Surah Luqman, Verse 17
"...keep up prayer and enjoin the good and forbid the evil, and bear patiently that which befalls you; surely these acts require courage"
~~~
As the days rolled into weeks and the weeks to months, so did our love with Ya Sameer blossom. I was always over the moon with happiness and joy. He sought for Abba's permission to which he gladly gave the union his permission and of course blessings.
Khalil just shrugged when he heard, he didn't tell me what he felt about it even when I asked. I didn't know if he was happy or not, but I think he was, since he didn't object.
We met frequently, he always found time to come and see me. Truth is, even if I had no intention of falling in love with him, it wouldn't have been for a long time, because he had an irresistible nature. He was so loving and caring, he always had a way to cheer me up out of my mood swings and whenever I start to misbehave, there's a way he looks at me that brings me back to my senses without even he talking. He never misses the opportunity to tell me how beautiful I am and how lucky he is to be the 'chosen one' and boy was he funny. There is a way he looks at me that always leaves butterflies in my stomach.
When Maryam heard about it, she came to me and over a big warm hug, told me how happy she was that I had found happiness, and that that happiness lies in their house, I was coming to their family. When I was almost relaxed as I thought she wouldn't tease me, she started her teasing, sometimes telling me I'm not ashamed to marry someone who watched me grow, other times saying I know I'm not marrying only him, that I'm getting married to the whole family and that will make her my husband too, so respect should be awarded to her. Some other times she will even be like "continue with your waywardness, I won't do budan kai for you, and I will see who else will" then stuck her tongue at me and run away.
At times Ya Sameer becomes her prey, since he's loosen up a bit towards her, on my request for her to be treated now not only as his little sister but also as my best friend. You did hear her saying "Yaya if you continue like this I won't give you my friend, and you know she won't get married without her best friend's consent'. Maryam though, Maryam will always be Maryam.
Then something happened one day, that left me extremely mortified even though he acted normal afterwards. He came to see me as usual after Asr, I wasn't feeling too well but I still dragged myself to go and see him, and instead of me to wear something black, I decided to wear a lilac gown simply because the last time I wore it, he said I looked so beautiful in it.
When I reached our usual spot, I found him already sitting, eating an apple, I returned his smile with a pout, my face was all swollen.
"What's wrong with my Nana today?" he asked worriedly, dropping the apple on the tray before him
"It's nothing really" I replied with a wave of my hand "Just a little stomach ache, that's all"
"Are you sure it's nothing serious?" I nodded "Maybe you should just go in and rest, I will come back tomorrow" he said worriedly, while I convinced him that it's not that serious.
"Okay if you say so. Have you eaten?" I shook my head "Why is that Nana, don't you want to get well?"
"I will throw up if I eat" I replied cringing my nose, remember the fish pepper soup Umma brought for me in the afternoon, and how I started throwing up immediately the aroma hit my nose. The thought alone now wanted to make me throw up again.
"Not even fruits?" he asked, extending the apple he was previously eating.
"Nooo. Let's talk about something else please"
"Let's see, errrm...how many kids will you love to have?" I laughed at his question
"You asked this question at a wrong time Ya Sameer, because at this time of the month, I may tell you that I want only one child, a daughter, but ask me next week, I will tell you I want twelve kids" that earned me a puzzled look from him before he replied
"I guess I will just wait for that time and I pray you wish for twenty and then the angels should say Ameen to our wish and Allah grants it for us" he winked and I laughed
"No no no, twenty is alot, I can't. But I really love kids, you know growing up, it was only me and Khalil, Ya Sultan was far older, and you both even left for Madinah later. Growing up for only two of us in this Palace was really boring. It's fun when you have lots of kids running around, and I pray Allah gives me more girls than boys, I really love girl children, maybe because I don't have a sister" I smiled
"Ameen to your prayers, may Allah bless us with thirty children, eighteen girls and twelve boys..."
"Who is that talking about thirty children, do you want to kill my sister?" that was Ya Sultan, he was passing when he overheard us, he was retiring early for the day I guess.
"Your sister wants plenty children your highness, I'm just praying on her behalf" he teased me further
"Batuul is that true?" Ya Sultan asked, pretending to be shocked
"I just said I want many kids, but definitely not thirty, he's exaggerating" I whined and Yaya just shook his head
"May Allah give you the number of kids you want Batuul, however I have just one wish, for one of your daughters to marry my son, if Allah blesses us with children"
"You are more than that to us your highness, In Shaa Allah our daughter will marry your..."
