THE FUTURE IS BEHIND.

Chapter 7. The Blind Fold.

The marriage date was fixed on the5th day of the next month and every single person in Khah’s Kingdom gathered together to witness the traditional ceremony of the Kingat Chief Mosan’s Compound according to the law binding on the whole kingdom and the rites where performed properly and accordingly without any omission and it was time for the revealing of the bride which the Khah’s custom and tradition demand that the bride of any groom be blind folded before coming out to meet her husband on the day of their traditional marriage.

She was blind folded as her father led her out of the room into the crowd, immediately everyone saw her coming out, the entire kingdom cheered and music went in height.

Songs were being played, all the best musicians in the kingdom came out in mass to sing and play for the king and his bride as she danced majestically toward her uncle, who blessed her and told her to meet her husband and come with him. She was directly by her father as she walked toward me and took my hands but immediately I felt the touch of her palm, I realized this was not Hermosa, I felt strange and uneasy but I made sure it wasn’t that obvious, so we walked toward my in-laws and my uncle and Hermosa’s father blessed us and we also walked to the elders that represented my father and they blessed us too.

It was time to unveil the bride and kiss her according to the rituals binding Khah’s Kingdom, I genteelly unveiled her but what I saw took me off balance, what I just discovered the lady I danced around with is not Hermosa and was another lady; I was furious and very angry.

I looked at my uncle, how could you veil a woman you know too well that I am not in love with and I do not even know her why? I asked him as I was very angry and ready to start destroying things.

Your Highness, the person that is standing before you is Hermosa’s elder sister Doris and according to our custom and tradition, the eldest must get married before the other and if any man desires to marry any other woman from the same family, he must also be ready to marry the first daughter first before any other damsel he desires.

So, that was why we veiled her elder sister instead of Hermosa.

But, she is not the one I want to marry. Don’t you get it?

We know your Highness; you will have to conduct another ritual for the second daughter Hermosa who is the rightful person you wanted to get married to according to the law and tradition biding Khah’s Kingdom.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing nor what my eyes were seeing.

It seemed I was in a dream and I needed to be woken from, but they would have informed me before hand, so that I would not be embarrassing myself like this in public, and to talk of it I am the king of Khah’s Kingdom and I am supposed to be aware of all this before now, what are all this elders even doing in the palace if they cannot do a simple job that was given to them.

They would have taught me.

I could not believe this kind of ignorance but I couldn’t do anything as it was the law and tradition binding the Khah’s Kingdom. What will the people say if the King breaks his own rules?

Everybody will automatically become lawless, so I have to man-up and do what is expected of a king even though it is not easy for me but that is what a life of a role model looks like. Do not desire what you can’t handle. Now I understand why I father always make that statement to me.

I asked my father in-law to make preparation for the rite of his second daughter immediate; I can’t leave here without Hermosa.

The rites were made ready almost immediate and we followed the same process with Hermosa’s elder sister and did everything all over again, we pay the bride price twice and it was time for Hermosa to come out. I was nervous and excited at the same time.

The citizens of Khah’s kingdom were not bothered that we were taking much of their time as there was a lot to eat and drink, so they were fine and happy.

Music was being played by the musicians as she danced beautifully toward her father, who blessed her and told her to show them her husband and come with him.

She walked toward me and took my hands and immediately I felt peace and butterflies in my belly, the sweetness and comfort I was feeling by mere holding of her hands was out of this world. We walked to my father in-law and my uncle who represented my father and they blessed us.

It was time to unveil the bride and commit the necessary marriage onus, I unveiled her and I was sure and confident that she was the one. We danced a little bit and sat down as we watched others dance, eat and drink.

The wrestlers started performing which was entertaining and engaging, we watched as they fought with strength, pride and dignity. I was a fan of wrestling even though I am opportune to watch only on the days of special festivals or occasions like this one, it is always exciting how two or three men fight themselves to determine a winner. They fought with so much skill and most times I wish to be a wrestler but I actually prefer being a king as it is less stressful and energy draining.

We left to the palace the next morning after everything had been done and continued the celebrated for about two weeks in the palace as nobles from different nationals and kingdoms came to pay their homage and celebrate with the newly married king Whune.

We lived in harmony and unity until a year later when my wives became pregnant, my two wives Hermosa and her elder sister Doris went into labour almost at the same time and Doris my first wife by the custom and tradition of Khah’s Kingdom put to bed first and she deliver twins, a bouncing baby girl and a boy and few minutes later that same day my second wife but first love Hermosa delivered a bouncing baby boy.

That was the best day of my life, looking at three babies at the same time was really every man’s dream especially when the resources to train them is not an issue.

There was great of joy in the palace. As soon as the citizens of Khah’s Kingdom heard it, they were everywhere celebrating, singing and dancing. I was grateful that I now have two male children and an heir to the throne and also a gorgeous daughter as the crown princess of the Khah’s Kingdom.

God had really showed me kindness and I must appreciate him for what he has done.

The birth of my three children brought joy and unity in my home, it made me fall in love with my wives all over again, I loved them that I forgot the difference between Hermosa my second wife and her elder sister Doris, even though my intentions weren’t to marry Hermosa’s elder sister initially but living with her for this past few years have been amusing and seeing her kind heart and lovely soul, I loved her the more and it was eventually evident or could be said that I loved her more than I loved Hermosa which is not true but her straightforwardness and peaceful personality made me feel comfortable around her and wishes to have her around at all times instead of Hermosa who was a calm, beautiful and shy damsel that loves staying indoors which I loved her the way she is, at least I have a wife who loves travelling the world and another who loves staying indoors.

At least there wasn’t going to be any misunderstanding between them on who will travel with me at all times.

Most times, I travel with Doris my first wife because she was intelligent and was able to comport herself when mixed with people of different class and backgrounds, and above all she is loyal and outspoken.