The Marriage Battle

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 8

Ayo: Are you serious? Tell me this is a joke please and if it is, stop for I am not finding it funny.

Adaobi: it isn’t Ayo! God knows that you are the man I want as a life partner 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 please, I don’t want to hear such nonsense.

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 through with the marriage plan.

Ayo: Because of my mother?

Adaobi: Ayo, try and understand 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 hugged.

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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 came with her mother and turned to her mother again ‘Mami, this one you are happy and what is making 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 understand.

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 nonsense 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 understand.

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.

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Later in the evening, Ayo came 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 class of high social status and will make you a good wife. I have accepted her with all my heart already.

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 need 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 Yoruba 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 already.

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 succked my brerast 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 body 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 needs 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: Already feeling uncomfortable about the whole situation decided to brace herself and act well for he may find her pleasing ‘Ayo,I know what you must be going through and believe me I am already 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 through.

Ayo: There is no need 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 need 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 understanding.

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 penetrate his 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