Chapter 58: Chapter 58

The well sculptured monument entrance door, the waft of hot air, the smell of nono, the scorching sun gleaming through the window, the hawkers yelling; advertising their things, different girls selling fura beside the road, almajirai running from one end to another, flashy cars passing in a blur____and lots more; were what welcomed Ummi to the city of Katsina state.

Her grin grew wider when Malam Ummaru drove into Meeno's compound, which was filled to the brim. She thanked him and told him to wait for food and water before taking a cab to the park-he was to go back to Kaduna today.

She entered the obstreperous house with a salam, naturally expecting no one to answer her back; but to her relief she spotted Meeno's only younger sibling admist her friends. She walked over to them, that's when she was engulfed into a hug.

"Ya Aysha! How was your trip? Meeno was hell bent on strangling you," Assa chuckled, excusing herself from her friends as she take Ummi's hand in hers, holding the lugagge with the other.

"Assa, my trip was Alhamdulillah. It was nice being in Katsina, I really love your state. And about Meeno, let that barmy bride alone," Ummi chuckled softly, as they entered the room Meeno and her friends were. There were their ex-school mates and Meeno's other friends.

"Alkali! Hauwa! Khadija! Hashiya! Ammi! Mash! Ummuhany! Karaye! Haly!..." Ummi squealed, as she wrapped her arms over them, giggling happily.

"Assa, please take food and water to my driver, and tell him I wish him a safe journey!" Ummi yelled to Asama that was halfway out of the room, before taking her attention back to her old friends. She was just soo overwhelmed to see everyone there, some that she even forgot the last she contacted them.

A striking smack found it's way to her nape, she yelped and turned; only for her to face an angry would be bride. Throwing herself over Meeno, she broke into soft tears-upon feeling the warmth of her best friend.

"We're not alone, Aysha. Stifle back those tears before I lounge your eyes out," Meeno threatened, patting her back in a conforting manner.

Ummi chuckled and cleared her tears before breaking their hug, hugging her again--this time, enthusiastically. "I missed you so much, Meeno. See how you're glowing, Melanin is surely popping here, I already pity Ya Yusuf, he'll surely loose his control," she exclaimed, examining Meeno's hands and face, as their mates laughed at them.

"You guys are such shameless inlaws Allah, see how you're being all clingy with each other," Alkali stammered with her natural stammering voice.

Refreshments were brought to her, as well as food and Katsinawa's signature: Fura. She couldn't eat all the scrumptious meal alone, she had to beg their mates to eat together, and Alkali, Karaye and Lasa; being the gluttons--ate with her.

She prayed her Asr prayer, and they left their mates and Meeno's other friends to get ready for the sa lalle event; which was for the girls only. Driving to the make-up artiste's crib, the driver was at the driver's seat, Meeno's elder sister Hadi was in the passenger's seat-whilst Ummi and Meeno were at the back, hushing some words to each other.

"I really love Katsina Allah, even the hot air washes off worries," Ummi chuckled, peaking through the window-taking a better view of the state, as they passed the Gobarau monument, The old unchanged kofar Marusa, their palace which was situated in kofar soro, an area filled with choas.

"You need to take pictures of some places I think, so you could show that your clingy husband. Oopps...I forgot to ask you, how is my husband doing? We haven't talk peacefully since the wedding things started," Meeno asked with a sheepish grin on her lips, smacking smirking Ummi's laps.

"That hurts, Meeno! And your husband? Let's ask him now, I haven't seen him too." And she began dialing Ya Yusuf's number with her phone, which he picked on the fourth ring. She picked the phone and plugged in her earpiece because of Hadi. Putting one in her left ear, she put the other in Meeno's right.

"What is it, Ummi? Since you've came without even asking for me, and left to disturb the peace of my wife huh? I would've given you loads of kisses to deliver to her," Ya Yusuf's voice chirped in, as Ummi made a zip to her mouth; emanating Meeno should keep shut.

