Nice story..
Welldone damsel

I said it that a new tragic drama will emerge, and guess what; it makes the story freaking interesting.

Damselposh, you're doing a good job.


#Xavier

duyo1
Welcome

MrCuteking:
duyo1
Welcome

Thanks boss

dorin27 come and join me here

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

He tapped his foot anxiously on the floor whilst looking at the wall clock constantly. His wife entered the living room from outside with a shopping bag in her hand. He let out a sigh of relief before landing heavily on the sofa.



"Maria you really need to be careful when you go out there. Remember you are supposed to be dead" he said.


"I'm only dead to Jamil. Every other person knows I'm alive" she replied casually.



"Still you need to be careful. What if Jamil sees you? Then everything i have worked hard for will just crumble" he exclaimed.



"Honey Umuahia is big. What is the probability that Jamil and i will run into each other?" She chuckled.


"You don't even know that boy. He has properties scattered all around Umuahia and even outside. He knows every nook and cranny of this city plus Umuahia is not as big as you think. Just be careful. If possible don't leave the house at all until everything is over" he explained meticulously.



"Well we have to eat. I only go out whenever we are in need of foodstuffs" she replied raising the bag up for him to see.



"We will employ a maid. She will be running errands for us" he nodded.



"Well when are you going to carry out your plan? I'm tired of acting dead just because of one person. I want to move around freely" she said softly.



"I want to strike when he must have thought that everything is okay. When he thinks he has won. I won't strike now just stick to the plan and you will be fine" he picked up the remote laying carelessly on the sofa and switched the television on.



"Okay then. Let me go and make lunch" she said heading to the kitchen.


NONYE

I stared at the list again and hissed for the umptieth time. How dare my uncles? How dare they give us such expensive and ambiguous list? They weren't there when Mama suffered to train us but they had the guts to bring such list. I looked at my mother who had been pacifying me ever since I saw the list.



"Mama mba (no) we will tell them to come and collect their nonsense list. I and Jamil will forget about traditional marriage" I said with a shake of the head.



"Ekwuzina ihea biko (don't say that again please). Traditional marriage is important my dear. It's recognized in the Bible. Nwam (my child) you will marry traditionally first before any other thing" she said.



"Mama can't you see that they want to use this opportunity to drain my husband to be? Imagine asking for a hundred tubers of yam? Are they planning on setting up a yam zone in the village?" I said angrily.



"Everything written on that list can be negotiated. Jamil can even decide to transform them to cash" she spoke softly. I wondered if she thought i would bring down the roof of our house if she raised her voice higher.



"500 pieces of wrapper. Imagine? Ten cartons of beer, Five He-goats. Such covetousness. Where were they when you borrowed money from the women's meeting to see me through school? Where were they? Didn't they abandon us because you don't have a son? The same girl child they abandoned is the one they want to scam her husband to be all in the name of marriage list" I hissed.



"Nonye please calm down. Like i said everything written on the list are open for negotiation. We can even buy fifty pieces of wrapper. Don't mind those things they wrote there" she replied.



"Wicked people. It is time for marriage now they have turned to my uncles. Let God judge them." I hissed going through the list again. "Ten bags of rice. Don't worry, they will choke on that rice. Rice ahu ga egbu ha (that rice will kill them)" I hissed again.



"It's okay. Thank God you are getting married to a rich man. Let your uncles carry their problem and go" she replied. I looked at the list and felt like tearing it "don't do what you are about to do" Mama said after studying me for a while.



"Mama you will be the one to hold the list. I will just tear it if i keep seeing it" I hissed giving the paper to her.

Preshbeauty:
Decoy? Does Jamil's uncle have a doppelganger or what? This one na correct twist.


I want to get engaged so let me say yeah yeah.

Damsel eshe

Yeah yeah

Adesina12:
Yeah yeah yeah
This Nonye must be from Imo state

she is not from Imo State.

Embellished:
Abacha

I'm not Igbo but well prepared Abacha is delicious no cap.

I want to eat Abacha ejor

Abacha has been saving life since 1950s

MrCuteking:
Abacha is one way to my heart

I swear down

oyinella:
I go love o

Ujunwa14:
Abacha my food. I am craving it right now.

Damsel thank you.

See them Abacha lovers

Ann2012:
Pls serve me Abacha with enough ugba, fish and pomo

Thanks for the update ma’am

Hahahaha let me go and bring it.

Xavier5:
I said it that a new tragic drama will emerge, and guess what; it makes the story freaking interesting.

Damselposh, you're doing a good job.


#Xavier

Thanks love

Who is this Maria? I'm having a feeling that her husband is Jamil's uncle but if he is the one, who then did they arrest? Damsel this suspense is too much.


