Y'all thought I left a cliffhanger😂😂😈

It's a double update 💃🏻🕺🏻

I know you guys love me😉😉
Don't worry I love you too💋💕

Oh oh😵😵 don't lemme tsaya maku a hanya😂

You may proceed *slight bow*
🍹🍻

Oh my Allah.

"Surprise!!!"

Oh my lord. I'm stunned. It's a surprise bridal shower for me, not any but a cooking themed surprise bridal shower. Ya Rabbi. My sisters, friends, some cousins and a few close people I've known over the years are all here.

I feel myself tearing off. This is too much.

"Don't dare cry and ruin the makeup." Jahara walked towards me. "Surprise!!" She smiled, brightly.

"Thank you." I croaked. This is so touchy. My sisters, would be sisters in law and the girls came to where I was standing. That was when I noticed they are all wearing the same kind of dress. The dress is featuring a round neck, pullover style, long sleeve, floral printed and maxi length.

"How do you like our surprise Jaw?"

I hugged her. "It's amazing. Thank you Ya Nana." I looked at them. "Thank you guys. I can't even express how I'm feeling right now. Jazakallahu Khairan."

"Ameen." They all replied.

"Group hug." Amani yelled.

After our hugging session. I really looked at the hall. At the entrance, to the left, there's a board that says 'Welcome, please leave sweetest wishes for the soon to be Mrs'.

When you enter a bit more to the right, there's a table covered in a shiny silver cloth. On the table there's a mixer with flowers in it, two white containers and a blackboard with 'Just roll with it' written with chalk. And on the wall a similar blackboard but bigger with 'Life is a kitchen. Put on your prettiest apron & whip something incredible' written with chalk also. And a rack with aprons of different colors.

Nabila grabbed me an apron that matches with my dress. 'Bride to be!' is written on it. I collected and put it on after thanking her. They each grabbed an apron. On my sisters' aprons 'sister of the bride!' was written on each. Jahara's 'The bride's best friend'. Kausar's and her sisters 'The bride's soon to be sister in law'. Hairan's 'The bride's sister in law', Amani's 'The bride's chatterbox'. I laughed at that. And finally Nabila's 'The bride's brother's girlfriend'. WTJ

"Nabila what possessed you to have that written?"

She looked sheepish. "Sorry, I couldn't think of anything and there was no time." I shook my head.

I was lead to the table. I sat at the head and on the back of my chair 'Bride to be!' is also written. After I sat down, Suhayla stood up with a mic in her hand.

"I want to thank everyone who contributed in making this happened, mun gode sosai. Jaw jaw this is for you. We love you."

"Thank you." I mouthed at her.

"At least you'll something memorable to remember from your wedding. So let the party begin people!!"

"Oh before I forget." Ya Fifi placed a chef's hat on my head with 'soon to be Mrs' written on it.

I decided to tease her and Ya Farha who's beside her. "So you guys, when are we getting the good news." I wiggled my eyebrows.

They simultaneously whacked me on the head softly.

"Hey!!" I yelped. "Can't you see I'm the bride here." I pointed at my apron.

"Shut up, that doesn't mean we can't whack you when you say something stupid."

"Let her be Farha. She's the bride, isn't she? So we'll surely be expecting good news from her too." Ya Fifi smirked, I groaned and blushed in embarrassment. I mumbled a whatever then Kausar announced it was time to start playing the games.

We played so many games: Bingo gift game, wedding ring toss, romantic movie quotes, love songs, wedding catch phrase, wedding drawing game and my all time favorite, my favorite memory of us. The game goes this way, each participant will write her favorite memory with me and they'll put it in a jar then shuffle, I'll read the memory out and guess who wrote it. It was amazing and wonderful, I teared up at some of the memories.

While the game was being played. Pastries were served.

The cookies were beautiful and pretty.

The cupcakes looked so good that I wanted to keep them and stare at them all day long.

And lastly. It was time to cut the cakes, yes cakes meaning it isn't one. The cakes!!! Ya ilahi, the cakes are out of this world. They don't deserve to be eaten, their worth is too much.

They really out did theirselves. This is the most amazing bridal shower ever and I cannot thank them enough. I have the best sisters and friends a girl could ever wish for, Alhamdulillah.

"So Jaw choose the one that we will cut now and the rest will be stored and kept save for you."

I couldn't decide. Which one? They are all just *sigh*. I finally decided on the blue one, we had the blue one. But I snapped it first, I snapped everything before it was served.

The cake tastes as good as it looks. "Who made these cakes? I want to meet him/her." I was practically bouncing on my feet. I'm so giddy.

"That's for us to know and you to find out."

"But this is not fair." I whined.

"Sorry sis." Hmm I'll pry the information, but I'll let it go for now.

