Daukan Amarya.

That was what this should be called. This, meaning; that when Sudais mentioned his friends were flying in and had organized a party, Laila hadn't given it much thought. Until Hafsy gave her the details as per her brother's request. His friends had insisted on not just an outdoor dinner party where Sudais would bring his wife, but they had also insisted on reimbursing the popular event of newly wedded arewa folks; Daukan Amarya. It was an event solely for the bride, bridesmaids, and the groom, groomsmen.

They had refused to believe that Sudais got married impromptly and believed he didn't want them making noise about his wedding. Now that he had been crowned the king, they weren't just going to celebrate that, they were also coming in to support their boy and meet the newest addition to his life.

In isolation, Hafsy was a good makeup artist, the fact that Laila was fresh on skincare, henna, hair, and results made her sit for about 30 minutes as Hafsy did her makeup.

An hour or so ago, Laila had again argued with Sudais about her outfit. She had wanted to don a maroon FOXY two-piece and had gone as far as stepping into it and sending Sudais a picture which immediately had him calling back to disapprove of the dress. It hugged her too much, he had said. She had gotten angry at how he didn't even hesitate to say it and was ready to give him a peep into her thoughts until he cut her off, begging her to please not fight him and to wear something queen-ish, and blue.

Since her closet was filled more than halfway with maroon, she had complained to Mami about not knowing what to wear. She set out 3 outfits with blue and asked for her mother's opinion. Mami and Queen Baraka picked the maroon and blue FaJay boubou.

Laila stepped back into the busy room and her mother in-law's closet to wiggle herself into the outfit. With difficulties as to how she was going to style the head tie, Laila stepped out of the closet clothed in the FaJay embroidered boubou gown that gave off Alhaji's wife vibes as she asked for help with her head tie.

Hafsy being the artist jumped to gather the remnants of Laila's hair in a low ponytail and tied the head tie into the famous ture-kaga-tsiya head style. Next, Laila stepped into the anklets Sudais had warned her about and the rest of her jewelries over the sound of Mima announcing the groom's men had arrived and Mama was asking for Laila. 

Almost maniacally, Maya sprayed an unreasonable amount of Victoria secret Seduction perfume on Laila before the girls were veiling her face with a large lace see-through blue veil and steadily walked her into Queen Baraka's most large lounge.

Surprisingly-not to Mima though, the lounge was filled only with the mothers. Queen Baraka, her co-wife, Mami, and her co-wife, Sudais' and Laila's elder sisters, and a few older Arab women she wasn't quite acquainted with.

Queen Baraka and Mami were sitting a few inches apart on a couch, the girls; Maya and Hafsy walked Laila to them and slowly lead their knees to the floor before moving back to let the women address the new queen.

Mami's palm caressed Laila's covered-up cheeks as she smiled, mouthing a nonaudible prayer that had the room going up in an 'Amen'.

Lectures again. About her responsibilities to her husband, her family-his family, and the people of Adamawa until the mothers believed it was enough and the groom and his men could come in.

Laila neither raised her head nor said a word but a few minutes later, the hypnotizing mishmash of woody scent, musk Oudh, and finally tobacco aroma that she had discovered filled her nostrils and the man in sky blue was lowering to his knees in front of his mum, beside her.

Impossibly, Laila's heartbeat surged into a state of tachycardia and she missed a beat, turning it irregular.

Laila gulped in self-consciousness as she brought a hand to her chest over the sound of laughter from people around. What was funny?

Queen Baraka gave a brief sob history about Sudais' birth mother, how kind, and amazing she was, how Sudais was her first to survive and how she adored him, how she died in a fire, life took her to a better place too early to see Sudais grow into the man, the king he was today, and how proud she would've been of him.

Mami took Sudais' liberty and unveiled Laila.

Hesitantly, Laila's peer to her right broke her heart, the sight of the Fulani man in Babban riga kneeling and holding his mother's hands to his forehead as he quietly sobbed. 

Repeating, his mom said, "I am so proud of you, Falmata would have been so proud of you." Instantly, he let out a deep groan of agony before Queen Baraka was soothing the left side of his face and cooing him down. Mami added a palm atop Sudais and Mama's clasped hands as she prayed for his deceased mother.

