13/02/2024
The Female Soldier, Episode Five
“Your fiancée is supposed to come and collect the list of bride price today and also pay what is in the list. What is keeping you people? We are tired of waiting already. The ‘Umunna’ have been here since morning waiting for your fiancé to come, but it seems we have waited in vain. Also, you are the person he is coming to marry, are you not supposed to have returned to the village since yesterday? Are you not supposed to be around to put things together? I know you people said you are not interested in elaborate ceremony, and that is fine by us, but at least, the bride price has to be paid in full so that the ‘Umunna’ will know that they have given out their daughter in marriage as the tradition of the land demands. Or is it not going to work again? This is 12 pm and we have not seen you, neither have we seen your husband-to-be. What is going on? Should I tell the ‘Umunna’ to go?” The female soldier’s father asked. He was calling her from the village where he was beginning to feel embarrassed because his in-law had failed to show up.
“Papa please calm down. Everything will be fine. I’m sorry for the delay, but don’t allow the ‘Umunna’ to go. Everything will be sorted out in a few hours.” The female soldier said confidently even though her heart was shaking greatly and she was not confortable from the uncompleted building where she had answered the phone call. She managed to put herself together to talk to her father in a normal way because she did not want him to detect the fact that something had terribly gone wrong.
“They are getting tired of waiting. You know how they behave here, and I’m tired of telling them to give you people a little more time. All of them are threatening to leave my compound because the time you gave has passed. How am I going to convince them to stay?” The female soldier’s father had asked.
“Papa, I trust you. Do not allow this situation to overwhelm you. Please, tell everyone to wait. Tell them your in-law is on his way. Tell them the waiting period would soon be over. Let them know he is a good man and that he cannot disappoint them. Please, there is a situation we are dealing with and I promise things will soon be sorted out.” The female soldier said. She held her breathe tightly to make sure her father will not know she was in a difficult situation.
“What is the situation you are dealing with? Why not let the cat out of the bag? Why not spill the entire beans? You are giving me information in bits and pieces. Give me the full information so that I will know what to tell the ‘Umunna’. You just said you are dealing with a situation, what is it? Talk to your father and stop hiding vital information. Has the man dumped you? If he has dumped you, let me know so that I will tell my people that there would be no show instead of making them wait in vain.” Her father said. From the way his voice was sounding, the female soldier knew her father was genuinely concerned about what was happening, but she was also determined not to let him know the truth.
“My fiancé is in the hospital. He is not feeling too well and the doctor has advised that he take a bed rest for a few days. He won’t be able to make it to the village to collect the list and pay the bride price, but he sent his friend who is already close to our village. You will see his friends and well-wishers soon. I couldn’t follow them because I have to stay back and take care of him in the hospital. Papa, I trust his friend, he will handle things properly and he has all the money needed to pay my bride price as planned.” The female soldier said. She knew she was telling lies, but she felt she had no option than to cover things up. She was able to convince her father as regards her husband’s health even though the old man could not understand why a man would suddenly fall sick on a day he was supposed to go and see his in-laws.
“I find it strange and I could say it is a bad omen. But if you say he is sick, well, I guesse there is little we could do but to accept his friends who would play the role for him. After all, during our days, it was our fathers that found wives and paid the bride price for us. Our physical presence was not entirely needed. Well, if you say his friends are coming, I will be ready to receive them.” Her father responded calmly as they ended the call.
“Oh God, how did I find myself in this kind of situation?” The female soldier asked herself. Many things she told her father were lies. Acho, her fiancé did not provide any money for her bride price. She had no access to his bank account and there was no way he could access money from where he was being kept by the kidnappers. The female soldier was the one who gave money to Acho’s friends to use and travel to her village and pay the bride price. She gave them N700k from her bank account. She has been saving that money for years and she hoped she would use it to start a business after her marriage. However, she had to use it and cover her fiancee’s shame and even her own shame because it would be shameful for a man not to show up after promising to marry her.
Besides, in Igbo land, without the payment of bride price, it is as good as marriage did not take place. Payment of bride price is the very first thing a man must do before he can lay claim to his wife. So she was happy that Acho’s friend was ready to play the role for him in her village. She had explained the whole problem to Acho’s friend and he understood.
Pressure was beginning to increase on all fronts. He hasn’t heard anything from the General. She was wondering why he hasn’t called.
“Is it that he does not care if I expose his secret? Is it that he does not care about the lives of his side chick and his son? I’m beginning to be scared. Has he killed my fiancée? What is going on? I was thinking the General would call me in few hours after the threats I issued, but I think I was wrong. God please help me.” The female soldier said. She did not want to be the one to call the General, but when the clock chimed 4 pm, she decided to call.
“Your time is ticking. I advise you consider the consequences of not releasing my fiancée properly. You have a lot to lose if I end up exposing you.” The female soldier said.
“I know you would call. Were you thinking I was going to give in to your cheap threats? I’m a General and you are a recruit. Nobody in their right senses will believe a recruit instead of a General. If you want, tell the world every secret of mine in your possession, it will not save you. By the way, I have one demand which might help you out. If you allow me have bedroom action with you just once, I will release your fiancée and I will allow your wedding to hold. I just want to touch you once. I just want to eat from your honey pot once and I will let you go." The General said and hung up.
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Watch out for episode 6.
