My darlingssss, the part one of our most anticipated wedding is hereeee. Excited to have been able to finally finish this chapter.

I also hope y'all enjoy it, there's so much to unpack here. 🥺. As you read, please don't forget to comment, even if it's an emoji of how you feel, I'll be glad, please vote, please again, share with your friends. God bless you. 💓💓

Happy Reading.

"Do you think we need to change anything?" Nadia shook the sleeves of the lace she planned to wear for after the wedding fatiha and shook her head in response. All the while looking at her reflection in the mirror.

In the wake of the week before her wedding, she'd done extra shifts, to cover up for some part of the one week she would be away before her official two week holiday. Her face was bore the brunt of the stress, saggy eyebags, tired laugh lines lined near her lips and she wished to fall into a bed. But she had to do one more fitting before being free.

"Why are you sighing? Didn't Alhaji ask you to let him call CMD? You're here sighing like you were supposed to be working day and night and then be on your period as well. Do you want to kill yourself?" Nadia eyed Hajarah who was testing the strength of veil during Hajarah's wedding, her veil had torn from someone stepping on it.

So Hajarah pulled and pulled at the light blue train veil that the stylist had recommended to add flare to the pictures.

Since they really had no idea how to plan the outfits, the event planner had suggested they employ a stylist. Though what the stylist took for one consultation and appearances at fittings was around Nadia's monthly salary, she didn't mind, she didn't want to look like a bag of cotton, bore did she want anything overly fitted.

The stylist did just that, they, together with the fashion designers, designed dresses that fit Nadia's hourglass frame, but didn't put her figure on display as well. Nadia's personal choice was elegant and comfortable.

The designer tucked in some parts of the skirt and asked Nadia to take a look at it. Nadia did as the older woman had said and nodded, she turned to the side, taking the heavy veil embroidered with cut out parts of the lace she was wearing and looked appreciatively at the person in the mirror. However tired she looked, her heart was full with happiness that she couldn't describe.

It was as though peace in her decision came as moments inched closer to the wedding. The other time she had been engaged, she termed the fear she had felt as butterflies. She was not scared, she was flush and stood strong in the decision she had made with Allah's help.

She stepped off the platform that raised her from the ground and went into the changing room with an apprentice of the fashion house. Once she was changed, she hung her crossbody bag around her, adjusted the black hijab she wore over a kaftan gown she'd gotten from a ready to wear store in Abuja.

"Let's go." Hajarah and Folake who had arrived that morning to Kano stepped out of the bungalow that held the fashion house. They got into the Nadia's car and drove to a turaren wuta store that she'd smelt their incense a while back and wanted to buy from. Their sandalwood incense could cloud the senses and Nadia loved how well done it was.

On their way there, Hajarah asked Nadia, "I am scared for you, really. You don't look like you're in love." Nadia heard Folake gasp, but she unclasped the seatbelt she wore and moved forward to hear Nadia's response.

"Why do you think I don't love Abdullah?" Hajarah choked on her words at how Nadia called Alhaji's name without the respectful prefix.

Nadia looked at her friend with a smiling face as she turned into an avenue that would take them to the shop. Hajarah was still in the throes of shock.

"Why are you surprised? His name is Abdullah, he's about to be my husband, did you really think I would keep calling him, 'Sir' or 'Alhaji'? No." She pressed on the brakes slowly as a man with kegs in a pushcart crossed quickly Infront of her.

"I just didn't think you had so many emotions for him, don't get me wrong, I know you like him very much, it's evident but that giddy freshness that comes with being in love, I don't see it." Folake who was watching them both asked,

"Visibly in love you mean?" Hajarah thought on it for a moment, before nodding and agreeing, "I think that's what I was trying to ask in the first place." Nadia nodded, turning on her traffic indicators as they turned into a quiet street, it would link them to another street.

