Umariri Songhai, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Wednesday 3rd April, 2018.

Uwani's mother was in one of the rooms of the Umar ancestral home. There were five suitcases from Eesh's lefe sitting opened in front of her, one contained makeup items, one contained atamfas, another; laces, another; cooperate clothes, the other; shoes and the last; bags. It was a tradition in the Umar Jalingo family that few out of the lefe of a bride would be shared amongst her cousins who weren't married yet. It was believed to bring them Goodluck in choosing their spouse.

"Call all the young unmarried girls." Uwani's mother ordered and Uwani nodded then rushed downstairs, she came back together with Amrah, Ruqayya, Ikram, Meenal, Neeha and Ummi.

"Good, count yourselves." Amrah turned and counted them with her fingers.

"We're seven." Uwani's mother nodded and asked who was the oldest. They all pointed at Uwani and Uwani's mother gestured for her to come. She did just that.

"Count the atamfas." Uwani nodded.

"Fifty." Uwani's mother nodded.

"Divide fifty by seven." Ikram worked it on her phone.

"Seven point..." Uwani's mother cut her off.

"Seven, starting from the oldest everyone take seven atamfas each." Uwani picked seven randomly, followed by Ummi, Ruqayya then Neeha. Ikram and Meenal came together as they were born on the same day though from different parents. The last person was Amrah who was asked to take the suitcase too after removing the last one that was remnant.

"Now the second oldest come and count these laces, divide it and tell me." Ummi came and counted. She tapped some things on her phone before she turned to Uwani's mother.

"The same thing with the atamfas, seven."

"Take seven and move." Ummi nodded and took seven, Uwani's mother pointed at Ruqayya and she came and took seven too. Then Neeha, then Ikram and Meenal together, then Amrah before lastly Uwani who kept the remnant on the bed together with the remnant of the atamfa then took the suitcase.

"Third, come and open the third suitcase and count how many things are there." Ruqayya came forward and did as told.

"There are fifteen jean trousers —seven high waist and eight fitted—, ten palazzos, seven crop tops, twenty t-shirts, seven sweaters, fifteen high waist skirts, ten maxi dresses, ten leggings, three hoodies, ten kimonos and ten boyfriend jackets." Uwani's mother slumped on her seat. She hated doing those works.

"Let's start with the jean trousers now shall we?"

"Everyone will get two each with one as remnant."

"Okay, take two. Each, from Ruqayya, to Neeha, Ikram, Meenal, Amrah, Uwani and lastly Ummi." They did as told and that was how all the things were shared equally. The remnants were shared amongst other people randomly.

Ummi took all her things in her suitcase to the room she was sharing with Ruqayya. On her way back, her phone started ringing. She picked the call without checking the caller's ID and Alhaji Muhammad's voice hit her ears.

After they had exchanged pleasantries, he asked her to send Eesh to his side. She said an okay and he thanked her.

"Eesh! Daddy is calling you." Ummi shouted once she reached the door to the room Eesh. Eesh came out wearing an azure Hijab. She walked out and to her father's wing, wondering why he called her. Did Abulkhair report her because she stepped on him with her heels? She chuckled inwardly before entering the parlor.

"Daddyn Baddo?" Eesh called craning her head to see where her father would pop out of.

"Here!" He said and she followed his voice into his room, the room that used to be his parents'. When they died, he got it as part of his inheritance and that room became his and late Hajiya Asma'u's.

"You called for me?" Eesh entered and plopped on the bed beside her father.

"Yes, Aishatu, are you happy?" Eesh furrowed her brows.

"Yes?" Eesh didn't understand what he meant.

"With the marriage, with Abulkhair and everything." Eesh rolled her eyes in her head. After they had started the wedding he decided to ask.

"Daddy! I'm fine, why are you suddenly asking?"

"I don't know. I've been feeling guilty that I'm pushing you into a marriage with someone you don't love. I don't want you to have a miserable married life, I want you to be happy." Eesh's heart softened at her father's words.

"Daddy, I know at first, I was head strong about not going through with this marriage and everything. But since you're seeing that I'm happily attending all the events, you should know that I'm happy. I even performed Istikhara, you know. And I believe it's going to work out. Moreover, I know you won't make a decision that would jeopardize my life." Alhaji Muhammad felt his heart breaking. His daughter was the best. She had her flaws and everything, but she was still the best.

