Remember, this was written in 2019. It was my second book so it's a bit cliché but we move!

Saudah's POV

I entered the event hall ten minutes after their grand entrance. Unfortunately, I couldn't be there when the groom and his friends arrived as I was on an important call. Moving at a leisurely pace, I made my way into the hall, instantly drawing a spotlight and capturing everyone's attention. Gasps rippled through the crowd. While I've never been fond of being the center of attention, I've grown accustomed to it over time. So, I did what I do best-I confidently walked to my seat, flashing a smile that surely sparked envy among the girls and made the guys' hearts skip a beat. With my head held high, I joined the table where my friends were seated. Though I could sense people's eyes on me, I shrugged it off, as this was nothing new.

Syna, who was on stage with her soon-to-be husband, caught my eye and gave me a thumbs up. Ahmed smiled at me, and I returned the gesture before taking my seat.

"Hey, you stole the spotlight, my friend! All the guys couldn't take their eyes off you," Hidaya exclaimed, grinning infectiously, prompting me to smile back.

"Well, I'm pretty sure she'll attract some new admirers today," Lateefa chimed in.

"You look absolutely stunning," Azeeza complimented, to which I smiled in response.

"Thank you, but I'm not particularly fond of being the center of attention," I replied, glancing back to see that most people still had their gaze fixed on me.

"My friend, you're a celebrity now, and I'm your BFF," Hidaya said, doing a little celebratory dance in her seat.

"Oh, save your dance moves for later," I replied, grabbing a glass of water and taking a sip.

"Look who's talking! Sitting at this table, you're the best dancer in our clique," Lateefa pointed out, and we all shared a laugh. I turned to Hidaya, who was glaring intently at someone. Following her gaze, I realized she was eyeing a group of girls who were shooting daggers at me with frowns on their faces. To handle the situation, I decided to respond with a sweet smile, effectively deflating their hostility, before refocusing my attention on my friends.

"Oh my God, Saudah, that girl looks like she's about to explode," Lateefa said, bursting into laughter along with Amal and Azeeza.

"Excuse me, I'll just talk to Mom. I'll be right back," I said, standing up.

I made my way to where Mom, Mommy, and Aunt Hafsa were seated, accompanied by two other women. After greeting them, I inquired if they needed anything, but they assured me they were fine.

"Saudah, I assume you've already met Hajiya Hafsa, right?" Mommy asked.

"Yes, Mommy," I replied, and she smiled at me.

"Well, I told her about your restaurant, and she expressed interest in visiting," Mommy added, and I nodded.

"Insha Allah, you're welcome to visit anytime," I said to Aunt Hafsa.

"Masha Allah, I'll inform your mother and let you know when I plan to come," she replied, smiling. That woman never seems to tire of smiling-her beautiful smile is always gracing her lovely face.

"Okay," I replied before returning to my seat. Just then, the MC called the bride's friends on stage, and naturally, I had to dance. They played "On The Low," my favorite jam ❤.

Angeli,Angelina
You dey cool my temperature
If you call I go come deliver
I no go fall your hand ,never
Shay na me you go love forever
I'm a khaki no fake leather
O my Angeli Angelina
O my Angeli Angelina
O mi o da o
Anytime wey I see you for the club
I dey television your body
Shey you no know say
The thing wey you carry
Fit kill somebody

After the song, the DJ played a selection of tunes as our group danced to our heart's content. It was just Hidaya, Lateefa, and around five of our other friends-Zeena, Ameena, Humaira, Ramlat, and Zainab. Amal and Azeeza chose not to dance, appearing somewhat shy. I would have felt the same way, but with my friends around and it being my bestie's wedding, I couldn't resist.

Following our performance, the groom's friends took the stage and danced with the groom. I must admit, he had a group of remarkably handsome friends, Masha Allah. During their dance, my attention was drawn to my phone, only realizing they had finished when the applause filled the air. Raising my head, I unintentionally made eye contact with the most striking man I had ever seen. He too was looking at me, a smile adorning his face, which compelled a smile to grace mine. For a fleeting moment, it felt as if the world had frozen, leaving just the two of us captivated by each other's gaze. However, I swiftly broke the contact, averting my eyes. To my relief, it seemed that no one had noticed our brief encounter, leaving me feeling both relieved and glad.

They returned to their seats opposite ours and sat down. Returning my attention to my phone, I suddenly heard my name being called.

"Adda Saudahhhh!" she squealed, embracing me tightly as I hugged her back.

"Falisha, when did you arrive?" I inquired, realizing I hadn't seen her since my return yesterday. She had been at school-studying at the University of East London (UEL) in Malaysia-and was scheduled to come back tomorrow.

"Wallahi, kawai nayi missing din Ku ne sosai, and I couldn't wait, so I decided to come back today. Besides, I couldn't miss Adda Hasinah's wedding," she explained, taking a seat next to me and warmly embracing Hidaya and Lateefa.

"Hi, I'm Falisha, Adda Saudah's younger sister," she introduced herself, extending her hand to greet Azeeza and Amal, who reciprocated with smiles, engaging in pleasant conversation.

Several minutes later, I was called upon to deliver a speech about Hasinah. Although I hadn't planned anything specific, I had prepared a video of our memorable moments together. Nevertheless, that didn't mean I couldn't say a few words about her. Standing up, I walked toward the stage, feeling all eyes on me, and mustered a smile, determined to express my sentiments.

