My best friend's brother met and married his wife within 3 months. They will be almost 20 years married. They met at my party. I remember telling her not to listen to him because we consider him married in our circle. He had been dating is ex-girlfriend since high school. His parents and the ex's parents are family best friends. They are all from the same tribe. They attend the same church. I remember them having an on and off relationship. It was pure entertainment for us. Whenever he tried to move on, the adults will fiercely sabotage it. Then his ex and her friends were worst than the beyhive. So, no one in our little circle will touch him with a 10 foot pole. We just didn't want the drama that tends to ensue. He even dated white girls to try to get away, to no avail.
The wife is the cousin of a dear friend of mine. She came on holiday from the UK to New York. Both the wife and her cousin were suppose to come to my party in Maryland. Cousin dearest had to work (emergency) that weekend. There was no point in both of them having a ruined weekend so off to Maryland she came. That was my first time of physically meeting her. We've spoken previously on the phone. Hence, my protectiveness of her. Plus I didn't want her cousin to maim me, I've gotten attached to my limbs and all.
My BFF's brother and the wife saw each other and the red sea (ME) could not part them. I tried to distract her. I introduced her to less drama inducing men but whenever I blinked, I was too slow. I kept interjecting all night -- he's married, he's in a non committing relationship, we are just waiting on him to sign his
death warrant marriage certificate bla bla bla. He was pissed with me that night but he took it with humour.
Next day, he took her out on a date and I guessed, explained things to her. When she came back home, I was honest with her. I explained how things were and she said that his story was the same as mine. They started dating. Long distance relationship. We were in college and he was already working. Every two weeks, he was in the UK. He called it business trips. We (with his 5 brothers) all had to keep the relationship a secret to help give them time to get to know each other.
Long story short, they did a court marriage almost 3 months to the day they met at my house. We all went, had a ball and no parents. Then at sunday dinner at his parents house, he casually dropped that he is married and this is their daughter in law. I wished I was a fly on the wall that day. All his brothers were there to morally support them but I don't believe them. His mother cried, cursed, bribed, disowned him then reowned him, to no avail. He told them he was going to do the traditional part of the marriage with or without them.
Marriage ceremonies to Nigerians are like white on rice. The mother started organising things like she was on it from jump. It was astonishing to watch. His parents told the ex girlfriends parents; well you see, it was like, what can I say, who can predict the future, children!, oh well, it is God's wish etc etc. Needless to say, his parents packed the ex girlfriend and her family to one side and carried on. The battle was fought and won in their absence
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20 years on and 4 children later, they are still together. Whenever I'm loving on their children, my BFF's brother is like, don't hug or kiss her. If she had her way, you won't be here. I just laugh and tell them he is jealous that I buy them better gifts.