He makes all things beautiful in His time

Dear God,
(You have a very funny sense of humour. Yes, I meant it, okay wait for it)
My phone rang and I checked to see who was calling.
Lola.
I paused. Lola is a handful. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to deal with her attitude again so soon. Amongst our friends from the NYSC days, Lola is the troublemaker. She is learned, loud and loaded. The second child of a single mum who made it big in the lace business at Balogun market.
Lola is street smart, jungle wise and financially independent. She is a good and loyal friend, however, she has a natural force that may overrun boundaries. Once she starts, she doesn’t stop until it’s finished. Lola does not understand the word “Stoop to conquer”. Combine that with her legal profession and you have a royal pain. She knows it and she loves it. One thing you can never take away from her though, is that if you are right, she will give her life to defend you but if you are wrong, run. And the good thing is that she knows right from wrong. She has had some running battles in life and she has scars to show for it.
The phone rang again, and I picked up. Better to get it done with.
“Hello”, I said.
“Omo Igbo, How far?” She came back with a chuckle.
(I paused)
“Nne kedu kanu”…she followed up in her jungled Igbo attempt, trying to make me laugh.
(I kept quiet still. Lola hated to be ignored and I knew that was the only way to humble her)
“Aah, what’s with you? Are you still sulking from the other night? I got you right?” She laughed
“Bia nwa ofe manu, I assume you didn’t call me to make jokes, so what do you want? I said sarcastically
“Ifee, see……I need…….”
“Dr Ifee, address me properly, please”, I cut in
“You have not graduated yet, calm down”, she laughed
(Lola used to rob her learned status in our faces. I just couldn’t wait to dig in on her)
“Says who?”
“Says this learned gentleman”.
(I hissed)
“Aunty, what do you want? I have 15 minutes to my next call and I will drop this line on you”.
(She paused)
“15 mins? Hmmm. Maybe I should call you back. I wanted to pick your brain on something”.
(She sounded very serious for once so I backtracked. I had over one hour to my next meeting and I could spare her my time if she needed to talk).
“Is everything alright, Lolus?
“Yeah, sort of”, she said…. “I am just at a crossroads. What do you think about Igbo men”, she asked me suddenly
(I was blown. No way in any way was I expecting that. What does she mean by that? I had to force myself to focus)
“Lola, help me understand, why do you ask?”.
“You are Omo Igbo now, you grew up with a lot of them…What are they like, really like….?
(Wait? Has Lola fallen for an Igbo man? Why does she want to know?)
“What are they like in bed or outside the bed…….”, I teased
“You are an idiot……”
(I burst out laughing so loud. I was having fun)
“See, there is this guy…..”, she started
(I could not wait, no way. I screamed)
“I am getting off this phone…..”, she threatened
“Sorry, so sorry. I will behave”. I begged. (She aint dropping the phone until I know what’s up)
“There is this guy, kinda put together in the head and in the heart but he is Igbo”, she said
“Lola, are you always high on something?”, I said very annoyed. “What do you mean by the “BUT”? Does being Igbo make him less of a man?”
“No, Ifee, In fact being Igbo makes him more than a man. The Igbos have bragging rights to Alpha, that’s why they are Ajakutamamiri”, she laughed
“Did you call me up to insult my tribe, nwa ofe manu? I retaliated
“I like him”, she admitted reluctantly
(I laughed, long and hard)
“I will drop this Phone…..”
(I sobered immediately. This was too sweet to let go)
“Then, go for him”, I responded immediately
“But….”
“If I hear one more “But” again, I will be the one to drop the phone on you. What do you mean? But he is Igbo, and so? He has two heads, right? Don’t tell me you have those idiotic biases too”
“Ifee, calm down. Your body too dey hot. You know I don’t have an atom of tribal biases. That’s not what I mean. You Igbos have this dare-devil attitude that is very becoming and very dangerous at the same time”.
“You are scared?”. I asked
“I can handle myself….she replied. I was looking at the inter-tribal marriage texture in itself. I just wanted to find out from you how it plays”.
“Aaah, I see. As per se, I am an amplified version of inter-tribal marriage abi?”
