"Em, pasitor!" Betty's dad called out in his local dialect.
"I know you are a pasitor, but pasitor also have bloodu in his veins, abi my children, no bi so?"
"Na so!!" The multitudes of Betty's brethren combined of siblings and relations answered with their eyes fastened on me.
After my meeting with my spiritual parents, I returned home and called Betty asking if my coming to her father's house would be postponed but she strictly demanded that my coming was mandatory as her father was already waiting for me.
"Betty, I want us to visit the lab together." I said in the middle of our conversation
"Lab! for what exactly, if I may ask. Oh, so you are doubting my pregnancy or someone has lied to you that Betty is deceiving you!" She ranted over the phone.
"It is not like that Betty, except your conscience is judging you...."
"Judging me of what David? Only a person without a clear conscience would feel judged." She cut in
"Betty, can you listen to me, I only want to confirm the pregnancy myself. This shouldn't be something you should be worried about."
"Fine, since you want to make confirmation, no issue. But which lab and which MLS (medical laboratory Scientist) do you want that done under?"
"I have a MLS, his name is Dr Mike." I answered trying to play low like a cat in order to win her.
"Well, that's fine, when you come over to the house, we will talk things over." She said and ended the call
I decided to humble myself and go in order not to turn the old man down since I and him were well known as the betrothed of Betty.
You see, if I have any opportunity to advice any youth, my advice would be that they shouldn't rush into making marital arrangements with anybody until it has been assured of them from God.
I dived into the bathroom and soon was out hanging a shirt and trousers on my body.
I had overcome my fears considering the fact that with fear or not, it was mandatory I appear before the father, also considering the fact that I was known before them as a man of God.
after dressing, I knelt beside the bed and prayed silently asking God for his help as I visited.
I rounded the prayer and left the house into my car, then zoomed off.
On my way, many thoughts payed me a visit; "What if Betty informs her father that I have impregnated her? what will I say and do? Ah, Lord I need your help."
It took me 45 minutes to arrive at Betty's house.
Approaching the compound, Betty came outside and welcomed me.
As she ushered me into the sitting room, I began to hear things like, "hm, he can't impregnate our daughter and abandon her on the road, who will marry her?" "He must marry her!" Another shouted
"Betty what is going on in there?" I asked, my heart jumping out of my chest .
"Nothing love, please come in, they have been waiting for you for long.
"Who are they?" I asked confused and angered at the same time.
"But you didn't tell me this was a community meeting I was coming to attend."
"Please can you go in, my people are waiting for you."
"Jesus Christ!" i stood out exclaiming in amazement.
"Man of God, if you ever make the mistake of marrying wrongly, you will start your hell fire experience here on earth." I held the tip of my finger with my teeth and muttered.
"I know this will be over, but I thank God I did not marry the beast of a woman such as Betty. It will be over, no matter the shame." I ministered to myself as I bent my head to commit my body into the chamber.
As I fell in, glares and angry faces fashioned upon me until I was seated
I greeted them feeling ashamed but none of answered.
"What Betty must have informed these people must have been a strong deceit.
"Em, Pasitor!" Betty's dad called in his local dialect.
"I know you are a pasitor, but pasitor also have bloodu in his veins, abi my children no bi so?"
"Na so!!" The multitudes of Betty's brethren combined of siblings and relations answered with their eyes glaring at me.
"My daughter Betty has informed me of something none of us should be hearing. Our daughter brought you to us with joy, informing us that you are the man who has come to plug her. We gladly took you in and accepted to offer our daughter to you. To us it is good news that you have proven to us that you are a son and we are happy for that. We would have been celebrating knowing fully well that the child coming on the way would arrive as soon as the marriage is conducted..."
"Nk, nk, no!!" An elder stood up
"David! your soon to be father in-law likes prolonging things. Betty ran back to us grieving that you have denied taking responsibility of marrying her after you have put her in a mother way."
"We summon you here to tell you that Betty's family is ready to hand her over to you as your wife. We are not asking you to talk or say anything. The only thing we are demanding from you is the date for the marriage to take place, and the earlier the best for you. You are a man of God, so that people won't start accusing you of getting our daughter pregnant before marriage." The elder spoke at length.
My head was bent to the ground in shame, anger and rage, this time around not for Betty but for myself. For why I had brought myself so low just for the pleasure of Sexual satisfaction.
"Young man, no matter how sexy, physically attractive and endowed that young woman is, she is a dead trap, and a reducer of glory if you have intimate knowledge with her outside marriage." I ministered these words in my heart like I was ministering to people as I bent my head.
"My elders, as you all said, it is true I have impregnated your daughter Betty and I owe to my responsibility to marry her." I said slowly but in a summary just to be out of the place.
I was sitting but the seat couldn't hold my butts anymore.
"Good, good, that's all that we want to hear our son-in-law say....."
They rejoiced clapping their hands and celebrating.
"Betty!" an elder called out
"We hope you have heard. You don't have a problem. Pastor Donald..,"
"David," others corrected
".....oh, David! Don't mind my old age. As I was saying, Pastor David is your husband and he will marry you. Our children are fruitful and Betty has just made us proud taken in." he said and all laughed amusingly.
"I have become like the Samson that the Philistines mocked and scorned." My heart was bleeding fast
I quickly rose to my feet and offered that I would get back to them.
I grapped my car keys from Betty and went in. I was about reversing to move out of the compound when all of a sudden I realized that my phone was not with me.
"Where is my phone Betty?" I asked in anger
"Here love!"
"You dare not call me that name Betty? get this straight into your head that David is not your love!" I yelled
"Come down please, I'm sorry lo...em. It's not my fault. it's because I love you and can't imagine my life without you." She said urging her demon to seduce me again.
"Where is my phone?" I thundered and she handed it over.
"When are we visiting the MLS?" She asked
"Tomorrow noon by 2." I answered.
"Please let's make it Wednesday same time."
"And why?" I asked
"I have important things to attend to tomorrow."
"But I have already booked an appointment with him." I responded
"Please get back to him and rearrange it." She beckoned
"I will do that." I answered trying to get away from her irritating sight
"Please come out of my car. I have things doing back home." I demanded and she reached out her lips to kiss me
I couldn't tell when I reached out my palm like a sword and landed Betty a very hot slap on the cheek, pushed her out and zoomed off.
It took until my wedding day before I would realize what Betty had done with my phone while in discussion with her family
"Hello, you are speaking with Betty, the fiancee to Apostle David."
"Oh, Apostle called me that you two will be coming for a pregnancy test."
"That's correct. Now, listen sir! This is very important and I won't want to waste my time nor your life if you deny complying to what I'm about to ask you to do. I have two options for you to choose from; 1. To have you killed or 2. forward 500 hundred thousand naira into your account on the demand that you forge a pregnancy test when we shall come visiting. The ball is in your court and you should know how to play accordingly. Mind you, this isn't a joke"
The medical laboratory Scientist doubled as a Dr. tried to object but Betty threatened and with the money and his life involved, he agreed to forge a medical pregnancy test result upon our visit.
The money was handed over to him the following day upon which the agreement was sealed. Dr. Mike became a player in the game until it ended
It would take until my wedding day before this would burst open to my notice, a day I will never forget in my entire life.
"If God does not help the righteous, one mistake from them is enough to destroy their eternity."