Christmas Husband

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Many people have spent years in the city without visiting their family members in the village. Many Christmases had come and gone, yet they found it not exciting to visit their homes. Ada has been in the city since she concluded her Nysc a decade ago. the last time she visited her mom and other family members, she returned to the city in sadness and in tears. This prompted her to decide not to visit the village until she's been able to achieve certain things.

Many single ladies are depressed because of the expectations society places on them. The pressure of getting marred are usually placed on the women rather than the men. They forget that these women won't marry themselves; they see a lady who is thirty and above as expired and unmarriageable.

in 2017, Ada completed her national service and decided to visit her people during Christmas. She was welcomed, and everyone was happy for her. The house was full of people. Extended family members were already around, and a party was organised for Ada. She was treated well and taken care of. By this time. Ada was just twenty-six, and the pressure of getting married was already on her.

When the part ended, her mom invited her to her room and began a mother-to-child conversation.

"We were thinking that you'd be visiting with a man",. she said

"What man?" Ada asked, pretending not to understand the question.

"You do not understand who a man is or not?" her mother fired back. Ada became silent for a moment, then her mother broke the ice.
"You are getting older, you have to marry. you have achieved a lot already. What you need next is a husband. I need to carry my grandchildren before I die"

"Mummy, you should change the topic of this discussion, or I will walk out of your room. Did I tell you that my husband is my problem? Ever since I arrived in this village, everyone has been talking about my husband and marriage. to the best of my knowledge, there is nowhere that marriage is compulsory for anyone".

Her mother was surprised at her daughter's response. She untied her wrapper and tied it again, this time more tightly. She got close to her, looking sternly on her, she muttered, "All your younger cousins have been married, and they're doing well in their husbands' house, and all you have to say that getting married is not compulsory, you must be joking, whether you like it or not, you shall marry." She stood up from the mattress and left Ada, who was speechless, looking at the lantern at the centre of the table.

The following morning, Ada arranged her bag and was about to go back to the city. no one else knew why she decided to leave so urgently. Everyone thought she was returning to resume work, but she left with a heavy heart.

******************

"It's been close to a dacade i visited home, I have missed my people already, especially my troublesome mom", Ada said, chilling with her friend in a bar.

"Why take you that long?" her friend asked

"Hmmmmm...my dear, my mom has been on my neck to marry, and I can't imagine myself visiting the village without a husband," she said as she sipped her cold Malta Guinness.

"But that shouldn't be a problem, na," Joy, her friend, said confidently. "I have been in the same shoe and since I did what I did last year, the pressure stopped," she added

"What did you do? please tell me. I am ready to do it. she said hurriedly.

"Okay," she said. Ada shifted a bit closer. She took her seat and opened her ears to hear. A Christmas carol was playing in the background.

"Since they're looking for a husband, then organise one for them, na" Joy said, smiling.

"Please, what do you mean?"

"I have someone who can act as your husband",. she said

Ada was surprised at such an idea and wondered how her friend could come up with such an idea. "wow" she exclaimed

"That is the only thing you can do for now, but remember the service is not free"

"I will pay, please"

Both of them laughed together and danced to the Christmas tune of jingle bell