"May Allah bless you. I know you don't love him. But I need you to promise me that you won't push him away, you're going to give this marriage a chance." Eesh smiled.

"I promise, Daddy."

Umariri Songhai, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Thursday 4th April, 2018.

Eesh woke up cranky. She had been snapping at everyone she came across, she even shouted at a maid for sweeping from left to right inside of right to left. That was how cranky she was. She knew why she was like that, it was because it was her sakun lalle  {henna application} and she didn't like henna. If it were up to her, she would wipe all trace of black henna from the face of the earth.

"Aishatu, get up right this minute and take your bath. I won't condone such from you." Uwani's mother thundered angrily. She didn't know why Eesh was grumbling like a child refused candy. She understood her reluctance when it came to the Arabian night but she didn't know what her problem was with the sakun lalle.

"The henna artist should come meet me here." Eesh grumbled then turned her head away from Uwani's mother. She continued playing the song she was listening to just to block out the latter's voice.

"I know exactly how to deal with you."

"Ah! Seriously?!" Eesh screamed out in frustration before angrily yanking the earpiece out of her ears and entering the bathroom stomping.

An hour later she came out wearing a milk robe and a milk towel wrapped around her head.

"Sit." She did as ordered and Uwani's mother placed three scented oils on the vanity table with some other stuff in little bottles. She walked out and Eesh went ahead to start rubbing them on her body. When she was done, Uwani came in with the makeup artist and the makeup box. Airah was in tow holding another box.

"Good afternoon." The makeup artist smiled and Eesh grumbled her response.

Seeing as Eesh was still cranky, Uwani laid on Eesh's bed while Airah went out. They were all ready and the event was about to start.

The makeup artist started her work and within an hour she was done with Eesh's face. Eesh stood up and wore her cloth then sat down to get her head gear tied.

She was wearing a pistachio lace with ochre flowers threaded on it sewn into a six piece skirt and simple blouse with off-shoulder scoop neckline and regular three quarter sleeves that brought out her hour glass figure. An ochre material paired with the remnant of the lace was tied into the splitted zara buhari style, her hair tied into a low ponytail came from beneath the head tie and rested on her lower back.

A thick twisted gold necklace rested on the bare part of her neck, matching earrings dangle from her ear and a bangle adorned her left wrist. The ring with two As entangled was on her finger and that was all. She was advised not to wear too much jewelries so they don't go missing. Atelier Vedahno shoes enclosed her feet which were soon to be stained with splashes of maroon and Obsidian. An ochre veil was draped on her head and dropped on her shoulders by Uwani who helped her downstairs and to the outer space of the house where the event was holding.

The place wasn't heavily decorated, just a raised platform covered with coffee silk material with sweet pillows on both sides and a small stool in front, then red carpets spread everywhere on the floor for the guests to sit on. There were three old women sitting on the smallest carpet, in front of them were nine calabashes, each had three. They were the women that were going to do the kidan kwarya.

Some of the carpets were already occupied and the one in front of the bride's seat was occupied by a woman who was mixing a green powder in a large bowl with some colored liquids.

Eesh walked to the place and sat down with the help of Uwani.

"Sannu amarya." The lady smiled and Eesh smiled back.

"Do you want the henna to be maroon, a deep red, light red, orange or yellow?" The lady asked washing her hands in a different bowl.

"What color do you think would go well with my skin?"

"A deep maroon should do since your palms are pale." Eesh nodded and the woman added some more of the colored water to the green powder which happened to be traditional red henna.

"Do you have a style in mind?" The woman asked adjusting her sitting position and bringing out a golden seal tape.

"No. Normally, I wouldn't even apply henna but since it's my wedding, I have to." Eesh rolled her eyes ignoring the bitter taste 'my wedding' left on her tongue. The lady laughed.

"Wow! You're the first person to ever say they don't like henna. Even back at my workplace since I started Henna by Hafsatee, I've never met someone like you." Eesh shrugged.

"So do you want it bridal style or just simple?"

