Just vote before you even start, lemme not hear i forgot and stories that touch the toes. 

Third person's POV.

Ashraf and his friends had just returned from the masjid; the knot of his nikkah with Zara had been freshly tied. The air was filled with the scent of turaren wuta and the murmurs of congratulations. His friends, a lively and teasing group of men, were all smiles and laughter, their crips kaftan with their babban riga paired with their cap adding to the festive atmosphere. They had just concluded their prayers and were heading back to the house, the sun casting long shadows on the ground.

As they approached the house, the sound of hurried footsteps caught their attention. They yawned their attention to where the sound was coming from to see Zainab, Fatoo, and Nana running out of the house, with Amina trailing behind them barefoot and frantic.

Zainab's husband, Asad, who had arrived earlier than the other men, was right behind his wife, trying to calm her down.

"Ya Zainab, What's wrong?" Ashraf called out, his heart beginning to race.

"An sace ta!" Zainab exclaimed, her voice breaking with panic. "Zara is nowhere in sight!"

Asad had to hold Zainab still, his strong arms keeping her steady. Zainab was pregnant, and everything was just adding to the stress she was already feeling. Her eyes were wide with fear as tears streamed down her face.

"Calm down, Ya Zainab, please, and tell us what happened." Ashraf urged, his voice steady but his heart pounding.

Zainab took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. The girls also did their best to try to calm her down. She had gotten close to Zara over the past few days, so that reaction was natural, plus the hormones. "I saw Zara wearing her dress; she looked ethereal with a full-blown smile on her face," Zainab said sadly. "But when I came back to check on her, the room was empty. She wasn't there."

Ashraf felt cold dread wash over him. "Did she run away?" He was bound to ask, seeing that Zara wasn't fond of him or the idea of getting tied to him.

Nana and Fatoo began to shake their heads vigorously. They knew their friend, and running away was the last thing on the non-exit list she was going to do.

"No, she wouldn't. She did not run. But she is sure as hell missing, and we have no idea where she is, Ashraf." Amina said.

Ashraf felt a mix of relief and fear. Relief that she didn't bail on him and fear that she was actually missing. He took off his Zanna Bukar cap and his babban riga, running his hands roughly through his hair. "This can't be happening," he muttered, a part of him terrified that Muhammad Alim, an old enemy, might have a hand in her disappearance. But another part of him held onto hope that Zara would appear before sundown. She was strong and resourceful; he had to believe she could get herself out of this situation.

"Amir, hold these for me," Ashraf said, handing over his cap and babban riga before sprinting towards his father's chalet. The air was thick with tension, and the normally serene grounds felt oppressive.

He burst into his father's office to find him on the phone, shouting at the police. "If you do not find my daughter-in-law, you will all pay a hefty price!" His father's usually composed demeanor was gone, replaced by a man consumed with worry. His eyes were red, and Ashraf had never seen him like this before.

After the call, his father turned to him, his face drawn with concern. "Ashraf, they'll find her. They have to."

Ashraf nodded, but the tightness in his chest didn't ease. "I hope so, Baba. I can't shake this feeling..."

As the day wore on, and Maghrib approached with no news, the house was a hive of activity. The main living room was filled with people making phone calls, coordinating search efforts, and trying to find any clue about Zara's whereabouts. The room, usually a place of comfort, felt heavy with worry and fear.

Ashraf's friends were scattered around, their faces etched with concern. Amina, Nana, and Fatoo were absent, still out searching for Zara. When they finally returned, their faces were tear-streaked, their eyes red from crying.

"We looked everywhere," Amina said, her voice breaking. "She's gone through so much. We can't lose her."

"We won't," Ashraf said, though he was trying to convince himself as much as the others. "She's strong. She'll make it through this."

The minutes ticked by painfully slow. Conversations were whispered, the weight of the situation pressing down on everyone. The living room was bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun, casting long shadows and filling the room with a somber light.

Ashraf's mind raced with possibilities, each one more terrifying than the last. He paced the room, unable to sit still, the worry gnawing at him. His friends tried to offer reassurances, but their voices were distant, their words hollow.

As the call to Maghrib prayer echoed through the house, a heavy silence fell over the room. They all paused, the weight of the day pressing down on them. Ashraf closed his eyes, offering a silent prayer, hoping against hope that Zara would be found soon.

~*~

Toh jama'a assalam alaikum. in fatan ana lahiya.

My mother has seized my phone and so I have concluded I will be depressed until I get it back. I have written up to chapter twenty, it being my favorite *Dances azanto* 💃🏾💃🏾

Kuma all these silent readers, God will judge you na rantse. why would you be reading and be keeping quite ni? even if you don't have something to say, vote and comment a hi or even an emoji. it makes me and Zara happy. she is still missing though. ko ina aka kai ta, oho🤷🏾‍♀️

See they was Ashraf is doing as if he has known the girl all his life. just some hours that she has been kidnapped fah, he has been calling me and threatening to sue me wai if i don't return her there will be froblim. as if i kidnapped her. shegen yaro kawai. sai in kashe shi yanzu ma. nace mishi Parii yanaye.

If you want me to publish chapter 16-20 at once say I and if you want me to publish it one after the other, it might not be day by day ooo say Nay.

silent readers, i take God beg you to please comment and vote, it goes a long way. oh ni aminatu diyar Ma'aji na shiga uku. Tohm, akwai Allah. 

With love and shege, Minaarfo🎀