Fragments of forever

chapter 4 : The beginning of forever

2 WEEKS TO THE WEDDING:

Two weeks to the wedding, the much-anticipated lefe finally arrived from Farouk’s family to Fatima’s home. It was a sight to behold as the luxurious convoy, complete with black SUVs and sirens blaring, slowly made its way through the streets, causing heads to turn and onlookers to marvel at the display of wealth and celebration. The lefe, a traditional gift given to the bride by the groom’s family, was more than just an exchange of presents—it was a deeply symbolic gesture, marking the union of two families in grand style.

The convoy pulled up in front of Fatima’s  house, and the atmosphere was filled with excitement. Farouk’s family—his aunties, uncles, and cousins—stepped out of the vehicles in resplendent traditional attire, each of them carrying one of the twelve luxurious bags filled with gifts. The women, their dresses shimmering under the sun, walked gracefully, laughing and chatting amongst themselves. They were greeted warmly by Fatima’s family—her mother, aunties, and siblings all waiting downstairs to receive them.

“Ah! Daga ganin kayan nan za a gane cewa auren ‘yan gata ne. (From these gifts, one can tell this is a wedding of prestigious families),” one of the women from Farouk’s side said with a proud smile as she admired the beautifully adorned boxes.

The bags were lined up carefully in the living room, six Gucci and six Versace, each more luxurious than the next. The room was full of relatives, both from Fatima’s and Farouk’s sides, admiring the gifts and praising the union of the families.

Meanwhile, upstairs on the third floor—known as Abbas’ floor—Fatima was safely tucked away with her best friends, Aliya, Nasreen, and Amira. The bride wasn’t allowed to be present where the lefe was being exchanged, so she and her friends were enjoying a more relaxed atmosphere. They were sitting on the floor, surrounded by snacks and bridal magazines, chatting away and laughing.

Fatima was busy on the phone with Farouk, her face glowing with excitement. She had been anxiously waiting to hear more details about the kamu event, and now Farouk was delivering news that would surely make her heart soar.

“I’ve got something special planned for you, babe,” Farouk said on the other end of the line, his voice laced with mischief.

Fatima smiled, “Oh really? What now? You’ve already done so much.”

“Just wait until you hear this,” Farouk replied. “I’ve booked Ali Jita, Umar M Sharif, Auta Waziri, Hamisu Breaker, and Ado Gwanja for the kamu event.”

Fatima’s jaw dropped. “Farouk! Are you serious? All of them?”

“Yep,” Farouk said, clearly pleased with himself. “And guess what? Ali Jita has already finished the official wedding song we requested. He’ll send it to us next week.”

Fatima couldn’t contain her excitement and quickly relayed the news to her friends. “Farouk has booked all my favorite singers for the kamu!” she exclaimed, her eyes shining.

Aliya gasped, “Are you serious? You’re going to have all of them perform? Fatima, you are beyond lucky!”

Nasreen added, “This kamu is going to be legendary! Everyone is going to be talking about it.”

Amira smiled, shaking her head, “Only Farouk could pull off something this amazing. He really knows how to spoil you.”

Fatima couldn’t help but blush. “He’s too good to me,” she murmured, her heart filled with warmth.

As the girls continued to chat and laugh, downstairs was a scene of celebration. Farouk’s aunties presented the lefe, and the room filled with admiration and awe as each item was revealed. The boxes contained luxurious designer clothes—atamfa, laces, abayas, shoes, and accessories—all screaming luxury. There were handbags and shoes, each one more elegant than the next, coordinated to perfection. The two Dubai gold jewelry sets sparkled under the lights, catching the attention of everyone in the room. And finally, six beautiful and expensive Swatch watches, all for Fatima, were displayed, leaving the guests speechless.