Here we go, a new chapter after a very loooooonnnnnng wait. Please comment, vote, and share your thoughts with me.

"Is she at least hot?"  Sanmi asked his brother while lounging in the living room.

He had decided to come over to his brother's place for the weekend. One of his girlfriends had insisted on spending the weekend despite him not being in the mood for entertainment.

"You don't even want to know," Abisade replied. He filled his brandy glass and wandered back to his brother.

"Wow, I thought Mother would prefer beauty and brains."

"I think the brain part is ticked, at least for her to have studied Medicine but the beauty part, I doubt or maybe she is not  my usual type of woman"

"You never can tell if she is one of those kinky ones behind closed doors," Sanmi winked

"How come our parents think I am the bad boy when you are worse?"

He shrugged. "Maybe because you are the first son, all eyes are on you."

"How come the board of directors do not have issues with you being single?"

"I have told you repeatedly, I don't do loud. You are the one the paparazzi always follow around. If you sneeze, they have news headlines and you dont help matters too with your lifestyle. I will rather have my party in an undisclosed venue with the girls carefully selected."

"My hands are tied, man"

"The Christian Grey style?"

"Be serious Sanmi." He tried to slap his head.

"I think the least you can do is get to know the girl, you guys can then decide on the next course of action. Have you called her?"

"Why should I? She should be the one to call. She's the one that wants to get married."

"Guy you have roughly six weeks to tie the knot and you have not met your fiancee?"

"The parents are organizing a kind of meet-up, I am hoping you'll go with me though, I can not tell any of my friends about this."

"Why not?" Sanmi laughed. " I want to meet the love of your life. "

Abisade hit his head with a throw pillow. "I dont think you are welcome in my house again."

"You have no option. I am sure you will have it more difficult with your friends," He smirked. "I hope they all get to attend the wedding.?"

"Which wedding? We'll just sign something and she'll move in."

"That's not fair to her, most girls love fairytale weddings."

"What's my business with what's fair? She gets to marry me, that's a premium prize on its own."

"Keep deceiving yourself, man. If I were a woman you wouldn't top my list."

"Adesanmi, please go to your house."

"Not now bro. Until that girl leaves my house."

"If you want to stay here, you better behave yourself."

"Let's be serious though, what if we meet up with the girl and have a sort of arrangement with her, the marriage doesn't have to be a bad decision"

"At this point, I don't care. She'll live her life, and I'll live mine. We'll remain,, flatmates until she gets tired because I don't plan to sacrifice my life to suit her"

"Bro, contract weddings happen all the time, let's find a way to make this work at least you have friends that are married"

"That is exactly why I don't want, to get shackled to anybody. Eating a particular kind of meal every time, gets tiring you know?

We have hangouts and they are rushing home to meet the "madam" they can not meet up with stuff because of family, I don't wanna be that person, I can't do it"

"Never say never, bro"

******

Though it was a weekend, nobody could tell from the number of staff in the hospital cafeteria.

"At least we get to have a bridal shower," Gwen said to Naomi while Seun looked indifferent. It was lunch hour and Gwen had offered to have lunch delivered as part of her send-forth for Naomi even though she had told her countless times that she will remain with the hospital after marriage.

"She is not happy about the whole marriage thingy and you are pretending it's Christmas," Seun mumbled

"It's a done deal, there is nothing she can do about it"  Gwen shrugged. " If I were you," she turned to Naomi " My next project will focus on making myself happy"

"I am not having a bridal shower." Naomi insisted.

"Help them spend this money girl, imagine you being at work on a Saturday, marrying this guy will put an end to the spirit of poverty"

"What do you mean?"

"Ignore her Naomi, when is the meeting?" Seun cut in

"Next weekend."

"Is it going to be the introduction?"

"No, both families are meeting officially to have a discussion."

"I still think you have the right to demand what you want. Tell him to give you money for shopping. At least you need new stuff for the wedding, no matter how small the wedding will be. They can afford it."

"Just keep quiet Gwen." Seun cautioned again

"What? You girls need to stop making this look like a death sentence. You get to marry one of the richest heirs, in the state. No guy is perfect. You just have to deal with his excesses."

"Maybe you should take her place then." Seun hissed

"Gladly. I have asked to be introduced to the guy," she smiled. "I am sure he'll be pleased to consider my proposition"

Seun facepalmed. "I just can't with you.

"Ignore her please, Naomi advised.

"The truth is bitter" Gwen continued while unveiling her food wrap. " Greatness doesn't come without sacrifices, everyone wants to be great but how many people are willing to work for it?"

" Your point is?"

"The price you are paying is lesser than what some people have had to pay to become great and all you choose to do is focus on the pitfalls"

"You don't get it, do you?"

"Don't start with me today Seun, Let me enjoy my lunch in peace"

Seun has been her friend since their University days. They were together all through the grapple with medical school and would have ended up in the same hospital for their housemanship only that her parents had encouraged her to apply to Manslad hospitals, while oblivious to their ulterior motives.

Seun does not relate well with Gwen and the reason is not far-fetched. Most times when they meet, they usually part with one argument or the other.
Thankfully, they hardly run in the same circle.

Naomi tries as much as possible to act as a buffer whenever they are together but sometimes it is so difficult.

"Whatever you girls decide, Let us make the best of this," Gwen said and picked up her stethoscope and unfinished meal. The crowd in the Cafeteria was already dispersing to their various duty posts.

"Bye"

"Do you want me to accompany you on the visit?" Seun continued when Gwen left

"I'd love that but I need to confirm if it's a familial thing. My parents want a private meeting, at least for both of us to meet without interference."

"Okay, I will wait for your call"

"I'd let you know before the weekend runs out. I need all the support I can get."

Seun patted her hand. "I am always here for you."

"It still feels awkward, this is not how I want to feel for my wedding. My mother wants me to look my best as if it's something I should be happy about."

"We'll work on that. I'll take care of your make up and we'd just shop for a simple dress or have Imade make you one if the notice is not too short for her."

"Seun..."

"Sincerely, the guy needs to know you are a treasure. You are not just anybody. Don't worry We'll do something subtle since you don't like loud."

Naomi sighed. "What do I tell Michael?"

"You dont have to give him the details of the whole arrangement. You have been telling the guy for ages that you don't want to date him."

"It's just that I don't want him to think that I am doing this because of what Abisade's family has to offer."

"Who cares about his thought process? How sure are we that you are the only one Micheal is trying to date?"

"Do you know something I don't?"

"Nothing o." Seun lifted both hands and looked everywhere but at her friend.

"I don't know how my parents got me into this. How do you sign a betrothal without informing the person involved?"

"I think your dad did it from a good place. He didn't want to prune your dream while budding."

"They should have at least told me. Now I have to live with someone I do not love and who also lives the kind of life I resent so much. What if he hates me."

"Have you met Naomi?"

"Stop, you are my friend and you are expected to say nice things about me."

SEE YOU NEXT TIME.