"Love doesn't have to be a groundbreaking, butterflies-in-the- stomach, unease lookalike emotion, at least not all the time. It can also be, trust and comfort in the knowledge that the person you've chosen will be kind to you. It's also trusting yourself to choose what is right for you." Nadia looked at Hajarah as she parked in front of the store with a gold and black theme,

"I love Abdullah, yes not in that way that you expect, I respect him. But there's also the rest of my life to get to know him without the mask of all this 'courting'. I'm calm Hajarah, I have trust in Allah SWT and that is all that matters. I cannot just bring myself to be excited right now because I feel like my head is in the clouds and I need to sleep my shift away."

********

Nadia got up from the prayer rug. It was a soft, from threads that Nadia had bought from a woman who spun threads somewhere in the Kano textile market. She had fallen asleep on it, but it's softness, as well as the light cotton padding Nadia put in when she was sewing up the sides didn't make her back ache like other rugs.

She ambled to the switch and turned on the room's light, and just as she turned around to go to the bathroom, the door sounded with a sharp knock. The door opened before Nadia could reach it and it was Sarah, alongside UmmulKhair.

"Assalamualaikum, good morning. How are you today, Amarya?" Sarah flopped down on the prayer rug Nadia had neglected to roll up. Nadia watched as Sarah twisted around on it until she was comfortable.

"Walaikum Salam, good morning to you both as well. You're a little more excited than normal." Sarah laughed, a louder than usual happy sound that tickled Nadia's senses.

"I'm just as happy as a lark. You are getting married, I'm becoming family members with Maymunatu, my Rabin Raina, my crush is back in Nigeria, I'm going to be a richer girl by the end of tomorrow, and maybe I'll be able to buy a new laptop." Nadia who had removed the hijab she slept it turned to place the folded form on her bed and caught UmmulKhair rolling her eyes at Sarah's antics.

"She seems to think she'll be offered five million for your sayan Baki. She has even devised a sharing formula." UmmulKhair rolled her eyes again, this time with a loud hiss. To which Nadia began to laugh with abandon, her hands on her knees.

"If you even see two hundred thousand, you better be happy." Nadia said finally after her laughter died out. Sarah humphed, turning her back on her sister and cousin to press her phone.

"You said you were saving to buy a camera, what changed?" Nadia asked, she'd thought she would buy the laptop for Sarah while Sarah would save for the GoPro camera she wanted.

"Maymunatu got it for me and she's bringing it to Kano forme today." Nadia and UmmulKhair gasped in unison, their voices portraying the extent of shock and fear they felt.

"That thing is almost four hundred hundred thousand? Don't you feel like a gold digger collecting such a huge gift from a friend you met just a while ago?" UmmulKhair was the one who asked the question that Nadia was scared to ask.

"Oh well, I didn't think if it that way, it's just a gift between us friends. When did accepting gifts from a friend become such a huge thing? She was pleased to help me buy it, and she said that the joy in my voice when she told me she got it forme was enough." Nadia looked at Sarah, then she let out a sigh.

There was really no way look at it, there was really no way to weigh the gifts that passed around in a friendship. If one were to sit down and count everything one did for friends, it was no longer a friendship, it was now a transaction.

"May Allah strengthen your bond. That is all I can say." Sarah rolled again on the mat and Nadia watched as she caught herself a few times before saying;

"I am going to give her all the money I saved. Then I'll buy a laptop with whatever I save up next." UmmulKhair seemed to ease up at that information. Then she said, "Daddy won't even let you go without knowing where you got the camera from, our own interrogation is small, wait for daddy's."

The water Nadia had turned on was now billowing heat into the room so Nadia ran to turn it off. She returned to the room and said, "I need you both to be my second and third eyes. I have no siblings I can entrust anything to," Sarah launched up from the prayer rug, sliding on the smooth surface before saying,

"Me, you can count on me. As I'm filming, I'm counting those who are around you, I'm watching how they're spraying money as UmmulKhair is picking them, the food you-" UmmulKhair launched a pillow in Sarah's face, it hit the teenager smack in the face.

"You're crazy, money is everything you know, may money not carry you away." Sarah threw the pillow back and flopped down on the floor again.

