Qadr

Chapter 4

Maryam POV

Right now it's only two days to the wedding and everyone is moving up and down making sure everything is going on as planned.

I am in my room along with Aisha Nusaiba, and my mai Gyaran jiki doing waxing.

"Nusaiba, I'm hungry" I said to nusaiba, who is using her phone.

"What do you want to eat?" She asked.

"Anything, what did they cook today?" I asked

"Rice and stew" she said.

"Please have Sadika bring it for us"

She left the room and my body suffered a bit longer inside the turaren wuta. We soon finished the gyaran jiki and ate our lunch.

Binta has left already leaving only me in my room thinking about life. Life as a married woman.

I entered the bathroom and had my shower with the scented soap Binta gave me. I came and got dressed in a simple maron boubou and prayed zuhr.

Earlier, shamisya went to the designers to get my outfit for the kamu and budan Kai.

The budan Kai event is organized by the grooms family, it literally means welcoming the bride into their family while the groom or his sisters unveils the bride.

Auntie Halima, Ammi's sister came in. "Mami, Maman ki Na kira." ( your mum is calling you).

I left the room and went to Ammi's where I met her, her elder sister auntie zubaida, and Dada's younger sister Auntie Sadiya.

They talked to me about marriage life and whatnot, I teared up a bit after the long Nasiha I received and the sad face of my Ammi.

Ammi told me that Dada is calling me. I made my way to his study afterwards. I wiped my tears and knocked on the door. He answered and ushered me in. After exchanging pleasantries, he started.

"Mami, you are going through a new phase in your life, an inevitable phase. Allah has already destined that you will get married one day, you will marry Adnan. And tomorrow is the day you will be leaving this house to live with him as your lawfully wedded husband. Mami I am asking to forgive me for pushing you into this marriage. I want you to give it a chance and accept it as your Qadr. We might not know what it holds, only Allah knows and we leave everything in his hands.

Allah will protect you from all evil and make this marriage work. I am and will keep praying for you and all my other kids every single day of my life.

Now, weep no more my child. Happieness awaits you insha Allah. Trust in Allah SWT, believe in his miracles and everything will work out for you insha Allah. Allah ya miki Albarka Mami". He pressed a kiss on my forehead and I hugged him tightly.

"Thank you Dada, for everything you have done for me. Allah ya saka da Alheri, I love you dearly Dada na" I sobbed as i hugged him tighter. He hugged me too.

"Ameen my daughter, I love you too "

I left the study after my heart to heart talk with Dada. I went straight to my room, prayed and lay down on my bed. I'm so knackered.

We are all getting our henna tomorrow in the morning insha Allah during the 'Sa lalle' event.

I tossed and turned all night, I narrowed my eyes lots of thoughts running on my mind. What's is going to happen next, how is Adnan going to treat me.

"I picked up my phone from my bed side drawer to check for the time and it was 2:00am. I kept the phone back, I turned on the lamp beside my bed and went to the bathroom and performed ablution, I came out and prayed nafil, I cried my heart out to Allah and prayed that I'll be able to go through whatever I'm going to face in this new phase of life.

I felt at ease after praying and slept off on the prayer mat.

I woke up due to the call of the adhan for subhi, I went to the bathroom and performed ablution, came out and prayed before going back to bed.

*******

Third person's POV

"Maryam wake up " Aisha shook her, she opened her eyes a little and yawned before closing it back.

"Ke wake up " Nusaiba half yelled.

"No am Sleepy" she whined.

"You're stupid, today is your 'sa lalle and your kamu and you are telling me s**t" Nusaiba pulled out her duvet.

If you don't wake up I'll pour cold water on you" Yusra said.

"Am up am up" her eyes fluttered open, she rubbed her eyes with the back of her palm and yawned.

Today is Friday and the sa lalle is this morning and the kamu events is in the evening. This is one of the oldest events in the Hausa wedding ceremony. "Kamu" means catch the bride.

The groom's family comes and negotiates with the bride's friends for her release to them. They have come for their bride and they're willing to pay any price to have her.

