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HADEWA CALIPHATE,

NIGERIA.

Aria thought Maya getting married to a Nigerian is news but getting married to a Royal? That's the type of news that had her rooted to her spot—frozen entirely. How is she supposed to react? She has so many questions running through her head regarding this marriage.

How did Maya meet this Nigerian guy named Muneer? How did she fall in love with him? And why does he have to be a Royal?

She doesn't have a thing against Royalty but it doesn't take a genius to know that royal life is complicated.

Although Aria takes pride in being an exceptional lawyer just like her parents, she had never once thought of getting herself entangled with any royalty of any sort be it of any country, state, or in this case, Caliphate.

Albeit, Muneer isn't a Prince—but he's a royal nonetheless. He has the royal blood in his veins and power oozing from him—it's just not as much as that of the Princes and Princesses.

That to say doesn't mean she's not happy for her sister, she really is. Maya looks happy, and that's all she could ever ask for. She knows her sister well, and hence, could tell when Maya is faking her emotions. At that moment, she's not.

She's genuinely happy and seems over the moon in love with this Muneer guy. It's been a couple of days since she arrived in Hadewa, and she had overheard Maya and Muneer on the call several times being all lovey dovey. At a point, Maya introduced Aria to Muneer and they exchanged pleasantries on the phone once.

Aria would say he sounds nice, but the lawyer instincts in her doubts him. She didn't show it to him or Maya though, she kept it in her. It's nothing personal after all. It is just in her DNA to doubt everyone she meets until she deems them not shady. In this case, she knows it'll take a while for her to fully understand Muneer's intentions. But, she's willing to wait as long as it would take so as to know what the man's true intentions are.

Her parents along with Muneer's elders have been sorting out ways to merge both their traditions when it comes to the marriage. It's going to be hard, but they are willing to go all the way for the newest couple in town. After all, it's a 'go big or go home' case.

Maya, who had been staring at her phone for hours ends rose her head to glance at Aria who stood in front of the mirror fixing her veil maneuvered into a hijab. "Muneer's family are bringing the kayan lefe tomorrow"

This caught Aria's attention. Dropping her hands to her sides, she turned around to stare at her sister, lips tugged into a small frown. "Qa—qahen lafe? What's that?" Aria noticed the tilt in the corner of Maya's lips—probably finding her sister's Hausa pronunciations to be funny.

Maya shrugged lightly. Muneer explained it to her times without number but she's yet to get a hang of it the exact same way he explains it. It's not like she pays no heed to his culture, she does but she's new to this all and with the wedding, she's just getting bombarded with tradition left, right, upwards and downwards. It'll take a while for her to understand everything. So, she opted for explaining in her own terms, "It's basically means bridal gifts which is like a tradition of theirs where the groom's family bring boxes filled with clothes and such to the bride's family"

Aria had more questions she wanted to ask, but decided against it. Even though her sister hasn't said anything, she knows that Maya is having a hard time learning everything so she let her be. She'll get her answers eventually as the wedding drags on. So, she nodded softly.

Maya's eyes raked over Aria's outfit, lips puckered slightly, she asked; "Where are you going all dolled up like that?" She used her finger to gesture to the outfit.

Aria fixated the Anne Klein bracelet wrist watch she has on, then offered her sister a small, tight lipped smile that had her dark maroon lipstick covered lips flattened, "Out. I can't stay in all day. If I'm in the country, might as well explore"

Maya nodded slowly in understanding, "Been there, done that" She grinned, "Good luck. You might want this" She extended her hand, picked up the keys to her car and tossed it over to Aria who caught them, "Figured you'd want to drive around yourself instead of using the driver"

Aria flicked her tongue, nodding in agreement to what Maya said. "Jazakillah khair. Laters sissy!" She waved at her sister, then picked up her bag and headed out.

Her parents aren't at home as usual, they must be out to meet her aunt—her mother's sister who married a Nigerian and resides here—to talk about the wedding and whatnot. They have been doing that all the time. They either go to their house or vice versa.

Stepping out of the house, Aria made her way over to the parking lot where her sister's car is and got in the driver's seat. Keeping her bag on the passenger's seat, she revved the car to life—the soft hum of it reaching her ears the very second. The car has Maya's blueberry scent that she's obsessed with all over.

Aria didn't mind though. She finds it...calming.

Driving out of the house, she took the route which leads to the mall using the GPS. She doesn't know anything about the Caliphate, but it's time like this that technological advancements are very much appreciated.

Playing Sutra by Sebastian Yatra, she sang along—the Spanish flowing fluently from her lips. At first, she didn't particularly like the song but the beat is great, that is a given. Besides, Yatra is good looking and these days, looks matter especially in careers like this. Plus, she had always been obsessed with Spanish to the point that she once hoped to marry a man from Spain so she could live there.

And for Aria, she enjoyed playing songs when she's driving. She doesn't do it often, but when she feels like it, she does so—especially whenever she hangs out with Maya. That woman is another issue entirely.

By time she reached the mall, she was already on her fourth song. She glanced and sized up the shopping mall, lips parting slightly as she wasn't expecting it to be that suave and enormous. It can honestly match up to those big malls they back in their home country.

