The young lady smiled warmly and said, "It's truly a pleasure to meet you, ma'am. My name is Nia, and I'll be Malik's wife."
Safiy sneered inwardly and rolled her eyes, as it wasn't evident that Jelani had already mentioned this. Wait, what was wrong with her, if the lady was betrothed to this fine young man then it shouldn't be her business.
Her mother, however, remained gracious and responded kindly, "Welcome, Nia. We're delighted to have you here with us."
Nia gracefully bowed, her eyes shifting towards Safiya as Sayifa's mom quickly introduced her. "This is my daughter, Safiya," she said.
Safiya secretly wished she had worn her regular wear, hoping it might stop Nia from glaring at her. Like right now. Although, she did it in a way that no one would notice.
"Hello Safiya. I'm Nia. It's nice to meet you," Nia greeted, bowing her head. Safiya could sense the underlying sarcasm in her words, but chose to ignore it.
"Glad to meet you too, Nia," Safiya responded with a slight bow, maintaining a polite demeanor.
Nia mustered a forced smile and settled back in her seat next to Malik, giving off an air of discomfort.
It was evident that she felt out of place and perhaps regretted coming to this gathering. Safiya noticed Malik stealing one last glance at her, and she cleared her throat to bring her attention back to the present.
"I'm glad all of you could make it," Safiya began, her voice carrying a hint of urgency. "But I must excuse myself now. I have some matters to attend to." She couldn't stay here, greeting all the guests.
She noticed her mother's mouth hanging open in surprise, but she didn't stick around for any potential drama.
Avoiding any unnecessary drama from.her mother, she quickly walked away. Her mind was consumed with questions, particularly about Meka. She needed to see her, to understand how Meka was connected to these people and why she had never heard of them before.
Having spent much of her life wandering, seeking revenge for her father and engaging in battles wielding swords and arrows, it perplexed her that she had never come across this group of people. Well, it wasn't so easy to travel round other kingdoms as it wasn't safe.
Safiya maintained a steady pace as she made her way through the crowd towards the open door. However, just as she was about to reach it, the sound of drumming filled the air, capturing everyone's attention. The crowd erupted in cheers, their excitement mounting.
To Safiya's surprise, she found herself standing right in front of three women who were singing and clapping their hands rhythmically.
Their voices harmonized beautifully, captivating the entire gathering. It wasn't long before the infectious joy spread, and one by one, people joined in, clapping and singing along in unison.
The sound of children's laughter filled the air as they stomped their feet and clapped their hands in excitement. Safiya couldn't help but be captivated by their joy.
She watched as the children danced gracefully, their movements full of energy. They swayed their hips and moved their bodies in sync with the rhythm of the beat, showcasing a natural talent for dance.
Beside the three women, there were young girls dressed in vibrant pink outfits. They wore matching wrappers adorned with lively patterns and beads, which was worn on their waist and neck.
The wrapper was elegantly wrapped around their chest and waist, adding a touch of traditional beauty to their attire.
They danced gracefully, stepping out of the door in sync with the rhythm of the drum that continued to play. Each movement was filled with elegance and confidence.
Before long, Safiya's sister emerged, adorned in the most stunning vibrant wrapper. The fabric was wrapped around her waist, creating a flowing long skirt that swayed with every step she took. The wrapper has exquisite patterns in shades of blue and pink.
As Safiya admired her sister's attire, she noticed the details that completed the look. Close to her sister's waist, five beads were arranged, adding a touch of sparkle. Her ankles and wrists were also adorned with beads, causing her movements with gentle jingles.
Sitting beautifully on her sister's neck were pretty pieces of jewelry with beads that matched the patterns on her wrapper.
The wrapper gracefully enveloped Meka's chest. Safiya noticed another cloth wrapped around her sister's head, adorned with an abundance of cowries. The fabric extended down to Meka's knee, partially veiling her chest but revealing her face.
A genuine smile lit up Meka's face. Her brown eyes sparkled with brightness, reflecting her inner joy and warmth.
Safiya observed the pure happiness shining on her sister's face, her heart filled with a desire for that joy to be permanent in Meka's life. Perhaps she had been overthinking things, second-guessing Jelani's character. After all, if he truly was a bad person, Meka wouldn't have chosen him.
Safiya understood her sister better than anyone else. Meka was one of those few persons who never turned their back on her when she made unconventional choices for herself. She possessed a genuinely kind-hearted nature and would not tolerate anyone causing harm to her, not even Jelani.
"Oh, my sweet daughter, you look absolutely stunning," her mother exclaimed, rushing towards Meka but keeping a respectful distance, knowing that Meka needed to settle into her new role before anyone could touch her.
At this moment, Meka had to dance her way to where her groom awaited, and together they would dance their way to their seats.
Meka's smile towards her mother was radiant, a reflection of her overflowing happiness. Safiya couldn't help but feel a surge of joy in her own heart as she watched her sister. It was as if happiness itself was permeating the air, causing goosebumps to rise on Safiya's skin.
She couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of happiness for Meka. It had been so long since Safiya had experienced such pure joy, she almost forgot what it felt like. Seeing her mother's and Meka's smiles and laughter made her breathe a sigh of relief.
In these moments, it was easy for her to momentarily forget about her own desire for revenge.
However, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't fully let go of it. Her father had entrusted her with the task of protecting their family, and that was her duty above all else. She had to remain focused on her mission, even in the midst of celebrations and happiness.
If someone had the audacity to kill her father, it was a clear indication that their family was not safe at all. Safiya couldn't simply sit back and ignore the lurking danger.
It was her responsibility to ensure the safety of her loved ones, to seek justice for her father's demise.
While her heart yearned to get lost in the happiness she was witnessing, her determination to protect her family remained unwavering. She knew she had to stay vigilant, ready to confront any threats that might come their way.
The need for revenge only fueled her determination to make sure those responsible never harmed anyone again.