Then tomorrow insha Allah is the wedding Fatiha and walima/budan Kai which was organized by the grooms family. It is going to take place when the bride is taken to her matrimonial home.

Maryam is currently getting her makeup done by the amazing makeup artist. She is in her room with Aisha, Nusaiba, Fauziyya, a couple of her friends and her cousins.

"Wow sis, you look fire!" Shamisya hyped, while Maryam just blushed.

"Maryam, will you just look at you. MashaAllah, my bestie is the most beautiful bride" Aisha said making Maryam blush harder.

Ya Amina came in and told them to start leaving for the event center.

They all went downstairs, all eyes were on the alluring bride. People praises and snaps her pictures as she passed by to the living room where she met her mom Ammi.

The photographer that they hired was snapping each and every moment. They went out and drove to the event center which is the blue velvet marquee in zone 4.

They shortly arrived at the venue. The female Mc announced the arrival of the bride.

Maryam and her friends got lined up and danced into the hall.

Her friends led her to her traditionally decorated seat. The event started with an open prayer by her auntie.

After that, they announced the arrival of the groom's family. Her friends covered her face with an Ankara wrapper.

The groom's family came forward to unveil their bride.

"Auntie, we can't let you see our beautiful bride's face for free. You have to pay us" said shamisya.

The lady smiled. "We will do anything just to get a glimpse of this beautiful bride of ours"

"Oya, pay and she's all yours Aisha said, making all of them laugh.

They finished their negotiations and settled on a huge amount of money.

"The bride is all yours..." Nusaiba opened Maryam blushing face.

"MashaAllah, this our bride is so beautiful "

"Adnan is so lucky to have this beautiful creature as his wife.

Maryam just kept blushing and smiling, again and again.

Allah ya sa Albarka "

The groom's family sprayed her with very good scented humras and put turaren wuta all around her.

The kamu finished with kids, teenagers and adults dancing around having the time of their lives. It was such a memorable day to remember.

******

Maryam is all sweaty, the wedding Fatiha is taking place right now in the central mosque. She's in her room along with her sisters and friends.

Alhamdulillah, AN DAURA AUREN MARYAM DA ADNAN. Allah ya basu Zaman Lafiya, ya basu zuri'a dayyaba." Was all I heard before the voice note Sadiq sent was drowned by the sounds of congratulations coming from hundreds of women and girls outside.

"Maryam, stop crying please. Ya isa." Ya Amina consoles her. She did not even know when the tears started to come out.

She sobbed lightly and leaned her head on her sister shoulder.

She couldn't believe this, she's now a married woman. Mrs Adnan sagir.

Ya muhmmad came and announced that the knot has been tied. Maryam stomach made a sound.

I am officially a married woman, married to a person I don't love, a person I don't know anything about. Did I make a mistake?

All these thoughts were going through her mind before the door flung open, Women yodeled as the wedding Fatiha was announced, well wishers, gossipers all entered the room and congratulated her.

She just smile and nods. Repeatedly.

"Oya, Madam get up and change, your groom will be here in a few for your wedding photo" Fatima commanded me and I sulkingly obeyed.

Within 15 mins, I was dressed up and decked like a fairy tale Princess.

*****

It's time to take me to my in laws house. I was dressed in a beautiful purple lace, my makeup beautifully and lightly done by Aisha. She helped me wrapped my white laffaya around my body.

Everything is happening in a rush, I was taken to Dada's living room where he along with my other uncles gave me sermons on the importance of patience in marriage, how marriage is act of worship. Through it all I was crying, I have always thought I will never cry on my wedding day but alas, I have been proven wrong.

The farewell and sermons with Ammi was even more emotional and a bit dramatic as i clung to her and didn't let go.

Her aunties, Auntie sadiyah, auntie Halima, and Aunty Rabi were the ones taking her. They went out, entered the cars and zoomed out of the compound and headed to the Sagir Abdullah residence.

Hey! Lovelies? iftar Mubarak ?

Updated twice today yeeeee?

I want to be done with the wedding stuff and get started?.