UNMARRIED AT THIRTY
EP 19
“No problem let’s stop the unending haggling. Bring 820k. If you can’t compromised on that then let’s call it a day” the seller said after a short conversation with someone on the phone. Yinka transfered the money after every necessary documents were signed and presented. He entered the car and drove it home. The compound he lived had no parking space for cars, it was just a room in a face me i face you compound. He took the car to a paid carpark until he was able to inform Toluwani about his new adventure.
Yinka was the only son and the only surviving member of his family. The most important thing for him at the moment aside eating was getting married. He knew, it wouldn’t be easy but as long as Toluwani accept him, he wouldn’t mind getting married in a few month’s time.
With his personal car, E-hailing business won’t be too bad, at least it would be enough to put food on the table a family with understanding wife. The fact that Toluwani wasn’t a liability who would be dependent solely on him made him grin with happiness.
Toluwani’s mother was home with her husband after the Sunday service, she was extremely bothered about Toluwani’s marriage. Anyone could say anything, any logic of philosophy but as long as the mother was concerned, an unmarried 36 years old woman was nothing but a failure.
“Don’t she remind herself of her age or does she wants to die unmarried or without a child. Even if she doesn’t want to be under a man, she could get married and still live in her house. I need your daughter to have a child ” Toluwani’s mother talked to herself though her husband couldn’t help but take in her frustration.
“Anytime i want to talk to her about marriage, you always go against me. It’s you who’s giving her this stupid ideas about love or whatever. Last time erm– eh Akanji’s son pleaded we talked to Toluwani for him but what did you say. You were adamantly against it. I don’t know your aim” Toluwani’s mother went on and on without stopping. Mr Akimbode listened helplessly as she bashed him as if he wouldn’t want to attend Toluwani’s wedding.
“She will soon bring someone home but i wonder if you would want her to get married by then!” He chirped in rather coldly. “Eh let her bring anyone home so long as he’s a male. It’s okay ” she responded aggressively. Mr Akimbode knew his wife, any kind of person would be the last thing she would agreed too. “All my son in law’s must have class” she always said.
The bright sunlight was gradually going home. The sunset was lovely as it displays several beautiful colours upon the graceful sky. Yinka decided against going home, he had spent too much time at the mechanic shop. He wanted to make sure everything were in order in the car. After parking the car in a paid carpark, he went straight to work. On his way to work, Yinka saw a pink hairband, it was beautifully designed and he believed it would look great on Tolu.
“Madam, how much you dey sell?”
“Oga Na 300โฆ.
“200โฆ!!”
“250โฆ last”. Yinka paid the money and increased his pace, he was already getting late.
Rosemary had stood for over an hour already at the intersection Yinka was likely to pass if he was to go home. It was few minutes to six o’clock, she dialled Yinka’s line to asked where was he. “Hello, who’s this?” He asked. Rosemary was pissed off that he didn’t saved her contact up until that moment.
“Where are you Yinka, I’m at the junction close to your house. I have something important to discuss with you”.
“I’m not home, why would you come to my house without prior notice. I’m at work, whatever important thing you have to discuss, you can go ahead on the phone”.
“Yin—ka!! Why are you sounding so harsh?. I’m sorry for whatever happened between us in the past. Yin—ka i still loves you. I have always loved you. Please make out chance for us to talk” Rose said pleadingly.
“For as long as I’m concerned you’re not making any sense. I don’t hold grudges against you simply because i know that we’re all humans and are bound to make mistakes. Let the past be in the past. Nothing, I mean nothing can happen between us anymore. I have a woman I’m going to get married to soon and i d’ appreciate it if this is the last time you’re calling me to spew this sort of nonsense. eh wait o Rose, do you think I’m so stupid and incongruous to rekindle anything with you? After you coldly abandoned me at my lowest point ” Yinka was getting riled up. Rosemary wasn’t expecting such severe outburst from Yinka. She knew how much he had loved her in the past. She felt trodden upon and pushed to the trashcan, she reluctantly walked away.
When Toluwani reached home, she took her bath, made some food and invited Yinka to the table. “We’re the only one in this house, you can do away with the uniform. You’re not my gateman anymore, you’re my man. Even in a normal cloth you can still opened the gate anything I’m going to work, with the remaining days of this month. By next month, i will get a new security guard. We will think of something you can do” Toluwani said as she dishes the food. White rice and stew.
Sitting at the dining table with Toluwani was so beautiful, Yinka was sincerely grateful he could find love with such a person despite his status and he wasn’t ready to jeopardise that chance for anything.
“Eat your food” she urged him after feeding him with the first spoon.
“I’m honestly beyond words. It’s true that i love you. It’s also true that i respect you for being strong enough to reciprocate my feelings. My T-baby, you’re like a dream comes true. I will forever relished you in my life” Yinka said standing up from his seat. He went and stood beside her as she sat on her Chair. He gently touched her hair, removed some strands from her face and neck and clipped the hair band on her hairs, he kissed her on the forehead, Toluwani’s happiness knew no bounds. “I will love you with everything in me” he assured her. Toluwani smiled and thanked him with a light reciprocating kiss on the back of his palm.
After eating, they sat down on the floor resting their back on the sofa as they played video games. Each win, each lose was accompanied with laughter of happiness.
“If i win this round I’m going to ask you to do something for me” Yinka said with a serious face. Toluwani felt apprehensive all of a sudden.
“You can ask me, what do you need. Do you knew some money?” Toluwani asked getting concerned. You know that feelings when someone you highly cared about suddenly got serious amidst happy moments. “When i win” he insisted.
Every buttons they pressed were followed by a yes or ah or oh. When Yinka finally won, Toluwani countenance changed to that of a worried and curious cat.
“My T-baby, please don’t call me names because of what I’m going to ask you. I know we just started this relationship and I’m starting to ask you a favour already, don’t be disappointed at me and don’t say no because i really really needs it” every of Yinka’s words carried a certain serious intonation that made Toluwani worried the more.
TBC
I’m Victor Your Local Writer
ยฉOinu 2023
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What IF the love doesn’t last forever?.
What IF he starts misbehaving after becoming rich?.
Why do you cloud your mind with so many WHAT IF’S to a point that you vehemently refused to appreciate the present. Why do like postponing your today’s happiness because of tomorrow’s uncertainty?.
You can be cautious but don’t be foolish that you stop laughing because of the WHAT IF the laughter doesn’t last forever.
For Pete sake, nothing last forever. Not even your own wisdom.
