CHAPTER TEN
Deji was at a crossroad. Life never really goes as a person plans it. Life will always have its plans, plans that are contrary to our initial envision of the future. It gets harder when we envision that life with a partner. A Partner that seems to be at the center of our life's plan.
Deji expected it. He had envisioned the difficulty surrendering his marriage with Catherine, nonetheless, he'd loved her and wedded her. According to the laws of the United State of America, they are legally married. Even though he knew his parents would never agree he brought her with him. Despite the warning from his friend Tayo. Certainly, it would be safer to leave her behind and only pay her visits whenever he could but he was scared of not being able to return when he left New York City. For that reason, he'd have her believe they were in Nigeria for a short time and persuaded her to come with him. To leave everything behind and be with him.
"I suppose the conversation didn't go as planned?"
Tayo's question interrupted his thoughts.
Tayo pulled out a tool and sat next to Deji at the bar who seemed to be lurking over a bottle of beer. Tayo had sighted him from across the bar and could tell his parents were still determined on getting him married to Helen, regardless of his marriage to Catherine.
"I hate to say this, but okunrin mi, I told you so"
That pretty much was true, Tayo did warn him. Warned him about entertaining any feelings for a white woman. Worst still getting married to Catherine.
"You are making a mistake. Your father will never accept your decision. Have you forgotten whose son you are?"
Tayo showed every sign of resistance and disapproval of the union, from the moment he got wind of Deji's decision. He'd opposed Deji courting Catherine and tried to make Deji understand the consequences of his insistence on marrying Catherine.
"I admit, Catherine is a lovable soul, she's perfect but my man, you will only be hurting her if you pull her through this route"
"I know. I have fallen too deep to pull out. She loves me even more. I can't leave just because my parents won't approve of her"
Deji countered.
"And Helen?"
"You know the drill. Helen was my parents' idea, not mine"
When the power of love is on display, the place of common sense becomes secondary. Then you realize a little too late what should have been done in the first instant. Deji didn't heed the warning of his friend. And his encounter with his parents had proven Tayo's point. His parents will never approve of his union with Catherine.
"Never!"
Chief Tim Adebayo roared. As he matched towards Deji in rage.
"ọkọ mi. My husband, please calm down, Jọwọ, jẹ ki a ya ni irọrun"
His mother intervened. She stared at the man she'd called her son in bewilderment, how could she not have seen it coming? The special attention he paid to Catherine, his denial of Helen in her presence. She was perplexed, all the while she'd awaited his arrival to officially wed his betroth and lead the family business. Now he was here, right before, but he was different. Different from the young she watched grow, today her son stood up to her because of a woman. He had rejected the woman who had waited patiently for his return. Today he openly rejects Helen his childhood friend and lover. 'Hadn't Deji been fond of Helen before he left to study abroad?' 'had he not agreed to be married to her?' Was she imagining the moment?' Fumi questioned in her subconsciousness.
"Now, what happens to your engagement with Helen? You wanted her, remember? You're supposed to get married to her, she was your choice Deji. What happens to her now?"
She asked as calmly as she could bring herself to. But she shook from embarrassment, the shame her son's refusal would cause the Adebayo family.
"Helen was you and father's choice. As far as I can recall, whatever it was with Helen was imposed on me by you and Dad"
Tim lost his temperament over Deji's proclamation.
"o purọ! Did you hear me, young man? I say you lie. Helen is your wife, whether you like it or not. You two are to be married. And that is my final decision"
Deji had always thought he could fight them. Stand his ground, stay married to Catherine live happily ever after with her and have children. Boys and girls. Daughters he'd cherish as much as he cherishes her and sons he'd teach to love and live right with the woman of their choosing. However, after emptying two more bottles of beer into his soul, he began seeing that dream fading away and the reality of things dawning on him. He tilt his head to face Tayo's continuous lecture on 'I told you so'
"What's your plan?"
"How nice of you to finally ask"
Deji retorted. He stare into space, he'd admit he'd seen it coming, he was just too stubborn and too in love to acknowledge the consequences of his actions. His parents will never accept Catherine, that he knew for certain. He needed to keep Catherine out of the feud between him and his parents.
"keep Catherine safe and out of the feud"
He said finally, returning his gaze to Tayo.
"did you do as asked?"
"beeni"
Tayo nodded. Pleased his friend was finally realizing his error.
"How can your yoruba be so polished. It's almost like you never left home"
Deji complimented.
"Well you know my mother, she insisted I speak only yoruba when I got back. I was forced to learn like a nursing child"
Tayo recounted. The experience was still fresh in his mind.
***
Chief Tim Adebayo sank back into his chair disappointed and defeated. No, not defeated, he wasn't going to let the child he raised talk back at him and refuse his command. It has never been heard in the Adebayo family that a child disrespected his elders, not to imagine openly disobeying his parents.
"No"
He spat furiously. He couldn't imagine a child he sent abroad to study, to learn the knowledge of the white man and to continue the family name and secure its heritage, return home with a bride. A woman who had no idea of the traditions of the land, a woman oblivion to the culture of his fathers. A woman who had charmed his son to turn away from his family.
It has been a long practiced tradition of his people, for a father to choose a spouse for his child. A tradition he'd obeyed during his time. 'Hadn't he married Fumi even when he knew nothing about her?' but he'd loved her nonetheless and they have lived happily ever since. As tradition demands, he'd chosen a bride for his son, a woman from one of the most prestigious families, a woman of virtue and good upbringing. A woman, his son had just rejected because of another.
Chief Tim took off his fila and folded it into his fist, as he pace his study bare-headed still pained at his son's revelation. A marriage between Deji and Chief Adeji's daughter was all his family business and his political ambition needed to skyrocket. And he wasn't going to let Deji's union with Catherine ruin it for him.
"rara"
He declared. He wasn't going to sit back and Deji ruined his long-hatched plans.
"Ọkọ mi, what do we do now? We can't go back on our word, it will be too shameful"
Fumi said. 'How would she call off a marriage that had gotten the society talking?' 'how would face the other woman?'
"He will marry his betrothed. I shall meet with Chief Adeji, this marriage will happen as planned"
He declared