Before you go

Chapter Ten

Bello Kabir.

So, turns out the book related fair has been moved closer. And I have to go to Abuja. I am actually excited to go to Abuja. And while I wish I could take Ruqayya's offer on staying in her parent's house. I had to decline.

Ummu will have a heart attack if she finds out that I'm being that shameless. She doesn't even like Ruqayya, I don't want her to think Ruqayya is making me act shameless.

Good thing about the fair is, it's going last for just three days; Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So I only have to take one day off.

I am seated in Abu's sitting room, waiting to hear what he has for me. Apparently, he has been trying to reach me since in the morning. But I was in an area that has low service, once again doing Mrs Mamman's duties since she's on maternity leave.

And when he finally got through to me, he asked me to see him as soon as possible. And that was enough for me to know that it's urgent. So I didn't even go home to bath after work. I just came here straight.

Luckily, I still have some clothes here. So I took a quick bath before Abu finished his conference call and when I was done, he was already waiting.

"You know how relationships are now, courting is not what it used to be." I nod. I just hope he didn't call me here to lecture me about my relationship with Ruqayya. She's my fiancée and despite the whole civilization stuff that's going on in the world, I have the desire to keep my hands, mouth and genital to myself until after the wedding.

The world already leaves little chances for us to enter Jannah. Something as easy as eating Halaal is becoming a problem because they no longer make Halaal foods like they used to. I won't be the one dragging myself to the pits of Jahannam, no thank you.

"I want the wedding preparations to start as soon as possible. I will speak to Khalid In Shaa Allah, and the renovation for your house will begin immediately. A newly wedded bride cannot stay in that house without it being a little more furnished. And I want you to pick a date, your uncles and I will go and do the tambaya. And then your mother and her sisters will start preparing for the lefe and all that." I don't know what to say honestly. So I settle for nodding, again.

"I hope you don't have any problems with this suggestion of mine."

"No, Abu. I'm totally fine with it." Abu nods and leans back on his chair.

"Don't forget, Bello. It's your wedding. Kar ka biye wa mamanka wani pulako. Feel free to input anywhere. No one will stay with the wife for you, and no one will do the wedding for you. Aurenka ne, bah na Kowa bah."

"Okay, Abu. Miyetti." I stand up to leave when a thought occurs to me so I sit back down. That earns me a look from Abu.

"Actually, I have a suggestion. If it's okay with you and su baffa, I will be going to Abuja for work by the end of this week. And as far as I know, the grooms to be are allowed to be at the tambaya. So if it's not a problem, we can utilize this weekend for the tambaya." Abu nods.

"That's a splendid idea, Bello. I will call Hashiru now and see if he can get the rest of my brothers to be ready by then. I'll get back to you with that In Shaa Allah." I nod and stand up then leave.

I knew Abu would make things work in my own interest. And despite Ummu's complains that I shouldn't be involved in the wedding, here I am, sitting in a car with two out of four of my paternal uncles that Abu asked to come with him to Abuja. We are driving to Baffa Hashim's house which is here in Abuja as he is the one who will be receiving us which makes a total of five out of my twelve uncles.