MY BEST FRIEND HUSBAND

The arrival gate at Murtala Muhammed International Airport was buzzing with life. Porters shouted, taxi drivers bargained, and relatives waved signs and hugs in every direction. Idris stepped out into the warm Lagos air with Anna beside him, her hand in his.

Everything felt... full circle.

Their families were waiting near the parking lot. Idris's mother ran into his arms with tears, while his father stood tall, proud but silent, his handshake firm and eyes glowing with unspoken pride.

Anna was introduced with smiles and embraces, welcomed like a daughter.

Her quiet grace and radiant smile won their hearts almost instantly.

For a moment, Idris let his guard down.

For the first time in a long time, home didn't hurt.

Preparations began almost immediately. Anna's family came down from the East to join Idris's family in planning the elaborate five-day traditional wedding, as customs required, each day had a purpose blessings, introductions, dowry discussions, cultural rites, and finally the grand celebration.

The compound buzzed with activity caterers, decorators, dancers, drummers, everything was moving fast and perfect.

Amid all the planning, Anna made a call.

"Bela," she said cheerfully, "I'm in Nigeria!"

Bela, who was lounging in her salon chair, jumped up, "Already? This is sooner than I thought! Have you fixed a date?"

"Next weekend, It's going to be a traditional five-day wedding, just like my mom wanted."

Bela smiled. You know I wouldn't miss it for the world, let me prepare my workers this week ahead.

There was silence, then:

"You're going to love my fiancé, Bela. He's gentle, hardworking, and really, really good to me."

"Aww," Bela said, sipping her soda. "You deserve the best dear friend.

Anna paused, then added, "You'll meet him soon."

But fate didn't wait.

Three days before the wedding, Bela arrived at Anna's family house for a pre-ceremony hangout, Anna was sitting in front of her mirror, halfway through her makeup trial.

Her phone buzzed.

Idris was calling.

She smiled, picked up, and put the call on speaker.

"Hey babe," Anna said.

"I just got the final fabric for Saturday," Idris said, his voice rich and calm.

"Perfect! Bela's here with me, want to say hi?"

There was a pause.

"Sure," Idris said.

"Hello?" Bela said cheerfully, picking up the phone.

And then...

Silence.

Dead, heavy silence.

Bela's smile froze, her fingers trembled as she lowered the phone.

"Idris?" she whispered.

Anna looked up, confused. "You know him?"

Bela's voice cracked. "I... I think there's a mistake."

Anna ended the call. "What's going on?"

Bela stared at her, the color draining from her face. "That's... Idris. My Idris."

Anna frowned. "Wait your Idris? What? You dated him?"

Bela stood, suddenly restless, pacing like a trapped animal, it was a long time ago. University days, we ended badly, but I didn't know... I didn't know it was him you were marrying."

Anna's heart began to race.

"You never mentioned any Idris before Bela?

"I didn't think it mattered," Bela said quickly. "It was just college foolishness."

Anna narrowed her eyes. "Why do you look so scared?"

"I'm not scared," Bela said, voice rising. "I'm... I'm shocked. That's all."

But Anna saw it. That flicker in her eyes. A crack of something darker.

And outside, unnoticed, the evening sky began to darken though the sun hadn't yet set.

That night, as Anna slept peacefully, Bela sat alone in her guest room.

Her hands clenched the edge of the bed, eyes wide, staring into the darkness.

Idris is rich now, clean, strong, powerful Everything she once said he could never be.

And he is marrying Anna.

My friend.

Her inferior, she thought bitterly.

"No," she whispered, "this cannot happen."

The silence in the room thickened, as though something unseen was listening.

Her thoughts twisted into shadows.

And from that moment, the wedding was no longer a celebration for Bela,it became a mission.