The President’s Wife episode 12
TITLE: THE PRESIDENT’S WIFE
WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI
CHAPTER 12
True to her words Alhaji found someone from Zara’s village who knew her father. He used the man to fix an appointment with Zara’s father. He didn’t involve Lere and Zara. The meeting was held on a public holiday. Alhaji came with his two wives, his two brothers and the man. Zara’s parents were puzzled at their presence.
Alhaji introduced his entourage. He told them he came to see the man who fathered such a well brought up girl. He said, “That girl is so humble and respectful. She has a good head on her shoulder. I called all my young daughters and showed them how a good girl should be. Zara is the right role model. She is loved in my home. Lere’s mother brought some soup from Lere’s house which he said Zara made for him. That soup was very delicious. I asked her to make it for me again. She sends me soup every two weeks when Lere visits her. The soup has caused trouble in my home. Iya Zara, take this envelope for bringing up a girl you will always be proud of,” he gave Zara’s mother an envelope.
“In that case, I would have to ask my wife to go into the kitchen and cook a delicious pot of soup while we talk here. Nwunye m, you can see we have more people than we anticipated, we need to cook extra soup.” Zara’s father suggested.
“There is no need, the soup will be more than enough. They will eat to their satisfaction,” his wife replied.
Alhaji continued. “My son, Taofeek, told me the challenges he is facing bringing his wife home. He said you are uncomfortable with his background. I was born into a Christian family but my mother was a Muslim who didn’t deviate from her faith. She brought me up in the Muslim faith. I also had the Christian faith. I went to church with my father every Sunday. When I was old enough, I chose the faith I was more connected with. I chose to be a Muslim. My father, until his death, never tried to convert me to his faith. He respected my decision. Lere’s mother is a Christian. I married her three years after I was separated from my first wife who eventually died. I wasn’t bothered she is a Christian. She gave birth to Lere and couldn’t conceive again. I was advised to bring in another wife so her womb will be opened again. It took a little time because I had to find a woman who will love and respect the woman in the house. Iya Lere, I love her with all my heart. She was sad she wasn’t having more children. She was also sad I was bringing in another woman. I found that woman in Iya Malik here. She worsh¡ps the ground Iya Lere walks on. Together we have built a wonderful family and I have ten children to my name. I am a major chemical distributor; my children can never starve. I have a mini estate of eight houses. I intend to make it a total of eleven; one house for my wives to continue to live in and then ten for each of my children. All the children wanted to come here and beg for Zara’s hand.”
“I appreciate you coming here and I am happy the good work we put in our daughter Chizaram, that’s her full name which means God answered me, is manifesting to the glory of God and our joy and happiness. I can see Lere was brought up in love for his father to come here to convince us that you are a respectable family and you love your son. That said, I have not declined him marrying my daughter, far from it. I only asked him for more time to think it through. We are Igbos and we have raised our daughter with our customs and traditions. Now she wants to marry into another tribe with completely different customs and traditions. That’s where I have an issue. Will my daughter be able to adapt to a very different setting than she is accustomed to? That is my sincere worry. There is a reason why my people don’t marry outside our village. We can manage the same state or an eastern state but across the niger is not our way. It is easy to promise us you will marry her and treat her very well now. What if things change after the marriage? What if your son becomes very rich and ill-treats my daughter by marrying other women?”
“My son has confessed to me he has accepted your doctrine because of the love he has for your daughter. He will not marry another wife if he marries her in court. Therefore, I will compel Lere to have a court wedding with your daughter. This should mitigate against him marrying another wife without his wife’s support. I am negotiating with you because we are interested in your daughter. Since she came into our son’s life, we have seen a difference. Lere has a property bought with his own money. Zara asked him not to buy a car but he should rather buy a property. He listens to what Zara says. As I said earlier, she has a good head on her shoulder. Allow them to get married so together they will make us very proud parents.”
“I have heard so much of what Zara has done for Lere, I haven’t heard what Lere has done for Zara,” Zara’s father asked.
“It is left for you to ask your daughter; we can only say what we see and not brag about our son. I will give you two weeks to think about it. We will want the wedding to take place at the soonest possible date. We will cover the expense of the wedding.”
