Weddings in Nigeria will amaze you! They are always colorful and elegant, with lots of guests and plenty food. Who doesn't enjoy weddings? Jake's wedding had been the talk of the town for months and thankfully, he’s my friend’s cousin and I get to tag along since I’m like family. Did I also mention that he is very rich? Oideer l money kinda rich. So we were getting ready to enjoy a good treat.
Aging Pandit-pexels
The family house was full with guests and well wishers on Friday night when two men came to ask for the groom. We didn’t think much of it because people always want to see the groom or bride during weddings to give their own form of counsel before the wedding. It’s what happened next that we did not expect. When Jake came out, he was taken to a car and was practically forced to go with the men who I later found out were pastors. Why will pastors force him to go with them though? Anyway, we continued the preparations, eating pieces of fried beef and helping my friend with her hair for the big day.
I left in the wee hours of the night because we kept being distracted with chores and aunties or uncles calling for help with something. I noticed some whispers between the aunties and uncles around but didn’t want to think too much of it. Maybe they were gossiping about dresses and who got a bigger share of the bride price. I went home and got some sleep.
The D-day was finally here and I called my friend to ask if was going along with anyone who had a car so I could tag along too. She asked me to go to the church because she had a few things to sort out first, that sounded strange because she is the type to tell be what she wanted to sort out. I didn’t bother to pry, weddings can be overwhelming for everyone. I waited along with a couple of people in the church and neither the bride nor groom were there by 10:30 for a wedding that was supposed to start by 10a.m
After another 30 minutes, my friend showed up with her family and the groom! Yaaay! I thought. I was already worried that something bad had happened. The groom didn’t go into the church because according to their church, both the bride and groom had to be present before the wedding began. The bride didn’t show up. That was when I began to think something was really wrong. I saw Jake crying like a baby in the car and his best man was trying to comfort him.
After asking a ton of questions, my friend finally answers and says “them say him get AIDS”
Ahhh!
So that was why he was forced to go with pastors yesterday! Apparently, he had been avoiding the pastors and didn’t take the tests required before the wedding, with claims that he was busy. He kept giving excuses but the church was adamant about their rules. I felt sorry for both the bride and groom. They had years of love. She didn’t know he had AIDS but when the bride found out, she was ready to take the risk and marry him against her family’s wishes.
We waited in the church till 6p.m oh. Because the bride will call and say she’s on her way, and later someone else will call and say there was no wedding. The two families held several meetings that day. I got tired and went home by evening. It was a terrible day.
Two weeks later, my friend called to invite me for the same wedding. This time, it was going to be low-key, with fewer guests. It was a wonderful event even though the bride’s father didn’t show up and people had mixed feelings. The wedding almost didn’t hold, but it’s been 5 years now since that event and the family is still happy!
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