"No!" I cut Ya Sameer short and they both turned to look at me.
"But why is that?" Ya Sameer asked and I looked away.
"If in future our kids fall in love, fine, but if not I don't think any promise should be made." they nodded to my reasoning
"Once beaten, twice shy, I concluded on a lighter note and we all laughed. However, I didn't miss the look of guilt written all over Ya Sultan. God knows I didn't intend to make him feel so, he said his goodbye immediately and left.
We chatted for a while more before he suggested I should go in and rest, as he saw how I kept wincing momentarily, holding either my stomach, back or thighs. I got up and started walking back inside before her called me to which I turned around
"Errm.. I think you should adjust your veil a bit" he said scratching his head as if he was guilty of something
"What, why?" he just shrugged and didn't offer any explanation. I adjusted it anyway and made to go again when he called me again and I turned
"I will drop something for you here, you can come back and pick it later" I just nodded and left, I was really feeling cranky today.
Immediately I reached my room, I removed my veil and threw it to one end of the room, then took off my gown and sprayed it on the bed and laid down on the bed, on my stomach, the best position ever. After a minute or two, I abruptly got up and brought the cloth I just took off close, for closer examination, and I saw it, a big red stain, the size of two palms pressed closely together. I pressed my eyes shot desperately praying that Ya Sameer didn't see it. Was that why he asked me to adjust my veil? Ya Allah, it might be.
I quickly got off the bed and threw a dress on, forgetting all about my stomach, back or leg ache, I ran back to where we sat, all the way praying I stained on my way back, that he didn't see it. When I reached there, I saw the darduma *carpet* we sat on folded into two, upon opening it, I saw the stain there also, exactly like the one on my cloth, just that the one on the carpet was faint.
I stood there rooted not knowing what to do, so he actually saw the stain then told me to adjust my veil to cover it, and asked me to come back so I can see it and then clean it up. Subhanallah! Why didn't I just wear black, it would have been better, at least he wouldn't have noticed it. Before I knew it, I was already crying, out of frustration. How will I face him now? and if not for the singular reason that I was beginning to fall for him also, I would have called everything off. However, I was so mortified, I didn't see him for a week.
Goggo their mother requested to see me, and when I went, she told me how happy she is that I accepted to marry her son and showered me with gifts and advises, amidst all the happiness and blessings our union got from all around, our wedding date was set, two months from when it started and three months after Yaya Sultan's wedding. Before I knew it, it was already the day fixed for bringing the kayan lefe, my kayan lefe, I couldn't believe.
***
I peeped through the window of Mama Jakadiya's apartment as women trooped into our house carrying lots and lots of boxes. Ya Sameer sure meant it when he said he was ready to marry into royalty. A tap on the shoulder got my attention. It was Adda Qudsiyya, they came back from their trip of meeting Baba's other family and came along with the other wife, Aisha, whom we all call yadikko (stepmother) and her children. Usman who was 3 and the twin girls, Madinah ant Hauwa'u Jiddah. They were a year and four months.
"Stop peeping now Amarya, why the haste, you will get to know what they brought in a matter of hours" she teased.
"Nooo, let me feed my eyes"
"I guess I will just save this piece of information for Maryam then, it will go a long way in helping her" she threatened and made to go
I abruptly jumped away from the window and held her "I'm not peeping again, please don't tell Maryam" she started to laugh, adjusting Madina whom she balanced on her hip, Jiddah who so much enjoyed her company was playing close by. All the ladies in the house were in Umma's sitting room to receive Ya Sameer's people. I once again wished Maryam was here with me, but I realized that by getting married to her brother, I had to sacrifice alot of things, like always being together during this period of my life because as the groom's younger sister, she had so many things to do on their side too. Like now, she will be the one to bring the things they brought out of the boxes and show everyone, telling them what is for what, or which thing is for who.
"Don't worry I will fill you in when I come back, you stay with Usman" she said and made to go again
"I'm scared of Usman now, the other day I scolded him and he was trying to fight me, no thanks, leave the twins instead and go with him" I said and glanced at Usman who had a mischievous smile on his face as Adda Qudsiyya turned and gave him a hard glare. I extended my hands to carry Madina who smiled shyly, revealing her four milk teeth and buried her face on her sister's shoulders.