"Ya Yusuf!!!" Ummi exclaimed, trying so hard not to sound very loud. "Quickly say Astagfirullah please, she isn't your wife yet; and you're here thinking of kisses? Subhanallah!" She exclaimed exaggeratingly, chuckling softly.

"Ummi, I would smack your head if to see you were infront of me. And for your Information: she would be my wife in just two days to come, so I have to start planning all those romantic moments for us. I need a favour please, I want to see her first thing tomorrow when I come, please." His voice ended with a plea tone, he knew it would be more than hard for him to see Meeno tomorrow.

"I can see you're eager, Ya Yusuf. Well...I can help with that, but you have to do something in return you know? Gwamnati ta hana aikin banza."

"That's why I love you, Ummi chaku! I'll bring your husband with me, deal?!" He didn't wait for her answer as he ended the call, laughing triumphantly.

They exchanged looks with Meeno and broke into a series of laughter, they laughed like old times before sobering up. "Why would you promise him? I was not to see him until the day I would be conveyed to his house, Ummi," Meeno asked, her forever serious expression taking over the euphoric one.

Ummi shrugged up, sulking up the feeling of seeing Al-amin tomorrow. "I have my ways, and upon all the rules we broke in our lives-this wouldn't be hardest, would it?"

"Well...not after cooking ourselves during Ramadan, and Malam Adams catching her red handed!" Meeno yelped as they reminisced the moment, laughing so hard at the memory.

***

It was the sa lalle day, the bride is known to be make-uped and she and her friend's hands and legs would be beautified with henna and Dilka. Meeno's wedding wasn't an exception, as Ummi and their other friend's had their henna and Dilka beautifully done. They were all gleaming as they dance to the kidan kwarya beats.

The event was over before 8pm, they all cleared the placed, prayed and had their dinner. Meeno went out and came back, meeting Ummi and her other friends chatting fascinatingly like in old times.

"One minute please, Aysha Mashi; I need to see you," she informed formally, not to show any sign of affection or giving a hint of what they would talk about to their other friends.

Ummi excused herself and followed her bestfriend to where she assumed was her father's living room, for it was eerily silent, with no trace of human in it. They sat down facing each other, Meeno's intense stare unshaken on Ummi's face.

"Now, tell me what had been bothering you. I could see your unvoiced pain through your eyes, the agonizing pain through your laughter, you're in pain, Ummi," Meeno spoke softly, leaving no room for denial.

Ummi felt tears sticking the brink of her eyes. She let them flow freely, without any care in the world, she knew she had the bestfriend that would clear them off and put a smile on her lips.

"He hate me now. He feels disgusted with me. I'm no more the Queen of his heart. I no more rule the kingdom, Amina," She whimpered, as her shoulders slumped down in defeat, giving way to more tears of anguish.

"I don't get you, and don't ever say that please. We have to rule all the kingdoms, remember?" Meeno stated, trying to console her bestfriend and herself. She was at the brink of tears too.

Ummi gulped down the lump in her throat and told her everything that happened. She didn't remove a single information, she was dying to pour it all out, the pain was killing her slowly, the words left unspoken dicing up her bleeding heart, she could be finally at peace. She had finally confided in someone. Completely.

The next thing she felt was Meeno's warm body against hers, with tears dripping on her back. Her bestfriend's tears. "You went through all that alone? Without having the care to tell me? You suck it all up? It hurts here. You're strong indeed, for you're walking and laughing like you have all the roses of life in your hands. I'm sorry for letting you go through that alone," Meeno spoke through her neck, her body was silently shaking, she felt the pain gripping her heart.

Ummi slowly broke their hug and began wiping Meeno's tears away, with hers streaming down in oceans. "Why are you crying? I thought you were that forever sturdy lady? Don't disappoint me please, is that how you're getting married to my brother? Being Yusuf's wife comes with a price uno. Your's is; you have to be strong for him, for me, and for yourself also."

