The song of us

Story four: Inter-tribal union.

That early evening, they sat in the living room, opposite their daughter and the man she presented to them as her fiancé. For what seemed like the longest while, they stared at them, a little speechless and at the same time, worried about the right words to use to their understanding.

"Have you two thought things through?" The Older man spoke up. The young couple spared themselves a glance before looking up to him as they nodded.

"Are you sure? Because to me, I don't think you have any idea what you're about to get yourselves into." The older lady intervened and although she faced them both, it felt more like she was cautioning her young daughter.

"We love each other and we can't live without the other." Their daughter replied, trying her best to convince her parents.

"Marriage is not just about love. Marriage is a union of both families but in your case... You're both from different tribes as well as religion. Have you thought about your religions? You're a Christian and he's Muslim. What religion will your children follow? They'll be confused." He added a little more elaborately hoping to reach a common understanding with the young couple but it would seem their minds were made up.

They spared each other a glance and then back to the elders in front of them.

"We're going to let them decided which religion to follow."

"What!?" The Older lady exclaimed the moment the young man was done with his sentence. A light chuckle left her lips as she shook her head in abject amusement.

For what seemed like a while, there was silence as the older couple simply observed the younger ones. Deep down, they knew nothing they say would change their made-up minds but they had to try. To their understanding, this was wrong.

"Olumide." He called the attention of the young man.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm not the most troubled by the tribe you hail from. My worries reside in the fact that your religion is different from ours. As a Deacon in church, what kind of Christian will I be if I let my daughter get married to a Muslim? A family is supposed to be one."

"Exactly." His wife supported. Every second of the situation upset her and she couldn't help feeling quite disappointed in her daughter. From the moment the young lady was born, she was dedicated in church, in front of God and every Sunday, they attended Sunday school and service as a family. Both she and her husband had tried their possible best to raise their children in the ways of the Lord. She could never imagine her daughter would take her religion quite lightly and decide to marry someone who didn't serve the same God as they did.

The young couple seemed devastated by the older man's words but at the same time, they tried their best to hang in there as they joined hands together.

"Do your parents know about my daughter's religion?"

Olumide lowered his eyes from them and the answer on his face was clear.

"No sir. We plan to tell them soon."

"Soon? I don't believe they'll welcome my daughter with open arms. They'll most probably react the same way as we're doing."

He stood to his feet and they all looked up to him.

"Go home. I can't get my daughter married to a Muslim." Having said his piece, he turned away.

"Daddy." His daughter called but he paid her no attention and disappeared into the room. Soon, his wife followed after sparing her daughter a disappointed look whilst shaking her head in regret.

"I'm sorry." She apologised to her fiancé after her parents had gone in and she noticed the worry on his face. He attempted a smile.

"It's okay. We knew it wasn't going to be easy. Your father is right... our difference in religion is a problem."

"Are you giving up on me?"

"No. No... I'm just... " A sigh left his lips as he had no words to explain his dilemma. They love each other but it was no secret that in a country like Nigeria, society and parents will always have a say in their lives regardless of whether they were grown adults or not.

A few days later, they were all back and seated on that very same spot. Olumide explained that he had something to say.

"I'm going to convert to Christianity." His confession left them wide-eyed in surprise including his fiancee seated beside him.

"Olumide." She called and he spared her a glance with a warm smile.

"I love you and I cannot lose you." He told her as he squeezed her hand in his. She stared back at him with love in her eyes. He was ready to do something this big for her sake.

"What about your family? What did they say about your decision?"

"They threatened to disown me if I did but... I want to truly be with your daughter."

Staring at the lovestruck young man, the older man let out a light sigh.

"Do you know what you're trying to get yourself in? Christianity is not just a religion. It's a practice. It's a way of life. It's you accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and saviour. Do you believe you're capable of leaving your family, religion and every other thing in the world to come to him?" He posed the question much clearer for him to understand the gravity of his decision.

Yes, he would prefer his daughter marries a young man from a well trained Christian home but here was a young man willing to fight the society and accept Christ solemnly to become his son-in-law. To be frank, he wasn't excited about his reasons for converting but it was better than two religion under one roof. He didn't believe any home could pull it off.

"Yes sir." His reply came soon after a slight hesitation.

Both elders spared themselves a glance before returning their gaze to the young couple.

This was unbelievable even to them but now, it would seem they were about to be left with no choice.

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