_That which we are, we are; One equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fate, to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield._
*** Zubaida
I still couldn't believe it, this was gonna be one of the biggest weddings of the century in probably the entire country...and, I get to be there, I get to do Habiba's make-up.
When I'd started this whole make-up thing, I did imagine myself getting involved with all kinds of people, the 'rich' ones in particular, but somehow I just thought I was putting up high expectations for the career, so I guess I wasn't actually.
Having someone like Habiba wanting me to do her make-up made me feel like some VIP or something.
Habiba's family's like royalty, they, are, rich, like rich rich.
Her father, Abdullah Salman is the founder and ex Chairman of 'Salman's Industries', located in Abuja, his first son is now the current Chairman of the Company and it's now part of the Oil and gas field Services Industry in Nigeria. His second son Farid, or is it Fahad, just opened up this new business 'Blue Panthers' also in Abuja, about this Railway thingy, I think he makes his own trains now, I'm not sure.
Habiba's mom has a clothing brand of her own, and Habiba's step mom is a humanitarian and beauty Enterpreneur while Habiba runs an online boutique in Singapore and is a YouTuber vlogging on lifestyle, travel, and time to time beauty tutorials. She's one of the few YouTubers I really look up to as a vlogger.
It felt like a dream come true.
I felt like I was gonna be taking this to the next level or something, cuz once people get to know I did her henna designs and make-ups, more people would be interested in my makeup and henna services. Though that was just partly one of the things I was excited about, I was mainly and more excited of just the fact that I was gonna be the one doing her make-up.
I was actually gonna meet...
Honnkk! Honk..Honk!
"Kai, ku matsa daga Hanya mana( Hey move from the way now ) !"
I'm snapped out of my thoughts by all the sudden noise, as I look around to acknowledge what's going on...
The guy driving the kekenape (Rickshaw) we're in is honking at some hawkers crossing the street.
"Kai, mutanin Nan (Hey, these people), they want you to miss your flight ne." Maryam who was seated beside me hissed, as she turned on her phone to check the time.
"See fa, 9:32, and your flight is by ten." She hissed again.
It dawns on me that we've been stuck in this traffic for almost ten minutes. 'Like, seriously people? I got a flight to catch.' I huffed shaking my head.
Early morning traffic in Abuja was becoming a really serious issue nowadays.
Well, right now the traffic lights are green, but the line of the hold up is really long, I doubt if we could make it out of the hold up without the lights turning red again.
'Pls pls pls pls pls pls pls pls...' I desperately pray as the line starts moving.
The traffic light's countdown is now at fifty-six, and we're like, almost the fifteenth in line.
Luckily, we make it out of the hold up when the countdown is at nineteen. I internally jubilate and thank God.
Soon enough we arrive at the Airport. After bargaining with the annoying kekenape guy to collect six hundred instead of eight for bringing both of us here and also take Maryam back home since she was only escorting me, I mentally make a note to myself to next time just agree on driving myself to the Airport in my car then letting Maryam drive it back home even if Maryam's still just a learner at driving, at least that'd save me the harassment.
Maryam helps me take out my luggages from the Nape ( kekenape) as we bid our final goodbye.
"Are you guys sure you can handle everything, I mean with the Saloon, and your Shawarma business, together with the kids?" I couldn't help but ask again, I feel so guilty leaving my siblings all alone at home without anyone elderly keeping an eye on them. Mum was in Dubai for a business trip, and I was suppose to be the one keeping an eye on them but here I was, about to catch a flight to Maiduguri.
"Zubie, kaai, stop trying to look for an excuse to stop yourself...this is like your dream remember...your one chance to meet Habiba, I know you want to go... remember, opportunity comes...."
"... but once in a lifetime..." I cut in as we both completed it together then giggle.
It was one of our mom's all time favorite sayings.
"...yah so don't you dare throw it away...plus, we're not kids anymore, like hellooo... I'm approximately twenty...." She sang and I huffed.
She'd already won in convincing me at this point.
"... We'll take care of everything don't worry, Rabi'ah and I could deal with both the Saloon and Shawarma business together, and we could always drop Abdul at Aunty Halima's place.... Just stop worryinnngg...." She says, her hands on my shoulders as she kept shaking me lightly before pulling me into a hug when she finally hit full stop.
I sighed, hugging her back.
Yep, no one better at convincing than she is, especially when it comes to me.
She, Hauwa, Hanifa and mum didn't even give me a chance to doubt if I could go or not. Immediately I'd told her about it and then was like, 'could I even really go?, she immediately gave me that, 'don't even dare...' type of look, as she immediately called up Hauwa and Hanifa, my two besties and fellow collaborates, and of course once they heard the news there was no going back. The two bitches were more than enough to put up with, with the craziness they'd displayed in the name of excitement...they even threatened to disown me if I rejected the offer. The three of them together, and I couldn't even dare think I might not go.
Before I could even rethink or try to change my mind, Maryam was already handing me the phone so we could talk to mum about it together, mum was immediately and already on their team, and next thing I knew, we were over the internet booking the next flight to Maiduguri.
"Now, just go, have fun, be yourself, and experience one of the most memorable and epic event that's ever gonna happen in your life...well probably... me deh you better come back with all the dollars you can come back with, and not only the money they pay you oo...kin san bikin masu kudi (You know rich people's wedding) they must spray money like hauka (mad), toh, don't get caught oo, remember, 🎵pack'am then🎵connect and 🎵sensima ." She inquired reminding me of the little formular we'd created when we were much younger for slipping money into our bags and purses whenever we attended weddings or any other events.
I remember, that used to be the main reason I loved attending events like that.
It was based on the lyrics of this song named 'Sensima' by Reekado Banks, it just fit so much as the perfect consept for the mission....
Firstly for sensima, make sure you're in the dance floor next to whoever is spraying or being sprayed at and just pretend you're there to dance. Then pack'am, you use any dance move as style to bend down, squat, or just pretend to have dropped something, and once you're down there, just pack all the money your hands can carry, and at the point of connect, be sure your bag or purse isn't zipped so you could just slip it in quickly.
I chuckle at the thought.
'God, those days.'
"Don't worry, I got this." I say in a determined tone playfully.
"Toh, don't forget us ooo, better bring back our share ooo." She pointed her index finger at me, shaking it from time to time as she spoke, like a mother cautioning her child.
I shook my head at her. "This girl, son kudin ki eh (Your love for money koh )..." I hissed and rolled my eyes playfully.
"Toh..." I sighed.
Time wasn't really on our side now so I really needed to go...
"Take care..."
"Yeh you too.."
As I pulled her into the tightest hug I could give, she hugged me back just as tight before pulling away a minute later.
Maryam has and would always be my closest bestie, we used to fight a lot, what am I saying, we still fight a lot, over the smallest and pettiest things but in the end it was still me and her against the world.
I sighed. "Bye-bye, I'll miss you and your annoying ass." I said a bit emotional at this point.
"Yeh, me too and your fish ass."
We both chuckled.
I then grabbed my luggages, sighing once more as we both smiled at each other.
It was my cue to step away now but it just felt much more difficult and intense than I'd expected.
I just sighed again and turned around awkwardly, and just as I'm about to be out of sight I turn back and wave, blowing a kiss.
She does too.
**
First chappy again.🤧
Any dejavus anyone?
Vote and comment pls.
💞~LuvelandDreamer