PART 3
” NWALA: THE BITTERSWEET STORY”
©️ Opeyemi Akintunde
As Inspired by the Holy One.
“What?”
My mother, my father, the two maids, my three cousins had rushed towards my room.
“Nwala?” My father called my name with a questioning tone.
“Mummy, what is this?” I showed her the text message.
“Daddy, please help me tell mummy I am not my sisters, I am not marrying a man she will choose for me… I am Nwala, I make my choices and Daniel is the man I will marry, not Reuben the General Overseer’s son”
Everyone present was shocked, except my parents of course.
My Cousins were initially shocked but couldn’t help but later give muffled laughter…
“You see, even Tobi, Uche and Amara can tell that the marriage will be a joke… Do I look like a Pastor’s wife? Mba! Mba ( No! No!) Mummy, this one you did not see it well.” I said pacing in my room angrily.
“Nwala, is that why you wanted to kill me this morning?” My father asked madly.
“I am sorry Daddy, I woke up to his text message, and I am like, ‘like play like play’ if I do not stop mummy, I will be married before next Sunday to a man I don’t even know”
“You don’t know Reuben?” My mother finally found her voice.
“Yes mum, I don’t know him”
“You don’t know Reuben you have been in church together for 8 Years. Reuben that you are in the same Hospitality unit. Reuben that leads prayer session?” my mother started listing the guy’s C.V.
“Mummy, I only know Reuben as the G.O.’s son, if I have my eyes closed, I can’t even remember his face”
“If only this girl knows the Big opportunity, she is about to lose…” My mother said out loud shaking her head in regret.
“Nwakaego, if Nwala doesn’t want what you think is good for her, let her have what she thinks is right for her”. My father said before exiting the room. After my father speaks on a matter, it was always final.
I saw how immediately downcast my mother looked. I was partially happy my father had given me my liberty, but partly I felt I was being the black sheep. I knew my mother meant well but she had her domineering way about it…
“I will go for the lunch, at least let me see the market you want me to buy…” I said hoping to lift my mother’s spirit up, but she looked me in the eye as if to say “I know what you are up to” She didn’t have to say it, I could read it in her eyes.
“I am not planning to do what you think I am going to do” I said but my mother was not interested.
“Mummy G.O. Nwala” Uche teased
“That will be Mummy G.O Wahala (Trouble)” Tobi said
“You guys should stop it” Amara said moving into the room to where I was standing while the boys disappeared.
I could still hear their taunt…
“Wahala Nwala for mummy G.O”
Amara was my maternal cousin who had lost her mother to cancer, she was two years older but still in her second year in the university. After her mother’s demise, my mother took over her welfare and that of her brother; Uche.
“Nwala, you are lucky” Amara said
“Don’t start Amara, lucky to have the G.O’s son interested in me? Babe, I am not some lame girl. I have someone in my life”
“I am not referring to that, I am saying you are lucky to have a mother who is here for you” Amara’s words hit me deeply…
“I wish mum was still around so I could tell her everything, even to how I can’t find a missing pen, but I don’t have that. Nwala, you have that, cherish and make the best out of it. Even if you don’t like her choice for you, sit and have a talk. Those sitting sessions; I don’t have that; I would give everything in the world to have just a 10 minutes conversation with my mother again” Amara’s tears flowed…
“I am sorry Amara…” I said hugging her tightly. For your sake, I will have lunch with him and afterwards have a conversation with my mum…” I committed
Amara’s advice no doubt softened me a bit.
Amara walked out of my room, and my phone was the next point of call.
“Sir,
Lunch will be great. Today would be fine SIR, as I have school matters to attend to as from tomorrow. I believe it will be at Shalom Resturant?
Would 2pm be a perfect time?
Nwala”
I replied his text and like someone working at a Customer Service Center, his reply was almost immediate;
“Nah…lol… Shalom Restaurant is the Church Restaurant; I was thinking of somewhere more private that has a beautiful scenery”
My eye popped…
“Yeye dey wear perfume” (Something stinky is trying hard to smell nice) I thought to myself.
I read the text like five times…
“Bishop’s son wants somewhere private and beautiful; it is true these pastor’s kids are always shady. This one must be a playboy, pervert, flirt… Uncle, I am not one of the girls you must have been dating privately from Church” I said to the empty room.
“No problem sir, your call sir” I was emphasizing the SIR, because I wanted to use it to measure a long yard of distance between us…
“You are the lady, please choose the location” He texted back.
“Oga, which one be all this back and forth, firstly, I am not a lady and secondly you are wasting my time” these were the words I typed, but I erased it.
Instead, I calmly wrote..
“Red Hilton, 1pm” I replied.
Red Hilton was close to the house, so I needed somewhere I could drive to. Yes! I had a car even as a 300-level student, my father deals in cars remember?…
Nwala is not your regular girl…Do you understand?
Well in case you don’t yet understand me, Wait for it … It’s coming…
To be continued…
