27/8/1997
Somewhere in Lagos
Emeka is seen by many as a fine young man. One would take a glance at his copiously furnished apartment, two modern automobiles and lavish style of dressing to arrive at this conclusion, yet more stands him out. For it is not in his possessions that he is truly well represented but in his handsome looks and kind heart, for he tried successfully to put smiles on the faces of others. He had a great life, yet it could be better and he was determined to affix one last piece of the puzzle that'll lead to eternal bliss or so he hoped.
27/4/1998.
Somewhere in eastern Nigeria.
"Ndi be anyi kwenu"
"Yaaaa"
"Kwenu"
"Yaaaa"
"Kwe zuo nu oooooooo"
"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee"
"He who brings kola brings life"
"Our people say that a stranger is no longer a stranger once you eat from the same plate with him, and it is for this reason that I implore our visitors to tell us why they are here today, lest we send them away and they remain strangers to us forever" concluded mazi okpuzu.
Emeka's uncle stands up
"Standing on the already existing protocols" he began
"Poroto- gini" shouted a mischievous fellow from the back which elicited roars of laughter from all present except emeka, whose heart was beating thirty times per second.
"It is a thing of joy" continued the speaker "that we are gathered here today as a people, for Igbos say that we gather together not because each man does not have a home or food to eat, but because it is good for cordialness"
"Go straight to the point" whispered the same fellow to which he got not adulation this time but angry stares.
"We are here today to marry a beautiful daughter of this family and as you can see, we came bearing gifts" he said, waving around him to the different food items, drinks and clothing materials with which they came. "I take my seat"
Mazi Okpuzu stands again
"We have heard you, he began and there is no need over flogging this issue as this is not your first visit, so I'll let the father of our well educated and beautiful daughter chidinma present you with the list of items for the proposed traditional marriage"
The list is handed to Emeka, with close friend Ebuka straining his neck to see it's contents.
Emeka takes the expected quick glance at the two paged document as expected and smiles, saying that it's nothing.
"That's not all of it"
"Eh"
"That's for the family alone, that of the extended family is a little bit more than that, but I'm sure my in-law is capable" he finished with a smile.
The first beads of sweat are seen on Emeka's temple accompanied with a slight hand tremor seen by the shaking of the list.
Noticing Emeka's discomfort, the fellow from the back shook his head gravely and sighed before speaking up.
"Our in-law, there's another way"
"Huh" gasped the crowd.
"If this is too much for you then there is a much shorter list which it's items would suffice"
"Will you sit......."
"Papa, wait"
"My in-law, just get the following items"
"The toenail of a Hot dragon"
"Side chic of a disabled hyena"
"5th lower tooth of a crocodile's foetus"
"And a partridge in a pear tree"
Silence......
The end.