She looked at her with adoration as we all laughed at the little girl's cute gesture before she handed her to me. At that moment, I wished I had a sister too, but I quickly discarded the thought not to sound ungrateful. I mean Adda Qudsiyya had grown up with only Mama, no father or siblings, they all just came into her life recently, and she totally deserved that feeling of having a family.
I turned to Jiddah after she left, "Jiddah, come here dear" I extended my hands but the little girl covered her face with her chubby fingers giggling, before crawling away. I really loved the twins, they were so adorable and eatable.
***
Maryam stayed behind after her relatives who brought the lefe left. She insisted on showing me the things herself. There were 30 boxes for me, filled with clothes, veils, hijabs, abayas, shoes, jewelries and other accessories. Then the suddaje *boxes brought along with the lefe, for the girl's family*. There were 4 boxes for Abba which contained clothes, shoes, caps and others, 4 boxes for Umma, clothes, jewelries and others and then 10 boxes for dangin uwa da dangin uba *maternal and paternal relatives*, where they will share the boxes and what it contained equally between the two sides. All in all there were 48 boxes.
I heard that those who came were given a grand reception, and were given a befitting tukuici *gift given in appreciation of a gift*, befitting enough for the lefe they brought.
***
My damburde was an elaborate one, we all really enjoyed ourselves while it lasted till late into the early hours of the next day.
I wore a white lappaya which everyone complemented that I looked beautiful in.
I fell in love with the henna they designed for me, it was really beautiful.
Once in a while, I will remember that I will be married off the following day, the excitement will then die down. I was going into a new family, my new home, to live a different life entirely, with different people. How was it going to be?
***
The following day was the wedding fatiha and Quranic graduation. I wore the dress Yaya bought for me for Eid, as I promised him I will.
The whole Emirate was in a state of celebration that day, I couldn't believe it was my day. We could here the sounds of drumming and singing coming from outside, amidst algaita and kalangu blaring. Khalil came in briefly to get something and told me there are so many people outside he's even scared.
Umma laughed and said it's expected, considering the fact that it's been decades since the Emirate married out a royal princess. Thinking about it now, I have never really heard of a princess from this palace in all the stories Abba used to tell us about his fore parents, they all mostly gave birth to males. I pray Allah gives Ya Khairi a princess to take my place.
Reality downed on me when I heard the bambado's announcement
"An daura auren Muhammad Sameer da Gimbiya Fatima Batuul akan sadaki sisin gwal dari biyu... *the wedding knot had been tied between Muhammad Sameer and princess Fatima Batuul with 200 gold coins as dowry... "
I laid my head on Umma's laps like I always liked to do and cried my heart out, I cried when I was led outside for my Quranic graduation and when I was led back to Umma for her to give me her words of advice nasiha, huďuba" Her words sounded from afar as my mind was already somewhere else, I didn't know why exactly I was crying, I just laid my head on her laps, wetting her wrapper with my tears.
When evening came for me to be taken to my husband's house, I refused to let go of Umma and for the first time, I made her cry too and embraced me.
One of Abba's distant cousin who stood in as my Goggo (paternal aunt), together with Mama Jakadiya were assigned to take me, they were the dada bangal *mother's of event, put incharge of weddings* next were Adda Qudsiyya and Ya Khairi. Umma wouldn't be going with me, mother's do not accompany their daughters to their husbands houses. Khalil was my baba bangal.
Maryam came along with Ya Sameer's people to take me. She succeeded in prying me away from Umma's embrace, giving me a reassuring hug that she was there for me and wiped my tears with the edge of her veil. With so much pain in my heart, I bade Umma goodbye, knowing I was going to miss the mother I have stayed with for my seventeen years of life. Abba refused to see me before I leave, he said he couldn't handle seeing me leave, neither could he handle my tears. He sent his blessings to me.
I smiled a little and let Mama Jakadiya lead me out
Khalil finally helped me climb up my horse after throwing much tantrums again and while I was leaving, almost the whole of Pawa Emirate saw me off...to my new life.
~~~
I used 3 different pictures for Batuul, and that's because I didn't get a perfect picture of the Batuul of my imaginations. Just know that Batuul ta hadu sosai 😍irin totally.
Two more chapters to go...