Meeno chuckled softly and smacked her shoulder. She wiped away her tears and began wiping Ummi's. "Listen, you're a woman aren't you? Would you just let that creepy crawly girl to take your husband without even being married to him? C'mon, this wasn't the Aysha I knew. Show her her real position in the house, act all clingy with him when she's around, the grudge you hold on him can wait when you're out of her sight. Be that romantic and caring wife you were....," and the list goes on. At some point, they would laugh and hi-fived, before the conversation continues.

"Are you sure you weren't married before? Like I mean aren't you a widow or possibly a divorcee?" Ummi asked, followed with a hearty laugh, as Meeno's first smack hit her back.

"You would've been a magajiya if I was married. Idiot!"

"That's a bad word, Amina, kid's aren't to be saying them, especially non-married!" Ummi warned, her voice filled with amiability, eyes glinted with love and happiness.

"Say that to your clingy brother, or should I say naughty? Idiot!" Meeno smacked her harder, laughing also.

"And the bully head girl is back!"

"Bullying a JSS1 supposed to be sister inlaw and annoying beatfriend!"

***

The morning was filled with choas, which made Ummi's smiling sleeping face-squint her eyes slowly. The noise was getting louder with each passing minute. She turned around and saw the room was halfy empty, only Hashiya and Karaye sitted with their phone in hands.

"Were are the rest? Or are you talking to your husbands? So I should not disturb?" She inquired with a smirk displayed on her lips.

"They're all outside for breakfast, and we can't wait to see Al-amin today," Hashiya uttered with a wink, and a soft laugh, as she went back to her phone.

Ummi's heart squealed upon hearing the word 'breakfast' that means eating steaming kosai and koko. She ran towards her bag and brought out her brush and toothpaste before walking to the bathroom. She brushed her teeth before walking to where the rest were, munching on their breakfast while chatting fascinatingly, their laughters echoing.

She exchanged pleasantries and sat beside Alkali, dugging in her plate.

"Which event are we having today?" Ummi asked, for she doesn't have the idea of what would happen, and they haven't talked about that with Meeno.

"It's some sort of a picnic in Mashi, that's what I heard" Alkali stammered, gulping down her koko.

Ummi's eyes grew big like a saucers, a wide grin finding it's way to her lips, she couldn't remember the last time she went to Mashi, yes; she knew that so uncalled for her, and she was really happy that Ya Yusuf had to think about this.

"Oh my god! I can't wait! I'll have to see Yayah after so many years!" Ummi squealed, remembering the last time she saw her grandmother from her mother's side. For Mama was from Mashi also.

Around 10am Ya Yusuf called and informed her that he was in town, and how would he see the coolness of his eyes? She told him to wait at the back of the house, and they would have their way and sneak out.

She clad herself in a boubou and draped a veil from her head, before making Meeno wear a Hijab so no one would ever suspect it was her, as they made their way out of the house. They met them sitted in their car, from where they were, Ummi could see three heads clad in Zanna Bukars.

They walked over to them, Ya Yusuf and Ya Ibrahim-which is Al-amin's elder brother coming out of the car. Ummi smiled warmly at them, as she took off the Hijab from Meeno's covered face.

"Goodmorning, Ya Ibrahim, it was long since I saw you last," she greeted, smiling at him. "You, the over excited groom, here is my promise," she slightly shooved Meeno towards him, as she stood beside Ya Ibrahim.

Meeno and Ya Yusuf walked out of earshot, while Ya Ibrahim and Ummi started conversing; with quite familiarity.

All this while, he was sitted in the back of the car, his attention was on her since when they started approaching them, he couldn't take his eyes off her-as to how she was glowing, flaring up her henna-ed hands, her face was devoid of makeup, she looked radiant and beautiful.

How she was laughing with Ya Ibrahim unnerved his soul, she was surely a damsel with an angelic character. Despite knowing that she was in an utterly pain, her face screamed of happiness, and beauty. She has an aura of beauty and confidence in her. He couldn't even muster the courage to go and meet her, for he knew-the moment he step outside all those smiles and laughter will vanish, hence: he rather watch her from afar.

