Gbazango, Abuja, Nigeria.
Friday 23rd February, 2018.

Nana Asma'u had been crying since she woke up. What did she ever do to deserve what was happening to her?

After Ayyuba had left, Hansatu had stalked into her female children's room and beaten the living daylights out of Nana Asma'u. She then told her that Nuhu's uncles were coming to do the sa rana, Hansatu wanted the wedding to happen as soon as possible, hence, the rush.

Food was being prepared and the house was being cleaned. At exactly 2pm, Nana Asma'u along with her two sisters Nana Saudah and Nana Ummu Salmah were sent out of the house to go to their aunt's house in Federal Housing.

"Nana, get up and leave right now. I don't want to see you in this house again." Hansatu thundered when she saw Nana Asma'u slowly folding her clothes.

Nana Asma'u rose her head lifelessly and looked at her mother. When her brain registered what her mother had said. She stood up, slipped on her cream Hijab and walked out of the room. Nana Ummu Salmah saw Nana Asma'u walking towards the door so she bid her aunt farewell and rushed after the latter.

"Adda Asmee wait up." Nana Asma'u stood still where she was.

"Aunty Haule said we should wait for Saudah." Nana Asma'u didn't say anything in reply. Few minutes later, Nana Saudah came rushing with a milk bag and her glasses in hand.

"Aunty Haule gave the keys to the house because Saajida and Sayyada won't be home, they went to school and won't be back till probably 4pm. Mama also gave us transport fare." Nana Ummu Salmah collected the money Nana Saudah was holding making the latter pout.

The three sisters walked to the junction and Nana Ummu Salmah hailed a tricycle for them. After twenty minutes, they arrived at federal housing, the area where their aunt, Haule lived.

Nana Saudah inserted the key in its hole and twisted it, a click sound was heard. She pushed open the door and they got in.

Back at Gbazango, Haule was talking to Hansatu.

"Yaya, you need to understand this, what if Yaya Ayyuba calls them, what do we do?" Hansatu sneered.

"What is your problem? I've told you countless times, I have everything under control. Now go and check on the food, they should be here any minute now." Haule nodded and hurried off to the kitchen.

Hauwa, Haule's twin rushed inside.

"Since Ya Ayyuba won't be here, who would be here for her?" Hansatu smirked. She was waiting for that one question.

"Her paternal uncles, and me." Hauwa nodded and asked when they were coming. Hansatu said they were already in the area, they were just waiting for everything to be in place before they made their entrance.

Almost an hour later, Nuhu's paternal uncles, together with Nuhu himself, and Nana Asma'u's paternal uncles were sitting in Hansatu'a parlor.

"So, when will the wedding take place?" Hansatu looked at one of Nana Asma'u's paternal uncles, Imran and nodded at him. He smiled at Nuhu's uncles.

"In three weeks time, if that's okay with you." Hearty congratulations were exchanged and the bride price, a token of seventy thousand naira, was paid. The goron tambaya and goron sa rana, sweets, chewing gums and kudin uwa which was a token of fifty thousand naira, was given and the two parties ate to their heart's content.

Nuhu's uncles gave another token of one hundred thousand naira as an advance for the preparation of the wedding events and left after they had prayed Maghrib prayers.

Hansatu stayed up with her sisters sharing the goro, sweets and chewing gums into white nylons. They were to be shared as a pre-invite for the wedding, as per tradition.

Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria.
Friday, 23rd February, 2018.

Eesh was all donned up in an azure colored atamfa which had touches of onyx and turquoise sewn into a simple six piece skirt with a three-inches trail and a peplum blouse featuring a surplice neckline amd bishop sleeves. She has zero makeup on. Her eyes are just lined up with Kohl to help them pop and then her lips are shimmering with a transparent lip gloss.

Her head tie is simply done in a v-pleated style, and a turquoise veil is wrapped around her. She looked exceptionally beautiful.

"Aishatu..."

