CHAPTER two

MICHEAL

I hated marriages and I simply did not see the need for it. I was a successful business man with a stable income and a nice house and car. Bringing a woman into this peaceful and nice picture meant trouble. I truly did not see the need to marry.

I knew I would one day get married because my family and society expected that from me but I would like to do it in my own time. Was it a sin to be thirty-six and not married? I don't need a woman.

I had entered into relationships with quite a number of women and it was all the same thing. What they needed was money. They come into your life to spend your money and nothing else.

There was a time in my late twenties when I wanted to settle down but I realized the lady I was planning on settling down with just wanted a wedding and nothing else. She wasn't in it for love like I was. No, she just saw a successful young man who could give her the kind of big wedding she dreamt of. Something to boast to her friends about and make them jealous. It was like a competition between her friends and herself. They wanted to see which one among them would have the best and most expensive wedding. In short, she was in for my money and how good my money will make her look.

I broke it off with her when I found out. Who knew what she would have done after the honeymoon phase was over? Kill me and have my money and property or divorce me and demand half of my wealth. Maybe, her entire behavior towards me would have changed after the wedding. She would have made my life a living hell. Anyway, I cut ties with her to avoid any 'what would have beens.'

I had also seen what marriage had done to some of my friends. They could't spend money like they used to because their wives would ask them to account for how they spent their own hard-earned money.

Some intentionally stay late at work just because when they went home there was no peace of mind. Their kids and wives won't let them have a piece of mind in their own houses. They looked miserable and I was glad I didn't marry at that time.

If only my mother would understand that I had no intentions of getting married now, I would be so happy. I had develop a kind of friendship with some nice ladies at my work place who allowed the friends with benefits sort of thing. Even though they were decent women who were pretty good in bed, I had no intensions of settling with any of them and they knew and understood.

I cooked my own food and sometimes ordered from my favorite restaurant so I didn't need a woman to cook and clean after me. I could take care of myself and I certainly did not need a woman to tell me what to wear, eat and most importantly how to spend my own money. I simply had no need for a woman, period.

I was laying on my couch one fine evening watching football, another reason why I don't need a woman is that she would fight with you over the TV remote. It was at that moment when I received a call from my mom. She told me a story that felt like she was narrating an African movie to me.

She said she went to church to pray for me, for God to send me a wife and God had answered her prayers. I laughed thinking it was a joke but it was not. In fact, it was very real. According to her, a day had been set for my family to meet hers and my entire family had agreed to convey at the person's house.

I truly felt like she was telling me a story and I wished it wasn't true. I wished it was a story in which I was not the male lead and it was someone else. It would have been an amazing TV drama if it wasn't happening live and colored.

"Maa, you must be kidding me, right? What do you mean by that? I am not getting married. You have two daughters apart from me and they have all gotten married and have given you grandkids. Why can't you be content with that and let me be?"

"Shut that hole you call a mouth! Listen and listen well, you are getting married. Your aunties and uncles will be coming over to go over for her bride list." She said.

"Well, you can go ahead. I am not spending a dime on this." I threaten hoping that that would do the trick.

"Oh, don't worry. Your father and I will take care of that. All you need to do is wait for your wife to be brought to you." She said shuttering my hopes.

"I am not going to be taking of her. if you are marrying her then she will be your responsibility to take care of and not me." I threatened again.

"Don't worry my dear son. She is well to do and do not need you to take care of her and that is all you need to know. I will tell you when everything is done. On this note, I would like to rest my voice because I will be using it a lot to scream on my only son's wedding. Bye." And with that she ended the call.

If this lady dared to enter my house, I would make sure she experienced hell on earth. She would regret it if she agreed to this madness. I promised.

But wait a minute, this was the modern era and people were not forced to marry anymore. My family made me feel like it was their life and not mine. I was a full-grown man and I could very well make my own decision. I didn't need a woman to control my life even if it was my own mother.

No, I couldn't stay still. I knew that woman and I knew that very little could dissuade her whenever she set her mind on something. I had to go home. Maybe my father would help me. I had to do something before my fate is sealed by my mom.

I got up and drove off to my parents' house. Something must be done about this, otherwise, I was a dead man.

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