Episode 15: Marriage, as planned by God = A Man + A Woman

Dear God,

“I am pregnant”, she stated eyeing me somehow.

I paused.

“Is that a good or a bad thing?” I asked cautiously

She laughed.

“Depends!”, she shrugged….

“Depends on….? I asked feeling like am stepping on thin ice.

“How you see the glass……half full or half empty!”

I shook my head in desperation….Not getting into any mathematical equations with her.

“Congrats then…..my glass is always half full!”

“You are not curious? No questions? No sermons?

I dropped my phone and stared at her.

“What?”, she stared back defensively

Hmmn!

Children of these days…..they make me feel so ancient at times.

“Sit!, I said gently , patting the side of the bed…..”Something is on your mind….let’s talk about it”.

She relented and perched on the bed. For the 1st time, I noticed the worried look….Something was really bugging her.

I have known Sonye for a long time. The late 20ish young lady is my friend and former school mate’s step daughter. We struck up a good relationship after my friend married her father and she raised pure Hell in the family.

She simply refused to accept my friend and when I came visiting in those early days…..I also tasted some of the wrath she dished out to all and sundry.

I was blessed with that notorious stubborn spirit too, so I matched her apple for apple.

Somehow, somewhere we struck a cord and she ended up reluctantly tolerating my presence and eventually tolerated everyone else.

Somnyechi was a born rebel but she is also the kind that naturally adds “super” to intelligence.

The once notorious tomboy actually revolutionized over the years into an amazingly elegant lady.

She is a perfect example of that verse…..”He makes everything beautiful in His time”….

So she is pregnant? The last I checked she wasn’t married…what’s she up to again. I thought the rebellious years were over..

“Are you okay? Should I get you a glass of water?”, I asked feeling concerned now……

She shook her head.

I’m fine…..it’s just that…..

Silence.

“Aunty, have you ever felt so sure and strongly about something, and half way down the line….you are not so sure anymore….”

“That’s a normal occurrence for half the world”

“Not for me Aunty, I am almost always dead sure…..I feel so left handed now…..almost helpless and it’s killing me”

“That’s a normal too with your condition……

“This has nothing to do with the pregnancy……she snapped cutting in …..even rabbits give birth…..it’s just the whole situation…..the set-up”.

“O-k…..I said cautiously now….what is this set-up? And which part of it is killing you?”

Silence.

“I am fine with having the baby….but am not fine with getting married!”, she stated bluntly

“Sorry?”

“Aunty, you heard me…”

“Ehm…yes…well…yes…I..

“Please don’t preach……I know what the bible says already…..!

I made a zip sign on my lips…..very confused.

“Ok Sonye….Please help me process this…..You don’t love the guy or What?

She shook her head.

“The relationship is great….Daven is a supersport….and he desperately wants marriage. He doesn’t want his child born outside wedlock……”

“And what is wrong with that….?” I cut in

“That is so ancient….”,

Chai!

“Marriage is ancient?”

“No not marriage….the idea….”

“What idea?…….”

She looked at me almost angry…..

“I am not getting married to prove a point…..whether religious or legal. Getting married doesn’t prove a relationship is normal or legal or whatever…….she hissed.

Lord, You see why I said these children make me feel so ancient….if a young girl finds a supersport guy who wants to marry…..shouldn’t she be doing a tango dance? Which one is ancient idea again?

What is the modern alternative?

I needed to calm down or I will loose her completely.

“Sonye…..Please help me understand….what are you worried about?”

“Nothing!”

“Do you love Daven?”

“Yes!”

“And?”

“Marriage will change everything….what we have. Take a look around you Aunty….be honest…..once you sign those dotted lines…..everything changes…..”

“But….”

“No buts….times have changed….wake up dear Aunty and smell the roses….it’s springtime…”

“And People don’t get married in springtime right?

“People don’t need to get married to have a baby……moreover…there’s something else….