CHAPTER 4:CIVIL MARRIAGE.

At Municipality grounds.

'Why is she not picking my calls she is supposed to be here now' Paul was moving up and down like a mad man.

"Can you please sit down you are making me dizzy, don't worry they won't dare miss today. They will still come no matter what okay? just relax now" Mrs. Wechuli told his son.

"We are here sorry for keeping you waiting," Mr. Bombwe said as he greeted hisoon-to-bebe in-law. "We can proceed now hope everything is okay."

Ivana walked inside without even greeting her in-laws. She went inside and made herself comfortable by sitting on the seat waiting for them. They signed the civil wedding papers. 

"Ivana, Paul called. "Can we exchange wedding rings as a sign of our marriage?"

She hungrily looked at her dad before answering him. "No need, it's a damn contract no need to be sweet" she mumbled to herself.

She walked outside the office and stood near their car as she waited for her dad to come outside.  'l Can't wait to go home and relax my mind, how can l be someone's wife without even enjoying my youthfulness, dad is not serious', Ivana thought as she folded her hands at the chest.

"Ivana," her dad called bringing her out of her thought.

"Ivana, as your dad l want to wish you all the best in your marriage," Mr. Bomber said.

"Dad! what are you saying? I think you are not serious," Ivana said.

"As l was saying, sweetheart, respect your in-laws, you are not growing any younger. You are now a full-grown woman, don't be a cry baby, don't stress your husband and finally fulfill all the wife duties as needed," Mr. Bombwe advised.

"Open the boot," he told her.

"Why dad?" she asked.

"Just do as l say, Ivana."

She opened the boot while looking at him. She was surprised to see her two suitcases. "What is the meaning of this dad?" She asked.

"Pick them out from now, like right now you are husband and wife. Married people leave together, all the best and happy married life, my daughter," Mr. Bombwe said as he kissed her on the forehead.

Mr. Bombwe got into his car and drove away leaving her standing there with tears in her heart. She only realized that someone is talking to her when Paul tapped her on her shoulder signaling her to get into the car.

She reluctantly got in the car and sat at the back with Paul. They arrived at Paul's home after thirty minutes. The maid came to carry her suitcase to the house upon her arrival. Paul and Ivana walked into the house, Paul tried holding her hand but she pushed him away. Unfortunately, ly Mrs. Wechuli saw her. She said to her "You don't have to be rude to your husband. You are just newly Weds so behave like one."

Ivana wanted to defend herself but remembered what her dad told her. To have respect for her in-laws.

"Your husband is trying to be romantic and sweet while you are stubborn. Wait until he gets snatched away by another woman," Mrs. Wechuli said.

"Mum you don't..."Paul was cut short by his mother.

"Hey! hey, don't try to defend her," she said as she walked to the sitting room. Paul stood waiting for Ivana to seat before he sat beside her.

They were served cold juice, but Ivana refused with the excuse of not being hungry. She stood up and left towards the bedroom when she remembered that this is not her house. She turned to Paul and asked "Paul will you show me to my bedroom?"

"No funny it's not your bedroom but our bedroom," he said as he walked towards her.

He made an effort to carry her but Ivana refused as she said, "I have my legs am not lame," as she rolled her eyes.

Paul went with her in the room and sat by the edge of the bed it was around 2 pm. 

"Hunny can l massage you? You have been in heels for a long time," Paul asked.

Paul pleaded but got no answer, "I just want us to bond and get along as husband and wife."

He acted like a gentleman and got hold of one of her legs. Ivana suddenly kicked him in his groin. Paul felt as he held his b**lls. It was so painful that he felt like crying.

"First thing my name is Ivana, Ivana Bombwe don't call me Hunny!" She hollered. "Second thing we are not married we just signed damn papers. Third for me to live here l want my room before twilight," she said as she moved to the bathroom leaving Paul lying on the floor in great pain.

Paul woke up from the floor as he picked up his car keys and left. On reaching the sitting-room he was fortunate that Mrs. Wechuli was not in the sitting room. He walked out hurriedly, entered one of the cars, and drive to his childhood friend Mike Oga.

Ivana came out from the Bathroom immediately after Paul had left. She regretted causing him pain that's why she went to hide in the bathroom. 'This is a man who never took advantage of her when she was drunk he saved me from that strange man,' she thought.