Prayers for Baba Alhaji, Hajiya Falmata, and even Sudais and Laila, were led by different people for over 20 minutes, the family becoming emotional and shedding a tear or two at their reminisced loved ones.

Once done, Mami placed Laila's henna-decorated hands into Sudais' and whispered, "This is the wedding you never had. I am sorry we never gave you the wedding you deserved."

Laila only nodded, unanticipatedly shy of Sudais' unwavering gaze as the older women excused them from the room.

"Hi, Boddo am."

In a whisper, Laila accosted, squeezing their palms. "Hi."

Sudais stared at her eyes that she had managed to look anywhere but him-in the case, their intertwined hands, down to her nose that popped out with makeup, descending to her full lips that he once found adverse but somehow looked flawless to him now, glossed over dark outlined lipstick, down to her glowing neck and shoulder and back to her eyes again.

The couple oblivious to the 'awns' and 'oshey!' had their heartbeats racing and syncing into one as one avoided eye contact, and the other yearned for it.

Since he wasn't going to get eye contact, Sudais gently pulled Lailaup, surprising even her. But she was thankful, she had started to not feel her legs.

Gently, which was the theme for the day, he wrapped arms all around her-as if afraid to let her go, then brought her head to his chest and sighed-finally believing it wasn't a dream.

The room went up in screams, pushing Laila and Sudais' face into a large smile, Sudais' being the largest while Laila tried hard to hide hers.

Since they hadn't taken qualified pictures at the Coronation, it was time to. Only then did Laila steal a quick but scrutinizing glance at Sudais still holding her to his side while communicating something funny to Tahir. Hair impossibly trimmed into perfectness as the remnants peaked from his Zanna Bukar cap, she wondered how she had missed the part where this man suddenly bloomed in complexion. Maybe it was happiness, maybe it was something else, but even a blind man would admit he shone above her, maybe over her.

She resisted the stupid urge to stroke his sideburns and decided she couldn't. So she cut his conversation short as her hand traveled to his sideburns. She didn't know but the room went silent at that, he turned, brows creased and slightly surprised at her action but pushed the astonishment to the side and smoothly slanted into her, aiming for her glossed lips. She saw that coming and wheeled her head to the side, suddenly too shy to do that in front of everyone.

"Ahh!"

The couple's ears shook from the shrieks of their friends. Even Sudais couldn't help but laugh as Laila wrapped her other arm around him and buried her face in his chest, compelling him to hold her closer. Tighter.

They got a few shots until the photographer instructed them to hold their hands between their chest while looking into each other's eyes. Instead of his eyes which had always made her legs feel like jello, she settled on his lips.

The photographer noticed and clarified again, "Look into his eyes, please."

Bashfully, which was one of Laila's least attributes, she cast her head down. "I can't."

"Aww!"

"Oshey!"

Amused shrieks flew around and died when the photographer kept pressuring Laila to look into the man's eyes.

Toes curling, she almost squeezed the blood out of his palm as for the first time, she allowed their irises to meet for more than 3 seconds. Eyes, a lighter shade of brown than hers had her already fast heartbeat racing recklessly like Paul Walker in drifts-may he rest in peace- from fast and furious. The name fitted her situation well. Fast and furious. If Laila didn't know better, she'd say they were siphoning, sucking, hypnotizing each other from their bare eye contact. Psychologically, their heart rate was syncing and she believed that at the minute.

She didn't move, wallahi she didn't move, but her wobbly legs-courtesy of the long eye contact- had her tumbling forward, compelling Sudais to grow tense and agape, holding her so she wouldn't go crumbling down.

Despite his uncomputable happiness, warmth spreading not just from his chest, he felt it diffuse to the rest of his body as he caught her abdomen, standing between her and the floor.

Clicks of the camera rang throughout the mixed-up scented room, he decided the pictures they were staring into each other's eyes and becoming one were going to be his favorite, and maybe those that he was holding her back from falling-a symbol of the infinite waves of power he had over her. And her over him.

Those pictures should be all over the media, he had decided right there and then.

They'd get those anyway.

So, the pack of over 15 groomsmen all decked in black embroidered Babban riga's with the bridesmaids in a shade of black gowns lead the couple out of their mother's chambers, right out and towards the lot filled with sleek black cars all gassed up with sirens ringing from each.

