The Following Day...

A Small Village, Somewhere In Ekiti State.

It was a bright morning, that which the punctual rooster had announced the beginning of what the day would be, as usual. But this day was different.

Imade, who had a sleepless night, woke up like a baby to the noise she heard. It wasn’t to the rooster’s, but that of the troublesome noise at the face of her old, wooden door.

‘Knock! Knock! Knock!’

“Imade! Won’t you open the door for your own mother?” An elderly woman’s voice cried from outside.

Imade, a beautiful lady in her early thirties, hissed to the voice at the door. Her face spinched, while she wiped a hand over her rough-bun of hair.

“What is it again, Maami? I’ve left your house for you. Yet, you come to wake me up every morning!” A tired yawn escaped her lips as she scratched her neck in confusion, stretching, her cracky arms swung into the air as if to touch the sky.

Despite the fact that she slept in the last eight hours, it was evident that Imade had fine-tune and slim body. Like that of a black goddess. The full, natural hair that almost covered her face was as dark as coal. Although Imade was as epitome of beauty, she was yet to marry.

Imade cushioned her hair in a neat bun and opened the door for her mother.

The brightness of the day passed through her small dark room, sewing her together her eyes a bit. All she could see was invisible doodling, the sun gave. Until she finally got used to its brightness.

Imade’s mum, Feyishara, was an elderly woman in her late sixties. She wore an expensive, golden aso oke and white paper lace. Imade's puzzled eyes couldn’t settle on her mother’s gorgeous outfit, because of the sun's rays that flashed to her sight.

“Isn't it too early to pay a visit? Why are you here this early, Maami?” She gasped and hurried inside immediately. A frustrated frown spread on her face as the lady watched her mother.

Feyishara stuck her nose in the air and sniffed, as if the whole place was a pit-latrine.

Knowing what she meant anytime her lips are pouted and the corners of her mouth pulled down.

“The aweful smell if from the toilet I sgare wiyh the rest of my neighbour. It's Sunday. I will stay at home today for sanitation and rest. It’s been a long week, and it’s still going to be a busy day tomorrow.”

Fayi took a step back, towards the door and hissed at her daughter’s stupidity. "Don't you don't know what fits you? You deserve better, I made!"

"Ugh, Maami... Don't start again, please. You can call this poverty but I am contented with what I have."

“Really? When your mates live and die in luxury, you want to die in hell as a single lady? I forbid tgat in Jesus name!" Her fingers snapped over her head in circular motions. "Poverty is not our portion! Do you know what benefit it would bring you to have a crown on your head?"

Imade just kept quiet. In pity, Fayi folded her lips like someone that has lost everything good in life. Then she nodded her head in pity and folded her arms on her chest.

"As if that is not enough, you can't even greet me. Well, I'm not pained. My wish for you is that you get children who will greet you every morning too. Who you can send to do all the house chores." With this, a feeling of guilt welled up in Imade. Her coffee-black eyes rolled inward. She knew she had done wrong, so she swallowed her pride,

“Ekaaro Ma.” Imade fell to her kneels immediately, still inside her room.
“Maami, please enter now. Are you that in a hurry?” Her low voice, begged.

“Why should I enter? I’m going to stand here. And if you can’t come out to talk to me, then maybe I should be on my way.”

“Where are you going, Maami?”

“Are you blind? Don’t you see I’m already prepared for today’s Sunday service? Or you think I’m a lazy rat hiding in its hole like you?”

“No o, it’s not like that. I mean... I have a lot to do. That’s why I can’t go. You know how active I used to be in church.”

“Mchttteeeewww!” Fayi hissed and nodded her head in disappointment at her daughter. “When would you ever have time? If I could remember, that was when you lived under me as a child. Now, all you do is work, work, work and work. I’m sure you don’t even have time to sleep.”

“Ah Maami! Don’t you think it’s too early to talk about these? It’s all pointless to me and perhaps I’m no longer a baby.”

“Oh, really?” Her mother smirked,  mimicked her voice. “I just pity you, Imade. How I wish your father was still alive. I would have given birth to twelve more children after you. You’re such a disgrace to me, you know! When would you ever get married? It’s already December again. You would be 33 years of age by January? I know you’re no longer a baby, but you’re still my child? And no matter what, you’re still my baby! Why can’t you get married like how the other small girls in this village have? Ehn? Your junior ones have already given birth to all the children in their wombs while you are still finding it difficult to get a man, let alone have a child!”

“I don’t have time for long talks’ mama! You, too, know how much I’ve suffered in my previous relationships. Men are so bossy and wicked! And I am no slave. No matter how I try a look at it, that institution called Marriage is hell for me. Why would I put myself in such a bondage when I’m actually independent and comfortable? Just leave me alone, Maami. I’m not in the mood, please!”

