We arrived the Murtala Airport late on Saturday evening from Dubai.The flight had been smooth.
My younger sister, Elsie, was there to receive us. The moment she saw
us, she brightened, and edged closer. She was looking delectable.I have
always envied her body and her beauty. I still do.
Her steps were very deliberately sensual.
Nsikak grinned
I wore dark shades.
"Ah ah Sister. What about the glasses?" My younger sister, Elsie ,said.
I smirked, and removed my shades.
"Ahh, what happened to you?" She asked. The mark of the devil hadn't totally erased.
She exchanged glances with Oga and he cleared his throat and replied. " Hmmm, she fell from one of the stairs in Dubai"
"Stair case? What happened?That is serious", Elsie said, concern in her voice. "Sister, I hope you are now alright?"
"I took her to the hospital" he said, hugging me.
I nodded a sympathetic nod. And gave a fake smile again.
"Madam, welcome". Akpan our driver, said,as he took our luggages from us.
"Akpan, aba die?", Nsiskak said. They exchanged handshakes and both laughed heartily.
"Idioko", Akpan responded in the midst of the laughter.
We were led by Akpan, our driver, to where the SUV was parked. And we returned home in silence.
For the next one month I had no intercourse with my husband. I stayed in my room. As a matter of fact, I locked it.
But after about a month, I relaxed. Nsiskak seemed to change. He was
nice, apologized repeatedly about what happened in Dubai, and bought me
gifts.
Work returned to normal. I returned to my Bank job after
the leave and Nsikak kept traveling round for his preaching
engagements.He had quite a lot within Uyo where we lived. You could
actually see his pictures on a number of Bill Boards as invited guest
for a number of church programs.
I didn't tell anyone about the Dubai incident. I just let it pass. It was my cross. I remained the submissive wife.
4 months into my marriage, I was bored.But I returned back to staying
with him in his room. He didn't touch me or make any attempt.There was a
huge gap between us when we slept on that bed.
There was no sex again.
No spark.
No desire.
Just memories of violation. Of rape. Of the beatings. Though it was far behind, I could still feel it as if it were yesterday.
And still I wanted a man, a decent man. Decent sex. The regular sex.
Now I was getting attracted to some of my co-workers. I desperately
wanted to have sex with one of them. Any of them. Women, do understand
this?
I was living in hell.
I went to work this Monday morning.
By 10 am there was a file my boss needed for me to provide. But it occurred to me that I had left it at home.
I hurried back home in my SUV.
I dashed into the house. The door was unlocked. Then I went to his
room, opened the door to go fetch the file that most likely was at the
side of the bed.
I heard moans and stopped dead in my track.
They were both underneath the sheet.
His head was the one I noticed first. There was no shock in his eyes.
Then I saw the next person and my jaw dropped!
"Akpan, what are you doing in my matrimonial bed?!"
It is the goal of any couple to put together a wedding, and a decent one at that.
Isn’t it?
How much does a typical Nigerian wedding cost? Let say between N1 Million and N2.5 Million.
Right?
Some go for higher.
If you are unfortunate to have greedy parents in laws, ‘your own don finish’.
I know a young man who had a list of that ran into N4 Million. That
didn’t cover the Traditional marriage and white wedding. The man in
question bolted…lol.
Young people interested in marriage go
through a lot. I know of one who finished marrying and then had to hide
for months because his creditors were looking for him.
I wonder what kind of honey moon he had?(lol)
Another husband suddenly turned very lean just after his wedding…when I
asked him what was wrong he just said, “Men, the wedding o.”
With poverty everywhere, and parents in-laws refusing to compromise on
their very long lists, a tactic must be developed so that every single
young man in Nigeria who wants to marry can.
Is it possible to put together an affordable wedding in Nigeria?
Of course , it is.
Here are some ideas.
They are strictly mine. You don't have to follow them, but if you do, they will work for you.
1. MARRY A WISE WOMAN.
Marry a woman who knows that wedding is for just a day and that marriage is for a life time.
Marry a woman who knows that no matter how glamorous your wedding turns out, someone else will do a better one
.Marry a woman who has the guts to look into her parent’s eyes and say, “I want to get married !” and mean it.
