May drop another update later or tomorrow if I get enough comments. Buckle up, we are about to start a roller-coaster ride. Even I am scared.

SAADATU'S POV.

KANO, NIGERIA.

There is something about weddings. I have always adored the air around the house where a wedding is taking place. At least, to a certain extent. There is always this inexplicable feeling that overcomes one when there is a wedding taking place, and I guess I must have underestimated just how much that feeling would dwell in me on my own day.

Saturday came. My wedding day...to my still very much unknown groom. A very stupid decision might I add, refusing to inquire that is but still. It is too late to regret it now.

Friday was very much spent on wedding preparation; late wedding preparation might I add. Somewhere in between the sessions of gyaran jiki I have been forced to undergo for days, one which Yaya Maryam made very clear that I have started too late—is it my fault I am getting married this quick without preparations please? According to her, my lack of interest in it is to be blamed as well else I would have started earlier and I did not argue with her, because she is not wrong.

Anyways, in between that and getting my henna done—my favorite part of the day might I add. My hands and feet were covered in both beautiful red and black henna, one that had me swooning as well, just as much my cousins were. Friday seemed to have passed by pretty quickly with that. Like I said, I wanted no events so we did not have any.

Simply having my cousins and the very few friends I have around with me was more than enough. Besides, we all got our henna together so we turned it into a mini henna party. The day ended with a sleepover, but to be honest, I could not sleep properly that night.

I ended up waking up sometime around three in the morning, and everyone was still very much asleep. Slipping out of the bed I shared with one of my snoring cousins, no offense intended, I decided to do the one thing I could at the moment.

I performed ablution, went to the next room where Anty shares with Humaira, and prayed there. After the prayers, I spent quite a lot of time praying, trying and hoping my heart would be at ease. I tried to be discreet about the whole thing, but as I concluded my prayers and was about to lay down on the prayer mat, Anty's warm voice came, halting my actions.

"Walida?" She called out softly, her voice low, no doubt not wanting to wake up her youngest child.

"Na'am, Anty?" I sat up, and turned around to look at her, just in time to see her sit up.

"Lafiya?" She pushed the duvet off her, then slipped out of the bed and made her way towards me, before settling down on the prayer mat on which I shifted to give her space. "Meya faru? Why are you here instead of resting? You know you have a long day ahead of you."

"I know," I tried to offer her a smile, but I could not bring myself to.

She noticed that, her own brows furrowing as she gave me a knowing look. "Talk to me," She urged, her tone softer, "Me ke damun ki? Auren ne baki so?"

I thought her question over. Is it the marriage I do not want? Yes. But, it is too late to ask that, is it not? Then again, if I am asked that a hundred times in the future, my answer will remain the same so it is better to get married now.

I could not bring myself to give her what is on my mind exactly, so, I shook my head slightly.

She smiled, then lightly patted my thigh, "Ashe dai kinason auren," She teased, making me smile and look down, unable to help myself.

Mothers and their teasing. Can there be anything more embarrassing?

"No, but really," Her tone took a serious turn, as she took one of my hands in hers, urging me to look at her, "Talk to me, what is bothering my child, huh?" Her other hand went to pat the side of my head.

Anty has never been the overly affectionate type. She is simply like most typical Arewa parents, loving in their own not so affectionate way. Yet, never once did I feel she did not love me, except during my teenage years where I was closer to Yaaya than her of course. I was his favorite child. Maybe not so much now.

Her words, and her tone had my walls crumbling, and I felt if I did not share my worries with her, who else would I share it with?

So, I found myself being earnest. "It is just..." I sighed, my voice low as I met her gaze with my worry filled ones. "...my heart is not at ease." I confessed, in a small voice.

"Is it the wedding jitters?" She asked, her tone not judging. "Are you getting cold feet? If yes, then trust me, everyone goes through that."

"No, it is not," I shook my head. I was never married before, and I do not hope to ever say that statement ever, but I can tell when I am getting cold feet or not. This is not it. I mean it quite literally. "Hankali na ne kawai bai kwanta ba,"

Anty hummed lightly, her worried expression mirroring mine, as she gave my hand a small squeeze. "Kinyi sallah, kinyi addua, ko?"

I nodded.

"Then Allah is with you," She said, in a certain, and assuring way. "Allah na tare da ke, Walida. Always remember that. You called for His guidance, and He will give it to you. In kina da Allah, everything will fall into place." Her other hand enclosed mine in both of hers, "I know you are scared, but marriage is not a scary thing. I cannot tell you that it is a bed of roses, but I certainly will not condemn it either. Forget all that you see on social media about people bring up their dreadful marriage stories, akwai maza na gari that do care for their wives. That is the mentality you need. Perhaps, they are not like the men you read about in those novels of yours, wannan soyayya kawai suke koya muku, they do not know anything else."

I chuckled, unable to help myself. She chuckled as well, the act lightening up the mood.

She then continued, a small smile on her face, "To the best of our knowledge, the man you are marrying is a good man, but Allah knows best. Your father and I won't make a decision that will harm you, at least not within our knowledge. Nidai I can only repeat the same things I have been telling you all this while. Ki zama mai haquri, ki zama mai haquri, ki zama mai haquri. And always remember to call onto Allah all the time. He has the power to solve anything. Ki riqe addinin ki, kuma ki kyautata wa mijin ki da dangin sa. In the process, do not forget your family as well. Your husband's family is your family, but do not forget your family of orientation in the process, kinji ni?"

