Chapter 11: Chapter 11

ABUJA, NIGERIA.

"I don't like this idea you are talking about, Mujawwad. Don't go acting all childish one something serious." Alhaji Sadiq scolded his last son, giving him a disapproving eyes which only brought out a beam from the latter.

"Come on, old man. You don't have to worry one bit about what my idea is, it's always been perfect. Have you forgotten when mom was so angry at you and I had to set you guys on a blind date to set out your differences?" He raised a brow seeing his father's amused and embarrassed eyes fixated on him. Anyone would've shut up but not the mischievous Mujawwad.

Apart from Bushra's bubbly self, Mujawwad is the next person that has everyone's smile intact all the time. Though his mother acts all tough, he knew just how to break down that barrier all the time. They are one happy family whenever they get time to be together which was less times seeing everyone is now busy with their lives.

Her mother is a doctor which means most of her times are spent in the hospital trying to save lives. Her father is a lawyer, a judge to be exact making him more busy than everyone in the house especially after he opened his new firm. Trying to get in what needs to be done before the time gets on them.

Her brothers are also busy and spend less time at home but the military. Now they have three stars which means they have time to spend at home. She is tired of seeing them single though, they are old enough to have kids. The twins are twenty nine while Mujawaad is twenty eight, just the right age to get married in her list since she got married to Mika'il when he was about to clock twenty eight. He never talked about his freedom seeing he is not one to mingle around with girls, her brothers too.

Those don't even glance at girls and it makes her worried if they are ever going to leave bachelorhood. They never talk about any lady and mostly talk about military this, military that which annoyed her to the core. They don't like talking about girls, at all which was something she can't take. She is always talking about those Instagram models, her role models and those influencers. She tried showing them the photos but they always manage to shun her away with her little matchmaking game.

"Mom, I'm afraid your sons won't get married if you don't step up on the game. They are old enough to help you get more grandchildren but you are here nursing them like kids." She slyly said to her mother whose eyes twinkle with mischief hearing her sons groans.

"You are very right. I think we have to result to arranged marriage for the twins first then MJ will come last. If he doesn't bring a wife in a year, he is also going to face the same faith. What do you think, AS?" Hajiya Khadija turned her questionable gaze to her husband whose eyes soften looking at her hopeful eyes on him.

"Yes. We have enough ladies in the family and none will turn down this offer. Now tell me, are there any women in your lives? Because once we make this decision, there is no going back." Alhaji Sadiq said to his first children, the twins.

They squirmed on their seats, not liking the attention they are getting from both parents. This escalated quicker than they thought and having their parents sober eyes staring at the alongside their sneaky little sister's mischievous ones, they know they are in for no good this time around. Just like their father had said, there is no going back if this gets finalised. They thought they have some more time to keep their busy heads aside but no, their beloved little sister is doing what she knows best, hypocrisy.

There was never really a woman in their lives, it was never about a woman with them. Being in the military for so many years and the end of their teenage years has taken a toll on them. All they can do is play with weapons, go to wars and ambushing all those deserts and forests where criminals hide. That is all they know after having pledged their lives to save the country. It is normal for any soldier to not feel attached to a woman but most of their friends are married which says another story about them.

Their father was very proud when he heard about their decision. But their mother, she is another whole story. They need both permissions of their parents before they could proceed and having their mother grunt out her disapproval makes their hearts falter then. That was their passion but they can stop whatever it us they love because of their mother. After so much persuasion from his father, from them and some of the elders in the family. They finally get to fulfill their dreams and went straight to Nigerian Defence Academy.

"No." They grumbled in their harsh gruff voice that comes with the sufferings of being a soldier. Everything about them roughened after they went there.

"Fantastic. I have two ladies in my mind and you both will love them. I can't believe this is really happening!" Their mother gushed, not her usual self but they understand why she is that happy.

She's always complained about wanting one of her sons to get married but they pay her no heed. She wants a daughter in-law to pamper like her daughter's mother in-law pamper her. She wants to prove to the world that not every mother is envious of her son's love life and progress so this is her chance to shower that girl with blessings. She even gets to find the brides for them, what better way than to pick out her two most loving nieces.

