"Ruqayyah Aliyu Omar!" A lady,probably in her early twenties yelled,banging on the door. Ruqayyah stretched her body and got up from the bed. She opened the door,revealing her cousin's face. She quickly threw her arms around her.

"I missed you so much,Afnan." She pulled back,admiring her cousin's beauty. "Come inside." Afnan sat on Ruqayyah's bed,smiling at her. The duo are very close despite the age difference. Afnan is older than Ruqayyah with few years. She is her maternal cousin.

"I missed you too. I am so excited." Afnan couldn't hide her excitement. The last time she saw Ruqayyah was during her brother's wedding in Kaduna. That was three years ago.

"I am also excited." Ruqayyah smiled. She felt a little embarrassed at how scattered her room was. She is not shy of Afnan,but her room shouldn't be this scattered. She has been pressing her phone since she woke up.

"We are finally having a wedding in the family. Everyone will be here. Let me text Farha and ask her when she is coming." Afnan brought out her phone from the handbag to text Farha.

"Okay." She quickly arranged her room before her mother comes and sees it like that. The house will be full with people today. Her elder sister,Hamida will be married in four days. No one will won't to miss the grand wedding happening between two cousins. She is getting married to their cousin,Sudais.

"Farha said she is not coming today." Afnan said,feeling a little bit sad.

"Her brother is the one getting married." Ruqayyah rolled her eyes. How can she come to the bride's house when she is the groom's only sister? "They are probably busy with the preparations." Ruqayyah entered the bathroom before Afnan could reply her. She took her bath and came out of the bathroom. Her towel was securely tied on her chest.

Afnan was asleep by the time she came out. She didn't sleep well simply because she wanted to fulfill her promise. She promised Ruqayyah that she will be the first person she sees today. She came here all the way from kaduna.

Shaking her head at Afnan,she rubbed her body oil. She brought out her a shape gown. Afnan was also wearing the same cloth. She wore her underwear and slip into her cloth. Today is going to be a very busy day. There is no need for makeup. She isn't a fan of makeup. Ruqayyah went downstairs to eat. She didn't want to wake Afnan up.

"Assallamu'alaikum" She muttered,walking into the kitchen. Her mother was there with a family member.

"Wa'alaikum sallam" They all replied. Her mother smiled at her. That smile always brighten her day. She returned the smile and hugged her.

"Good morning,Aunty Larai." She greeted.

"How was your night? You are always clinging to your mum. You will get married and leave her someday." Aunty Larai smiled,shaking her head. Ruqayyah and her mum are inseparable. Hajiya Hassana is like that with all her children. They are always clinging to her.

"I won't get married anytime soon. Ya Habiba is not even married." She mentally rolled her eyes. This is part of the reason she hates any sort of family gathering. They will be talking to her about marriage.

"Okay oo" Aunty Larai went out of the kitchen leaving only her and Hajiya Hassana there.

"I am starving,Mum." Ruqayyah opened the fridge and brought out a bottle of water. She wanted to drink directly from the bottle,but she remember her mum was there. She doesn't like it when they take water directly from the bottle. She carried a glass cup and poured water into it. She drank everything,waiting for her mum to give her food.

"Here" Hajiya Hassana passed a plate of food to her.

"Thank you" She grinned and went out of the kitchen. She went to her room upstairs because she doesn't like eating on the dining table. She will do anything to avoid seeing people.

Afnan was fast asleep,snoring lightly. She will never agree she snores. Ruqayyah ate her food quietly and kept the plate on the floor. She carried her phone and sent the invitation card to her friend,Farida. Ruqayyah met Farida in secondary school. Farida is the only friend she can be comfortable with. They became friends since they were in secondary school.

"I am hungry." Afnan said,startling Ruqayyah. When did she wake up?

"You scared me." She glared at her.

"I am hungry." Afnan yawned and closed her mouth with her hand.

"Aunty is downstairs. Tell her to give you food." Ruqayyah said,typing on her phone. Afnan rolled her eyes and got up from the bed. She left the room and went downstairs in search of what to eat.
............
"Let's sleep there tonight. I promise it will be fun,please." Afnan pleaded with a puppy face.

"I don't like sleeping in other people's house." Ruqayyah continue reading the book she is holding. Afnan has been begging her to sleep in their cousin's house today. She isn't comfortable sleeping in other people's house.

"They are your neighbors. They live next door,Ruqayyah. Why are you behaving like this?" Afnan was fed up with Ruqayyah's attitude. The girl is an introvert. She barely talk to people other than her parents and siblings. It's a miracle they became close with her.

