Sufyan found an empty chair in a corner of the room and sat on it, he scrolled through Instagram. Sure enough, there were beautiful picture of the couple plastered on his feed.
The groom was a an old friend of his from University, Ayo, and so were most of the groomsmen. It's been years since he'd seen many of them that this felt like a reunion but somehow, Sufyan still felt out of place here.It had little to do with them actually, they were all still free spirited, a little boastful about what they'd achieved over the years; the cars, houses and even wives. Sam had gotten married to Adunni who won most beautiful girl in the University for three years consecutiv
"The videography for this particular ad should carry an African theme, I don't know but you and your team should brainstorm and come up with something, this is a huge work and I'm expecting something, at least a draft of your ideas by next week." Sufyan instructed as he scrolled through his tablet.The lady nodded. "I understand sir, we won't disappoint."He looked up at her with a smile. "Thank you Marie, I appreciate you."She blushed and hurried out. Lillian poked her head into his office."Nuha is here sir, should I send her in?"He nodded with a look of surprise, it'd been long since he had seen her, she had been out of the country for her master's program.She walked into the office with a frown, and a flowery scent enveloped the air."You'll think with how long I've been coming here Lillian would actually allow me to be able to surprise you but no! She
"The videography for this particular ad should carry an African theme, I don't know but you and your team should brainstorm and come up with something, this is a huge work and I'm expecting something, at least a draft of your ideas by next week." Sufyan instructed as he scrolled through his tablet.The lady nodded. "I understand sir, we won't disappoint."He looked up at her with a smile. "Thank you Marie, I appreciate you."She blushed and hurried out. Lillian poked her head into his office."Nuha is here sir, should I send her in?"He nodded with a look of surprise, it'd been long since he had seen her, she had been out of the country for her master's program.She walked into the office with a frown, and a flowery scent enveloped the air."You'll think with how long I've been coming here Lillian would actually allow me to be able to surprise you but no! She
Sabeerah was in a good mood, at least she was until Alhaji Faruk call came through. She contemplated not answering but that wasn't even an option."Assalamualaikum." She greeted in a stiff voice."Sabeerah..." He began slowly, "my princess, how're you?""I'm not your princess Alhaji, can we please be professional?" She snapped before she could stop herself, she regretted her words immediately."Meyasa haka kike ne- why do you do this?" He asked in a calmer voice. "Do you not respect me anymore?"She bit back the instinctive response she had for him. "That's not so sir, not at all. How's the family?""Alhamdulilah, alhamdulilah. I'm heading to the site in Kubwa now, meet me there."
"What do you think of Alhaji Faruk?" Her father asked flippantly going through the documents on his desk.Sabeerah choked on her spit. "Sir?"He looked up at her. "You didn't understand the question?"Her nod was stiff, "yes sir.""Would you like to get to know him better?" He asked slowly as if she was dumb, maybe she was because she gave him a confused look in return."Sir?" Sabeerah asked again and her father glared at her."Is there something wrong with you today or you're being intentionally stupid?"The insult slapped but it wasn't her fault that she couldn't understand where this was coming from. Was this a trick question? What was the deeper meaning behind it? What could her answer cost?'would you like
Two days later and Sufyan hadn't stopped thinking about the conversation he'd had with Sabeerah's mother. It was a very weird discussion they'd had and it plagued his mind.She'd assumed he was engaged, why she had he didn't know but he had set her right and she asked him if he liked Sabeerah.Sufyan had been shocked, it took awhile before he could answer. "She's hard to not like."His answer had pleased her so much and then, "I'd like for the both of you to get to know each other better and see if you're compatible, it'll make me happy to see you married to my daughter, although I must warn you that she has rejected everyone before you."He had gone mute and had stared back shocked at the transparency. He hadn't been able to get a word out when she'd walked over to them. Sufyan didn't know how to feel, he was confused still and it didn't seem like he's understand the situation anytime soon.
Sabeerah had given Tuya the task of buying baby gifts for Zakiyya's newborn, she had once left the task to Sarah and the idiot had wasted her money but it was her fault though, why ever did she trust Sarah to do it, she didn't know. Tuya had bought sweaters, caps, socks, diapers, baby food, baby shoes and so much beautiful things that left Sabeerah shocked.If she took all of these to Zakiyya, she might think she actually liked her or something, or maybe she'll think she didn't like her but wanted to show off. Only one of the theories were correct, she didn't like Zakiyya but she didn't hate the woman either.The gifts were loaded up in the boot by the driver, she sat in the front next to him while her sister and mother sat behind talking about the baby.Zakiyya lived in Life Camp with her lawyer husband, Umar. This was their second child since six years of being married, Sabeerah couldn't eve
"We should get married." Sabeerah said.Sufyan stared at her like she'd gone crazy and perhaps she had because that was the only explanation to this whole absurdity.He had been working on a project graphics when with a small knock, Lillian had entered the office."There's a Munirah Ahmad outside for you, she doesn't have an appointment but she claims it's urgent."Sufyan racked his head to try remember if he'd ever met a Munirah Ahmad but he came up with nothing, he was too busy for unscheduled meetings but nonetheless his curiosity got in the way."Let her in." He said. A minute later, Sabeerah walked into the office with an air of superiority, she glanced at it with critique eyes then nodded approvingly."Hello." She said to him.
Sabeerah woke up knowing marrying Sufyan was a good decision. She'd performed Istighar for five nights consecutively and had a dream only last night, it was the first time her Istighar had ever resulted in a dream, it was an exciting feeling.In the dream, she'd been by herself at the hill staring down at the city as usual when someone had spoken to her, she turned behind her and laughed."I regret showing you this place, now I can't even be alone in my place of solitude." She'd said to the person. He walked up and sat next to her, it was Sufyan."I don't even know how you found this place but something tells me I should throw a work picnic here."She glared at him. "I'll cut off your limbs if you dare and I'm not even joking." She pointed a finger at him."Worth it if I get to be called