Unexpected celebration party.

It was a day to my wedding and my friend, Jude was with me while we gave finishing touches to the preparation. It had been overwhelming for me despite the great support from my relatives and friends because I was making sure that everything was put in order to prevent any flop on the wedding day.

That very night, Jude and I went to book a room in a hotel for my wife and I to lodge for two days before returning to Abuja where we would reside. He was with the keys to the hotel room.

In the morning of the wedding day, we prepared for the programme and left for my wife's town where the wedding would take place. Jude served as my best man.

At the end of the wedding, my wife and I returned to my parents house in a car. Other cars carrying our relatives and friends were trailing as we drove in convoy to my parents' house. It is a tradition in my town for the groom's mother to welcome her daughter in-law into her home by pouring water on the ground for the bride to step on it while walking into the house. This was done by my mother for my wife and we were ushered into the house with prayers and singing.

At this point we were very tired and we wasted no time to move to our hotel to shower and rest from the stress of the day's activity.

Before we left for the hotel, Jude opted to move ahead of us to put some arrangements in place. I was surprised at what arrangements were there to make again before we moved to the hotel. Upon his insistence to go ahead of us, I gave him the go ahead.

A few hours later, he came to join us and we drove to the hotel together.

We arrived at the hotel and our bags were off-loaded to the room. All my attention was on going in to take my bath and sleep.

My wife and I barely took our bath when I heard a knock on my door. I opened the door and realized that it was Jude, who was lodged in another room in the hotel.

"Comrade," as we often call ourselves, "What's happening?" I asked.

"We want to see you at the bar." He responded

"You and who are the "we"?" I inquired.

"When you get there, you will know." He responded with a smile.

As I picked my shirt to follow him downstairs to the bar, he told me that they were expecting to see my wife and I. At this point, I sensed that Jude was up to something. I told my wife to dress up quickly and we dashed out to the bar to see what Jude and other yet to be identified people were up to.

The first person I saw at the point of entering the bar was Jolly. Jolly was a good friend but we had some issues for getting to a year before my wedding. I vowed not to have anything to do with him again because I had previously given him numerous chances but ended up being disappointed.

I made an attempt to turn back but Jude approached me to usher me in.

Immediately I entered, I met four other friends waiting to receive us at the bar. I looked around and I saw a sound system and a DJ. At the other end of the hall was food of different kinds arranged in many big food containers. A decorated pair of chairs was kept for us to sit.

We sat down and the surprise party began.

Jude was the first person to speak that evening.

"This night is a night of celebrating our brother and his beautiful wife. Jolly consulted me and made this arrangement to celebrate our newest couple." Jude explained.

At this point, I was short of words because I didn't even inform Jolly of the wedding but I was certain he must have heard from our mutual friends.

Jude handed over the stage to Jolly to make some comments.

"I have offended you several times. I was supposed to be the main man arranging for this wedding from the onset but I knew if I made such a move, you might reject it. I thought of how to prove to you that I regretted all my actions and that I won't forgive myself if I don't participate in your wedding in any way, then I came up with this idea."

It was at this juncture that I understood the reason behind Jude visiting the hotel ahead of us earlier. He went to meet Jolly to finalize their arrangements before our arrival.

Jolly came towards me to seek forgiveness while other eyes were on me to see my reaction.

Of course, there is no way that I wouldn't forgive someone like Jolly in such a situation.

"I am happy that you have realized your mistakes. I am astonished that you could go to this extent to show your genuine love for me. Whatever it is that you've done to me in the past, I forgive you sincerely from my heart." I hugged him firmly to appreciate him for his kind gesture.

I declared the feast open. Other people joined us to eat and drink.

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They tagged the party "till mama call" meaning that the party would extend to anytime over the night.

After about an hour, they collectively excuse my wife and I to return to our room while the feasting continues. My wife delivered the vote of thanks before we left the bar.

The following morning, Jude and Jolly handed over an amount of money to me. They raised it during the feast to support us on our previous expenses.

To my greatest satisfaction, my relationship with Jolly since then has been cordial and superb. That night is one that I can't forget in a hurry.