Kaduna State, Nigeria.

"I should call my mother and let her know about this so she won't worry," Yasmin thought aloud before reaching for her Nokia phone to dial her mother's number, and her mother picked up immediately.

"I thought you were coming back before Maghrib, but it's already after Isha," her mother inquired before Yasmin could say a word, bringing a smile to Yasmin's face.

Her mother was always concerned, even when it wasn't necessary. Yasmin knew she was in good hands with Madam Gloria, and both her parents trusted the woman enough to allow them to work late sometimes.

"Relax, Mama. Madam Gloria wants me to stay for the wedding, and you know..." Yasmin rambled on about what was happening and what she was currently wearing, hearing gasps and silent squeals from her mother and older sister.

"Ya Allah, why didn't I join you for this decorating stuff?" her sister, Siyama, grumbled, but their mother playfully scolded her, then continued speaking to Yasmin on the phone.

"She said she doesn't like weddings, right?" her mother teased. Yasmin answered with a resounding yes, and they all laughed, catching their father's attention from the veranda.

"Why are you all laughing like a bunch of hyenas?" he inquired, sitting beside his wife and looking at the phone to see that they were talking to their youngest daughter.

"She is attending the wedding of the deputy governor's daughter. Madam Gloria..." Her mother enthusiastically filled her husband in, all the while Yasmin listened from the other end.

She could hear the excitement and merriment radiating from her family because of the new experience she was about to witness. However, she was also panicking because her phone credit would probably run out at any moment.

"Oh, dear, but you need to be careful and stick with Madam Gloria, hmm?" her father, who was always more concerned than her mother, warned.

Yasmin loved her family dearly, which was the reason she pushed herself toward success. It was the main reason she persevered, even though all she wanted to do was crumble.

"Yes, Baba, I will do that. And I can't wait for you to see me in this makeup-haha, I look elegant," she exclaimed, hearing her father's laughter from the other end.

She was sometimes closer to him than her mother or anyone else, making her a typical daddy's girl. Her older sister took her mother's side.

"I can't wait to see you like that too. I hope you don't look like a zombie out there for brains," everyone laughed again, but she only pouted her lips, which he couldn't see.

"Hmmp, continue teasing me, but wait until you see me first. You'll ask your wife to do it for you every day," she said playfully before being interrupted by a robotic voice from MTN, which made her eyes widen.

The little credit she had recharged was about to finish, and Madam Gloria had asked her not to waste it because they would interact a lot the next day. She would have to deal with that later.

She tried to interrupt the robotic voice telling her that she had one minute remaining. She despised those words and the voice. If only she could slap her once in her life, she would be happy.

"I'm out of credit, bye, fam!" She ended the call abruptly and sighed inside the tent.

She would have to find a one-hundred-naira note through thick and thin to recharge, or Madam Gloria would be upset tomorrow. She didn't want to see that side of her, especially after what had happened today.

Perhaps she would find some one-thousand-naira notes on the floor when they scattered money later. She smiled at the thought, her heart feeling light, having seen videos of them spraying that amount, sometimes even dollars.

She was going to be lucky if she got a few thousands from the place.

Excited at that thought, she took a deep breath. Well, it was time to impress some wealthy folks at the wedding, she thought, listening to the music and the bustling activity just outside the tent.

Walking out of the tent, she made her way to the hall, staying in the shadows. She could see many people walking around, some of whom she had never seen before and might never see again.

Yasmin stood at the parking lot's edge, her eyes wide with wonder as lavish cars glided in, and sleekly dressed individuals stepped out. Each of them held their heads high, exuding an air of power.

The shimmering, high-end vehicles seemed like artifacts from another world, a stark contrast to the modest life she had always known in the destitute part of Unguwan Rimi.

Her heart filled with a mix of admiration and yearning, contemplating the stark difference in privilege and upbringing. It was a window into a life she had only glimpsed in dreams, fueling her determination to break free from her humble beginnings.

It fueled her to take another step, tilt her head in the same arrogant way she had seen them do, and walk into the hall alone. Many of them were chatting with each other, recognizing faces from their exclusive circle.

Knowing the intricacies of the place, she went straight to the table with soft drinks. She took a glass of virgin mojito and leaned against the table, observing everyone who walked in and out.

Though she had witnessed the entire decor setup, Yasmin still stood amidst the breathtaking event hall adorned in an array of different greens, transforming the space into an enchanting oasis. The lush hues intertwined gracefully, creating a serene ambiance.

As guests filled the place, she couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride in their collective effort. The carefully crafted decorations spoke volumes of their dedication and creativity, the reason why Madam Gloria was unbeatable in her work.

She watched in awe as the guests admired the beauty they had brought to life, her heart swelling with satisfaction and a newfound sense of accomplishment. It was a moment of triumph, a realization that hard work and passion could truly make a difference.

She wanted to be able to do this for herself and feel the whole accomplishment deep in her bones one day.

Then the emcee took the mic to announce the entrance of the bride and groom. Even the emcee, who was highly sought after all over Nigeria, made her wonder just how much money they had spent for this grand event.

"And we finally have our gorgeous bride and groom outside waiting. Can y'all sit back down and please stay seated?" the emcee asked in his deep voice, his suit glinting in the middle of the stage.

"Fall in Love" by D'banj and Don Jazzy started playing, making Yasmin stand straighter to catch a glimpse of this renowned and gorgeous couple. Even she was curious, having seen the bride without makeup or any sort of dressing up.

She'd always loved seeing brides' beautiful smiles when they walked into the grand hall with family and friends waiting with full hearts. It was a sight she had always loved seeing since the first wedding she had attended.