Kausar was in charge of pictures. She captured every single moment. It was simply amazing. Like Suhayla said I'll have a memorable day to remember that happened during my wedding. Not what i initially opted for.

[End of flashback]

***********

[Current time.]

"Jawahir why aren't you ready? The wedding Fatiha will soon take place before you'll be conveyed back home. Stand up."

"I'm ready Ya Nana." She was about to say something and I cut her off. "Hayla is just fixing something on the dress."

"Makeup din fah?"

I shook my head, why apply it when I know I'll ruin it when I cry.

"Okay, be quick, the wedding Fatiha is after Zohr and it's already 12."

She ambulated out of the room and left the door ajar. I stood to go close it when Lami came in.

"Amarya." She's holding a bag in her hand. She passed me the bag. "I want you to have this, as my wedding gift."

"Awwn thank you." I collected the bag and dropped it on the bed beside me.

"In there you have all you need. You already have a good and healthy skin, so you'll just need that to maintain it." She pulled me for a hug. Over the weeks we've become close. I can't believe she's leaving already.

"I'll miss you." I smiled tearfully. I'm not a fan of goodbyes if you haven't noticed.

"Me too Jaw. You're the best and nicest client I've ever had. You're easy and fun to work with, not like the rich brats I've worked with in the past." I just smiled.

I hugged her for the last time. "Promise to keep in touch." I said.

"Yeah. I definitely will. Ring me up when you give birth." What the Jahannam! I choked.

She quickly poured water into a tumbler and hand it to me. I gulped it down and glare at her.

She shrugged carelessly. "What? Don't look at me like that. It's true, now that you're about to get married the next thing is haihuwa."

I smacked her upper hand and muttered a sharrap. She cackled. "I'm really gonna miss you."

"Yeah. Are you sure you don't want a driver to drop you off?"

"Nah, you'll need him beside I have to branch at some places before going to the airport." Her next client is in Bauchi. She was going to travel by road at first but Mammie wouldn't allow it so....

"Thank your mother for me again."

"In sha Allah. Bye Allah ya kiyaye; Safe journey."

"Thanks Jawahir." She rolled her luggage out of the room. I waved at her till the door closed completely. Well, that's that.

I went back to sit on the bed and wait for Suhayla when Jahara, Amani, Nabila and Hairan came in, more like barged in. Guess who opened the door? That's right Amani.

"So you're ready to say goodbye to being yan mata?" Amani said as she sat at the edge of the bed.

Nabila who's holding a tray rolled her eyes. With the amount of eye rolling we do everyday, we would have been blind already. "Let her be Amani. Don't scare her." She dropped the tray on the table before sitting down beside Jahara on the floor.

"Scare me? About what?"

"Ohh Jawahir. You didn't think that you'll have to get married and that's it right?" Hairan asked.

I shrugged. "Pretty much."

She chuckled. "That's what I thought when I married your brother." Hairan sat down on the stool properly and faced me. "You are no longer the Mammie's and Abu's Jaw, you're under his care, control and command. You'll have to take care of him and the house. You can't really do anything without his consent........."

"Wait!" I put my hand up. "I know all this, what are you tryna say then?"

"You're forgetting the most important thing." Jahara exclaimed. She stood and sit beside me putting an arm around my shoulders. She then turned to Hairan. "Umm Ammar, the most important thing." She said emphasizing on most.

Hairan eyes lit up in recognition. "Ohh that." What are they talking about?

"Umm." She cleared her throat. "You have to Uhm you know...". She made gestures with her hand. "Fulfill his—you know"

Again what?? "Ohh enough!!" Amani blurted. "Jaw what they're trying to say is you have to fulfill his desires." She looked as if she's talking about the weather.

I felt my face heating up, I covered my face with my palms after muttering a shut up. "It's true Jaw, whether you like or not."

"Yesso and today is your first night, we all know what happens." Jahara said wiggling her eyebrows.

"You guys should shut up. And surely he wouldn't do anything that I'm not comfortable with." I whined.

They all laughed at my naivety. Alhamdulillah before they could say anything else. My sisters came in. Ya Fifi is yodeling. "An daura aure."

Ya Allah, this is it, no turning back. And the water works began.

***********

"Toh Jawahir, ki bi mijin ki sau da kapa. Aljanar ki na kar kashin kapan shi"

Yes. The dreaded time is here. After we finished getting ready, we came back home. Immediately I stepped out of the car, the commotion increased. Everyone wanted to see the bride, I felt like a celebrity lol.

I was immediately taken to the elders for the fada and jan kunne.

Which led to this. I'm in Mammie's room with Mammie, Mama, some aunties and Mammie's friends.

"Make your spouse a priority, respect and honor our one another. Marriage isn't a play. You'll definitely face many obstacles along the way, but it's how you'll overcome them that matters." Mama said, calmly.

