WHISPERS OF ENCHANTÉ

12: gilded veil

Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Yasmin watched the Wambai family dancing on the makeshift dance floor with something akin to dislike. She's never liked them after she heard the way they treat the poor and outsiders.

She is seeing the oldest sons for the first time in reality though she's seen them on the television playing football. Everyone is talking about how good players they were in their area. Seeing them confirmed it.

They were both very tall, their bulky form not hiding even beneath their expensive kaftans. They carried themselves with grace, especially the darker one. He hardly talks to the people around and just listens quietly.

Siyama has never said anything about the brothers because they were never home. She will probably get updated now that they are back home for a while. Seems like there is more to them than what meets the eye.

Hajiya Lubabatu is currently the center of attention where the whole family is spraying her money except for one of the sons who is mainly focused on his phone with a frown on his face.

The woman is wearing an expensive looking lilac lace that seems to be dripping with real diamonds. After what she had heard about the woman, those stones she was seeing might not be Swarovski but real diamonds.

She also has heavy gold around her ears, the necklace closing her entire neck and huge bracelets too. She literally looks like she's bathed in gold water before coming out here.

Yasmin couldn't look away from her for a long time but at last she had to help the caterers serve food while doing so she bumped into Faiza the girl from the other wedding she went to.

Is Whisperwind here? She thought about looking around for a glimpse of him but she would have seen him if he were here. The groom's friends weren't his squad. She has already memorized them.

"Faiza!" She greeted the girl who was startled from reading something off her phone and turned to her.

She beamed when she saw Yasmin's splitting smile. "Yasmin! You are here today too."

"Yes. Catering today." She raised the empty tray she's just finished unloading.

Faiza stood up from her seat and came to her side letting out a breath she was holding. She dragged Yasmin towards the catering tent as though she wanted to leave the whole wedding.

"Are you okay?" Yasmin asked, staring her down while loading the tray with more mocktails.

"Yeah I'll be now." She groaned sitting down on the single sofa in the tent then waited until the last caterer serving left the tent leaving her with Yasmin.

"Now that my sister is married, everyone's attention is now on me. My father's family from the village are already thinking about potential husbands for me before they leave. Like what the hell? Don't you have life to go back to?" Faiza ranted while clutching her phone hard.

"Very nosey set of people, those villagers." Yasmin shook her head pitifully.

One thing she trusted her father is he'd never force either of them to get married when they are not ready. And he won't watch his family force them not that they will even think about doing that.

Both sides of their families abandoned them and if it is not really important, they hardly interact with them. These days you are only important when you have money. They don't force themselves into anybody's lives. They are content as they are.

"Munafukai ba (hypocrites)." She hissed then stood up to pace. "Things are starting to get serious though. I'm scared. I don't want to marry yet."

"Why?" Yasmin asked tentatively then gave one of the caterers a cute smile as she walked past.

Faiza wrinkled her nose. "I only want to marry someone I love. And I am not talking to anyone now and you know it takes time to fall in love. I refuse to be in an arranged marriage."

"Why aren't you seeing anyone?" Yasmin is really getting into this but she also has work to do.

"Have you seen men nowadays?" Faiza questioned rhetorically with a grimace as if the mere thought of the xy chromosome made her want to wrench.

"Yeah, I totally get where you are coming from." Yasmin agreed even though she doesn't get it.

People nowadays all complain that men aren't loyal, men are this and that. Yasmin never thought about giving love a chance until Whisperwind. She is the only man she would give anything to.

Any other man out there? They could all go to hell for all she cares about. Her colleagues talk about how untrustworthy men are nowadays, which is scary.

Is her Whisperwind untrustworthy? She will have to find out. He looks like the gentlest of gentlemen if she would say so herself. Then again, looks could be very deceiving.

"But you still have to choose one way or the other. And if you really want them off your back you have to choose now." Yasmin advised passing her a blue mocktail.

Faiza accepted with a smile, took a sip then ranted. "My sister is already trying to set me up with her husband's friends and I don't like all of them. Bunch of womanizers. She is just lucky that Ya Anas loves her."

Nope! She is definitely talking about the rest of his friends and not Whisperwind. Yasmin thought darkly but smiled at Faiza to continue the conversation. Why was she suddenly so defensive?

"You will find someone that loves you too." Yasmin supplied, stippling her fingers together.

"It's just so hard." Faiza sighed as though she had been heartbroken countless times which brought the question right out of Yasmin's mouth.

"Have you ever been in love?"

"Not really." Faiza gave her a sheepish smile which Yasmin chuckled at.

"Hmm. Same boat. But no one is talking about my marriage yet. So right back at you. You need to find someone at least." Yasmin leaned against the table behind her for support. She has been on her legs all day.

"I'm not desperate and I don't want to be. Desperation makes us choose the wrong person. I won't let them get to me." Faiza shook her head looking determined.

"But do you see yourself giving anyone a chance anytime soon?" Yasmin tilted her head, appreciating how mature she is sounding.

She has always been complimented for her maturity. A reason why she went along so well with Madam Gloria. She doesn't act her age sometimes even though anyone could guess the age after one look at her.

Faiza in front of her looks to be around her early twenties which means she is finitely older than Yasmin and even Siyama. But here they are having a nice serious conversation.

"No." She groaned, falling back on the sofa with a pout. "That's the problem. The few I have spoken to think I'm too cold and detached."

"Then I'm afraid arranged marriage is the most suitable for you." Yasmin winked at Faiza who narrowed her eyes on her.

"I don't like your sense of humor right now." Faiza pursed her lips to the side.

"I'm not even joking." Yasmin said with feigned confusion.

"Ha ha ha ha. Very funny. We will break up soon if you continue talking about arranged marriage. You are supposed to be on my side." Faiza sipped on her mocktail.

"I am and that is the best solution. Maybe if you don't like him, you can cut it off before it's too late." Yasmin shrugged while taking the tray again because she is sure someone will come for her soon.

Faiza's voice was clipped when she said. "Maybe going for Abdullah won't be bad after all."

Can't wait to get into the story🙂‍↔️ how have you been? And this malaria taking everyone down one after the other?

Dun dun dunnnn! We all know who Abdullah is but Yasmin doesn't🌚