"At least I'm straightforward about my love for money, you'll be there in need of money for something important but that stupid pride you carry around on your shoulder will not let you ask those who love you!" As she spoke, her voice rose and towards the end of the sentence, she shouted.

"Guys, guys, there's no need to fight." Nadia waved her hands but saw that Sarah was wiping her face, tears had begun to flow from her eyes.

"Why are you crying?" Sarah wiped her eyes some more and said to Nadia, "I have to live up to the expectations she has set, If I want something, as long as UmmulKhair has not asked, they won't give it to me, and God forbid I go to her to help me ask, she'll say no with such malicious intent."

Nadia was taken aback. It had now become something else, usually, it was UmmulKhair who did the complaining about how Sarah was spoiled and allowed to do things.

"You're the one who needs to take the scales of your eyes so you can see properly. How many times am I allowed to go to a friend's party? Have I ever been allowed to travel for a friend's wedding? Haven't you been allowed? You're so young, yet-" Nadia pulled on UmmulKhair and she stopped talking.

"You guys, please stop arguing. Please." They both turned to look at Nadia who was now perched on the side of the bed, wondering how to begin the hard truth she was about to tell them.

"Really, I'm disappointed. You're both quite emotionally mature but you do not show it to yourselves. See how much venom is in the words you're saying to one another?" Sarah had the grace to look down at her hands, Nadia hoped she was ashamed.

"Both of you are good children, amazing sisters even. Have you seen how you treat me? I truly wish we were more than cousins, I'm truly blessed to be related to you two.

In this case however, you must realize that your parents have no manual to raise anyone. They didn't decide to be 'wicked'" Nadia raised her hands, she dropped them back to her lap before looking around the room to make sure they were following.

"You must be together, something as little as how you perceive your parents treatment to you can break the bond you've grown for almost twenty years. You won't find a friendship greater than your sisterhood, always remember that." Nadia got up and went to the bathroom afterwards, she herself had no idea what to say, it was glaringly evident that UmmulKhair and Sarah's parents had a favorite.

********

"Ya Nads? Is your makeup done? We're ready." Sarah's voice reached Nadia where the makeup artist was spraying makeup stay on Nadia's face.

"I'm done!" Nadia burst out, but it was muffled because she had to shut her mouth almost immediately, some of the spray almost got into her mouth.

"Ma Sha Allah!" The voice of Hajarah, Folake and Sarah reached Nadia where she was waiting for the spray to dry. After a few seconds she opened her eyes to see the gleeful look on the face of her cousins and friends.

"What?" Hajarah shook her head, still in wonder, she moved closer to Nadia and clasped her hands together under her chin, still in throes of wonder.

"You're so beautiful, Ma Sha Allah." Nadia felt her resolve dissolve almost immediately, she let the smile she was holding it come out fully, it was such a beautiful sight to behold, the makeup artist had done such a natural looking wonder on Nadia's face, she'd changed into the prettiest atampa gown.

"Infact, if they don't give us a million dollars for you, we don't want again, let them be going, see beauty! Ma Sha Allah!" Nadia let out a chuckle before letting her white veil fly to sit on her shoulder.

"The photographer is downstairs, we should start now so your henna gets scraped off before we sleep," Nadia nodded and stepped off the makeup artist's chair. She walked to the mirror in her room and gasped lowly at the beautiful woman she beheld.

"Ma Sha Allah." She whispered to herself. Stepped away from the mirror and walked to the door with everyone else who was dressed up as well.

The courtyard of Nadia's father's house had been done up to take a twenty person henna/ bridal shower party, Sarah served as the dj while Hajarah would moderate the event.

The venue, set in browns and earth tones, with kwalla bowls atop one another, and raffia mats atop a soft rug were the sitting area, while about eighteen plates and cups and bottles of sparkling water graced the table, with a random sheaf of pampas grass growing out of bottle at strategic points.

"This place is beautiful. When did the planner leave? I didn't see her?" UmmulKhair who had monitored the whole set up whispered back that the planner left to take care of the Kamu's venue since it was more complicated than this one.

