Broken pieces - Episode 2

 

Michael’s joy knows no bound on the day of his university marticulation when he saw his high school friend Johnpaul. It was a day to remember as they had never seen after four years after their high school. It was a reunion that they never expected again. After the matriculation ceremony, they decided to live together as Johnpaul was yet to secure an apartment. Only in lecture hall would you see either JP or mike being alone . Their friendship had continued after their compulsory National Youth Service programme. Mike, a software engineer, also runs a media house within the business district area of the town and Johnpaul, a building technologist. They have lived in Jordan’s estate for four years; also Johnpaul had engaged Kaima a week after Michael and Yvonne celebrated theirs.
 
Yvonne droves to Mrs Adelabu’s office that Saturday afternoon, she wore a tight fitted trousers with a white blouse. She had veiwed her facial look at the mirror, made a pop-pop sound with her lips, a retouch to her lips paint. Her height intimidates as she came out of the Toyota camry car, her high shoe minced towards the building entrance but was halted by two young girls who ran over to identify with the radio artiste.

‘Hi, you must be Ivyonne Cush of Konjo FM. Think I've met you before’ said one of the girl.
‘Yes I am, please to meet you’ Yvonne responded, wearing her smiling look.
‘I can't believe this is you, I've been following your programme LOVERS CRIB

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/broken-pieces

. I’m your regular caller’ wowed the other girl. 
‘What are you called?’
‘Cynthia from Edinburgh road’
 ‘Oh! Cynthybaby, nice to meet you’ Yvonne replied as she came hugging her.
‘You look cute’ the girl compliments.
‘S*xy too’ Cynthia added.
‘I will only accept looking cute, I don’t take looking s*xy as a compliment’ she totally opposed and turned to the other girl ‘hi, what are you called?’
‘I am Mirabel’.
‘That's a cute name, pleased to see you girls. As you can see, am in hurry, I am keeping some people waiting for long.’
‘Please can we take a shot?’ Cynthia begged before they posed by Yvonne’s side by side, smiling at Cynthia’s phone camera for selfie.

Mike and JP were seated in Mrs Adelabu's office, middle aged, a barrister, and she specialized with home voilence cases and marriage consultancy.
Mrs. Adelabu with the two was cracking jokes while waiting for Yvonne and Kiama.
She looked at her wrist watch and made a face, ‘they aren't keeping to time, it’s an hour class.’
Johnpaul wondered what kept them that long. He’d called Kaima an hour ago.
‘Aren't they supposed to be the ones that should be here first, I think they need this class more than us’
Mrs. Adelabu peered at Mike from above her glasses, but Mike was busy with his phone set.
‘That was a wrong assumption Mr. Johnpaul, and that's where most marriages start to collapsing’ she began as Mike and Johnpaul’s attention were called.

‘You see, most men thinks the way you thought, and that's why they don't finds it easy sending their wife packing. You men need this class most. You the Man need to have a thorough understanding of women and what they want. Women are very delicate to handle. You need to understand that women care so much about themselves, their body. Sometime you have to allow them do those painting. We like to look good, not minding the cost’ Mrs. Adelabu continued till she was interrupted with a knock on the door. 

