Akwaugo – Episode 65

PART 65

 

The impact of not having a father presented itself when my people were informed about a new suitor. I knew there would be gossip but I didn’t expect outright rejection. The excuses didn’t make any sense that I had to be called in the meeting.

 

 

“Akwaugo, your first husband, did your family return the bride price?”

 

“He never paid any bride price. My father warned no one should collect any money on my head and he didn’t”

 

“What of the items on the list? Were they returned to him?”

 

“I don’t understand your question. Is it that we have different customs and traditions? It is the bride price that is returned. Why didn’t you raise this when my father was alive?”

 

“He knew what was right and wouldn’t have married you off to another without returning the items on the list. Until that is done, there cannot be another wedding”

 

Obinna was mad. He had been talking with them for days and they insisted. He had gone to talk to other elders who were genuine friends of father and they confirmed the items on the list are never returned. It was just the bride price. But our family elders were proving difficult. So he said to them, “I remember those who shared from the items that were brought from her first husband. Most of you are here. We as a family didn’t receive anything. You can return the items after you have contributed them”

 

There was an uproar. The men were shouting at Obinna at the top of their voices but he didn’t care. One of them calmed the situation down. Then they said, apart from the issue of the first marriage, the man she wanted to marry wasn’t Igbo but from Cross river state. They complained about people from that side. One of them then said.

 

“Is she so desperate that she wants to from that place? Has the sore caused her not to attract an Igbo man after becoming a doctor?”

 

Obinna and I knew this was pure jealousy. Why our family would turn against us I could never know. He had had enough. He said to them,

 

“I respected as the brothers of my father. When he was alive, he showed all you here love. He never stood against anyone’s happiness. Now he is dead, you want to

 

 

prove to us we are one. I will give my sister out in marriage, you can’t stop me. I will visit the igwe tomorrow.”

 

“You want to expose the family? Have you ever seen us report our issues outside the family? You are not acting like your father; he was a peacemaker”

 

“I agree. My father was a peacemaker but his own family is standing in the way of his daughter’s happiness. I am the man of the house. I have informed you my sister is getting married. If you give me the list, I will submit to our prospective in-laws. If you don’t, I will take it to mean you have no plans of being a part of the marriage rites and I will handle them myself”

 

Obinna and I spoke after he left them. He told me he wondered how they knew Samuel and where he was from. They could gossip. He told me he would go ahead and give me out without their involvement. He was ready to step on toes.

 

That night, I got a call from an American number. I picked it confused. It was uncle Chukwuma. I was surprised to hear from him and he was excited about talking to me. After exchanging pleasantries, he told me he just got off the phone with Obinna and asked for my number.

 

“I know you are aware you are a girl that is envied in the family. You went to school, graduated and now a practising medical doctor. All the time while growing up, you never brought shame or reproach to your family. We heard all the accusations labelled against you while you were with Emeka. I told those who cared to listen it wasn’t true. Later on, the family came to beg. Emeka solicited me to beg your father for forgiveness. The story is that you have had the most suitors in the family. You rejected many of them and they were Igbos. Now you want to marry a minority. They are ready to be stumbling blocks. I told them not to stand in your way. You can marry who you want to. If Emeka wanted his bride price back, he would have come to collect it. They have gone to ask Emeka’s father if truly they didn’t pay the bride price and if both of you were still married. I want them to satisfy their curiosity. Your wedding will hold; I will come back for it. It will be an honour”

 

“Thank you uncle Chukwuma. I feel so relieved”

 

 

“I am proud of you. You are the first young girl to leave the village, stayed with a relative and came back whole. You married early and, like I told Emeka, he wasn’t mature in handling his marriage and gave room for manipulation. I would have preferred to you go back to Emeka but then I can’t force you. This new man, I hope he is worth everything”

 

“Yes, he is, uncle. He is God’s desire for me and I can see clearly now why he chose him for me”

 

“I will meet him when I come home. I have told them to do their findings while I do mine. Emeka is not vindictive, he will not stand in your way”

 

“Emeka is married with two children. Emeka won’t dare stand in my way”

 

“Case closed. My dear, go to sleep. Have you chosen a date?”

 

“Yes sir”

 

“Send it to me so I would tick it on my calendar and book my flight. Go and prepare to be with your man”

 

I felt peace. I had been praying against obstacles. I never knew my father’s family would be a hindrance. I spoke with Obinna and told him all uncle Chukwuma said. We made our plans for the introduction. Uncle Chukwuma had I spoke to two of the most senior family members who were reasonable to attend the introduction. They were the ones that would do their findings and report back. We left it at that.

