Chapter 70: Chapter 70
ABUJA, NIGERIA.
Down inside a luxurious bathtub is another bride of the day meant to be taking a bath as people are waiting for her outside. She has her head tucked in between her knees, they were brought up to her naked chest, lost in thought. Inside the milk scented water, her thought spiraled down the lane of how she came to this. Forgetting to tie her hair so as to not get it wet, it was too late for that as the hairs were soaked wet when she realised what she has done.
Kauthar could only think about how life came to that. Just months ago, she was mourning her mother's death afterwards, it was her brothers and again some months interval, her fiancée is reported dead after going MIA. In all those things, she didn't lose her head or emotional focus only when the news about her marriage to a total stranger reached her ears. Not entirely a stranger but she never personally know anything about him which to her, is nothing short of a stranger. She never had a nice conversation with him and the one she did, she rejected him.
Then the sneaky soldier went behind her back to seek for her hand in marriage through her father who can't reject him as he is simply like a family to them. She also can't say no to her father because there is no way she could get herself a husband in the short amount of time given to her. The ones following her around and not capable of taking care of her and they don't have the chemistry, neither does she have it with her husband to be. There is nothing between them, not the act of kindness.
She is taking this marriage as a challenge, a challenge to show him just how much she despise backbiters. If he thinks she is going to succumb to his needs because of what he did to her, then he doesn't know who he married. She is a business woman too if he thinks he is a renowned and well ranked soldier, she has the reputation too in her occupation. They are both successful, striving to take over their own seniors which is like clashing capacity and capability. Both having the strength to take down the other, the question is, who will give up?
In all those two months, she never gave him the slightest chance to talk to her. When he calls, she blocks his number and he tried using Bushra's number to talk to her, she simply hung up the call. The guy have the audacity to come in her house and demand to see her, when that didn't succeed again, he came through her father, she didn't see him. He doesn't know just how headstrong she is, she is more than a bull. She made up an excuse and her father sent him away, it was as simple as that.
The man didn't give up though.
The calls from different numbers became frequent, she keeps on blocking without ever answering to see who it was. He came to her work place, she didn't stop to look at him and got in her car like he wasn't standing there looking utterly humiliated in front of her coworkers, she didn't ask him to come. He tries to monitor her whenever she goes to his house, she always took him by surprise. The guy was frustrated after countless attempts, she could see it in his eyes whenever she will shun him away but it doesn't matter.
His sister tried buttering her up too, it didn't work out and she stopped. She said 'you guys' love story is one of a kind so I'll let fate lead the way' earning a loud scoff from Kauthar. Love story or battle stroke world war? If only she knew what she planned to do in their marital home, she'd be surprised of it. She vowed to not make peace with him, not even when the humanity lies in working their relationship out.
He brought this upon himself, he shall reap what he sow. This should be a lesson he never should forget, she is not a forgiving person.
"Kauthar, you need to come out of that bathroom before we start thinking you are doing something awful in there. Ana jiranki fa, we are waiting for you." That startled her out of her reverie and she was quick to leave the bathtub, making her way straight to the cubicle to take a bath.
The milk scented water drained itself as she mistakenly touched the button, less work for her. She took a quick bath, she's been there for more than thirty minutes when she was only supposed to take fifteen in the bathtub and five washing her body like her aunt rant off. She got tired of listening to her and took off into the bathroom, they talk a lot and they ain't making no sense.
"Gani nan zuwa, I'm coming." She yelled outside, taking a frost towel from the rack and dry her body swiftly in ten second. Another frost robe is what she took next and tie it around her, enfold her hair in another towel then left the bathroom.
"You've been in there for too long. You'll be married in two hours but you are not even ready!" One of her Aunts chastised at the sight of her coming out of the en suite, she sighed, embittered. These ladies won't just let her sarcastic self rest in peace, she will deal with them.
It is not a good day for her, they are troubling the wrong person.
"Two hours is enough, besides, the groom is not coming here in those two hours." She noted, giving them a tiny sarcastic smile noticing that the two Aunties she actually adore aren't there but the nosey ones that want to act all close to the rich family of Dr. Malik Masari.
"Don't talk like that, you brat. Go and sit down there for the turare." Kauthar rolled her eyes but complied seeing as they are the only family she has. Her mother is no more, all these wouldn't have happened had she being alive.