One of my mother's half sister, Aunt Badia continued. "Avoid the words 'never and always'. Make time for the two of you. Be grateful for each other. Apologize when you are wrong. Kinji Jawahir?" I couldn't say anything, so I just nodded. My emotions are all over the place, this is it I'm leaving home. To go live with a stranger I know nothing about. Oh dear lord!

All this while Mammie hasn't said a single word. She looked low spirited. Ohh Mammie! I was taken to Hajiya by some few aunts. When we reached I sat on the floor by her right. She told everyone to leave us alone. After the door was finally closed.

She sighed. "Jawahir listen to me. I know you think I did this because I hate you, but that's not it. I never-not for once felt like I hated you. How can I hate you? You're my Maliki's child. I'm your grandmother as much as I am to the others." She then lifted my chin so that I can look at her. "Jawahir, this is for your own good. Mark my words. I want you to erase that thought about me not liking you or your mother. I had my reasons for what I did." I smiled softly at her. This is the longest and most meaningful conversation I've ever had with her.

"Why don't we build our relationship afresh?" I nodded. "I'll love that." I smiled. Even though I didn't have the best relationship with her I'm willing to give it a try. I stood up and hug her. She smiled and patted my cheek lovingly.

"May your marriage always bring glory to Allah, joy to one another and blessings to your family for many generations to come. May love and laughter fill your hearts and your home throughout all the days of your lives. May you face every challenge hand-in-hand and side-by-side knowing that with Allah's grace, you will conquer all obstacles together. May the world be forever a better place because the two of you fell in love! In Allah's name."

"Ameen!" I said, lowly. After I hugged her and thanked her again I was taken to Abu. We met him in his room alone, waiting for me. He ordered everyone to leave us alone.

"I know they've already said what is necessary, so I won't go there." He picked my two hands making me look at him. He smiled. "It was just yesterday you were born and now you're married already. Time surely moves fast. Jaw habibty you're married into a honored family, never forget where you came from. You know I'm not good with this so Allah maki albarka."

"Ameen. Abu, you may be giving me away today, but I will always be your little girl." I sniffed and hugged him tightly. Abu will always be my king. I love him dearly.

"I know habibty."

************

"Ya Jaw jaw you're also leaving me?"

It's time to finally say bye for good. And Affan is making it harder for me. Dressed in a brown shadda with a matching cap, he looks dashing.

"No I'm not leaving you Affan. I won't ever. I'm just a few minutes away."

"Then where are you going?"

"To her husband's house." Nai'a answered him.

"Can I come?" He asked.

"Not now but in kunyi hutu; when you are on holiday, you can come. You, Nai'a, Ammar, Ayman.........."

"And Amal." Nai'a added. I nodded. "Yes and Amal. And we'll have so much fun." I tickled him making him laugh loudly.

I turned to my elder brothers. I hugged them tightly feeling a new set of tears about to fall.

"Hey shhh. It's okay. Like you said, you're only a few minutes away so you can come anytime you want. Okay?" Ya Yusuf rubbed my back comfortingly.

"Actually Ya Yusuf, she can't." Suhayl teased. Ya Akram smacked him from behind making laugh through my tears. "And if he does anything, I mean anything ring me up, I'll bring out the big guns." He winked at me and I hugged him tightly. He'll always be my protector.

Suhayl pulled my cheek. "Count me in too." After I hugged them again. I turned to Mammie and hugged her like my life depended on it. I couldn't say anything, already sobbing really hard.

"Shh Shh." She patted my head and back. "Remember, most marriage problems can be solved if the husband and wife would learn to solve problems quickly, openly, respectfully and courteously like adults in a mature manner. Avoid throwing emotional tantrums and yelling. Do not emotionalize every discussion. Learn to disagree without getting angry and being disrespectful. Learn when to stop arguments before it goes into a verbal war. Learn when to walk away or change the subject. When indisputable facts are presented learn to say 'you're right, i was wrong.' Learn to apologize when you're wrong. Learn to argue factually allowing your spouse to express himself fully without fear of judgment or reprimand. Avoid saying words that you'll regret. In marriage often you have to lose an argument in order to win your spouse.

May Allah bless you and this union. I love you habibty." After a chorus of Ameen and a final goodbye to my mom, Mama, and my brothers. I was put into a car with my sisters and sister in law to take me to my new home.

So, I close my eyes to old ends and open my heart to new beginnings.

Jaw is finally married 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻 We danced shaku shaku 🕺🏻💃🏻👯‍♀️😂

But this is just the beginning!!

Buckle up lovelies💕 you're in for one hell of a ride.

Don't forget to tap that little star at the bottom😚 leave a comment too😌😇

Yours truly
Memzyb ✨🌹