‘Hello, am sorry guys, please pardon me ‘   Yvonne apologized as she dazzles menacingly, walk pass John Paul, touching his mustache, then to Mike, pecks him and sits by his left side.
‘Babe I’m so sorry, something came up in the office’.
Johnpaul waved at her when she’d greeted, he shrugged further when Yvonne ask of Kaima; ‘maybe something came up in the office too.’  Both laughed at his saying
Mrs Adelabu watches both of them with smiles and her eye meets with Yvonne. 
‘Oh, good day ma'am, forgive my manners.’
‘You are most welcome, guess you’re the lady on the radio?’
‘Yes ma'am.’
‘Yvonne Cush, on the MIC, the princess of the wave empire’ Johnpaul mimicked
She gives thumbs up, ‘that's why you are my darling. Where's Kaima, Is she not coming? She asked again with inquisitiveness
‘She will,  you know women thing, she might be by the staircase, having some painting.’
They laughed.
A knock landed on the door, ‘I said it.’  Johnpaul turned a palm up.
A fair and average height lady opened the door and walked with a heavy feet.
‘Like I have missed the class?’ she asked.
‘Not only the class, but also the quiz.’ Johnpaul replied sarcastically while other busted into laughter.
‘You just remind me of those university days, when if ones misses a quiz, will cry whole day.’ Yvonne added’
‘JP missed a lot of quiz in the University, so he can tell better.’ Mike joked.
Mrs. Adelabu cleared her throat, ‘Good day miss...?
‘Sochikaima’ Kaima responded
‘OK, we have been waiting for you.’
‘Sorry ma'am, there was this situation that needed my apt attention.’  Kaima apologized
' I'm always right, I guess I have the gift of prophesy'. JP wouldn't stop being comic.
‘It's alright, before we go straight to the main business of the day, let me introduce my humble self. My name is Mrs. Fumilayo Adelabu, a legal practitioner, also a minister of the gospel. I specialize in all form of home voilences and of course marriage consultancy here, also co-founded Mercy Seat Assembly with my husband who is also the general oversea. Now, you guys are here for marriage class. This is the main foundation of marriage; I appreciate it when young couple-to-be desire to study through this institution called marriage before going into it. Now let me ask, what do you perceive to be marriage? I will start with you, Miss Kaima?’
All eyes turn to kaima
‘Alright, marriage is the union of a man and a woman as becoming husband and wife.’ Kaima answered.
‘You did your social studies well in primary education.’ Johnpaul made other to laugh
‘Over to you MR Johnpaul, what is marriage?’ 
‘I think she's right. It is the coming together of a man and woman to join as one and be addressed as husband and wife.’Johnpaul answered.
‘Mike, do you have a different definition?’
‘Not at all’ Mike shrugged
Mrs. Adelabu turned to Yvonne
‘The only thing that they miss from what I was taught back then was the legality of this union. I think its legal is the paramount. Marriage is not just when a man and woman come together.’
‘That was a nice and intelligent definition from you Miss Yvonne.’ Mrs. Adelabu affirmed. Now next question is this; what makes marriage legal. I will start with you again. Kaima
‘Why always me, Kaima mumbled and then continued.
‘Well, I think that for marriage to have legal effect, it means that both couple must have fulfilled the entire marriage rite, these include dowry payment and have walked down the aisle to obtain church certificate of marriage.’
‘For marriage to become legal biding, it mustn’t be from church. In fact nowadays, it is preferable the certificate be obtained from law court.’ Yvonne added.
‘Whether from church, mosque, shrine or law court, it’s all a place of getting marriage papers.’ Mike countered.
Johnpaul wasn’t agreeing with any of them, his disapproval gesture draw others attention to him, so he gave his own stand. 
‘My own is that it is the dowry payment that makes marriage legal. All these one una dey yarn na okpata. We are not the whites; they should not impose their own tradition on us. For this course, Bob Marley did sing "emancipate yourself from mental slavery".’ 
‘You all have spoken well’ said Mrs. Adelabu. ‘Now let me start with this, that legality of marriage starts from when the two people, boy and girl haven reached a contractual age comes together on a mutual agreement  to become one as in husband and wife. This start with proposal offer made by  the man and the acceptance by the female, this we call marriage proposal.’
‘Sorry if I ask, must the proposal be made by the guy?’ johnpaul asked sharply.
Light argument emerges among then and Mrs. Adelabu ordered for calmness.
‘The proposal must be made by the guy who will eventually be the head of the family. If there is any culture elsewhere contrary to this, well, but not in Africa. The second stage is for the man to seek the consent of the ladies family, after which the dowry payment and other traditional rite proceeds. Listen, this is what it takes marriage to be legal. Other thing that follows is just for a proof. Either church or court certificate is just for a written proof that this two people have come into marriage agreement.’
‘And the proof is the most important, Yvonne maintained, ‘what is agreement without proof?’
‘Methinks that having a number of witnesses is more superior than any written proof, just as Mrs. Adelabu has pointed out.’ Johnpaul prompted.
‘So what are you insinuating?’ Kaima asked as she stared at his fiance
‘Dowry payment and other traditional rites is enough proof that two people have been legally married. Should the white impose their culture on us also? 
‘Baby no one is imposing any culture on you, it’s Christian nor..’
‘Where is such norms written in bible? Johnpaul interrupted.
‘You know, my own point is that one needs a written proof, Court marriage certifi..
‘Oh please, why will you opt for that? Of what use is all that?’ Mike interrupted Yvonne
‘Dear, I am not having any church wedding without first been to court.’ Yvonne made a face.
‘Are you kidding me?’ Mike blew hot.
‘Hey! Enough, we’ve had enough of this argument. It shows how naive you guys are. I believe that after our series of class, you will understand more. Today's class ends here, have a great day.