You Don't Buy A Husband With Money

Emeka had just finished dressing up, and had gathered all the necessary documents he needed  for the day's business, when Christy walked in.

Emeka is a clearing and forwarding business man based in Lagos, Nigeria. He is successful in the business, and has trained up many young men who are equally successful in the business, through the now famous Igbo Apprenticeship System (IAS). Igba boy.

They have been close friends for the past two years.

Christy has severally used the services of Emeka's firm in clearing  the cars her father imported into Nigeria.

Along the line, Christy and Emeka fell in love, due to constant interaction. Closeness enhances relationships. Christy had casually invited Emeka to attend her 27th birthday ceremony, two years ago, and Emeka had attended, and really showered  her with gifts: a designer gold wrist watch, and  two pairs of expensive designer handbags.

Christy's father is a billionaire  business man, who is into oil and gas business.

When the going was sweet, Christy had outdone Emeka by injecting millions of naira into his business, and bought several expenses cars for him. 

Most billionaire children are over pampered, and spoilt children, especially, the girls, who find it very difficult to steadily cling to men, due to several distractions.
 "Emeka, you did this to me? You dumped me for another babe, after all I have done for you. Just like that? No warning."

"I have seen a better girl. I have been complaining all along about your shortcomings, and you thought I was joking. Now the deed is done. Let me have my peace, Biko."

"Biko, Emeka, I need you in my life." Sobbing. Kneeling to beg him.

"I just decided to take the bull by the horn. This is business hour; can we talk later? People are waiting for me in the office."

"No, I am not leaving your house, until you change your mind."

"Mission impossible!"

"You will not go out today." You goo hear nwi today!"

"You must be joking."

"Emeka, I thought you loved me? You promised me 'for better, for worse..."

" ...I have found a better a girl. Nneka is a better person. The difference is clear. I don't want to be a glorified house boy, otherwise christened a husband."

"What are her qualities? Emeka,tell me. I will change."Approaching him.

"You are incorrigible; solid as the rock. Just leave me alone. Money is not everything, boo."Backing her.

"But I have supported you with money. Injected real cash into your poor family."

" I appreciate that, but money does not buy happiness,or peace of mind. Money, ironically, doesn't even prolong life." "Are you sure?"

"Christy, you are so proud. You intimidate people with your father's wealth. A man marries a woman, and not the other way round."

"Emeka, is that all? Please,  don't leave me. I will buy you a new car. Name your price."  "A man needs dignity. A man should have authority over his wife, and children."Emeka asserted.

"Can you enumerate my shortcomings?" There was silence .

" You don't know how to cook, and you are not ready to learn. You think money is everything. You can't be under a man. You are too distracted. I don't want to be a laughing stock. I am the first son of my father."

"I will change; trust me." 

"You  are too stubborn for my liking. Nneka is a wonderful cook. She can cook any kind of soup--okro, egwusi, ogbono; she knows how to make nsisa, egwusi cake, just name it. She can take a good care of a man."

"I will give you ₦10 million. Just marry me." "I can't marry you Christy. I can't." "Emeka, you are a fool...a poor, little brat." "I said it; you are full of yourself. But, mind you, it is not your father who will marry you. Another man will marry you, if you humble yourself. You are too proud."

"The girl gave you a love potion." Christy looked him in the face.

Emeka kept looking at her.

"Okay, I know what to do. I am going to hire thugs to beat her up." Christy threatened.

"Christy, don't try that. Never.Violence will worsen the matter. Two wrongs cannot make a right. "

"She gave a love potion, you fool."

"She gave me nothing; her humility is disarming. She has won the hearts of my family and friends.  already."

"It is a lie; you just hate me for nothing. You have never loved me." Sobbing.

"How many dogs do you have in your house? You want me to fool around with your useless pets, like you do. I am African,--nwa Igbo." Christy flares up.

"But, I love my darling dogs..." Gets up, and takes some steps away.

"Get out, you fool." " Ok, I accept

whatever name you call me, but leave me alone. You can go and get married to your popsy, or to your dogs. I have chosen a better person. Walks up and down the room. "Humble to a fault. She cooks very well. How can a man be eating indomine noodles, pop- corn and meat-pie all day long?"

"Emeka, your problem is inferiority complex. Poor fellow... poverty will kill you!" Gives him a knock on the head and walks away, hilariously.

Emeka gives her a chase,in a bid to retaliate, but stops abruptly ,and beats the air. "Damn you!" Bangs the and sits down.

Christy returns, and stops at the door.

"You must return everything I have given you, including my money and asserts."

"No problem...I was doing well before I met you. Money is not everything." Christy leaves finally, banging the door noisily.

He thinks for a few minutes, takes his handbag and car key and walks out of the house.

Christy returns home, and locks herself up in her apartment.  She pays no attention to her dogs, which came to welcome her. She slumps into a cushion, and weeps profusely. "Men are wicked... I loved Emeka with all my heart; the next man I  will meet must suffer." She picks up her phone, and tries to make a call, but, drops the phone. She is restless.

"Men  are dangerous! Men are callous! You can never satisfy them. Always giving excuses; always finding faults. I thought we were almost about to wed. All my sisters are happily married; I am the only one left! Oh God, how have I offended you? I attend Mass every Sunday. I go for weekly confession. I am not the worst sinner on earth."

She took a bottle of brandy  from the wine cellar; opened it and took some droughts. She kept sobbing and talking to herself. Gradually, her sobbing reduced, and she soon fell asleep.

When she woke up, she found her dogs sleeping beside her. She changed her dress; took her bath of warm water from the shower, and took some chicken parts, and a 5 Alive drink.

"I can do without marriage," she thought. But that could be a very difficult, and unreasonable decision. Every man marries a wife; every woman gets married to a man. That's how God ordained it.

Anything else--you become a laughing stock; a deviant; a failure and a non-conformist. A societal misfit.

"I am not ready to join the  fiery gang of woman liberation fighters." She said. "Frustrated folks who cannot be counted as happily married women." She gets up from the bed, and begins walking up and down her large bedroom; almost a palace.

"But, why are men so difficult to tame? But, this is men's world, she thought. 

There was this foolish  woman who refused to marry, because a man disappointed her. She ended up a manhater. At old age, she regretted it, and died a miserable death. Old fool.

"What about getting pregnant as a single mother?" she thought. "Nonsense." She muttered. "I must have a husband, and be legitimately married. No more, no less."

Maybe, she could pray more; fast more, and do more charity; maybe the right man could come. She has also learnt from  her mistakes.

She decided resolutely to enroll in a cartering school.

After all, every disappointment is a blessing. Emeka is not the only man in Nigeria. 

She could be lucky to meet a husband through Facebook.