"Assalamu alaikum, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Saudah Kaamil Sayhan, and I am Hasinah's best friend. I have known Syna my entire life, ever since kindergarten. We have grown up together and have often found ourselves getting into trouble as teenagers. I was the mischievous one, while she was the silent killer. She has pulled off more pranks than you could possibly imagine, and I would often end up being punished for them because it's the kind of thing I would do. At the end of the day, we both faced some form of punishment. The number of classes we have skipped is beyond count. However, I have never once regretted the time I spent with her. Every single minute has been worth it.

She is one of the most annoying and craziest people I have ever met. She can talk your ears off because she is such a chatterbox. She can talk for five hours straight without getting tired. And when it comes to annoying, she's basically the definition of it. She'll annoy

you to the point where you'll want to bang your head against a wall. She also gets easily jealous, so Ahmed, don't even think about getting married again anytime soon. You don't want to see that side of Syna. But beneath all that, Hasinah is intelligent, responsible, caring, and respectful. Not to mention, she is a great cook. Ahmed, you are very lucky to have her as your wife... and at the same time, I pity you, as you will spend the rest of your life with this delightful lunatic. Hasinah, this is for you. Wishing you a happy married life. Thank you."

As the video began playing on the screen, showcasing a compilation of our cherished pictures throughout the years, tears welled up in my eyes, which I quickly wiped away. The video was accompanied by the song "Real Friends" by Camila Cabello. I looked around and witnessed a mix of applause, loving smiles, laughter, and cheers from the crowd. Turning to Hasinah, I bestowed upon her a sweet smile before making my way back to my seat.

Next, the MC called upon Ahmed's best friend, and to my astonishment, it was him.

Anwar's POV

For the grand entrance, I was suppose to pair up with the Bride's best friend but she wasn't around so I ended up pairing with my princess,my sister Amal.
For the grand entrance, I was initially supposed to pair up with the Bride's best friend. However, since she was not present, I ended up partnering with my sister, Amal.

Ten minutes later, the doors swung open, casting a spotlight on the most breathtaking girl I have ever laid eyes on. She possessed a fair complexion, captivating doe eyes, and a slim figure. Though I couldn't discern all her features, one thing was certain: she exuded perfection.

As she walked in, a radiant smile adorned her face, causing my heart to skip a beat in an instant.

"Wow, who is she? She's stunning," Fadil exclaimed, smiling like a maniac.

"Step back, she's mine," I retorted, glaring at him, which elicited laughter from the others.

"Dude, she doesn't even know you, and you don't know her either. Yet, you're possessive at first sight," Sadiq commented, grinning.

I redirected my attention back to her as she took a seat at a table opposite mine, accompanied by my sisters and some other girls. She continued to smile, and I couldn't resist reciprocating. "It doesn't matter," I replied to my friends. "I claimed her as mine. As for getting to know her, that will come in due time. Just wait and see."

Suddenly, she turned and glanced behind her. I followed her gaze and noticed some girls glaring at her. I expected her to respond with a similar look or glare back, but to my amazement, she greeted them with a sweet smile before redirecting her attention forward.

"Who is she, anyway?" Sanusi inquired.

"She might be Hasinah's best friend," Bello chimed in, still engrossed in his phone conversation.

She rose from her seat and approached the table where Ammie sat with Hasinah's mother and some other women. I observed Ammie smiling at her, and they engaged in conversation. From the looks of it, Ammie took a liking to her, which added more points in my favor. She eventually returned to her seat. Shortly after, the MC called them to the stage to dance. Everyone joined in the festivities, except for Azeeza and Amal, who refrained from public dancing. However, she danced with sheer delight, a sight I vowed to ensure she would experience as long as she remains mine. I noticed some guys gawking at her, and I felt a surge of anger within me, desiring to protect what belonged to me. What's more, she seemed unaware of their gazes.

Once their dance concluded, it was our turn to take the floor and dance with Ahmed.

As we finished our dance, our eyes met. In that moment, it felt as if the world stood still. My heart ceased to beat, and it was just her and me. Everything else seemed inconsequential. I snapped out of my trance when she averted her gaze, and I made my way back to my seat, all the while fixated on her.

A younger girl, resembling her, came squealing and embraced her. I assumed she was her sister.

"So, Mr. Workaholic, that one isn't yours, huh? Don't tell me you're interested," Fadil jested, eyeing the girl.

"Mind your business, Fadil," Bashir interjected.

"Seriously, guys? Can't you just be happy for me?" Fadil complained, his 26-year-old self causing trouble as usual.

"Come on, dude. We're not against you. We're genuinely happy for you. Good luck," Sadiq reassured, patting Fadil's shoulder.

"Yes, we're all thrilled for you. Best of luck," I added, offering a smile, to which he mumbled a "thank you."

The bride's best friend was then called to the stage, and as Bashir had predicted, it was her. Her name turned out to be Saudah, a name as beautiful as she is. I could detect a hint of a British accent in her speech, which I found rather cool.

Saudah delivered a speech about Hasinah and herself, and we couldn't help but burst into laughter. Who would have thought that the angel I was fixated on had a mischievous side during her teenage years? The evening progressed with a video presentation showcasing their pictures. With each photo, she radiated an unmatched beauty, compelling me to learn more about her.

Soon, I was called upon to deliver a speech about Ahmed. Without much to say in praise of him, I opted for a lighthearted approach. "Assalamu alaikum, everyone. I'm Anwar Nawaz Shazad, Ahmed's best friend. Now, I won't go on about his virtues since I can't seem to think of any. However, if we were to compile a list of complaints, trust me, it would be quite extensive... And finally, Ahmed is a sincere individual who will undoubtedly cherish and care for Hasinah wholeheartedly. We all know how deeply he loves her. Wishing you both a joyous married life." Concluding my speech, I made my way back to my seat, all while catching Saudah glancing in my direction on a few occasions.