The Aminu's household was bustling with people of different kinds; short, tall, light skinned, dark skinned, all clad in their best attire, trooping in and out of the house, anticipating the arrival of the bride.

Abdallah's mum 'hajia maryam' relentlessly made sure everything was in place, she ordered the maids clad in their work outfit around the house.

The boisterous activity going on was brought to a halt for a second when a honk sounded, followed by the sound of sirens,

She's here

She's here

Abdallah's bride is finally here.

People said from different parts of the house trying to get themselves to be at the perfect spot to witness the arrival of the most anticipated bride.

The Range Rover sport conveying the bride sleekly swerved into the compound, with the escort's SUVs following.

Aaima's elder brother 'Fahad' offered to drive Nadia over since she was more like a sister to him, Aaima sat in the front seat with Basma at the back with the bride, Aliyah also went with them after much persuasion from basma but came in through a different car.

When Aaima pulled the back door open, Nadia elegantly stepped out of the car with a veil draped over her head, she sauntered towards the house with Aaima and basma by her sides.

She muttered her salam as she stepped her foot into the luxurious building,

"walaykum salam dear" hajia maryam who was already standing by the door replied, "welcome to the family" she said embracing her. Hajia maryam guided nadia to the living room where everyone gathered including Abdallah. Aaima, basma and aliyah followed behind closely.

Hajia maryam introduced nadia to all the members of the family present, both close knitted and distant.

After all formalities were over, the groom was asked to unveil his bride,

Abdallah stood up from his seat to take the veil off Nadia's head, but he halted when basma stood in front of him,

"not so fast" she said, "you must settle us before you open the bride's face" Basma added,

Abdallah squeezed his face confused but Qasim came to his aid,

"do you mean money?" Qasim asked grinning, Basma is a talkative, but she isn't that confident when she's in the midst of numerous people, but she knew who could execute this game well. Basma stepped back a little to whisper into Aliyah's ear,

"I know you're excellent at things like this, so please help" Aliyah was reluctant, but she gave in.

"No" she said with her melodious voice, Everyone scrunched their face confused, if she isn't referring to money then what is she referring to?,

"we don't need money but cool cash" she said rubbing her fingers against each other to describe it and everyone burst out laughing except the Stoic Abdallah,

"give them anything they want, I'm getting bored with this" Abdallah whispered to Qasim,

"Chill man, I like games like this" Qasim whispered back smiling,

"like 500,000?" Qasim asked,

"uh hmm" aliyah placed her index finger on the side of her head like she was deep in thought, "will 500 thousand be enough for beautiful ladies like us?" she asked everyone seated,

"nooo" they all shouted in unison,

"ok 2 million then" qasim said again grinning from ear to ear,

"that sounds impressive, but what about the previous 500 thousand?" she asked still keeping a straight face,

"just add it, I'm getting frustrated" Abdallah whispered to Qasim impatiently,

"ok done deal, 2.5 million it's" Qasim smiled,

"you can have your way now" aliyah shifted her body from where she stood in Nadia's front.

Abdallah unveiled the bride, revealing the radiant and dazzling Nadia,

The whole place was filled with masha Allah's from people admiring the dazzling beauty.

***

After refreshments, everyone started dispersing to their various homes,

Nadia emotionally bade basma, Aaima and aliyah goodbye before turning back inside.

She was on her way to the room she was going to stay, when her mother-in-law called her,

"Nadia habibty"

"ummi" nadia said respectfully squatting in front of her,

"please have your seat" Hajia maryam said gently raising her up, "hope you're feeling well?" Hajia maryam asked smiling,

"yes ma" Nadia shyly looked down as she replied her,

"I requested for you to stay here for the night before going to your main home because I want to see your beauty more closely" Hajia maryam joked,

"thank you ma" Nadia blushed,

"I know Abdallah might be a very hard nut to crack, but I promise you he has a good side also" she said,

"just be a little patient with him and insha Allah, your union will be beautiful" she added,

"nagode (thank you) ummi"

"may Allah bless the two of you" Hajia maryam prayed, "you can go to your room now"

Nadia thanked her once more before leaving for her room.

****

Nadia said numerous duas after her isha sallah, she still hasn't seen Abdallah since he left after unveiling her, she was still thinking when the door pushed open.

