BADGE. . .
Nana ran to the house through the backdoor immediately after she heard the Adhan calling for subh prayer. She kissed Zayn as soon as she woke up to which he delayed her for another five minutes before releasing her and leaving the house in full speed. She'll never hear the end of the teadings if her mother finds out about her night with Zayn in the car. She's never enjoyed their sleep like she did the one today for she could feel his whole body underneath hers and that's so far the best sleep she's had in the whole one month two weeks of their marriage.
He admired her henna like he always do and that makes all the sitting and squirming worth it. She felt beautiful whenever they're together and is always looking forward to making herself up for him. She can't even wait to get dressed for the wedding and see her husband amongst the groomsmen later. She's sounding like a lovestruck baby, yes, definitely not even a teenager.
She went in and say her prayer before taking a long bath so as to not take one later. She lie back down on the bed and sleep immediately took her in less than a minute. Blinking her eyelids a few times, she adjust to the light from the window before looking around her room. At first, she thought that her whole marriage life was a dream but then saw Rukayyah and her skin beautician. She breath a sighed and chuckled a little at her stupidness before standing up from the bed.
"Good morning everyone!" She said to the people around the room -Rukayyah, the skin beautician, Batul, Taima, Hannatu and Zahira.
They all arrived the day before yesterday and the house has been full and noisy since then. Nana can't even lay her foot on one place without being called and asked how her husband is. Some even went to the extent of asking whether she's pregnant or not. She'll just timidly walk away and leave immediately or even fake a phone call. Some people are just not shy enough to not ask about personal questions, some even thought her husband is taking a second wife because she's looking 'thin'.
"Morning, lover girl." They chorused around the room which made her send a quelling glare at Rukayyah because she's the only one who saw her going out yesterday and the blabber mouth already told them.
"Don't look at the bride like that." Rukayyah feigned innocence and continue with her session.
"You should be nervous or shy but see the way you're talking to me." Nana shook her head and went to the drawer to bring out their clothes.
"We should get ready! The knot will be tied in thirty minutes and they'll be here in an hour. Gosh, stand up girls!" Taima immediately stood up from the bed with her pajamas, so as the rest of the girls.
"Taima, your skin is glowing more than mine and your wedding is in a week. Why?" Rukayyah pouted, looking at Taima's glowing face.
"Stop with your jealousy! There is this saying 'don't compare yourself with anyone in this world. If you do so, you are insulting yourself' so know better, duck." Zahira rolled her eyes and they all left the room with a chuckle.
"Nana, get dressed too. I'll just take my bath and get dressed. The makeup artist will be here now so she should start your makeup." Rukayyah explained, standing by the door to the bathroom.
Nana obliged and washed her face in the bathroom before Rukayyah started taking her bath. She changed into the three step peplum blouse with bishop long sleeves and fitted fish skirt. She look at herself in the mirror and appreciate the maroon atampha with sky blue and golden patterns around it. She tied her hair in a low bun and made sure she tightens it with pins so it wouldn't fall off and just then the makeup artist walked in with a huge black box with her.
"Hello, I'm Gabriella and I'm the makeup artist." The woman who just walked in introduced.
She's dressed in a very business like manner. Tight straight green dress, white shirt and black blazer on top. Her natural hair was tied in a high tight ponytail and has dark glasses adorning her eyes. She looks pretty in Nana's eyes even though she is clearly not a Muslim but her dressing is very classy.
"Hello! Come in please." Nana welcomed her in and told her that the bride will be out shortly and she should start her makeup first.
Gabriella wrapped a towel around her neck and shoulder so it would not mistakenly ruin her outfit before she gets to work. Nana and Gabriella talked whilst doing the makeup but Nana talks carefully because she doesn't want to ruin her makeup. Shortly, Rukayyah walked out of the bathroom and exchange pleasantries with the makeup artist. Nana's makeup was done twenty minutes later since she isn't the bride and it must not be bold like the brides'.
After Rukayyah's makeup was done, Hajiya Salamatu came in with her beautiful black lace almost similar to Nana's but instead of navy blue, it's golden. Nana almost envied Rukayyah because her lace is super beautiful. She is also having the same colour clutch, shoes and black veil with golden stones arranged beautifully around it. Nana beamed at her mother before giving her a bone crushing hug.
