The Female Soldier - S01 E08

3 months ago

The Female Soldier - S01 E08

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 8

The Female Soldier, Episode 8

"Did I tell you to pay the bride price on my behalf?" Acho asked the female soldier. It is barely 24 hours to the wedding date and she was trying to see if she could mend broken fences so that the wedding could still hold as planned. She had gone back alone to talk with Acho after he initially refused to listen to her and his best friend, Leke. Acho was in his room watching television absentmindedly when the female soldier knocked at the door. He had opened it and allowed her in reluctantly, because as far as he was concerned, the relationship was over.

"I was just trying to protect your image. My family members were waiting for you and you were not going to make it because you were still in captivity. I decided to use my own money to pay for the bride price so that you could refund me when you are out of captivity. I thought I was acting in our overall best interest." The female soldier responded. She did not expect the response she was getting from Acho.

"You don't know you wounded my ego? I have ego as a man and by paying your bride price yourself, you injured my ego. In my culture, the payment of bride price is the sole responsibility of the man. The man must be able to do it even if he lacks the resources to do every other thing during the marriage ceremony. The bride price is one thing a man must afford, no matter how poor he is. You went and told your people that I do not have the money to marry you and that you are taking charge of the whole situation. Isn't it? So, I have become so poor that I cannot pay the bride price demanded by my wife's people?" Acho asked. He looked visibly angry and the female soldier was even scared he

could hit her.

"That was not what happened. How can deliberately belittle you or injure your ego before my family? Nobody in my family knew that the money did not come from your pocket. I did not tell anyone about this and no one will know that I was the one who brought the money. Besides, you are still going to refund me the money. It is not like I 'dashed' you. Like I just explained, I did It to save us from the shame of not appearing at what was supposed to be our traditional marriage. Your absence was beginning to be noticed and I had to do something to cover up for you." The female soldier said, trying desperately to defend herself.

"You are talking rubbish. You could have asked them to cancel the traditional marriage. You could have let them know the true situation of things. You should have opened up to your family about the fact that I was kidnapped. You should have told them the truth and allowed them to reschedule the date for the payment of bride price. Instead, you went ahead with your plan without consulting me. I have the right to be angry because I feel I should be physically present to pay the bride price of my wife with money from my own pocket, not money from her bank account. That is the pride I should have as a man. Not dispatching a friend to do it for me as if I was dead. I'm disappointed in you and I will not accept this. The whole thing was done behind me and I was not a party to it. It is a marriage that is supposed to be between me and you, but now it is a community project, funded by you and executed by my so called friend, Leke." Acho said angrily.

"I'm shocked how you are reacting to this thing. I acted in your overall best interest. I was thinking you will praise me when you hear about this." The female soldier said.

"You did not act in my best interest; you are acted in your best selfish interest. How can you pay your own bride price yourself and you are saying you acted in my interest. You are throwing yourself at me and it is bad. You paid your bride price yourself, are you the one marrying me or I'm the one marrying you? Ok, now that you have paid your bride price yourself, you can go ahead and marry yourself because I'm not interested in this sham anymore. I just want to relax and recover from the stress your secret boyfriend, the General put me through." Acho said. He was now shouting loudly as he talked and the female soldier feared that the neigbours could hear them. She was thoroughly embarrassed when Acho said she was throwing herself at him and that she should go ahead and marry herself.

"The General is not my secret boyfriend. He was just an admirer who kept on trying to eat from my pot of honey. That was all he wanted and I have turned him down for many years." The female soldier said.

"You think I'm stupid? You think I didn't know you and the General have been cruising before now? If you were not dating him, why didn't you let me know he was disturbing you for a relationship? Why didn't you tell me he wanted to eat from your pot of honey? Why did you keep everything a secret? Why am I just finding out? So far as I'm concerned, you actually planned my kidnap with the General. I'm happy I'm out of captivity and my eyes can now see clearly that you are not the woman I'm supposed to spend the rest of my life with." Acho said without mincing words. It was then the female soldier knew the relationship won't recover from the damage it has suffered in the hands of the General.

"Please leave my house and never come back." Acho said angrily. The female soldier left the room without further protest. She knew the relationship had reached a point of no return. When she was in the taxi, she cried a lot. She picked up her phone and called Leke.

"Are you at home? Can I come and see you? I'm very lonely and I need someone to talk to." She asked.

"Yes. Of course, you can come. I will give you my shoulders to lean on." Leke answered. Within 30 minutes, she was at Leke's house. Unfortunately, out of pain and frustration, she got drunk. Leke too was drunk and they both ended up in bed doing what they should not be doing. Leke ate her forbidden apple and left no keep everything a secret? Why am I just finding out? So far as I'm concerned, you actually planned my kidnap with the General. I'm happy I'm out of captivity and my eyes can now see clearly that you are not the woman I'm supposed to spend the rest of my life with." Acho said without mincing words. It was then the female soldier knew the relationship won't recover from the damage it has suffered in the hands of the General.

"Are you at home? Can I come and see you? I'm very lonely and I need someone to talk to." She asked.

Watch Out For Part 8