Journey to 'I do'

26- The end?

The anticipation of Ya Fahd's impending wedding hung in the air, transforming our house into a bustling hub of activity. Even at the early hour of 6 am, the lively hum of preparation echoed through the corridors. The house was already alive with people exchanging greetings, cleaning, cooking, and gearing up for the upcoming festivities.

In my room, the vibrant chaos of wedding preparations took on a different form. Six of my cousins and Faiza joined me, turning the space into a lively gathering. Aunty Janna's two daughters, Aunty Meena's daughter, and the daughters of my father's siblings added to the spirited atmosphere. Two mattresses were arranged on the ground to accommodate everyone.

The days before had been unexpectedly delightful. Late-night conversations flowed effortlessly, touching on everything from childhood escapades to dreams for the future. An impromptu movie night yesterday added to the festivities, with one of the girls bringing a projector. The dim glow of the screen illuminated our faces as we watched a romantic yet somewhat melancholic film.

The scent of henna wafted through the air, blending with the animated chatter of my cousins and relatives. Laughter and joy filled the room as we shared stories, and exchanged banter. I don't know how we ended up having to get our henna done just one day to the wedding, but I'm glad it's this early in the morning.

As the patterns of henna adorned our hands, Lulu, Aunty Meena's daughter, asked me about the recent chaos surrounding my life.

"Alhamdulillah, Lulu, I'm okay," I replied shortly, not wanting to dwell on the online chaos or my recent conversation with Daddy.

"Ya A'isha, you have to tell us how you bagged one of Nigeria's wealthiest and most handsome bachelors," one of the girls chimed in, clearly eager to explore this topic.

"Wallahi, like who would've thought MS would ever settle down?!" Laura added, using a nickname I hadn't heard before.

"MS?" I asked.

"Yes, that's what everyone calls him," she replied, prompting me to wonder how many nicknames Muhammad had. But I remember seeing this one on one of the blogs.

"I don't know how it happened, guys. There's no interesting story, sorry," I replied, not wanting to delve further. Little did they know; today, our relationship was hanging by a thread.

"Ai, Daman, I told you guys A'isha would never tell us how it happened, the guy is so private and then he's now with a private babe too ugh," one of them said.

"Bro if not for Nadia's posting we won't know half the things we know about him," Another added and they all laughed. Who is Nadia?

"You bagged a romantic one, sha," Laura remarked.

"How do you know he's romantic?" Lulu asked before I could.

"Oh, come on. You know how he is, or rather, how he was in every pretty girl's DM. We used to talk, but that's in the past, A'isha, don't worry," Laura explained.

I chuckled, trying to brush off the conversation. I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions at Laura's revelation, but I decided not to dwell on it. It seemed today's discussions were poised to steer my relationship into unknown territories, and I needed to focus on what lay ahead.

After my henna was dried, I excused myself to take a shower. By the time I returned, the room was in the process of being cleared as the girls busied themselves with various tasks.

Dressed in a boubou with a matching scarf, I opted for a light makeup look, applying lip gloss for a subtle touch. I needed to pick up something from the tailor's for both myself and my aunties, seizing the opportunity to see Muhammad. I asked Lulu to cover for me as she was my one cousin I was closest too.