At the sight of his sisters, he halted, twisting to Laila, "Mima is coming?"

She nodded.

He shook his head, stretching an arm toward the girls. "No way. Mima!"

The girl turned, her smile freezing as she looked at him. He waved for her to come over and she did. He pointed a finger to his back, "You're not going."

In a second, the girl's bubbly expression fell. So did Laila.

"Why can't she come?"

He stared ahead, "Too many men. Way older than her."

He waved a hand at Tahir who raised his arms in question, asking what the delay was.

"Get inside."

"Haba! Why can't she come?" Laila protested, suddenly feeling the need to yank her palm out of his. "Don't spoil this for everyone."

Mima sighed, her poise morphing into exhaustion and defeat as she nodded, tears pooling in her eyes as she started to fumble with her fingers before walking to them-to her mum's chambers.

"Sudais, don Allah me haka?"

Sudais took a deep breath, "Mima."

Mima stopped, thinking what the hell he wanted to add now that he had dampened her mood.

"Zo nan."

She did, standing beside him and peering at her fiddling fingers with blurry eyes. "Kalle ni." When she did, the gathered tears in her eyes fell as she let out a silent sob, her hands coming up to cover her mouth before he smacks her.

Sudais mouth went agape, eyes flying to Laila who shrugged and nodded, confusing him more. He stretched an arm out, wrapping it around Mima's shoulder as he pulled her into him. "Shhh...Sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry," His palm soothed her vibrating arm, his chin slanting forward and resting atop her head. "It's not that i am being unfair and letting Hafsy go while i tell you to stay home," he started, knowing well that was what was in her head, "It's just that I don't want you feeling closed in with so many guys around. They are my friends but men are pigs, Mima. Kina jina?" He only got a nod, "We can go. But when we're there, i want you beside me or Hafsy or Sadiya. If any guy hits on you, you come to me. Especially Kalifa, Mima, you're giving him the face and Kalifa is not good for you. Kinji?"

She only nodded and his hand rested on her back. "Oya stop crying."

The kid stopped sobbing and lead the way, dabbing her face with a tissue.

Sudais unceasingly held Laila's hands as he guided her into the back seat of a Range Rover similar to his except this was black.

Without a doubt, Tahir was the one to drive them. He made sure to blast music that even Sudais vibed to, which was surprising because she had never, ever seen him that happy and carefree as his arms and fingers flew in sync with the lyrics. On the journey into Jimeta town, afrobeat Laila was obsessed with was played and that loosened her up. Sharply, she was vibing to the song, left palm now clasped in Sudais' right.

Arriving at the venue, as ironic as it was, it was a lagoon. More like a lake really, with greens and the scene beautified into an outdoor dinner tablescape with pillows instead of chairs. Flowers in lavender, peach and orchid purple bedecked the center of the table while tumblers, and cutleries aligned every individual on every side of the table.

It took a while but everyone sat and the introduction, hosted by Sudais started as he started by his right and went on, "This is Tahir you already know, that is Kalifa and Muri, you know them too. Those are the twins; Jabir and Jafar. That is Noah, next is Alamin, me, him and Tahir met in Ghana at the same time in high school," Sudais paused to let the man wave at her and she waved back, her cheeks already hurting from how much smiling she'd been doing. "That is Nuradeen, Isaac, and Stephen, the 3 musketeers." The crowd went up in laughter with the one who Sudais mentioned was Isaac swaying his palms up and down to calm everyone down for his next announcement.

"This one here is Nura and his jaw dropped when he saw you. He has been obsessed with you for almost a year, keeping your photos from Instagram and watching on repeat a video of you at a wedding, with that lady," he pointed at Maya, "And another man who he told us is your brother."

Sudais and Sadiya shared a look, brows almost folded in, eyes and mouth agape before they turned to the supposed Nuradeen who was with a tight smile, his less happy expression only showcasing now.

Someone, very stupid someone asked, "Why didn't you dm her?" And it was Kalifa. Most didn't find the question stupid though, only Sudais. Everyone wanted to know why he didn't just dm her.

Nuradeen stuttered before he explained. "I-i...i kind of thought she won't reply. She was a princess after all. So i saved the trouble and instead saved her pictures from her family fan base accounts because she had a private account on Instagram and never accepted my request."