“If I agree, you will have to pay her dowry in my village. You have to know where she is from”
“We will be glad to travel for it. Just get us dates quickly, that’s all.”
After, the Disus had a hearty lunch, gave the Igwes the gifts they came with and left.
Zara’s parents sat on the couch in the sitting room. They could see the boy’s family was solidly behind him. While Andy and Adanna were still taking it easy, Lere and Zara may just be the first to tie the knot.
“My biggest fear is her getting pregnant just to force us to agree.” Papa Adanna told his wife.
“What is stopping you from accepting this young man? He is a nice man. Our daughter loves him, he treats her like a queen. Adanna has told me only good things about Lere and how much he loves our daughter. The love is more from him than our daughter. We should allow them before they take laws into their hands. Love can make a woman do stupid things.”
“I have to tell my brothers about this.”
“Let them know you support her. It is not negotiable.”
“Ok, I hope we are making the right decision.”
“We will continue to pray about it. Let the will of God be done.”
Lere and Zara finally had their way. Lere insisted the entire ceremony be completed in less than a week. After the introduction, a date was chosen for the traditional wedding which was held on a Saturday in a funfair. Lere’s family came for the wedding in three coaster buses and six other vehicles. The village realised important personalities came to marry their daughter.
Thursday the following week, Lere and Zara were joined together in holy matrimony. They wedded in the Catholic church where Zara attended with her family. Lere honoured Zara and her parents. It was a very beautiful wedding. Tiwa and Dipo came back for the wedding. Their friends couldn’t believe Lere pulled it off. Anyone seeing the couple would know immediately they were in love.
Lere took his beautiful wife on a honeymoon after the thanksgiving service. They went to Obudu Cattle ranch. For the first time, they had s-× without protection. It blew Lere’s mind. He saw a different person in Zara. It was an awesome experience for both of them. Lere saw
Zara in a different light. Her reaction to him was new and exciting. He couldn’t wait for them to get back home. He had taken an entire month’s leave.
Raymond put a call across to Lere while he was on leave. He said, “I have an advert role for your wife, the pay is very good. She is perfect for it. Everyone recommended her after watching your wedding video. You know what? Both of you can get involved in the advert.”
“We are away on honeymoon. She isn’t the type that wants her face on billboards. Look for another model to use.”
“She is an Igbo girl therefore she likes money. She will always have a price. I will pay any amount to have her here; to have both of you on the advert. Let this be a wedding present. Notify me when you are in town.”
Lere told Zara about it. Zara was interested. She said she will do it only if he was involved. He asked a close colleague and he ascertained the fund assigned for the advert was huge. Lere decided to do it so he could make some money and buy Zara a car as a wedding gift.
Two weeks after the wedding, they were back to reality. They went to visit their parents to thank them for their support during the wedding and received their blessings.
The following week, Zara passed out from NYSC. The branch of the bank she worked with wanted to retain her, but she declined. She wanted to work in Lagos to be with her husband. She had attended several interviews. Now she was through with her youth service, she would follow up on them.
The week Lere resumed, Raymond pressurised him into modelling for the advert. They agreed on the amount. Lere took Zara to the venue of the production of the advert. They were not to say anything, only to act. It was easy because it was about a married couple.
While Zara was waiting in her dressing room to be called, Raymond came in to see her. “So, you married that snake, Lere? I thought you were a smart Igbo girl, why give away all this to a Yoruba boy that has no values. Do you know how many lovers he has had within the company? Everyone is making a mockery of you. Do you think he will stop philandering because he married you? He will never stop. I gave you this shoot so you can make some money and do the right thing; he is not worthy of you. I advise you not to tell him. He will get angry, do something stupid and lose his job.”
Before Zara could respond, Raymond had walked away. She was hurt by Raymond’s words. He looked at her with such disgust that she believed what he said. She was here for a shoot so she blocked the issue out of her mind and faced the business. Lere observed her countenance had changed. He knew her well to know when something was wrong. He asked her but she claimed she was fine. After their shoot, while dressing up, she saw Raymond’s card on her dresser. She left it there and went home with Lere.
Tbc