She pressed a paste of MacLean on her white, soft toothbrush and took an amount of water in a small yellow rubber from the big black drum in her room. The faded Ankara she tied on her bare chest was long enough to cover her knees. Imade finally stepped out of her room. She knew definitely, her mother wouldn’t easily leave until she spits out every poison in her mind.

Meanwhile, Imade brushed her teeth thoroughly and rinsed her mouth from side to side. Fayi watched her for a while and that reminded her of something. The main reason she came to visit her daughter that morning.

“Why don’t you answer Baba Fegbemi that came to ask of your hand in marriage?” She started. “Isn’t he capable enough or what?”

“Fadeke, his third daughter is older than me, Maami! How do you expect me to be a second wife? I can’t marry that old man. I’d rather stay single forever!”Imade replied before storming into her small room. She took a big broom from the corner of her room and started sweeping from the inside.

“You’re not serious! You heard me? You should be lucky to find a well-educated man like Baba Fagbemi is, and he is asking you to be his second wife. Even if you’re to be his third or fourth wife, what is so bad about it? Half bread, is better than none my daughter. Perhaps his wife died seven years ago. He just needs a young wife to take care of him and hold his family till his last days. You aren’t even educated, yet you’re busy choosing husbands. Waiting for Mr. Right that never is or a prince that would save you from this wretchedness. That won’t even come till the end of time. You better grab this opportunity by its tail and accept Baba Fagbemi’s offer. What is bad about it?”

“No Maami! Not in my lifetime! I’m not deaf, I’m not dumb! I’m not crippled! Nothing is wrong with me. How do you expect me to live with Baba Fagbemi? He’s just a mare carpenter. It’s impossible, mama! I have a soulmate, and he would definitely come for me.”

“Hahahahaaa!” Feyi laughed out loud.
“You daughter of Jazebel! I’ve wasted so much time talking to you without even knowing. You are not ready to listen or change your mind and the church isn't your thing either. I’ll give you till January. If you don’t get yourself a husband, I’ll get one for you. I don’t mind if he’s 10 years or an 100 years old. As long as you get married and give me a grandchild. I’m good at going.” She turned without saying goodbye and left Imade’s compound.

Imade turned and caught the look on her face. Her smirk was mysterious and it puzzled Imade the more

“Maami! Maami!” She called her mother, but Fayi turned deaf ears.

It was just thirty minutes past eight. Imade was stuck at what to do first, her mind was crowded. As the best known hairdresser in Iloka village, everyone in the town loves and respects Imade, because of her hard work and moral character.

She had been in and out of several relationships, she had lost count. It was unfortunate, Prince Adeola, the first guy to ever ask her out, ended up marrying her best friend after 3 years relationship with him. It was on their engagement ceremony he told her he wasn’t interested any longer. A week after their breakup, Prince Adeola officially married her best friend in the best church in Iloka. Now, they are happily married with three grown-up children.

After that, she met a copper that came to serve in Iloka. It was four years after her breakup with the town's prince. He loved Imade so much, but after his service; he told her that his parents wouldn’t allow him to marry any lady except someone from his hometown. It was a year-old relationship that ended just like the evening breeze.

'Well, maybe we weren’t destined after all...' She thought.

Next, she accepted Adedoyin’s proposal, and they were preparing for their marriage. A day before their wedding, she learnt he already had sixteen children and three young wives from another village.
It was said that Adedoying was a trickster. He married his three wives from lies and they feed him and live with him out of love. That was a fate those ladies accepted and Imade wanted her life to be nothing like that.
A hell of a marriage.

So, Adedoyin lied to her all these while. The wedding didn't take place. Luckily enough, she hadn't tied the knot with him.

So was the next one and the one after that. All the men Imade ever went out with were nothing but cheats, liers, and two horned devils. Even those that admired her beauty still disgraced her, just like a flower, they wanted her. And after having her, they lost interest.

Imade had been heartbroken all these years, and she had promised never to stupidly fall in love. Ever again. No matter how hard her mother cried and whined in her ears, she would do what is right this time.

It had been two long years since Imade’s last breakup. She has forgotten what it felt like to have that close friend. That companion to whom she would share her problems with. Having female friends within the village too was a pain in the neck. As most of her previous friends deceived her. So, she had lived alone as no one’s best friend and no one’s worse enemy.

After she swept, Imade measured two cups of rice into a bowl and washed it thoroughly into the boiling water on the firewood.

“Ade! Ade!” a feminine voice hailed, which made Imade froze in fear. She gently placed a hand on her racing chest and closed her eyes to calm it down.

She jerked back with opened eyes and saw her friend, Latifah.

Yes, Imade doesn’t have best friends, but Latifah was exceptional. Six months ago, Latifah, a short fair lady came into Imade’s building as a new tenant. She was a copper serving in a nearby school, but Latifah spent her leisure time with Imade, learning hairdressing skills from her shop.

