An Awkward Initiative

The sort of stories that have been brought to my attention in the past few days makes it difficult to tell what is wrong or right. Most of the stories are similar but with different dimensions.

We have read of all sorts of betrayals from blood siblings, it’s all been sisters sleeping with their sisters’ husbands. I won’t report any other related story except it was a brother who stole another brother’s wife.

Now this is a story about a proactive mother. Her daughter Emma, had a very eligible suitor who was eager to settle down with her but Emma had other plans. She wanted to further her studies, visit many other countries and even date more men. Mrs. Edet knew that her daughter was wild and free and there was nothing she or anybody could do about it. She had tried severally without luck to advise her younger daughter to settle down with this very suitable guy.

Dosi was the kind of man most young girls would settle down with at the snap of a finger. Very generous, attractive, quite decent and always ready to help. He came into Mrs. Edet’s family when things were really tough for them and took up the role of a provider. He had met Emma at a function and in no time, an affair sparked off between them. He wanted marriage but Emma on the other hand, just enjoyed the comfort that he provided her. She wore the most expensive clothes and shoes, carried only designer bags and travelled all over the world on Dosi’s bill.

Dosi was happy to spend on Emma because he truly loved her but could sense that Emma may refuse to become his wife. Anytime he talked about marriage, Emma changed the topic and this troubled Dosi. He knew that Emma was taking advantage of his love for her and he needed to do something about it. He reached a decision to discuss the issue with Emma’s mother, he was ready to settle down but Emma was slowing him down and so Dosi asked Mrs. Edet to speak to her daughter.

Emma’s mother pleaded with her daughter to settle down with the young man who had been a source of strength to the family. He basically helped to pay all their bills, besides Dosi loved Emma so much and Mrs. Edet knew that it could be difficult for Emma to find another man who would tolerate her excesses. Emma made it known to her mother that she had not given a second thought to settling down with Dosi, she was just enjoying her life and helping Dosi spend his money.

On their next meeting, Mrs. Edet did something strange, Dosi had expected her to give him feedback on her discussion with Emma instead Mrs. Edet offered him her older daughter Mimi.

Mimi was a complete opposite of Emma, she was an introvert, more of a loner. Dosi had visited their home in Eket a good number of times but had seen Mimi only twice. She was usually in school and the times that she was at home, she was always in the bedroom. He didn’t really like her, she was the only member of the family who had never acknowledged his magnanimity in her family, and she was a snob.  He wasn’t sure if Mrs. Edet was serious or just pulling his legs. It was when she insisted on setting up a date with Mimi that he realised that the woman was dead serious. Reluctantly, he accepted the crazy idea but couldn’t stop worrying about the weird arrangement.

He kept this to himself as agreed with Mrs. Edet and nervously waited for the incredulous date. Mimi was also nervous as they sat facing each other in the restaurant of the best hotel in Eket. They both did not know what to say to each other then all of a sudden, Mimi started laughing. Dosi just joined in the laughter and suddenly the conversation started from “Why are you laughing?” the evening ended well and they promised to go on another date.

They saw each other again a couple of times and even went on a holiday together, after a short while they decided to get married. Mimi was just as ready as Dosi to be married and so the decision to marry wasn’t a difficult one to take, then they had to tell Emma. Emma’s reaction is what makes this story different. She shocked everyone as she hugged her sister and congratulated the newly engaged couple. Dosi was still confused about Emma’s reaction till she called for a meeting where she made her demands. Emma was settled with a good job in a multinational where Dosi had a high level of influence, she also got a huge amount of money and a shopping spree in a country of her choice.

Dosi and Mimi have been married for over eight years now with two children while Emma is still unmarried (not like it matters to someone who was never bothered about marriage). She still works but the huge settlement money was all spent in a short time.

Now, Emma is truly a free spirit and still maintains a good relationship with her  elder sister. Her sister is the one who sleeps with one eye open whenever Emma pays them a short visit. Emma caught her tip toeing to the living room once when she was alone with Dosi and jokingly said to her in Pidgin English “Sis relax, I don chop Dosi tire, I no go there again”.

This is an awkward arrangement if you ask me, Emma dated Dosi close to three years and now he is married to her sister.

Emma is a special kind of sister, as for their mother, she deserves an award for her awkward initiative.

Please note: Fictitious names have been used in the story