Tonia, stop crying, it's okay. I've told you nothing and no one can separate
me from you. Don't mind my mum. She will come around eventually.
I'm calling my
siblings right away. They'll talk some sense into her.
She has no choice but to
accept you. I want to marry you Tonia."
She wiped her tears fast. She couldn't believe what she just heard.
"Are you sure? Would she approve? Would your siblings approve?"
She asked, trying to hide her excitement.
"I don't care if they agree or not. This is my life. I've always lived
for the family. Even my career of choice had to take a back seat so I could
take care of the family business.
This is my chance at being happy. No one can
stop it, it's either they accept you or accept you.
I am the Megida of this family
and I deserve some respect."
The matter quickly became a family affair, everyone wanted to see the
"girl" who had Usman smitten and made him go against his mother, they
came to his house in troops, sizing Tonia up.
Usman had given Tonia his debit card to go shopping, and buy all she needed
to look respectable and beautiful.
He spared nothing at her expense. He got his
friend in Saudi Arabia to send her gold jewelleries, essential oils and
perfumes and expensive jalabia and abayas including veils and turbans.
Tonia was on a roll, she was living her dream, a car and driver inclusive.
She invited Damilola and Biola to go shopping with her.
They found it all
unbelievable. They were more than happy to spend out of the loot. They both
went back home with huge shopping bags and thick wallets.
Eventually, Akeem, Usman's brother who had always been worried about Usman
made the others see reason.
He made them realise this was the best for all
parties involved. He asked their mum and sisters: "how many ladies who belonged
in their social class would agree to marry Usman?"
Usman was more than ripe for marriage, yet he couldn't marry because of his
predicament. His marriage to Tonia would put an end to all negative
speculations.
Their sisters agreed, but their mum was stubborn, but eventually agreed when
she discovered all her other children were in Usman's corner.
A date was set for the wedding. It took place in Lagos as Usman and Tonia
had concluded it was better that way.
Tonia's mum, younger ones and relevant
family members were invited to Lagos for the event. They were well catered for,
and were elated that their daughter was getting married to a rich man.
Only Tonia's mum expressed her reservations about the whole arrangement, but
she was silenced by her in-laws and relatives, and Usman's kindness.
Usman's mum was a different story though, she was polite but cold, her
behaviour made Tonia's mum worried for her daughter.
But she was sent back home after the ceremony with loads of gifts and money.
Life was better for her because of the marriage. She accepted it and prayed for
her daughter's happiness.
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
For about six months, Tonia and Usman enjoyed each other's company, they
enjoyed their friendship. But more importantly, Tonia enjoyed the affluent
lifestyle. It was as if her life had changed overnight.
But sexual frustration began to set in, she was irritable most of the time.
Especially when Usman touched her.
She didn't want to be sexually aroused
without being sexually satisfied.
"Tonia, I understand how you feel, you've been a rock all this while,
you've been there for me, but you knew what you were getting yourself into from
the beginning, I didn't hide anything from you. So, please, be patient with me.
I won't touch you if you don't want me to. Just help keep up the good
impression we are giving outsiders. Please." He knelt down and begged her.
"Stand up honey, I'm sorry if I've been touchy. But it's not as easy as
I thought. What do we do now? We can't continue like this, we need to find a
solution. Or what do you think?"
"I understand how you feel like I said earlier, if I thought there was
a solution in sight, I would go to the end of the world to get it, but I've
explained to you how hard I've tried in the past.
I don't want to keep going
through the stress without anything to show for it."
"But I believe for every problem, there's a solution. We need to keep
trying. If we don't try, we won't know."
"Hmm." He sighed.
I vowed not to subject myself to the ridicule of
being examined, questioned and pitied anymore, but for you, I would do
anything.
But where do we go? Orthodox medicine has failed me, I once tried a
herbalist but it didn't work out as well." He said, holding his wife's
hands and looking into her eyes pleadingly.
"I had to confide in my mum when I couldn't take it anymore, she says
she'll make enquiries and get back to me." She answered.
"Tonia! You told your mum? She won't see me the same way anymore. How
do I face her after this?"
"Who else should I have told? My friends? Your friends? So they can
mock us behind us? At least, we are sure my mother won't mock us, she won't
gossip about us either. She's the best person to tell. Our problem is her
problem."
"It's okay, let me know whatever she comes up with. I hope she'll be
discreet though."
"You sound like your mum," she chuckled.
"Always discreet."
They both laughed and proceeded to eat their dinner downstairs.
For another one year, they visited different prophets, herbalists and
clerics, yet, there was no solution.
Usman ate different concoctions, drank
herbs, oils, and water.
He spent a lot of money all in a bid to find a cure, but there was no lead way.
#fiction
#girlchild
#marriage
All rights reserved
Written By Tolulope
Fakayode-Faniran
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