Maybe she did underestimate Nigeria a lot. No, it's not a 'maybe' kind of situation. She underestimated Nigeria, that's it. And so far, from what she has seen, the country is impeccably attractive.

Why wasn't this part of the country showcased on social media platforms and instead, showcased the parts that aren't attractive at the very least?

The question remained in her head as she told herself that there are more places she's yet to see—and she might as well be wowed by it all.

Blowing out a low breath, she stepped out of the car, locking it afterwards. A part of her veil which she had slung over her shoulder earlier fell as she got off the car. She was quick to push it back in place as she used her other free hand to slip her phone into the bag. Making sure she's all set, she headed into the mall.

What she intended to be a couple of minutes shopping turned into an hour and a half shopping spree. Every time she makes up her mind on concluding the shopping, something pops up that tempts her to buy it.

At last, she had to force herself to go over to the counter to pay for the stuff she bought—there were a lot. However, most of the stuff she bought are for her sister, it's the least she could do. Or so she thought.

Maya always has this habit of buying stuff for Aria any time she goes out ever since they were kids—they are that close. So, this time around, Aria thought of doing the same as a change.

After all, they won't be living together anymore.

"That's it Ma'am" Said the woman behind the counter, handing Aria her credit card back.

Aria collected it, then offered the woman a smile, "Thank you" She bent down slightly to pick up her numerous shopping bags when something caught her attention.

A shoe.

A pair of shoes she's awfully familiar with, heading towards her.

Standing up straight hastily, her eyes fell on the owner of the shoes that she had grown quite accustomed to. Instead of the person she has in mind---despite how ridiculous it is—she saw someone else.

It is a woman; quite obviously the owner of the shoe.

"Is there a problem?" Spoke the owner of the shoe, snapping Aria out of her trance. Her tone held no insult whatsoever, it was plain curiosity.

Aria realizing that she had been staring for a little while longer than necessary, cleared her throat and straightened her back; squaring her shoulders in the process. Despite the fact that the woman's tone wasn't offensive, she still didn't want her hunched back posture from earlier to let her be intimidated. Nonetheless, she plastered a small smile right across her face, "No" She shook her head, "Your shoes just reminded me of someone"

Hudayya glanced at the pair of boots she got as a gift from Aali, then returned the small smile. "Oh...I thought there was something wrong" She's extremely confident when it comes to her fashion sense. However, it doesn't mean she doesn't believe in room for fixing every single flaw she can detect.

If she doesn't, she might just end up on social media with ridiculous headlines. Truly, the press of Hadewa have misplaced priorities at times.

Aria shook her head again slightly. "No" She kept her reply curt, not wanting to dig deep into the conversation into telling a complete stranger how some stranger gifted her the exact same shoe type just a couple of days ago.

She hasn't even told her sister about it. Reason because it means nothing. She barely thinks of the encounter unless her gaze falls on either the shoe or her bracelet that he stepped on mistakenly. Other than that, he's pretty much nonexistent in her life.

Offering Aria, a small, barely noticeable curt nod, Hudayya turned around and made her way out, her shopping bag held firmly in her hand.

Aria headed out too, being behind Hudayya by a couple of steps. She kept her distance though, not wanting the woman to get the wrong impression. Hudayya noticed this too but doesn't say a word about it, not wanting to cause a problem out of nothing.

Up ahead, the two women heard faint commotions but paid little heed to it.

Immediately Hudayya stepped foot outside the mall, she was quick to take a couple of steps back—thereby bumping into Aria in the process. Luckily, none of them fell but their shopping bags did fall on the floor.

Aria swiveled her head to look at Hudayya, wondering what got into her to make such a move. However, her miniature anger was cut short when she was forced to take a step back too by the growing crowd that filled up the space. People were pushing each other, uncaring of the person they bump into or step in as they make their way upfront, wanting to see the cause of the hassle.

However, they were held back by the police who pushed them back, wanting to give space to the paramedics who are trying to get two wheeled stretchers into the awaiting ambulances in a hurry. On the stretchers lay an individual body each, covered by a white shroud.

Aria and Hudayya didn't need to be told by anyone for them to know that the people on those stretchers are dead—the red stain coating those white shroud were pretty much all the indications one need.

Hudayya's wide eyes stare at the scene in front of her. The loud wails coming from somewhere amongst the crowd, the people pushing to get pass the police and the security agents holding back the crowd; pushing them aggressively away coped with the paramedics running up and about had her shoulders sagging.

Aria stared at the view in front of her with mouth hung open. She had seen many situations back in Turkey but never like this. This...this is something different, something scary.

A hand clasping onto hers tightly had hers jolted her. It made her swivel her head around to look at the person. However, before she could digest what's going on, some guards were quick to rush over and detach the man away from her.

Her hand slipped away from his slickly, and instantly, the cold air hit her hand making her shiver. With brows drawn in deeply, she stared at the origin of the coldness. Her face ran pale when she saw what covered her now shaky hand is covered in.

Blood.