Kano State, Nigeria.
2018.

Falak's nerves were all over the place by the time to get ready for dinner. She didn't know what to feel about the kiss or his emotionless face afterwards. He still looks lazy and indolent when he pulled away which made her wonder if she was the only one who enjoyed to kiss and not all of them. She stopped thinking only when her mother demanded that she should go and take bath again.

Tahira was ready when she came out only in a black robe and her under wears intact beneath. She sat down and waited for her to finish her bold makeup which she did and finished up with hot pink lipstick that Falak admired because of how beautiful it looked on her plush lips and her thoughts wandered back to their kiss which she immediately shook away, no time for that.

Inayah gave her the magenta ball gown that is tightened around the burst but tulle was used around her mid abdomen making it huge but beautiful. It trails down behind her and the seamstress used a matching tulle as her wedding veil which will be on top of her unique bridal magenta bonnet. She looks exceptionally gorgeous in her own point of view. She added gold ears rings, necklace and few rings here and there.

She was passed a diamond beaded silver clutch and her shoes matched together and she was done. She could feel the heaviness of the gown weighing her down like she weighed more than her shaped self.

"This room is burning!" Jabrayah squealed after they were asked to come in to see the bride. Inayah suggested that they all step out of the room so that they could be surprised and surprised they are.

"Maa shaa Allah!" The other girls squealed also coming in all in their fuscia coloured asoebi almost matching hers and they look pretty.

Falak smiled at them before they were asked to leave and that the cars are outside with the groom and his men. Falak's thoughts started drifting again and she isn't listening to anything they are saying except the thought that she is going to sit down next to Shaddad and in a car alone. Will he talk to her? Will he compliment her again? She is darn nervous but will just have to wait to find out.

Falak walked slowly as though walking like that was going to lengthen her situation but she knew better. She sighed more than she could count on her way out of the main palace to the black SUVs waiting for her and her friends just outside. The guards surrounded each car and she could see the first and the last car are filled with Royal guards just waiting for heads up and they will move. Sometimes she feels weird with the guards but knew having title in the world doesn't go without consequences and prevention is better than cure.

There is one white car in the middle that has ribbons across the knob. It's a white latest 2018 Toyota Avalon that is definitely waiting for her because there won't be a different car for her friends when the others are all matching colours and all. She took a deep breath and suspire, letting the girls accompany her to the backseat of the car and wait for her to settle, adjusting her trail.

Shaddad Jaguar cologne filled her nostril when she settle on the leather seat. She could feel his presence beside and could see his white kaftan clad legs spread wide around them. She kept her clutch between them and gave Fikriya a small smile before she closed the door and went to another car with other girls. She had that small wish that one of the girls will sit her with but she forgot how evil they are.

Since the venue is not far from the Palace, the car ride was very quite and she kept squirming, not even being able to remove her phone from her clutch. She thought that after so much practice about how she was going to torture him, she won't feel nervous around him but look at her now. She looks like she is shitting herself while writing chemistry exams which she didn't read, quite hilarious. She would've laughed at herself if she was seeing it in a photo.

What she didn't expect is for him to get down first and help her out of the car.

Shaddad didn't know what to do but one thing he's always seen his friends do on this events is taking the bride's hand and help her out of the car, he doesn't want people suspecting a thing. The marriage is enough in his plate than having people on their tail. Shaddad hurried to her side knowing how stubborn Falak is and he knew just how much she is mad at him to not wait for him to open the door. He didn't miss the stunned and flabbergasted look she gave him and he almost faltered at his step but held his hand out nevertheless for her to take.

Falak's heart quickened to the fastest paste when she held his hand for the first time. His hands are so soft and she would've removed hers from his because she was conscious that her own are a little calloused which they are not, compared to his softer, fluffier ones. Isn't he hardworking and always touching his laptop, why is his hands so soft? Falak is so mad at the thought but brushed it off and focus on another thing entirely different.

The tingles spread around her arm making it weak for her own hand. That same cliché tingles she was told and read about happened to her and she is so excited to share it with someone. She felt like she could hold his hand for forever. In other words, his hands feels like home, just like when they were circling her waist earlier when they kissed.

Blush crept to her cheeks thinking about the hot kiss they shared in front of everyone and almost everyone in the state but it was sheathed with the artificial blush. Falak's body tingled at the thought and warmth spread through her whole body making gooseflesh to appear around her entire body. She hid her or not because he looked down at her before looking ahead.

"Falak, you should stay with Shaddad and we will arrange the bridesmaids and groomsmen." Inayah told her when she got out of the SUV with two more girls.

Falak could see how packed the place is from the expensive cars that have Royal plate numbers. She should've known that there will be more people than in the other princes' weddings. This one is more grand and from both mother and father, everyone wants to try it's best. All the elites will want to be there and she is sure that most of them are older people.

