Asaal

•20•

Asaal
I and Fati got ready for the budan kai together and I saw some of my cousins, me and fati, the inseparable duo, then my mom entered room
"Sannun ki Gimbiya, hope you know you're going to be the one bargaining from the grooms side and you're entering with us not with bride
"Mommy-
"No buts, you're family, you that they're calling Gimbiya, people will talk" she said
I sighed and nodded, she left the room then I sat down on the bed, I was wearing a blue and white Adire, while Fati was wearing a pink and white Adire, mine was sewn into a borno style skirt and blouse and Fatis own was sewn into a bubu, I tied my scarf the Zara buhari way, same as Fati, we both did light makeup and then we took pictures together
"Now that I'm back in Nigeria permanently, we're going to be inseparable, I'm moving to Abuja soon, I won't tell you when cause it's going to be a surprise, probably surprise with an aesobi to" she winked
"No way! Who is he? Is he here?" I asked
"He's coming, he's from your state, katsina, only nana knows about him, and of course my siblings, I'm trying to get everything fixed before I go to Abuja" she said
"No way Fati, I'm so happy for you! I have a little surprise for you too, but I'll wait till you come to Abuja" I said
"Ya Fatima! Ya Asaal! Everyone's waiting for you downstairs" My cousin Fadwa shouted, with her British accent
"We're coming!" Fati shouted back
We took our purses and locked the door of the room and went downstairs, the house sounded quiet, that means everyone had already left, we went outside and I saw all my cousins standing there
"We get it, Besties are back together, doesn't mean you have to waste our time" Ya Usman said
We ignored them and we ended the V class together with two of my other male cousins, Ibrahim and Malik
"Heard you're married" Malik said
Then I nodded my head
"Finally, our baby sister who used to roam around the palace, she's married now, no more boys to beat up" Malik said
Then I laughed
"I met the guy, I like him, he's calm, does he treat you well?" Malik asked
"Yes he does" I said
"Nana threatened to blow off is head" Fati said
Then we all started laughing
"I remember the time when Nana always kept on cussing at your dad, she really hated him" Ibrahim said
"My dad was a nuisance" I laughed
"Where is he by the way?" Malik asked
"He's in Abuja with his wife and Family" I said
Shit! I forgot to call Afrah today, I'll call her later
"Bloody guy, Baba was freaking out when he found out he married you off" Malik said
"Yeah my mom to and auntie sadiya" I said
"We missed you Asi" Ibrahim said
"I missed you guys too" I said
"When we get back, we have to do game night, like the old times"  Malik said
"Alright" I said
Then we arrived at the venue, we all came down and we had to stand at the entrance cause all our aunties had to enter first, I and Fati were the ones leading the cousin train the boys didn't want to be part, we didn't enter with music, but Masu Al-gaita, I was the one doing the budan kai, the groom and his friends weren't here yet, I went over to were halima was and we did all the Formalities, we gave 30,000 dollars and finally we were allowed to unveil her, I did as I was told and I finally lifted up the layers of wrapper covering her
"Masha Allah" I smiled
We went to our table and they took her to greet her elders, finally Mr Ra'ees came into the building with his friends
"The guy with the black kaftan the fair one, mmm that's my man" Fati said to me
"Ouu he's fineeee" she said
Then she started blushing, the grooms friends followed him to greet elders and all of that, then they all went to sit down on a table and Ra'ees was sitting close to Halima.
"I want to go and talk to him, come with me" she said
"Alright" I said
We stood up from our table and we went to their table, Nurain was on the table, I smiled at him and he smiled back
"Asaal this is Jawad, Jawad this is my cousin Asaal, the one I'm always talking about" she said
"I'm finally meeting the famous Asaal" he said
"Hello" I said
"Your cousin is always talking about you" he said
"I see" I smiled looking at her
"Oh no she's going to get all flattered now, could we go to the table at the back, there's no one there" she said
"Sure I'll join the both of you in a minute" I said
They both went to the table and I went over to Nurain
"Little cat" he said
"Mmm" i smiled
"You look stunning" he said
"Oh my, thank you" I said faking a British accent
He shook his head and I looked at him
"Let's go to Halimas table let's all get to bond" I said
"Alright" he said
He stood up and we both went to their table at the back
"Oh she's your wife?" Jawad asked
"Yes she is" Nurain said
"Oh I see, let me tell you a secret, he was worried about you when we were coming here, he was wondering if you ate and you were doing okay" Jawad said
I couldn't look at him cause I was turning red
"She's turning red" fati said
"Shut up" I mumbled
Then they both laughed
"But seriously did you eat before coming here" Nurain asked
"No, I forgot" i said
"You forgot? Fati, I told you to make sure she eats" Nurain said
"Hey, It's not my fault, but I'll go and tell the waiters to bring food for us now" she said
She stood up from the table and went to the caterers
"So I told baba about what we spoke about and he agreed, so it'll happen as soon, when do you want it?" He asked
"Next month" i said
"And furniture shopping, do you want to go to turkey? Or Dubai or you want to go to both?" He asked
"Both please" I smiled
"Look at her" he smiled
"But you'll have to come with me" I said
"Hmm we'll consider that" he said fake thinking
"And where will we live?" I asked
"Maitama, there's this nice estate there, aso grove" He said
"Can't wait to go back and see it" I said
Then fati came back with a caterer who was holding a tray of food, she put it infront of me, then in front of Jawad then Fati, we thanked her and she left, Fati sat down and immediately started eating
"Eat" Nurain said, removing his fork from the tissue
I removed my fork from the tissue and started eating, I didn't even know I was that hungry, when I was done I drank water, then sone of the grooms men came to our table, now I was starting to feel anxious, I started playing with my hands as they all started talking, then Nurain held my hand to calm me down, I couldn't, I could feel a panic attack coming, why?
"Excuse us please, we're going to get something from the car" Nurain said
He stood up and held my hand to help me stand up, he led me out of the hall and on our way out I started crying, why was I such a cry baby?
"It's okay, I'm here, what happened?" Nurain asked, hugging me
"They-they kept on looking at me, and- and I don't like people staring at me" I said crying even harder into his chest
"Is she okay?" I heard Fati asking
"You should probably know about her Panic attacks" Nurain said
"She had them but it wasn't this bad, the slightest things trigger her now, before it was just crowds and messy situations but it has gotten worse" Fati said
Then I started crying really hard and I was shaking violently, I felt a sharp pain in my back and released a scream, everything blacked out from there