Blooming

9.

𝐻𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑙𝑦 𝑢𝑛𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑑.

𝑺𝑷𝑨𝑹𝑲𝑺

Her feet were swollen from all the walking she had been doing since morning. She should have worn a flat shoe but no, she wanted to slay. Now look what slaying had caused her.

It's past twelve in the afternoon and the only time she was getting some rest from all the frenzy of today. After waking up very early in the morning to make sure everything was set for the Walima. From the venue prepping, to the caterers, she had made sure everything was ready before the event would start. Stopping only to take her bath and get ready around 10am.

The blue dress she wore was sewn into a free gown with puffy sleeves. Instead of a scarf, she had opted for a sky blue veil which she styled into a turban letting the ends wander freely on her shoulders. The main program would start by 12pm and will stretch into the early hours of the night. But by God she was already exhausted and hungry. the rumbling from her tummy reminding her that she had not had breakfast but she was too exhausted to care. Deciding her hunger could wait, she stretched on the bed trying to catch some sleep for an hour.

At half past 2, the door to the room was opened to reveal two pairs of feet. One was clad in a blue Viss flat while the other leg was in a pink vine heel. One headed straight for the toilet while the other made for the Bed on which Halima slept on. The shuffling made Halima open her eyes. Being the soft sleeper that she was, she was easily awoken by the slightest of sounds. Stretching, she slowly rose into a sitting position and adjusted her vision to her surrounding.

Her eyes roamed around the room in search of the source of the sound and settled on the Woman whose back was to her. Should she say hi or wait until she turned and saw her? She debated in her mind. She was spared the trouble when the Toilet door was opened to reveal Aafiya. They had not seen each other since her return until this morning and she was flanked by so many guests that she had not seen Halima.

Aafiya made an excited squeal and broke into a run and flew into Halima's frame on the bed, nearly knocking off the other Woman who was sitting beside her.

"Yaya leems wayyo Allah. I have been searching everywhere for you." She said breathlessly.

"Ya ilaihi Affy do you want to break my fragile bones. " she said while playfully pushing her away. Her voice giving off a cracking sound that showed how tired she was.

"I saw you ai but there were too many people there. If you had wanted to see me you would have come here randa kika dawo but you ran to Adda's house." Halima adds feigning annoyance.

"Who said I went to Adda's I have been at Baba's house all this while thinking I would find you there. Hajiya sent the driver to pick me as soon as we landed.'

What! So Aafiya had been at her Parent's house all this while? Before she could say anything, Aafiya added,

"Imagine my disappointment when Mama told me you were here. " She said removing Halima from the cocoon of her thoughts. "Now that I have found you, lets go and take pictures."

Halima began to protest. The last thing on her mind would be pictures and besides she was dripping of exhaustion and there was the evening dinner to plan. But Aafiya would not hear that. She coaxed and pleaded until she gave in. It was hard to refuse her.

"Fine but please go get me food because I am very hungry. How am I supposed to take good pictures with a sleepy face?" She grumbled.

"Not to worry dear Maryam here is a makeup artist. She will do wonders to your face. And before you say anything, I promise it is going to be light. " she could count the number of times she had seen Ya leems with makeup. She hardly ever wore any.