TALES OF NANA

THREE

'No matter how heavy a raindrop is, it will never empty its water inside a coconut'

~ NANA ~

"I am being this lenient with you because you're my daughter and that doesn't exude the fact that I have less tolerance for this nonchalant baby attitude of yours" My father ranted out like a Dutch uncle for the past ten minutes swinging his hands aimlessly.

I waited patiently for his sermon to come to an end nodding to every word he'd said: I was careful not to anger him in his already messed up state, not like I enjoyed what he was saying for it'd sounded like wailing to my ears and I couldn't wait for it to come to an end.

My phone interrupted him. I went to pick it up.

"Don't you dare answer that" He warned glaring at me.

I took a peek and it was my fiancée. Damn! He's probably calling to see if I'm getting ready.

My father picks up his next lines of words after glaring at me for a whole minute. I, on the other hand, was busy fiddling with my finger, anything to occupy myself with. I rather be anywhere but here with him.

"When a child is cutting a tree in the bush, only the elder knows the direction it will fall and I can beat my chest with confidence that I know where this stiff-necked of yours will put you...I have made my decision and it's irrevocable" He added firmly not leaving room for anyone to air an opinion, not like anyone's opinion even matters at this point.

I wrapped my hands around my body to shield it from the constant shivering that rains down on me; it was a cold weather evening due to the rainy season quite all right but my body was shivering from something else, anger. I hate being treated like a child that has no directory of her own. I sigh tirelessly as I await my father to round up his speech. My tolerance limit was wearing off and I was a pitch close to emptying it on his face. Just a little push and I will explode.

Sensing no chance of him shutting up, I clear my throat loudly to cut him off and to gain his attention which works, "Don't I have a right to say or add something on this matter? It's my life we are talking about here and I'm right here" I voice out with visible irritation.

My father sends me a warning glare that means, 'Keep your thoughts to yourself'.

It didn't appear like he was ready to listen to me for he resumed his angry sermon once more making me sigh and yawn in a tiring way. I feel frustrated and angry listening to him rant.

"It doesn't matter what you say because no matter how loud a goat cries and struggles, it still won't stop the owner from dragging it to the market for sale. If I were you, I would drop this unacceptable attitude and behave like a well-trained child from a good home, because you are marrying him and that's final! Let that sink into you!"

"Dad! So I'm for sale?" I cried out with a hopeless look plaster on my face, I was vibrating from anger but as always he chose to ignore me, instead, he turned to his wife, who sat on the bedside silently observing us as a detective would act towards hardened criminals.

"Talk some sense into her empty skull" Without a second glance at me, my father walks swiftly out of my room with the door slammed hard behind him. I jump slightly as a result of the vibration from the door. I was glad he left but angrier that I felt weak and powerless at the moment.

"No! I won't marry him, I won't! " I cried out at the now-closed door and blinked the tears that gathered at the corner of my eyes from pouring out.

Shouting won't get my father's unyielding hardened heart to change. The only thing that will restore peace between us is if I bend to his wish. Painfully this was clear enough for a blind man to perceive, it was more like handwriting on the wall except for the fact that I chose to blot out the writing from my vision.