Titi, a 30-year-old nurse, met Keji, a police officer, and they've been in a relationship for about two years now. Keji is familiar with Titi's family and is always welcome to their home. Meanwhile, Titi has met some of Keji's immediate family members, though not his extended family.
As the relationship progressed, Titi began to feel pressure from friends and family to get married. However, the moment she brought up the topic with Keji, he was transferred to Abuja, making it more challenging to move forward. Despite the distance and obstacles, Titi didn't give up. She tried to balance the situation and navigate the pressures of marriage while dealing with Keji's new location.
One day, Keji visited Titi, and her family called a meeting to discuss their relationship. They emphasized the need for a plan and settlement, given Titi's age and her position as the only girl among five brothers, being the youngest in the family.
They both agreed to set a date for a family introduction first, followed by a wedding.Two months after the family introduction, the bride's family provided a list of requirements to the groom's family. The couple then discussed potential dates for the wedding, agreeing to mutually decide on a suitable month.
Six months after the introduction, a wedding date was set. Three months into the preparations, the bride's family began gathering items for the ceremony, but the rising costs due to inflation posed a challenge. Despite this, progress was being made gradually. Meanwhile, the bride and her friends started looking for a new house to rent, as the couple had decided it would be best for her to have a place to stay, considering the groom's unpredictable transfer schedule.
One month before the wedding, the groom called with devastating news: one of his shops in Lagos had been destroyed by fire, resulting in losses worth millions. The news was heartbreaking for the bride, and she nearly broke down, feeling that this was an unfortunate timing given their financial needs.
However, her parents' faith helped to reassure her that everything would work out. Three weeks before the wedding, the groom visited for some wedding-related activities, including church programs. During one of these church services, his phone rang. He answered it on speaker so the bride and pastor could hear. A woman's voice was on the other end, mentioning that his second shop hadn't opened in three days and expressing concern for his well-being. The groom reassured her that all was fine and promised to follow up, explaining that he was trying to confirm some information with his sales representative.
After the church program, he attempted to call the sales girl, but she wasn't answering. He decided to cut his activities short and head to Lagos to investigate. Upon arrival, he broke the news to the bride that the sales girl had absconded with his money and goods. He reassured her that he had contacted the guarantor and was confident they would track her down before he returned to Abuja back.
The bride was emotionally drained. Her parents became desperate, rushing to various churches for prayers and breakthroughs, with only two weeks left to the wedding. Days later, the groom called with an update: the sales girl had been tracked down and taken to the police station. However, she pleaded for mercy, citing her ailing mother's need for medical treatment, and promised to pay back N50,000 monthly.
The bride's parents, concerned about the situation, asked the groom what preparations he had made so far, given the circumstances. The groom's response was candid: he hadn't done anything, citing that his family wasn't supportive and he had told the bride he would bear the expenses alone. When the bride's mother specifically asked if he had even gotten a wedding suit, he admitted he hadn't.
The bride had actually paid for her traditional wedding attire herself, but she couldn't bring herself to reveal this to her parents, trying to cover for him.
She confided in her friends, wondering if the series of mishaps were a sign to call off the wedding or just the devil's interference. Her friends offered words of encouragement, advising her not to dwell on negative thoughts.
Her parents took on the financial burden, borrowing money to cover the shortfalls, buying everything on the family list, including the groom's shoes and suit, just to ensure their daughter's happiness.
They reassured her of their support, promising to stand by her and her husband until he got back on his feet As the wedding loomed closer, the bride's anxiety grew. The groom was supposed to return on Monday, but she hadn't heard from him. His phone was off, and by Tuesday, with only three days left to the wedding, she was frantic. She reached out to his family, but they were equally worried, having not heard from him either. Despite the uncertainty, her parents remained reassuring, urging her to stay calm. On Wednesday night, just as prayers were beginning, a concerning call came in: the groom was reportedly suicidal, and the bride's number was the last one he had called. Without hesitation, she handed her phone to her father, who spoke with the groom, assuring him that everything was going to be alright and that he shouldn't worry. They urged him to come, promising that all was set.
On Thursday afternoon, he called with an update: he hadn't been granted a pass, as the politicians he was attached to had an outing, but he promised to be released early on Friday. Everyone was in high gear, preparing for the big day. Pots were simmering, and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement. Friday morning, the groom called again, announcing that he was on his way.
By 4 p.m., the groom was still MIA, and with the engagement ceremony slated to start by 5 p.m., they had to push it to the next morning, 7 a.m. sharp. As the hours ticked by – 6, 7, 8, 9 – the bride's phone finally rang. It was the groom. He claimed to be somewhere other than his house, and the bride set out to fetch him, accompanied by a brother and friend. Tears welled up in her eyes as they picked him up. Upon their return, the atmosphere shifted to one of joy and relief, with prayers being said. The couple then headed to the house rented for the occasion.
On the wedding day, the engagement ceremony went off without a hitch, flawlessly executed, with no hint of the financial struggles. Everything seemed perfect... until it was time to get dressed for church. That's when another crisis emerged: the trousers of the suit didn't fit the groom 🙄. With the pastor calling for updates, they scrambled to find a solution. They borrowed a pair from the wife's brother, while frantically trying to locate the best man, who was still out. In the meantime, the ring had been handed over to the groom for safekeeping until they reached the church.
Just as it was time for the ring exchange, the wedding ring couldn't be found anywhere! In a quick fix, the pastor generously used his own ring and the wife's own ring to join them together, and the wedding ceremony proceeded smoothly. Despite the hiccups, the wedding was a success.
Weeks later, friends and family were buzzing with curiosity, calling each other to ask, "Have you heard from Titi and Keji? Everyone was worried, wondering if they were on their honeymoon or what.
Titi pay are parents a visit and Then Titi dropped a bombshell: Keji was a scammer! On their wedding day, a woman claimed to be one of his wives, revealing that she had four babies with him. Titi discovered that the 'parents' Keji brought to the wedding were actually neighbors. The 'father' had rented a 3-bedroom flat but couldn't pay, so Keji became a tenant. The 'mother' was also a tenant, and they weren't related. The woman warned Titi that she was lucky so far, but Keji would likely ask her for a loan and then disappear, leaving her with nothing. Titi was advised to count her blessings and thank God.
The woman revealed that she was taking care of her own children in her parents house, while Keji's 'parents' lived in a different village. She had been monitoring Keji's social media and saw their wedding post on Facebook. She even charted the poster to get Titi's number. Titi's parents immediately called Keji over, but when they confronted him with the truth, he made a swift exit, abandoning his disguise. He hasn't been seen or heard from since.
To all parents reading this, let's make sure to do our due diligence when it comes to our children's partners. Let's take the time to get to know them, their families, and their backgrounds before giving our blessings. It's crucial to verify the authenticity of the people our children are getting involved with.