15: Till We Meet

"phew, finally we're done" i put the last cake pop on the desserts tray and proceed to clap Nimrah's hand but she was lost in a daze.

"My friend what's in your head" i asked genuinely concerned.

She took a glance at the massive filled dessert station with tears filling her eyes.

"This was supposed to be Ammah's job Hidaya" and tears successfully drip down her face.
"I'm angry and mad at her, but i won't lie daya I'm more hurt than anything else, because i love and trust Ammah with my life and... And..." She burst out crying.
"How could she do this to me hidaya? Why my dad of all people? If she wanted to hurt me that bad why not wait untill I'm married then she should marry my husband and I'll be on the same level to fight her head on. Why must she hurt my mother? Zuciyata tana min zogi wallahi (my heart is aching i swear)"

I pulled her into a hug wanting to muffle her cries because of the attention we're getting. that's when i realised that Nimrah is much taller than me so i started patting her on the back. "Shhh...It's okay, Ammah doesn't have to be part of us, I'm here for you Nimmy, and no she won't hurt you or your mom, she won't be allowed to."

"What if my dad still choose to marry her? From what I've heard they've been together for long".

I Break the hug and shook my head "Hajiya will never allow that, my dad will fight it and my mom won't support it."

"I hope so" she wipe her tears, "let's go and get the bride ready for the Walima.

I pat her shoulders proudly "Yes be strong, we can't let anyone find out about this because it ain't happening Insha Allah."

The Walima went out smoothly and soon the day dies off with everyone tired again and ready for the Wedding Fatiha tomorrow.
I still can't believe it's sensible for Hausa people to be spending 4 days and above for wedding celebrations. Believe me I'm not doing it no matter what! I'm okay with 3 days but not more.

Saturday
10:42am

"Daya"

I turned to see Jk and Azaan in matching pure white babban riga/agbada with blue embroidery and a matching zanna bukar cap. They both look so takeaway but Azaan was ohhh imagine an arab in babban riga pls🤌🏻

And khaleel has a wide grin plastered on his lips. "I'm not giving you my car!" I declared because his grin says it all.

He put on a pity face "Haba Dayanah, help me noww. I'm taking Azaan and my other friends to the wedding Fatiha, and this dressing deserves a good looking latest car atleast. I'm not complaining about always getting hands-me-down (second hand) from you, besides you're not going anywhere"

I glare at him "I'm going to the bride's house"

He snatched my bag and put his keys meanwhile taking my own "You can take my car. however if you like the bride's house that much why don't you just live there. You have outnumbered everyone's number of visit at this point". He hurried away before i could retort.

"Hmm You'll come back and meet me" I clicked my tongue.

Khaleel later called me and told me the wedding was done, Jannah is now officially a married woman. And while everyone was giving gifts, Azaan also gift the bride their latest car that only 5 samples were available worldwide and every crazy rich man that heard about it was shocked talkless of nobody like me. I bet Arab generousity we're hearing about must be true because Azaan don't seize to blow my mind these days.

....

He wondered why his car was left unlocked, and when he opened the front seat, a familiar white envelope rest in the front seat.

He quickly opened it. They haven't sent him another for a long time and it reads

"Your daughter might be closer to you than you think. Look around closely"

"Yahneel" Zarah called from behind.

Aneel quickly crumbled the paper inside his palm and forced a smile".

"Yes my Fatima"

"What's that? A surprise gift?" She inquires excitedly.

"Your daughter got married today, is there any other gift better than that?"

She chuckled "that's true and they're almost here to take her away, I don't think I'm ready to let her go Yahneel." Her voice broke at the end.

He smiled and side hug her "Hajiya was also not ready when i took you away from her. So we should take heart and give Jannah what she wants".

She nods trying to surpress her tears "let's go get ready to send her off"

He puts the crumbled paper inside his pocket and put arm around her as they head inside.
.....

It's now 8 at a point and everyone is almost ready for the dinner party. You won't believe it if i told you i haven't seen khaleel again since morning and he still has my car, so i have no option than to follow the bride's convoy that the groomsmen will bring since Nimrah's car is also with Jannah's brother.

I kept an eye on Safeenah to make sure she's stable so she's now by my side and I'm trying to find us a car among many that will leave in a minute.

"Yah Hidaya take this car in front of ours I don't want you far from me" said Jannah the bride and she entered the backseat of the middle car which is for her and her groom.

I seated Nimrah and Safeenah at the back before I entered the passenger seat with a Salaam.

I made sure to stack my gown inside properly before i close the door and soon the cars started moving that's when the driver got a call and since we're moving at a slow speed he didn't mind picking it up.

"Hello Ma."

It's Mr mocktail!!!

I quickly turned to confirm if I'm sure able to recognise his voice, but his handsome face has it's attention on the road while his phone rest on his lap and he has his airpods on.

I have to ask him how he managed to get the stain off him yesterday. I thought.

But he kept answering calls after calls untill we reached the venue and he drop us without sparing any of us a glance.
And he just nod even when i thanked him for the ride, and it hurts me a bit that he did not recognise me, but i shove it off since the bride needs me to help with her gown out of the car.

.....
"Allow me to eat to my fill Daya, I'm glad that our suffering has ended, now I'm also going to enjoy the groom family's hard labour"

I chuckled, I'm glad that she's not talking about Ammah or her dad anymore.
"I don't think I'm going to the wuni tomorrow, I'm done with my celebration here"

"Me too" she raised her hand then pointed at something.
"Junior khaleel is coming our way".

"Oh my god, that dumb boy doesn't know that we're hiding, if not why will we be sitting at the end of the hall like hypocrites?".

Nimrah giggled "let's get ready for greetings session, he has blown our cover "

And so it happened, the moment he got people's attention to us, we're forced to greet all the elderly men and women, I'm the heiress remember? Everyone wants to talk to me about their single son and why i shouldn't stay unmarried untill now. Thankfully I'm patiently enough to handle every rude comment with a smile.

We're still going round when I spotted Mr mocktail. He was with some of the groomsmen and I'm starting to think that he's one of the few men with enough masculinity when his eyes finally met mine.

And what?

He half smiled.

He's also handsome, i think i mention that. Or didn't I?.

He excuse himself as it seemed and started walking toward us when he received yet another phone call and he changed his direction and walks outside.

And that's it.

I didn't see him for the rest of the night!.

....

"Toh daya, Till we meet again" khaleel walks to hug me but Mom stop him,

"I said no hugs khaleel" she warns.

He stepped back murmuring "I'm just 19 please!"

Then Azaan waved at me"goodbye Hidaya"

"Till we meet again Azaan, and also bring me a car when you're coming back"

I successfully made him smile.

"Insha Allah. Untill then  قد يلتقي الله وجوهنا على خير 
(May Allah meet our faces on Khair).

And with that they boarded the plane back to Riyadh.

~~~~~~~~~~~
I don try today ooo 😂 then until we meet next week.

Much love 🥰
Mrs Imran 💖