BARAUNIYAR AMARYA 

The young women were sitting in a large courtyard, adorned with henna on their hands and feet. There were about ten of them. One particularly striking young woman, likely the bride, stood out with her elaborate henna design. Her friends were teasing her as she smiled. Meanwhile, others waiting for their turn were gossiping. "Binta, this bride is truly beautiful; she seems to be a Fulani," Amina said. "No, I think she's an Arab; didn't you see her hair reaching down her back?" Binta replied. "Yes, you're right. I wish they had invited us to the wedding, at least to take a photo with her."

"Stop dreaming; you can tell by looking at them that they're very wealthy," Amina concluded.

Their conversation was interrupted by a greeting from the entrance. All eyes, including the bride's, turned toward the door. Two elegantly dressed young women entered, wearing expensive lace that probably cost around sixty thousand naira, with large gold earrings and bracelets.

They walked gracefully to where the others were seated. The bride, Kausar, stared at them, not because of their beauty, but because of the wealth they exuded. One of them sat beside her, and the pleasant scent she carried brought Kausar back from her thoughts. The women greeted Kausar's friends and shook hands with them. They couldn't take their eyes off Kausar, mesmerized by her beauty.

Hanne, the henna artist, greeted the newcomers nervously, knowing that they usually paid her twenty thousand naira just for henna on their hands. "Hajiya Fareeda and Fadila, I will be with you shortly. Let me finish up here quickly," she said.

Fareeda smiled and said, "No rush, Hanne. Just do our hands when you're done."

"Thank you, my lady. I will be quick," Hanne replied.

Fareeda turned to Amina and Binta, who were still staring at them, and said, "Please come back tomorrow. I'll do yours then. I have other clients to attend to after these ladies." She knew they didn't pay well, sometimes only giving her five hundred naira.

Binta, annoyed, snapped, "You're saying this just because you've seen wealthy clients."

Amina quickly pulled Binta away, and they left. Fadila, meanwhile, pulled out her iPhone 7 and started scrolling, ignoring what was happening around her. Kausar, still lost in thought, was envious of their wealth and silently prayed for her own good fortune.

Hanne called out, "Hajiya, please come over. I'm ready." Fadila was the first to get her henna done. Hanne worked quickly, telling Kausar's friends that they could wash off their henna once it dried.

As they began to wash their henna, Fareeda moved closer to her sister to see the designs. This gave Kausar the opportunity to inch closer to Fareeda's bag, discreetly pulling out a bundle of money and stuffing it into her skirt. Her friend, Jameela, noticed and shook her head in disappointment.

Kausar then stood up, claiming she needed to use the restroom. Once inside, she took out the money, her eyes widening in surprise to find fifty thousand naira in five-hundred-naira notes. "Alhamdulillah, I found the money to reduce my debt," she whispered, hiding the money in her vest.

As she emerged, Fareeda's phone rang. She reached into her bag to find it and noticed the money was missing. "Our money is gone!" she exclaimed loudly, drawing everyone's attention.

Fadeela asked, "How?" Fareeda replied, "Someone has stolen our money."

"What?" Fadeela said, standing up. Hanne, shocked, shouted, "How could there be a theft here? I swear I'll search everyone." She ran to lock the gate, ensuring no one could leave.