The bridesmaids and groomsmen started dancing their way into the hall, Yasmin was captivated at the elegant moves the bridesmaids were showing and the effortless way the groomsmen were singing each word in the song while moving a limb or two.

At last, they ended but the last groomsman that walked in had her tilting her head to the side, she almost fell which reminded her to sit down before the emcee sights her.

That man though, had something bewitching about him that she cannot pinpoint but it was there. He made that organ in her heart twitch in an uncomfortable way.

Her attention was quickly snatched by the change of the music to "No One Like You" by Psquare. The couple are finally coming in. She couldn't help standing, her height won't do anything and that's probably why the emcee didn't notice her standing earlier.

They walked in, the bride dressed in leaf green bridal dress similar like her bridesmaids but anyone can tell who the bride is. The way she sparkles with her several thousands makeup on her face and the outfit itself could buy Yasmin a house for her parents. She knew that much.

When the bride and groom sat down, the bridesmaids and groomsmen went for their own section while Yasmin stood up to crane her neck for that guy she's seen earlier. He was at the back, really tall with wide shoulders.

She couldn't see him so she faced the table in front of her to eat for now. If she could, she will go ask the caterers to help her with some takeaways. Some people are serving themselves but she didn't feel like standing.

She ravished the whole plate in front of her without raising her head once. When she burped, she rubbed her stomach that has risen a hit after she's filled it to the brim, she grinned at it.

There are days she goes without filling it and will patiently hope for the days she could have it. Brushing away the thoughts, she turned her attention to the game going on between groomsmen and bridesmaids.

"Can you move a bit?" Someone asked her, Yasmin did so without finding out who the voice belongs to.

It is one of the girls from Madam Gloria's students dressed to nines with makeup on point. Yasmin recognized her but seems like the girl didn't because she stared at her for a while then turned away.

Not wanting the attention, she didn't talk to her too. A few others joined them on the table, one girl in particular wanted to speak to only Yasmin. She was wearing mint green dress and her makeup is also good.

"I didn't want to come." The girl had said for the nth time, groaning loudly for Yasmin to hear.

Fighting a grin, Yasmin sympathetically touched her hand. "I thought everyone wanted to come to this particular wedding? Why not you?"

The girl slowly raise her head from the table. "Because I've been to three events since this wedding started. I will have to go to another tomorrow."

"There were three events before this?" Yasmin asked with her mouth hanging open.

"Yeah, unfortunately. My sister loves the attention and don't want it to end." She rolled her eyes but Yasmin saw the attention of the others sliding to them when she called the bride her sister.

Even Yasmin was shocked because that didn't come to her head at all. She was sitting with the bride's sister? Why isn't she at the front or parading the hall like the other relatives were doing?

Wait... Yasmin is speaking to the daughter of the deputy governor of Kaduna State? She blinked, again and again and again to let it sink in.

What Allah cannot do does not exist.

"You are the bride's sister then." Yasmin said not knowing what to say to fill in the silence she allowed to rein.

"Yeah. Immediate younger sister which makes it more pressurizing." The girl took a deep breath and stare down at her sister at the stage with a warm smile. "She looks so beautiful, doesn't she?"

Yasmin find herself nodding. The bride, Sauda looks indeed very beautiful.

"Are you from the groom's side?" The girl asked, tilting her head with contemplative face like she is trying to place where she knew Yasmin's face.

Yasmin felt uncomfortable answering the question since the attention of the others on the table is solely on them and they are not trying to hide it. That girl from Madam Gloria's classes can be jeering.

"No. I work for the wedding planner so I'm here on her stead." She lowered her voice as much as she could so the other girl won't hear and seems like she didn't.

"Oh, that's nice." She beamed at Yasmin then said. "My name is Fa'iza."

Yasmin let out a sigh of relieve in her head because she has been calling her the girl in her head for a while that it is tiring her brain.

"I'm Yasmin." She stuck out her out which they shook with a grin on both their faces.

Yasmin could tell that she shares a lot of things in common with this girl before her but she is not stupid to think they can explore this friendship. They are from different backgrounds and Yasmin never keep wealthy friends.

They usually run away from her whenever they find out where she lives. It was only one person anyway. She has never met them in the first place.

She knew things with this girl in front of her won't go any where beyond the hall they were sitting in right now so she talk some more with her before her stomach decided to act up.

"I'll be right back." She stood up, wobbling on the heels for a moment before righting herself and trudging to the restroom she's seen earlier while they were working.

Her eyes were wide because she felt like she could push down everything right there on the floor. And it is not to ease herself, it is the greater one. She made a face, not looking up till she rounded the corner to the bathroom.

She opened the first door in front of her and literally pounce to the nearest toilet after cleaning the seat with a toilet paper. Her gown gave her another problem because holding it is another hassle.

Normally if she is going to the restroom for this sort of business, she would remove all clothes in her house but this is not home, she will have to make do like this. And she did for the next seven minutes.

Tucking her phone inside the burst of her dress, she cleaned herself and washed her hands. Looking at herself in the mirror, she grinned, she still looks fresh from Esther's hand.

Stepping out of the restroom, Yasmin bumped into a solid body that made her bounce a good two feet back on her feet and steadied herself with the door.

"God, I would've died if I had fallen in these heels." She said with wide eyes then turn back to the door again.

Eyes wide at the new wall before her, she came short when she found the man she's been staring at from the groomsmen, the one she thought made her organ flip and he did because the organ just somersaulted to remind her.

All hell broke loose when she saw the look on his face. A grimace, his strong nose wrinkling like he just got a whiff of something  genuinely horrifying. And that is how Yasmin met her future husband.