“Why now? Must you scare me every time like this? Abi which kin life be dis sef?” Imade rolled her eyes at Latifah as she covered the pot on fire.

“So sorry, dear. You know I don’t have anyone to tease in the whole of Iloka. It’s only you.” Latifah admitted with a beaming smile on her slim lips.

Imade wore a whatever facial look. She knew how naughty and immature Latifah could be. Although she was 10 years older than her, Imade still treated her like a sister.

“Whatever! Better don’t try that again with me, you hear?” she warned in frustration.

“Yes, ma!” Latifah saluted, thinking Imade would stop frowning, but no. She was still annoyed with it.

“Nawa for you o! You no dey smile?” Latifah joked.

“I’m serious. You better stop that childish attitude of yours.”

“Okay... I’ve heard. Let me go and prepare breakfast too before you use that your grammar to burst my brain.”

“Ehn what did you say?” Imade looked like a lion about to bounce on its prey.

“Emmm... Nothing.” Latifah muttered incoherently as she walked inside. “You would have repeated it now. Naughty girl!”

In the blink of an eye, Latifah came back again with a frown. “Did you forget something or what?”

“No o, I just remembered. I wanted to remind you about that my engagement ceremony.”

“Your engagement?”

“Yes now. Shey I told you about it two weeks ago or have you forgotten?”

“It would be held at Okene by month end so... I’ll be travelling to my village next weekend for my introduction with Abdul. Are you still going to follow me? You told me you’ll think about it.”

“Oh! Yes... it’s true o... I’m just remembering now.” Imade faked a beatific smile. Thinking anout it, two fingers stroke against her forehead.

Latifah wore a whatever facial expression. She knew Imade sometimes could be a drama queen. ‘How could she even forget? It’s impossible.’

“So, are you still going? How far? You know the wedding is holding on the 16th of January, right?”

“Oh...” Her droopy eyes lit up at Latifah's direction. “So you guys already picked a date?” She  gave a tight-lipped, not knowing if she should be so excited or not.

“Why sound so awkward now? I had informed you already, and I told you, that you would be among my bride maids. Won't you be able to make it there? Are you busy?” A left eyebrow on Latifah's oval face, knotted at Imade’s confusion.

“Yeah... Yes, I’m not that busy o, but I’ll still think about it.”

“Okay... Toh. I just wanted to remind you, just in case.” Latifah muttered and stepped inside, leaving Imade in her confused state.

‘Latifah too is getting married? What about me? I’ll be 33 on the 1st of January. Should I follow her to Kogi? It’s already 2021 and I’m still single. What should I do now, God! I’m so confused. You’re answering others people’s prayers, what about mine?’ She thought for a while.

“Maybe what mother said earlier was true. Maybe it’s high time I get a man for myself, but where would I find a good one? Definitely not in this village. Definitely not that coconut-head, baba Fagbemi. I would have to find a way...” she assured herself before adding a quantity of salt from a small container into the boiling pot of rice on fire. She waited a bit, before she took it inside.

And at that moment, Imade thought about all what she had gone through in her past relationships. Not all soup are sweet, but they are manageable. Not all marriages are perfect, but at least, it’s better than being alone like this.

She grabbed her small blue NOKIA phone from the bed and checked her messages. ‘10 new messages from MTN.’ They had been her secret crush for over 5 years now.

“This stupid people!” She hissed. “They’ll keep on sending me annoying messages all the time, even in the middle of the night. As if they will eventually marry me!” She hissed once again and deleted all their messages.

“It’s so frustrating. Let me check this other one.” Imade took her second phone, a black covered Samsung Galaxy S8+.

She went through her Facebook and WhatsApp messages. Then she went to Google and typed... ‘Best Nigerian Dating Applications, 2020.’

It brought her a couple of list, and she went through them one after the other.

“I’m tired of searching.” An heavy breathe flared out of her nostrils and she told herself and finally settled for one 9jaBestdates. It seemed to be the best. She immediately went to Google play store to download the application. Checking out their reviews and the millions of people testifying to how good the app had helped them, she chuckled softly.

“Wow! This sounds great. Lot of married couples met themselves here? It's even international.” she pondered in amazement and sat properly, facing her back to the wall with glues eyes on her phone. I made  concentrated more, knowing she would definitely meet Mr. Right.

***

Don't forget to Vote⭐, Comment 🔊 and Share⏩. I promise to update surprising Chapters next week Friday...✍️✍️✍️

I'm on a journey back to school. Not only that, but I really need your special prayers...😭😭😭

🙄🙄🙄 My emoji for this story. Leave yours in the comment box below 👇and... Happy new year & Jumm'ah Kareem to you all.

15.01.2021.