"Ohh..." flew back and forth, Laila's being the pitiest as she dropped her shoulders, slanted her head to the side, and sighed, pouting almost sympathetically. It could've been him sitting beside her but life...

Anyway, the name Nura was a big red flag to her.

Draping what seemed like a nonchalant hand over Laila's shoulder but was a possessive hold, he dragged the lady closer to him until she willingly rested her head on his shoulder, a soft smile completing their features. "Toh Malam, ka ga na aureta. Se ka yi deleting duk wani pictures nata." It was a threat, but it came out as a joke and everyone laughed at it.

Nuradeen bowed, balling his fist up, "Angama ranka shi dade."

"Yafi maka and kuma-" Sudais paused, his brain recalling something. His index rose as he swiped it across his friends, "Kai, What am i even saying nema? When are you yen iska going to write me a check?"

The space went up in protests;

"Check ke?"

"Why?"

"Why we go give Lamido guda check?"

"Ahh ahh," almost dramatically, Sudais mouth twisted to the side, "Check to support your friend naw. Or do i have to beg you guys?"

Tahir gave Sudais a disgusted look, "We dey knack you?"

The group scattered with laughter at the comment and when it simmered down, Sudais said, "Haba. You're supposed to support your friend naw."

Kalifa tsk-ed, "Our Lamido de. Ai yanzu sede mu muyi biyayya ka rubuta mana check."

Laila watched with a smile as the friends broke out into amusing arguments, throwing insults at each other as if they were teens.

It went on until she was introduced to the remaining set of suave, well-dressed men, her hand either intertwined with Sudais' or his arm around her as they played different games while munching on small chops.

Tahir somehow got the microphone and cleared his throat, tapping the microphone's cap, hence gaining everyone's attention.

Sudais whose head was lowered as he listened to Laila complain in his ears about how she wanted to eat but was feeling conscious of his friends, turned his head to his friend.

"As you all know, Sudais is my best friend, that is without a doubt. Since we didn't have a wedding where i got to give my speech, I'll be doing it here. I don't know where to start, so I'll start with this; Once, Sudais in our final year of high school—"

"Ahhhhttt!" Sudais exclaimed, flashing up before the man tipped the respect he had in people's eyes, "Gimme the mike." He struggled with his best friend, Tahir raising the mike away from Sudais who was hellbent on taking it from him as Sudais whispered to an amused Tahir.

"Kar ka barar mun da hular mutunci na," he paused, glancing at their audience that found their scandal funny. His eyes landed on Mima who had sat beside Laila as they watched them with wide smiles, he turned to his best friend, "Tahir, na hada ka da Allah, kaga qanne na suna nan. Karka zubar min da mutunci a gabansu."

Tahir pretended to think as he threw his head back. He then nodded, "You owe me."

Sudais nodded, "I owe you big time." Before they were making their way back after Sudais had asked if Maya had anything to say, the girl jumped at the opportunity but Laila was quick to yelp and grab the girl, turned to Sudais, and shook her head.

He laughed. Guess they all had L's in their closet that they didn't want out.

In the background, loud music was blasting, courtesy of one of the groomsmen who had volunteered to Dj. One song had Sudais tugging Laila up as the men who had come along with their women stood too and even those that didn't did.

Wha ya say

Dem don't know

At the top of his lungs, Sudais hollered, My woman, my everything

My woman, i go fit buy you anything

My woman, my everything

My woman, i go fit give you anything

My woman oh, my everything

My woman oh, my everything

In need to give the couple being celebrated the chance to be lost in their world, Tahir his arms for everyone to step back, leaving the floor for the couple before the beat dropped and hiked back.

Gesturing with his hand from her head to toe, he mimed, Woman you proper

Woman you straight

Man ya bold and ya generate treat

He spread his arms out, taking a step back, Waiting for you was never too late

Remember that you are the food in the plate

Stepping forward, he clasped their palms, his smile reaching the edge of his ears.

I am coming in the game

I dey piss on concrete

He threw his finger at the sky, I will never loose faith for making you me soul mate

Get this one straight, his fingers rested on his temple and Laila let out a loud laugh, the flashes of the camera not bothering her anymore.

