Chapter 83: Chapter 83

Cameras flashed and clicked, video recorders rolled, everybody wanted to capture a glimpse of me. My entry dance was epic, with one hand I held my flowing gown so I won't trip and with the other hand I held my staff. The DJ was playing dull songs but then I sent someone to tell him to change the song or else I won't come out and he gave me a perfect song to dance. He played "puta" by Naira Marley, when the song intro started, I, my sisters and everybody who knew the song sang along. "...ah control the crowd, control the crowd, marlians come forward the rest fuck off," we sang at the top of our voices. The crowd surrounding me gave way as I danced, I moved forward then stopped and glide backward, then slowly downward and then upward my sisters joined and then Natalie, Xiao Ling, Ariel and my friend Esther joined.

I dance to the canopy my parents sat and bowed as they place their hands on me, and then I moved to the canopy Jade's mother and Scott (who stayed in place of his father) sat and they did same. "You look so beautiful, my daughter," Jade's mother said blowing kisses at me.

The music stopped and everybody left to their seats, leaving me alone at the centre of the big arena with the MC, who was my cousin. "Chai... this DJ is a very bad person, see how he made our beautiful bride to dance like someone that took Ogogoro (an intoxicating drink). My dear cousin, we knew that you could dance very well but this small time you went to America it's as if you've learnt new styles," he said and the crowd roared with laughter. "Okay, now that your body has cooled down tell us, how are you feeling today? he asked.

" I feel overjoyed, I can't contain my happiness," I said grinning from ear-to-ear.

"I can see, please everybody give her a big round of applause," he said and the crowd clapped and cheered. "so Ukpono, in this crowd I want you to choose a young woman that you want as your PA throughout the ceremony," my cousin said

"I choose... Natalie," I said.

"Alright, please if you are the Natalie we need here please come forward," my MC cousin said and Natalie came out holding her long dress in one hand.

"Auntie Natalie, are you sure you can do this PA work wearing these long clothes? I hope you will not fall down ooo," my cousin teased.

"Oh please, don't worry about me I can walk or run wearing these clothes," Natalie said.

"For some reason, I believe you," my cousin said to her.

"Alright Miss Natalie, your first assignment as this lovely bride's PA is for you to get a basin and place it here at the centre of this arena," my cousin said.

Natalie went in and came out few minutes later with a big enamel bowl and placed it where she was instructed to keep it.

"Okay everybody, take a good look at this bride, is she beautiful?" my cousin asked everyone chorused "yes".

"Do you like her?" he asked and they all chorused "yes".

"Do you want her to continue looking this beautiful?" he asked and again everyone chorused "yes".

"Then let's all appreciate her, dip your hands into your pocket or bags, come and celebrate her. No amount is too small, no amount is too much, DJ give us a song please," my cousin said. People trooped in and placed money in there bowl, soon it was filled up. After that I went to my seat beside Jade, he stood up and helped me sit down before sitting beside me.

What he did made the crowd go wild with excitement, "this guy is a trained gentleman, look how he stood up and help bride to sit beside him. Some people would have said 'we aren't married yet anyhow she manage she will climb up to her seat, after all it wasn't me that sent her to wear this kind of long dress'. But Jade is a gentleman," my cousin said.

"Your cousin is so funny," Jade said to me.

"He is a professional comedian. You look so handsome Mr Kale," I said to him

"And you look so beautiful Mrs Kale," he said.

Food and drinks were served, we cut the traditional marriage cake, my parents and Jade's blessed us and we were declared husband and wife.

Tons of gifts were given to us, my mother was crying. We took lots of pictures with friends and family members and well wishers. The foreign reporters did have a lot of news to publish. Jade and I took my things from my house to the house he was staying.

"The white wedding is in a week at America, I will make arrangements for you guys to come two days to the date," Jade said to my parents.

The following day we went back home, I took my phone and posted on Instagram, "wedding in seven days all are invited."

All hands were on deck for the preparation of our grand wedding ceremony, I got my wedding dress at Emy's fashion house and Jade ordered his tux from Italy. It took me and my workers at Cakes by UK, two days to make a tall, five tiers wedding cake. Jade hired the best event planning team in the country to plan our wedding ceremony, since he wasn't really the church going type, we decided not to have the first part of the ceremony in a church but at an open field. His mother made arrangements for a priest to officiate.

