BEFORE DECEMBER
Chapter 6
…. I knew marriage was not something I would love to rush into,so I politely told him to give me some time to think about it, before giving him an answer. His countenance changed, I knew you didn’t like the idea. there was nothing he could do anyways, the dinner ended as quickly as possible,he managed to drive me home without saying a word or through the journey. Getting home, immediately I alighted from the car, he drove off without saying a word.
what happened Amanda? how was the dinner mother asked, and why am I not seeing any ring on your fingers.? mum don’t tell me you were aware that Edos was going to propose, of course the young man told me and I was very happy infact I have started to call some wedding planners I know, how could you? I mean I just met this guy for God’s sake, as a mother you should know better.you are saying rubbish, how did dinner go I asked and why is he angry like that. Well mother I asked him to give me time to think about it.
My God, my God, my enemies are at work ,I am finished. Amanda are you insane ? what’s your problem, are you possessed, have you sworn that you would never be someone’s wife, this certainly is not ordinary , something is wrong somewhere, Amanda your mates are all in their husbands house with children, and you are here making a fool of yourself to the only man who has looked your way .Amanda if that young man loses interest in you, you will cease to be my child ,because I am tired of the shame from my fellow women ,I am the only woman in our club, whose daughter is yet to get married. I keep attending other people’s weddings, yet mine has refused to get married, I am now ashamed of going to parties.
mother please if you are ashamed of going to parties then stay at home, you are not going to force me into any marriage, I am an adult and I know what I want. marriage is not a game that I can rush in, mother who gets married in two weeks. in as much as I want to get married I want to take it one step at a time, oh will you shut up, what do you mean one step at a time, you should be thinking of 20 steps at a time, do you think you are getting any younger ? you do not want to rush things, no wonder you are so slow .see who is talking someone that has not been able to get a man by herself, I am busy doing everything I can to make you look like your mate but it’s obvious you want to die a Spinster, but let me tell you young lady, you will not make me an object of ridicule amongst my mate. You are getting married to Edos and that’s final, I didn’t say I wasn’t going to get married , I only need some time to pray about the whole thing and also know a little about him, prayer warrior, detective, Weldon ma, so after so many years of your praying and going to church programs how many men have proposed to you, you can get married and pray for your family ,it is the same thing, whether you pray before the marriage or you pray inside your marriage or you pray after your marriage,it is the same thing. all I know is that, you will marry Edos and that’s final she went inside angrily….
What kind of a mother is this I thought within me.
The next morning I was dressed for work when I saw Edos drove into the compound, Amanda please I can’t imagine my life without you, this past two weeks has been the best all my life please I beg you do me the honour of been the one to walk you down the aisle. He knelt down with the ring, mother and father were there asking me to say yes, I didn’t know exactly how to handle the situation, mother will have my head off If i rejected his proposal once more, mother was asking me to say yes yes,,, finally I said YES!!!!Edos was happy and slipped the ring down my third finger,father was happy too,my mother had put calls across to my brothers informing them I was getting married…..
I called Helen and informed her about my wedding,she was very shocked,and told me she would come see me when she closes from her shop.she came as promised, Ama,what is this you are saying,you are getting married to a man you met in less than two weeks, Helen,mother said I don’t need to date him for years,that she knows he loves me,oh Ama,you don’t rush things like that,you have to know more about him,Helen we aren’t getting married tomorrow,I can still know more about him before the wedding,oh my goodness,Ama what has come over you,okay have you prayed,have you asked God for directions,you know in marriage God is the only one that cannnnnnnnnn, deputy God, assistant Jesus, Weldon ma,see what jeolousy is doing to you,you are so pained my daughter is getting married before you,and you are trying all means to make her not to,no come oh,you that have been praying, why are you still single,you have become the Chairlady single sisters Association,mother,stop it, what’s all these,you are embarrassing my guest,and I don’t like it,No Ama it’s okay,I would like to be on my way,yes go,go, rubbish,Oh no Helen you don’t have to go,she walked out sadly,I didn’t know what to do to this woman called my mother.
I was to go with Edos to Benin that weekend,to get to meet his family,,before we knew it weekend was standing with us,and we were on our way to Meet with his family.we arrived Benin and met his mother and sisters,his father was late,I greeted his mother and sisters,he introduced me to them as his fiance,the expression on his mother’s face showed she didn’t like me,but I managed to compose myself.Larre oh ,”Edosa,u ma mie ovbiedo,una ya muo ovbigbo” she told her son,even though I didn’t understand the language, but because I heard Edo and Igbo I figured it had to do with me being an Igbo lady,they spoke for some time with Bini,and I was just smiling since I didn’t know how to join in the conversation,they lived in a three bedroom apartment,the sisters were married they only came to welcome us,one of the two sisters seems nicer than the other to me,her name was Adesuwa,the other Itoha seems not to like me like thier mom….
Getting to our room I inquired of him his mother’s thought of me,she doesn’t like me does she?,I asked,welllllll you know mothers and their concern, she’s only worried about the tribal differences,but don’t worry,she will get around,I promise.okay dear,if u say so.
We stayed for three days with his family in Benin,I did the best I could to be myself while I was with them, unfortunately his mother was still not fully willing to receive me,she wanted a bini girl for her son.we came back to Lagos,and I told my parents all that went on in benin,,don’t worry Chimamanda she’s going to accept you with time,all that’s important now is the wedding….
Yesss,I said 3000 guest,yesssss, exactly,I know,of course, it will be a celebrity wedding,thank you,okay later…
Hellooo,I told you,Gold and white,good, that’s how I want it, remember the cake should be 11steps, exactly,it Should be one of a kind,, something that has never been seen anywhere,I want my daughter’s wedding to be the talk of the whole Lagos,good,you are getting me,thank you….
Mom,don’t you think you are over stressing yourself for this wedding,I mean ,it just a wedding,no no , it’s not just a wedding oh,it’s a celebrity wedding,my only daughter is getting married,and I am the mother of the bride at last.mother was the one in charge and she was really happy…….
Indeed my wedding was nothing I have ever seen, Edos really tried in the financial aspect,he made provision to all mom’s demands,this man must really love me,I had thought.
Even though Helen didn’t like the idea of me getting married to Edos who I just met,and how mom had embarrassed her,she was still very much with me to support me,as a friend would,and was my maid of honor…
At last I had become a Mrs,a married woman
Mrs Chimamanda Edosa…….