TALES OF THE HEART (EDITING)

chapter 15

Gombe state

Kamu/sa lalle

Today marks the celebration of Maryam's sa lalle and kamu. It is 10 AM, and we are currently seated outside in a beautifully decorated traditional tent, where talented henna artists are applying intricate designs. The *kamu* is set to begin at 4 PM, inshallah. I have just finished having my henna done and am now waiting for it to dry. The design is absolutely stunning!

"Halimatu, your henna looks absolutely gorgeous!" Maryam exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight.

"Do you really think so?" I replied. "Yours is even more beautiful!"

Maryam nodded and said, "You should definitely send a photo to Mr. Architect." She winked, causing me to blush. Dressed in a stunning blue traditional Fulani outfit for the occasion, Maryam's makeup was skillfully done by Dazeita.

Suddenly, memories from two weeks ago flooded my mind. Baba had called me upon his return from Lagos and inquired about Sayyid. Ya Ahmad and Ya Ibrahim were present during our conversation, as they are responsible for handling the entire engagement process. My father's joy was palpable when he discovered that Sayyid was the man I had chosen to marry.

He mentioned that the process would be much simpler because Sayyid's father and he are very close friends.

The *sa lalle* event has concluded, and now we are taking a moment to rest before preparing for the *kamu*, which will take place later in the day. Just then, Jiddah, Maryam's cousin, entered carrying a tray filled with a delightful array of food.

"Aidah, what would you like to eat?" Maryam inquired, a warm smile on her face.

"I'll have the fried rice and *moi moi*, please," I replied with a smile. Jiddah then turned to Maryam and asked her what she would like.

"I'll eat with Aidah," Maryam replied.

I settled beside Maryam on the couch, and we eagerly dug into the fried rice and *moi moi*. Once we finished our meal, I called Sayyid. They chatted for a while before he politely excused himself.

Before you could say "Tyler Posey," time had flown by in a blur. We are now preparing for the *kamu* event, which is set to take place in less than two hours.

I dressed in a beautiful Ankara outfit, tied my head wrap, and applied a touch of lip gloss and filled in my brows, opting for a lighter makeup look today. We then headed down to take some pictures.

The amazing BigH was doing an excellent job capturing every moment. We exited the room and made our way downstairs to the living room, where a series of photo sessions were scheduled to take place. Upon arriving, Maryam began by taking photos with Mama and Baba, followed by snapshots with Ayush and Salma, and finally with us, the bridesmaids.

After the photo session, we all headed to the parking lot, where cars awaited to take us to the venue. I climbed into the same car as Maryam, her husband, and his friend. The ride was smooth, with little conversation except for the couple in the back seat, who were being adorably mushy. Bash's friend attempted to engage me in conversation, but I kept giving him straightforward answers, not the friendliest, I know.

We arrived at the venue shortly after and formed two lines, dancing into the grand marquee to the lively tune of "Eko Miami" by Maleek Berry. We escorted the couple to their seats before returning to ours. One of the aunts led the opening prayer, and then the event commenced with children and ladies dancing around. The venue was beautifully decorated, creating a vibrant atmosphere. After a moment, everyone was directed back to their seats, and the couple was called to the dance floor.