Chapter Eighteen: Our Wedding
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Water droplets woke me from my fitful sleep, I open my eyes to see Ajìkè standing over me with my praying kettle in her hand, poised to sprinkle more water on me.
"I'm awake." I leaned on my elbows and slowly pulled myself into a sitting position. Then I notice all of them are in my room. Khadijah and Maryam are on the chest in front of my bed while Nusaiba is sitting on my chair, Safiyya is perched on the edge of the table.
" It's your wedding morning, rise and shine." Ajike flops on my bed gently. I get out of my covers and try to get my feet steady.
" I was awake earlier for Subh and Gyran Jiki. So I rose early and thanks to skin treatment, I'm shining." They all burst into loud laughter at my words. I walk into my closet to get a pair of knee shorts and a tee. Just for lounging until I have to dress later.
As I change in my closet, my mind goes to the conversation Aunty Safa and I had this morning after my final session. It was an emotional morning, she was crying and praying for me. She also made me promise not to ever wallow in pain.
"Nothing, absolutely nothing should make you stay if you are in pain. You deserve a lot of peace in your life." I had squeezed her gently in mine to stop her tears.
"Madam, come out now. The movie is about to start." Nusaiba's voice makes me begin buttoning my shorts. I walk out of the closet to see all of them huddled around a laptop they placed behind a pillow on the chest, all of them laid back on the bed.
I walked towards them and they automatically left space for me in the middle. I sat and watched the opening credits of the movie load. Salman Khan delectable self in Jai Ho greets me. We are watching Jai Ho.
"This Salman guy sef, can't he behave human, see him jumping over everything likes he's Batman." Safiyya's irritated voice makes everyone laugh, the movie is nearing its end and Salman Khan's character has just been made into a liar. It reminds of when I just returned home, Husband number one made me into a liar, into a cheating wife that he had to leave. Told my father all sorts of stories about me, he's one of the many reasons I can't talk to some of my 'friends' anymore. They all believed his lies against my word.
Ajìkè's ringtone makes me realize my eyes are wet and as I struggle to wipe my tears, I realize that the movie is over. Two hours gone. It's eleven in the morning.
"OK, I'll wait for your video call. I love you too Muad'h, I love you so much." Nusaiba groans out loud.
"We know you love him. In fact, we are tired of hearing it." She hisses and a knock sounds at the door. I climb out of the bed and walk to the door to open it, it's Aunty Rakiya, the head maid. I greet her and open the door wider for her to come in, she pushes a cloth trolley in. All the clothes I'll be wearing today are on it. Another trolley filled with small plates of small chops and a pitcher of pineapple juice is pushed in by another maid.
Aunty Rakiya passes me a long velvet blue box, no doubt my jewelry for the day. I collect it and place it atop my dresser. In a few minutes, two of my employees will be here to make me up. On a day like this one, I can't trust my hands to be steady. I've done this before doesn't make it any more easier.
"The Fathia has started. Who wants to watch. Wear your scarf." I walk to the bathroom to take a shower, I might not take another till late tonight. Then I spread my mat in a part of my closet facing the qibla.
"Ya Allah, Let this marriage be a place of rest for me. Surprise me. Put my thoughts to shame, I'm relying on you to make this marriage a thing of joy for me eventually. In sha Allah. Ameen." I made the dua after praying two rakats.
As I wrap up my mat, my phone chimes loudly with a message. I walk to a side of my bed where it's charging. My employees are here. I fire a rapid text for them to be let into the house. Security measures were put in place for the ceremony.
"The makeup people are here. Safiyya please get an ottoman from the closet so you can sit comfortably. I want to talk to you while I'm being made up." Safiyya walks away into the closet to bid my order, narrowly missing the clothes trolley on her way back. I stifle a laugh. A knock sounds and Safiyya opens the door slowly to reveal Diana and Faith. They walk in slowly due to the boxes of camera equipment and makeup they are carrying.
" Congratulations Nabs. God bless your home." Diana has a breezy personality that everyone loves very much. She hugs me and Faith waves shyly at me. I watch them set out their equipment and faith takes pictures of Safiyya to test the camera.
"How do you want it Nabs?" I smile brightly at Diana's attempt to make me feel calm. She tells me that she has the ability to sense a nervous bride one kilometer away. And it's part of her job to see each bride calm.
"Well blended, sharp eyes, a little heavy eye pencil, pale pink lips." She smiles and nods at me. She holds my hair into a bun with a small rubber band and begins work.
One hour later she's done and by that time, I'd been declared a married woman. Mother's friends wont come to this part of the house due to the number of stairs they have to climb so all I hear is the yodelling from downstairs and the excited squeals from my friends.
I walk into my closet to get dressed and by the time I'm done. It's twelve. I sit again for Diana to wrap my white embellished turban around my head. She does it in record time. I'm literally shaking inside. I feel cold from within. Ajike had thrown my window open in hopes of air after I asked that the air conditioning be turned off.