The thought of her mother made her shoulders sag, her precious mother. O Allah, forgive her, O Allah, strengthen her. She prayed quietly for her mother letting the women's voice sound as background to her anguished thoughts. If only her mother was here with her, it would've run smoothly and perfectly. Her mother is the most understanding woman on earth and dare she say, the only flawless person she knows. She was their backbone, starting from her father down to her little sister. She made life bearable, less challenging and merry.
Her fingers curled around the edge of her robe, her eyes shimmering with the tears she didn't let anybody see. At that instant, her chest constricted to the point of pain, leaving her breathless for sometime and she thought she was going to have a panic attack which started after her mother's death, got worse after her brother's and unbearable after her fiancée's. No one knows about those panic attacks, she is a strong woman who takes everything that comes to her with a smile. That is exactly how she does to them so she forced herself to take deep calming breaths not to cause chaos in her room filled with those women.
"Kauthar, the makeup artist is said to be waiting for you and Yasmeen is here to see you." A soothing voice came from aloof belonging to Badriyah, the woman her father is supposed to marry and one of the Aunties she could stand. The woman's voice is also peaceful calm filled with ease, close to her mother's gentle one.
She didn't have any questions or tantrums when she heard her grandmother's wish to get her father remarried, she welcomed the idea. Her father has become a shell after her mother's death, always distant and wants to do everything perfect. Some doctors from his hospital will tend to ask her to take care of him and ask him to rest once in a while, she can't stop him from leaving the home no matter how much she tries. The one time he didn't leave the house was when Afrah faked being sick, he stayed behind with her and they had the day to themselves. He was much more cooler on himself that day which means he needs to spend more time with people and interact.
No one can help with that but another wife, she cannot do it as she is leaving the house and Afrah is going to leave too anytime soon. Amir is also getting married, which means he will be moving out too but he won't move out just yet. He is going to stay at the building behind their own home, the one his father renovated for him to stay in. But he promised to give Bushra a better home as soon as he started earning his own money, which don't doubt his intentions.
"Send them in, nagama turaren; I'm don't with the turare." She permitted in a cool voice to hide the tremor in it.
Shortly after the woman left, two young girls strutted into her room one holding a colossal makeup kit wearing short skirt and shirt, her wig cut in bob and the other wearing red and white striped knee length kimono, matching palazzo pants and white shirt underneath. She walks with air of confidence, a wide smile taking over her face as she walks closer to where she is sitting on the vanity table.
"At least, you've done the turare, Bushra just woke up." Yasmeen gave her a quick hug, motioning for the makeup woman to set her things and start working immediately. They don't have much time, the bride should be ready soon.
Yasmeen is their hired wedding planner by Fayha and all Kauthar could say is, the woman is hard working! She is planning three people's wedding and have to go to separate homes to get everything done, who could do that? Hats off to the eighteen year old who left her parents back in Bauchi and came to pursue her career. She never asked Fayha where she found the lady only that the woman is striving to make a name for herself which Kauthar have no doubt she would. She dresses to impress though most her outfits were given to her by Fayha and Bushra, she knows how to wear them.
"That girl." Kauthar shook her head with a small smile at the thought of her new sister in-law.
Oh, she is proud of Amir for taking such vast step towards what he wants. She has no doubt that he will take care of Bushra more than their older brother ever has. He is not as hotheaded as Mika'il, he is cool, patient, thinks rationally, takes great amount of time before concluding decisions, especially life changing ones unlike their dead older brother who got married immediately after his wife stopped giving him the 'attention' he deserves. Imagine!
People day he divorced Bushra because he was not in his right mind and Zara did something, yes. She can almost imagine that is true and it can happen knowing the extreme of what Zara would do. But, she is more than hundred percent sure Mika'il would still have divorced Zara even if he is not under the influence of anything. That is his sister talking because she knows him more than anyone else. What he could and would do in situations.
If he'd truly trusted and loved Bushra blindly like it was said, he would not divorce her no natter what he is under. So yes, she don't want Mika'il with Bushra for believe it or not, their relationship was toxic!
Kauthar knew just how calm and mature Bushra took the news, she knew that deep down, she won't be able to be that quite if something similar to this were to happen to her. She'd turn the whole earth flat before allowing him to marry. He should just choose between his new wife and her, that is just the option. Even their mother was surprised at how calm it happened, the respect she had for Bushra deepened after that.
Ha, if only I was the one in Bushra's place.
"Please finish yours soon, I'll go see her right now. Her name is Favour, she will help with the makeup and dress you up. When I come back, I want to see you rocking that veil." Yasmeen pointed her forefinger at the white gown hanging by the far end of the room sewn by none other than their best tailor, Bushra Amani.
