THE WITNESS

Chapter 20 (The End)

THREE MONTHS LATER,

Adriana had just finished trying out her wedding dress when Ben called. She was so ecstatic about their upcoming wedding and the wedding dress. They set the wedding date for the next day.
"Hello!" She said excitedly as she answered the call.
"Hello! My Queen." He began, "Am I the only one excited about tomorrow?" I was more of a statement than a question.
"Well....my king. The feeling is mutual."

"I cant wait for tomorrow. I wish I could fast forward the time."
She giggled as he said that.
"Don't worry. It is only tomorrow."
"I can't wait."
They both laughed.
"But seriously I cant believe it is going to be tomorrow. I think I am starting to get cold feet."
She became exasperated as he said that.
"What do you mean? Don't even think of backing out now."
He sensed she was angry. He knew he had said something wrong.

"Easy. I didn't mean it." He told her.
"Really?"
"Yes. Cross my heart."
Then she calmed down.
"I am never letting go. So you see you are stuck with me for life." She told him then laughed.
Ben was happy he had overcome that.
"I was also going to say that." He began, laughing too now, "No matter how I think about it I cant live without you."
"I love you."
"I love you too."

While still talking her friends came in and one of them - Maria - snatched the phone from her.
"Hey!" She protested.
She signalled to her to keep quiet.
She cleared her throat and then spoke.
"Hello Ben?”
"Hello! Adriana?"
"This is not her but her friend - Maria."
"Good day Maria."
"Yeah yeah yeah. You have spoken to her enough. No more. Till tomorrow."
Ben tried protesting but she said:
"Bye." Then she hung up.
"You are so mean. You didn't have to do that." Adriana told her.
"I can't help it. I love teasing him." Then she started laughing.
The other joined in the laughter. Adriana couldn't say anything but smile.

***
Malik and Samuel laughed as they saw the look on Ben's face as he dropped his phone. It was a mixture of hurt, bewilderment and anger.
"What happened?" Samuel asked trying to hold back his laugh.
"I am guessing Maria happened." Malik said.
He just looked at them one eyebrow raised and then scoffed.
"Does she always have to do that?"
"Don't take it to heart. She means no harm." Malik told him hand on his shoulder.

"Come on." Samuel said to him, "why the gloomy face? Today's your last night as a single man."
"So?" Ben asked, "you are not suggesting...."
"Yes that." Malik cut in, "Lets have some fun."
"No no. I promised there would be no party."
"Wait. Who are we?" Samuel asked,
"My friends."
"And....?" Malik added.
"My best men."
He had asked them to be his best men on his special day. The day he would marry the woman that owned his heart. The love of his life.

"There is going to be a party bro." Samuel told him, "It is tradition."
"And there will be strippers?"
They shrugged.
"She doesn't have to know....wait who am I kidding." Malik told him, "It is okay if she knows."
Ben glared at him.
"See....nothing other than drinking, dancing and watching the stripper perform will happen there."

"And I am just supposed to trust you."
"You don't have a choice." They both told him.
Just then Adriana called back.
"Hello!"
"Ben. I just want to tell him something." He knew that wasn't meant for him.
He could hear arguments in the background.
"What is wrong Adriana?"
"Its nothing. It is just this naughty friends of mine."

Ben shook his head in amazement.
"What is the matter? Did you forget something?" He asked her.
"Ben" his friends whispered his name.
He looked at them and they signalled to him to put his phone on speakerphone so they could hear.
He nodded.
"Hold on." He told Adriana, he then turned on the speakerphone.
"I am listening." He told her.

"I have to ask a question." She told him.
"Okay."
"Can a bachelor do without the strippers?"
He then looked at his friends for support.
Malik nodded telling him to say yes.
"Yes."
Okay. You can have the party." She told him.
Even without you saying this, there was going to be a party.
"Why the sudden change of mind?" He asked her.

"No reason." Was her response.
"Well I have to go now. The guys are waiting for me."
"Okay."
" bye."
"Just that? Not even those three special words."
Ben felt a little queasy maybe because his friends were there. But why was this time different?
"I love you. Now bye."
He waited to hear her reply before hanging up. He sighed and looked at his friends.
"What now?" He asked.
"Well..." Malik began, looking at his watch, "It is almost time. Let's go."
"Now?"
"It is past six. They would be waiting."
They then left for the venue.

***
THE WEDDING DAY:

The wedding was attended by friends and families, old and young. The church was filled up some people had to stand. Like in every Nigerian there would be invitees and the non-invitees.
It was past eight and Ben had arrived and was waiting for his bride to arrive. He was wore a black tux with a black bow tie and cream coloured shirt, also his best men.
The priest signalled to Malik to come closer. He wanted to know why bride hadn't arrived.
"What is keeping her?" He asked,"it is getting late."
"I have called and i was told she was on her way here now."
"Call again."

He was about making the call when he saw one of Adriana come in. She nodded at him as she saw him. He smiled and went back to stay at his position.
"Has she arrived?" Samuel asked him.
"Yes." Malik told him.
"Good. You can relax now." He told Ben.
Few minutes later, the bride entry was announced by the playing of the very well known ' here comes the bride theme song '.
'Finally' Ben mumbled then turned to look at the doorway.

He saw her standing at the doorway dressed in a long flowing white gown. A veil covered her face so he couldn't see. She began walking towards him and he felt his heart racing. The bride was supposed to be feeling like that. Why he was feeling nervous he couldn't know.
Malik poked him in the side a he saw his expression. He turned to him and mouthed "what".

" Get a hold of yourself."
She completed her walk up the aisle towards Ben. She stood facing him.
The priest looked at both of them and then began.
"Do you take this woman to be lawfully wedded wife?" He asked Ben, "In sickness and in health, for richer for poorer. Till death?"
Ben looked at Adriana - his bride - and smiled. He looked at her face and was lost in it.

She always had been beautiful to him but right there looking at her in her wedding dresses, he was speechless.
"Ben!" Malik voice pulled him back.
He looked around and saw all eyes on him. He became slightly embarrassed. Adriana smiled.
"Yes I do!" He replied finally.
Then the same question posed at Adriana.
"Do you take this man to be lawfully wedded husband? In sickness and in health, for richer for poorer. Till death?"

"Yes I do!" She replied ecstatically.
The priest looked at the congregation and asked;
"If there anyone that is against their union, come out now of forever hold your peace."
They all were looking around to see if there was anyone. Satisfied that there was no one, the priest continued.
"You may now kiss the bride." He told Ben.
Ben went closer and unveiled her. He looked at her and he smiled and she smiled.

"What are waiting for?" She asked him still smiling.
He then kissed her. Now they had been joined. They were now one. Applause from the congregation followed.
"Hey! easy." Samuel teased.
They both smiled at that.
Every applauded as they were about going for their honeymoon.
But before that the flower had to be thrown.
Adriana stood before the ladies back facing them. She played around for a bit and threw it.
It happened to be caught by Jane.
"Well well well." Malik began saying hand on  Samuel's shoulder, "Looks like you are next." He teased and got an exaggerated glare.
The others laughed at him. He couldn't help but also laugh hands round Jane.

                      FINIS