A Joyous Wedding Celebration

After the solemnization, the elders were urged to advise the new couple and pray for them. This was done simultaneously with serving. The guests were served their choices from the menu, with assorted drinks accompanying the food.

A Joyous Wedding Celebration

Abundance of Food and Drinks

Food and drinks were in abundance. Indeed, the Adamson family was big on celebrations, and Naila’s wedding was a testimony to that. The wedding feast was slated for a month, to be held together with Haroon and Hamdalah’s wedding.

Gift Exchange

The merriment continued after the food. The groom’s family presented the bride’s family with gifts, which were well received and appreciated. Their thoughtfulness amazed Naila’s parents, and Otunba joked about a long list of requests awaiting them. They laughed and replied that they were ready.

Prayers and Departure

The short programme ended before the Zhur prayer, and everyone went to the mosque to pray. Otunba had built a big mosque in his mini estate. After prayers, the groom’s family announced their intentions to leave. They thanked Naila’s family for their warm hospitality, and Naila’s family bid them goodbye.

A Private Conversation

Jabir told Habeeb to go home and that he would leave later because he wanted to talk to his bride. Hamzah and Jabir went to Hamzah’s apartment after the latter’s family had left. “Congratulations, man!” Hamzah extended his hand to Jabir for a warm handshake. “Thank you!” Jabir grinned.

Joyful Recollections

“Look at the way you’re grinning! Finally, you married my sister!” “Yes, finally! Alhamdulilah RabilAalamin. I’m the happiest man on earth right now,” Jabir couldn’t stop grinning. “Yes, you are. You have your long-time desires fulfilled. Why shouldn’t you be happy?” Hamzah smiled at him.

Heartfelt Conversations

“Exactly! I have my long-time desires fulfilled, and I’m so over the moon.” “Congratulations once again, bro! You’re a goal-getter!” “Thank you!” “I’m happy for you,” Hamzah also grinned.

Memories of the Past

“If my memory serves me right, eight years ago, you were sitting at that same spot you’re sitting now, and I was sitting at this same place that I’m sitting now when you told me: ‘I think I’ve found my future wife,’” Hamzah recalled, and they both laughed.

A Loving Reflection

“Your memory is really intact!” Jabir praised him. “Yes, that was exactly what I said. I said I’ve found my future wife. And Alhamdulillah RabilAalamin. The future is now, and I’ve finally hooked that beautiful woman.”

Brotherly Concern

“Yes, you have! Your love story inspires me so much. You’re really a hard lover. Congratulations! Please treat my sister well. If you mess with my sister, then I’ll mess with you,” Hamzah joked. “I dare not mess with your sister. She’s everything I need in a woman and more. You really don’t understand the depth of my love for her, do you?”

Excitement and Anticipation

“I don’t, because I’m not you,” Hamzah rolled his eyes playfully. “Hypocrite!” Jabir shrugged, and they both laughed. “I want to talk to Naila before I leave!” “You can go to her room and talk to her,” Hamzah replied. “No, I don’t want to do that!” Jabir shook his head. “She’s now your wife, bro!” Hamzah countered his hesitation.

Pinching Reality

“I know. But everything still seems like a beautiful dream to me. Please come and pinch me!” He told his friend, who moved over to him and pinched him hard. “Ouch! That was too much!” He winced.

Realizing the Dream

“Didn’t you ask me to pinch you? Have you now woken up from your slumber?” Hamzah teased him. “Yes, I have. It’s not a dream. It’s reality. Naila is now mine. Yeyyyyyyy!” He got up and threw a fist in the air.

Lover’s Joy

Hamzah watched him with great admiration. “You’re such a lover boy!” “Yes, I am,” Jabir smiled radiantly. “I really want to talk to my wife before I leave.” “Awwwwwww! I love the way that sounds! ‘My wife,’” Hamzah winked at him. “Yes, she’s now my WIFE!” He stressed. “It feels so surreal. I wished I could go to her room to talk to her, but I don’t even know her room.”

Becoming Family

“How is that a problem? I can take you to her room if you want me to. See, you’re now a member of this family, and you’re free to walk around this house like a family.” “Thank you. Let me call her on the phone first!” Jabir said and put a call across to Naila.

Attempting to Connect

The latter didn’t pick up. He called once again, but there was no response. “Let me take you to her room. She might be feeling too shy to answer your call,” Hamzah told him. “Okay. Let’s go, please!” He gave in, and both men went to Otunba’s apartment where Naila’s room was situated.

Knocking on the Door

Some guests were still in the living room. They greeted them and walked past. They approached Naila’s room, and Hamzah stepped forward and knocked on the door, but there was no response. The door was knocked several times, but there was still no response.

Entering the Room

“I don’t think she’s in,” Hamzah said as he pulled the door and peeped in. He didn’t see anyone, so he walked in and also invited Jabir in. He went to knock on the bathroom door to check if she was there, but there was no response. He also opened the bathroom gently but saw no one.

Waiting for Her Return

“I think she stepped out!” Hamzah told his friend. “Oh! Really?” Jabir nodded his head. “You can wait for her in the room.” “Can I?” He asked. “You still think she’s a stranger to you, right? Or you still think you’re a stranger in this house, right? My friend, sit down and wait for your wife,” Hamzah said, hurried out, and shut the door.

Admiring the Room

Jabir smiled and sat down on the bed. He looked around the large room and nodded his head at the alluring aesthetic. The room was neat and smelled so nice. The wall was painted pink. The bed frame was pink. The curtain was pink. The wardrobe was pink. The dressing mirror was pink. The shoe rack was pink. The bedspread on the bed was pink. In fact, everything in the room was oozing pink.

Making a Decision

Jabir smiled as a thought suddenly crossed his mind. He picked up his phone and made a call. “Hello painter, I hope you have not bought any paint!” “No, I haven’t. Today is Sunday. I’ll go and buy the paints tomorrow.” “Good! Please, I want the master’s bedroom to be painted pink. Also, paint all the furniture in the master’s bedroom pink, okay!”

Implementing Changes

“Okay. But what about others?” “You can go ahead with the initially planned paint colours for other areas, but the master’s bedroom should be painted pink,” he instructed passionately. “All right, sir. I’ll do as instructed.” “Good. Bye,” Jabir said, and the call ended.

Reflecting on Choices

“Why didn’t I ask for her colour of choice or favourite colour? If her room symbolizes pink, then her best colour must be pink. I got that!” He smiled. “Where could she have gone? Let me call her on the phone again!” He said and put a call across to Naila, but right there in her room, her phone rang.

Discovering Her Diary

“Oh, she didn’t even take her phone along with her,” he mumbled as he tried to check where the phone was ringing. He saw it under the pillow and pulled it out. As he pulled out the phone, a hardcover book also emerged from under the pillow. He picked both the phone and the book and alas, the book was Naila’s diary. “She keeps a diary?!” He was amazed. “Girls who keep a diary are known to be meticulous and secretive. Let’s see what she’s hiding in the diary.