My wife has two brothers. Before we got married, it was his junior brother that I met often. The elder brother wasn’t living in town so I didn’t meet him. The first time I met him was at our traditional wedding. He walked up to me and said, “Herh, you owe me big time. This girl you’re going to marry, the way I’ve suffered to keep her away from men? Because of her, I fought all the guys in the neighborhood. I fought with my two closest friends because of her. I lost good friends along the way because of her. They come home, they see her and they want to woo her. I’m not the man to stand aside and watch while my only sister is being wooed by the wrong kind of man. You’ll have to pay for all I lost because of her.” 

We laughed about it. I said my thanks and we hugged. “Nice to meet you Akonta.” He answered, “Nice to meet you too. But make sure your akonta sikan is heavy enough to cut timbers in the forest.” When he left, I turned to my wife’s junior brother and said, “Your senior brother is very interesting.” He warned, “Don’t take his words for a joke. whatever he said about the akonta sikan is true. That guy loves money than he loves his soul.”

I didn’t worry about the akonta sikan money because I didn’t determine how much I had to pay to the brothers of my wife. When we did the knocking and got the list, it came with how much money we ought to pay to the brothers of my wife and it was exactly how much we put in the envelope. 

The ceremony started. All the things we sent for the marriage were sealed. But when it got to the time to present them, my wife’s family removed the seal and counted everything one after the other. The MC said, “We’ve seen some before and for the sake of evidence, we have to break the seal and see if all the things presented are intact and exact.” Even the bags that contained my wife’s clothes and panties and others were opened to count whatever was inside. It got to the money. Money for the father counted and it was exact. Same with the envelope for the mother and same with the envelope for the brothers. 

It was her elder brother who took the akonta sikan envelope. He opened it and counted the amount. He shouted, “Only GHC500?” Everybody present laughed. He didn’t stop; “Nooo, that’s too small. It doesn’t show respect to the brothers of the bride. How can you look at the faces of giants like us and give us GHC500?” At first, everybody thought he was joking. When his demeanor didn’t look like he was joking, the MC rushed to him and started talking to him in whispers. His countenance was negative. He kept shaking his head and saying no. “No, he has to add more. We are two. GHC500 is too small. He has to top up.” 

His father tried to rebuke him but he wouldn’t keep quiet. I gave him a wink, trying to calm him down. He didn’t mind me. So my father got up and addressed him, “In-law, I’m sorry that you don’t find the money enough. We gave what was asked of us. My son is a family now. You’re a man just like him. I believe after the marriage, when you see him in chambers, he’ll sort you out. Keep calm and let’s get the marriage going. We are here for you and we are a family.” He looked in my direction and said, “I’ll see you after. You’ll have to top up.” He kept quiet afterward. The ceremony continued until the pastor prayed and I put the ring on the finger of my wife. 

The ceremony was over and we were taking photos. I saw him lurking around. From all indications, he was waiting for me to be free so he could pounce. I got busy. I pretended to be busy. I couldn’t pretend all day so when I was left alone he rushed to my side; “See all the troubles I went through for your wife. GHC500 is not enough. Think about the fact that I’m going to share it with my junior brother. Add something. I’m the reason you’re marrying a virgin. I got rid of the fleas off her skin. I made sure she remained chaste. Ask around here, because of me no guy dared to come close. I did all that and you’re giving me just GHC500?” At this point, I was getting angry. If I had the desire to even give him something, that desire flew away because of his sense of entitlement. I said in my head, “Who told you your sister was a virgin when I met her? Stand aside and let me see the skies.”

I didn’t give him anything. He persisted until I told him to wait until everything was over. “I’m not going anywhere. You’re an in-law now. We are stuck in this family relationship forever. Have patience.” He understood me and left me alone. 

