In the middle of the night, when she was sure no one was awake, Ameena snuck out of her room, walked stealthily as she felt her way in the darkness, careful not to wake anyone.

She went out the back door into the back yard. She climbed the tree and found a sturdy branch where she sat.

She was not out to gaze or marvel at the beauty of the stars, for like the typical Nigerian, she had no business with star gazing or any fascination with its constellations.

She sat and listened to the wind make soothing whispers in her ears. She was in the company of her loneliness, making some disconsolate wishes and then undoing some. She played various scenarios in her head of what could have been and what couldn't be.

Her wedding is tomorrow morning. Although she had accepted her fate, a small part of her wished by some magical twist, that the wedding will be scraped. She had been advised to pray that night, but unfortunately, she was at that time of the month when she couldn't.

So instead, she sat there and enjoyed the last hours of her freedom in blissful solitude.

The warm midnight breeze was becoming cooler against her skin.
She has lost track of time and soon, the call for As-salatu filled the neighborhood. She took a deep breath as she made her way down.
_____________________________________

The incessant banging on her door was slowly beginning to get on her nerves. What part of "I want to be alone" did they not understand?

"Meenu! Open the door this instant or by Allah, I will find someone to break it down!" Screamed her aunt.

"Meenu don't do this, why now? Please open the door." Deejah pleaded.

"Why are you pleading? Let her be, shutting the door won't stop the wedding from taking place." Another aunt said.

"Ameena, please listen to them and open up." Demi begged.

Finally, the voices quiet down. It appeared they gave up and left.

What is it they don't understand about her wanting to be alone? She had done her part by obeying them, but she needed this alone time. They won't understand even if she tried explaining, but she knows how important it is to her.

The piercing sound of yodelling from within the house reached her ears. A sound of pure torture...a celebration of her end. She knew the wedding fatiha is over, it's was a done deal.

A lone tear escaped her eye as she hugged her knees together. This is it then, her fate has been sealed. A new phase in her life had begun, what it holds, only time will tell. She prayed for strength as she wiped away the tear.

A little while later, she went to the kitchen, ignoring the disapproving stares of her relatives. She caught some comments regarding her appearance but she didn't care.

She wished she had tied her bushy hair into a bun because it seemed to be the cause of the unwanted attention or is it her polka dot pyjamas? She took a bottle of water and sat on the kitchen counter.

"Meenu, please come and get dressed like a proper bride. Soon, the groom and his friends are coming in for the photo session." Deejah pleaded.

She was dressed in a beautiful blush pink Swiss lace, even her make up was on point.

"I could flat iron that...thing (her hair), while your make-up is done, that way, we will save time." Said her childhood friend Aseeya.

"Please just let me be...if it's a picture he wants, find an old one of mine and send it to him. Then he will be able to photo shop me into the pictures." She said flatly.

Soon, they were joined by older women who began to berate her for looking like almajira (beggar girl) on her wedding day.

In the end, she decided to go and take a bath. On her way, she collided with Karima who was panting as if she's seen a ghost.

"They...are... here." Karima said breathlessly, but too late as Ameena had already walked in.

On getting to the living room, her heart stopped beating as she came face to face with the groom, AHMAD.
______________________________________

She had experienced how excitement makes the heart beat faster, but for it to stop it from beating...it was a first.

He was looking more handsome than he had ever been in an all white traditional Yoruba attire.

She was afraid to blink least he disappears and she is forced to face the reality of who she was really married to.

He was staring back at her with abated breath, He had to make an effort in other to swallow the lump that had accumulated in his throat.

He didn't see what she was wearing or how her hair looked like, nor did he see how frail she had become...all he saw was his Meena, the only one with the power to quench the thirst in his parched soul...his one true love.

The flash of a camera blinded her and pulled her out of her trance.

"Say cheez! The worst looking bride in human history! I am gonna post this on my blog this instant." Rashad exclaimed as he smilingly admired his handiwork.

In the sea of smiling faces, the only one she could see was his, that smile that had always left her wanting for more. She watched blurry eyed as he took a few steps that covered the distance between them, all the while never breaking eye contact.

