My Dream Marriage

“Aniston, what is going on?” He is making me nervous just like the way I felt when Martha told me to throw the picture away. Although she had told me who the two men were, she gave me a strict warning not to show it to anyone. I know who they are except for the lady and another man who I think is her husband because of their wedding photo.

“I just wanted to know why you have this photo with you,” he says, not making any more sense. Maybe if I could elaborate he would know why I am having a family picture with me. “Aniston, this man here is my late grandfather,” I point to one of the men and he is more than surprised at my reveal. “Your grandfather? No way,” he says.

“Yes way, the others are his friends although I don’t know the two,” I say, pointing to the lady and the man I do not know. “But why are you asking, you are making me nervous.”

“Neera, this woman here is my late grandmother, this is her husband, my grandfather. The other man is my grandma’s brother, although he wasn’t her real sibling, my great grandfather adopted her as his own daughter.” For real? What a shocking revelation. Does this mean… No it can’t be real. “Do you know who this man is, your grandma’s brother?” He should at least know that one. “No, sincerely speaking I never got to know him but all I know is that he is my grand uncle. I recently assigned someone to look for the identity of the man.” What?

“Aniston, do you really not know who this man is?” I ask. “No I don’t. As I had told you some time earlier, my parents weren’t born here that’s why I didn’t get to know most of their relatives. I wasn’t even bothered about it because the last time I asked my mom, she told me to forget about it, so that’s it.” He can’t be serious.

“Did your grandmother have any other sibling, like another sister?” I ask because where this is going, I sure am going to have my blood pressure rising and having a heart attack. “She was adopted so I wouldn’t know,” he answers. “I mean, his brother, did he have any other blood sisters?” I want to be sure of what I am assuming. “He was an only child. That’s why his father adopted another child, that is, my grandmother because they couldn’t have another baby.” “How do you know that?” I ask.

“My father told me. He was also the only child of my mom. He told me something in the lines of somebody close to my grandma had played a wicked game card with our family since the beginning. Up to now I don’t know what he meant by that,” he says, deep in thought. This is really a small world we live in.

How is this possible? A woman that made my father agree to a marriage arrangement is Aniston’s grandmother? He doesn’t know that his grandmother is Edward’s grand aunt and that she is the woman my grandfather was accused of killing. How is he gonna take it? As of now he doesn’t know the identity of his grandmother’s foster family. Should I tell him the truth? I think I should because he hasn’t given me any reason to keep anything from him, especially those that concern him.

“Aniston, I am sorry for what I am going to tell you next. I,” he cuts me off, “no Neera, don’t be. What were you going to say anyway?”Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“The other man, who is your grand uncle, is actually Edward’s grandfather.” I say and his mouth drops to the ground. “Bullshit!” He curses. “No Aniston, it’s not bullshit. He is really his grandfather and your grandmother is his stepsister. I know this because you told me that he only had one sister and I was living in the Lawanson household so I know who he is.”

“This is so shocking Neera. I have never had any close relations with the Lawanson family but you can’t blame me because I didn’t know. Another thing is that I have never liked that family and with what they did to you, I lost the little faith I had in them so even if they are like family I am not in the mood for any formalities. I am okay the way I am if you are planning to try and talk me into going to introduce myself and create some relationship.” He confesses.

“I won’t be but I know what I am going to tell you will be more shocking than that.” I hope he won’t go into a frenzy because of that but I am more than prepared to deal with however his reaction may be. Let me say it and get it over with, whatever comes.

“What is it Neera?”

“That woman, your grandmother is the one my grandfather was suspected of killing,” I say quickly. “And that’s what led to your marriage right?” He asks with calmness that I didn’t expect. “Yes. Actually the truth is his son was to marry my grandfather’s daughter but because my father was born instead, the agreement was passed on to me.”

“Did your grandfather serve any jail sentence, like, was he charged for murder?” He asks, making me think that he is thinking of opening a case against my dead grandpa. “No, he wasn’t. I was told that because they were buddies and business partners, my grandfather was to leave everything behind and transfer all the shares he had this name and also ensure that his daughter marries into the Lawanson family as a replacement for his dead sister.” He sighs.

“What I don’t understand is that how can you not charge someone you accuse of murdering your sister although he took matters into his own hands by taking all that belonged to him. I have never heard of this before, not even from my father. I only know that my grandma died under mysterious circumstances or so I was told.”

“I am so sorry for your loss and please forgive my grandfather because from the story my father gave me, he wasn’t aware so he did it accidentally. I know my father couldn’t have lied to me because he told me this on his deathbed. But to atone for my family’s sins, I will leave tomorrow,” I say because I don’t think he could find it interesting to stay near me anymore, given that my grandfather killed his grandmother.