Gwarimpa, Abuja, Nigeria.
Monday 19th February, 2018.

"Yes Alhamdulillah {all due glory is to Allah} we've finished everything and I'm legally a billionaire." Abul grinned.

"Mashaa Allah, may Allah bless it with his Barakah." Nana Asma'u said looking for a way to bring up a particular topic that needs to be done with.

"And right now I'm getting ready, I'm going to meet Abba so that he can come meet kawu Ayyuba for all the formal arrangements. I can't wait to make you my wife." Abul fixed his cufflinks and adjusted his plane fawn blue cap to go with the fawn blue Getzner which had white embroidery around the neck area and the hands.

"Ya Allah Abul you're so shameless. See how you're saying it sai kace abun arziki {as if it's something good}. May Allah help your pitiable situation."

"Toh bah abun arzikin bane {isn't it something good}?" Abulkhair grinned cheekily.

"Ugh!" Asma'u groaned making Abulkhair laugh. Just then, his second phone rang. It read Abba.

"Nana Asma'ul Husna, Abba is calling. End the call so that I can pick his." Nana Asma'u ended the call and Abulkhair picked the call with furrowed brows. Alhaji Muhammad had never called him, like ever.

"Assalamu Alaikum Abba ina kwana {Peace be unto you good morning Abba}." Abulkhair greeted grabbing his keys before walking out of the house to the garage which was at the underground, perks of having your house designed by a foreigner.

"Ameen Wa Alaikas-Salam lafiya qalau Alhamdulillah {peace be unto you too all fine praise be to almighty Allah}. Are you busy today?" Abulkhair's brows furrowed even more, but he answered with a no nonetheless.

"Okay, I need you to come right now. I need to have a very important talk with you." They exchanged pleasantries again and tge call was ended.

Confused, Abulkhair drove to Asokoro thinking of different things. With a made up mind that after Alhaji Muhammad had told him what he wanted to, he'd talk to him about Nana Asma'u and start getting all the formalities done.

After exchanging pleasantries with Alhaji Muhammad in his part of the mansion, Alhaji Muhammad got straight to the point. He had made a decision and all he needed was Abulkhair agreeing then he'd start making preparations, his daughter can't remain a jobless spinster for life, over his dead body!

"I'm sure you're perplexed as to why I called you. I need you to listen to me with a clear mind. You know I love you like your father would and I would never do anything to hurt you or jeopardize your life. All I do is for your own good, you know that right?" Abulkhair nodded as he gulped.

"You should listen attentively to what I'm going to say, swallow it, digest it and think it through. I'll give you a whole week to think about it. Always remember, that no matter your decision, I'll support you. I just want you to be happy." Abulkhair nodded, that doesn't sound good, it was as if he was going to be told the most devastating news of his life.

"I need you to marry my daughter, Aisha." Alhaji Muhammad said making Abulkhair snap his head up before lowering it almost immediately. What about his Nana Asma'ul Husna? That was downright betrayal to her! Talking about his marriage to someone else when he just talked about his marriage to her that morning sounded like cheating on her to him. He thoughts were cut off by Alhaji Muhammad.

"It's okay. I just need you to think it through because I can't watch my daughter ruin her life with her own hands, my time is running out and if I let her be, I won't ever get to see her settled down. She has no plans whatsoever for herself, when I talked to her about marriage last week, she said all she wants to do is shop, blog and live in this house all her life.

"No school, no job, no marriage? Haba, Allah ya sauwake {God forbid it}!" Alhaji Muhammad exclaimed. With the way Abulkhair's brows furrowed, he knew he was getting the upper hand.

"Okay Abba, I'll think about it In Shaa Allah {If Allah wills}. Has Aisha consented to the marriage?" Abulkhair couldn't help but ask.

"I can't give her false hopes of getting married to you. You don't know, maybe she has eyes on you." Abulkhair flushed. This man!

"Okay Abba. Let me take my leave." Abulkhair attempted to leave but got stopped by Alhaji Muhammad.

"Haba d'a na {my son}, wait and have some things yoir wife made." Abulkhair flushed again. That man was going to be the death of him!

After eating and chatting for a while Abulkhair left the house thinking of how to break the news of his ordeal with Alhaji Muhammad to Nana Asma'u. He decided that he'd not tell her anything about the marriage whatsoever, he'd just tell her he wasn't able to talk to Alhaji Muhammad about the introduction because they were too busy talking about work.

Simple! How hard could it be? He drove to his office and buried himself in papers and files

Gbazango, Abuja, Nigeria.
Monday 19th February, 2018.

"Keh! Are you deaf or what? Couldn't you hear me calling you?" Hansatu said flaring at her daughter who was preparing a Khumra mix for a bride.

"Mama I'm sorry I didn't hear you." Nana Asma'u said icily. After watching a blog post she had developed a new attitude towards her mother. She never allowed any of her words to affect her neither did she let her ruin her business. Though she never disobeyed her mother, Hnasatu still got angry anything she uses that behavior which was basically everyday after the day she watched that blog. Hansatu being Hansatu blamed it on Abulkhair, saying he was running the values she had instilled in her daughter.

"Nuhu is waiting for you outside, better drop that useless thing and go and attend to him. And dress well, you can't go out looking like a maid, wear my black Ardo shoes and my black Khashka veil. Wear that black and gold gown that useless boy gave you. I give you eight minutes." Hansatu barked at her and Nana Asma'u did just like she had been asked to.

Six minutes later, she was standing outside the house looking all inch ravishing with a frown on her face as she listened to Nuhu rant her ears off - when she could be inside gaining money - about his latest job interview which, once again, turned out to be a disaster, as usual.

