49~Fixing a date & Preparations #2
"I want a beautiful wedding portrait framed and hung around the house. So make sure my grandchildren look breathtaking."
She paused dramatically before adding,
"And all those... what do you children call them now..." She frowned thoughtfully. "Gen Z wedding things."
The room burst into laughter.
Amina covered her mouth.
"Grandma! Since when did you start saying Gen Z?"
Grandma lifted her chin proudly.
"Your grandmother is not outdated."
She smiled smugly.
"One of my American shows taught me."
"Oh yes!" Amina laughed. "That reminds me... are you still obsessed with Keeping Up with the Kardashians?"
"No."
Grandma waved dismissively.
"Now I watch Botched."
"You watch plastic surgery shows now?" Amina laughed harder.
"Only because they're entertaining." Grandma shrugged before clearing her throat.
"Enough distractions."
She looked toward Najib.
"Najib."
"Yes, Grandma."
"It's time."
He immediately understood.
"Emma." He called.
Emma walked in with several maids, each carrying beautifully wrapped gifts.
One after another, they filled the living room until almost every empty space was occupied.
Elegant suitcases of different sizes, designs and colours.
Designer handbags, shoes, veils, hijabs, jewelries and dresses filled all.
Kitchen utensils.
Boxes upon boxes of household essentials.
Bags of rice and beans.
Yams, potatoes and plantains.
Cooking oil.
Cartons of spaghetti.
Tomatoes.
Drinks.
Yoghurt.
Milk.
Chocolates.
Sweets.
The gifts seemed endless.
"These are little gifts for the bride."
Grandma announced.
Nanny Ann stared in disbelief. "Wow..."
Her eyes widened even further.
"Grandma..." She laughed in amazement. "You called these little gifts?"
Grandma smiled.."They are little."
Nanny Ann laughed louder.
"Little? I can't even count how many suitcases are here."
She pointed around the room.
"Rice, beans, yams, cooking oil, groceries... these supplies alone could last an entire year!"
Everyone laughed.
Grandma chuckled.
"Well, there's also the cash gift for the bride, Abdul and you on the wedding day."
She smiled warmly.
"It's the least we can do while asking for Habiba's hand in marriage."
Both Hanan and Nanny Ann were speechless.
"Beautiful..." Nanny Ann whispered.
"We're truly overwhelmed."
She looked at Grandma, Uncle and Najib.
"Thank you so much. May God reward every one of you abundantly."
"Amin." Everyone responded.
Uncle smiled. "I also contributed a little."
"A little?" Abdul laughed. "I don't think there's anything little about all this."
He looked at the mountain of gifts before turning back to them.
"Thank you, Uncle. Thank you, Grandma. Thank you, Najib."
He smiled sincerely.
"May Allah strengthen the bond between our families forever."
"Amin." Everyone echoed once more.
Grandma clapped her hands happily.
"Now that everything has been settled..."
She turned to Amina.
"I'm trusting you with the remaining preparations."
"You have my word, Grandma."
"Excellent."
Grandma slowly rose with Emma's help.
"Enough talking."
She smiled brightly.
"Let's move to the dining room. There's plenty of food waiting for everyone."
Amina rubbed his stomach dramatically. "Finally."
"I've been waiting for someone to mention food."
Grandma laughed.
"I'm not surprised."
She glanced lovingly at Amina.
"There's more than enough for both you... and my great grandbaby."
The room filled with laughter as everyone rose from their seats and headed toward the dining room together.
And just as Grandma had promised, there was more than enough to eat. The long dining table was filled with mouthwatering delicacies of every kind.
Everyone settled into their seats, serving themselves generously.
Everyone except Hanan.
She simply stared at the empty plate before her.
She didn't even realize she drifted into her thoughts until Amira gently nudged her arm.
"Hey... where are you at?" She whispered.
Hanan blinked. "Sorry... I spaced out."
Amira studied her face. "What is it?"
"It's nothing."
But it wasn't.
Watching everyone discuss her wedding with so much excitement had filled her heart with gratitude... yet at the same time, an ache settled deep inside her chest.
She missed her mother.
She wished she were here to choose her wedding dress, tease her about marriage, oil and braid her hair, and fuss over every little detail the way mothers do.
Instead, strangers had become family... and they were doing everything her mother would have done.
The thought alone made her eyes sting.
She inhaled deeply.
"Hmm..."
The soft sound drew everyone's attention.
She looked around the table before speaking.
"I just want to say thank you."
Everyone fell silent.
"I honestly don't know how to repay you all for the love you've shown me."
Her voice wavered.
"Sometimes... because of all of you... I sometimes forget that I no longer have my parents."
