They Know How To Fight For Themselves

K sat down on a couch looking blankly into space. His mother arrived and just sat down as well. She looked at him for a while before asking if he wants them to call off the wedding. According to her she could find another woman for him to marry. K shook his head.

“When last did you hear from Temitope?” K asked his mother who sniffled and looked away. Then she waited for some minutes before asking him what he thinks about the idea of ending it with Ify.

“Mother!” K yelled. He told her to stop already and should not bring up talks about his marriage when he was talking family.

“What family are you talking about? Temitope that has no regards for her mother. I told her not to marry that oyibo. Even if she was to get married to one, he should be rich and influential. But no, she is marrying a mere reporter”. Olasile said to her son. She looked visibly angry. K sighed.

“Temitope is getting married tomorrow to that same oyibo that you do not want her to marry. And guess what, I just found out that she’s getting married tomorrow today. My own sister’s wedding and I won’t be there. Do you know why she did not tell anyone? She was afraid you will ruin it”. K said.

Olasile could not believe her ears. She told K he was lying. How could a man marry her daughter without paying her bride price? Not even performing the necessary marriage rites?

“Call that stupid daughter that wants to kill me before my time. She will not succeed. Tell her if she does not want to be disowned, she should cancel that wedding and come back to Nigeria or else, I will make sure your father disowns her and that idiot man she wants to marry goes to jail for kidnapping my daughter and forcing her to marry him”. Olasile said. K shook his head. His mother was obviously not getting it.

“How will you do that, putting him in prison? He is white, you are black! His skin alone makes him more superior than you are. Do you know why? They know how to fight for themselves, but we only know how to abandon and betray ourselves. He will get support and live happily ever after with your daughter even if he ends up turning her into a punching bag, there is nothing you can do about it”. K said to his mother.

“So, just accept him. Temi loves him. Give them your blessings. Ask them to come to Nigeria and perform the proper marriage rites so it does not act become a shameful thing to the Adewales. Please Mama, consider this!” K said to her yet again. The woman frowned at him and looked away. She could not imagine herself letting this happen. Other governor’s had their children married to elites, white or blacks, they all had a name in the society. But Temitope was going to marry a commoner.