1 AISHA'S WEDDING

I had attended lots of weddings in my 23 years, but none with such underlying tension.

Everybody was in knots, and not just the bride with wedding jitters or the groom with pre marriage tension either.

This was a high society wedding alright, but it wasn't just that, it was one that the President himself would be attending.

So it was clear why even the servants were nervous. You could cut the tension with a knife.

I was sitted with my cousin Aisha at her dressing table;

"You don't think the whole thing is going to look too simple, do you? I don't want to come out as being poor".

She really seemed worried.

" You are a simple person and so is Umar, why would you want to change that now?"

I didn't want her feeling so unsure of herself on her day.

I thought it was just tacky of the presidential family.

A representative came in just yesterday informing us that the president himself was interested in attending the wedding.

And so the panicking began, everyone going into overdrive. My aunty Munera Danjuma was besides herself, as hers was a high profile family.

The Danjumas were wealthy people, Aisha's wedding attracting national attention even before the presidential appearance was announced, but now, this was not just another ball game. Nobody understood why he was so interested suddenly and why he was adamant in publicizing his appearance.

That was what caused the major last minute changes, the venue was moved indoors, more people lobbied for invitations, to which my father, forever the politician, made sure they were given liberally, more caterers were commissioned, and the highest grade wedding packs ordered.

My father was Aunty Munera's younger brother, and so very easily, they came to a conclusion.

The president wanted something from attending this wedding, and they were going to be ready to deliver and hopefully forge a lasting friendship with the presidential family.

This was what got my close friend and favorite cousin Aisha tied up minutes before her wedding.

Finally, the presidential entourage came, it was a shock that the full family was in attendance, and I mean full family.

The President, his first lady, his children, brothers of the president and their families.

My father had never been more proud for thinking to reserve a whole segment for the presidential entourage.

It was more so shocking when after the wedding reception, the Walimah, they asked to be properly introduced to our family.

Then my father had the brilliant idea of extending the Walimah to something more private. We moved then to the family house for the last dinner and sending away of the couple.

I duly noted that the seating arrangement of the families made for easy conversing of the family heads.

When unusual looks were being cast around and the men had started to aggregate, I realized it must be time for business and gathered the children and females to the mega-sized living room .

My suspicions were indeed proven right when I saw my aunty Munera walk into the living room from the table leaving the men on their own.

She came directly to me, took my hands in hers and said;

"They want to pluck a flower. They like what they see- Na Gani Ina".

" Really?" I replied.

She nodded once and left, going up the stairs.

It wasn't until she was totally gone that it dawned on me ;

I was the only one she had told this , of up to 20 women present, including my aunties and my grandmother.

I calmly took a seat.

Very shortly it was time for photos. My fears were confirmed when my father held me and said.

"Touch up your makeup ".

After doing exactly that , I stepped out and eyes turned to me. It is important to note that I did not look at anybody during the photo sessions.

( All my Nigerian readers, I hope you love the story, I apologize if I don't get all the facts right)