Be choosy about the kind of wife you marry.
Don’t marry a liability.
2. GO TO THE RIGHT HOME TO PICK YOUR WIFE.
Be careful what home you go to pick a wife.
Some parent in laws are not just worth it, especially the demanding
ones. If their daughter cannot talk to them and things are sorted out,
you have an issue.
3. DISCUSS YOUR BUDGET WITH YOUR WIFE.
Tell your wife about your budget.
4. ASK FOR HELP.
Don’t be afraid to ask your committee of friends for help.
It is pride to think you can do it all.
5. STICK TO YOUR BUDGET.
6. DO A JOINT WEDDING.
Joint weddings are cheaper.
These days pastors join several couples on the same day, isn’t that so?
How about doing a joint reception with a couple that may agree.
It would be fun and lovely.
You will cut on hall and decorations.
You will also cut on food.
You two can both have one MC.
Everything still remains the same.
Wedding trains will be different.
Both couples will each have their lovely chairs on the platform.
Their cakes will be different too.
The space for their parents would be different. The camera men would be different…but there will be one central camera man.
The wedding program would be the same.
Fun, right?
Yeah! Some Catholic churches are already encouraging these to help couples cut down on cost.
I was in one that had 3 weddings at the same time.
Well organized.
It was fun..
It was different !
7. RECEIVE GIFTS…DON’T GIVE GIFTS.
Where did we get that culture that the couple must give gifts to guests?
Rubbish!
You are to collect and not give.
Go to a typical Nigerian wedding and see the rush for gifts!
8. DO A WEEK DAY WEDDING. Imagine doing a wedding on a Wednesday by 4pm? Yeah.
Only those who love you will be there.
9. USE YOUR CHURCH PREMISES FOR RECEPTION.
I think that is a brilliant idea. My younger sister who got married recently did just that. They saved venue cost.
10. DO A TRADO AND REGISTRY AND THEN WHITE LATER.
Not a bad idea too.
The most important thing in marriage is your parental consent and the
recognition of your marriage by he Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Church celebration can come later.
But please don’t forget to involve your pastor in your Trado and Court.
11. ALWAYS SAVE FOR AFTER THE WEDDING.
Don’t borrow and make sure you have something to feed your wife.
12. USE AN OPEN SPACE WITH CANOPIES, RATHER THAN HALLS. obviously that is cheaper.
13. FEED A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
Look, the truth is that not everyone eats in a wedding.
The people who truly love you, may not have time to eat.
So focus on a few guest and don’t worry about people who complain that they did not eat in your wedding
Monday morning. Zenith Bank Aka Road, Uyo was bustling and beaming with activities. Vehicles driving in and out.
Several Customers were going in for banking transactions and other customers were going out satisfied, perhaps.
The Banking hall had, as usually, shapy, well dressed damsels busying
themselves.Tall,Good looking men with jet black well tailored suits with
the traditional Zenith bank red tie also graced the hall.
AdaObi Osuji was one of those damsels.
Her desk was at the customers' service area, and she shared that huge desk with her colleague Bisi Olatunde.
While Bisi was attending to a customer, Adaobi, free at the moment, was
putting finish touches to her report on the flat screen desktop before
her.
But she was not concerntrating.
She was thinking
about the sermon Pastor Okri preached in Church the previous day. He
had talked about Maintaining Your Sexual Purity. Church had beem calm,
members absorbed.
Ada and her fiance were in that Sunday service, and had to really talk after the meeting.
They had known for 1 year plus and they had initially not gone beyond
kissing. But in recent times they had graduated into petting. Heavy
petting.
She liked him.
A lot.
He liked her too.
But the heavy petting was disturbing her conscience.
“I want us to keep this thing chaste.I want God to be in this
relationship. Is that okay?” Ada had said to Richard, her fiance on
Sunday after that service.
“Ok”
She had gone close to him and said, “Richie, I want to marry you as a virgin”
He loved her for that.
She was really good looking with the figure that could keep any man gazing, but she had kept her body.