"Yes, Ma'am, you can leave us now." Kauthar yawed her concentration to the makeup artist who was eager to start her magic after sighting the gown. She cannot wait to see how it will fit her client, it looks too perfect and knew no one could sew that but Bushra Amani.
"Bye bye!" Yasmeen enthusiastically bounced out of the room and out of the house back to Bushra's where she helped before rocking down to Fayha's.
"Allah yayi ta gama shiryawa, Ah, she is finally ready." One of the aunties mocked and it takes all the power in Kauthar not to turn around and give the woman a piece of mind or the bird to flip her off. If they continue with this habit of being her paternal aunties, she will make them eat their words. She is the bride but they act like she is an outsider!
"Can you leave the room? I'm going to wear the dress if you haven't noticed." She can't act nice for too long, her teeth are gnashing and if they know what's best for them, they should pack their things and leave her to get ready. The wedding isn't her choice, them being there isn't her choice, she can do anything to ruin their smiles.
"A dai yi sauri, you should've fast." And they all trudge out whole gossiping loudly about how she doesn't respect her elders. As if they deserve an ounce of respect from her.
"Ya Thar, you are not even dressed?" Afrah walked in just that moment and cried out to her older sister who could only sigh. Why don't they just let her dress in peace now? Yes, she isn't dressed, isn't that obvious?!
"Af, if you rock my brain right now, I promise to rock your life." She savagely threatened her younger sister who only pouted and make herself comfortable on the bed. She's been waiting for that day and if her sister don't turn that scowl into a smile, she doubt she will enjoy such joyous occasion. She only have her sister, her brother has left the house already with his friends to do that new tradition of getting ready in a hotel thing men do nowadays. Her aunties aren't helping, they are bunch of hypocrites.
She is wearing one of Bushra Amani's magic at that moment. The ridiculous expensive lace Bushra wanted to give her mother before she passed away is what she sew for her. The intricate is amazing as the lace is awfully gorgeous too. She fished out the skirt into six pieces making the hips side look like tulip skirt to add to her nonexistent hips. The blouse is cut into that peplum that flies but she did one step of it, tightening the stomach in a belt with the edges of the lace. The hand is puffed and the collar is shawl, pretty and unique as always.
"Slip your hand through gently, it is net around there and if not done correctly, we might tear some part." The makeup artist, Favour instructed as she helped Kauthar wearing her frost white wedding gown.
In a few minutes, she was done wearing the gown and Favour is tying the lace around her head.
The gown is effortlessly made as always by the tailor. Just your typical wedding dress, nothing too tight but good enough for a bride. She is wearing a fitted gown, it fits her to perfection like every article of clothes sewn by Bushra Amani. It flew down in wide waves a few inches down the floor, beside her hips is a cape attached that has much more stunning diamond glitters to close what is inside of it. The sleeves are your regular long sleeves while the neck is illusion, she didn't use net to do it though. It is just modest so it can close her voluminous chest from prying eyes.
Her head is tied with a lace in those heavy intricate turbans, weaved and combed through this and that. A point d'esprit is pinned from the ends of the turban then fell down to her lower back just where the cape starts. Her eyes shimmered as she admired herself, she looks really beautiful in white and she has only one person to thank. Bushra Amani!
She makes her one fine bride.
She was supposed to wear this to see her husband but she won't give him the satisfaction of seeing her in her wedding dress. She will wear the other ordinary laces later when he comes just to show him his place. This is just the start of her strong headedness, there are more to come in future that he needs to brace himself for.
Her phone rang from the vanity table in front of her, seeing an unknown number, she picked because it might be some of her friends asking where she is or her location. But that wasn't the case, she heard commotion from the background and the person didn't say anything for awhile. Her first thought, the network is bad and this friend of hers that just called her is inside her home as it is in shambolic too. She needs to go out there and talk to them before they start bombarding her inside her room.
"It's me, Mujaheed. Alhamdulillah, you are finally married to me. You can make my life hell without any hindrance..." She hung up the phone instantly, her heart throbbing inside it's ribcage for that wasn't what she expected. She wanted him to be all dominant and say something along the line 'I dare you to do something stupid, you are under me' but then again, this is Bushra's family, they are not like that. They are known for their politeness and respect for women, what does she expect.
This, this is definitely shaking her resolve, she don't want to be a weakling, not when she's carried the burden of hatred to two whole months!