From the moment you enter the neighborhood, you can tell there's a celebration, especially since the house where the event is taking place is the fifth one on the street. The street is filled with children, young girls, and even adults. Particularly in the large courtyard of the mosque adjacent to the grand house, you can tell from the gate that it is a well-built and spacious house. There are three tents set up, all filled with white chairs arranged neatly. The first tent is filled with prominent scholars from the country and abroad, especially Muslims. The second tent is exclusively for women, from young to old. The third tent is for men, both adults and children. The most impressive and captivating aspect is the dignified and respectful attire of the attendees. Despite it being a wedding, everyone is modestly dressed, with no one wearing revealing clothes under the guise of celebration. Despite the crowd, the house itself is also filled with people. It's clear that the house is a large family house, as it is too big to be owned by just one person. From the gate, you can see the various sections of the house, at least five to six sections, all built in the same style. Once inside, you can understand that each section is designed according to the needs of its occupants. I followed the crowd to the second section, which was the most populated. Since everyone was in the mosque courtyard where the walima (wedding feast) was to be held, I managed to sneak into the room where the bride was. Inside, there were about ten to fifteen young girls, each busy preparing herself in a long milk-colored dress adorned with golden floral designs and stones. They were chatting and laughing, making it hard to hear what anyone was saying. One of the girls, wearing a small golden veil, said, 'Oh Allah, weddings make everyone anxious. They say Yah Ab... will be so tired by the end of it.' They all turned to look at the girl lying on the bed, who had her back to them, lying on her stomach with a small hijab on. Another girl responded, 'Yes, Iman, you see, the talkative one has been quiet since yesterday.' They all laughed and approached the bed, teasing the bride, saying, 'Tomorrow she will burst!' The girl sitting by the mirror, applying makeup, clicked her tongue in annoyance and left the room angrily. The others didn't notice her leave, as they were focused on teasing the bride. Tears that she had been holding back started to fall down her cheeks. She didn't move or open her eyes to look at her friends. Only she knew what she was feeling since last night. This was a day she had longed for with her beloved Yah Abdallah since she was young. But she didn't know why she felt uneasy since the wedding week began. She knew it was because of the new life she would start tomorrow, God willing. She shed more tears, taking deep breaths that made the veins in her neck stand out. 'Oh my! Are you girls okay?' A stern voice called out from behind them. The room fell silent as they turned to look at the speaker. She clapped her hands and said, 'You girls haven't even helped her get ready, and you're just chatting away?' One of the girls apologized, scratching her head in embarrassment. The woman shook her head and approached the bed, saying, 'Alright, everyone out, let me get her ready.' The girls left reluctantly, knowing that today was not a day for jokes. The woman helped the beautiful bride sit up, saying, 'Get up, dear, enough crying. You're a bride, a precious bride with a handsome groom like Abdallah. Or do you not want the wedding to happen?' The bride pouted and started crying again, falling into the woman's arms. The woman laughed for the first time, patting her back, saying, 'Oh Lord, today our mischievous Nu'aymah has softened because of the wedding.' The bride cried harder, clinging to the woman. After a few minutes, the woman lifted her, smiling, and wiped her tears. 'Enough crying, Nu'aymah. Did someone hurt you?' The bride shook her head, sighing. 'Is something hurting you?' She shook her head again. 'By God, then why are you crying like this? You're having a love marriage, Nu'aymah. Look at everyone in the family, they're all happy about this wedding. Relatives from everywhere have arrived, and we're just waiting for tomorrow, God willing. Umm, Hajjo, your father, and everyone is filled with joy. I just spoke to the groom, and their flight from Abuja is at three. They should be on their way now. I thought today would be a day of joy for you, Nu'aymah.' The bride wiped her tears and, in a trembling voice, said, 'Addah, I'm scared.' The woman, surprised, asked, 'Scared of what, Nu'aymah? Did something happen to you that we don't know about?' The bride shook her head, swallowing hard. The woman sighed, lifting the bride's face. 'Look at me, Nu'aymah.' The bride slowly lifted her red, swollen eyes to meet the woman's. 'Enough crying, daughter. Remove all fear from your heart. Be happy because tomorrow is your day, God willing. We pray that God blesses this union and grants you peace and good offspring. May this union bring blessings to our family in this world and the hereafter.' In her heart, the bride said amen, but outwardly she lowered her eyes in embarrassment. The woman smiled, tapping her nose, saying, 'Good, now get ready. The walima has started, and there's no bride.' The bride forced a smile and got up as instructed. She had already bathed, so she just washed her face again and returned to the woman. The woman helped her with light makeup and dressed her in a pitch-colored outfit with maroon stripes. The dress fit her well, as she was not skinny but had a well-rounded figure. She wore a black robe with pitch embroidery and stones, a little perfume, and black flat shoes that matched her hennaed feet. 'Masha Allah, the bride of my son Abdallah,' the woman said, signaling that she looked beautiful. The bride smiled shyly, lowering her head. The girl who had been hiding by the window wiped her tears, having heard the entire conversation. She bit her lip hard, trying to hold back her sobs. The woman helped the bride out to the courtyard, where they met five elderly women. One of them, with a stern look, asked, 'Why is the bride still inside, Fauza?' The woman respectfully replied, 'Sorry, Hajjo, we were getting her ready.' 