Meeting The In-laws

"You need to be calm and at least be thankful that nothing bad happened. It could have been worse you know."
"Darling I know. I'm just really angry at myself, I think I over reacted. I have never insulted someone like that in my life, I never even knew I had it in me to snap and be that savage." You replied.
As you continue, you know the next thing she would say is "Sweetheart stop beating yourself up, it's your.... And as if on cue you hear the words "Sweetheart stop beating yourself up, it's your melancholic self taking over again. Just take a deep breath, you'll be fine."
You smile as you knew she would make you inhale and exhale deeply 3 times. The exercise always worked and as you inhale the third time, you feel relief wash over you. So you smile widely again.

"Darling, I can't imagine my life without you. You are THE blessing that gives meaning to my other blessings." You blurt out the words without thinking and you sigh because this is what she does to you. She makes you feel the way you have never felt and so you say things you have never said and you mean them.

"You know you are my best YES right?" She asks.
She always asks this question right before she adds, "You know, I still wonder how I survived three decades without you."
You wait to hear the words but instead she says "Sweetheart I'll have to speak to you later. My Dad is calling me, I think my Uncle has arrived".

"Alright, I'll go freshen up now. We are headed for my uncle's in a few minutes as well." You replied.

As you hang up you replay the day's incident in your head.
You had left the office and was on your way to the airport to pick up your brother who had just come into town. You left work early because you would both go to see your uncle who would also accompany you to see her family for your first formal introduction.
You are well acquainted with her parents and siblings and even had their help when you proposed to her but other members of your family would have to meet other members of her family to formally ask her hand in marriage.
Your brother had just come into town and your parents were arriving the next day.

It was on your way to the airport that the incident happened. You narrowly escaped a head on collusion with an oncoming vehicle.
It had all happened so fast.
One minute you were listening to a conversation about the disturbing rise in depression induced suicide amongst young Nigerians, the next minute you found yourself swerving off your lane as the oncoming vehicle hit yours hard before the driver speeds past you.
As you watched from your rear view mirror, you saw the car move in a zig-zag motion and you fear that he would run into pedestrians because he seemed to be having brake failure. You managed to get back on your lane, turned the vehicle and sped to catch up with him. The car continued ahead in the zigzag motion as pedestrians and vendors scampered in different direction so as not to be hit.

It was when the car ran into a pot hole that was becoming a ditch on the road that it stopped. The ineptitude of government seemed to have become a blessing.
You caught up with them and pulled over just behind their vehicle, still shaken from all that happened.

As you got out of your car, you demanded to know what happened from the driver who screamed in return as he asked if you couldn't see that it was Brake failure. As you heard him scream you felt anger rise within you. That was when you scolded him that he definitely had been on full speed before the Brake failure happened.

An elderly man opened the back door and came out of the car. He tried to pacify you but you were too angry to listen to him so you hurled insults at him and the driver.
A small crowd had gathered at this time.

You ask them what they would have done had any life been lost. You were shaking as you spoke and you knew your reaction was the aftermath of the shock you experienced. The elderly man asked you to watch your tongue but you shut him up as you told him the cost of your bumper was enough to pay for the SUV they drove. You finally walked out on them and continued your trip to pick your brother from the airport. It was while relaying the incident to him that you admitted that you over reacted. He assured you that it was not your fault, he even said he may have slapped the driver had he been in your shoes.

When you got home and you relayed all that happened to Voke, your Fiancée she assured you that it could have been worse and urged you not to berate yourself for overreacting.

As the conversation ended, you step into the bathroom. A cold bath never felt so good.

Two days later you arrive her house in company of your Parents, Brother and Uncle for the formal introduction ceremony.
You wanted a party but she insisted on keeping it 'simple and private'.
In her words, "the wedding can be a carnival if you please but I want this to be quiet."

As you exchange pleasantries with her family - your in laws to be, her Father pleads that you all be patient as his brother who came into town for the event was on his way. He had insisted on staying at a hotel instead of the house.

You smile as you recall that Voke had told you the day before.
Drinks were served and Voke came out to greet members of your family.
She was still on her knees in front of your Parents when you heard her Dad say "Finally, the Lion has arrived.

A vehicle had just driven into the compound and you were told that it was her uncle.

A few minutes later he walked into the house, you were already on your feet ready to greet him. As you stretched out your hand your eyes meet. You recognize him immediately and you look away.

He seemed to scrutinize you as he asked squinting "Have we met before? Your face looks really familiar."

You do not know how to respond as your mind drifts back to the incident 2 days ago on your way to the airport. He is the elderly man from the accident. 

As he takes your hand in his, you remember saying words like 'nitwit', 'ignoramus', 'dimwit' 'inept', 'stupid', 'unfortunate' and even slurs on that day.

That was when he spoke up again, "are you not the one our car collided with?"

As recognition dawned on him, he snatched his hand away from yours saying "Ah, we have already been introduced."

Then he turns to his brother, your Father in-law to be and says "this is the young man I said reminded me of the disrespect and folly of this generation."

As he spoke you turned to look at your Fiancée and as your eyes met you could tell she is thinking the same thing "this is the real Gobe."