The Dukes (Chapter Five)

 Chapter Five                                                            

 

Edited By Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu 

Two months later, Desmond defiled his people’s tradition and married with diamond. His wife’s accessories were all made of diamonds, which made her to glow like the sun. Many people came to the wedding. It was a grand wedding as everyone looked beautiful in their attire. But then, the people of Obowo never stopped talking about the diamond that was used for the grand wedding. It was obvious that they are waiting to hear bad news from Prince Desmond.                                          

Desmond knew their thoughts but never bothered with it. In fact, he wasn’t troubled with the consequences. He was certain that nothing would happen to him and his wife.                                                                          

‘You’re the most beautiful woman on earth,’ Desmond said with a lovely smile one week after their wedding. ‘I am the happiest man on earth.’                                                                                                                    

Queeneth rolled her eyes and smiled as she poured herself a glass of warm milk. She was grateful to GOD to be married to Desmond, and she was also grateful, for she was already pregnant and would be a mother.                                                                                                                        

‘We’ll raise our children just like your parents raised you,’ Queeneth said. 

‘Honestly, you’re the best husband. I would say that your parents training in your life contributed to it.’                                              

Desmond nodded. ‘Yes, you’re right. My father taught my siblings and I that we could survive even without him. Anyone can make it, Queeneth. We only need to work hard.’ He paused, and said after a while. ‘My father fired Kevin from being the director of our company. Kevin started from scratch, and today he has become the director of his own big company. Precious, my sister is today our flower girl. She studied horticulture and is successful. Sophia is doing well in the entertainment industry. She is now a popular Nollywood actress. Look at me,’ Desmond smiled, looking up at his wife. ‘I am successful too. Yes, I was born with silver spoon, but that didn’t make father pamper me like most rich parents do. I am grateful and happy to GOD for everything.’ With his arms around Queeneth, he thanked GOD for giving him so much.                                                                                                        

Queeneth smilingly took a sip of her milk.                                                                                                                                                                                

  Time passed quickly, and soon the day for Queeneth’s delivery approached. She gave birth to cute and adorable twins; a boy and a girl.               

Desmond didn’t know how to express his thankfulness for all that had happened in his life. The joy he felt was indescribable, as he felt sweetness all over him.                                                                                            

‘Desmond Tutu,’ Kevin jokingly called Desmond when he visited Desmond and his wife at the hospital.                                                                      

  ‘You can call me Bishop Desmond Tutu, if you want,’ Desmond laughed. ‘I didn’t say I am a bishop…you know, I love JESUS but I drink a little,’ he laughed again.                                                                                          

Kevin laughed. ‘You aren’t a bishop but you are a man of greatness. Very soon, you’ll become the king of Obowo.’                                     

‘Oh, I really wish for dad to live longer so that he could continue with the ruling. I am okay with just being the Crown Prince,’ Desmond said.                                                                                                                            

‘I am so proud of you two,’ Obinna said happily to his two sons. He had come to the hospital to visit his grandchildren.                                          

Treasure was full of smile. She didn’t know how to express it in words, so she had to give Kevin and Desmond a big hug instead.                     

Sophia and Precious were around too. Everyone was happy to see the new born twins.                                                                                                  

   ‘It seems the diamond story was a myth after all,’ Sophia said with a laugh.                                                                                                                           

‘Father might hear you,’ Precious whispered to Sophia.                                

‘I already heard her,’ Obinna said, and everyone laughed. Then, he looked up at Desmond. ‘Desmond, when you become the king, the diamond story should be the first thing you erase from the kingdom’s constitution. I never believed in the bad luck attached with marrying with diamond. But I had to still pass on the story to you because my father passed it on to me. I’m certain that everyone was expecting for something bad to happen to you and Queeneth. But no, you two were  lavished with abundance of blessings. You proved everyone wrong.’             

‘But that doesn’t mean we should erase all our traditions,’ Treasure objected.                                                                                                    

‘Mum, no one is erasing anything,’ Desmond calmly turned to his mother and explained. ‘But then, the problem with the world is that we are most times enslaved because of stories that we never knew about the origins. We have to throw away most of the myths that held us bound or rather captive. Such captivity is worse than human slavery. Most people you see today might have the freedom to move about, breathe fresh air but, they are slaves of old traditional myths. They don’t do this or that because of stories told to them and the consequences attached to those stories if you break any of it.’ He paused, and continued after a while, ‘Yes, I was confused when I wanted to Marry Queeneth, but in the end I decided to follow my heart. I am glad I did. ’                                                                             

‘I understand, son,’ Treasure smiled at his son, and Desmond smiled back. 

‘Both your grandpa and grandma would have been proud of your achievements if they were still alive.’                                                        

Desmond nodded with a smile.                                                                        

It was all a joyful moment for the Duke family when the twins were brought home. Everyone came to celebrate. Of course, they brought gifts for the twins. Obinna was the happiest, and he felt grateful to have his four children succeed without depending on him.                

Four years later, Obinna died a peaceful death.  What more could he have wished for? Kevin was married to a beautiful, young medical doctor working at Federal Medical Centre and he had his business thriving day by day. Sophia followed her American-based business husband to New York, and there she joined Hollywood.  Precious, who was the baby of the house, married her lover who happens to be the CEO of one of the top leading companies in Nigeria and they both travelled to India for their honeymoon. Desmond was later crowned the king of Obowo, and just like his father, he ruled his people well.