"Ya Yusuf, it's past time we go back before they start looking for us. Don't worry, I myself will take her to your house in Gwarimpa. Let her be for now, please!" Ummi muttered, laughing at the dagger that were meant to unnerve her sent by Ya Yusuf.

"Aishaa," Meeno drawled, with a tone of annoyance. She was surely annoyed at Ummi for calling them off.

Ummi held her mouth in her palm. "Iyyeh, lallai yarinya soyayya ta rudaki. You know we have to go to the make up artiste, the girls have to get ready, mang things dai, and your presence is needed to boost all these preparations, Meeno," Ummi reasoned, as she held her hand and draped back the hijab over her face, so no one would recognize her.

"Bye Ya Yusuf, see you in Mashi, though I'll spend my picnic in Yayah's house," Ummi half-yelled as they walked off.

Al-amin heaved a sigh as they walked out of his sight, palming his face-he closed his eyes as all he could see was her forever beaming and ravishing face.

***

Their faces were all make-uped, some have the red lipstick on their cheeks circled with kohl-the typical village girl's make-up. As it was said, it would be a picnic-dandali-like event. So they had to dress normally but act somewhat villagy. Hence the makeup.

Around 2pm, all the cars started zooming off to the village of Mashi. Ummi took her car with some of their friends, she didn't enter Ya Yusuf's car, which Meeno would be taken with. She was so eager to go and see her grandmother. It was a 40minutes drive from Katsina. They arrived and were directly taken to the outskirts of the village, were carpets and mats were sprayed on the ground, with all those traditional decorations.

Ummi's eyes roamed through the eyes of her relatives scrutinizing her. She finally spotted her grandmother clad in her ankara with a big veil wrapped around her body. She squealed and ran towards her, taking her into an embrace.

"Yayah!!!" She screamed, clutching her more onto her body. "I missed you soo much! Akwai tuwan madara?" She asked, widening her grin.

Yayah shrugged her off her body with a shudder, glaring at her. "Indo A'i farar diya. Where is your husband that he will let you screaming off your lungs? Don't you know you're no more a small girl?" The usual Yayah spoke, she would never let a reason to scold a person to slide.

Ummi opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by a deep masculine voice that sent a shiver down her spine, making her toes to curl up, the butterflies in her stomach flipped their wings-as goosebumps appeared on her skin.

"Good afternoon, Yayah. Hope mun sameku lafiya?" He squated beside Ummi, greeted Yayah with utmost respect, his head was literally hung low.

Slowly, Ummi turned and their eyes met-he took that as a grace to be ensconced in the exquisite of her gracious orbs. He missed the warmth provided only by the pierce of her orbs.

Yayah's pat on his head brough them out of their eye contest. "Yauwa dan albarka, please you should be scolding her for running and screaming any how. She would soon be a mother, ko ihun zata kowama yaran ne oho mata," Yaya scrunched up her face as she glared at lips-pouted Ummi.

"Yayaaah," Ummi drawled in a whining tone, fluttering her eyelashes. "And who told you I'm going to give birth soon? Kalleni fa yar chas dani, you want me to give birth so that Malam won't choose me over you ko? To ta Allah ba taki ba." Knowing the next thing that would come would be a hard knock on her head, since she had talked about Yayah's 'Rabin Rai' as they nicknamed Malam--she had to do the next time that came to her mind--which was to sprint off.

Heaving breaths as if she had run a marathon, she slumped on the root of a big neem tree, clearing an invisible sweat from her forehead. Her breath hitched, heart raced rapidly, limbs slackened, mind hazed--as the voice she heard right beside her ear, his deep minty breath fanning her bare neck skin.

"I think we have to make this buttercups soon, even Yayah couldn't wait to hold them in her hands--so their half-crazy mother would woman up."