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"Igbo Kwenu!"

"Iya!"

"Igbo Kwenu"

"Iya"

"Kwenu"

"Iya!"

"Kwenu!"

"OOOH!"

The eldest man among the Igbo men and women gathered together in the village of Oki who had been greeting them finally said his point.

"My people. I greet you all. Today, we are gathered here to join in matrimony a son and daughter of our land. Our son, Ikenna Okoroafor, has seen a blooming flower in your house. He got battered by the flower's fragrance and has expressed the desire to own and cherish legally. That flower stole his heart and he wants to catch that flowerToday, we shall all see, the flower that has captured our son's heart"the man dressed in a red Igbo cap, Igbo regalia, and trousers announced resulting in applause.

The door of the house opened and a young lady dressed in traditional bridal clothes walked out of the house escorted by beautiful girls who were apparently her sisters and friends.

The young lady was a very beautiful lady and fair in complexion.

"Omalisha! Chai! Is this a human being or a goddess?" the elder said with happiness.

"This is a goddess indeed," said an old lady and the others nodded and a few of them clapped.

"This flower from the house of Ikechukwu, do you take this man sitting on that chair"the elder pointed to a man that was dark-complexioned but very handsome and a man many girls would fall for.

"Do you take him as your husband?" the elder asked.

This ceremony is a mock wedding ceremony which is held 6 days before the real traditional marriage.

The bride appears without a veil and jewelry in this function.

Hearing the man ask this question, everyone who gathered here today anticipated her answer.

"I don't"the girl refused.

"Ei"

"Wonders shall never cease. Adanna, you are rejecting a son of the soil"an elder spat.

"I don't want to marry him. Not until I finish my education. You guys should be thankful that I haven't escaped last night"the girl spat.

"Chai!"

"Lord, save us"

"Chineke.Adanna! Adanna!"

"Mama" the girl answered.

"How many times did I call you?" the girl's mother asked angrily.

"Two times mama.Two times"

"Adanna, Adanna!" her mother called again.

"Mama, I'm not deaf. You can't force me to marry a man when I'm not done with my schooling."

"Schooling? What schooling! Whether one has 20 masters,she'll end up in a man's kitchen as always. What are these daydreams of yours?" her, other scolded.

"Enough! Enough, mama. I don't want to marry him and that's final" Adanna said.

Pa! Pa!Pa!

Her mother slapped her 3 times with all her might.

The handprints were on her face in a criss-cross manner.

The girl brought her right hand to her right cheek that had been hit. Her eyes were red.

"Mama, you slapped me. Henceforth I am not your daughter" she spat.

"Chai!"

"Tu fiakwa.How can you do this? Are you mad?" her father walked up to her and held her by the throat.

The groom to be got up from his seat and walked to them.

"Father...enough. Don't worry. She'll mary me" the man said confidently with a smile and Adanna's father let go off her resulting in her coughing.

"Adanna, my future bride, recall, in 6 days, you will be mine," he said and then laughed.

"Never," Adanna said and then without warning, she kneeled him in the balls and then took flight.

Thankfully, her gown wasn't tight but a bit baggy and she wasn't wearing heels in the first place.

"Abomination!" an old lady spat.

"Catch her"some men yelled.

"She must die"an old man shouted. With that seven youths ran after Adanna.