5. Welcome home my love

If I were a child, I would say that this marriage was a forced marriage. Why did my uncle and my grandmother only see me to do such a thing to me?

My cousins ​​Ousmane and Vankissa were entitled to a love marriage. I thought that this would also be the case for me.

But I never knew that if I waited for the right moment, I would end up being forced to marry a stranger.

The big joke is that they use sentimental hypocrisy to get to me

I'm sad and crying at the age of 30

It's a shame that this is happening on my wedding day; a unique and special day that only happens once in a lifetime. According to my mother's words.

Ousmane: Is everything okay, Ahmed?

I don't answer because when I think about what I'm about to do, my heart is in pieces.

I think of Bianca, Linda, and Murielle, one of whom I had hoped to marry, and now I will no longer be able to do so; my heart bleeds.

Besides, I have no idea who I'm about to marry. Is it black, light, yellow, red or white? Will it be round or thin? I don't know and it annoys me a lot.

Ousmane:Ahmed!!

_...

Julie: Oumane forget it, my big brother is too busy thinking about his wife that he doesn't want to answer you.

She laughs.

_I.

Julie: There you go, I was right. He already misses her even though we arrived in this village so easily than expected. Zigoulou is one of the villages furthest from the Zola town center according to the map on my smartphone.

She presents the card to us. I took a look and discovered that she was telling the truth.

Julie: Seeing your faces it looks like you don't know it.

_I.

Ousmane: I didn't know that.

Julie: And you Ahmed?

_I didn't know that.

Julie: Yet it’s obvious!!

Ousmane: Oh yes!!

Julie: Just look at the size of the trees and the number of wild animals that I've already had to film in ten minutes.

Ousmane: Really!!

Julie: This place is the black forest. It's the last place I expected my brother to come to find his wife. I thought he had a weakness for city cars but he prefers wild terrain!

Kelly: Ehhh!! I love the black forest like my uncle, Ahmed!!

She screams.

Look, Julie; I filmed a huge black butterfly.

Julie: Wow, he’s beautiful!!

Kelly:(points to the screen) Look there. One is white but smaller with pink spots. It looks like a female.

Julie: Wow!! It's very pretty.

Kelly: Yes, as pretty as Hanna, right?

Julie: That’s some. If not, why would we come all this way?

These comments from girls make me sweat profusely thinking about this girl's clothes. She didn't seem like a girl in my class. How could I find her beautiful?

I roll down the car windows and take a deep breath. I watch the little huts of the village pass by. I also look at the villagers who are watching us with great astonishment.

Certainly, they had never seen very beautiful cars in their big forest before. Small children, no matter how annoying, run behind vehicles.

I never liked children because they talk a lot and that annoys me. Julie and Kelly, on the other hand, shout at them when greeting them.

The girls: (with joy) Good evening, good evening friends.

I'm embarrassed...

I roll up the windows and order them to do the same. They obey. Finally, I was happy to have regained my peace.

Phew!! I breathe in exasperation...

Then instinctively, I return my gaze once again to the outside. I see a very pretty black girl.

I look at her and keep my gaze on her thinking that my wife could look like her. I'm shocked when she smiles at me. I see she's missing a front tooth.

_Shit!!

I exclaim out loud reflexively. What if Hanna was like her? I thought.

_Oh shit!!

I cry and clean my tears...

Ousmane looks at me without asking anything. I'm sure he thinks I'm too emotional.

I prefer.

...

Finally arriving at the little house. We are greeted by several already drunk villagers.

The dancers get excited on stage. It is a kind of large circle that they had formed.

I wanted to get out of the car, but my grandmother hurried to stop me from doing so. She said I would get out when the time came. We had to wait.

Ousmane and the girls go down to join the family. I was left to my own devices now.

I had to urinate and I didn't know what to do. I send a message to Vankissa to come join me.

I tell him in a whisper so that he can go and tell my grandmother. But after he leaves, he doesn't come back.

I wonder what's going on. I'm in trouble here. I don't want to disobey grandma. A few minutes later, I couldn't take it anymore. I want to get out but the car is locked.

_Ousmane couldn't do that to me?? Oh no!!

I cry.

...

Tired of struggling, I concentrate on traditional dance to forget my suffering. Suddenly, a completely covered young lady appears in the middle of this large crowd. She holds a golden cup in her hands.

I know. It's her.

Beside him walk four pretty little girls. They were identical and so magnificent dressed like this in white that I couldn't help but look at them.

Two men hurry to open the door for me after my cousin has removed the rust from the car doors of course.

My family is getting closer to me as well as my future wife's family members.

I recognize his grandfather still with his little cane which looks like my grandmother's.

I don't know what's going on...

I think it's the wedding ceremony that's starting. I'm suddenly very cold there despite my suit.

Step-grandfather:( out loud after )

My dear children, you asked that I present to you the one who will remain my heir and I chose my granddaughter Hanna. Many of you thought it was immature to make important decisions in the family after my death. You demanded that I take away this right but on one condition. She should marry a mature man capable of making decisions.

Villagers: (Screams) That's right!!

Step-grandfather: (Smiles while touching me on the shoulder) So today, I have the honor of finally introducing you to this tall and mature man that you asked me for.

His name is Ahmed Silvain Ahmed. Heir son of Ahmed Ahmed Mohamadou.

The villagers: Who is this Ahmed Ahmed Mohamadou??

They wonder...

Seriously!!

_My father was one of the richest and most important men in Zedd country. And these people don't know who he was??

I wonder inwardly..., There is no doubt, they are ignorant people that I have never met before.

Handsome grandfather: Mohamadou was a great man, rest his soul, said the man. But today we have his son Ahmed among us.

Ahmed and Hanna signed the marriage agreement two weeks ago and as you know, a girl from this village cannot leave us without her husband coming to introduce himself to us. Today he is here to honor our daughter by asking for her hand..

Villagers: He did well.

I'm amused. Ah, it seems like I was in a romantic film in which the hero must show bravery to get the hand of his sweetheart.

What bullshit!!

Step-grandfather: Ahmed my boy, do you agree to take here my granddaughter Hanna Mveng, the apple of my eye, as your legitimate wife??

Ah!! I forgot to tell you that my beautiful grandfather is blind. I wonder for how long and how he knows that Hanna is beautiful.

What bullshit!! It’s ironic!!

My grandmother and my sisters are excited. They are just waiting for my answer. I have to make them happy.

_Yes, I want it!!

Even if it is false.

Step-grandpa:You all heard. Ahmed is here for Hanna..

The villagers shout with joy and thunderous applause is heard.

I see smiles on the lips of members of my family, except on mine, of course. I find this marriage ridiculous.

Step-grandfather: (to the villager) Do you want our Hanna to reveal her face to Ahmed, her husband??

_Her husband... just bullshit. I will never love this village girl. She will only be my wife to people but she will never be able to steal my heart.

I say internally.

The villagers: Yes!! yes!! yes!!

The old man looked at one of the women who was there nearby. She turns behind Hanna and looks at me for several minutes.

I was embarrassed to wait so long to see the face of a wife I didn't even want. Why doesn't she tear off this veil of misfortune so that we can put an end to it??

Finally, she approaches Hanna and removes this veil in a sudden way that makes me tremble...

Hanna:Welcome home my love.

**