Chief Tokunbo Olawale smiles seeing his first son Oluwanifemi and his girlfriend by the pool. He knew what young love was like, he longs to tell them that old love is better, but decides against it. 'By the grace of God they will grow old together', he prayed. Nifemi, as his favorite is always called is the 'apple of his eye'. He doesn't resemble him much, Nifemi took his mother's face and his own character. Thank God, he thought, that woman is trouble. No one can know Nifemi is his favorite, he knows it is wrong and he acts fair to all his kids. His 3 lovely kids! Thinking of them always puts a huge smile on his face.


Nifemi just got double board-certified in the USA and came home to celebrate, and with him came a big surprise. His son is dating his best friend's daughter Oluwafunmilayo. He couldn't have asked for a better daughter in-law or a better alliance. He isn't old school, He doesn't care if his kids marry poor or rich, he just wants them to be happy. Funmi is beauty with brains, also a medical doctor. He only prays that they have time to give him grand-kids. Grand-kids? Wow, at his age to be a grand-father. Life seems perfect.
Funmi's dad is his childhood friend, they started their furniture business together and made their first million together.
Their business has expanded to where Tokunbo did not dream of. They are now billionaires with over 200 outlets in Nigeria and Ghana. He is tired of working, wants to retire and travel the world with his wife.
That reminds him, he has to tell his friend Chief Ogunshote. 'Gunshot' wont be happy about his plan to retire, the best time to tell him is when the kids are announcing their engagement. And then he wonders, why am I the only that knows about the engagement? His friend Gunshot should be happy to be his in-law, but he hasn't heard a word from him in 3 days, exactly when the kids arrived at Murtala Mohammed Airport hand in hand. Nifemi hasnt told his mother either, all this while he thought they were very close.

interesting

seunlayi: interesting

Thanks. This is my first time writing, I'm a JJC.

He decides to give the kids some privacy, he is on his balcony and the lovebirds cant see him. As he closes the sliding door, he hears a scream. Thinking someone had drowned (his worst fear), he ran back out. Olorun oba o, its just his wife Kofo shouting like the house is on fire. He can't hear what she says but he sees Funmi running out of the compound and Nifemi stomping and shouting back at his mum. 'What is the wahala?', he asks. No one answers him. His son gets his car keys and leaves. He decides to keep quiet for now, he knows his wife very well, 32 years of marriage has taught him a lot. She needs to cool down before he can get any information from her.

It is time for dinner, what he really wants to eat is not served on the table. He needs his wife this night but he doesn't think she will cooperate with the way she is fuming and sighing on the dinner table. His wife knows his appetite and he has promised her never to cheat on her. Even with all the temptations, and his friend Gunshot fueling them by sending young girls to his room whenever they go on business trips, he has never faltered.

Nifemi is not yet back, Morolake and her younger brother Akin decided to eat in their living room because of their mum. They are so scared of this woman, and he hates it. But what can he do?

'Kofoworola mi', he says. Kofo hisses and shuns him.
He recites her oriki, that always works. Still no reply. Now he is getting angry at her, he knows he hasn't done anything to piss her off. He always goes out of his way to please her. The reason why he is so rich is because of her, he didnt want her to lack. He married a very beautiful woman, at age 55 she looks like she hasn't had kids. He still wonders till today what she needs 1 million Naira monthly for when he takes care of all her needs, the latest Swiss and Austria laces, Arab, Indian and Italian Gold, all her Italian shoes, the asoebi's for all the owambe's she loves to attend. Even though she keeps all the proceeds from her boutiques and supermarket. 'Women sha, you can never understand them', he says to himself.

'What did you say?',Kofo barks across the table.
'Nothing', he replies.

He decides to go to bed early and tells the first maid to get him a glass of his favorite red wine, his nerves need calming.
Looking at the maid, he remembers how his wife made sure they only got ugly helpers. There are five of them and they all wear uniforms, including the chef. How ridiculous is that?

Tokunbo wakes up at 6 am, says his prayers and immediately matches to his son's room. He is still disturbed by the events of yesterday and he needs an explanation now. An elder is never at a loss for what to do.

