THE MARRIAGE BATTLE
EPISODE 7
Mami: Where is it? Let me see it. Ayo handed it to her ‘Egbami! Hey, what is all this? They want to finish all the money you have even before you get married, I told you didn’t i?
Ayo Uncle: We tried pleading with them that it was too much but they wouldn’t hear of it.
Mami: I said it, their extortion has just begun. Didn’t I warn you Ayo, didn’t i? This marriage whatever is cancelled.
Ayo: Mami plea-se, don’t start. That is the reason I didn’t inform you in the first place because I knew you were not going to be in support.
Mami: and you went against my will Ayo, I am your mother ooo and not an outsider.
Ayo: I am sorry Mami but plea-se I nee-d you to be in support. Adaobi is a very nice person.
Mami: Why won’t you say that when she has given you love portion to eat.
Ayo Uncle: Ayo, I think you should listen to your mother.
Ayo: Uncle plea-se, not you too.
Mami: Look at the list; take a look at the list, doesn’t it say anything?
Ayo: Mami, it is just a list and I can provide whatever they are asking for.
Mami: Is that what you told them? So you have gone to show-case to them abi?
Ayo: Mami na, Uncle plea-se help me talk to her.
Mami: There is no nee-d talking because if you like talk today and tomorrow, my mind is made up.
Ayo: Hmmmm, alright, I have heard. If my own mother decides not to attend my wedding, I will un-derstand.
Ayo Uncle: Seeing that the tension in the house was getting high, decided to deviate from the t©pic ‘Ermmm, where is Kemi?
Mami: That one, she went to school, i don’t know when she will be back.
__________
During the week, Adaobi paid a visit to Ayo. After preparing his meal for him, he finished eating and they discussed how their wedding is going to be.
Adaobi: I know that you are bothered about the list, I still wonder why you didn’t reject it.
Ayo: If I should do that, it means I won’t marry you again na.
Adaobi: So you will provide everything in it?
Ayo: Yes for I can do.
Adaobi: Won’t it be too much on you?
Ayo: Nah, I am good.
Adaobi: ‘Any way, after you left my house the other day, my father, uncle and I had a talk concerning the list and we c@m£ to a conclusion that you should only provide what the elders and Umu Ada wants, you can skip the rest’ she said smiling.
Ayo: That won’t be necessary.
Adaobi: Meaning?
Ayo: Meaning that I will get everything as soon as possible or if I can’t, I will give them the equivalent in form of cash.
Adaobi: But I said you can skip the others.
Ayo: and I said you shouldn’t worry that I can do it.
Adaobi: No, isn’t that too much?
Ayo: It isn’t and plea-se don’t start, I don’t want you to add yours, my mother is alre-ady compounding issues.
Adaobi: What issues?
Ayo: Issues about marriage and stuff.
Adaobi: It’s about me isn’t it?
Ayo: No and why did you say so?
Adaobi: Because after I left your place, you never said anything to me about her or Kemi. Are you guys having issues because of me?
Ayo: No.
Adaobi: st©p lying to me Ayo.
Ayo: Who says I am.
Adaobi: Yes you are.
Ayo: What’s ma-king you say that?
Adaobi: Because when you lie, you don’t look me straight in the eyes.
Ayo: Okay, we are having issues and my mom is not in support of me marrying an igbo lady.
Adaobi: I knew it, I knew she never liked me from the moment I stepped my legs into your house. I know she also thinks that I may be after your money.
Ayo: I didn’t say so.
Adaobi: You don’t have to.
Ayo: just give her time, she will come around.
Adaobi: Looking at him for a few minutes and wondered if what she is about to say is the right thing but she made up her mind to say it anyway ‘I am not too sure’.
Ayo: What do you suggest then.
Adaobi: Hmmm….i love you, I really do love you but if your family won’t accept me for who I am without being biased, I think we should call everything off.
Ayo: ‘What did you just say’ he screamed.
Adaobi: I am saying we should forget about everything.
Ayo: Are you out of your mind? Do you even know what you just said?
Adaobi: I do and I am going to say it again, let us quit for it…..
Ayo: Just st©p, I don’t want to hear you say nons-en-se again.
Adaobi: it is not nons-en-se Ayo; I cannot go into a family that will not accept me as theirs. I am not going into a family that will make me miserable for my whole life.
Ayo: ‘And so what, because of them you want to let go of me? Because of my family’ he screamed.
Adaobi: I am sorry but it is the best. I can’t think of marrying in a family where I won’t be accepted.
Ayo: Are you serious? Tell me this is a joke plea-se and if it is, st©p for I am not finding it funny.
Adaobi: it isn’t Ayo! God knows that you are the man I want as a life p@rtner but if the people we love are not happy with our union, why go ahead with it? This is the only solution to everyones piece of mind.
Ayo: Don’t say that again plea-se, I don’t want to hear such nons-en-se.