Say I'm you mate

No matter how dem girl

Give you anything, anything, anything

Pon the bed first thing

Early morning medicine

Laila's laugh mixed with the most perfect song of the evening had him bouncing like a giddy child, twirling her and dragging her flush against him.

You owe me everything, everything, everything

The rest of the crew joined, screaming, NO BE WOMAN TO ME YOU MEAN EVERYTHING!

It didn't matter that he was king, she was queen, and his younger siblings stood in the background hyping them up. What mattered was he was happy, despite the build-up, he was happy. So, was Laila. For today and only today-maybe not only today hopefully, but they also won't stop themselves from letting loose.

The groomsmen insisted on Laila singing for Sudais since he sang at the top of his lungs for her, forgetting the fact that he was now a superior who shouldn't be caught doing that.

But, fuck rules. Fuck everything for the rest of the night.

Laila settled on the instrumental of Superbass by Nicki Minaj. She had always wanted to sing the song to someone's son one day. Now that she got the opportunity, it wasn't going to go to waste.

Laila cleared her throat, blowing air into the microphone that had the speakers whooshing before Mima, Hafsy, and Maya were hyping her.

It was going to be a remix like that of Beverly from one of her favorite romantic movies, Resort to love.

Knowing she had always had a good voice, even on the microphone, her karaoke show kicked off.

She vocalized, swaying her head, oohhhh

She might not be that good but raps had always been her thing, this one is for the boys with the booming system

Top down, AC with the cooling system

When he come up in the club, he be blazing up

Got stacks on deck like he savin up

She stretched her left arm towards Sudais, And he ill, he real, he might got a deal

Sudais has got many deals.

He pop bottles, then she winked at him, And he got the right kind of build

He cold, he dope, he might sell-

Sudais definitely didn't sell coke.

She raised a horizontal palm, he always in the air but he never fly coach

Excuse me, she stepped forward, you're a hell of a guy

I mean, my, my, my, my

You're like pelican fly

I mean you're so shy, She touched his chest, I'm loving your tie

You're like slicker than the guy with the thing on his eye, oh

Yes i did, yes i did, somebody please tell him who the F I is

"Halima!" Maya shouted.

Laila laughed, waving her off.

I am nicki minaj

I mack them dudes up

Back couples up

"OSHEY, BABA SHE CAN SING!"

Throwing her arms towards Sudais, she slowly dragged them to her chest, Boy you got my heartbeat Runnin' away

She palmed her chest, beating like a drum and it's coming your way. It really was.

Can't you hear that boom, badoom, boom, boom, Badoom, boom?

"I can." Sudais mouthed, his cheeks almost flushing up his eyes in a smile.

She giggled, You got that super bass

Boom, badoom, boom Boom, badoom, boom

She pointed a finger at Maya and they chorused, you got that Superbass

Laila stopped bouncing, her eyes closing and arm stretched towards her husband, see i need you in my life for me to stay

She shook her head, no, no, no, no, no i know you'll stay

She shook an index at him, no, no, no, no, no don't go away

Sudais shook his head, then nodded. He didn't even know what he was doing. Man, the guy was whipped.

The instrumental dropped, Laila's eyes flashing open as she vocalized and then giggled. He looked so happy-so proud of her, and that fueled her.

She clapped, boy you got my heartbeat running away

Maya mimicked, forcing everyone to clap in sync to Laila's lines.

Don't you hear that heartbeat coming your way

Oh it'd be like boom, badoom, boom, Boom, badoom, boom, bass

Can't you hear that boom, badoom, boom, Boom, badoom, boom

She stretched her arms up and out and everyone followed her, her and Maya vocalizing, EH EH EH

"YESS!"

"WHOO!"

Laila took a sharp breath, chest heaving as the instrumental died and the cheers went on.

Further to the end of the event, Laila's arm was secured by Sudais' waist and his did the same as they each held high a lit-up gold sparkler, laughing as they stood by the water, eyes lightening at the numerous bottle rockets flying up to a certain level in the sky and exploding with noises and beautiful fireworks.

Now if Sudais looked down to his right, which he did, all he saw was what Patoranking said, my woman, my everything.

I mean check out this chapters aesthetics mehn!!!!
Yeah, i'm nice and creative like that😌
Anyway, enjoy the calm while it lasts❤️