Two hours later, he calls his friend Gunshot and tells him to expect the Olawale's at 5 pm today.

Gunshot suspects the reason for Toks visit but isn't sure. He calls Funmi to inquire about her relationship with Femi. He doesn't call him Nifemi. He could as well be talking to a mute because Funmi clams up. He has been asking her since he saw her with Femi at the airport.
His wife Lara is excited about the visit, she is already talking about weddings and asoebi. She calls a well known chef to cater the evening, why does she need to waste his money like this?

The Olawale's arrive at five pm on the dot, Toks doesn't do African time. They come bearing gifts, Toks is smiling while Kofo is frowning.
He hugs his friend and acknowledges the wife who seems so cold.
Toks starts by saying 'a matter with enough substance of its own need not be broached with the talking drum'. My friend, the kids have an announcement to make.
Gunshot sees his wife Lara beaming from ear to ear and gets the urge to give her a dirty slap for no reason. Maybe he is just irritated with her behaviour, he needs to calm himself down.
Femi gets up, brings out a ring and proposes to his daughter right in front of him. Is he dreaming? He has to be dreaming because this cant be happening. He smiles and congratulates the couple, hugs his friend while the women are shouting. Then it all begins.

Kofo knows why her husband wants to visit the Ogunshote's. She has known about Nifemi dating Funmi for the past 3 years and has told her son she is not in support of it. This child will not kill her, but over her dead body that Funmi becomes the new Mrs Olawale. She has tried all tactics to break-up the relationship, but her son refused to budge. He is smitten and madly in love.
'A fish that sleeps will be eaten by another fish', I haven't been complacent, so why is this happening? Kofo asks herself.

She looks at Iya Funmi beaming and jumping up and down like 'ileke idi' (waist beads)'. 'Foolish woman', she says to herself.
In a twink of an eye she sees her son on his knees. 'I did not raise my son to go on his knees for any woman', she mutters; then she realizes Funmi has been proposed to.

'Impossible', she screams, but no one hears her and she realizes she spoke to herself.
'IMPOSSIBLE', she screams again. Her eyes were wide, nostrils were flaring, her chest was heaving and she knew she looked deranged but didn't care.

Tokunbo is hugging his friend when he hears the voice of his wife.
'What is it again with this woman?', he asks himself. Did I just hear her say impossible?
'Iya Nifemi, what do you mean by impossible? Don't let me get mad at you. The kids want to get married and it will happen by the Grace of God.

Kofo replies her husband saying, A matter one is sure of does not stumble on one's lips. I know what I am talking about, this marriage can't happen. Over my dead body!

Kofo, are you angry the kids didn't inform you? No problem, unless a person speaks his or her mind, others cannot know what the person has in it.
Tokunbo is embarrassed by the scene his wife is making and thinks his wife is just being prideful.

Lara Ogunshote loves Nifemi and unbeknown to anyone, she has been secretly planning their wedding. Now this crazy pompous woman is trying to ruin it all. She wont let Kofo take this joy away from her.

'Madam, please be patient', Lara tells Kofo. Funmi is very well trained. All these she says in Yoruba. Lara doesn't speak English to no one and she isn't going to start now because the high and mighty Kofo is in her house.
Kofo looks at Lara disgustingly calling her an illiterate that cant speak the Queen's English. Lara smiles, She is a proud and typical Ibadan woman with a very sharp mouth but wont reply Kofo in front of her husband. Unable to restrain herself, she tells Kofo: One does not so luxuriate in one's majesty that one shits on oneself(Lack of moderation and decorum will bring disgrace to even the most elevated person); behave yourself in my house.

Funmi is crying, they are all talking over one another and Tokunbo has had enough. He goes out to the Black Raven 2013 Cadillac XTS he just got for his wife. She has been the talk and envy of town for a few weeks and no one in her class has another. He looks at the car with disgust, feels like destroying it but cautions himself; do not cut of your nose to spite your face', he tells himself.