She stayed beside Shaddad taking in his body heat but silently observing the place to avoid awkward silence. She could see Inayah arranging the bridesmaids and groomsmen like she said and Falak giggled when she scolded Asad for trying to move from the line. They can be so cute and with her pregnancy, she is putting him in his place and he has no choice but to act cute and get back to her good books.

Few minutes later, Inayah yelled her name and asked them to move forward and stand in the middle of the line. She stood awkwardly with Shaddad's babban riga touching her slightly so she held her clutch tighter to herself just to do anything to avoid holding Shaddad's hand. She could see the gold around her neck and wrist shining under the poles outside of the hall. They are illuminating white light that shines the whole place.

They started walking in faintly hearing the DJ announcing their entrance. She didn't even know the song that was played but could see her friends, especially the single ones, moving their body like they promised.

She heard Fauziya and Ummi's voice yelling sexy ladies because Sexy Ladies by Timaya is playing. Falak didn't stop the smile from spreading across her face as she could picture Nevedita yelling with them even without knowing the song. She's wanted to come but her engagement is taking place the next day so Falak asked her not to bother so much and just stay back. She wished she was there though.

After the couple sat down on the white and golden Royal chair, Falak let her eyes wander around her surrounding to see the decoration.

The entrance was draped with white chiffon fabric and gold fairy light around it with more golden yellow artificial roses. She concluded that the team for the dinner is white, magenta and golden like she asked. The guests are sitting on the white chairs decorated with orchids and magenta lace. The chairs are arranged in straight line and the guests are facing each other chatting but stopped to watch in anticipation when they walked in some taking video.

There are also artificial gates holding the guest in their lane because there are more than ten rolls and each has twenty to thirty guests sitting. Most of them are wearing lace and the most expensive jewelry they could find in their closet filled with costume. The place looks majestic elegance, screaming rich, wealth and Royal. She felt like the princess there taking all the attention.

The events passed in a blur and they danced two times which was awkward since she didn't want to hold him. They finished that part and were asked to rest and then few more hours, people started leaving after eating to their heart's content. The hall was almost empty when Falak left with Shaddad since Asad wasn't willing to let them go if they don't dance and they still didn't so he gave up. The two are too stubborn for his head.

The ride back was also silent which Falak appreciated because she wasn't in for any talks. She was asked to go to the main palace and tomorrow will be escorted to her house when the budan kai takes place. She would've being angry to not execute her plan but she is too tried to handle Shaddad and her hate-love relationship. She was glad to be in her old bedroom.

The next morning, Falak didn't wake up to pray subh because she was too tired to even move a muscle when her alarm blared. Her dreamless sleep was cut short when Aunty Na'ima walked in and poured water on her, not normal water but cold chilly water. She sighed first before silently moving out of the bed all the while grumbling and making her way to the bathroom.

She prayed and settled down for Tahira to deck her face again. She will be taken to her home around four o'clock and it is already three.

The makeup was done in twenty minutes since it was only neutral and subtle. There was no need for heavy one when she is going to sit down in her new home and wait as they buy her, yup, the Fulani tradition.

She got dressed in exclusive super that was sewn with stonework blouse and wrapper. She still looks beautiful with her adorned gold and white alkyabba with rich golden embroidery. For once, she wishes she dressed like that for all the events because she looks finer and more Fulani in that outfit but her mother said she will remove it when she get to her home to change again, she groaned.

The girls are all wearing another set of asoebi she didn't know they brought out. It was Fulani traditional clothes and the colourful beads as accessories with calabash but she will admit, they look hot.

She was taken to her house and was asked to change her clothes to blue traditional Fulani clothes just like the girls only different colour. The girls are wearing the cream one. She was tired with the whole wedding event and would want nothing more than to just sleep for three days straight, if only she could. She is now a married woman and she is married to Shaddad, a lot of work to do.

The Fulani tradition started taking place as Shaddad was asked to sit on the other end of the room with his brother and Falak at the other end but Asad, Suwaid, Imad and Humaid went to Falak's side. Harith was nowhere to be seen since the wedding started and he is going to hear from her.

They started bidding and his family won because they kept saying millions while from her side, only the brothers and her mother bidded million and the other stopped at hundred not able to hold the competition. Some of their friends were asked to join and they all tried. She knew they were going to win and with that, the ceremony ended and the geriatrics left, the girls hopped to there feet and said they are going to dance for the last time.

"Be sure we come back here in nine months, okay?" Habiba said to Shaddad when he was about to leave the Chamber for them with his friends who boomed and nodded.

Shaddad hastily left the Chamber his friends hot on his tail teasing him senseless. Falak blushed because their eyes met for a split second but there was also something that made her tingle just by his burning gaze on her. She hopes she could resist enough to make him suffer for all the rejections and humiliation she got from him

*****
Yoyoyoyo!