" Happy Married Life Nabs." I smile at her sincerely and she smiles back. The door is knocked again and Aunty Rakiya comes to inform us of the one hour thirty minutes we have to get downstairs.
Diana moves the chair to the window side and I pose for pictures. Faith takes as many as she can while Ajìkè and the rest get dressed. It's all coming along now.
Safiyya is dressed in a blue ankara flowing gown, well sewn. I look at her face and order her to sit in my chair. I pick out my makeup kit that I'd packed earlier and pry it open.
A few minutes later I'm done working on her eyes. Her eyes, nose and lips are the most features on her face and I work on her eyes and lips.
"Gently smack your lips." Makeup takes my mind off the wedding and the fact that I'm married. I gently tie her scarf and step back a few meters to observe her face. Great, just the effect I was looking for.
"The both of you are so beautiful, it's hard to not think you are sisters." I send a watery smile in Diana's direction and while she begins packing her box, Faith takes pictures of all of us. The rest got dressed while we finished our makeup.
Aunty Rakiya knocks the door again. And we tell her we are ready. Safiyya helps pack up my makeup again and I begin buckling my low heeled silver sandals. My purse is a cylindrical piece of art that my phone doesn't fit into. I hiss lightly and throw it down on the bed angrily. I'll have to hold my phone.
Ajìkè comes to me and pulls me into a hug. I squeeze my eyes shut and hold her tightly, taking in her citrus oud scent.
"You'll be fine. In sha Allah." She motions for the others and they crowd around me before starting the Al-Fathia.
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I sat in a Rolls Royce Phantom with my Father's sister Aunty Zakiyyah on my left side, my Mom's elder sister Aunty Hajar on my right side and an elderly woman from Adeel's side sat in the front seat.
I was covered in a heavy maroon thobe adorned with white lacy designs and frills while beneath it I am wearing a blue lace material styled into a flowing gown, jewellery that mother picked out for me and I'm holding my phone in my hand tightly.
Despite the cold emanating from the car's AC I still felt sweat gliding down my neck in perspiration. Aunty Zakiyyah held onto my left hand in a smooth but firm grip consoling me with no words being said.
My sister, Safiyya hurried to us verbalising her apologies for taking time as she handed Aunty Hajar my purse before the yodels of the elderlys that were in the compound increased as the man seated in the driver's seat turned the key into the ignition indicating that it was time for the conveyance.
Our car was the fourth in the entourage and behind us were more than four cars all with their double headlights turned on to indicate that we were in an entourage.
My heart took a leap as the cars began moving in a fast yet steady pace.
I couldn't believe it. My marriage! My second marriage and I'm still being treated like a fresh bride unlike many other ladies getting married for the second time. At most times it's just the Wedding Fatihah and reception that takes place, nothing more.
Or they might be lucky like me. Have just a wedding Fathia and conveyance.
We drove all the way from my parents house to my new house without me raising my head once to look at my surrounding.
We took several turns until the recent one which made my heart skip a beat and Immediately I knew that it was the last before we reached, I felt it. Then I looked up to see Ajìkè's sprawling house being driven past. I'm living on Tana close.
In no time the distinct sound of a horn was heard before our cars began parking inside the spacious compound. Doors opened and closed before ours did and another bout of yodels surrounded us.
My aunts held onto me from each side as family and friends stood behind, in front of and beside us. Together, with the three of is leading the way, my head facing the ground we walked into the house.
Halting at the doorstep, Aunty Zakiyyah said some Dua which I repeated after her. From my first experience at marriage I knew that the first thing to do was say "Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim" (In the name of Allah the beneficial the merciful) to protect me and my new home from all evil.
Minutes later I was positioned in the middle of a bed I presumed to be mine, the grey rug confirmed my suspicions with some elderly's fawning at me, spraying perfumes in the room while others held beautiful incense burners with lovely scents. A little later, they began with the Do's and Dont's.
Yeah don't we get that all the time?
I'm not new at this so of course I know what is supposed of me. But it's tradition, they feel it to be a must to keep on repeating and repeating what is expected of me in my marital home.
In no time people began leaving, my aunts and distant relatives first, even Ajìkè had to leave to rest. Leaving me with my sister and a couple of cousins I haven't spoken to in a while to do the trademark "sayen baki" where the My cousins that were left behind waited for the groom and his friends to arrive for the "siyan baki" where the bride's friends normally negotiate with the groomsmen to pay a token to them while they(the bride's friends) will then bring out the bride and prayers will be offered before the friends will be taken home by the groomsmen leaving the newly weds together.
After the negotiations they came over to greet me and in no time, the room grew quiet. Safiyya blew a dua over me before leaving. Leaving me alone with my groom.
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Hello everyone,
I'm sorry, I was supposed to update but I've lost all excitement, y'all pray for me. I'm also updating today because I'm not sure if I'll be able to do so tomorrow. I'm travelling.
This chapter is for my twin sister, Nanah_Muhammad Darling Sissy, I love you so much. Thank you so much for all your love, Thank you for helping me every time. I'm grateful for you.
I'll see you all when I return. God bless you
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