SHOLA

Chapter 2: The Wedding

"Okay, it's happening, it's real," Shola

muttered to herself, wondering in her

thoughts. "Is this where I run away?

Should I just call the whole thing off?

But Tobi is a good guy; he loves me,

and he's just on the other side of this

door, waiting for me," she continued

with a confused look on her face.

"Shola, Shola," Ebube called out to her,

tapping her back to consciousness.

"Lost in thoughts again, I guess. You

had better not cry with that makeup on;

you don't want to know what you'd 

look like," Ebube said with a smile.

Shola replied with a smirk, "I'm good. I

guess I'm just overwhelmed. Wedding

rush, you know na. When you get a

man, you'll..."

Just as she was about to finish, the

cracked door opened, and it sent

shivers down Shola's spine. It was 

really happening. She was getting

married to Tobi.

"Okay, this is it, baby girl," Ebube said,

interrupting her thoughts yet again.

"One step at a time, Shola. Don't give

too much away. And remember to

smile.." 

"The makeup," Shola said, finishing up

her statement.

The first step was the biggest step of

her life. She could feel her heartbeat all

over the place. She had hesitated to

take the first step until she saw her

mother's face.

Her mother was her biggest source of

strength right from childhood, like when

she had her first period and was too

scared to tell anyone. Atinuke, her

mom, was the first to know. "Shola,

you're a woman now o. Look, don't be

scared to talk about it. It's something to

be proud of. Tell your friends, okay?

And for the pain, I'll get you something,"

she said with a feeling of

accomplishment.

"Shola, you're off again. You're nervous,

I get it but you have to move; people

are, begining to notice" Ebube

whispered, trying to get Shola to move.

She took the first step, and the rest

went well. She continued walking as

slowly as she could. Looking to the left,

she could see her crazy friend Lola

making a funny face at her and urging

her to smile, placing her two index

fingers on the edge of her lips, making

a smiley face.

All eyes were on her. She could hear

people whispering, "She's beautiful o,"

"Shey this one cannot smile ni?" "Did

her mom force her to get married?" "I'm

sure Dad wanted this for business

sake."

"Shola, this is the point where you

smile. Don't listen to anyone; just take it

slowly," Ebube said, looking at the

commenters with disgust.

Shola nodded in agreement.

The hall was filled with so much life—

the many flowers around the hall, the

decorations, the numerous people

present in the hall, the different colors

of aso ebi, the scent of different 

perfumes, even the smell of freshly

made jollof rice coming from the

catering stand. Everything 

was in place and depicted the real

definition of a Yoruba wedding.

She looked up, and he was just there,

smiling all the way.

Sliding into her thoughts again, she

could remember how she and Sadeeq

had practiced walking down the aisle

together. He was willing to do anything

for her. At a point, she began to wish he

was standing in place of Tobi. "Pull it

together, Shola," she said to herself,

clinging to her bouquet. "What if he

decides to show up?" she said to

herself again. "Do I go with him? But he 

left me with no words for months. I

shouldn't feel bad," she added to her

thoughts.

Just then, she got to the staged altar

created for them. Her dad had refused

to have it in a church. "I have my

reasons," he said to her a few weeks

back.

"You are really beautiful," Tobi

whispered to her with a wide grin on his

face.

"Thank you," Shola replied with a low

voice.

Tobi was a successful businessman

based in the UK. He had moved back to

Nigeria to start his own company. He

was also an only child, tall, brown-

skinned, with a very nice physique. He

was really handsome and had nice dark

hair. All of these were never a bother to

Shola. She had only agreed to marry

him because he was nice, he reminded

her of Sadeeq, and he had been there 

for her when Sadeeq had disappeared

for months.

She watched as he said his vow, his

face filled with so much excitement.

"He isn't bad; he hasn't given me any

reason to hate him," she said in her

thoughts.

Just then, the priest called her

attention. "Shola, your vows." She

snapped back to reality and said her

vows.

"You may kiss the bride," said the priest.

Tobi was quite taller than her. He had to

stoop down a little to kiss Shola. He

held her face with both hands, drew her

close, his lips smacking against hers.

Her eyes shut, and his hands went 

around her waist. It was their first kiss,

and at that moment, Shola felt a spark.

She could feel her heart beating fast

and couldn't help but reach out to his

neck with her petite hands. It was a 

surprising moment for Shola. Did she

really love him, or was it just the sound

of the calm music? It was left for her to

find out.

The reception had started almost

immediately, and Shola had already

loosened up. She found herself smiling

at everything Tobi said. Everyone

seemed happy. Her mom and dad

would occasionally wave and smile at

her, and she would giggle a little, her

head downwards.

"Would you like to eat now?" Tobi asked

her, putting his hand around her

shoulder.

"Hmmm, if you're eating too," Shola

replied, looking directly into his eyes

and then looking away, 

feeling shy.

"Oh well, I can't eat without my wife, I

guess," he said, reaching for her right

hand.

Shola gave a sheepish smile. Just as

she raised her head to focus on the

activities going on while Tobi tried to

sort out their lunch, she noticed a

familiar figure standing at the entrance

of the hall. Just as she was trying to

stretch her neck to see who it was, he

left.

"It was Sadeeq," she whispered to

herself.

"Did you say something?" Tobi asked,

looking concerned.

"Hmmm, nothing at all. Just in the

moment," Shola replied her voice filled with worry.

"Alright then," Tobi answered.

Just as they were about to make a

toast, a lot of noise was heard coming

from outside the hall. There was a bit of

a fuss in the hall, with people trying to

figure out what the problem was.

Shola quickly called Lola over. "I think I

saw him just by the door. He was

standing there. What if he's the one?"

Shola said with fear in her voice.

"Just calm down. Lemme go check out

what the problem is," Lola replied,

rushing out of the hall.

At that moment, Shola's heartbeat

began to race. She knew something

was wrong.

"Babe, calm down. I'm sure it's just one

little misunderstanding," Tobi assured

her.

Shola nodded in agreement but was

still worried.

"Shola!!!"

Ebube called out to her from the door at

the back of the hall. "You need to come

out now."

Shola managed to pick up her pace and

rushed out through the back door. Tobi

had gone after her, calling out to her.

Everyone in the hall had already been

distracted. The MC had tried to calm 

everyone present in the hall, but the

noise kept getting louder and harder to

ignore. People started making their way

to the entrance of the hall to catch a

glimpse of what was happening.

"Why is this happening today of all

days?" Shola's mom said in a worried

voice.

"You said you had taken care of

everything, Otunba," she said to her

husband.

"Woman, calm down and don't jump to

conclusions yet. Sit here and wait. I'll

go out to see what is happening," he

replied, reaching for his fila (cap).

Shola got to the main entrance of the

hall and found a large crowd

surrounding a group of men. 

She made her way to the front with Tobi

right behind her, only to find out it was

one of Tobi's friends. He had slapped a

guy caught vandalizing their wedding

banner. She turned to get a glimpse of

the said guy, and it turned out to be

Sadeeq.

She had chills going down her

spine.She seemed confused.

Why now? she thought to herself.

"Sadeeq!!!!!!" Shola screamed out in

anger.