The day had just begun and a mixture of smoke and sweet aroma of ewedu soup was already going up Iya Tosi's chimney. The preceded night seemed, than usual, longer and terrifying under a persistent squawking of evil birds and mewing cats, believed to be witchcraft agents. Although, no other inhabitant of Ijabuode spotted any difference to alter the night, it was different with Iya Tosi whose obsession for the delightful activities of the following day gnawed away at her sleep, it took only the pleasurable thought of welcoming a wealthy son-in-law to suppress the fearful horror of that night. It was an appointed day for a 32-year old Tosi to customarily present her prince charming to the members of her extended family and it was a traditional requirement for the host to make special dishes for their guests and this, Iya Tosi took upon herself.

Iya Tosi had gone to Ijabuode central market a couple of days earlier to order for drinks, during which she bought some of the necessary food items and this virtually took the pride off her wallet. At this point, Tosi, who lived and worked in Lagos as saleslady from where she met Donatus - her prince charming, had returned home to help her mother put things in proper shape prior to the eventful day. A bunch of hypocrites had come to find out if what they heard was true. Among them was Labisi who had made two unsuccessful attempts to ruin the marital arrangement. 'What will Donatus find attractive in such an old, dry bone?' They questioned each other.

'You have got no reason whatsoever to condemn my fiancée before my very presence. If she is as bad as you claim, what was your effort to make her a better person, being your sister?' Donatus scolded Labisi for the second time. So many ugly devices kept popping up in her head. Some times, you can't tell the devil by mere look because dark minds are often hidden in pretty faces. Donatus seemed to have known all these. He demonstrated it when he ignored many destructive tongues that conspired. It became more obvious when he stood with Tosi at her points of need and finally declared an interest in a life long union irrespective of her poor background. Whether he was acting under a spell as many people did accuse, he neither knew nor cared. What mattered was the joyful reality of their compatibility. Such attitude from the rich, young Donatus convinced Iya Tosi that it was an appointed time for her daughter. The long awaited man is here. She noticed a huge difference between Donatus and the other three men who peeped almost in a close succession many years back and suddenly took to their heels immediately the bell of formal introduction rang.

Donatus quietly conceeded that the love of his heart Tosi certainly did not tick the "right" boxes for meeting the acceptable stringent societal standards for the average bride. At thirty two, she was considered to be "on the shelf" material, having passed her sell-by date, destined now only to be the second, third or even fourth wife of an already married man or "chief".

Additionally, a couple of well meaning friends had ungraciously pointed out that an unmarried lady at thirty two would most certainly have a couple of skeletons in her cupboard to explain her unattachment thus far. Had she led a rough life? Had she been too picky during her prime years? Did she use her career as a cover up for her apparent unsuccessful attempts to get married earlier on in life? The never ending list of unanswered questions went on and on.

But none of those mattered in the least to Donatus as he had always firmly believed that any relationship leading to marriage was like a bed of roses that had to be carefully tended too. He had never been one to bow down to idle speculation and gossip. Smiling inwardly to himself, he mentally reeled of Tosi's good qualities, she had a mature outlook on life and unlike his previous younger girlfriends, oozed a lot of self-confidence and belief in herself. Not only was she pleasantly polite with a quiet determination to succeed in life, he found that she had on numerous occasions encouraged him to believe in himself. She always understood what he was thinking without him having to mention a word, stoically supporting him to succeed in all his endeavours.

Additionally, not only was she a fantastic cook, she like no one else had the added ability to fire up an unreserved well of passion deep within his loins. Now this to him was the final icing on the cake. Tosi, his sweet darling Tosi was the solid rock upon which he would build up the foundation of his matrimonial home, the fruitful olive tree to bear his children. . .Tosi, his missing half, his better half. . .

hmmmn. . . .

Hmmmn! Donatus hummed again, just retiring from his favorite television program, this time featuring some historical events about the late Ikemba Nnewi, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu; his childhood, his youthful age, as a soldier, as a freedom fighter, this thirty minutes TV program touched all that and Donatus hardly took a blink all through, not just because of his beckoning interest for publicity but some seemingly common features that they both shared. People had occasionally mistook Donatus for Ojukwu's son. Again he heaved a sigh, remembering that he had less than 12hrs to hit the road. He couldn't afford to keep his better half,Tosi and her people waiting.

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