The Marriage Battle

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 4

Mami was glad that Kemi asked her the question she wanted to ask but didn’t know how to put it to make Adaobi not to feel umcomfortable with her but as soon as Kemi asked the question, she saw the surprised look in Adaobi’s eyes and also saw that she was uncomfortable but said nothing about it and kept looking at her.

Adaobi: Ermmm, it is not his money that I am in love with but the man himself.

Kemi: That’s what all of you will say.

Mami: Kemi, how can you say such nonsense from your mouth? Adaobi, Please do not mind her. She doesn’t use to listen to most of the words that comes out of her mouth.

Adaobi: it’s okay, I can understand her fears.

Mami: I am so glad you understand. By the way, what do your parents do for a living?

Adaobi: Actually, my Mom is late and my dad is a retired civil servant.

Mami: So, he doesn’t have any business or anything that he is doing or a business that someone is running for him?

Adaobi: No he doesn’t, he only has a small farm he manages when he is strong to go to the farm.

Mami: A farm?

Adaobi: Yes a farm.

Kemi: A big poultry farm?

Adaobi: No, not a big poultry farm. Just a one man’s farm to keep himself busy.

Mami: Hmmmm. How many are you in your family?

Adaobi: We are three in my family. I have two junior brothers.

Mami: You are the first child?

Adaobi: Yes.

Mami: I looked at her and was lost for words for Adaobi is just a poor girl who is trying to reach the high status. She is indeed beautiful and I am sure that is the only reason my son likes her she thought to herself ‘Errmmm, I am so very hungry, can you go to the kitchen and get something ready for us to eat.

Adaobi: Ermmmm, what?

Mami: I am hungry, I need you to prepare something delicious.

Adaobi: Ermmm, she looked at Kemi.

Mami: ‘She has not been feeling fine, don’t mind the way she talks’ she lied ‘it’s when she is sick that she says stupid things.

Adaobi: ‘Alright Mami, I will go and get dinner ready for you guys’ she stood up and went to the kitchen.

Mami: after she left, she clapped her hands and smiled at her daughter ‘so this is the girl he wants to marry, a pauper?

Kemi: she fine sha.

Mami: Na fine my pikin go chop? I do not like her.

Kemi: Why Mami?

Mami: Because she is an igbo girl, I hate igbo people eh!

Kemi: Wetin igbo people do you? I have friends that are igbo and they are nice ooo.

Mami: I do not care, I don’t just like this one.

Kemi: Mami, this is her first day here, you shouldn’t be harsh on her.

Mami: Will you shut up there? Stay there and be acting all nice, this woman will take away your only brother and the love he has for you will be no more.

Kemi: I do not agree with you.

Mami: Okay na, watch and see. Don’t say I did not tell you ooo.

Kemi: I hear.

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Papa: Emenike, I called you here because there is something I will like to discuss with you.

Emenike: “What is it Azubike” for that is the name he usually calls his junior brother? “Hope you haven’t sold the only piece of land that you have?”

Papa: No! How can I sell the only thing I have left?

Emenike: Thank God then, what is it you want to talk to me about?

Papa: is about Adaobi.

Emenike: What is wrong with her?

Papa: She said that one of these days, the man that want to marry her will be coming.

Emenike: Hahahahaaha…really? At last, the gods of our land has answered my prayers.

Papa: Emenike, Please sit down and let us talk?

Emenike: ‘Relax and let me Thank the Gods’ he moved around chanting some incantations, raise his hands up in the air and said ‘Dalu, you have done it’ after that he sat with his brother to continue their discussion.

Papa: Are you done?

Emenike: I am done oooo. Do you know how I have been wandering about this Adaobi not getting married? I was beginning to think that there is a problem somewhere.

Papa: There is no problem anywhere, it just wasn’t her time.

Emenike: Well, we thank the gods anyway. So now, what is it you really want to tell me concerning that matter?

Papa: I wanted to just tell you to get yourself ready because as soon as she informs me of the date he is coming, I will let you know. As my senior brother, it is only right that you are in the house when he comes.

Emenike: That is a good one and it is fine by me. Errrmm, who is he and where is he from?

Papa: Well, according to my daughter, she said he is a Yoruba guy from Ekiti state.

Emenike: Ekiti kwa? So she didn’t see all these our fine igbo boys to marry,is from another region that she saw a man? Why didn’t you tell her it must be an igbo man?

Papa : My daughter has made her decision and all I have to do is support her,I do not want anything to make her unhappy.

Emenike: Hmmmm okay oooo. What does he do for a living?

Papa: I think he is an Engineer and he does other businesses too.

Emenike: Good, that is good. What other businesses does he do?

Papa: I have no idea, I didn’t really ask until he comes.

Emenike: is he rich?

Papa: Bia Emenike, what kind of question is that? it is your type that goes around spoiling the image of the igbos. How can you ask me that question?

Emenike: and what is wrong with me asking you if the man our daughter wants to marry is rich?

Papa: why didn’t you ask me if she is really happy about her decision?

Emenike: Why do I need to ask you that? of course she is happy because if she isn’t, she won’t tell you anything about it. Is he rich?

Papa: I do not know and I don’t care if he is., all I know is that if my daughter is happy with him and his financial status, fine by me.

Emenike: Hmmm okay, when he comes, let me know sha for I will find out on my own.

Papa: Bia Emenike, do not do what you did to chinenye’s husband when he came to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage oooo, I won’t accept it if you try doing it on my daughter.

Emenike: What did I do?

Papa: You sucked the man dry simply because of bride price. Were you selling your daughter away?

Emenike: She is my daughter and I know that I won’t really be having whatever I want that was why it was like that.

Papa: you have done your own with your daughter; don’t carry that method to my side, she is my daughter and not yours.

Emenike: Ehen, so now she is your daughter? As if you didn’t get anything from the money that Chinenye’s husband gave to us.

Papa: I have told you oooo, I will not tolerate that behavior.