BOXED IN(2)

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No. She was different. She was unhappy everyday and never bothered about going to work or cleaning the house. Good thing that they had house-helps. She turned down invites to social activities and drowned her sorrows in alcohol. Her honeymoon was at the beautiful Zanzibar but she could care less about it all. One night, during her honeymoon, too drunk to be reasonable, she had puked on herself at the Resort's Bar and had to be carried up to the room. My father, who had also been drinking, had cleaned her up and something must have happened because my mother found out that she was pregnant three weeks after the honeymoon. She endured the loveless marriage because of me. The information in the journals were a lot to take in, but I understood it all. I connected with all of my mother's feelings as she had written of them in her journals, as I am going through the same.

I got back to Nigeria four years ago after completing my Masters program in the UK. I was immediately given two jobs. One as a Non-Executive member of the Board of Directors at Grandfather's company, and the second as a Brand Manager at my father's company. During a business dinner hosted by my father's company eight months ago, I was introduced by my father to the family of one his business partners, Chief Godfrey Ezebuilo, and was made to sit beside Chief Ezebuilo's second son, Ron Ezebuilo. Father had explained to me before the dinner that the Ezebuilo's family company, NextTech Limited, was not doing well and that he wanted to buy it, but Chief Ezebuilo had refused to sell it as he would rather gift it to his son, Ron, than sell it out of his family. My father expected me to marry Ron so that, being tied by marriage, Chief Ezebuilo could sell the company to him. I am supposed to get married to Ron so that my father can acquire a new toy. 

My Engagement/Introduction Ceremony has been fixed for next week and all I know about my Fiancé is that he is a Software Engineer who loves fast cars and expensive toys, likes to party and travel, and eats only freshly prepared food. We have only seen each other thrice in the eight months since the dinner where we were introduced to each other. Two of those times were 'dates' at clubhouses that were too noisy for any kind of conversation, and the third was at his mother's birthday party at their home. Just like my mother, I never declined doing anything I was told to do. But this...I can not do. I can not willingly sentence myself to a life of torture. I know that Ron has a love interest in another person, I want to have that too. I want to love and be loved in return. I don't want to live like my mother. I refuse to live that way. 

I understand what mother went through. And although she did not fight hard enough to get out of the situation, I will not be docile. I will fight with everything I have and everything I am to live a free and happy life. 

I am Olanna Pearl Ani, a twenty-first century woman who knows her strengths and weaknesses,  her rights and the extent of her freedom, and is ready to fight to live on her own terms and not any other person's! I know what I want from life and I will have it. I am different. My life is different.


- The Lady 

“Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭31:25‬