She regretted everything she has done a moment ago. Paul was being nice to her but she has reacted like a hooligan. She didn't know how he could face him when he comes back to him.

Ivana tried calling her cousin Mish so that she can talk to her and get her mind off what she was thinking. Unfortunately, Mish was unreachable. She sat there thinking of what to do next, she decided to call Paul. The mobile phone on the other end was ringing but no one picked up. She called him several times but Paul didn't pick up. The last call got rejected and that made her think of infidelity. "I will apologize to him when he returns," she murmured to herself as she sat on the bed.

Paul arrived at Mike's place, he sighed relief when he spotted him sitting under a Mango tree relaxing.

"Oh, man! you never changed from your childhood behavior. Always sitting under a mango tree relaxing," Paul said.

"I have nothing to do Paul since the Collapse of this Milk company job hunt has been stressing," he cooed. "Welcome and make yourself comfortable," Mike said.

"Don't tell me you want us to sit here? what if a Mango hit my head l don't want to die before l test marriage life," Paul said while looking up the tree.

He realized that it was not yet mango season as the tree had no mangoes.

"What do you mean marriage life? since when? are you married?" Mike asked jokingly.

"Yes today," Paul replied.

"You got married without inviting me? Who was your best man? who is the lucky girl? Sylvia?" Mike asked without giving room for him to answer.

"Relax mean, we just signed a damn contract anyway it's a long story," Paul said.

"A long story you said? I am all ears. I have all the time in the world to listen to your 'long story', Mike said.

"Don't bother it's a story for another day, l will answer those other questions now," Paul said then sighed.

"Yes I am a married man now,l got married today in the civil office. Sylvia is not a lucky girl Mike, as I said it's a contracted marriage," Paul said.

"What do you mean Sylvia is not the lucky girl? everybody knows about you two. l don't understand, does Slyvia knows that you are married?" Mike asked surprised.

"It was my mum's plan and Slyvia doesn't know anything," Paul said.

"Then how will you tell her that you are married? You know that she is graduating next week. Remember what you  promised her after school?" Mike reminded.

"Don't talk about that, I will figure out when the time comes to know what l will do" Paul answered.

"Okay if you say so, but count me out!" Mike said.

"Don't spout out nonsense you know you are a puppeteer when it comes to these. Anyway, won't you congratulate me on my wedding day?" Paul asked.

"Wedding day my foot! wedding day and you are here?. If it's your wedding day why are you here?" Mike asked.

Paul just smirked as he looked at Mike.

"You should be preparing to make your firstborn by now. Like shower together, cuddle, some kissing as you figure out how you will make her scream the whole night hehee," Mike chuckled.

All this time that Mike was joking Paul seemed to have spaced out.

Mike tapped him, "Are you even listening Paul? 

Paul cleared his throat as he said, You won't even believe what she did when l tried being nice to her."

He paused before continuing, "That girl kicked me in the groin men,l felt like choking her to death but l left her and came here."

"What?"

"Now l don't want questions, what are we having for dinner because am spending here a night!" Paul said with seriousness as he stood up.

"Marriage life indeed," Mike smirked. He led the way to the house as Paul followed behind.

Back at Mrs. Wechuli's Mansion, dinner was ready. Mrs. Wechuli and Ivana were already seated while the maid served the food, it was matoke, minced Meat, wet fried meat, and fried sweet potatoes. The aroma made Ivana drool.

"Where is my son? Didn't you wake him up for dinner?" Mrs. Wechuli asked.

"I don't know where he is, he left when l was sleeping," Ivana said.

"Ma'am, sir Paul left a bit earlier, he looked angry when he drove out," the maid said.

Ivana looked at the maid angrily while Mr. Wechuli gazed at Ivana.

"Ivana, did you fight with Paul?" Mrs. Wechuli asked.

"No ma'am," she replied.

"It's Mum" she was corrected.

Mrs. Wechuli stood up without saying anything further as she walked towards the porch to make a call. She come back and said Paul was with Mike, they should go on and eat.

Ivana sighed with relief and continued eating without looking at anyone. She finished eating and left the table without a goodnight to her mother-in-law. Mrs. Wechuli decided to be soft to her because it was her first day in her house. Mrs. Wechuli finished eating too and left for her bedroom.

