom in recognition, I thought it was just awe but when I looked over to the groom and see the smug smirk on his face, I know there must be a story or history between them, and I can't wait to find out what it is.