Slowly she felt his arms encircle her as he pulled her into his arms. She went limp in his embrace, taking in his scent as she closed her eyes, making the tears she's been trying to hold, roll down her cheeks. She cried softly in his arms. His chest swelled as he released the breathe he had been holding and closed his eyes.

The planet seemed to be inhabited by just the two of them as everybody else faded into oblivion. The fast rate of their heartbeat slowed down and aligned to beat as one. Both heard what the other was saying without them uttering a word. That instant, there were no tribal nor cultural barrier...Just two souls that blended into one.

"Toh! Is that even allowed? I mean shouldn't they wait until they are alone? Or is it a Yoruba thing?" Karima asked Demi who was smiling from ear to ear trying to hold back tears.

"Ma guy! E don happen, she's all yours now, let our iyawo go and look like a bride, you will have ample time for that." Jim teased him

This was followed by cheers from the grooms men.

Deejah and Demi were smiling and wiping their tears, smudging their make-up in the process. The few younger relatives that were present were also smiling.

He kissed her forehead before stepping back, but she tugged at his tear stained clothes.

"Hmm?" He asked with a lifted brow.

"Before you go, there is something I need to say..." She whispered.

He cupped her face in his palms, bringing them to eye level. She looked into his eyes and he knew it before she even said it.

"I love you." She whispered

"I love you too." He smiled and kissed the tip of her nose.

"Guys that's not fair, why the whispers?" Complained a friend

"Yeah, let us in on it now." Agreed Jim.

"Shut up guys, it's personal." He smiled
______________________________________

"Still up for that bridal treat?" Demi asked as she came into the room.

"You can bet your sweet life on that." She laughed.

She was giddy as she's still trying wrap the sudden change of events around her head.

In a matter of seconds, the room was flooded with hair brushes, hand dryer, a mini face steamer, tumeric face mask, sugar wax and other paraphernalia needed for a bridal treatment and make-up. Even the Sudanese lady miraculously made an appearance.

She was stripped from head to toe except for a skimpy towel. Her hair was tugged at different angles, the warm sugary wax spattered on her arms, thighs and legs and the agonizing process of waxing began.

She didn't feel any of it for she was somewhere else. She closed her eyes as she felt the softness of his lips against her forehead. A voice kept repeating in her head " you are his and he's yours. Nobody else's but his." And her joy knew no bounds.

She was so far gone she didn't hear the sound of her phone nor the question that was shot at her.

"I said, it's Nadia, should I put it on speaker?" Aseeya asked.

"Yes."

"Meenu! I just heard! I was on my way  but you know these women. They said I shouldn't be seen running around. Oh Meenu, if only we knew before hand..." She sighed as she stopped only to catch her breathe.

"Another thing... We have been betrayed. Why didn't anyone say anything? Tell Demi she should get ready for me...and Arif ugh!! He knew too and he said nothing. He should be glad I only knew after the photo session, else he would have seen a gargoyle in the pictures instead of his cute bride."

"Nadia just chill, non of that matters anymore... Am just plain happy." Ameena squealed.

"I know Meenu, but am not you, I need some explanations. Why did they leave me out? What do they take me for? A blabber mouth?"

"No, of course not." Ameena said making a warning face to the people around, who were trying hard not to laugh. In fact, Demi had to cup her mouth in other to stop herself from laughing.

"Know what? I am coming as soon as I get a chance. We need to make an emergency adjustment to the dinner." Nadia said before cutting the call.

______________________________________
Six days ago (Lagos)

The family were together in the living room but each was minding his own business. Alaja was talking to a friend on the phone, their dad was watching the money show on AIT and Ahmad was working on his laptop.

Demi was also visiting, but she was with her mom and Saudah in the bedroom.

A little while later, Demi comes out and said goodbye.

"Why so soon? I thought you are going to spend the day with us?" Said Alaja.

"I want to aunty, but there are somethings I need to do because am going to Kano tomorrow morning."