"Who are they, mami? We will change it if I don't like her." Bushra Amani crossed her hands over her chest looking at her husband's eyed dilated to her poured lips. She even forgot about his presence and whined like the last born she is.

"Fayha and Khalida. They are the best candidates for this position and if by any chance you don't like them, then tell me who you have in mind apart from these two people." Her mother also crossed her hands in a bossy way unlike Bushra Amani's bratty one. Her father and brothers alongside her husband enjoy watching the mother and daughter duo fight.

"That's great! Since I get Fayha as my sister in-law, I don't care about anyone else. And besides, Khalida is a nice girl and will fit in with us just perfectly. Hats off to your brain again, momma!" She did a fake hats off to her mother who rolled her eyes and gave a proud smile earning chuckles from the males in the room.

"Who gets Fayha and who gets Khalida though?" Mujawwad curiously asked from beside, enjoying the whole scenario much more than he thought he would.

They will leave the house for him, his freedom matters a lot. He loves his brothers to death and will do anything for them but they can be overbearing just because they are older and think whatever he does without their permission is wrong. They often get mistaken for triplets and everyone around the camp call them triplets. They either say, first Danbazau, second Danbazau and third Danbazau. He likes that he looks like them, it comes in handy sometimes.

"Mujahid gets Fayha while Mujaddad will have Khalida. That will make a perfect match to me though, what do you think?" Bushra chirped in, looking around the room to see if anyone has anything to say but no one talked which is a silent agreement.

"Mami, don't tell anyone yet please. I want to go through this wedding first before I face any other family drama that is to come." She gave her mother a puppy dog eyes, knowing fully well that the woman is desperate to make sure everything is official.

"You need to promise to be in every tradition that is to come." She bargained, hopefully wanting to remove her daughter's mind from the idea as she hates the Kanuri traditions with passion.

"Okay."

...•...

Bushra Amani groaned for the nth time when she checked the clock and Fayha still isn't there so they can leave for that deranged event that she is forced to go. Now that she's thought about it, she would just want to lie down on her plush bed and sleep into oblivion but she had to accept her soon to be co-wife's invitation to her wedding. She got a text telling her that that day is the henne ceremony from someone, it looks like the message was sent to millions of people.

She's gotten dressed earlier together with Mika'il who has to rush out with her brothers for some last touches of the wedding. He's been whining about not wanting to marry Zara as she is getting more 'annoying' than days before. She could only laugh at him and push him from close to her saying 'you must, boy' then he will glare at her hotly before he cocoon her in his arms.

"Do you know that this is the worst decision I've ever made in my life? I don't know why I had to go through this honestly." His sober voice has whispered to her some nights ago when they finished making love and the exhaustion wore off.

That is all she's been striving for. She only wants him to regret marrying Zara and say he doesn't love her. Now that he has confessed that, she has nothing to worry about. She's vowed to make him regret his decision in twenty one days and even before those days ended, he has regretted it. She knew she is the only one that has his heart, no matter what happens, Mika'il will always be hers and hers alone.

"Don't you love her?" She stopped breathing after she asked her question, stopping her hands from trailing patterns on his smooth hairy toned chest.

"I don't." He sighed atop her forehead, bringing the sense of security and love for the man above her.

Whatever happens from then, she don't care. Her husband loves her and her daughter, it is enough for her to support his decision even though he has regretted it. There is no way he can cancel the wedding when everything is at it's peak and the social media people can't keep quite about it. People kept asking her what she think about it or if she is still with him. The comments are absurd and some are sweet.

'Do you still love you husband?'

'Do you know about your husband's marriage with Zara Yakasai?'

'What happened between you two?'

'Don't let this dampen your mood, role model. You are better than that.'

'I hope she doesn't create problem in your home.'

She didn't reply any and kept posting the pictures of her recent gowns on Instagram. Comments and orders kept coming her way and she can't help brushing away the thought of a co-wife and attend to her client. She has another assistant now and they tend to the messages together. Her assistant take the phone calls, make appointments and other things she needs help with.

