"What is this I hear about you, and Tunde wanting a small wedding? And that you are also going to have only a court wedding, and not a church wedding?" Tunde's mother questioned Sophia.
She had asked Sophia to come over to the house, because she had something really important to discuss with her, that couldn't be discussed over the phone. If Sophia had known, this was what she wanted to talk to her about, then she wouldn't have come, she would found an excuse not to.
"Sophia my dear, you do understand the sort of family you are marrying into right?"
"Yes ma, I do" She did understand, because Tunde's mother never fails to sing it like a song in her ears, that her family were a powerful one.
"Good, I want you to know that, you are not just marrying into any family, but the Makinde's. You are marrying into wealth, and affluence, you are marrying a family that is well known, not just in Lagos, but all over the country, and even beyond. What would you suggest I told people, my friends, my well wishers, even my enemies, when they find out that my first, and only son got married, and they weren't invited? Hmmm..tell me?"
"I'm sorry ma, but this is I, and Tunde's decision, we want a small and quiet wedding of only 50 people" Sophia spoke without any form of remorse, if this woman's son was going to be married to her for the next one year, then she would have to learn to respect Sophia's decisions.
"Fifty persons! Ha! Is that a joke or something?" Mrs. Makinde looked like she could develop an heart attack any minute.
"If you are to invite just fifty persons, then that is no longer a wedding ceremony now, but a get together, it becomes a gathering of where two or three are gathered" she stood up and immediately started fanning herself with the book she was holding, even if the air condition was on.
Sophia had already known her as someone who is used to getting whatever she wants, and always throwing tantrums whenever she was wasn't getting things done her way. So she sat there unperturbed, and watched as she carried on with her tantrums, lamenting on how people would think her family was broke, and that was why they couldn't organize a big wedding.
"Sophia you and Tunde would have to change your mind o, because I already sent out invitation to all my friends and well wishers, and we are going to be having nothing less than, a thousand guests on that day"
"I am sorry but the wedding is going to be for only fifty guests, that is what I and Tunde have decided, and you would have to respect that ma"
"I can see you are a very stubborn girl, my son hasn't even married you yet, and here you are acting all puffed up. Don't forget I am the reason he is marrying you in the first place. But then again, you wouldn't remember that, after all, ungratefulness is something that runs deep in the blood of the people from your place"
Sophia had to hold herself from answering Tunde's mom, for the thing she wanted to say was definitely not nice, so she had to bite down on her tongue. And so, she picked up her purse, and stood up to leave.
"I'm sorry we couldn't come to an agreement on the number of guests, for my wedding" Sophia made sure to stress 'my wedding'
"But I would talk to your son about it, and if he is okay with having a thousand guests over for the wedding, then we would go ahead with your plan. Please if you will excuse me, I have a meeting with a client in the next one hour" Sophia knelt down and greeted her in the traditional Yoruba way, before turning to leave the house.
Tunde's mom stood in shock staring at Sophia as she walked out of the house, not only did she refuse to meet her demands, but she also told it, to her face.
"Why are you standing there and moping?" her husband asked as he walked into the house, and found his wife staring at the direction Sophia had taken.
"Oko mi, we have to do something about that girl"
"What girl, Tunde's fiancée?" they had both met outside, on his way in.
"Yes….." Mrs. Makinde stressed her word so her husband would understand how serious she was. "We have to clip her wings, and we would have to do it really fast"
"Oh woman, not again" he sat down on a chair. "What wings are we clipping? I thought you were the one who recommended her to our son? Or weren't you the one who was singing her praises, saying how she is obedient, and would make Tunde a good wife?"
"That was before I found out how stubborn she is, we can't allow our son to marry a woman like that. We have to do something"
"The one only thing we are going to do, is making sure they both get married next weekend. Have you suddenly forgotten how hard it was for us to convince Tunde to get married? Or are you going to say you haven't noticed any positive changes in his character since he agreed to date Sophia?"
"Have you heard what she said? They want to have a wedding of only fifty guests! How is that even possible?"
"And what is wrong with that? The most important thing is that, our son is getting married. You know we have to get him married before the end of this year, or all our plans and ambitions would be ruined?"
Upon her husband, making mention of their secret plan and ambition, she calmed down.