Adaobi: I am sorry, that is the best decision for us right now.
.
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Do you support Adaobi’s decision?
What is your advice for both Ayo and Ada?
THE MARRIAGE BATTLE
EPISODE 8
Ayo: Are you serious? Tell me this is a joke plea-se and if it is, st©p for I am not finding it funny.
Adaobi: it isn’t Ayo! God knows that you are the man I want as a life p@rtner but if the people we love are not happy with our union, why go ahead with it? This is the only solution to everyones piece of mind.
Ayo: Don’t say that again plea-se, I don’t want to hear such nons-en-se.
Adaobi: I am sorry, that is the best decision for us right now.
Ayo: Us! You say us? What is good about us going our separate ways? That is not a good idea for I won’t have it, did you hear me?
Adaobi: But Ayo!
Ayo: Don’t Ayo me, I said I won’t have it.
Adaobi: Alright, if that is the case, I want you to give us sometime before we go throu-gh with the marriage plan.
Ayo: Because of my mother?
Adaobi: Ayo, try and un-derstand me and my pain here, this isn’t what I want, you know that I would never suggest we break up but your mother and your sister isn’t in support of it. If we can’t break up, then let’s give them some time. If by that time, your mother approves of me then I will be happy to have you as my husband and if she doesn’t, you can go ahead and marry another woman.
Ayo: I don’t like this one bit.
Adaobi: You do not have a choice here; it’s either that or the latter.
Ayo: Alright, I will think about it.
Adaobi: I am sorry for all this; you do know that I love you very much right?
Ayo: I know what you mean, I know that you love me very much and I do the same too.
Adaobi: ‘Thanks dear’ she said and they hvgged.
____________
Mami: ‘Kemi! Kemi’! She called out to her daughter as she stepped into her home with a lady ‘Kemi! Kemi!’
Kemi: Yes Mami, I am coming.
Mami: My dear, make yourself at home for this is now your house from now on ‘Kemi’!.
Kemi: Mami na, this one you are calling me like this, I hope all is well.
Mami: All is very very well because as you see me so eh, I am very happy right now. In fact, I am the happiest woman in the whole world right now.
Kemi: ‘Hello’ she said to the young lady who c@m£ with her mother and turned to her mother again ‘Mami, this one you are happy and what is ma-king you happy? Who is this lady here with us?
Mami: she is the reason I am happy, Kemi meet your sister in-law to be and Kehinde, meet my daughter your future sister to be too.
Kehinde: Hello Kemi, its nice meeting you.
Kemi: Same here, you do have a nice name. Are you a twin?
Kehinde: Yes but my twin brother died five years ago.
Kemi: Wow, so sorry to hear that and you are welcome to our home.
Kehinde: Thank you very much.
Kemi: Mami, why did you say she is my sister in-law?
Mami: Because she is going to be very very soon.
Kemi: How do you mean, I don’t un-derstand.
Mami: she is going to be your brother’s wife.
Kemi: Mami, didn’t you tell me the other day that he went to collect the marriage list from his people.
Mami: Don’t stress yourself, that marriage will not work.
Kemi: Hmmm Mami, I am not sure Ayo is going to like this one bit.
Mami: Will you shut up your mouth my friend, how can you say such nons-en-se in front of my guest here, take this money and go to the market. Buy foodstuff and prepare special meal for Kehinde. Make sure it is very tasty oooo.
Kemi: ‘Yes Mami’ she collected the money, went to get dressed and left for market.
Mami: Eh My daughter.
Kehinde: Yes Mami.
Mami: Don’t mind her and her stupid talk. Don’t worry, my son said he is going to come home today and you are going to see him. I am sure you will love him and he in turn will love you back.
Kehinde: I hope so Mami, I hope the other girl has not stolen his heart.
Mami: Stolen ke? Even if she has done so, you will steal it back from her. You will have to do anything possible to make him yours.
Kehinde: What if he still doesn’t want me?
Mami: Then you will have to go extreme.
Kehinde: How, I don’t un-derstand.
Mami: I mean that if you use all your charms on him and he still doesn’t fall, you will have to get pregnant as soon as possible.
Kehinde: Will he still accept it?
Mami: That is not a question oooo, he will have no other option than to. For no child of mine will give birth outside wedlock.
Kehinde: Hmmm, I will do all you say Mami, I will try my best.
Mami: That is good but in this case, you will have to do and give more than your best.
Kehinde: Yes Mami.
__________
Later in the evening, Ayo c@m£ in to meet his Mom, sister and Kehinde chatting.
Ayo: Hello Mami, Kemi how are you doing?
Kemi: Welcome home brother.
Mami: Welcome my son, how was work today?
Ayo: ‘it was stressful as usual’ he said as he sat down beside her.
Kehinde: ‘Hi’ she said smiling.
Ayo: ‘Hello’ he answered ‘Mami, who is this pretty lady with us here today?
