Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/bridge-and-groom-kissing-Tg_Du1s-WU0
The wedding reception goes awry
The wedding ceremony of Abel and Lesley was expected by all to be a town-shaker. A lot of money was invested in it because Abel was not just a rich young man but, was willing to spend the money, not just to satisfy his ego but, to please his lovely wife.
Lesley had a wish which she put across to Abel, "I want the wedding reception to be at Agape City Garden".
"Your wish is my command, my dear", Abel replied.
But Mark, a close friend of Abel, and the best man of the wedding had a different view.
"Since July is a rainy period, let's use a hotel or any other standard hall for the reception", Mark suggested.
"Have you considered the natural breeze that's the trademark of Agape City Garden? The serenity? Taking pictures there on my wedding day, with friends and well-wishers around will be a cherish moment... never to be forgotten", Lesley fantasized.
Agape City Garden was an open field with well pruned palm, orange and cashew trees spread out to give a lush view. Some people describe it as where nature came down to earth. On the floor was equally a professionally mowed natural grass that made one feel great, walking on it.
"I'm not afraid of the rain, and you shouldn't be." Lesley stated confidently, smiling.
"You know, the reception is the peak of the wedding and, anything that disrupts it, destroys the joy of the wedding ceremony", Mark said.
Lesley was adamant. She stood her ground, insisting the fear of rain was uncalled for. Her confidence rested on the effectiveness of prayer warriors and native rainmakers who claimed to have the powers to stop the rain.
"If the rain tries to fall, the counterforce of the rainmakers will take care of that. In addition, the prayer warriors would be relentless in their prayers, and there's no way the heavens would not listen to them", Lesley supported her argument further.
After the initial argument, Mark still went behind to talk to Abel against the use of Agape City Garden to no avail.
"You know women. Once they insist on something, it's near impossible to make them change their views", Abel replied helplessly.
"The worse is that there's neither a hotel nor civic hall nearby to serve as a safety valve, in case the rain comes", Mark again reasoned.
"My wife said it'll be a dream come true to have our wedding reception at that garden. In fact, she told me the other day she dreamed of the reception at Agape City Garden, and that it was superb", Abel disclosed.
The D-Day finally came! Expectations were high. First was the church service. It started at 10 a.m, and the pastor was very brief about it then, everyone was asked to proceed to the reception venue, Agape City Garden.
However, before the last 'Amen' was said in the church, the sky had already began to change from its bright face to a dull one. Some people dismissed that initial appearance of a cloud as mere threat from the sky that held no water.
It was as the reception was about to start in earnest that many people began to feel that the sky may be in for a serious rainy business. The MC, with his microphones had started announcing the names of members to be on the high table when it started drizzling gradually.
The leader of the prayer warriors, a pastor, took the mic from the MC and announced, "There's no cause for alarm. Don't bother yourselves", he advised, and assured, "The small cloud you're seeing now will disperse in a moment."
Meanwhile, the king rainmaker was at his own corner, putting fresh leaves in his fire, causing a thick smoke to ooze out, rising towards the sky where it will meet the clouds, and tell them to go back.
The pastor went on, "Just hold on to your faith. The power in me is greater than that of the clouds. Before you say 'Jack Robinson', they will scatter and disappear".
Well, before his last own words, the clouds opened up, showing they were not for a joke.
People started running away from the rain. Many ran into their cars, while others, seeing the heaviness of the clouds in the sky simply started going home.
It wasn't the usual torrential rain that people say, "It rained cats and dogs". This one was as if there were some forces pouring water on to the earth, from the sky with uncountable number of drums of water. It was such a prolonged type of rain that, when it began to ease off, darkness had set in for the night.
All the hired entertainers - singers, dancers, cameramen, comedians, caterers and all, simply looked towards their homes.
It was simply a flopped reception!
The number of the very few that managed to stay on for the hurried short reception was nothing to write home about.
The best man Mark, looked into the eyes of Abel and Lesley. Everyone's face was turned down in sadness and regret.
"I don't know who to blame for this", he said sarcastically.