Meant To Be - Episode 46

 

  The wedding preparations started almost immediately after the party. The introduction already took place at the party so numbers have been exchanged and then Ayo's grandmother and father insisted on another formal introduction in their town so they met two weeks after the party, exchanged drinks and foods and then they talked about the date and agreed to have the wedding in four months’ time. 

Now, it's two weeks to the wedding, Ayo and Kore were still going to work though the stress was getting to Ayo. Their pre-wedding pictures were taken the last weekend at Eko Hotel and Suites and it was flying all over social media with the main hashtags #KAYO2019

Ayo finished her show and went to Kore's office . She knocked on the door and after hearing a muffled 'come in', she pushed open the door and walked in then plopped down on the sofa. 

Kore asked, "How are you ma?" 

She answered, "I am tired. I just want to run away. My dress is going through adjustments again and the cake lady called. She is just saying what I don't understand."

He stood up from his chair to go squat in front of her, "Baby. Babe

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

. Just calm down."

She replied, "I am calm."

He stood up and sat beside her on the double seat sofa before saying, "No, you are not."

"Korede, leave me alone. I am just so frustrated. This stress is too much, calls here and there. How far with the invitation card? It has to get to the guests before Wednesday."

"Come closer, let me tell you something."

"Korede leave me alone."

"I am serious."

"Okay. You better say something meaningful." Ayo said and then she moved closer to him and he whispered in her ear. 

"Kore, are you okay?"

"Yes, I am and lest I forget, I am hungry." 

"Oh! What will you eat now? You know I had a show early this morning otherwise, I would have cooked."

"Its fine, don't go all wifey on me. Let me get my wallet, let's go to The Place."

"Okay." She said and within minutes, they were out of the building. 

Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ

     On Thursday, Ayo had left work earlier so she can do more planning Around 8pm, they were all ready, dressed casually. Kore drove them to Lara's house. He parked outside the gate then Ayo knocked and the gate keeper allowed them in. They went to Lara's apartment and Ayo knocked again. Lara opened the door and greeted, 

"Babe. Boss. Good evening."

"Hey Lara, what's up?" 

"Good evening Aunty Lara."

"How are you love?" 

"Fine."

"So, as per our discussion. We are going out so he will stay here for the night."

"Sure, no problem at all."

"Lara, thanks for..."

"Babe, I think I burnt the eggs." A male voice coming closer shouted, interrupting Kore and as soon as he ended his sentence, he was in view,

"Deeman?" Kore asked surprisingly, 

Deeman answered, sporting a black singlet and carton coloured shorts, "Uhmmm, yeah. I umm..."

Ayo turned to Kore saying, "Pay up mister, you owe me."

Deeman asked, "Did you bet on us?" 

Ayo said, "Yeah. I told him you guys were either going to get together soon or are already together. He argued hence the bet."

Lara said, "I can't believe you."

Kore announced, "Anyways, we gotta move. Hey kid, be good, okay?" 

Itunu replied, "Okay Dad."

Ayo said, "Good night o. Itunu, you better behave yourself otherwise..."

"Madam, please leave the child and come and be going to your date. Goodnight o." Lara said and pulled Itunu in before locking the door and Kore and Ayo took their leave. 

Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ

     The next day, Ayo's grandmother and the Adetiloyes were supposed to arrive in Lagos at the house Ayo was currently staying. Since it was four separate two-bedroom flats, the couple had decided for the King and Queen and whoever they are bringing to stay in one flat while Ayo's grandmother and her friends, Sade and Titi will stay in one and of course he and Ayo shared the remaining two flats. Kore had sent Deeman to go pick them up from town and he had been on his way as early as Six o'clock in the morning. 

Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ

     Somewhere else in Lagos, Lara was wondering why Ayo or Kore had not shown up to pick Itunu up and Friday was always busy for her at the station so she told him to go take his bath and have a change of cloth which was in his bag. Then they went out. 

Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ

     Twelve minutes was just ticking past five o'clock when Deeman drove the townspeople into the compound. Razaq, the gate keeper opened the gate for the car and helped them take their belongings to the different flats then they all sat down at the flat given to Kore's parents. 

Kabiesi asked, "Where is your boss?" 

Deeman said, "I have not seen him since yesterday sir."

Olori Adenike questioned, "Hahan, what kind of answer are you giving? You've not seen your boss since yesterday, so, who gave you the directive of coming to pick us up?"

Deeman explained, "He did actually. He told me what to do yesterday so I just went ahead with my assignment and I have been trying to call him all day, his number is switched off."

Ayo's grandmother asked, "Hahan, have you called Ayo too?"

Deeman answered, "Yes ma. Both are switched off."

Ayo's grandmother suggested "Let me call her here."

Olori Adenike said, "Let me also call Korede here."

Ayo's grandmother announced, "It is switched off."

Olori Adenike said, "Korede's number is also switched off. What is going on?" 

Ayo's grandmother exclaimed, "Ah! A week to the wedding!" 

"Women! Calm down. Everything is fine." Kabiesi said and almost immediately, the doorbell rang increasing everyone's anxiety.