I could only nod, my eyes already glossy. I do not know I am crying now when I did not last night when my aunts rambled almost the same thing—only each with their own versions. I did not even cry when Yaaya did his own Nasiha surprisingly. Now though, I feel as though I am seconds away from bawling my eyes out.

"Allah yayi miki albarka, Walida. Allah ya sa ki rabu da duniya lafiya. Kuma Allah ya baki zaman lafiya da mijin ki."

"Ameen, Anty." I laid my head on her thigh, and cried softly while she patted my head. Neither of us went back to sleep, we simply enjoyed the moment in each other's arms till it was time for Subh, when we prayed and started the days' activities.

The wedding Fatiha was set to take place at exactly 11:00Am in the morning, and I would be conveyed to my matrimonial home by 2:00pm according to Anty. So, time seemed to fly by quite fast due to that.

Somewhere in between being forced to sit and get my makeup done—an act I did not want but Yaya stood firm on about it because apparently she won't let me carry my bad, nonchalant character to my husband's house. Toh, tunda dai gidan mijina zan kai ai da sauqi tunda ba nata bane ko? Don't tell her I said that by the way.

Anyways, I was forced to get my makeup done, and got dressed as well as we await the long awaited news. I was seated in the corner of the room though on a chair there, while the others were all scattered around the room as I tapped the same number I have been calling since yesterday and somehow, could not get a hold of.

A slight hiss escaped my lips as I got the same response. I swear if I hear one more 'the number you are calling is not reachable at the moment, try again later' I will slap the lady saying that. Aikin banza kawai.

"Ah ah, amarya, why are you hissing? Is it your husband you are calling? Waiting for him to take so you can hear the news live, ko?" My favorite cousin, Maimuna, or Hajiya as we all call her, teased from where she is seated on the bed along with the others.

"Ai shine dai, just calm down. Saurin me kikeyi? It is just for a few minutes." Another one of my cousins, Firdausi, teased from where she is seated beside Hajiya. Trust me, those two are always after me, they will not let me have a moment of peace—they haven't, at least not since the wedding matter was announced.

I could bring myself to humor them though like I normally would. Instead, I offered them a small smile, then said. "It is nothing like that wallahi. It is just...Faiza."

"What about her?" Hajiya asked. "I have been wanting to ask you seff, how come the bride's best friend is nowhere in sight?"

"Maybe the husband won't allow her to come?" Firdausi inquired, offering an alternative. "I mean she lives all the way in Maiduguri and she they have only been married for what? Two months?"

"Ai bai ma kai two months ba. Probably a month and a half," Hajiya commented, seemingly invested in Faiza's story. "Kinsan their wedding is still trending on social media. Kai, anyi biki amma. An kashe kudi."

"Gaskiya dai ba laifi," Firdausi agreed, and I mentally did as well, given I was there. They did not have a long string of events, but the few ones they did surely did resonate. It still is trending on Instagram, seems the socials can't get enough of it. "But seriously, what about her?" She directed the question to me again.

I sighed again, sinking back in my seat. "I cannot get a hold of her," I stated earnestly, my tone filled with worry. "I mean, we spoke on the phone on Thursday and everything was alright. But I cannot get a hold of her yesterday, and today as well."

"Was she planning to come though?"

"Not really, and I understand. I won't advise her to travel all the way here as well, her husband might not agree." Yes, she is my best friend, but I won't hold grudge against her for that. I understand how it feels to miss out on your friends' moment, it has been like that with me all my life...given how Yaaya is strict and all so I have learned to give others the benefit of doubt as well.

However, I do not like the fact that I have not been able to get a hold of her.

It is strange.

She has never been like that before. I even thought of contacting Ya Mama, but it slipped off my mind and I have not gotten the chance to do so now. I am expecting her today though she is nowhere in sight as well.

Before we could fully dwell on the conversation though, the door was swung open hastily, making my heart skip a beat as one of my aunts rushed in with a wide grin on her face. She looked around the room, and once she spotted me, she made the announcement.

"An daura!" She declared, then went on to say the long awaited name, in full, finally allowing me to know it is my now husband. "An daura auren Sa'adatu da Muhammad..."

The moment I heard the name, the person registered in my mind, and I could swear my heart ceased to beat.

Muhammad...

~*~

Haiiiii cliff hanger.

Muhammad  who? Who wan stone me?

Abeg wait, who actually stoned me. Ah ah, take it easy now. You will know who your groom is in the next chapter. I have got a couple of bombs that will detonate in the following chapters, but it is for a reason, trust me. There is something I am trying to send across.

When you read it all together, everything will make sense.

Also, this book seriously has me on Indian songs. Even this chapter was accompanied by an Indian song. Ikon Allah.

Our Saadatu is now married at long last, Alhamdullilah. To who though? Where is team Adnan? Team Muhammad? Team Muhammad Khalil?

Toh, we will know the winner in the next chapter. The deal is a done deal. It has been sealed already.

I have seen your messages in the comment section and my Instagram dm. Could not reply but I have been SWAMPED by school work, wrote Neuroanatomy test today seff and omo, this school is not easy. Allah dai ya bamu saa.

I have a couple of days before my next test, so I will try to give you another update in shaa Allah. Maybe even later today or tomorrow if i get enough comments to motivate me.

What happened to Faiza by the way? And Ya Mama? Could Adnan make it or was he MIA as well? So many questions really, hard to figure out which to go with.

I will see you all the next chapter. Matar Muhammad sends her greeting to yall.

Stay safe.

Love, Jannah Mia.