HEART OF GOLD

CHAPTER 8: THE VOW

"What did you just say? You must be out of your mind?"  Alex screamed both in shock and anger. "That's the craziest plan I have ever heard." 

Alex just walked in and met an unsettled Tony pacing up and down the living room with a look on his face that made him wonder if he had missed something big. 

They usually come home together after work, but today, he had to attend to an important issue in town which explain why they came home separately and meeting Tony like this was a bit scary. He had this look - of someone that's about losing his mind plotting a huge plan - on his face. 

As Alex was still trying to process what's happening, Tony suddenly swung the index finger of his right hand at the front of his face repeatedly, "I will marry her! Yes, yes, I will marry her. I think that's the best thing to do in this condition."

"Wow! wow! Tony, calm down. See, you are not even making sense. What is going on?" Alex said furrowing his brow.

Tony stared at Alex like someone just gaining consciousness from a trance. It took him a couple of minutes to recollect himself. When he finally came to himself, he sat down and gestured to Alex to do the same and then narrated the earlier event to him, ending up with a poorly defined plan to marry Miriam.

It was his plan that triggered Alex's reaction.

"Are you out of your mind, Tony?" Alex was now standing, fixing him a pointed glare.

"Alex calm down, you are taking this matter too far". 

"No, it's you that's taking the matter too far,''Alex poked him on his chest with the index finger repeatedly.

"I am just trying to help her," Tony defended. "That's too much to happen to a child Nah."

"Must you help? Have you forgotten where that over generosity of yours landed you the other time you helped someone?"

This guy will never learn, Alex shook his head

At Alex' question memory of an event that happened some years back flooded his mind.

FLASH BACK:

Chief Nickolas Ndukwe of NDUKWE & SONS COMPANY had a son, Joseph who was a prodigy, a rare gem with exceptional talent for computer programming.

He left home after a heated argument with his father because he chose to follow his passion to study computer programming contrary to his father's wish for him to study business in the university. 

Chief Nickolas' intent was to groom Joseph, his only son as a successor to the family company in order to maintain a lasting legacy. In a bid to fix Joseph and set him back on track, Chief Nickolas froze his account and cut off all support. 

He expected to see a stranded Joseph crawling back to him begging and willing to oblige to his terms only to be hit with the greatest shock of his life when after several months, Joseph never came back. On close observation, he discovered that Joseph was bobbling on as if nothing happened, his admission into the University had been secured, fees paid and other financial demands met without a single assistance from him. Further investigations revealed the all compassionate Tony as the one behind his son's sponsorship. So, he was very furious and had Tony arrested for meddling in his family's affair and saw to it that Tony was refused bail for two weeks.

END OF FLASH BACK:

"How can I ever forget such a horrible experience?" Tony replied. "It almost cost me my job after all."

"Then why are we having this conversation? See, I have told you before, you can't save the world. There are certain things you shouldn't meddle with, or you will one day get yourself caught up in a web that there will be no coming back from."

"Alex," Tony replied in a very serious tone, "You should know me well by now to know that when I make up my mind to do something, there is no going back. See, I have made up my mind on this so stop trying to convince me otherwise; you can't stop me so stop trying."

After a brief pause, he continued, "In short, you should be helping me and not whatever this is you are trying to do."

The last line of his words got to Alex as his mode suddenly switched to a calm demeanor.

Alex sighed, this guy sure knows his way around words and always takes full advantage of it. He knows how to twist my hand to the back.

"I hate you right now, you know. Why do you always do this to me?" Alex groaned.

"Do what?" he smirked. 

He glared back him, "spare me that pretense."

Tony knew exactly what he was doing. He knew Alex to be a very loyal friend who always stood by his friends and Tony will never stop manipulating Alex with that fact. 

"You know what I am talking about, and you are deliberately doing it."

"Well, what would you expect? You are my man, Alex." He responded seriously.

"OK enough of your manipulations, I concord. You know I will always watch your back no matter what, right?"

"I do. In fact, you are the only one in this world I trust enough to let in on a plan like this."

"Ok, now sit down let's review your plan," Alex said as he took his seat. 

"You said you plan to marry her before the appointed date for Alhaji's revisit in order to annul his agenda, right?"

"Yes." He nodded. 

"That does not make complete sense right now, please expatiate."

"Hmm hmm," Tony clear his throat and started: 

"Let's look at it this way. I don't just want to stop her marriage to Alhaji Sani, I want to stop her from being given out in marriage as a child."  

"I told you that her elder sister was given out in marriage at age fourteen_"

"Yes you did,'' Alex interrupted. 

"Now her father wants to marry her out at eleven," Tony Continued.

"That's horrible," Alex supplied.