Mami: she is pretty isn’t she?
Ayo: Very very.
Mami: You admire her?
Ayo: Mami, what do you mean by that? of course she is beautiful, who wouldn’t admire a beautiful lady?
Mami: That is good to know ‘Kehinde this is my son, the one I was talking to you about and Ayo meet my friends daughter, your wife to be.
Ayo: My what?
Mami: Your wife, she is beautiful, a graduate from a clas-s of high social status and will make you a good wife. I have accepted her with all my heart alre-ady.
Ayo: Really, when was the arrangement made and why wasn’t I informed?
Mami: Because I am your mother and I can never be wrong in my judgment. You see that woman you chose as a wife, she is not a good woman for you and this one here is.
Ayo: Mami, you still haven’t answered my question, Why wasn’t I informed about this?
Mami: Because there was no nee-d and I knew you would object to it.
Ayo: What makes you think that I can’t object to that now?
Mami: Ah! You won’t ooooo, not in this life time. Kehinde here is the woman you will marry and that is final.
Ayo: Hmmm Mami, is this what you called me here for?
Mami: Yes nah, what do you think will make me call you here immediately after work?
Ayo: Mami, you are not serious oooo. Kehinde is Yoru-ba and of a high social status that’s why you like her abi?
Mami: Whatever Ayo, if you like say what you want to say, she is here and it is time you start planning your wedding to her.
Ayo: Mami!
Kemi: But Brother Ayo, what is wrong with Kehinde, I like her alre-ady.
Ayo: ‘Will you shut up your mouth’ turning to his mother he said ‘Mami, I don’t like what you are doing ooooo, I don’t like it one bit’.
Mami: ‘Will you shut up that gutter of a mouth there before I shut it up for you with my hands, Ayo, I gave birth to you and you su-cked my br£@st and on no account will you go against me. You see Kehinde here, you will marry her whether you like it or not and over my dead b©dy will I allow you marry that Igbotic human being you call Adaobi’ she said and turned to Kehinde
‘My daughter, don’t mind him for his is very head strong and nee-ds a woman like you to tame him. I will leave you two to get to know each other well’ she said and walked away leaving kehinde and Ayo all alone and Kemi followed suit.
Kehinde: Alre-ady feeling uncomfortable about the whole situation decided to br@ce herself and act well for he may find her plea-sing ‘Ayo,I know what you must be going throu-gh and believe me I am alre-ady uncomfortable about this situation but maybe our parents mean well for us.
Ayo: By forcing you and I on each other?
Kehinde: is anything wrong with that?
Ayo: Everything is wrong for I am in love with someone else.
Kehinde: even against your mothers wish?
Ayo: I wish she could just easily accept her the way she accepts you, I wish she could feel my pain and my heart.
Kehinde: I am sorry for every pain you must be going throu-gh.
Ayo: There is no nee-d apologizing, it isn’t your fault.
Kehinde: What do we do now?
Ayo: I don’t know, I really don’t know.
Kehinde: What if your parents never come around in accepting her?
Ayo: I am at a cross road here.
Kehinde: it’s okay, you nee-d not stress yourself too much about it. If we cannot be lovers, can we at least be friends for now?
Ayo: Of course why not, I don’t have a problem with that.
Kehinde: Thank you.
Ayo: No, it is me that should be thanking you, thank you for un-derstanding.
Kehinde: ‘You are welcome’ she said smiling. They chatted for few hours about life in general and when it was getting dark, Ayo bid them goodbye and left to his house.
Mami: I am curious to know Kehinde, what were you people talking about that took so long, has he finally accepted you.
Kehinde: Mami nothing much, we just talked about life in general.
Mami: Ehen! What do you think of my son?
Kehinde: To be sincere with you, I more than like him, infact, I love him. I love him sincerity and honesty, his charisma, I love everything about him.
Mami: Ehen! Is it not my son, the apple of my eye? I trained him well oooo.
Kehinde: ‘Mami you did well and I promise you that Ayo will be mine soonest’ she said smiling.
Mami: I hope soo oooo but come ooo, what were you people gisting and laughing about?
Kehinde: Nothing oooo, just the happenings in niaja.
Mami: Really, Hmmm I thought you people were getting to know each other better?
Kehinde: Mami, that is one way of getting to know someone better.
Mami: How can happenings about life getting to know someone better?
Kehinde: By talking about that, I get to know how he thinks and his perspective about life in general. Besides, I am also trying to create a bond.
Mami: What bond?
Kehinde: I am trying to be his very good friend and from friends we become lovers. That is the only way that I can pene-tratehis heart easily for that girl has a strong hold on him
Mami: That is good, I wonder what kind of igbo witch that she has given my son to eat.
Kehinde: I will win his heart in due time.
Mami: The earlier you start getting right to it the better. I want the memories of that girl off his mind for good and forever.
Kemi: Consider it done ma.
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 9
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