The village (Completed)

MISSING BRIDE

Me: Hey Opera.

Opera: Hi. Listen, I’m sorry for asking you help me to call off this marriage. Please don’t. I want to do it now. It’s not so wrong. He’s twenty six, he’s from a family close to ours and he’s filthy rich. I think I’ll be okay.

Me: You’ll be okay. What about being happy. Your life is in your hands. Whether you’llbe happy or not is all up to you.

Opera: You know, for a seventeen year old, you really act older than your age and think older as well.

Me: And you also look like a sixteen years old but well, who’s talking about that. Haha. Oh bd I’m technically seventeen and a half. I’ll be eighteen in a matter of months.

Opera: So if you were in my shoes, what would you have done.

Me: Elope on the day of the wedding. I mean it always works in the movies so why not give it a try. Haha

Opera: You should consider becoming a comedian. Where would you run to, there’s nowhere to go.

Me: I don’t know. Again, just like in the movies, I’ll gather my savings and jump into any bus and see where life takes me. But don’t do that. Naana will freak out oh, and I’m the  crazy one, not you

Opera: Haaha. I won’t. I will just get married as they want me to.

Me: Opera, I’m asking you this for the last time. Are you sure you want to do this?

Opera: Yeah. 100%

Me: Then I won’t try to convince you otherwise anymore.

I know Opera was saying something but her heart was as transparent as glass. I could see right through her words. It did scare me but there was nothing I could do at this point. It was all on her. Preparations were ongoing. She’ll be married off in less than a week.

Engagement day was next. I woke up to help with the preparations. We were so busy that we didn’t have time for breakfast at the table. The groom’s family was here. They were dressed in traditional African clothes which were very fancy. We kept serving them and I got to know some traditions. As the groom’s family presented gifts to our family, I could see that Opera's mind was drifted. She didn’t even notice when we were calling her and this confirmed my doubts. The groom’s entourage was a huge one with family and friends. The party was huge. Our gargantuan compound was literally filled with people. There wasn’t even enough space for the chairs and tables. Everyone wanted in on the meals. It was so fun watching all my cousins dance. I also wanted to but knowing that Opera wasn’t fully for this, I thought it’d be better to not to join. To let her know that she still had someone to depend on in case she needed it.

I saw Luke keeping an eye on me as if I was going to do something terrible and I hated that. I just laughed at my cousins having fun. Opera tried to always keep a smile when the attention was drawn to her. She looked at the celebration like the event was going to go on forever.

The event ended but we still had a lot more programmes to deal with before the wedding and it was so exhausting. Opera didn’t do anything crazy and I thought it was finally over. She did give in. I was disappointed but the last thing I could do was to add fuel to the fire. I wanted things to happen as they would. Whatever was to happen was to happen.

The wedding day was finally due and I was helping in the preparations. The chapel was set. Just awaiting the groom then the bride. Luke came to the kitchen and pulled me out to my room. He looked furious and scared.

Luke: Lisa why?

His voice was a bit faint and sounded like a lost kitten. I got scared

Me: What do you mean? What happened?