By Ajagbe Oyinkansola Blessing
Ada is only 15, todays her wedding, shes getting married to Chief Uzo, her fathers employer.
The moment Chief saw Ada the very first day she brought food to her father at work, he could not but admire this young girl who had become an epitome of beauty.
Ada you have grown so big, what are you eating? Exclaimed chief
The last time I saw her she was but a baby, now, shes a woman, with curves all in the right places. One would have thought she was older than her age, she took exactly after her Mums resemblance. So did chief think as Ada worked pass him returning home.
All Chief Uzo could think of was making this beauty who he couldn’t stop thinking about one of his wives.
It did not come as a surprise to hear Ada's father agree to chiefs request despite chief been 55 years of age with 3 wivies, 17 children and a grand child.
Ada's mother reluctantly accepted after an easy persuasive talk from her husband.
“He’s not that bad”, you know. she tried convining her daughter, "besides, he’s willing to take care of us. He has promised to promote your dad at work, get us a new apartment and even sponsor your younger ones education. My daughter, this is a blessing from God. Aren’t you happy that we have finally found a solution to our problem?”
Ada was bitter and disappointed as she had thought all along her mother would at least support her on this. Tears rolled down her eyes, she has always boosted to her friends at school of completing her education to university level before even thinking of marriage. Now her friends would laugh at her while her teachers would be disappointed, this scary thoughts paraded her mind then she replied her mother,
but mama "This man is older than papa”, she pointed out, neck of her blouse soaked in tears.
“Age is just a number, my dear”, was the reply the woman known for wearing green buba, white wrapper, white scarf and a worn out black slippers made of rubber, Ada's father had bought her for Christmas six years ago, gave her daughter, “this man loves you so much. He even told your father that he can’t wait for you to become his wife. Ada, please say ‘yes’ to Chief and make us happy”.
That was all it took to make Ada agree to marry Chief Uzo. If marrying Chief would make her parents happy then she had little or no choice but to do it even at the expense of her own happiness, besides she thought of Egiro and Lindas school fees, as she consider saying yes to her pestering mother.
Maybe this would be her gift to her parents. She knew what they had gone through and were still going through to raise her and her younger ones. If she could be their ticket to enjoying a better life, why not? They deserve all the good things of life even if she had to be the sacrificial lamb for that to happen.
“Look at my beautiful daughter getting married today”, her mother said with joy visible all over her. One would have thought she was the one getting married, “Give me a smile now, it’s your wedding day”, its a happy day.
Ada forced out a smile. Her heart felt like she had just finish running a relay race. Today she woke up as a child. Today she would go to bed a woman.
Ada ran away from Chiefs house barely four days after the marriage, Chief was a sex slave who's demands Ada was tired of meeting, he drinks all evening with his friends whom all had similarities, teenage wives and big tummy three times size of my head put together, she thought silently, when he walks into the room, Ada vommits as he stinks of booze. 8pm was the time, on a cold Wednesday night, prentending to buy maggi from the next street in preparing chiefs favourite goat meat pepper soup, not knowing were to go, Ada had hidden few blouse and wrapper at the nearby bush. In middle of the express road, Ada wondered in tears, a speeding car suddenly appears from no where..........
A girl is more than a wife, shes a transmission of life, motherhood is a thing of pride, just when the time is right.
Aptly written.
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