Sorry guys for taking down the chapter previously, I saw a mistake I couldn't let go.  I'm so sorry. 

BTW,  thank you for ten thousand reads. God bless you all richly. 

Please enjoy. 

I spy the dashboard as I drive into the carpark at the house, its 7:30. I'm so late, I'd have to rush my makeup and dressing which I didn't want. I hate sloppy brides with every being in me, I had to make up one today. I had estimated I'd be done by 6:30, then be home by seven. I didn't finish until nearly 7:10, I have no idea how I drove home in twenty minutes.

I open the kitchen door and I see Adeel cradling a mug of something while watching the kitchen television. In night wear.

"Why aren't you dressed?" I ask incredulously. I had rushed home for our 8:30 'date'. He looks me over and I sweep my palms over my jeans and sweat in my sneakers. Ya Ilahi, I hate being late.

"I had thought you cancelled." He says with nonchalance  and I stare him over before walking to the coffee maker, turns out what he was drinking was coffee.

"Cancelled?" I answered  "No. I just had one of the most infuriating brides of my entire career annoy me to the inch of my life. She made me late." I show a little space between my thumb and forefinger to show my annoyance. He laughs and I get even more annoyed.

"What did she do?" I close my eyes to remember the most annoying bride. She has that place. Most annoying bride.

"Girl kept posting on Instagram and snapchat calling out haters, turns out they got me for the publicity they knew it'd give them. I had to gently pry the phone off her. I don't know who let's brides have their phones on their wedding day. Infuriating people. Now, the hashtag is trending." He laughs out loud smacking the table loudly and I frown. How was I funny?

"You got to let her. She only gets married once. Just once. So you got to let her be." I huff and sip my delicious date coffee.

"Are we still going, I don't want to think I shopped for nothing?" He nods and gets up to rinse his mug then hangs it on the rack.

"Yes we are. We leave by 8:20, we can be fashionably late I guess. Just skip the cocktails part." I nod and drain my mug, rinse it and rush off the stairs to my room. I love outings.

"Watch out!!" I smile back at him and begin to fly the stairs two at a time. I drop all my stuff on my bed and jump into the shower. Singing my favorite nasheed.

I step onto the fluffy floor towel and rush around my room, looking good on my mind. I pull open the grey door of the closet and grab the heavy silk red and black flowered skirt I had bought on Tuesday when he gave me the grey bordered invitation.

I look through the racks for a particular black cotton long sleeved top. I look again for a  pepper red scarf to fit the red flowers on the skirt and carry it all to dump on my bed. I'm looking forward to wowing Adeel.

Wait one moment, wowing Adeel? More like wowing myself.

My phone rings as I dab primer on my face. I pick it and place it on the vanity next to the oval grey vanity mirror. Ajike's voice surrounds me and I smile at the phone.

"Walaikum Salam Umm Fawad. How are the kids?" She laughs and I hear the gay greetings of Khayrat and Fawad. I rush to apply gel liner over my brows to keep them in place while I fill them.

Ajike shoos them off and she asks me where I'm going.

"DikHas ceramic company's fifth year party." She makes a sound of recognition, its a company Adeel and her husband bought and restored seven years ago, i read that they restored it to its best capacity and it has three plants in the country. Highest for an indigenous company.

"I should prepare you for this particular woman who is the COO who is always pushing her daughters or sisters on Adeel. The woman is a shark. So be prepared for silver tongued comments. Reply as fast as you get them. Don't let me down, I did the replying on Adeel's behalf last year." I chuckle and start applying slightly bright red eye-shadow.

"I'll do my best. She has met her match." Ajike chuckles and I ask how she's feeling. After the surgery she had complications and had to be returned to the hospital for a few days. Very harrowing experience.

"I feel so much better. Mu'adh is as over protecting as ever, so I haven't exerted myself in days. You know, Fawad  came to me the other day when he saw me wincing while I carried Teemah. Saying, daddy said I'm a big boy and shouldn't let Ummi carry anything that makes her breath loud. I was stupefied." I let out a loud laugh and fan my eyes gently to let my eyeliner dry.

"Must have made good on his promise not to let you do a single thing?" She sighs and I know what the Dikko Hassan men are like first hand. First hand.

"How's Ya Nussy's Zarah?" I gently pat my powder in place and rush to pick out a gold bracelet. I spy the clock now and it's 8:05. Time is running out.

"Alahamdulilahi, she's fine now. How's Safiyya and your sister in law Zarah." I smile when I remember how Baaba  spoiled both of them silly. They both got bracelets and a host of other beautiful things I don't think I want to know about from Maama.

A knock sounds and Ajike hurriedly ends the call.

"I'm coming. Give me a few minutes." I hear a groan and footfalls moving near the stairs. I heave a sigh and rush back to my closet to pick a pair of sparkly black heeled sandals. Pick out a black and red bordered purse. I put in a few loose change, a plum red lipstick, and rub my oud all over my my hands and neck.

I rush down the stairs, my skirts bunched in one hand while my sandals and purse in another. I've fallen down the stairs once, in heels and large skirts like this one. I have no idea if you-know-who pushed me though. He stood at the beginning of the stairs open mouthed and I had sprained my left ankle.

"Are you ready?" I stare at the back of his head. Huffing and puffing as I try to strap the sandals to my feet. Seems like i gained some weight at Maama's house. Damn.

"Let me help with that." He took the other sandal from me and encased it onto my feet easily. I  stared at the curly hair atop his head while he strapped my sandals. So shiny and curly. Ma Sha Allah.

The feel of his hands working on my feet sent delicious shivers run down my spine. I had to hold my breath for a moment to compose myself. It was tickling my soul.

"All done." He holds out a hand and I put mine in it. So small and soft compared to his. We fit perfectly, as though made for each other even though it's literally that.

"I forgot something. Go and wait for me in the car." I take out my shaking hand from his and run up the stairs with my bunched skirts. I run to the mirror in the hallway and pat my shaking hands and fast beating heart. Ya Allah. My eyes are shining brightly. I practise breathing sessions for a few times before going down the stairs at a sedate pace.

He is leaning on the bonnet when I get there. So I just smile at him and he opens the door for me. Seems like a date to me.

"Thank you." He winks and I stare at him with a dry mouth.

"What is the matter?" He groans again and smiles at me before pursing his lips. What is with this man and smiling at me fa?

"What's that lovely scent wafting from you. Its so rich." I laugh out loud and rub my hands together, my lavender scent. His eyes narrowed on me a little before he inhales deeply.

He turns on his seat to face me as i fiddle with my fingers. His stare was getting me nervous. His eyes slowly moved down and settled on my lips.

Was it my imagination or was he really moving? I couldn't say exactly because a moment later his phone began ringing and the imaginary bubble surrounding us burst.

Phew!

*******

Is it just me or was it warm in there?

*fans neck and face.*😅😅

After these small cheese, let's get ready for some serious issues on Friday.  Ikr,  not again.  But we have to get them off so our ship can sail 😢😢😍😍

I love all of you. 

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GOD BLESS YOU. 

TheOmoope.