"Eesh!" Eesh drawed and Uwani rolled her eyes.

"Abba said to bring you down. And you better do..." Eesh cut her off.

"I know exactly what I'm supposed to do." Uwani shoved the onyx heels that had uzure gemstones on it.

Indistinctive chattering was heard was Eesh was being brought down by Uwani. When Uwani said the Islamic greeting, the place went quiet and all eyes fell on Eesh.

"Our bride is beautiful." One of the men that came with Abulkhair and Alhaji Muhammad said.

There are five men there in total; Alhaji Muhammad, Abulkhair, Uwani's father and two other brothers of Alhaji Muhammad.

"So let's get straight to business right?" Alhaji Muhammad said and the other men agreed.

"We are here to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage. Her name happens to be Aishatu Muhammad Umar. She has caught the eyes of our son, Ahmad Al'amin, but he can be called Abulkhair. They have met and she has given him the permission to come see her parents. Saboda haka gamu munzo tambaya, za'a bamu {So here we are to ask for her hand, will we br given}?" Uwani's father clears his throat.

"Toh, Alhamdulillah {praise be to God}. This girl, is like a daughter to me, but I can't get her married if she doesn't want to. So, I have to ask her first. Aishatu, kina sonshi {do you love him}?" Eesh waited, this was her chance to reject everything. But she had promised her father, so instead of speaking, she used her hand to drag her veil further down.

"Kunya takeji {she's shy}." Uwani's mother said and they all laughed.

"Aishatu, you don't have to talk, just nod, do you like our son, Ahmad Al'amin?" Eesh nodded meekly and series of Mashaa Allah flew into the air.

"Since she likes him, I see no reason why we should waste time. We have our lefe here with us. It should arrive in a few minutes. I hope you don't mind." Chattering was heard as response so Alhaji Muhammad made a phone call saying the lefe should be taken to his house. Uwani's mother quickly went out as she needed to be there as Eesh's mother.

Uwani came and took Eesh away from the men and into her room.

"I've told Amrah to take videos of the lefe. Apparently, they all knew the lefe was coming so they were prepared. Food, snacks and drinks have already been made available." Eesh nodded.

Eesh's phone chimed with a message.

Good job Baddo nah, i love you

That was what the message said and without mincing words, she knew her Daddy was proud of her. She got a peek of his slightly pale face as he asked the house maids to bring in the goron tambaya and other stuff.

At Alhaji Muhammad's residence, yodelling could be heard from every angle, the house scented of food, new clothes and mixed colognes. Clicks of cameras could be heard all over the house, women were talking, some yelling orders.

A honk was heard by the gate, followed by the screeching of twenty car tyres.

Fourteen women, all clad in the most expensive of laces and atamfas walked in, with maids helping them carry the suitcases filled with the kayan na gani ina so.

When they reached the main parlor of the house, greetings were exchanged, refreshments were served, the boxes were kept in the center of the parlor, in between the groom and bride's families.

"Toh, munyi tambaya, an bamu. Gashi munzo da kayan aure. Da fatan an shirya karban mu hanu bibbiyu {we asked, and we were given. I hope we'll be welcomed hospitably}." One of the women from the groom's side said.

"Ai muko muka shirya karban ku {we are more than prepared to accept you}." And that was the cue the maids needed. Food was brought in from all angles of the house. When the maids were done keeping the food, they left.

There were thirty food warmers in total, each containing a different dish. They really were ready to welcome the groom's side.

"Amma kafun a zo ga ciki, ya kamata mu dan leka kayayyakin koya kukace {But we eat, we should look at the clothes or what do you say}?" The women answered in the affirmative and Uwani's mother pointed at one of her sisters. The latter nodded and stood.

Amrah, and about ten other young girls were taking videos of every single moment, thing and person. The Classical Muslimah herself was getting married, the public would need to have something to feast their eyes on.