Ivana took a shower before going to bed, she changed into Pajamas before seating on the edge of the bed. She took her phone checking if she has any messages or missed calls but she had none. Sighed and opened her phone book scrolling up down checking a name she can call before going to bed. She reached the name' Love ' she wanted to dial it but restrained herself. This is the way she had saved Samuel/ Sam her campus boyfriend. She continued scrolling up to 'Paul'  name she wanted to call him but restrained.

She then dialed his number again twice the third time she decided to call him. She hoped that Paul will not pick but she was wrong he picked up the call on the last ring.

When she heard a 'Hello' on the other end she ended the call. Her hands were trembling, she didn't know why. Why was she trembling when she heard his voice. She decided to go to bed after calming herself down.

In Mike's place, Paul decided to pick up the call because he didn't want to be disturbed again. He didn't check who was calling him, when the call ended he just returned the phone on the table and continued sleeping.

After leaving Ivana at the municipality offices, Mr. Bombwe was so happy when he drove toward his mansion. He didn't believe that his company will be back on its feet again. He can't believe that Mrs. Wechuli agreed to invest in their company only by him allowing his daughter to be married by that 'bastard'. On that day he paid all the pending payments to the actors and actresses, the editors, directors, and scriptwriters. He needed a financial plan so that he can break the contract with Mrs. Wechuli before she owns and monopolized the company.

The next day news was all over the internet and Media about the Luhyahood company being the best. Of course, the Public relations team has been paid to do their work. There was a press conference and Mr. Bombwe's face was all over he was the #1 trending topic/man in the country and he liked it when the attention was all on him.

'Just enjoy before you get doomed mister' Mrs. Wechuli smirked while checking the internet. Well, when the deal is too good think twice goes the saying.

Ivana was bored when she decided to check the internet when she was surprised that her Dad was trending. 'What a joke my forced marriage is making you happy now,l can't believe it!' she chuckled while trying to call her dad but all calls got rejected.

"Enjoy now dad, enjoy while l suffer, how could you force me to get married to save the company, l hope you never regret your decision dad" That's what she texted him and switched off the phone. 

*****

After Ivana spent one week in the matrimonial home she was bored. Every day started still with disappointment and disagreement in the house. She started sleeping in the guest room as that was what she needed and was granted. Mish just visited her once since she got married because she was busy preparing for her fourth-year exam.

On that day Ivana was so bored, there was no Paul or her mother-in-law in the house. She always woke up when they have already left and slept before they arrive and since she was sleeping in a different bedroom she never saw Paul. She decided that she will pay a visit to her dad because he never replied to her message since the day she had texted him.

"Welcome Ma'am we have missed you," her maid Milka said with a bow.

"Thank you, is dad in?" She asked.

"Yes ma'am but he is preparing to leave," the maid answered.

Ivana walked in the house and found his dad seated at the couch."Good morning Dad? Are you in a hurry?" Ivana greeted her dad.

"Oh Ivana, what brings you here? You could have called me baby girl". Mr. Bombwe said while moving to hug his daughter.

"Talking of phone call when you didn't pick up my call nor replied to my text dad!" Ivana replied.

"Any way that one aside, now that you are happy,l have a favor to ask. Dad is bored and l want to make myself productive can you give me an internship opportunity in Luhyahood?" Ivana asked 

"Not now Ivana,l mean I am busy and l won't be around you," he replied. "Why can't you apply next year? You should be enjoying your marriage not going for an internship," Mr. Bombwe said.

He then walked outside the house to the parking lot. Ivana was left standing in the house like a statue surprised.

"Dad, We haven't finished talking listen to me," Ivana said as she walked following Mr. Bombwe.

"Ivana go back to your husband, l will call you when l come back okay bye," Mr. Bombwe said as he entered his car and his driver drove off.

"I am not leaving dad, I will wait for your return. I need to talk to you. I want to make myself more productive than lazy around," she said to the already disappeared car.

Ivana went back inside the mansion and sat on the couch. She decided to watch some movies to pass time while she waits for her dad. At lunchtime, she told the maid not to cook lunch for her because she is not feeling hungry. When she got tired of watching a movie, she decided to take a nap, because it was taking long for him to come back. 

She was woken up when her phone rung, she took it from the table then picked it up still feeling dizzy.

" Hello are you Ivana?"

" accident?" she asked as she woke up and sat upright.