'What kind of preparation? She looks like she's going to her husband's room today. Come on, Zainabu.' She took the bride's hand, and the woman let her go, smiling as she watched them leave. As she was about to follow them, someone grabbed her hand. She turned quickly, but seeing who it was, she remained silent. She looked around, seeing people moving about, and then tightened her face, looking at the person. 'Adawiya, what's wrong? Fauza, what happened to her?' The woman quickly pulled her hand away from Adawiya, glaring at her, then looked at the speaker with a softened face. 'Umm, leave this girl alone. I don't know what's wrong with her and Nu'aymah. I found them crying together in a room, not even getting ready. Their closeness scares me, and now the distributor is here...' She wiped her tears, looking at Adawiya clinging to Umm, crying as if her life depended on it. The beautiful woman, who looked a lot like the bride, smiled and hugged Adawiya, trying to hold back her own tears. 'Enough crying, daughter. Be patient. I promise, God willing, I'll do everything I can so you can join your sister and continue your studies together until God gives you your own husband, and we celebrate your wedding too.' Instead of being happy, Adawiya cried harder, clinging to Umm. 'Oh God, enough crying, daughter. Do you want to make us cry too?' Adawiya looked up to speak, but the woman quickly covered her mouth, glaring at her. 'Tell her, Umm, that a solution has been found, so she should be patient. I don't like this nonsense. How can you give Nu'aymah the strength to be happy?' 'No, Addah, that's enough. Let her deal with her feelings. Daughter, let's go get ready. We'll join the walima after the Asr prayer.' Adawiya glanced at the woman, seeing her stern look, and quickly nodded to Umm. Umm took her hand, and they left, the woman watching them with a small smile. 'Fauza, I've been looking for you. Oh, I forgot I left you in the kitchen. Your children's antics distracted me.' They both laughed and left, continuing their conversation. Outside, nothing had started yet, but a girl about the bride's age was reciting in a melodious voice, making the place silent as everyone listened. Five flashy cars drove into the street, and despite the crowd, they parked neatly by the mosque gate. Most of the people at the walima turned to look at the cars. Everyone was curious to see who would get out. I took a deep breath, saying, 'Masha Allah,' as some stylish young men got out of the cars. It was clear they were the groom's friends, and the groom himself. One of the most handsome and well-dressed among them got out of the middle car, phone to his ear, smiling. He was wearing a shiny maroon shadda, which caught everyone's eye. He smiled, nodding in response to the person on the phone, then put the phone in his pocket, joining his friends who were standing and looking at the walima attendees. Before he could say anything, one of his friends said, 'Wow, Ab, I've found your bride.' He glared at him and looked away, then sighed and said, 'Guys, enough staring. Don't you see Baba Malam and the others are watching us too?' They all turned to look at him, laughing. The one who spoke earlier said, 'Haha! Move aside, man. Just admit you're jealous because they saw your angel.' 'Fool, is it a crime to be jealous?' Abdallah said, walking through them. They followed him, laughing and teasing, 'Look at him, so eager. Are you sure you'll keep your promise to Baba Malam to let her continue her studies? We don't want to hear in nine months that we're needed in the labor room.' He heard them but didn't respond, just smiling, which made him look even more handsome. 'Nu'aymah, your soulmate is here, looking like a prince among flowers,' Iman whispered to Nu'aymah, who was sitting with her head down, covered in an abaya, unaware of what was happening. She sighed and looked up slightly, her eyes landing on him. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes as a wave of calm washed over her. She loved Yah Abdallah deeply, knowing he loved her even more. Yah Ab was her happiness, her lifeblood, her peace. He was special to her, holding three important roles: her brother, her lover since she was young, and her first teacher. That's why everything about him was precious to her. 'Hey, baby! Enough staring, don't eat him up,' Nanah said, playfully nudging Nu'aymah. For the first time that day, Nu'aymah smiled, showing her white teeth. She playfully glared at Nanah and Iman, who were teasing her. She lowered her head, saying, 'Troublemakers.' They laughed, and she closed her eyes, feeling calm and happy that her groom had arrived safely after two years of not seeing each other except through calls and video chats. The groom's arrival coincided with the Asr prayer time, so it was announced that it was time for prayer. The men stood up, heading to the back of the mosque for ablution, while those who still had their Zuhr ablution entered the mosque. The women also went inside, some to the house and others to the women's section of the mosque. The guests who had distracted Umm allowed Adawiya to slip away to their section. There were still people there, especially as it was time for the Asr prayer. She went to her father's section, knowing she wouldn't find anyone but family. Indeed, there was no one, just a pleasant fragrance. She entered the first room in the living room, a large, well-furnished room, and collapsed on the bed, letting out a deep sigh mixed with sobs and anger. Addah, who had just come out of the bathroom with a wet face, indicating she had performed ablution, stopped at the door, her eyes narrowing in anger. 'What kind of nonsense is this, Adawiya?' Adawiya, realizing she was there, ran to her, crying, 'Addah, I love him. If you don't let me marry him, I'll die. I swear I'll kill myself, Addah. I love him so much, please help me...' She broke into a sob, her body shaking. Addah watched her fall to the floor, then stepped back, clicking her tongue, and tried to walk past her. Adawiya quickly sat up, grabbing her hand. 'I swear, Addah, if you don't let me marry him, I'll kill her!' Addah stepped back in shock, her eyes wide, 'Kill her, Adawiya?' 'With these hands,' Adawiya said, her eyes wide, raising her hand to show Addah.