(MTB) Meant To Be (A Nigerian Story)

25

     They waited till Itunu was done with his third term in school before they went home which was a month  after Kore proposed. Ayo planned to use two weeks while Kore will use one. An intern was going to take her place temporarily while Kore can always work from anywhere he was since he had all his gadgets with him.

It's been two hours now and they were finally out of Lagos and getting closer to Ondo. Itunu was asleep on the backseat while Ayo was reading a novel on Wattpad and Kore was concentrating on getting them home.

Kore asked suddenly,

"Where are we going to stay?"

"Hmm?"

"AY!" Kore called and she looked up at him asking,

"What is it?"

"How is the housing arrangement? Will you stay at the palace or what?"

"Ah-ha Kore, do you want Mama to feel bad? You stay at the palace and I will stay at Mama's place. You can visit anytime, you know Mama likes you."

"Its just, I feel like I can bear to be apart from you."

"It will all work out jo and before you know it, the days we want to spend here will fly by in a daze."

"Okay ma." He said and they returned to having a companionable silence in the car.

Few hours later, Kore pulled into the front yard of Ayo's grandma. She was sitting outside. As soon as they got down, she shouted,

"Ah, ah, ah, baba mi. Ayodunmomi, ehn oko mi.*"

Itunu went to hug his grandma. They would be seeing her for the first time this year though they visit every Christmas.

As soon as, Kore got closer, he greeted, prostrating, "E ku'role ma.*"

"Baba mi, how come you people didn't tell me you were coming?"

"It's a surprise, Maami."

"A pleasant one I see."

"Come inside please."

"Okay ma. Itunu go inside with grandma, let me help Kore with our luggage."

Itunu obeyed his Mom and went inside while the other two adults brought out their luggage leaving Kore's own in the boot and they went inside. Ayo took it one by one to the guest room where she always stayed whenever she was around while Kore sat down with Ayo's grandma and said,

"I will like to talk to you about something ma."

"I'm all ears. What is it?"

"I want to marry Ayodunmomi."

"Itunu, go inside and call your mother for me."

"Okay Mama." Itunu said and a few minutes later, Ayo came into the sitting room and took her seat looking from Mama to Kore and back. Then Mama asked,

"Adekorede said he wants to marry you. How do you feel about it?"

Ayo replied shyly, "Well, he already asked me and I said yes."

Then Mama started swaying and shaking her body as she danced,

"E mi la o ni yo si, emi la o ni yo si, bi a ti fe o ri, bee na lori, emi la o ni yo si.*"