WHISPERS OF ENCHANTÉ

69: love etched in ruby

Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Siyama smiled at herself, then turned to face Yasmin, who had the proudest beam on her face. She had arrived at the Wambai mansion about thirty minutes ago and was now in one of the many bedrooms, changing her outfit.

She had changed into a white lafaya, adorned with gold earrings, a necklace, and bangles, before snapping a quick mirror selfie to send to Mahmud though he would be coming to see her soon. She could barely wait.

She grinned when Yasmin burst into laughter at a joke Faiza made. The two have been inseparable since the beginning but it seems like after both of them found their own love lives, the bond has turned exceptionally closer.

"You look like a snow queen," Yasmin teased, adjusting the sleeve of her sleek black dress. "Mahmud's probably going to faint when he sees you."

"Hopefully not before the whole tradition takes place," Siyama replied, rolling her eyes. "I don't want to deal with an unconscious husband tonight."

Faiza, dressed in an elegant grey outfit, snickered. "Honestly, if he does faint, at least let it be after dinner. That way, the food won't go to waste."

"Priorities, Faiza," Siyama said dryly, shaking her head.

"Exactly," Faiza grinned, giving her a thumbs up. "Besides, Yasmin, you're one to talk. You look like a villain straight out of a Nollywood movie in that dress."

"Please, if I'm a villain, then you're my evil sidekick," Yasmin shot back gesturing to the dark grey outfit that is the closest to black.

Siyama laughed, shaking her head as their playful bickering continued. With friends like these, there was never a dull moment. Never time for her to think about the way most of the paternal family of Mahmud's aren't as welcoming as the maternal.

The trio left the guest room and stepped into the grand hall, now transformed into a dreamlike space that was undeniably done by yours truly. She hasn't sat down since six in the morning when Abdullah dropped her off at the Wambai mansion.

He even stayed for a little while to make sure she wasn't going to be climbing ladders when a whole team of ten people with three men were there to help. He also made sure to tell one of them to never allow her on a ladder.

At some point he turned into a content creator because she wanted to capture the makings of the decoration and her team didn't 'understand' how she wanted the stuff captured. Only he does. A novice in the whole social media world. Yeah right.

Soft golden lights spilled from crystal chandeliers, their glow bouncing off the cascading ivory drapes, pooling like liquid silk at the base of lush greenery. The faint flicker of candlelight that lined every table illuminates the endless sea of white blooms. Like Siyama's changed fit.

It looked like something straight out of Pinterest, except better because no one actually thought Yasmin could pull it off, let alone surpass the inspiration. But here it was, a a masterpiece that whispered enchantment.

"I always get blown away seeing Yasmin's decorations, wallahi," Faiza commented, passing through the arch that had taken them longer to set up but had turned out perfect.

"Even I sit down and wonder whether I did everything. I think this is what art really feels like... you find yourself wondering how and when everything came together beneath your fingertips. A talent." Yasmin answered, adjusting a drape to the side to allow easier passage.

She was always correcting and adjusting things.

"She is my sister, so of course, she got the dominant talent genes, leaving me with the recessive ones," Siyama whispered beneath her veil and promptly hid a groan when a paternal aunt approached her.