Tokunbo returns to Gunshot's house with a Glock G30S and points it at his wife.

'I am dead and in trouble', shouts Kofo.

Even a slowpoke becomes sane when his life is at stake. Now Kofo, tell me why these kids can't get married, Tokunbo asks.

With a gun pointed at her, Kofo goes on her knees and starts crying. She explains that she went to meet their Pastor and they did fast and pray for both Funmi and Nifemi and she was told they are not compatible. Man proposes, God disposes.

'It's a lie', shouts Lara. She explained she met this same Pastor and was told the union is sanctioned by God. She doesn't mind the Pastor coming to say his piece.

Kofo changes her story by saying she met a white garment lady in Balogun market one day who told her that her son shouldn't marry Funmi. No one believed that and once again she changed her story to this.

On a beautiful Sunday after church, she spoke to her mum who is an Alhaja about Nifemi and Funmi. She had a dream she was worried about and wanted her mum to consult her Alfa. She didn't tell her husband because she knew he wouldn't be pleased with her and she saw no harm in it. Alhaja told her after few days that there is grave danger if Nifemi marries Funmi, and she can't lose her son.

Tokunbo believes his wife at that point, but unknown to anyone, Nifemi had his Grand-mum on the phone. Alhaja refuted all that Kofo said.
Tokunbo loses it. He tells his friend, you haven't made a comment, please help me out.

Gunshot replies: A person for whom everything must be spelled out, a person who cannot make deductions from the most obvious hints, is daft indeed.

My friend, I don't understand. Let's go talk in camera, we don't need the women, Tokunbo tells Gunshot.

Gunshot says no. We are discussing pumpkins, a woman asks what we are discussing, and we respond that it is men's talk; after we have gathered the pumpkins, who will cook them? (The woman, certainly. There is no point in excluding her from a matter that will eventually involve her anyway.)

'The woman! Do you mean Kofo?' asks Tokunbo
'Yes!, answers Gunshot
'No!', says Kofo. Padlocks do not share their secrets with one another(Some secrets one should not divulge to others.)
The tortoise struts on the farm, the senseless person says it resembles a duck(It is indeed a fool that cannot discern the obvious.), Gunshot hisses and goes to pour himself a hard drink.
'Anyone wants some?' He asks, we are in for a long night.

What secret could Kofo be keeping from me? Tokunbo looks at his kids, Gunshot's kids and Chief Tokunbo Olawale's perfect world came crashing down.

Cant wait to read the rest, interesting

Oya pls give us the concluding part o. .  love this, welldone

Wow! This is a wonderful piece oremi. I already feel like sitting back with a box of popcorn and chilled drink just to see you'v already paused. Pls ride one. No stopping for you. You'v got wild imaginations and you'r hot!

Interesting, can't wait for Τ̣̣ђё concluding part, pls more.

Waow! Waow!
@Beloved, this is interesting. I could not help but imagine the concluding chapter especially when Chief Toks was reflecting that Nifemi looks like his mum, but took after his charactor; where Kofo is vehemently opposed to the union of her son and Gunshot'd daughter and; where Chief Toks looks at his children and Gunshot's children and 'his perfect world comes crashing down' .

Where you speak Yoruba, i think your putting it italics is very good and you can colour the interpretation that is in parenthesis.
You are doing really good. Please continue.

@beloved, am enjoying your piece.good work!

@Beloved, good one sweethie, i love it, ride on....

Oya ooooo beloved, I dey wait!!! What can b d secret?

waooo!dis is interesting,nollywood will love dis.go ahead pls

It is midnight and Tokunbo is as white as a ghost. He looks like someone drained his blood and took his life out of him. He could be dead for all he cares.
What is the point of living, when your reason for waking up every morning has been snatched from you? He asks himself.

He knows he can hear some wails, but all he could see was his wife, the love of his life, the one he moves mountains for. Kofo’s face is streaked with mascara, her tears are dried and his heart is forever torn. Strangely, he hears every heart beat but can’t feel his body. Is he paralyzed?

‘Toks get up and leave’, he tells himself.

