4. Betrothed.

He had a striking appearance, one that evoked a sense of fear in those around him, except for Safiya. Despite his rugged features being intimidating, there was also something intriguing about him, a hint of danger lurking beneath the surface. With his well-defined muscles and strong physique, he seemed like a formidable warrior.

His gaze was intense, but his faint, enigmatic smile, playing on his lips, added an air of mystery to him.

He smiled because a girl beside him was making him smile. She was beautifully dressed, with braided hair that was tied in two rows. Her sharp brown eyes and smooth skin were striking. She must be his wife, judging by the way she looked at him.

Safiya quickly averted her gaze, understanding that it was impolite to stare so intently at someone. Yet, there was something undeniably captivating about him. She couldn't help but wonder who he was and why she had never heard of him before, especially if he was indeed a warrior.

Finally, the moment had come, and everyone gathered around in eager anticipation. A grand stool stood proudly in front of the table, large enough to accommodate two people. It was a special place reserved solely for the bride and groom, symbolizing their union. However, tradition dictated that the bride would make her entrance before the groom joined her on the stool, creating a sense of anticipation and excitement among the everyone.

The long table was spacious, with stools placed on opposite sides, making it suitable for both family members and guests. While several nearby villagers seated themselves on wooden stools, most decided to stand and observe the occasion.

The groom came to greet the bride's mother, who reciprocated his greeting by welcoming him with a warm hug.

"Welcome, Jelani. Oh, you are even more handsome than the last time I saw you," she smiled at the suitor who came forward to hug her.

Jelani smiled back and replied, "Thank you for having me, Mama."

"How are your parents? You said they couldn't come?" she asked.

"Yes, duty calls. I'm sorry it turned out this way," Jelani explained.

"That's fine," she reassured him.

Duty over your son's own wedding? Safiya shook her head, feeling a tinge of disappointment. She couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed already.

Jelani had a friendly gaze, but Safiya wasn't moved by it. What if his heart was not as cheerful as his face? Not that she was concluding anything, but there just seemed to be something off about him.

Safiya caught her mother's gaze, which seemed to say, 'Come over and greet your guest.' Reluctantly, Safiya stood up from the stool, the long skirt making her feel increasingly uncomfortable.

However, she forced a smile and walked up to him. "Welcome," she greeted, though her smile felt forced, she still tried to be hospitable.

He smiled back and extended his hand, which Safiya hesitantly took. "Safiya, I've heard so much about you from Meka," he said warmly.

"Quite a surprise that I've heard nothing about you," Safiya replied, her curiosity evident in her voice.

"Safiya," her mother scolded, but Safiya continued speaking honestly.

"I'm sorry, Mama, but it's the truth. I don't even know him," Safiya explained, not wanting to hide her true feelings.

"It's fine, Mama," Jelani said, trying to diffuse the tension. "I'm getting married to your sister, which means we'll have plenty of time to get to know each other. I hope to be a good in-law to you," he added with a smile.

However, Safiya's smile didn't reach her eyes. There was a strange look in Jelani's eyes, fleetingly there before disappearing, but Safiya noticed it. There was something about Jelani that felt off, and she couldn't quite put her finger on it. It was unsettling, and deep down, Safiya knew she shouldn't trust him.

"Mama," Jelani turned to Safiya's mother, "let me introduce my people."

"Ohh, I'll be so happy to meet them!" her mother beamed.

"Come, Mama, come see them," Jelani said, extending an arm for her mother to take. "Safiya, you should come as well," he added.

"No, it's fine," Safiya replied, feeling uneasy about the whole situation.

"Don't be rude," her mother snapped, scolding Safiya.

Safiya took a deep breath, realizing that it was important to her mother, and reluctantly followed Jelani and her mother to where the guests were seated. The feeling of unease still lingered within her, but she tried to push it aside for the sake of her family.

They arrived, and Safiya caught sight of the man once again. This time, he was sitting beside the woman who had brought a smile to his face. As they reached the table, the man's gaze locked onto Safiya, his eyes seemingly piercing and menacing. However, instead of being intimidated, Safiya held her ground and stared back at him, unflinching.

In that moment, it felt as though time stood still, and Safiya could only hear the rhythm of her own heartbeat. The intensity of the man's stare made it seem as if he could see right through her soul. She noticed his jaw clenching and saw his eyes blinking rapidly, before he quickly looked away, breaking the connection.

That was the moment Safiya regained her composure and purposefully turned her gaze away, not wanting to get caught up in the effect this man had on her. It was intriguing how he was the only man who had managed to capture her attention, but she was determined not to let herself fall for him. She had a mission to accomplish, and no one would be able to distract her from it.

"This is Malik," Jelani introduced, his voice bringing Safiya's attention back to the present. Safiya couldn't help but notice how her gaze seemed fixed on him, unable to look away. As Malik stood up and smiled at her, she couldn't help but feel a flutter of intrigue. His smile was subtle, almost faint, as if smiling wasn't something he did often. Yet, his handsome features more than made up for it, drawing her in.

He softly took Mama's hand and pressed a gentle kiss to it. "A pleasure to be here," he said with a warm smile. "I'm Jelani's cousin," he introduced himself.

Safiya couldn't help but feel a bit surprised at his revelation. Cousin? She had assumed he was just a friend, as they didn't seem to resemble each other in any way, not even the slightest. But then again, she realized that perhaps not all cousins were supposed to have a striking resemblance.

"Oh, I'm so glad that someone from the family came. Thank you so much for coming, Malik," her mother expressed with gratitude.

Malik's smile widened, but his gaze swiftly shifted to Safiya as her mother introduced her.

"Oh, forgive me," her mother said, encouraging Safiya to step forward and greet the young man. "This is my second daughter, Safiya."

Safiya stepped forward, extending her hand politely. "I'm Safiya. It's nice to meet you."

Sayifa noticed him raising his brow and widening his eyes slightly. It was unusual for a girl to shake hands with a man; typically, the greetings involved bowing, hugging, or hand-kissing. But Sayifa was not an ordinary girl.

Undeterred, she extended her hand with a friendly smile. To her delight, he graciously accepted her gesture, seeming genuinely interested. "A pleasure to meet you, Safiya. What a beautiful name for a lovely young woman like yourself," he said.

Her heart skipped a beat. What?

Did he just call her beautiful? Well, he meant her name but still... Maybe it was the dress she was wearing; because if he saw her in one of her armors or masculine suits, he would surely take back his words.

Jelani cleared his throat, bringing Safiya back to reality. She reminded herself that she was not the only one there and shouldn't let this man distract her from her.

"Let me introduce someone else," Jelani said.

Safiya noticed the girl who had been sitting beside him standing up and bowing to her mother. Safiya couldn't help but notice the glare directed at her.

"Mama, this is Nia, Malik's betrothed," Jelani introduced.

Betrothed? Oh, wow!