There was a brief silence between them. Then she continued.
“And there is something else. She said there will be a ritual you must perform on the wedding day.”
Boma smiled faintly. “That is normal in many traditions.”
Afia looked at him seriously. “But she did not explain what it is.”
“That does not worry me,” Boma replied. “Whatever it is, I will do it.”
Afia studied his face. His confidence was steady, almost reassuring. Yet something inside her refused to settle.
“You trust her that much?” she asked.
Boma paused before answering. “I trust our decision. That is enough.”
Afia nodded slowly, but her uneasiness remained.
Later that night, in her own home, Mami Ajoa sat alone in her room. The calm expression she had shown in her message was gone. Her face was tense, her thoughts sharp. She reached for her phone and made a call.
“I need everything prepared,” she said quietly. “It must happen exactly as planned.”
There was a pause as she listened.
“Yes,” she continued. “He must not succeed.”
She ended the call and leaned back in her chair.
“I warned her,” she muttered to herself. “If she will not listen, then I will make her understand.”
The following days moved quickly. Wedding preparations continued. Invitations were confirmed. Guests began making arrangements to attend. Everything appeared normal on the surface. Afia tried to focus on the joy of the upcoming ceremony, but the feeling of doubt never fully left her.
She visited her mother once more before the wedding. When she arrived, Mami Ajoa welcomed her with a calm smile, as if nothing had ever happened between them.
“You look well,” Mami Ajoa said.
Afia nodded. “I am preparing for the wedding.”
“That is good,” her mother replied. “Everything will go as it should.”
Afia hesitated. “About the ritual, what exactly will Boma have to do?”
Mami Ajoa waved her hand dismissively. “It is nothing you need to worry about. It is part of our tradition.”
Afia frowned slightly. “I would still like to know.”
“You will see it on the day,” Mami Ajoa said firmly. “There is no need to question everything.”
Afia studied her mother’s face carefully, searching for any sign of deception, but Mami Ajoa’s expression remained controlled.
“Trust me,” she added.
Afia forced a small nod. “All right.”
As she left the house, her steps felt heavier than before. Something was not right. She could feel it clearly now, but she had come too far to turn back.
Meanwhile, Boma continued preparing for the wedding with determination. He worked harder, saved what he could, and ensured everything was in place. To him, the ritual was simply another step to prove his commitment. He had no idea that it was something else entirely.