Abdallah entered the room without acknowledging her presence, not even a salaam, so she took the courage and said salaam first,

"salam alaykum" Nadia said, but she got silence as an answer, "I'm greeting you" she turned her gaze to him,

"and so?" he shouted, Nadia shivered at the intensity of his voice, "you greeted me willingly, I didn't ask you to, I decide whether I'll reply or not" he said in a low irate tone, "I decide everything about you from now on!" he bellowed, "do you understand?" he asked,

"yes, yes" Nadia answered quickly,

"good". "I'll sleep on the bed, you can sleep wherever you want, I don't care" he said climbing the bed leaving no space for arguments,

"Allah is with the patient, Allah is with the patient" Nadia said internally while biting her lower lip to prevent the pool of tears already forming in her eyes from falling down.

She curled herself up on the couch placed on the left part of the room, using her veil to cover herself, she continued saying her duas to ease the pain in her chest before sleep engulfed her.

****

Nadia woke up to offer her fajr sallah, after she was done, she noticed Abdallah still hasn't woken up, she was scared to wake him up, but she eventually did by tapping the headboard of the bed lightly,

"what is it?" he grunted,

"it's time for fajr" she said quickly ambulating out of the room to avoid any form of trouble.

She scanned the house looking for the kitchen, until she finally found it,

"ina kwana? (how did you sleep?)" the cook greeted her slightly bowing when she entered,

"lafiya lau(in health)" nadia replied smiling, "what do you want to prepare for the morning?" Nadia asked,

"don't worry ma, you're a new bride, it isn't right for you to prepare the meal just yet" the cook said still bowing her head,

"let us drop formalities, my name is Nadia and don't worry I'll prepare the meal, you can help if you don't feel comfortable" Nadia said smiling,

"ok ma-"

"sorry Nadia" the cook said when she saw the look Nadia gave her, "what's your name?" Nadia asked,

"mardiyyah" the cook said,

"ok mardiyyah let us get down to work" Nadia said throwing her left arm up making mardiyyah giggle slightly.

Nadia prepared a light meal of garnished scrambled egg with toast bread, she made banana berry yogurt parfait as dessert, mardiyyah made the beverage since she knew each person's preferences.

Nadia set the table while mardiyyah informed everyone that the meal was ready. Hajia maryam approached the dinning room and found Nadia arranging the table,

after salams,

"what are you doing here, instead of sleeping?" she asked,

Nadia shyly scratched her head before replying, "I didn't feel like going back to sleep after fajr, so I decided to prepare breakfast"

"mardiyyah allowed you?" she asked with her eyes widening,

"she didn't want to, I forced her to" nadia said to take the blame off mardiyyah,

"you shouldn't have, but nevertheless thank you" she smiled, "you did a fantastic job, I can't wait to taste the meal" she drew out a chair for her to seat on,

Nadia continued standing, not knowing whether she should seat or not,

"sit down, your husband and Abi will be here soon" hajia Maryam said to Nadia.

True to what she said, not long after Nadia sat down, Alhaji ahmad and abdallah walked shoulder to shoulder into the dining room both taking their seat, Alhaji ahmad sat close to Hajia Maryam while Abdallah took a seat close to Nadia which made her nothing but nervous.

"salam alaykum abi" Nadia greeted her father in law,

"walaykum salam, how was your night?" he asked,

"fine Alhamdulillah" she replied.

Mardiyyah served the food Nadia prepared, and they all started to munch on their delicious breakfast,

"this food is so nice" Hajia maryam complimented,

"thank you ma" nadia muttered,

"Abdallah you'll enjoy oo" she said to her son which only earned her an eye roll,

"looking at you more closely you look more of Suleiman than 'umar' your dad" Alhaji ahmad said,

Nadia played with her finger nervously,

"how does he know my dad?" she thought to herself, "ohh" she said smiling to hide her nervousness,

"get ready, we will be leaving soon" Abdallah said In a blunt tone,

She was extremely thankful he chipped in at that moment, though she didn't like the manner which he spoke.

"ok" she replied lowly.

Salam alaykum everyone🥰,

Chapter fivee!

Nadia is finally married to abdallah, but why is he being harsh?😠,

Please why is Qasim grinning from ear to ear?🙄

Don't forget to like and drop lovely comments.

@zinat Abdulkadir ✍️