Righteous got married to Henry at the age of twenty, when she was still a third-year law student of the University of Nnamdi Azikiwe.
Her parents were vehemently opposed to her marriage with Henry Green and did everything in their power to dissuade and stop their daughter from marrying him.
They even went as far as rejecting Henry's bride price, refusing to bless their union if they ever got married without their consent.
Righteous had gone ahead to beg and cajole them, but still, her parents did not budge.
When she finally confronted her parents, questioning their love for her and why they were opposed to her happiness in life, they had simply replied, "Can't you see that he is a fraud? We don't trust him and we don't think he is the will of God for your life."
"Will of God indeed," Righteous had replied angrily.
"This is someone you barely know and haven't even taken out much of your time to examine him closely and carefully, yet, you have the boldness to question his motives and sincerity?"
Her parents had simply stared at her blankly.
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"I can't believe this. This is ridiculous, outrageous, absurd, ludicrous, preposterous, farcical, risible, horrid, and every form of imaginable and unimaginable hideousity."
Her parents remained quiet all through her ranting. They let her spray all her grammar at them. When she was done using her literary-prowess—the same education they sponsored her through—to mask her foolishness, they would talk sense into her skull. She was, after all, their only daughter and they would not open their eyes wide and allow her to walk into fire.
When she finally stopped, they spoke up, and they did so calmly.
"My dear," her father began with his hand on her shoulder, "You know you are our only daughter and we care a lot about you. You should know that as your parents, we would never do or say anything that would hurt you.
Please, we need you to consider things from our own point of view."
Her parents tried their very best to make her see things their way. At first, they thought they were getting through to her because she seemed to be ruminating deeply about what they had said.
They were however shocked when they realized that she was drawing up her own conclusion. A very wrong conclusion.
"I think I know why you don't want me to marry Henry."
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Her parents looked at her questioningly as if to say, "What are you driving at?"
"Yes," she said, snapping her fingers as though certainly perceiving their thoughts.
"You don't want me to marry Henry because he is from a different state and a different tribe, right?"
Her parents' facial expression shifted from quizzical to incredulity. They were astonished at the insinuation she was conjuring up.
"I'm from Akwa-Ibom State while he's from Rivers State. Isn't this why you don't want us to marry? As your only daughter, you want me to marry from our tribe."
Unable to bottle in her consternation at their daughter's accusation, her mother immediately spoke up.
"I can't believe this! I can't believe that you could actually accuse your father and I of gambling with our daughter's life for the sake of tribalism."
"I'm not accusing any of you. I'm just stating the obvious reality," Righteous snapped back.
"That's not true and you know it," her mother said, poking her finger in Righteous' direction.
Seeing that her parents would not admit that her theory was correct, she decided to strike from another angle, all in a bid to drive in the nail.
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"If what you're claiming is correct, then why did you allow your first son, Anietie, to get married to his wife who is from the North, but you won't allow your only daughter to marry from another tribe? Why did you allow your second and last son, Andino, to get married to his wife who is from Rivers State, but you won't allow me?
"I'll tell you why. That's because your sons are able to go outside and marry more women into your tribe but your daughters are not permitted to marry and populate other tribes." Then she turned to her father, who was gaping at her, and said, "Just like you married Mother who is from the West."
Her mother stood up and gave her a resounding slap. Righteous winced, startled by the pain that spread through her cheeks, all thanks to her mother's hardcore palm.
"Don't you dare speak such nonsense in my presence again, did you hear me?" her mother boomed.
"Am I understood?" her mother thundered again, but Righteous did not affirm her compliance. Instead she nursed her face and gritted her teeth, her mind hardening all the more.
"Am I understood?"
When Righteous did not answer the second time, her mother, furious at Righteous' rudeness, wanted to shove more sense into her brain through another resounding slap, maybe some strikes to her back and a sharp twist to her deaf ear.
Before she could carry out her intention, her husband pulled her back by her right elbow.
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He persuaded his wife to sit down and let the matter be settled calmly. When everywhere became quiet, he called Righteous by her native name and began admonishing her softly.
"Adiaha, we know you have come of age to make your own decisions and face the outcome. Especially decisions that are as important as getting married to a life partner. But if only you could pause for a minute and consider the warnings we have given you, you might want to rethink this particular decision of yours."
Silence enveloped the room again. Righteous looked up and noticed the thoughtful expression that was etched on her father's face before he finally spoke up.
"We thought we might be protecting you by keeping this away from you, but you are our daughter so I'll just go ahead to explain everything to you. There's no need hiding anything from you since it is your life and you are entitled to doing anything you want to do with it."
Righteous plopped down quietly on one of the sofas adjacent to her parents but her left ear still rang from the hot slap her mother had served her.
She had thought that her parents loved her but now she could see them for who they were. They never loved her. They never cared for her feelings, disregarding the fact that she was their only daughter whom they were supposed to pamper like an egg. They were just selfish oldies that wanted to satisfy their ego.
She sat still as her father continued talking. Underneath her expressionless face and her taut skin, her blood was boiling with rage and resentment for her parents. She struggled to keep her fuming concealed.
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They could go on and say all they wanted to say from now till thy kingdom comes. She knew she would still do what was in her mind whether it violated her parents’ principles and moral standards or not. Her mind was set and there was no turning back even if an angel appeared to convince her otherwise.
She would show them that she was a grown-up now and they couldn't boss her around as if she was still a kid.
She had to prove to them that she was right, that Henry was the best man and the only man for her.
The thought of carrying out her defiance didn't give her comfort, though. It only agitated her the more.
She bawled her fists and placed them on her laps. Blood rushed into her ears, making it more difficult for her to hear what her father was saying. Her heartbeat accelerated. Voices cried out to her in rapid succession to stand up and defend the man she loved before her parents. She closed her eyes to block out the noise and headache they were giving her.
Her father continued talking, oblivious to the storm his words were stirring in her. It was all she could do from standing up and screaming bloody murder.
"We know you love this young man, and to be honest, we were happy the day you brought him home to us."
Righteous snickered. As if.
"I can still remember that day vividly as though it was just a few minutes ago. There was this radiant look on your face. That day, your mother and I looked at each other and smiled because our daughter had apparently fallen in love. The feeling of love is something that is so strong that no matter how much anyone tries to stifle it, he or she will fail miserably at such an attempt."
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"We saw it in you that day—that innocent and child-like love. And without asking you, we knew he was your first love. I mean, the first after your Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ."
His words were beginning to enter in.
Righteous gazed into her father's eyes for the first time since the beginning of this charade. All she could see was a tenderness and concern that shook her to her marrow. Perhaps she had misjudged them. Maybe they'd let her go on with the love of her life. All she needed was to be more convincing.
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