"What for?" Asked her uncle.

Demi didn't know how to say it for fear of how it might hurt Ahmad.

"I am...uh...Ameena is getting married in six days."

Ahmad's hands froze mid air on the keyboard, he was unsure if he heard right. The only words he caught was, Ameena,wedding and six days, but it was enough to make his heart do a backflip.

Even his parents and sister understood what it meant. Demi on the other hand, didn't realise the full magnitude of her information as she made for the door.

"Wait!" He cleared his throat, "are you sure?... I mean, she's not..." His voice was a bit shaky and he couldn't continue, instead he stared at his parents and they nodded with understanding.
______________________________________

The next morning, Ahmad, along with his dad and two of his uncles arrived in Kano. A call was made to Baba Alhaji and he informed them that he was at the factory in Challawa.

Less than thirty minutes later, they walked into the impressively large premise of the Mahmud Jungudo textile factory.

They were ushered into Baba Alhaji's office where they were warmly received.

After the introductions, the two gentlemen went straight down to business.

Baba Alhaji knew something was definitely up when he received the call informing him of Alhaji Masood's arrival, so he asked Ameena's dad to come over. But they had arrived before him, so he welcomed them alone. Not long after, Ameena's dad joined them, a flicker of recognition lighted up his face as he saw Ahmad.

"Ahmad! It's nice seeing you again." He beamed.

"What are we missing? How do you two know each other?" Asked Baba Alhaji.

Ameena's dad narrated how Ahmad had come to beg him to come back home. His dad's smile broadened as he felt proud of his son. Baba Alhaji on the other hand, found the respect he had for the young man elevated to a whole new level.

When all was settled, Ahmad's dad started by apologising profusely for all that has happened. He then proceed to beg for Ameena's hand on his son's behalf.

"You are aware am sure, that the girl is to be wedded in five days?" Asked Baba Alhaji.

"Yes, I am...but I beg you to consider my son's plight and let him have the honor of sharing his life with your daughter. Non of what has happened in the past was his fault, I assure you."

"What has happened has already happened and it is all in the will of the Allah, so blaming anyone will be useless." Baba Alhaji said and the room became silent.

"I would however, like to ask you a question Ahmad." He continued.

"Yes sir."

"Do you still feel the same towards my daughter?"

Ahmad cleared his throat twice before he nodded. He was afraid of what he might say, for there are a million ways he wanted to tell them of how much he loved her, but out of respect for them, he just nodded. The older men smiled as they knew what he must be going through, for they were once young too.

Baba Alhaji pressed the intercom and asked Salman to come in. At first, Salman didn't think anything of it until he walks in and met some strangers and Ahmad among them. His features hardened as he clenched his jaw.

"Yes Dad?"

"I will like you to meet Ahmad's family, I am sure he is no stranger to you." Said baba Alhaji.

"Yes, good morning." He nodded at them.

"Well, they are here to asked for your wedding to be reconsidered."

What the fuck?

"So tell me, what do you think about it?" His dad asked.

"Whatever you decide dad." He said in a leveled voice trying not to lose it. For he felt like squeezing the life out of Ahmad and the old scoundrel he calls a dad.

Surely his father will make a decision in his favor, after all he is his son. This can't be happening, not when he's so close to achieving his goals.

"Luckily for you gentlemen, my son here was only obeying my wish. He has nothing but brotherly affection towards his cousin, but I pleaded to him to make the marriage work. He agreed to the marriage just to save his sisters honor...now, due to the sudden turn of events, I think it's only fair to my niece that she marries the one whom her heart belonged to."

The whole tensed atmosphere vanished as everyone was beaming from ear to ear. No one noticed when Salman stormed out of his dad's office.

When Ameena's mom learned about the groom switch that day, she begged that they should keep it secret, so as to surprise her daughter.

She wanted it to be the happiest day of her daughter's life.

************************************
So guys, how was the chap? I hope u are all happy with the turn of events.

Who wants to go to Lagos for the wedding event? I surely am.

Don't forget to leave ur comments.

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