They played games, that so many of Nadia's cousins lost out on since they didn't know her so well, they also played some bottle spinning games with prizes ranging from an electric fan to vouchers to a spa. Overall, they enjoyed themselves before calling in the henna artists.

Nadia showed the older henna lady the design that both UmmulKhair and the stylist had designed on her phone. They decided that Nadia's henna had to be red, with the more traditional one on the inside of her palm but the main one on the outside had to be outstandingly red.

The woman nodded and got to work, Nadia watched as UmmulKhair made sure that everyone was settled and in a good place, either getting their henna done or preparing to get it done. The henna artist they hired were about six, they wanted to satisfy everyone that came to the party.

About an hour later, the henna lady was tying up Nadia's hands only leaving space to draw the very red henna. Nadia was now tired and the will to sit for much longer was no longer in her.

She asked UmmulKhair who had moved closer about her phone and rolled her eyes when her cousin shook her head. "The henna needs to be perfect and you can't do that when you're with your phone." Nadia pursed her lips, wondering how she put UmmulKhair the schoolteacher in charge.

She lifted her voice and started a conversation with Saadah, a two time roommate of hers in nursing school, who they worked at Diezemane hospitals in Kano.

"Remember that woman that had twins in our first year and twins in our second year?" Nadia nodded excitedly, the woman in question had twins in the space of their posting in their first and second year, then had twins again twice when Nadia and Saadah began working.

"She had twins again?" Saadah who had looked down to monitor what her henna artist was doing, raised her head up to excitedly reply that yes, she indeed had another set of twins.

"Making eight children or ten children? Please let's be sure oo." Nadia asked laughingly, the human body and nature was such a beautiful thing.

"Making ten. She said she's never getting pregnant again." Hajarah who knew the said woman laughed out loud and said, "She's only been pregnant five times, it's not such a bad thing to be pregnant again."

Conversation milled around the venue and soon, Nadia's henna was done, ready to dry. Sarah came close eating a piece of barbecued meat from a kebab stick. She offered some to Nadia and when she nodded, Sarah pulled off a piece together with it's piece of tomato and pepper, it was lightly dusted with some yaji.

A burst of taste spilled into Nadia's mouth as she chewed the juicy meat, savory spices and the sweetness of seasoned pepper followed and created the best sensation, the exact reason Nadia made sure she had a barbecue event.

"Thank you baby." She whispered to Sarah who was now pulling Nadia's strawed sparkling drink to Nadia's mouth. Nadia took a deep sip and was sorry to feel the taste of the meat go away.

At around eight pm, the party had packed up, everyone who lived in Kano had gone home, while the rest trudged to their rooms to sleep for the next day.

Nadia was helped to her room by UmmulKhair and Hajarah, followed closely by Sarah and Folake who debated whether Kim Kardashian deserved her fame or not, and how did one get famous like that.

Finally in her room, they began to unravel the polythene bags that had been wrapped around her feet several times to keep moisture out if the henna designs. Nadia's phone rang and Sarah, who was with it, checked and put it between Nadia's ear and shoulder.

Nadia's dress was quite tight at the elbow so it really couldn't bend without the fear of tearing, so she opted to have her call taken so uncomfortably.

"Assalamualaikum, lafiya?" She happily asked Alhaji, but her happy tone died out when she heard his dull tone.

"Is everything okay?" She asked him, though as she said it her heart was beating, so fast her head spun for a moment and she didn't hear his words.

"I didn't quite get that?" This time, Alhaji sighed before repeating himself.

"Are you leaving me? Is that it?"

*******

Sooo. No one should kill me oo, e get as this matter be and it's not my favorite princess please. My girl is still cooling off at home. So y'all should guess this one out.

I'm off to find outfits for Nadia because I left it for last minute and now I'm struggling. 😭😂

The illustration in the multimedia is by ImaanHammad on Instagram, tried to describe but my head was paining me.

See y'all on Friday, or Saturday, or whenever God blesses me with inspiration.

Love y'all.

TheOmoope 💙💙