TUESDAY
“Chale, nice and spacious. This hall diɛɛ, no be small jamming we go jam!” Nurudeen Nuhu said out loud as he walked with Edem and his brother Mawuli through the ballroom of Movenpick Hotel. They had come to confirm the reservations and all, and were briefly taking a stroll through the hall where the reception would take place on Saturday afternoon/evening.
“Serious. Coz the way I mean the dancing eh, walahi! As Selasi dey there dey tell me sey I no know dance, I for use that day show am levels proper!” Mawuli vowed.
Edem laughed. “Ei, Mawuli, if you then Selasi go do competition diɛɛ, then I dey fear give you oo. Hwɛ, you see am then the Aki girl before? That little Kenyan lady? Those two go some wedding bi, the way them steal the show. Sosket!”
Mawuli looked unmoved. “Massa, ɛkraa, I go show am! Na the way she trash me…”
“Na you, Mawuli, when be the last time Selasi see you wey she no dey trash you?”
Mawuli and Nurudeen laughed. No lies there. Every time Mawuli and Selasi met up, the latter would never pass up the opportunity to troll him mercilessly.
“So when them go do the setup?” Nurudeen asked.
“Friday evening,” Edem responded. “Toby ein woman dey work plus some décor guys for the week, so after the traditional wedding, them go move come here.”
“Oh cool, cool. Nice. Ibi that Shamima girl, abi?” Nurudeen further queried.
“Yeah. That popular wedding planner chic for IG.”
“Yeah, yeah. But chale, Toby do wild grab the girl ooo. Coz chale, the way niggas mean that girl!” Mawuli commented.
“Na see the heavy ass that girl dey carry. Wey she san get very beautiful face. Why boys no go target am? Toby eh, he be sharp nigga!”
“I swear down!”
The boys laughed for a moment.
“But chale, I really make excited oo! it’s finally happening! You and Diamond!” Nurudeen commented excitedly.
“Yes ooo! Finally finally! E dey come on live and coloured! Ever since I meet Diamond, I start wedge this day, coz chale, babes like this, you never for let them go!” Mawuli added.
Edem smiled. But a wistful expression appeared on his face.
“Yeah, chale. It’s awesome. But I no go lie, there have been a few moments where it still hurts me that Papa won’t be here to see this.”
The faces of Nurudeen and Mawuli changed, and they both sighed.
“Yeah. It sucks,” Mawuli murmured sadly. “Chale, it’s already been about a year and a half. Hmmm, the way this Covid thing come mess up wana lives diɛɛ…”
“Honestly. Whoever create that virus eh, the lashing them for lash am in hell! Coz seriously, them really f**k things up give many people,” Nurudeen added. He had also suffered some losses during the time of the pandemic, with a friend of his and a brother-in-law succumbing to the disease.
“Walahi, that person for feel am roff. Chale, the memories still dey fit haunt me till date,” Edem commented. “From the day he went and got tested and it came out as positive, to the point where it got worse and we had to call an ambulance to the day they called Mama to the hospital to give her the bad news. Those memories no lef my mind till date.”
Mawuli nodded sadly. “The day the ambulance took him away, I honestly had this horrible feeling that we might not see him again. But chale, man just dey rebuke that thought dey try talk positive things. After those three days, wey them call Mama sey make she come the hospital, that be when I really start dey fear. Then she come house come talk we sey Papa pass… hmmm, chale… those moments still dey hurt my heart, chale.”
The Sedudzi brothers went silent, with Nurudeen silently observing them. He knew these days would come, when the memory of their father’s sudden, heartbreaking demise would gather over their heads like a dark cloud and remind them of his gaping absence at the wedding. He knew it was best to let them process their emotions.
After a while, Edem lifted his head and commented, “But chale, the Dolphyne family really hold we down during that period. The way the whole family come around that weekend and all…”
“Oh yeah, them really force give we,” Mawuli agreed. “For me, ibi the way them show up for the 1st anniversary. The way the boys take over the preparations and all. See eh, that be when I see sey if you no marry this Diamond girl, unless God Himself take cane lash you from heaven.”
Edem and Nurudeen laughed out loud. They certainly needed that laugh to ease the solemnity of the mood.
“True talk oo. Coz inobi just the girl oo, the whole family dey show you love. At your lowest of lows. I mean, what again you dey hia?”
“Ibi true mohm,” Nurudeen agreed. “They really took it personal. Meaning they’ve already accepted you as their son, so chale, e lef sey you go do the necessary.”
Edem smiled. “Well, I dey do the necessary now. That be why we dey here.”
“Good point!” Mawuli replied. “So yeah, chale, the pain of Papa not being around for this special day diɛɛ, e go dey. No doubt. But hey, life doesn’t let you stew over these things forever. We need to move on. Besides, those who are with us won’t want his absence to overshadow the day’s events.”
“Of course, of course,” Nuhu chimed in. “Chale, this weekend is for premium enjoyment. We for enjoy proper. And I know sey Efo Godwill sef, e no go be am if he see sey you guys make lemm on such a joyous occasion.”
Edem nodded. That was the absolute truth.
“Yeah, yeah. Like he go bore sef.”
“Exactly. So chale, rest in peace to your dad. Missing diɛɛ, we go miss am, no doubt. But we go honour am well well by enjoying the way he would have wanted us to enjoy.”
“True talk,” Mawuli spoke. “That’s the least we can do.”
He then looked to the ceiling and shut his eyes as he solemnly spoke in Ewe.
“Efo Godwill, we know if you were here, you’d have the time of your life with us on Saturday. But don’t worry, we’ll do it for you. We’ll enjoy for you, have fun for you, and we’ll celebrate your dear son Edem’s wedding for you. Just continue resting in the bosom of the Almighty. Till we meet again, Efo. God keep you safe for us. Amen!”
“Amen!”
Mmmm, poor Edem. How painful it would be to know your parent won’t be present to witness one of the best days of your life. Hmmm, it is well with him…