Nuhu was Nana Asma'u's maternal cousin who her mother wouldn't stop forcing her on. Not really forcing her though, the guy really liked her and was willing to do anything for her but Asma'u just couldn't like him back. She tried when her mother threatened to kill herself but she just couldn't.

Nana Asma'u was in epitome of beauty with her caramel skin, slightly pointed nose and small mauve lips. She was intelligent, smart and had alot of fashion sense. She was also very nice and good with children, which was the reason why she delivered food every Friday to JKS home for children with special needs since it was the closest to their house.

Nuhu on the other hand was okay in terms of look. Very dark, like dark way past dark chocolate dark. Black lips, carved brows and brown orbs were the definition of Nuhu. Not to forget his bushy unkempt beard and dirty hair. He was always dressed like a mechanic except when he was coming to see Nana Asma'u.

He was dumb, not as dumb as Patrick from SpongeBob SquarePants but he was dumb, always smiling like a loon. Emotional as fvck and also a little psychotic.

Nana Asma'u never liked him because well, he just wasn't her type. She always tended to think about her future and her children's when picking a husband so why would she jeopardize her children's future by marrying someone who could barely pass a Junior West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations? He had never been able to pass his BECE until he went to a school where answers were given to them (Basic Education Certificate Examination). So if she were to marry him what happens to her children.

She didn't want a scenario where her child comes home with his assignments and she asks her husband to help the child only to discover he knew nothing, no thank you. She doesn't want such.

And apart from that she's taller than Nuhu, like two heads taller than him. But that didn't burst his little bubble of thinking he had a chance of marrying her. What a dumbo! He was sticking to the saying 'inda rai da rabo {where there is will there is way}' not knowing that there, there was no way.

"Hasama'u kina sauraro kuwa? {Asma'u are you even listening?}." Nuhu said, spoiling Nana Asma'u's name making his bad breath hit her face. She scrunched her face up. If not for the Hadith that says

"Man kaan yu'min billahi wal yaumil akhir, fal yaqul khairan, awli yasmut. Wa man kaana yu'min billahi wal yaumil akhir, fal yukrim jarahu. Wa man kaana yu'min billahi wal yaumil akhir, fal yukrim daifahu."
Rawahul Bukhari wa Muslim.

Translation:
"He who believes in Allah and the day of judgement should either speak good, or stay silent. And he who believes in Allah and the day of judgment should treat his neighbors kindly. And he who believes in Allah and the day of judgment should treat his guest hospitably."
Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim.

... She would've definitely smacked his mouth. Which part of 'I don't love you didn't he understand'? Why was he such a pathetical sicko? There are thousands of girl out there so why was he sticking to her? She mentally face palmed and just in time, her phone rang. She brought it out of her veil to see who was calling only to see Nuhu elongating his neck? Does this guy plan on dying young?

Nana Asma'u narrowed her eyes to slits at him making him cower back and smile cheekily. Dumb coward! She inhaled to calm her nerves as her anger was never good. She hardly got angry but when she did, it was a whole different story.

Looking at the screen, she was the name boo with a red heart emoji engraved. She smiled and picked the call, totally ignoring Nuhu's perking ears. He could go to hell for all she cared, his presence alone in her parent's house spelt beating from her mum for her. Yeah, beating. Crazy right? Like how can a grown ass twenty years old woman be beaten, well, that's just Hansatu.

Smiling like a loon, Nana Asma'u picked the call and took five steps away from the reeking loon called Nuhu.

"Sweetheart. Can i come to your house to see you? Like right now? In fact I'm by that place they make blocks so I'm coming." Abulkhair said and cut the call.

Oh no, what was she to do. She couldn't afford Abulkhair seeing her with Nuhu, he'd definitely flip. Even if he didn't... Well she just couldn't afford it.

"Nuhu dear." Nana Asma'u almost cringed at the name but kept a sweet smile on her face. The idiot grinned. Dumb, just as said before.

"It's almost evening. Don't you think it's high time you go home?"

"Yes, it's true. Sai anjima {see you later}." he turned to leave and Nana Asma'u replied.

"Allah ya kaimu {may Allah spare us till then}."

"Ameen." he replied and began to walk away. Just as Asma'u had hurriedly finished the Khumra mixture which was to be delivered by 8pm that day. Her phone rang signaling her that Abulkhair was outside.

She packaged the Khumra in the nylon she had started paying for with a logo she designed herself. It had AsmaKhair's scents engraved in cursive written boldly as the business name on the nylon.

" Nana Asma'ul Husna."

"matar Abulkhair {Abulkhair's wife}." Nana Asma'u grinned making him chuckle.

He told her the excuse he cooked up and she said no problem. Af5er delivering the Khumra. Abulkhair dropped Nana Asma'u at home and left. Entering the house. Nana Asma'u saw that the house was bustling with activities. Her brothers carrying good stuffs here and there, her sisters chopping, grinding and cooking while her mother sits majestically barking others at them. Typical Hansatu.

Before Nana Asma'u could ask what was going on, her mother answered her unasked question.

"Nuhu's paternal aunts are bringing the lefe tomorrow. Go get your clothes from Sanusi tailor. He said it'd be ready tonight. Stop by mai tsamiya's house and collect the shoes and veil i asked for. And when you come back scented oils and water would be waiting for you, your Aunt Haule is already here for a little body treatment. We need you glowing." Hansatu ranted but all Nana Asma'u could register was that her lefe was going to be brought the next day by someone's family other than Abulkhair's!