"You see, this man is badly infested with a poverty mentality. He sees his daughters not as human, but as money making devices, not even considering the effects of his decisions on them, emotionally, psychologically and mentally. So even if I give him money now in a bid to make him stop this foolishness," he threw his hands in the air, "what makes you think he won't marry her out to the highest bidder when the money is exhausted?"

"You have a point there."Alex gestured, swinging the index finger of his right hand in front of his face.

"So that's where my plan to marry her comes in."

"So after you marry her, what next?" Alex asked.

"I will take her with me to Lagos, put her back in school and support her in any way I can until she realizes her dream. In short, I want to give her back her freedom of choice. Everyone should have the right of choice. Don't you think so?"

"Yes, I agree to that." Alex nodded

A brief pause ensued. "So what about the issue of the marital commitment in the marriage?" Alex spoke, breaking the silence. 

"Come on man, you of all people should know me more than that," Tony frowned. 

"I am just being practical," Alex defended.

"You know I will never take advantage of her."

"See Tony, having s*x with her won't be called that, by then you would've been officially married to her, have your forgotten?"

"Well, not literally, you know that the whole thing will only be an arrangement."

"Go and tell that to her father."

"Alex, sometimes you can be a thorn in my flesh, do you know that?"

"See Tony, I am not trying to be too hard on you with my questions, I am just making sure you know exactly what you are getting yourself into. You have to come to terms with yourself about what your motives are."

"You are right, I have not really given this part a thought, but my intentions are pure. This is only an act of kindness, there is never going to be anything intimate between us. You know me to be a man of my word, right?"

"Sure, but things change, you know. Your intentions may be pure right now but these whole things will certainly have it's complications in the future, you understand that, right?"

Tony shook his head. "Not really."

"Ok, let's look at it from this perspective." Alex adjusted, now sitting at the edge of the couch. "As it is now, she is a very beautiful girl. You know she will not remain a child forever, right?"

"Yeah, I know." Tony nodded.

"So, what happens when she turns twenty, radiating with all the glory and beauty of womanhood?"

"Like I said earlier, whatever I do is conceived out of a selfless heart and motive. Therefore, before you today and with God as a witness, I vow that no matter what happens in the future, I will not act contrary. Whatever I do for her is borne out of a selfless heart and will always remain so," he put his hand on his chest and lifted up in a sign of pledge.

With mouth agape and eyes wide open, Alex stared at Tony. A vow, I can't believe he did this, he thought.

Tony and Alex had an agreement, they formed a bond (a vow thing) meant to keep them in check making them stay honest, truthful and straightforward.  A vow to them is a sacred thing which they don't hold lightly. Whenever they sealed a promise with a vow, they went all the way out to make sure they stayed true to it.

Tony never saw the big deal in sealing a matter like this with a vow, hence he felt a little uncomfortable by Alex's reaction as he looked at himself wondering what was wrong. He turned again to Alex whose gaze was still fixed on him and turned back to see if something behind him was calling Alex's attention, when he saw nothing, now unsure of himself, he said "Alex what..? Why are you staring at me weirdly?"

"Nothing." Alex snapped back to reality. "It's just that you amazed me a lot. I can't believe you just made a vow." He shook his head. "See, what you are doing is strange but very noble. If I did not known better, I would have concluded you a joker."

"Man, I am very serious here."

"I know, I know." he nodded, "and I pray that God will strengthen you."

"Amen!" Tony responded.

"But there are few more things to consider,'' Alex continued. 

"Like?"

"What happens when she is of marriageable age and starts attracting the attention of suitors."

"Like I have said earlier, I will help her acquire her dreams. That includes marriage. She has the freedom of choice. When that time comes, we will go back to her parents and do the needful."

This guy doesn't seem to see beyond his nose. Alex thought. His motives are selfless as he said, I am not doubting him on that but it is not going to be as simple as he sees it, I foresee things taking an interesting turn.

"Alex." Tony's call snapped him back to reality. "Well, it seems you've gotten this whole thing sorted out," He quickly filled in.

"No, it's you that has helped me figure it all out. You have really helped me tighten the loose ends. I know I can always count on your support."

"You'll always have all my support."

"Thanks man."

"You are welcome. But there is still one more thing to clarify."

"And what may that be?"

Alex paused a little and dropped the final question like a boom, "How are you going to handle Vivian, your fiance?"

It was clear that Tony was not expecting the question as proved by the slight expression of shock that flashed through his face and disappeared almost immediately. 

"I don't know, I... I think she will understand." He stuttered.

"That's where you are wrong Tony. Tell her that you are married to Miriam, then you will know that no woman understands."

A/N: What do you think of Alex?

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