Unedited.
Abuja, Nigeria.
November, 2019.
•AMNA.
Daddy's brother, Baba Aminu, set the date for the gaisuwa. Almost 2 weeks after Aslam came.
In just a few hours, Aslam's people are coming over. Maama woke me up around 8am to get ready and leave the house. I will be going to Khalthum's house because it is a northern tradition for brides to vacate their homes when prospective in-laws were visiting before marriage.
I took a hot relaxing bath and dressed in a black abaya, slipping on a pair of Adidas slides and stuffing my Goyard tote with everything I needed. I put in my MacBook into its case then set them all aside and headed downstairs to the kitchen.
It's currently 12:06, a few aunties are here to lend helping hands as they should but of course most came to gossip.
"Yallah, take the dishes and make sure you light up the candles under them, we don't want to serve them cold food." Maama said.
"Make sure the drinking glasses are squeaky clean and arrange the cutlery appropriately, I shouldn't have to go over this a hundred times."
"Clean this one, make sure everything is in place." she said as she closely inspected a wine glass.
"Rukaiya please call these people to make sure the delivery man doesn't deliver the kebabs and lamb chops late, I should've sent Mallam Abu to get them..."
Maama and Anty Asiyaa rained orders in the kitchen.
I just stood by the door observing everything.
"Ina kwana Maaa, Ina kwana Anty, Ina kwana Ya Ruky -Good Morning Maaa, Anty Asiii, Ya Ruky" I greeted them all.
"You're still in this house? I don't want to see your face in the next 20 minutes, kada 12:30 yayi miki a gidan nan -You shouldn't be in this house by 12:30" Maaama glared at me.
"Why are you shouting at my aroosa?" Anty Asiyaa laughed then hugged me while Ya Ruky wiggled her brows at me.
"Go and greet your Aunties, upstairs." Maama instructed.
I went up there and wellll, it's my father's sisters.
"Ina kwanan ku- Good Morning" I squatted a bit and greeted, as a sign of respect.
"Lafiya lau." Anty Hadiza replied, while Anty Talatu analyzed me from head to toe.
"Toh Allah yayi 'yar gwal tayi miji, mun dauka ai karatu kawai kika saka a gaba, shikuma Ummaru ya biye miki- God has ordained, the golden child has gotten a husband, we thought book was your only focus" she gave me a disgusting look.
The other 2 didn't even acknowledge me but Anty Badiya- Maaa's cousin just smiled apologetically at me not uttering a word.
I stood and quickly walked out bumping into Ya Mimi.
"Watch your steps, I wouldn't want to burn Amarya with bakhoor" she laughed.
"Ya Mims" I giggled.
"What is it?" She asked, sensing something.
"Nothing" I quickly masked off with a smile.
"Let me go before Maama sees me."
"Where's A'adah?" I asked.
"She's coming a bit later, you know these pregnant women." We both laughed.
I walked back to the kitchen and grabbed a few slices of bread, spreading Nutella quickly before Maama returned and yelled at me.
I rushed up the stairs, hopping in twos and got my bag and laptop then headed out.