 

I spoke with Samuel that night. He had his own battles. His family didn’t want him marrying Igbo. He asked them what they had done for him since his father died and they kept shut. He told them if they refuse to go with him, he will take distant relatives with him. They threatened him. He was stubborn like his father. He brought prospective buyers to buy the village house and land that belonged to his father. Part of the house was where they also stayed when they were in town. They had been calling him but he refused to answer them.

 

I remembered the message about obstacles on our way. I asked Samuel to join me in a three day fast with prayers over our marriage plans at 6 am, 9 am, 12 noon, 3

 

 

pm, 6 pm, 9 pm and 12 midnight. We decided on what we would be praying for and wrote them down they included.

 

Successful and hitch-free marriage ceremony.

 

The eyes of the wicked ones shall be turned away from us.

 

Our immigration visas for our trip will be out before our wedding.

 

Our decision to relocate will open opportunities for us.

 

We shall not suffer any loss.

 

We took up this responsibility for three days. To do it successfully, Samuel didn’t go to work for those days. I did but I had the chapel to pray. We prayed together on the phone every day for three days. We fasted until 6 pm. It wasn’t bad at all. Samuel had never fasted before but he did it successfully and even continued afterwards.

 

One morning, his uncles came to the house. His mother couldn’t believe her eyes. Her husband’s arrogant siblings were sitting in her parlour. She entertained them and called Samuel to see them. He prayed before going to join them.

 

“It is glaring to us that an Igbo girl has captured your heart. We are not happy about it; we would have preferred an Efik girl. But, for you to want to sell all your father owned to a stranger and elope with her is wrong. If you can attempt to do that, it just goes to show how much you love her. We pray she loves you as much as you love her”

 

Samuel was excited. He couldn’t believe what he heard. He thanked them and fed them. Before they left, he brought out some money, prayed over it and handed them to his uncles. They were happy and left his house joyfully.

 

When he shared his experience with me, I knew everything was working together for our good. What I didn’t expect was the call I received the next day. It was good news but I didn’t expect my family to descend so low to be petty and malicious.

 

A number called me which I didn’t know. I was at work. I picked up. It was Emeka.

 

“You didn’t tell me you were getting married”

 

 

“Nothing has been concluded to share the news. How did you hear?”

 

“One of your uncles called me. He talked to me as though he was doing me a favour. How he got my number, I don’t know. He said you were remarrying without returning the bride price and the custom rites that were done when I was marrying you. He asked me to come back and stop the madness. Your family members are jokers”

 

“Which of them called you?”

 

“I won’t give further information until you tell me about this guy that is making your family run around”

 

“What do you want to know”

 

“Can I see what he looks like?”

 

“Cut the call and I will send you a picture”

 

“Bush girl, I can view it while I am talking to you. I am calling with a landline” he was right; I completely forgot. I sent him pictures of both of us.

 

“He is cute. But not your type of guy”

 

“Yeah, now I like me some hot chocolate with its richness”

 

“This guy can’t handle you. With the experience you’ve had, you will be bored in days”

 

“Who told you he doesn’t handle me well?”

 

“Akwaugo baby, you haven’t slept with him. You are careful holding him. Love is more in his eyes than yours. He looks so young. It favours me anyway. I will be working from London for a couple of months, I can help him out”

 

 

“Just like they are helping you out with your wife. She’s young too and might be disappointed at your performance and is finding solace on social media”

 

“She’s crazy. She’s free to cheat. The things she wants me to do we destroy me one day. She wants to tie me and whip me. She wants to take the lead during sex. How much does she earn? I told her it is not possible and we Nigerians are not dominated by our wives”

 

“Sometimes you should allow her to take the lead. She might just explode your mind. You’re still very rigid. If you allow a stud have her, you have lost her. You are in your forties and not as energetic as you used to be. Let her do the work”

 

“You have joined them to talk rubbish”

 

“That is the reality. She knows what she wants and would go for it. You can’t pin her down. You should be liberated by now”

 

He changed the tone of his voice to be sexy and said, “Come and liberate me”

 

“I give up on you. Tell me about my uncle”

 

“I thanked him for the information and told him it came late. I knew you were getting married but I didn’t know the date yet. I said I would be attending. He ended the call abruptly”

 

“That was a sweet response. Thank you so much”

 

“Anytime”.

 

As the days passed, our date looked like it was a reality. Samuel came with his mother, her friends and his uncles to ask for my hand in marriage. They were given a date to come for the list. It went very well.

 

Only three of my late father’s cousins attended the introduction. Obinna asked me to ignore them and the rumours they were carrying. I was disgusted with them and listened to him. Obinna knew how to handle the men in the compound. He ignored them.

 

 

Two weeks after, I received an email. I checked it and it read, “your application to migrate to Canada has been approved. For more information, contact the below”

 

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AKWAUGO