‘Chief, Chief, Chief’, Toks thinks he is being called but can’t answer.

Lara is trying to get Tokunbo's attention. ‘Is this man deaf?’ she asks herself.
‘Chief, I have something to tell you’, says Lara.

‘Haven’t I heard enough for one day?’ replies Toks.

Lara doesn’t care, she is going to say what she has to say. I know your friend didn’t tell you this and I didn’t come to tell you because 'The pig says since the day it learned to reply to every statement with a grunt it has not got into any trouble'. A person, who says nothing, seldom gets in trouble.

Seven months ago, Alhaji Aina’s first son Wale came to ask our hand for my daughter Fisayo. The same way your wife Kofo was against it, is the same way Wale’s mum was. After arguing the matter for so long, it was revealed that my husband Gunshot fathered Wale and his siblings. Can you imagine the disgrace and embarrassment, Chief? Fisayo left home since then and hasn’t spoken to her father; you would have noticed her absence. Last I heard she is in Canada.

Lara sighs, 'Fisayo said we ruined her life'.

You haven’t noticed that people in the community do not respect my husband anymore. It is a reckless home owner who is met with alarms when he ventures outside (a patriarch who misbehaves earns disgrace).
Chief, you know that test that the oyinbo’s use to determine paternity, DNA abi CNA, whatever it is called; that is what Alhaji Aina had done for all his kids.

At this point Gunshot gets up and laughs; there is no need for DNA he says. Look at all these kids here, I am their father, and very sure of that. Can’t you see how they all look alike? Toks, I am sure you noticed that yourself.

Toks ears were ringing, it took all his will to lunge at Gunshot and beat the crap out of him. My son, Oluwanifemi is not yours, I fathered him and I will prove it.

‘Kofo it seems your husband did not hear what we said earlier’, Gunshot says. The woman always knows who the father of her child is.

‘Abomination!’, screams Toks. Kofo why didn’t you say anything all these years? You saw these kids dating and you let them continue.

‘I tried to stop them’, replies Kofo.

‘What is the abomination?’ asks Gunshot. It’s not like they were sleeping with one another. I trust my daughter, she is saving herself for marriage. Now she knows she can’t marry Femi.

Funmi bursts into tears again. Nifemi consoles her and says, I am Chief Olawale’s son and Funmi and I have been living together for the past year and half.

Haaaaaa! screams Lara. I am in trouble o, this man has killed me. Two daughters with your sons, you are a very shameless man and I am done with you.
It took me this long and I endured all your abuse and infidelity just because of my kids; but you have ruined my kids’ life and mine. Shameless man! The mad dog and the person who behaves like a mad dog, both make it impossible for one to know the real dog(He who acts like a dog makes himself the equal of a dog).

How did I offend you, Gunshot? Toks asks. What did I do wrong? You have your own wife and many other women at your disposal, why take the only woman that I love from me. One does not list vultures among edible meats (Certain things one does not stoop to do).

‘See this foolish man’, replies Gunshot. I-will-court-no-woman-being-courted-by-another-man will court no woman at all(A person who wants exclusive rights to a woman (or anything) will look for a long time and in vain).
I met Kofo before you and she only married you because of your looks and family name. Kofo and I started our affair before you got married to her. Kofo has two husbands!

To be continued……..
Alake omo Layi

Beautiful..... Just reduce d proverbs aliTtle since u don't only want yoruba readers only. Even I am yoruba I cldnt read all.

Thanks adedoyinsola. The story came to me in Yoruba. I had to translate it while writing. I have tried reducing the proverbs and put the translations in blue so the words in Yoruba can be skipped. I feel that writing the translations of the proverbs alone won't convene the meaning and the culture I am trying to portray.

Wow, nice story line, can't wait for the next part, please reduce the youruba, I get lost sometimes.

The story is finished but I haven't posted it yet. How do you all think it ends?

Well done! Very cativatin.

Gunshot ting no go school oo! See as he dey born born pikin every where.

Waoh Beloved. This is a wonderful piece. Weldone sis. We are waiting for the end o