There were four different sets of suitcases, each of different colors and brand, making a total of forty suitcases. The first brand was obsidian Prada. The second was Chanel which was oxblood in color. The third was frost colored Dolce and Gabban. And the last, Dior, in two different colors; teal and walnut.

Uwani's sister went ahead to open the biggest Prada suitcase. It contained different types of laces, all expensive looking. When counted, there were fifty of them in total - ten Guipure laces, all in different colors; ten embroidered laces; ten Chantilly laces; ten Alençon laces and ten eyelet laces.

The second suitcase that was opened was the biggest Chanel suitcase. It contained atamfas, fifty of them too. There were twenty super waxes, ten Hollands, ten Nouvos and ten Dutch waxes.

The third suitcase that was opened was the biggest Dolce and Gabbana suitcase which contained silk materials that were yet to be sewn.

The fourth suitcase opened was the biggest walnut colored Dior suitcase, which contained thirty Abayas, each with their veils.

The fifth suitcase opened was the biggest teal colored Dior suitcase. It contained Hijabs, Jilbaabs, Khimaars, Niqabs, you name any Islamic covering for women and its there.

The sixth suitcase opened, which was the second Prada contained veils. There were ten cotton veils, ten silk veils, five laffayas, three saaris and twenty two khashka veils.

The seventh suitcase opened was the second Chanel suitcase and it contained different English and cooperate wears. There were jean trousers, palazzos, crop tops, tops, sweaters, high waist skirts, maxi dresses among others.

The eighth suitcase opened was the second Dolce and Gabbana suitcase which contained underwears. It was closed the moment it was opened. Forced embarrassed short laughs were thrown in the air for a few minutes before Uwani's aunt continued to open the suitcases. When they reached the twentieth suitcase which contained makeup items, one of the women talked.

"I think we've seen enough huh? Moreover, the rest of the suitcases are just a repetition of what we've already seen. So I see no need of opening them. Amma fah shawara ce bah wani abu bah {it's just an advice though}." The other women agreed and the young ladies who were taking videos came and took away the suitcases to Alhaji Muhammad's side of the house, late Hajiya Asma'u's room to be specific.

The maids then came and served all the women there a plate of fried rice, jollof rice, salad and pepper chicken with kidney sauce.

Federal housing, Abuja, Nigeria.
Saturday, 24th February, 2018.

Nana Asma'u furrowed her brows. What was that she was seeing? She knew it would be selfish of her to hope it was just an imagination or a rumor but then, she was in love, and all was fair in love and war.

She called Nana Ummu Salmah, and asked her to look at it for her and confirm.

"Does this really say Abulkhair is getting married to that Classical Muslimah?" Nana Ummu Salmah nodded.

"Her lefe was taken yesterday, sorry but can I see? It looks beautiful." Nana Asma'u shoved the phone into Nana Ummu Salmah's hands and stood up. She walked outside and looked up to the morning sky, hues of orange, red and magentas painted it as the sun rose. A wave of breeze coursed through her and she felt herself calming down. She still had questions to ask.

Nana Asma'u walked back inside and collected her phone from Nana Ummu Salmah who was swooning over the so called Classical Muslimah's lefe. She went to her call logs and realized she had been so occupied with her mother and all the wedding troubles that she hadn't talked to Abulkhair in almost a week. None of them called the other.

At that, she felt a wave of anger rush through her. At least she had her reasons for not calling him. But she's sure he didn't have any reason not to call her.

Her anger turned to sadness when she thought, maybe he was tired of her and her mother's troubles. Maybe he was fed up with having to spend money everyday on them. She couldn't blame him though, even she would be fed up with herself if she were in his shoes.

Dialing his number, she listened as it rang then ended. She called again, the same response. When she called the fifth time, the phone was switched off.

She flared up, he must be purposely avoiding her knowing he had cheated on her. But she was also cheating on him right? She was also getting married to Nuhu.

She clutched the phone tight in her hand and went back inside to sleep. She was tired of the world and everything in it. She just wanted peace.