She was a virgin at 25!
And he liked her for that.
He respected her.
The kissing spree was his fault.
Body no be wood, he had thought. But deep in his heart, he knew she had allowed him thus far because she really loved him.
AdaObi was worried because even after they had discussed the
issue,passion had still taken over before he left her on Sunday, though
without sex.
“Good afternoon”
AdaObi looked up with a start, breaking free from mental drift. Her very private thoughts.
“Good afternoon sir. How may I help you?” She said in an almost British ascent.
He wore a stripped blue suit and nice tie.
But he also wore a black rimmed glass on his face.
He looked 30 something. 35, not more.His Voice sounded extremely confident and polished.
“I want to speak to your manager”, he said with a smile that made Adaobi return it.
“You will have to speak to me first sir before I refer you to our manager”
He smiled again.
Then there became something sinister about the new smile.
He turned to look around, Flicked his eyes, brought out a plastic bag, and then withdrew a gun from it.
“O my God!” AdaObi almost screamed, he hand over her mouth. "O My God!"
Bisi stopped work and the customer who was sitting by suddenly fell
flat on the ground. He was a Yoruba with a kaftan. But he just went flat
on the ground before he was instructed to do so.
“Ok, ladies
and gentle men!” the sinister man said out loud. “Stay calm and you will
be alright..do anything funny and you are a goner!”
Suddenly, a
number of men in the banking hall , also well dressed ,drew out plastic
bags and withdrew guns. Then they put on masks.
About 5 of them did this.
Two gun shots were heard outside and every customer in the banking let out a chorused yelp.
"Lie flat!" the sinister leader shouted. "Every one lie flat!"
Customers obeyed the command.
Then the leader said, "Osama! Move" He made some hand movements. And Osama climbed upstairs with his gun.
Soon shouts could be heard upstairs.
"Barack!" he shouted again and pointed to the bulk counting room. And Barack moved that direction.
"Shina Rambo!" and Shina Rambo quickly rounded up the security guys who
were assigned to the banking hall. They were already lying flat,
cowered by these guys.
Two gun shots were heard again outside.
"You!" The leader said and pointed towards Adaobi's direction. "Sit up"
AdaObi did as commanded, visibly shaken. She was muttering, "Jesus, Jesus Jesus". Though quite silently.
"Now, I asked you before and I want an answer. Where is your manager?"
She couldn't see his face this time. He had worn the mask. She dared not even look.
She pointed towards the counter region.
His gun was still directed to her but his neck moved towards that direction.
"Manager, where are you? Give me the vault key and this would be a fast
one. We will be out in no time and no one would be hurt"
No manager surfaced.
The incessant ratatas of AK-47 riffles were heard outside.
Someone dashed into the hall, there was panic in his pace. He was masked. He ran towards the leader calling him, "Obama"
He edged closer and said a few things in the ear of Obama, the leader
"Where is the manager?!" His voice was louder.There was also haste in it. "Do you want someone to die?"
Then he shot.
Ada ducked.
The daylight halogen bulb on the ceiling shattered
"I am the m-manager!" a round looking lady on female suit emerged. "Please don't shoot"
"Move!" He said to her, then he said somethings to the new entrant and
that fellow moved the manager with his gun to the direction of the
vault.
More shots were heard outside.
Osama came back with a huge bag from the bulk room.
Obama , the leader, nodded.
It was when Osama was trying to speak to his leader on his return from the bulk room that he saw Adaobi.
He paused.
They had been both Course mates at FUTO. Since he was masked, she didn't recognize him.
5 minutes after, the smooth operation was about to end. Shina Rambo
said, "Obama, we have to leave! Operation time is up." His phone was in
his hand.
The villain who went with the manager was back and he
said, "Police smoke screen, Obama. Project expire". He had two heavy
bags filled with bundled N1000 notes.
Obama nodded.
"We need a human shield", Obama continued.
He looked around then pointed his gun at Adaobi. "You! Stand up! Follow me!"
"Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!" Ada's voice was louder this time.
"Shot up!" Obama said "Move".
Then the villains left the banking hall with AdaObi