As she sat silently on her couch in the living room waiting for Fayha while knowing Anaan is safe in her in-law's house, her phone rang in her hand. Mika'il bought her the new iPhone 12promax dome days ago. But when he told her the reason he bought it, she burst out laughing seeing that he is completely serious about the whole ordeal. She can't believe how much that man loves her but he does.

"You know the marriage is going to be that of rich peoples trying to show off each and every expensive jewelry the possess. This phone hasn't arrive in Nigeria and when I landed in America and saw it, I had to buy it for you. Not everyone will have this there so it will get you more respect than you'd think. Don't think I'm playing a game of showing off my wealth but I don't like anyone looking down upon you. It's all my fault that we are going through this and this is the least I could do. But then again, I know you will get attention even without this, after all, you are thee Bushra Amani." He kissed her cheek as she blush but you could also detect the happiness blooming in her chest.

"I love you." She kissed his lips this time, pouring out how thankful and sorry she was for helping have them in that situation.

And now as she glance at the person calling her, she found out that her long distant friend, Falak. The woman she looks up to knowing she is older than her but they are more like cat and dog when they are in phonecalls, they fight like best friends. She was not comfortable with her at first but when she did, she found out that Falak is the most understanding person to grace the earth and seeing her call, she knows what she wants to talk about. About her soon to be co-wife. She don't even know what to tell her in all honesty.

Falak can be an older sister when she wants to be. They clashed when she went to her naming ceremony in Kano with her protective brothers some years back. She just sew her outfits then and wanted to see who the renowned princess of Kano is, the one that married the crowned prince and also a daughter to the Queen of Kano. The way she welcomed her then, it was enough for her to know she is welcomed in Kano anytime she wants to.

"Princess Falak of Kano." She grinned at her own weird greeting, that is how she greets her.

"Bushra Amani of Abuja." Falak greeted back into the phone, hushing the kids in the background then she heard shuffling before she changed where she is.

"So to what do I owe this phone call?" She is curious hut don't want to show it. Their friendship is not the one that they call each other all the time just to hear each others voice. They are all busy with one thing or the other.

"I heard the news since you didn't want to tell me. How could you hide such thing from me? And I thought I was your best friend." Bushra smiled at the Princess's childish behaviour.

"C'mon, this is not a good news and you know that. It all happened so soon and I didn't think tell anyone will be important. I found out some days back and you know the problems we've been facing with Mika'il. Keep your horses, we are back together but I won't stop him from getting married. Anyways, do you know what? I am dressed right now going to the henna ceremony. She invited me to the wedding herself." She explained just to see Falak requesting for a video call and she picked without hesitation.

"Damn, you look too good in that dress. You are going to rock that wedding, I just know it. And you know what? Don't let her get to you, wear a smile everywhere." Falak encouraged, sitting cozily in her Royal room as she squint at Bushra's dress.

She is wearing the black dress her girls choose for her. The black dress with scoop neck and lantern sleeves that roll to her wrists. She sew it into a fitted gown knowing it is an all women event. The end of the gown from her knees flew down in godet, simple yet beautiful. She add a silver net veil around her shoulder, wrapped a black raw silk around her head in so pleatings and make it look like a side fan. She didn't do any makeup. Her feet are clasped in Silver Malone Souliers together with matching clutch.

"I'm coming for the dinner. The King can't make it so he wants me and Statue to replace him." Bushra beamed at that, she can't wait to see Falak. She hasn't seen her since her wedding, she couldn't come to Anaan's naming ceremony as one of her brothers was getting married.

"Really?! I can't wait to see you, honestly. Don't forget to bring that set of underwear you sent me. I couldn't find it here." She pouted when Falak glare at her, clearly telling her she won't bring it.

"If you will pay, then you don't have any problem." She shrugged and Amani agreed then hung up to open the door for Fayha probably.

"I've been waiting for you." Amani glared at Fayha who rose her hands in surrender and take in her outfit.

"Damn, babe, you are going to set that place on fire." She commented then twirled inside to show her her own clothes.

She is wearing a pencil brown gown making sure all the curves are tightened then draped a net cream veil around her shoulders, her head in matching head tie style as Amani. She has golden clutch and wedge.

"Whatever, let's go."

The event starts at 2PM but it's already 5PM and she's already prayed asr.