“You can be very annoying”…she hissed
“I take am resemble you. I am getting to you, right? How does your medicine taste?” I teased
“I will ignore you for now”, she said. “Seriously what do you think about inter-tribal marriage? How did you reason it?”
“Well, for me, the Man was more important to me than where he came from. My focus was on the core ( his personality/character, vision and belief system). Once that was confirmed, the rest was the side attractions”.
“Hmmm. Sounds fair!”
“It is fair. So tell me about him”…..I begged. “Who is this dude that captured your elusive heart, Biko?”
“Well, my firm managed his divorce three years ago”, she started
“Isn’t that a conflict of interest?”, I shouted
“You are mad!”
(I laughed. God, I am loving this)
“And?” I said, barely controlling the waves of laughter
“And he has been trailing my path since then and somehow, he is getting to me…”
“Somehow?”, I squeezed
“Well, I believe he may be inside the house already”, she laughed
“Only the house? Lola, this guy is right inside the heart already. Give yourself a chance to love and be loved. You are too strong. Relax. It’s okay to be vulnerable”, I advised
“You don’t have my experience”, she sighed
“No Lola, but I do know that inside that hard shell of a ruthless lawyer, yearns the heart of a woman. Release her, set her free to love this Igbo man”, I begged.
“I could try”, she laughed
“Choose to, Lola. You are a great human, kind and loyal to a fault. Yes, you have had some bad breaks, but life is giving you a chance at it again, take it”, I said intensively.
“Maybe I would”, she agreed.
“You should. I would love to see this hard knot of a divorce lawyer get married. All those people who you dissolved their marriages will come after you”, I teased.
“You are very wicked”, she said.
( I laughed)
“That’s a point, you know. After wading through so many horrible divorces, sometimes I feel that I don’t deserve to get married”, she said quietly.
(No way, Lola is showing her vulnerable side? Hmmm)
“Taaa”. I shouted. “Who said that? Lola, You are a professional and super successful at it. You save men and women from a bad fate in marriage. It’s not your fault that they got themselves into their mess. You do what you have to do and you do it well. Simple”, I emphaisied
“Aah. Thanks, sweetheart. I love the sound of that. I deeply appreciate you. Sometimes…I wonder”.
“You are okay, girlfriend, Go take the gift that life has given you and send me the invite immediately. I am super happy for you”.
“Calm down, I have not said yes yet”, she giggled
“Lola, this guy has trailed your path for three years. He has shown you patience, consistency and loyalty, don’t make him wait more than is necessary”…I advised
“I am thinking seriously about it…….”
“You are still thinking? By the way, how is he in………..I know you done the python dance with him?”, I asked mischievously
“I hate you, Ifee”.
(I laughed, hard)
“You are making fun of me, abi?”
“I am taking my pound of flesh with blood. It’s not every day we see a vulnerable Lolus Gabbana – The Avenger”.
“Weerenie”, she said in her language.
“Same to you!”, I returned
“Okay let me let you off for today, but seriously Lola, he sounds like a good one. Solid and clear about what he wants. Go for it! What’s the worst thing that can happen?”, I said sincerely.
“Yeah. Thanks, girlfriend. But please don’t tell the others yet……we should all meet up for another drink and I will tell”.
“My lips are sealed, but I am going shopping” I promised.
“Hey madam, if there is a wedding it will be very quiet and very private”, she emphasised
Yes Ma’am. Your wish is my command, Ma’am.
“You are impossible. Bye, Omo Igbo…..”
“Bye, May God complete it for you, Omo Igbo’s wife”.
Hmmm, my Lord.
What can I say? You see why I said you have a funny sense of humour?
Lolus Gabbana (Nwa Ofe manu) is getting married to Omo Igbo? Haba. Wonders shall never end! Lolus that is always on about Igbo’s money/business consciousness, showmanship, loudness and extravagance…..
She is in love with Ajakutamamiri? Aaah. Be careful little mouth what you say!
Thank you, Lord. You are the greatest fixer of all time. You do make all things beautiful in your time.
Nothing is wasted, Nothing is lost with you. Thank you.
For everyone who secretly or openly yearns to be loved, you will find love for them too.
This is your daughter, Lord, I am giggling and checking in.