The wedding was happening in my wife’s town. We are not from the same town so we lodged in a hotel. My wife slept in her house after the traditional wedding so that night I was alone. Around 8pm a number called and I didn’t pick up. The number called again around 9pm, I didn’t pick up. At 10pm it called again. I was like, “Or it’s one of my friends attending the wedding who’s calling.” I picked up the call and it was my wife’s elder brother. He was screaming on the phone; “So you mean you haven’t seen my calls? Or you’re ignoring me because you know I’m going to talk about the money issue? It’s alright if you don’t want to top-up but at least show some respect and pick my calls. If this is what you’re bringing into the family, then we’ll always fight oo.” I didn’t utter a word. I was waiting for him to tell me his reason for calling so I will tell him off. He said, “Anyway, I called because of the promise. Now everything is done. Just send me MoMo if you can’t meet me.”

I told him calmly, “I wasn’t the one who determined how much I have to pay. Your family requested for it and I made payment…” He retorted, “My father made a mistake. He didn’t consult me before mentioning that amount. I’m the eldest. You should do what I’m asking you to do. I know why I’m doing all that.” I told him, “There is a lot to pay. Wait until the wedding is done. We’ll talk afterward.” He said, “We shall see.” He then hung up the call. I was so pissed I couldn’t sleep that night. I’d wanted to call my wife and tell her about it. It was the eve of our wedding. I didn’t want to spoil her mood. 

We had the wedding the following day. My wife’s elder brother didn’t show up. I realized it when we were taking the family photos. I didn’t smell him around. I was happy that he didn’t come. We had a beautiful reception. He wasn’t there. After the whole wedding was done, his junior brother came to congratulate me and wished us happiness. My wife was there so I asked, “I didn’t see your brother today, what happened?” He laughed. He said, “He’s such a drama king. Don’t take him seriously. He told me he wasn’t going to attend the wedding because you have disrespected him. Forget about him. Let him do his worse.”

READ ALSO: He Wants Me To Be His Girlfriend Because His Wife Has A Problem…

I told my wife what happened the night before. My wife was so pissed she called her father right there and complained to him. I heard her father saying on the phone, “How much did he pay to his wife’s brothers when he got married? How much did he even give to his wife’s parents that he’s looking for gold around here? Ignore him.”

Well, I didn’t see him again after the wedding.

My wife went home to deliver our first child. I went there and he was there. I greeted him and he didn’t respond. He even left the scene. I spent a week there. I saw him every day but we never talked. Whenever there was a function in their house and I went with my wife, I saw him. He never responded to my greetings nor spoke to me. It didn’t bother me. Who is a brother-in-law whose anger should tip off the scale for me? I married a great woman and I’m happy I did. Everything else was just sinking sand I was trying to avoid. 

My wedding was four years ago so why am I sharing this story today? 

Well, out of the blues he called me. I was surprised when I saw his call on my phone. I said to myself, “Maybe he has lost his way. Let me pick the call and redirect him to wherever he wants to go.” Immediately I picked up the call he screamed, “Akonta!” I said to myself, ”Wow, he’s indeed calling me?” I responded, “Akont…” His voice was sober. I was listening to him carefully. He said, “We are men. Apart from that, we are a family. A family cannot stand against each other that’s why it’s important for us to make peace. I’m extending a warm handshake first but it doesn’t mean you won’t pay what you owe me. You owe me a top-up. I still insist that my family made a mistake. Just send it for peace to prevail.” I asked, “How much are we looking at here?” He answered, “An extra GHC500 wouldn’t be a bad idea.” 

Minutes later he called back. He screamed, “Akont! I just received it. Peace is a good thing and I’m glad we chose peace.” 

When he cut the call I asked my wife, “Are you sure your senior brother is alright? I mean alright in all areas of his being?” She asked me, “Why are you asking? Have you guys rekindled the fight again?” She laughed. I didn’t tell her what just happened. Now, he calls often to ask how we are doing. Last time he told me he had been praying for us. I said in my head, “I hope you won’t come someday to ask for payment for the prayers.”

I haven’t seen him since that day. All is well in life and between us now. I think of it and I laugh. People come in different shades. My brother-in-law is indeed a special shade of mental case.

–Kelvin 

Do you have any relationship experience to share? Email it to [email protected]

NOTE: NO PART OF THIS CONTENT CAN BE REPUBLISHED OR REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT THE EXPLICIT CONSENT OF THE EDITORS OF THIS BLOG