Two days to the wedding, Jade and Scott went to the airport to pick my family, I couldn't join them because I had to complete the cake. The wedding was a topic everybody was talking about, it was the latest trend on social media and on the news.

Finally, the long awaited day had arrived. A special team of professional makeup artists attended to me, the transformation that happened to me after they were done, made my traditional marriage beauty seem insignificant. My heartbeat increased when I finished dressing and stepped out to leave, this is it Ukpono, the day you have been dreaming of. I said to myself.

A convoy of vehicles stood outside the hotel to take me and my bridesmaids to the wedding venue. The place was packed with people from different parts of the world. My father stood waiting for me, immediately I got out of the car, he hugged me.

"My darling daughter, you look so beautiful," he said.

"Father, thank you," I said.

"I feel so lucky and proud to tell everyone you are my daughter, maybe you didn't realize it but right from when you were little, you've always been my favorite daughter. My baby girl who loves dancing when she hears music, look how big you've grown and now, you're leaving me, to start a new family of your own. That is why I want to personally take you to your husband, I love you so much but now you would be leaving me," he said using his handkerchief to dry his tears.

"Stop it father, you are making me cry. I'm gonna miss you so much father, thank you so very much for all you have done for me, thank you so much for making me the woman I am now. I love you so much daddy," I said hugging him. My eyes welled with tears, the orchestra started playing a slow music and my bridesmaids alongside Nadia and Juliet marched to the altar. Then the song changed to "here comes the bride" and everyone stood up as I walked down the aisle with my father beside me. Jade was looking mesmerized as I stood opposite him, I gave my bouquet of flowers to Natalie.

The priest prayed and read some Bible verses for us and we exchanged rings, "it is time for the marriage declaration." The priest announced. "We are gathered here to witness the holy matrimony between Mr Jaden Kale and Miss Ukpono Udofia. Ukpono Udofia, do you take Jaden Kale to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and to cherish him, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, till death do you part?" He asked.

"Yes, I do!" I answered.

"Jaden Kale, do you take Ukpono Udofia as your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, till death do you part?" The priest asked Jade.

"Yes, yes I do!" Jade answered.

"Is there anyone who has a reason why these two shouldn't be joined in holy matrimony should speak now or forever remain silent," the priest said and everywhere was quiet. "With the authority given to me, I hereby declare you man and wife. Mr Kale, you may kiss your wife."

The crowd screamed and cheered as Jade held me on the waist and kissed me passionately. prayers were rendered and we moved out to take pictures, Jade carrying me in his arms all through the pictures session.

We got into the limo which would take us back to the hotel for us (mostly me) to change into the wedding reception outfit.

Jade went to his hotel room while I went into mine, "please no rushing, take your time to make me elegant," I said to them.

30 minutes later, Jade and I were back in the limo which would be taking us to the reception venue. In 30 minutes the only changes in Jade's appearance was that he had removed his tux jacket and clipped the flower on his inner jacket.

On the other hand, I changed from my flowing long sleeved, shining dress to an off-shoulder lace jumpsuit with a lace tail attached to it. The reception venue was an elegant banquet hall with colourful decorations, the ceiling looked like large cotton clouds were floating.

Our enormous white and gold wedding cake was at the side of the stage.

Two hours we danced, laughed, cried, ate and made merry. Tons of gifts piled up in one corner of the hall. I hugged my family and friends, crying and laughing at the same time and then it was time for us to go.

One month honeymoon around the world, that's what Jade had planned for us. One whole month away from work, from the children, from friends or anyone else. Just me and my lovely husband.

First stop, Paris. Jade had got a ship, for this honeymoon trip. No one except the workers.

That night we made love, not the slamming and rough one, but a slow and passionate sex. This is the life, finally I have achieved the goal I had set for myself.

I took out my diary and wrote: Dear diary, I have done it. I have been able to accomplished all that my family members couldn't, I now have a satisfied life.

"Why aren't you sleeping?" Jade whispered softly.

"I will, I just have one last thing to do," I said and took out my phone.

"What do you want to do?" He asked.

"I want everyone to know how it all started," I answered.

I went online and started writing "My name is Ukpono and this is my story..."

THE END........