IN TWENTY ONE DAYS

60; SUBDUE.

ABUJA, NIGERIA.

"Your mother is not here, Kauthar but I would like to think she is going to say the same thing I am going to right now so listen to me very carefully." It was Hajiya Barira, her mother's best friend who has been taking care of all that is needed to be taken cared of for the wedding. She was there to stand against her paternal family and rule over everything that happens in the wedding. She is also a boss lady, never bowed to anyone and a glare from her could stop any of those wicked aunties from moving another inch. Just what they need to put them in their rightful places.

"This marriage might seem forced to you. Don't look at me like that, we talked about it with your father and he told me everything. I even went as far to talk to your husband about this just to clear the air as marriage is not something that shouldn't be played with. It is sacred." Her hand moved to her shoulder, giving it a squeeze that whatever she is going to say is not siding but if she listens carefully, she would understand and give her marriage a chance.

"But-" she was cut off by Hajiya Barira who shook her head, they are alone in the room so they didn't bother keeping their voices low.

"No buts today, Kauthar, you will only listen to me. Don't treat this marriage as a forced commitment, you are not a child. If you take this marriage as commitment, you will forever feel caged inside of it. Instead, treat it like a journey, beautiful journey you two have to make. If marriage life were a boat, you two should be the sailors weaving elegantly through the storms and waves. He is only human, he makes mistakes and you also will, give him a chance and accept him for who he is, it'd be better for you both.

"From the little time I spent with him, I found out he is not a man filled with romance and love and maybe, that is what you are looking for in a man. I understand where you are coming from and totally support you in this. But sometimes, what we wants isn't what is best for us so Allah take it upon Himself to solve the mystery for us and we won't realise that He mercifully made our life easier. Take this as a blessing from your Lord, He shan't give you more than you can take. He doesn't burden a soul with which he can't endure, He is the most Merciful.

"Sometimes, you need to stop everything and just back to look at how perfectly shaped your life had been and say Alhamdulillah. Even breathing is something to be thankful for so don't waste your time harboring superfluous revenge or hatred or whatsoever.

"What I believe is, you can always change him to the person you want him to become, though that won't be justified from his side. He grew up seeing brutal violence throughout his teenage life and most of his life too. You can't expect him to treat life as roses and flowers when he has been to more wars than you ever went shopping, exaggerated but close to truth. He doesn't know how those things work, there are still men like this out there, a lot of them teetering the world looking for right partners, he found that in you. He might not have said he loved you, but he is not marrying you because he doesn't have a choice, he feels something he can't name.

"I would be happy if I were you. I can be extremely possessive so having my man not knowing how to talk to a woman should be a relief. At least, I am hundred percent sure he's never talked to any woman out there and will only start with me. If he is to talk to a woman out of your home, she'd run away because he doesn't know how to talk to women, you should be happy about that, seriously. Only you can coax him now, show him the way to love. Open the doors of romance in his life, change those bloodshed chromosome photos blinding his eyes to roses, you will never regret it.

"The man will always be eager to go home, to see another side of his wife getting shredded. He will prioritise nothing but you, my dear. When a soldier falls in love, even love will bow at it's feet for there is no other thing more important than that lover of theirs. I promise you, you won't regret marrying him if you try to make this work. Keep that boiling rage aside, the malice and grudge, they are not worth it. Don't forget, you are married now!