Bimpe continued to call me from thursday till that
weekend but I never picked up.
It was saturday morning, betty had called me earlier
to give me time. I put on my best shirt and trouser
which I have ironed the previous night, I sprayed a
new expensive perfume I bought from bimpe’s
money. I stood infront of the mirror to access myself
many times before stepping out.
“Onihaxy!!!, you are going to meet rich in-laws, so you
have to package yourself”.
I carried myself in style from my house to oshodi to
lekki gate. I took a shuttle bus to betty’s house and
finally arrived at their compound by 4pm. Betty came
to pick me from the gate and we entered the house
together.
I met henry in the living room watching football
highlights. He welcomed me and I sat beside him
after greeting him, betty excused us and climbed
upstairs.
ME: hello sir,
HENRY: hi mr …………?
ME: onihaxy
HENRY: oooh onihaxy, I used to forget your name.
ME: ***smiled****
HENRY: thanks so much for the other day, I so much
appreciate you.
ME: **lean forward*** you are welcome sir
HENRY: ***smiled and silent***
ME: so how is daniella?,
HENRY: she is fine. She is upstairs sleeping.
ME: hope she has fully recovered?
HENRY: yes. The doctor just told us to let her rest.
ME: that’s cool.
HENRY: so, how is work and family?
ME: fine sir.
HENRY: what is your occupation?
ME: ***chaiii, omo see interview***, eehmmm. I work
with a water company as a quality control manager.
HENRY: waaaoooh. That’s cool, hope its not
stressful?,
ME: not really, but anything that involves payment
has to come in stress.
HEnRY: you are so right.
ME: ****silent for a while****
HENRY: ****silent too***
ME: ****looked at the TV screen*** this gunners club
are not trying of recent
HENRY: yes ooo my brother. The club don dey Bleep-
up this days. And they had been barren for years
ME: yes ooo
***football argument continued******
BETTY: ****coming down from the stairs and looking
at us******. Hmmm, men and football sha!!!!
HENRY: na so now, atleast ours is better than
gossips you girls do. *** faced me*** onihaxy, abi no
be so?
ME: ***smiled*** na so oooo.
BETTY: ehn ehn onihaxy!!, is that what you will say
also?
ME: smiled
HENRY: ***faced betty**** where is bimpe?
BETTY: she is still in the kitchen.
ME: hmmmm, no wonder I have been perceiving
aroma since ***smiled***
HENRY: betty, please tell her that we are ready to
eat.
Betty went to the kitchen while henry and I continued
our arguments, we started from football, then enter
politics from there to life style, then to women. We
related as if we knew each other for long. As we
were discussing, bimpe was looking at me and I was
looking back in annoyance but I hid it from betty and
henry. The table was set and the four of us sat on
the table. Betty did the serving and we were
discussing as we are eating. I sat beside betty,
bimpe sat next to her and opposite me. Henry sat
beside bimpe.
HENRY: onihaxy, betty discussed so much about you
which I think I’m somehow satisfied with.
ME: thank you sir.
HENRY: my wife also said she used to live in same
area with you before and that you guys used to fight.
Me: ***smiled***
BETTY: that’s past tense brother, they have
reconciled with each other.
BIMPE: ***smiled***
HENRY: if that is it, thank God. But onihaxy, there is
a little problem.
ME: **scared*** what is that sir?
HEnRY: there is an agreement that she must posses
her masters before getting married. Do you think you
can cope and wait?
ME: I’m already aware of that sir. I will definitely wait
since I don’t have another alternative.
BiMpE: ***paused her meal and stared at me****
BETTY: so if you have alternative, you will dump me
abi?
ME: haba dear, you know I won’t do that na.
BETTY: you just try it!!!, I will kill both of you. You
and your alternative
THREE OF US: ***laughed***
HENRY: another thing is that she will be travelling
out of the country for her program., hope you won’t
disappoint us?
ME: I won’t sir, its betty we should beg that she
shouldn’t disappoint me.
HENRY: I trust her she dare not.
**faced bimpe***. Mummy daniella, you aren’t saying
anything about our discussion?, why?
BIMPE: ***sighed*** just don’t have anything to say
to it. Whatever you people decide is ok by me.
BETTY: hmmmmmm. Brother, don’t mind both of
them, their fight is off and on?
BIMPE: haba!!!!, aunty betty, stop that now, did I tell
you we are fighting?
ALL OF US: smiled.
HENRY: ****brought out a cheque*** mr onihaxy,
here is a cheque of 100k, as a token of appreciation
for saving our daughter. Thanks so much.
BIMPE & BETTY: stared at me
ME: ***think for a while****, thanks so much sir. But
please keep it, daniella is more like my own daughter
also.
BIMPE: ****looking scared***
ME: ***continued*** I knew her and used to meet her
here even before knowing you. So it won’t sound
right. Thanks so much once again, no offence sir,
HENRY: that’s wonderful mr onihaxy, but I still insist.
Please accept it from me.
ME: ok, if you insist sir, hold it and deduct it from the
bride price I will be paying.
HENRY: ***handshake with me***, thanks so much
onihaxy,
ME: you are welcome sir.
We chit-chat for about 30 more minutes. I checked
my time and it was few minutes to 7pm.
ME: I need to get going sir.
HENRY: why so early?
ME: my destination is far sir.
HENRY: where is that?
ME: ***chaii, how you go call mushin for this kind
place na** fadeyi area.
HENRY: ok bro, see you some other time.
ME: **smiled*** you aren’t always around
HENRY: yeah. that’s right, I’m running. Professional
course every weekend in abuja. I was around today
just because I was expecting you.
ME: ok sir.
BETTY: ok, let me see you off. Ooops, where is my
phone?
ME: where did you put it?
BETTY: I can’t even remember, give me your phone
onihaxy, let me use it to find my phone.
ME: ok ***hand over my phone to her****
BETTY: ***climbed upstairs with my phone in her
hand using it to dial her number***