A Twisted Love Story

When the earliest news of Emeka’s wedding flew into Obiageli’s ears, she brushed it off as mere hearsay. People liked to talk nonstop about what they knew nothing about. If there was going to be any wedding, it would be theirs, and they were still planning it.

When the news filtered again, she laughed it off, dismissing it without a second thought. She couldn’t imagine how people would try to ruin a good thing, but then, such is the way of the world. She and Emeka were waxing strong and hot in their love, bigger than any devil could quench. People didn’t know what they were saying and she wouldn’t let nosy people smell a rat there was no rat.

She met Emeka during her first year at the university. Green-eyed and na?ve, yet lovely, Oby was a hot cake to several guys in school. With a colour that shone brighter than the sun, eyes that searched the depths of your soul, and a voluptuous figure that hugged her clothes, Oby was a sight to behold, and the envy of many girls on campus.

“Hey! Fine girl!”

“Excuse me, baby! Do I know you from somewhere?”

Nothing prepared Obiageli for this kind of attention. Everywhere she went, guys hovered around her like flies attracted to ripe mango. At first, she was very uncomfortable, but after a few months, she floated on the compliments.

“Hot babe like you!?I hear say even SUG president dey on top your matter.” Anita, one of her roommates teased her.

“Abeg oh! I never reach that level.”

“Oya which level you dey? Faculty Governor abi Dean of students?” Anita persisted.

“Who go save me from Anita hand today o? Where everybody go sef!”

For a room that was originally designed for eight girls, that now housed fourteen, it was surprising that only both of them were present.

“Madam you no go answer now. Make we wey be your seniors for the matter tell you how e dey go.”

Anita continued her bants and Oby laughed them off.

On a scorching Friday afternoon, Oby joined the line at the ATM with her fellow students. Unfortunately, the ATM was out of cash before she could withdraw. Oby was also exhausted from standing for so long and frustrated because she needed to buy foodstuff to cook the night’s meal. As she turned to leave, she noticed a tall guy, staring and smiling at her. At barely 5’5, Oby had weak knees for tall guys, especially those who towered above 6’ like the one staring at her. Although she wasn’t in the mood to encourage any conversation, she couldn’t help noticing how cute he was.

Sensing her reluctance, he approached her, introduced himself as Emeka, a 400L engineering student, and winked. No wonder, Engine boys were the school’s cutest! Emeka was so fluent in his talk that she couldn’t resist. That night, he bought her dinner and gave her some cash for her expenses.

Within a few weeks, theirs had become a full-blown relationship. Oby was so smitten that she ditched some classes to spend time with him. Meanwhile, Emeka strutted around campus like a proud cock, showing off his new chick like a shiny new sports car.

It didn’t help that Oby had zero interest in studying Peace Studies which the school had dumped on her. She quickly got distracted by Emeka and a zillion campus activities that she neglected her studies. When her results showed came out that session, she was struggling to stay afloat.

Still, she continued to spend most of her free time with Emeka, much to the chagrin of her roommates who felt she deserved to be with a prime minister or someone who would shower her with money.

“But I love him,” she would say.

“18-year-old girl like you! What do you know? Love is for later. Now is the time to flex and make money while you’re young.”

“I don’t want that kind of money?biko. Leave me and Emeka like that.”

With her roommates always sticking their noses in her business, Oby preferred to avoid them and stay at Emeka’s place outside of campus. Gradually, she started spending more time there, cooking sumptuous meals for him and making herself at home. Emeka showered her with so much love that she was delirious. He was always there for her, advising and soothing her when the goings got rough. Before long, they were unofficially husband and wife.

When her fellowship sisters shared their opinion and tried to convince her that it wasn’t God’s will for her to play wifely roles for a man she wasn’t married to, Oby gave them a piece of her mind. Who were they to know the will of God over her life and caution her? She simply switched to Emeka’s fellowship. At least those ones kept their opinion to themselves.