"Anything that would make my aunt go off my case." Hafsatee laughed before she started placing the seal tap on Eesh's hand and cutting it giving beautiful designs. She decided to start with the black first so it can dry before she applied the red which would take longer to stain.

In three hours, they were done with the whole henna, both the black and the red and on her hands and legs. People that came for the event were also getting their hands and feet stained by the apprentices Hafsatee brought with her. The old women were performing the kidan kwarya while some ladies were dancing in a single circle. The maids were going around with snacks and small chops for people to eat.

°°°

El-kanemi Halls, Borno, Nigeria

The place was decorated in shades of brown and yellow. It had the same decorations as the dinner hall had but the dance floor was way bigger giving lesser room for seats and the decorations were more expensive.

The place was already filled with youngsters dressed in suits and prom gowns, some dining, some talking and a few moving around all awaiting the bride and groom's arrival. Music was playing on full blast to the extent that the whole building was shaking. Waiters were moving around with mock tails, cocktails, finger foods and small chops in plates and trays.

The music suddenly changed to Assurance by Davido and the volume increased, people had already cleared the red carpet for the entrance of the bride and groom. Their bridesmaids and groomsmen had already arrived. The bride and groom were holding-hands, their fingers intertwined while their other hands had sparklers that were frizzling.

Eesh had the brightest smile on her face as she gazed into Abulkhair's eyes and he also had a grin as he looked back into her eyes. Even their steps were in sync. It all looked planned, which it was. They looked like the perfect 'in-love' couple. People were awwing and taking videos of the moment, the photographers also taking pictures and videos from every angle.

Eesh was wearing a sienna silk gown sewn into a simple prom gown with high neckline and regular long sleeves which tightened around the bust and flowed down like a waterfall, a tangerine nettish-lace covered the bust. It was made by elitestitches. Glittering tangerine gemstones covered the bust area and the edges of the sleeves.

Her headgear was tied into the v-pleated rose gele with a starched tangerine material by tsignatures, sienna glittering gemstones covered the first pleat and reflected in the nightlight. A simple thick plain gold chain from fashionworth rested on her neck like a choker, it's matching earrings were pinned to her ears and covered most of the ears. A gold ring from miacoluxury adorned her middle finger and the ring that had two entangled As was on the next finger.

When she raised the front of the gown to climb up to the raised platform meant for her and Abulkhair with the latter's help, a tangerine stiletto with sienna gemstones shaped into diamonds arranged at intervals on the two straps that held the feet from jamilia_closet was revealed, encasing her henna stained feet.

Eesh took her seat and Abulkhair who was wearing an oxblood Giorgio Armani suit with a white Aegean shirt paired with an amber bow tie and oxblood well tailored dress pants and Gucci italian men shoes took his own seat beside her.

They looked like a picture perfect couple sitting beside each other, holding-hands, fingers intertwined, smiling goofily at each other but they were far from that.

The event kicked off with the head bridesmaid and head groomsman having a dance off. Issa Goal by Lil Kesh, Naira Marley and Olamide started playing and Uwani started dancing, Habeeb followed suit and even though Uwani was dressed in a straight gown, she danced better than Habeeb. Habeeb was never much of a dancer anyways.

Alot of the groomsmen couldn't believe Uwani could dance that much as she looked so responsible. Same went for the bridesmaids, they couldn't believe the stoic looking guy was the one dancing like he had no care in the world as if he wasn't the one that always looked as if the whole world was on his shoulders. Although his dance moves were wobbly, he still tried. A look at Habeeb and you'd never believe that he could even bend his leg to dance.

After that, the bride and groom slow-danced to Perfect by Ed Sheeran. Abulkhair had his hands on Eesh's waist and she had her hands on his shoulders. Just as the song ended and they were going back to their seat, a voice halted them in their places.

"Baby girl you fine you set oh,
Girl you make my eyes dey red oh." Shouts and screams of happiness filled the hall as Wizkid in all his glory walked to the dance floor.

"Baby shey you no dey close to me, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Baby girl na you I want oh,
Baby shey na me you want eh?
Make we dey one plus one na two yeah, yeah, yeah." He stood beside Eesh and Abulkhair and sang while the rest of the people were singing along.

After Wizkid had performed, everyone danced together with the bride and groom and then snacks were served.