Meant To Be - Episode 25

    They waited till Itunu was done with his third term in school before they went home which was a month after Kore proposed. Ayo planned to use two weeks while Kore will use one. An intern was going to take her place temporarily while Kore can always work from anywhere, he was since he had all his gadgets with him.

It's been two hours now and they were finally out of Lagos and getting closer to Ondo. Itunu was asleep on the backseat while Ayo was reading a novel on Wattpad and Kore was concentrating on getting them home.

Kore asked suddenly, 

"Where are we going to stay?" 

"Hmm?" 

"AY!" Kore called and she looked up at him asking, 

"What is it?" 

"How is the housing arrangement? Will you stay at the palace or what?" 

"Ah-ha Kore, do you want Mama to feel bad? You stay at the palace and I will stay at Mama's place. You can visit anytime; you know Mama likes you."

"It’s just, I feel like I can’t bear to be apart from you."

"It will all work out jo and before you know it, the days we want to spend here will fly by in a daze."

"Okay ma." He said and they returned to having a companionable silence in the car. 

Few hours later, Kore pulled into the front yard of Ayo's grandma. She was sitting outside

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. As soon as they got down, she shouted, 

"Ah, ah, ah, baba mi. Ayodunmomi, ehn oko mi."

Itunu went to hug his grandma. They would be seeing her for the first time this year though they visit every Christmas. 

As soon as, Kore got closer, he greeted, prostrating, "E ku'role ma."

"Baba mi, how come you people didn't tell me you were coming?"

"It's a surprise, Maami."

"A pleasant one I see."

"Come inside please."

"Okay ma. Itunu go inside with grandma, let me help Kore with our luggage."

Itunu obeyed his Mom and went inside while the other two adults brought out their luggage leaving Kore's own in the boot and they went inside. Ayo took it one by one to the guest room where she always stayed whenever she was around while Kore sat down with Ayo's grandma and said, 

"I will like to talk to you about something ma."

"I'm all ears. What is it?" 

"I want to marry Ayodunmomi."

"Itunu, go inside and call your mother for me."

"Okay Mama." Itunu said and a few minutes later, Ayo came into the sitting room and took her seat looking from Mama to Kore and back. Then Mama asked, 

"Adekorede said he wants to marry you. How do you feel about it?" 

Ayo replied shyly, "Well, he already asked me and I said yes."

Then Mama started swaying and shaking her body as she danced, 

"Emi la o ni yo si, emi la o ni yo si, bi a ti fe o ri, bee na lori, emi la o ni yo si."

"Why are you dancing now? Are you the one marrying the prince?" Ayo teased laughing at grandmother's display. 

"Well, I am not the one, amo emi na ti di ana oba niyen. Isn't it something to dance about?" She answered then turned to Kore, 

"Wo, oko mi, eni to loro ti soro. In as much as my daughter is ready to marry you, I am ready to give her to you and I will be glad to call you a son."

"Thank you, ma." Kore said prostrating. 

"So, will you be staying with us here so I can go and prepare..."

"Hahan Mama, he can't stay with us here nao when the palace is not far away. Do you want the Royal family to think we want to collect their son?" 

"And have you not collected him?" Kore asked and they laughed. 

"Mama, I have to go to the palace now. You know how people are, somebody might have seen us and rushed to spread rumor and I wouldn't want to upset my parents."

"O da. O da. Eeyan o gbodo ri ibinu Oba."

"Yes Mama. I brought this for you." Kore said, handing her a fancy bag and she collected exclaiming all through, 

"Ah! Ah! Ah! Ose baba mi. Bi o se n toju mi, omo a toju iwo naa. You will never know any lack.

Read " Saved by Love " by the same author ( Olufunlola Adeola )

. God will continue to increase you far above your enemies."

"Amen Mama. I should be on my way now."

"Eh-hen, okay, let us pray." Mama said causing Ayo and Kore to look at each other, Mama's prayer was always like a long train and when you think she is done, she picks up from another dimension. In short, her prayer was always very long but they bent their head all the same and responded, 'Amin.' to the prayers. 

Surprisingly, the prayer didn't take too long and then Kore called for Itunu, 

"Tunz, I'm leaving o."

Thats all it took for Itunu to come flying into sitting room.

"You are going?" 

"Yes, but I will be back tomorrow, okay?" 

"Okay." Tunz responded without a trace of smile. 

"Come on, don't be like that. And, I will talk to you before you sleep tonight."

"Okay." Itunu said brightening up. 

"And make sure you don't disturb your mother."

"I will be on my best behaviour."

"That's my boy."

"O daaro ma."

"Yes, my dear, greetings to the King and Queen."

"I will deliver your greetings ma." He said and left with Ayo at his back. She saw him off to his car and he told her to get in which she did, 

"I can't believe you are going to stay apart for two weeks."

"It's just two weeks and it's not like we are staying apart, we are just not staying in the same house but we can see each other."

"All right. I will miss you." He said, holding her closer to him with her head. 

"And I am already missing you." She said and he kissed her, slow and unhurried. 

When they pulled back, he said, 

"I will come and pick you up tomorrow to meet my parents."

"Call me first."

"Will do." He said and she said, 

"I love you."

"I love you too" He replied and kissed her again before starting the car and she got out of the car and watched him drive away. 

Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ

Bold Words

Ah, ah, ah, baba mi. Ayodunmomi, ehn oko mi - Ah, ah, ah, my father, Ayodunmomi ehn my dear

E ku'role ma - Good evening ma

Emi la o ni yo si, emi la o ni yo si, bi a ti fe o ri, bee na lori, emi la o ni yo si - Why won't we rejoice? Why won't we rejoice, it happened exactly the way we wanted it to happen, why won't we rejoice. 

amo emi na to di ana oba niyen - but I have also become the King's in law. 

Wo, oko mi, eni to loro ti soro - look my dear, the one who is in charge of the matter has spoken. 

O da. O da. Eeyan o gbodo ri ibinu Oba - That's good, that's good. One must not see the anger of the King.

Ose baba mi. Bi o se n toju mi, omo a toju iwo naa - thank you my father, the way you are taking care of me, your child will take care of you too

Amin - Amen

O daaro ma - Good night ma