The morning Emeka left after his final papers and project defence was very emotional. Oby wept so much one would think someone died.

“My love, don’t cry na. I’m still here for you.”

“How? Biko, how? I’ve heard that once people cross the school gate, they leave their relationship behind.” She said and burst into another round of fresh tears.

“Don’t worry?nkem. You know I love you too much to let you go. First, graduate, and then we’ll plan our future together.”

Hanging on to that hope with all her might, Oby went through school and managed to graduate with a weak 2.2. It was more than she’d hoped for, given how little attention she paid to her studies. Anyways, Emeka was an engineer, she didn’t need to study too hard to be a good wife to him.

Shortly after her youth service, he came to see her people for the first introduction/knocking on the door. Oby was beside herself with joy. She beamed radiantly and basked in the love Emeka showered her. It was their formal introduction in a few weeks, after which they’d pick a date for the wedding.

With so much to do, Oby had no time for mindless frivolities and baseless gossip. She was determined that her wedding would be the talk of the century. She needed to put all her haters to shame, especially those who assumed their love didn’t stand a chance outside the campus gates. Aha! In their faces.

The following week, she visited Emeka at his parent’s house. His father was long dead and Emeka’s mother lived with her two sons, her three elder daughters being already married. Oby never failed to give them a taste of how well she would take care of Emeka when they got married.

Whenever she was around, she never let Mama Emeka lift a finger. She would cook and stock the fridge with mouth-watering delicacies, scrub as though her life depended on it, and comb all the hidden corners till everywhere was spick and span. Given the expectations of a “wife material”, Oby easily exceeded a million yards.

This time, however, Mama Emeka was none too pleased to see her, responding somewhat coldly to her warm greetings. Oby brushed it off immediately, the poor woman was probably frustrated over the status of the country. Who wouldn’t be? No one knew where Nigeria was going.

Quickly, she got to work, scrubbing and arranging as usual. When Mama Emeka walked past and barely said a word, Oby decided not to think too much of it. Even Emeka’s kid brother was a little strange. Usually, he would run to her, calling:

“Aunty Oby! Aunty Oby!”

This time, he seemed restrained. One glare from his mother and he scampered away. Oby decided not to make an issue out of it. With the wedding plans gradually kicking off, everyone was definitely stressed, and she wouldn’t be insensitive by reading unnecessary meanings into anything.

That night, Emeka returned from work and pushed all her doubts aside. They had a delightful time as usual and Oby was reassured of her invaluable place in Emeka’s life. The poor guy couldn’t breathe if she wasn’t around.

That weekend was Uju’s second cousin’s wedding and had she not already given her word, she would have preferred to rest from all her work. But Uju had pleaded that she accompanied her since it was a distant relative, and she didn’t want to show up alone.

When they arrived at the venue, there was so much crowd outside that they hurried to take their places before they were pushed away. As they awaited the arrival of the couple, the power went out. A fat woman whose face was as white as snow, yet her hands were as black as charcoal fished out the wedding program to fan herself.

Oby thought she saw a familiar face as the woman moved her bulbous arms back and forth in frenzied motion. As soon as power was restored, the couple started dancing in, shielded by several cultural and noncultural dancers and surrounded by paparazzi. While everyone else focused on the dance crew trying to outdo each other, and others struggled to get pictures of the couple, Oby got her hands on the wedding program. Just for a minute, her heart stopped beating.

As she looked up, the dance crew had made way for the dancing couple, and she caught a familiar face in the crowd. Her heart sank to the depths of her stomach, her eyes blinked rapidly, and her mouth stood agape. Oby was hardly breathing.

It was Emeka’s wedding! As soon as Uju noticed the groom, she moved close to her and tried to hold her shaky hands. No one else seemed to notice her strange reaction, they were so immersed in the dancing couple. Emeka caught her eyes and gave her his sly wink. That was all she remembered before her feet gave way and it all went blank.