Chapter Two
"Wait a minute you are joking right? This definitely has to be a joke right?"
"And why would I leave my house this beautiful morning just so I could come play a prank on you? The last time I checked we aren't in April"
"But mother you can't just give me an ultimatum to get married, I'm not ready to get married, at least not yet"
"And why is that? So you can continue chasing everything in skirt? How long do you think you can go on with this lifestyle of yours? You change girls more often than you change the clothes on your skin. It has gotten so bad you even have another apartment where you bring the girls to, ha Tunde!"
"Mother stop shouting you are going to increase your blood pressure"
"Let me shout Tunde, let me shout o because this is too much, how can you rent an apartment different from the one you have just so you can be bringing girls there?"
"I bought it and besides it's not because I want to be bringing ladies. I bought it because I liked it" In true sense he actually bought this house for bringing his female friends over, he didn't want any of them knowing his apartment where he lived, he considered it his haven and didn't any of them bringing their problems there. How his mother was able to find out about this place still baffles him because only his friends and personal assistant knew about this place.
"Oh so you even bought it? Tunde you have three months to get married or your inheritance would be given to your cousin Femi and you know what that means" his mother picked up her handbag from the chair she was sitting on and stood up to leave.
"Mother you and Dad can't do this to me, you can't give out my inheritance"
"We are doing it already and if you are not married by the end of three months then be ready to kiss your inheritance goodbye, you need to get responsible Tunde, you can't continue living like this, you are not getting any younger"
"Mother please, let's not do this I can't get married at least not now, I don't know why you and father would decide to come up with such a decision, this is my life and I can live it whichever way I please"
''we are still saying the same thing, it's either your inheritance or this misconduct you call a life, let me ask you something, that girl who just left here do you know where she is from?''
Tunde was silent because he doesn't know anything about her save for her first name and the sorry tale of her ex boyfriend.
''tell me you at least know her surname?''
''I....''
''see what I'm talking about? how can you be sleeping with someone you know nothing about? if I talk now you will say it's the 21st century, and that things have changed''
''well you just took the words out of my mouth''
''very good, since it's the 21st century, it won't be hard for you to find a wife abi?''
''I'm not getting married mother''
"Okay be ready to forgo your inheritance then" his mother left the house as Tunde wondered what had come over his parents, why would they come up with something as hideous as this? He knows he hasn't been living the best life lately with his womanizing habits but that didn't mean he doesn't know when it was time to draw the line. He is a hard worker as much as he is a hard player.
He was working in his father's company as a regional manager and handles all the companies projects in the western region of the country and so far he has never been found wanting in any way. His father who was the CEO of Flox oil and gas company would be retiring soon and as such Tunde was the next person to take over as that has been the tradition for the past three generations; his great grand father founded the company and passed it on to his son which happens to be Tunde's grandfather who in turn passed it on to his son; Tunde's father as an inheritance. Now it was Tunde's turn to take over and his father wants to threaten him with his greatest fear; marriage. There's no way in the world he was going to get married at least not yet. He wasn't ready to sell himself into slavery because that's what he sees marriage as; slavery. You give up your right of doing the things you love doing: clubbing, late night outs simply because you want to be married, he wasn't ready for any of that. His parents would have to come up with something else because he is not in on this one.
He decided to call his father to confirm what his mother said.
"Hello Daddy good morning sir"
"Good morning Tunde how are you doing?" He could tell from his father's grumpy voice that he was still in bed, but he wasn't sorry. If they were going to ruin his weekend with their intrusion, he could as well ruin theirs too.
"Dad I'm not fine, mother just left here and she said t.."
"I know what she said Tunde, you need to get your life together you are not getting any younger, you are thirty for crying out loud, at your age your mother and I already had you, you should start thinking of getting married and settling down"
"But that I can't get married just like that dad, I need to meet someone first and love her before I can think of marrying her"
"So what you trying to say, is that out of all those numerous girls you go out with, you don't love any of them?"
"Well.. the thing is.."
"You should be ashamed of yourself Tunde"
"Why? Because I don't love any of the ladies I hang out with?"
"Yes, and stop trivializing it by calling it a mere hang out because it's not, we both know it's beyond mere hanging out"
"Dad I can't get married in in three months it's too short I need more time"
"And that's why you have three months, so I suggest you get to work because the clock is ticking, now if you will excuse me I need to go back to sleep"
Tunde couldn't believe what was happening to him, he decided to call his guys up maybe they will have a solution to this.
"Hey guy, what's up" came Harry's hoarse voice, he was most likely still in bed. Who wouldn't be? Not with the way they partied hard last night. If not for the fact that Tunde's mother came to ruin his morning with her unsolicited visit, he would have still been in bed too.
"I'm not fine, guy"
"Wetin happen? You give woman belle(pidgin word for pregnant)?"
"Guy my situation pass that one o, can we meet up later this evening at our usual spot? I have something to tell you guys"
"You really sound serious"
"I'm damn serious man, I will call Ayo and Desmond to inform them. Is 4pm okay by you?"
"Yeah 4pm is cool"
"Alright man, see you then"
By 4pm Tunde was already seated at their lounge waiting for his friends, they have all been best friends for over seven years, they met in the university and ever since then, they have been together. Always watching out for each other's backs.
Ayo was the first to arrive. "Hey man how are you doing? You don't look too good what was it you wanted to tell us about?"
"I'm cool bro just have a seat, I will tell you when everyone gets here" Tunde poured Ayo some whiskey from the bottle he was drinking from.
few minutes later, Harry and Desmond arrived.
"Sorry guys the traffic was crazy" Desmond apologized as he took a seat and poured himself a drink.
"Well mine wasn't traffic, I just happened to have gotten a little distracted" Harry who was also pouring himself some drink said.
"By a woman you mean?" Ayo asked
"Na man I go follow before?" Harry said, trying to defend himself.
"Guys I'm getting married".
"What?"