She smiled sadly.
"But on days like today... I remember them."
A tear rolled down her cheek.
She quickly wiped it away.
"I wish they were here."
Her lips trembled.
"I wish my mother could see all of you... And thank you, because every single one of you has loved me in ways she would have."
She looked around the table.
"You've all become the family they left behind for me."
Fresh tears escaped despite her efforts to stop them.
"I'm sorry... I've ruined the moment"
She lowered her head with a small laugh. "I didn't mean to cry."
"You've ruined nothing, my child."
Grandma reached over and gently squeezed her hand.
"Today is your day. You're allowed to cry."
The warmth in her voice only made Hanan smile through her tears.
After composing herself, she looked back up.
"I... actually have a favor to ask."
Najib immediately turned toward her.
"What is it, Habibti?"
Hanan hesitated.
"Can... can we change the wedding venue?"
Everyone exchanged curious glances.
"To where?" Amina asked.
Hanan smiled softly.
"My village... Kano."
Silence filled the room.
"I know it may sound unreasonable..."
She nervously played with her fingers.
"but I miss home."
"I miss my people."
"I miss my mother."
She swallowed.
"I want to see what remains of our house."
She laughed softly.
"It was only a small mud house... But to me, it will always be home."
She looked at everyone hopefully.
"So... if it's not too much to ask..."
"I would like to get married there."
Najib smiled almost immediately. "Then that's where we'll get married."
Hanan looked at him in surprise. "You mean it?"
"Of course." He reached for her hand.
"If that's your wish, we'll all travel to Kano."
She smiled gratefully. "Thank you."
Uncle nodded approvingly. "I actually like the idea... In our tradition, a bride is married from her father's house."
"Exactly." Grandma agreed.
"But..." Amina spoke thoughtfully.
"I have one concern... What if the house is no longer existing?"
"And... who will receive us there?"
Everyone grew quiet.
Hanan's smile faded slightly.
"I..."
She didn't think that far.
"I just assumed..."
She stopped.
After a brief silence, she sighed.
"You're right."
"I didn't think about that."
She smiled weakly.
"Maybe we should just have the wedding here after all."
"No." Grandma spoke firmly. "We're not giving up that easily."
Everyone turned toward her.
"You said your wish is to marry in Kano."
"Not necessarily inside your house."
"Isn't that right?"
Hanan nodded. "Yes."
Grandma smiled.
"Then that's settled."
"I'll personally speak with His Highness, the Emir."
Everyone looked at her.
"Our families have known each other for years now."
"I'm certain he'll grant us permission to hold the wedding at the palace."
Even Najib looked surprised.
Grandma continued confidently.
"Ordinarily, commoners don't hold weddings there."
"But this is a special request."
She smiled warmly at Hanan.
"So stop worrying."
"You'll have your wedding in Kano."
The words lit up Hanan's face.
Then suddenly... A memory flashed across her mind.
Yarima... Jamila.
She remembered they had been engaged before she left the village.
"If they got married..."
She smiled to herself.
"Jamila might already be living at the palace."
The thought warmed her heart.
"Thank you, Grandma."
She stood and hugged her gently.
"I don't know how I'll ever repay your kindness."
Grandma stroked her back affectionately.
"You don't have to."
"Seeing you happy is enough."
The lunch ended on a cheerful note.
Uncle was the first to leave.
Not long after, Amina and Amira also departed, promising to begin the wedding preparations immediately.
That left only Hanan, Abdul, and Nanny Ann.
Because of the mountain of wedding gifts, their car couldn't carry everything.
A small delivery bus had to be hired to transport the remaining items home.
By six in the evening, they were finally ready to leave.
"Grandma." Abdul smiled. "Thank you for your hospitality."
"We'll take our leave now."
Hanan walked over and embraced Grandma once more.
"Thank you... for everything. I love you."
Grandma kissed her forehead.
"And I love you too."
"Take care of yourself."
"No unnecessary stress."
She smiled knowingly.
"I'll see you on Thursday."
"That's when we all leave for Kano."
"Yes, Grandma."
She nodded.
Grandma clapped happily.
"Good. We're travelling together as one family."
Hanan smiled brightly. "I can't wait."
After exchanging one last round of hugs and goodbyes, she joined Abdul and Nanny Ann in the car.
"Call me once you get home!" Najib smiled.
"I will."
"Drive safely."
"We will!"
They waved until the mansion disappeared behind them.
Precisely, Hanan arrived home with the countless wedding gifts that had barely fit into the hired bus. The moment they were unloaded into the sitting room, everyone crowded around them, eager to see what Najib's family had offered.
The first suitcase was opened.
Then the second.
Then the third.