"It's still not my parent's house." Ruqayyah knew Afnan was right. Her aunty lives in the next house but she barely visits them. Habiba is the only one that goes there often.

"Please Ruqayyah." Afnan beseeched. She didn't want her to miss out the fun and everything.

"Okay" Ruqayyah mumbled but loud enough for her to hear.

"Yay! She cheered and hugged her. Ruqayyah forced a smile and continue reading her book. Afnan wanted to snatch the book away from her. She is always reading if she is not writing.

"It's your sister's wedding. Stop reading. Let's go and have fun." Afnan didn't like how she behaves. Her sister is getting married. Isn't she suppose to be with her and talk about everything before she leaves their house?

"Can you leave? I want to be alone please? I don't want disturbance." Ruqayyah said,rudely. Afnan was already accustomed to her attitude.

She left the room without saying a word to her. Ruqayya is clearly not ready to change. She is always in her room during wedding functions. Her parents don't say anything about it so who is she to complain?

Ruqayyah continued reading,ignoring the noises in the house. She couldn't concentrate on the book,but she will rather sit in her room than go to the living room or any other place in the house.

"Where is Ruqayya? The henna artist is here. Won't she get her henna done?" Hassana asked Afnan who was coming downstairs. Afnan mentally rolled her eyes. Why is the woman behaving like she doesn't know her daughter?

"She is in her room." Afnan replied her. Hassana understood what she means. She tried to bring her downstairs,but she didn't agree. She nodded and went upstairs to meet her.

"Ruqayya!" Hassana called,knocking on her door. She opened the door and smiled at her mother.

"Is there a problem?" She asked her mum. Isn't she suppose to be with her guests? Why is she here?

"The henna artist is here. Won't you...."

"You know I don't like applying henna on my hands." She cut in before her mum could finish talking. Hassana rolled her eyes at her daughter.

"It's your sister's wedding,Ruqayyah. I expect you to be happy for her." Isn't she suppose to be excited about the wedding? Why is she acting nonchalant about it?

"Why won't I be happy? I am happy she is getting married. I will come downstairs in a jiffy." She picked up her veil and tied it into a turban. Hassana stared at her daughter smiling. She had to use that method in order to get her downstairs. Ruqayyah is one weird person. She hates having fun unlike her sister,Habiba.

"Let's go." She said,interrupting her thoughts. She nodded and went out of the room with her daughter trailing behind her.

"You should go outside while I attend to my guests." Her mother smiled and went to the living room. She went to the kitchen and went outside through the back door. There are a lot of people in the livingroom. She can't go out through there. Their compound is very big. They are having the henna party there.

She smiled at her sister who was having her henna done. Hamida smiled at her and continue chatting with her friends. Anyone could clearly see how excited she is about the wedding.

"Ruqayyah!" Afnan called. "Come and sit here." She patted at the space beside her. Ruqayyah nodded and sat close to her. She greeted her cousins with a fake smile plastered on her face. Habiba was busy swaying her hips to the music to notice her presence. The event is strictly for females. Not like Habibah cares. She will dance in front of both females and males.

"Do you like my design?" Afnan asked Ruqayyah who was busy typing on her phone. She nodded without even looking at it . "You didn't look at it." Afnan said,shaking her head at her cousin.

"Sorry." She apologized. Afnan stared at her briefly and continue chatting with their other cousins. She is trying to have a conversation with her,but she is clearly not interested.

"She is too proud. Who the hell does she think she is?" Ikram whispered to Fatima's ear. Ruqayyah heard them loud and clearly. She ignored them not wanting to create a scene at her sister's henna party. The duo are her maternal cousin.

"She didn't even apply henna on her hands." Fatima said,glaring at her.

"She came here very late. She is way too arrogant for my liking." Batoulah quickly added. Ruqayya heard their conversation,but chose to keep quiet. This isn't the right time to give them a reply. What is wrong with people? Why are they always complaining about everything you do? You never satisfy humans. The best thing is to do what is right and leave the rest. They will still complain about you.

"Let's dance." Afnan said,grinning. She knows Ruqayyah will never agree to dance but there is no harm in trying.

"No please." Afnan was not surprised. She knows Ruqayyah like the back of her hand.

"Okay" She smiled and got up to join her other cousins. There is no use trying to convince her.

Ruqayyah got tired of sitting there. She got up and went to her room with the excuse of going there to pray.

The first chapter is here😁😁

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