Qadr

Chapter 5

We shortly arrived at the house which is in Asokoro. They were many cars for the conveyance of the bride.

I don't know who opened my door but immediately it was opened we were greeted by yodeling loud and a dozens of female voices.

I was ushered in by a middle aged lady whom I recognized as Adnan aunty, she pulled my veil lower to cover my face as the ladies kept saying the tahmeed and yodeling.

I was seated on a very comfortable couch with a soft and plush carpet that my tired feet just sunk into.

My face was unveiled by another middle aged woman whom I later learnt is Umma's sister, Hajiya Ruqayya, even more yodeling filled the places as my face was revealed.

I was taken to Adnan mother room, Hajiya Halima. She welcomed me.

I was later taken to a guest chalet where I'm to get ready for the budan Kai/walima.

My sisters and some of my friends have left to go and get ready for the event. I was left with Aisha and Nusaiba.

I removed my laffaya and tossed it on the bed. I slipped out of my clothes and had my bath. I came out of the bathroom, putting on a white rope and sat down for the makeup artist to start her job.

I was getting my makeup done when a beautiful fair girl around my age came in.

The fair girl said. "Hi Amarya."

I said hello and so do Aisha and Nusaiba.

"My name is Anisa, your husband's cousin sister.

We exchanged pleasantries.

Anisa smiled. "Let me leave you to get ready for the event. Guests have already started arriving. " she said and left.

They finished the makeup, I got dressed in a beautiful green fabric, pared up with her pretty gold jewelries and matching shoes.

I was taken outside to the beautifully decorated place. I was seated and all eyes were on me. My friends and my sisters were seated next to me.

The walima started with Adnan's aunt saying the prayer. Followed by another aunt who gave lessons of marriage.

It was time for the budan Kai. Adnan's sisters, Safiyah, Anisa, Rabi came and unveiled their new sister.

"May Allah bless your marriage with happiness, peace and contentment." Said Ya Safiyah.

They sprayed me with different perfumes, chatted for a while before they got back to their normal routines, entertaining the guests.

The next hour was filled with Adnan's relatives introducing themselves and welcoming me to the family and giving me presents.

By the end of it all I was exhausted as a girl can ever be, with my cheeks hurting from the permanent fake smile that's plastered on my face. One thing was clear though, The clan can make a small country of their own and it will probably be the happiest nation on earth judging from how happy and friendly they all are.

When it was over, Umma instructed Ya Safiyah to take me to a room where I will rest before I'm taken to "Our home".

"I feel a thousand times more tired than I look", I stretched on the bed i was sitting on, when I was interrupted by a soft knock on the door," Come in". I said.

A dark skinned lady around my age came into the room, Oh she was Rabi, Umma's sister daughter? I thought.

We stared at each other for a moment, before I averted my gaze and ask her if she is looking for someone.

"You don't seem ashamed for what you have done, do you?" Rabi finally spoke.

I knitted my brows in bewilderment, "Excuse me?"

"Well let me just hit the nail on the head, it's about Ya Adnan" I don't know what you did that made Abba decided to get you two married. I know Ya Adnan wouldn't not want to hurt his feeling that's why he agreed to this marriage.

Let me make something clear to you today Maryam Ya Adnan belongs to me and me alone. I'm going to make your life a living hell and in less than one month you will be gone from his life for good, I'm going to make sure of it. In badda shishshigi, ma of all the guys you could get married to why do you have to choose him. Said Rabi.

I'm here to warn you to stay away from Ya Adnan, just because you two are married that doesn't mean he is yours.

Woah! What an introduction. I thought.

What do you think of yourself, I must say you've got the guts, for you to tell me to stay away from my husband. So apparently you think he is your's, wow! What did you even say uhmm, oh yeah! You said in the less than a month you are going to separate us for good right?

I love to see you try Rabi, you think you can just come and threaten me and I won't say anything. Let me make it crystal clear to you Rabi, if you try or think of creating problems for me in my matrimonial home, I'm going to make sure that is the biggest mistake of your life.

"We're going to see about that Maryam." Said Rabi.

I just can't believe what just happened what did she think of herself, coming to threaten me it is not as if I am happy with this marriage. How dare she, I'm so angry that I feel like grabbing her and giving a really tight slap.

*******

I was sleeping when I heard the call of the adhan for Maghreb prayer. I got up from the bed and saw Aisha and shamisya seating on the cushion using their phones. I'm to be taken to my husband house which is not too far from my in-laws after Maghreb prayer.

I entered the bathroom and had my shower and performed ablution . I came out and got dressed in a simple boubou and prayed Maghreb.

"Salam alaikum," Anisa said coming in. The groom is here to take his bride home," she announced happily looking at me with a cheeky smile.

"What?" " is he supposed to pick me up?" I asked confused.

"Well seeing as you have already being conveyed here and all the formalities and what not have already been done here, it only makes sense not to repeat all that again and leave with your groom". Anisa said.

I looked at Aisha and shamisya, hoping for a solution from them because I really didn't want to drive alone with Adnan to "Our home ".

"Anisa is right you know ", Aisha shrugged.

There's no getting out of this I could tell, so it's better to just get it over and done with, after all how bad could it be?

We made our way to one of the parlours in the mansion, where Adnan and his friends were waiting for us.

I greeted them and gave Adnan a weak smile which they mistook for something else.

May Allah bless your marriage with happiness, peace and contentment." One of his friend said.

"Alright guys, I think we better be going ," Adnan announced to his friends.

We went to his parent's apartment to bade them goodnight, we only meet Abba in their parlour he told us that Umma was tired so she is sleeping. We bade him goodnight after he prayed for us for a happy home.

Few minutes later we were in the compound near Adnan's parked car, with Aisha, shamisya and Adnan's friends trailing behind us.

He walked passed me and opened the passenger's side door for me which attracted a round of cheer from his friends.

I hesitated a bit before getting in. Aisha came to my side, "it's going to be alright, she stated reassuring me.

"Yeah, Insha Allah." I said

"I will come visit you soon OK."

"You better"

The driver's side door was opened, I could smell a very calming musky scent.

Salamu Alaikum, " He greeted me closing his door. You ready, shall we go? He asked.

"Yeah, let go ". I answered back, glancing at the side mirror, at the people waving. I looked until we left the gate. I looked at the time it was 10:15pm. I'm starting a new life filled with uncertainty, different thoughts running through my mind.

I decided to look out the window with the cars passing by and me heading to my new life.

All along I could feel Adnan gaze on me as he kept stealing glances at me to confirm if I was OK. I could sense him hesitating, trying to strike a conversation. For the mean time we were engulfed with a comfortable silence with the night breezes from open windows caressing our faces as we journeyed to our beginning.

Hey lovelies ? How are you doing? Iftar Mubarak ❣