Nonye please don't mind all these village people. That was what they did during my sister's time. Our in-laws negotiated until they ended up paying just half of the things written on the list.


Thanks op

FlowerGirl040:
dorin27 come and join me here

Thank you so much

The Igbos have beautiful ladies
But the turn off is the list of items required to pay the bride's family
So many igbo guys married from southwest due to enormous request
Cut your coat according to your body size
Though, as for me, my eyes is still on onyeocha Ifunanyam
I won't relent
Sweet popcorn for you damsel for good work

This husband and wife, who are they?

Wicked uncles everywhere.

Damsel eshe

Adesina12:
The Igbos have beautiful ladies
But the turn off is the list of items required to pay the bride's family
So many igbo guys married from southwest due to enormous request
Cut your coat according to your body size
Though, as for me, my eyes is still on onyeocha Ifunanyam
I won't relent
Sweet popcorn for you damsel for good work

It's not only the Igbos that have high bride price. I'm from the West and i saw what they did during my sisters time.

Embellished:



It's not only the Igbos that have high bride price. I'm from the West and i saw what they did during my sisters time.

Your people don borrowed culture from the East be that
Not common in the West though
Thank you

Okay let me write what i think.

I think Jamil's uncle has someone in prison working for him. He helped release him from prison. His wife is the same person who Jamil thinks is dead. What do i know sha? Let me leave it to damsel.


All these uncles that claim uncleship only when someone is getting married. Mtcheeeew.

Adesina12:
The Igbos have beautiful ladies
But the turn off is the list of items required to pay the bride's family
So many igbo guys married from southwest due to enormous request
Cut your coat according to your body size
Though, as for me, my eyes is still on onyeocha Ifunanyam
I won't relent
Sweet popcorn for you damsel for good
work

Have you witnessed an Igbo introduction ceremony before or you just joined the bandwagon of those saying what they heard? Those things written on the list are not compulsory. The groom to be can even decide to just give them 50k for everything written there. Unless the groom to be wants to willingly spend money. Don't just conclude based on something you heard.

Nice story damselposh, keep it coming.

Adesina12:


Your people don borrowed culture from the East be that
Not common in the West though
Thank you

It's not all Igbo land dat have high bride price sha

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

NONYE

We were in the village for the introduction ceremony. My uncles had been nothing but good to the extent that i was wondering if Mama ordered new uncles from China. Mama was at the backyard directing the umuada (kinswomen) that had gathered to help cook. I went to the backyard to greet and thank them for helping out with the cooking, courtesy of Mama. When i got to the back of the house, I wondered if there was another ceremony going on in my father's compound aside the traditional marriage because of the amount of food cooked. I saw about three coolers of white rice, three pots of stew plus other native dishes.



"Daalu nu ooo (thank you ooo)" I greeted them. Mama would have cut off my ear if i had said my greetings in English. She had told us before we left Umuahia to speak more of Igbo when we got to the village.



"Ehe nwaoma (fine child). Oyiri nne ya (Her mother's look alike)" they all responded.



"Mama will there be another ceremony after the traditional marriage?" I asked the moment she came to stand beside me.



"No. What kind of question is that?" She asked.



"Because i don't understand why I'm seeing food everywhere" I said looking around. "Wait is that Ukwa (Bread fruit)?" I asked when my gaze stopped on the content of a pot been brought down from the fire.



"I want my in-laws to eat to their satisfaction and yes that is ukwa" she replied.



"Mama Jamil is only coming with Ten of his people and not the whole of Edo State" I chuckled.



"Even at that, they need to eat very well. You told me how much Jamil liked Nkwobi and Abacha when he ate them so I'm making it for him and his people" she said smiling.



"Mama the food is too much. Three coolers of rice? Unless the villagers will also have a taste of the foods" I sighed.



"Yes and the umuada will go home with some too" she nodded.



"Okay" I shrugged. A little boy ran to where we stood and told me that my uncle wanted to see me. I looked at Mama wondering why the old man wanted to see me.



"Just go. Remember to speak more of Igbo and bow your head when greeting him" she said. I rolled my eyes. So much for people that abandoned us. When i got to the front of our house, my uncle was sitting on an armrest chair eating corn and pear.



"Uncle ndewo (well done)" I said bowing my head.



"Daalu nwam (thank you my child) please sit down" he said pointing to a bench beside him. I nodded and sat. He offered me corn and pear which i hesitated a little before collecting.



"If my brother your father was here today, he would have been happy to see his Ada (First daughter) get married." He said after taking a bite of the corn. I frowned when he mentioned my father. "But it's okay. I know he is in a better place now. That aside. I was talking with your mother and she told me that your husband is from Edo State" he said all at once.



