"Young man, what is your name?", the serious-looking Mr. Usman asked the calm-looking Ayoade.
Seated beside him was Salamat dressed in atampa and a white flowery veil. They had exchanged pleasantries immediately they entered the sitting room and also went round to greet the family members one after the other.
"Typical Yorubas!", Mrs. Usman mused. "They can kill with greeting and pleasantries."
She didn't want to admit to herself that Ayoade was good-looking, neat, and calm just like her daughter had claimed. He reminded her of her youthful age when the young handsome Usman came to ask for her hand in marriage at the age of 20 when she could barely understand sex and what it meant.
"Gone are those days", she said to herself again. "The children of nowadays know more than we do."
Ayoade tried greeting the grandmother who they all call kaka in Hausa, but he messed up. They all laughed except Mr. Usman who kept a straight face. Mrs. Usman, on the other hand, smiled and quickly covered it up with a frown when Raliat looked her way.
Raliat was grinning from ear to ear and one could see how deeply in love she was with the Yoruba boy.
Mrs. Usman sighed sadly.
"If only he was a Hausa or Fulani", she said to herself.
She didn't have anything against Ayoade, his personality was great and she liked him already but her problem was his tribe. A Yoruba. They were lousy. And they gossip too much. They eat pepper too much. And they love ceremonies and fights. She was scared for her daughter. But the Yorubas loves and values education and an educated person.
In Nigeria, the Igbos and the Yorubas go to school more than their tribe, Hausas. That was the only thing she could point out that she loved about them.
She sighed again as she stared at Raliat's bright face. "Love is beautiful and sweet."
Mr. Usman asked Raliat's younger brother, Abubakar, and Jaafar as well as Safiya, Raliat's cousin, to excuse them.
"I am Ayoade Jamiu, sir", Ayoade responded politely.
"Ayoade Jamiu", Mr. Usman repeated. "What tribe are you?"
"I am a Yoruba, sir from Ogun State", Ayoade answered, with a smile.
"Are you a Muslim or a Christian?", Raliat's father asked?
"My father is a Muslim while my mother is a Christian. I won't say I am a devoted Muslim", Ayoade replied, honestly.
"Do you observe the five daily prayers?" The old man inquired.
"No, I don't, even though I do fast during the month of Ramadan. I was not taught how to pray."
Mr. Usman shook his head. "Really?"
"Yes sir. My sister was enrolled in an Islamic school but I wasn't."
"Does she pray?"
"She is not consistent", Ayoade admitted.
He shook his head again and asked, pointing to the direction of where Raliat was seated. "What are your intentions towards my daughter?"
Everyone looked in her direction, including Salamat who found the face familiar.
Raliat smiled at Ayoade as an act of encouraging him to be calm. She wished she was close to him to squeeze his hand for reassurance and also to perceive his masculine perfume.
Her thoughts were going beyond control and she wished they could just tie the knot already, there and then. She wished to be in his arms that night. She wanted him.
Ayoade kept staring at her as he answered. "I found an amazing young woman with a heart of gold, who is willing to correct me when I am wrong, teach me what I don't know in the aspect of religion, and accept me with my shortcomings......."
Salamat nudged him. She saw the exchange of looks between them and she couldn't voice out her corrections. His attention was supposed to be on his father-in-law, not the bride.
The nudge jerked him up and he came back to his senses, cleared his throat, and faced Mr. Usman with confidence, as he completed, "I want to marry your daughter, sir."
Mr. Usman grimaced. "Do you have a job? How do you want to take care of my daughter?"
Ayoade bowed his head in shame. He hadn't given that much thought. He was overwhelmed by the thought of getting married to Raliat. He knew he wouldn't regret it because it was obvious she loved him more than he loved her. But apparently, his love for her was growing daily in his heart. She filled his dreams at night and fill his mind, all day long. He couldn't wait to have her.
Everywhere was silent like a graveyard. They were all waiting for his response. Raliat's smile had disappeared and she was on the verge of crying.
Ayoade raised his head sharply. "I don't have a job yet because I just completed my youth service a year ago. My efforts at securing a job in Abeokuta were futile which led to my presence here in Zaria, sir. I have an uncle here and he promised to help me secure a job as soon as possible."
Mr. Usman nodded. "What do your parents do?"
Raliat sighed sadly when she realized the long list of questions her father had prepared for him was nowhere near finished.
"My father was a civil servant until a year ago when he chose to quit, all of a sudden. He is now into the agriculture business. And my mother is a businesswoman", Ayoade declared.
"What sort of business is your mother into and why did your father choose to quit working for the government?", Mr. Usman demanded.
Ayoade decided to explain further. He could see that the old man was curious to know every detail about him. "My mum sells imported women wears and shoes and she is into the sales of bulk drinks. She supplies to at least 5 companies in Abeokuta. Dad chose to quit because he felt and believed government work was unreliable and can not enable him to achieve his dreams. He believes that agriculture is the future of our country, just like the president has said."
"What will your parents think of my daughter? Are they also against inter-tribal marriage?" Mr. Usman interrogated.
Ayoade was shocked at the next question. He never expected it. He didn't know how best to answer and he bowed his head again. He didn't want to lie nor did he wish to tell them the truth.
The truth will make him fail the examinations Raliat's father had set for him. And a lie will disrupt everything.
'This is a trap', he thought as Salamat nudged him for the second time.
"You have to be neutral", he told himself as he raised his head with a smile on his face.
"Sir, I believe my parent would not care whether I marry from my tribe or not as far as I have a good wife and I am happy. I believe my happiness is all that matters to them."
Salamat beamed when she noticed the smile on Mr. Usman's face. Kaka too was smiling and Salamat rejoiced in her heart.
"Ayoade had passed the test", she thought to herself and almost jumped up for joy.
'This is more than an examination', Salamat thought again as she saw the sweats dripping from Ayoade's forehead.
She tried to control the laugher within her. Kaka also noticed the pool of sweat on his forehead and burst into laughter. Salamat and Raliat joined in.
Ayoade wasn't smiling not laughing, even though he knew the laughter was directed at him. They were making jest of his forsaken manliness.
He was with an anticipated look on his face as he stared at Mr. Usman's smiling face. The laughter died down when Mr. Usman stood up.
"I give you my blessings", Kaka, the grandmother said even before Mr. Usman could say his mind. Raliat jumped on her grandmother excitedly and gave her a peck, in tears.
"You have my blessings too, son. But do well to take care of my daughter", Mr. Usman shook Ayoade's hand and hurriedly left the sitting room.
Ayoade turned to face his mother-in-law with a smile but was baffled to see her crying silently.
The woman stood up quietly and walked past him without giving them her blessings.