Deeman went to open the door only to see Lara and Itunu. They exchanged greetings and then went inside to see the rest. After greeting everyone seated, Lara asked,

"Where is Ayo and Kore? Their numbers have been switched off and they did not come to take Itunu this morning as usual."

Olori asked, already vexed, "What is the meaning of all these?" 

Lara asked, "What's going on?" 

Deeman said, "We've not seen them since we arrived. Nobody knows their whereabouts."

Lara asked, "What about Razaq?" 

Mama asked, "Who is Razaq?" 

Itunu answered, "The gate keeper."

Deeman asked, "That's true o. But, how can he know when me I don't know?" 

Lara said, "He can have a clue, you never can tell. Let me get him." She went out and came back with Razaq a few minutes later. 

Razaq said, "Yes sir."

Kabiesi asked, "Where are your bosses?" 

Razaq answered, "They went out yesterday sir."

Mama asked, "Didn't they tell you where they were going?" 

Razaq answered, "No o but I saw them carrying two 'dufe' bag." 

Lara asked, "'Dufe'?"

Deeman asked, "You mean duffel bags?" 

Razaq said, "Yes, dufe bags. E be like say they travel. Eh hen, they tell me say they go come next week say make I tell Bros Dee make planning continue."

Olori asked, "Is that?" 

Razaq replied, "Is that!" 

Deeman said, "Razaq, you can go back to your post. Thank you." 

Olori asked, "So, these children traveled few days to their wedding? Whoever told them that was a good idea?" 

"Mummy, I wonder o ehn and they didn't even tell anyone close to them. Not even Itunu. What kind of thing is that? Where could they have gone now?" Lara asked. 

Kabiesi said, "Maybe we should leave them be and concentrate on the planning."

Mama asked, "How will we know what they have arranged and what they haven't?"

Itunu supplied, "Mum's iPad is here and that's where she documents all the wedding plans she has done and the ones she hasn't."

Lara commented, "Eh-heh, all these ultimate search suspense sha."

Olori suggested, "Why don't we get something to eat and then rest and then we can start with whatever we need to do tomorrow morning after breakfast?" 

Kabiesi said, "Good idea."

Lara announced, "I will be leaving."

Deeman said, "Me too."

Kabiesi asked, "How will you get home?" 

Deeman answered, "Oh! I will ride with her and be back tomorrow to render any help I can."

Mama appreciated, "Thank you very much o."

"Yes ma." Deeman said and they left. 

Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ

   Razaq was dozing off by his apartment on Sunday evening, when a loud horn jeered him awake. He stood ip quickly, checked the car through a window area and then opened the gates. Kore's car rolled in and of course Kore and Ayo came down, both on the same casual outfit. Razaq joined them as soon as he locked the gates and said, 

"Welcome sir."

Kore asked, "How are you, Razaq?" 

Razaq informed, "Fine sir but everybody don dey look for you o. In fact, them dey vex o."

Ayo asked, "Is anybody in the house?"

Razaq answered, "Yes ma."

Ayo said, "Okay. Come later to get what we bought for you from our trip."

"Ah, Madam, thank you o, e seun, eyin le sure ju." Razaq said and he went back to his post while the couple approached the house, both carrying a bag each. Kore pressed the doorbell and Itunu opened the door for them. As soon as he saw them, he shrieked and then they went in. 

Olori asked, "Hahan, so, you people can come back home? You should have stayed where you went to na?" 

Kabiesi asked, "Kore, why did you people do that nao? Travel without telling everybody. You made us panic."

Kore apologized, "Kabiesi, we are sorry. Nothing justifies our actions at all.

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

. I just felt, if we mention it, you all will say it is not necessary and the tension was too much."

Ayo said, "We are sorry sir. Mama, we are sorry."

Mama asked, "How are we going to start planning at this last minute? Your wedding attires, the food, the booking for court?"

Ayo said, "Everything is done. We are set. Deliveries for clothes and any other thing will start arriving from tomorrow."

Olori asked, "Are you sure?"

Kore answered, "Yes Mum."

"These children ehn..." Olori trailed off. 

Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ

   On Thursday, they went to the court at Ikoyi to get married by the law. The number of guests was just limited to their parents and close friends as it was a working day. Then on Friday the traditional wedding took place at am event center on the Island. Kore's family presented all the things on the list of the bride price, yam, Kola, oil, honey and so on. The couple looked so beautiful in their blue native attire.

And then the D-day arrived, the white wedding procession happened in a Baptist church which was a branch of the church Kabiesi attends in town. The praise and worship were spirit filled and then the hymns, Kore and his groomsmen were already in front when Ayo walked in regally with her father. The tying of the knot went beautifully well and calm and then it was time for reception, dance, games, and gift presentation. 

Around 6:00 PM, the couple left the reception hall to start their honeymoon. 

Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ 

Bold Words

e seun, eyin le sure ju - Thank you, you are the surest. 

​

THE END

KINDLY CHECK MY OTHER BOOKS TOO AND READ, LEAVE ME YOUR COMMENTS. I LOOK FORWARD TO READING THEM.

I LOVE YOU GUYS.