"You look beautiful." Her mother complimented, kissing her cheek before moving toward Rukayyah to give her her clothes.
Something Nana likes about her mother, she never showed any difference between her and Hannatu and now with Rukayyah. She could see how her mother is talking to her about marriage even though she did it just yesterday. They shed a few tears before Rukayyah got dressed after that, her makeup was retouched again. Nana sat back down and ask the makeup artist to tie her head tie in a beautiful turban that has her hair out, which she tied in a low bun earlier.
Thirty minutes later, all the other girls walked into the room with a few more girls from Rukayyah's paternal side -Raliya and Kaleela- and some of her friends from Kaduna -Maimuna and Farida. They were asked to go out to the foyer and wait for them like they did in Nana's wedding. Nana was standing in the front with the others behind her and the bride in the middle with Aunty Maimuna and Hajiya Salamatu.
Nana kept searching for her husband as soon as she landed on the last step, holding the banister so as to not fall down after seeing her handsome Indian husband.
There he stood, broad shoulders and eyes straight looking into hers. She almost swore that his eyes spelt love as soon as they gazed into each others eyes. She didn't know how many minutes she stood looking at Zayn till one of Rukayyah's friends nudged her a little. She came back to reality and continue to walk to where they stood but this time she's glaring at the ladies looking at her husband. Ninety percent of the young women are looking at her husband with drools.
She immediately maneuvered to him and melted in his embrace, not caring about the people behind her for she missed her husband so much today. This is so unlike her but she is not grousing, whining nor kvetching about the new her, her husband changed her after all. He wrapped his arms around her waist and lean his head down to whisper, "You look breathtaking!" He breathed in her scent before pulling away because of the audience. Not that he minded but he knew she does.
"You look extremely beautiful." She gave him a once over.
A white kaftan with babban riga and sky blue complicated embroidery. His ZannahBukar sky blue cap bowed on his head and his hair trimmed to the back. She could see that his cheeks and jaw is scruffy but gave him a more masculine look.
"This is not our day but see how people and photographers are looking at us. We should not ruin their day for Mashhub will kill me. I don't know about Rukayyah." Zayn mumbled in her ear.
Is it bad of her to feel a little jealous because he called her best friend's name? She really should keep her jealousy at bay or she'll end up regretting it later. But she can't help the tinge she always feel when he call any other woman's, his sisters included.
"Let's go out." She drag him possessively out of the place, leaving the single ladies to flirt with the other men and wrapping her arms around him to tell the others to back off.
"I think you missed me more!" He grinned when they turned into a secluded place where you won't think that their is a garden there.
She didn't respond but tiptoed and kissed him fiercely. His hands went to her back and flush her to him while her hand is already squeezing his neck as she continue to put all her spiciness in the kiss. Both their toes curl because of the passion they're using to devour each other. It looks like they're feeding in themselves after been starved for centuries and are finally getting water. She pulled away first because she is breathless and lie her head on his chest.
"I missed you so much." Her voice trembled because the kiss is still playing with her head which is already messed up.
"Same here, Mami. I had to drag him out of the hall -where the walimah took place- and place him in the car. I drove him here myself." He kissed her forehead, been very careful not to change the location of her turban.
"I just want to stay like this." She whispered, knowing fully well that it is not going to happen. Her mother will start looking for her and very soon they'll start getting ready for the dinner which has everything in her hands. She's the one to go and see whether everything is placed for the bride and she knew her mother did that intentionally.
He tighten his hold around her, "You look so beautiful!" He whispered in her ear, huskily breathing heavily before pulling away.
"We should go back. Mom will start looking for me." She jutted her lower lip out, not wanting to leave the mild temperature of her husband.
"I can't wait to see you for the dinner!" He drew her to him by her waist again, dropping his head to kiss her pouted lips.
"Just you wait." She winked, pulling away from his chuckling form and looking at the creases she made to his white babban riga and the foundation that badge itself by the left side of his chest where she placed her face earlier.
"Don't worry, it's a badge to show that I'm taken." He winked back, his looking more perfect. Nana chuckled and draw him with her back to the living room -after adjusting back her sky blue light huge veil- avoiding the glances they got and stood for the photography.