"Yes uncle" I replied.



"Eziokwu? (truly). Is that place not far? Will his family treat you well?" He asked like he felt concerned. I eyed him and refrained myself from lashing out at him.



"Uncle Jamil bu ezigbo mmadu (Jamil is a nice person) moreover he doesn't reside in his state. He lives in Umuahia which is a few hours drive from here" I explained.



"Okay if you say so" he shrugged. My phone rang and i smiled before picking it up.



"Boss man" I chuckled.



"Hey babe. How are you doing?" He asked.



"I'm fine. Have you guys left Umuahia yet?" I asked playing with the Hem of my skirt.



"We are already in your village. We just passed the Tree you told me about" he chuckled.



"Wait you people have passed the udara tree?" I asked standing on my feet. They were close to our house and i wasn't even dressed yet.



"Yes we just passed it" he affirmed.



"Okay then see you soon" I replied feeling nervous. I turned to my uncle the moment i got off the phone "uncle they have passed Ama udara. I need to go and get ready" I said.



"Okay. Let me send your cousin to go and call our kinsmen" he said then called his son. "Uchenna bia bia (Uchenna come come)" the boy ran to him immediately. "Go to Mazi Onochie's house and tell him to start coming. Go to Mazi Uchemba and Mazi Dike too, tell them the same thing. They will bring the others when coming" he said and the boy ran off immediately. I left hurriedly to go and dress up. A few minutes after, i was dressed in a sequined blue off shoulder gown. I wore the bone straight weave that Jamil ordered for me and put my legs in my white heels. My cousin Ifeoma applied a mild makeup on my face with me constantly reminding her not to use shouty colours on my face. My sister ran into the room squeaking.



"Sister they have arrived" she said happily.



"Where are they?" I asked her already standing on my feet.



"Uncle just ushered them to the living room. They even came with convoy" she giggled sitting on the bed.



"Where are you going to?" Ifeoma asked when i headed towards the door.



"I'm going to greet them na" I said.



"Come and sit down. When it's time, they will send for you" she laughed. I let out a sigh before going to sit down. After some minutes Mama came into the room and said i was needed in the living room. I followed her with Ifeoma and Chimdiya tailing behind.



When we entered the living room, i briefly scanned the living room for my husband to be and found him sitting between a few elderly men. I raised my brows when i took in his attire. He was wearing the "ishiagu" outfit on a plain black trouser matching it with the chieftaincy cap. He could even pass for a bonafide Igbo man. I chuckled inwardly. He winked at me when our gazes met and i smiled sheepishly.



"My daughter come and kneel down" my uncle said to me. I nodded and knelt down. He poured palm wine into a cup and told me to go and give it to my husband. I carried the wine and walked across to where Jamil sat. The elderly men sitting beside him made comments like "osam" and "Oo zoza kokoro". I made a mental note to ask Jamil the meaning later.



I knelt down when i got to him and drank half of the wine before handing it to him. He finished it in a gulp and stuffed some Naira notes in the cup before the both of us stood up and walked back to my uncle. We knelt before him and he showered prayers on us.



"Children will never lack in your home" he said finally and everyone aside the Edo people in our midst chorused "iseee (Amen)" they said Amen instead. We stood up after the prayers and Mama was instructed to bring food. I left to remove my shoes and also help out with serving the food.

Adesina12:
The Igbos have beautiful ladies
But the turn off is the list of items required to pay the bride's family
So many igbo guys married from southwest due to enormous request
Cut your coat according to your body size
Though, as for me, my eyes is still on onyeocha Ifunanyam
I won't relent
Sweet popcorn for you damsel for good work

No we don't have high bride price. Even with all the things written on the list. The groom pays whatsoever he has. Nobody will question or kill him. The list can be negotiated, it's not stamped.

Embellished:
This husband and wife, who are they?

Wicked uncles everywhere.

Damsel eshe

Lol thanks for reading

Ujunwa14:
Okay let me write what i think.

I think Jamil's uncle has someone in prison working for him. He helped release him from prison. His wife is the same person who Jamil thinks is dead. What do i know sha? Let me leave it to damsel.


All these uncles that claim uncleship only when someone is getting married. Mtcheeeew.

You might not be far from the truth. Who knows?

dorin27:
Nice story damselposh, keep it coming.

Thanks for reading

Second stage done.

Nonye is now a Mrs.

Thanks damsel

I will be speaking Igbo professionally by the end of this write up
Daalu nu ehe nwaoma
Ndewo Ifunanyam