Society:

Ok,
Something bad happened today in my compound.
So, this people have been dating for 16years ( unsure emoticon ) yes you read right. 16years.
From observations, they are the best couple I've ever seen. I've known them for 4years, and during this 4years, I've never heard them fight or cuss each other, they are always playing, teasing each other and all that.
Things took a turn for the worse last year when she stared small scale business of selling female shoes. Before I go deep, let me give you a brief story about these people.
They were high school sweethearts. They fell in love in secondary school and dated each other. The lady gained admission before the guy, she went to school but as soon as he gained admission, she stopped her school.
Why? So she can use the money to pay his fees. (Such love, I never see squint emoticon )
Anyways, he graduated and she expected he would get a good job after graduation and marry her immediately.
Let me divert a little,
We are always deceived by parents and teachers, they say to become successful and having a complete life, is by going to the University, being a graduate with a good result,and a magic job will be waiting for us, and this job will fetch us money and cars and next is marriage. Right?
It's not entirely true. It doesn't work this way.
So back to my story, yes he graduated with a 2'1 as a Mathematical Engineer but couldn't secure a job in his field, now he teaches.
Not good, right?
They have been living together for 16years, but last year August, she moved to her sister's house.
I also observed, from August she moved, he reduced in weight, this is because she was always cooking for him, washing his clothes. He's the typical man that can't even boil water, so he was miserable WITHOUT her.
She would try to come by weekends to cook for him. Even at that, he burnt the food when warming.
Fast forward to this year, she came one fine day and dropped a big bomb on him, telling him she was leaving him except he pays her bride price.
Thinking he would make plans to see her parents, he didn't.
So today, she came by 5am to take her clothes and it resulted to a big fight.
This fight resulted to her breaking down his door to take her properties(things she bought in the house) and as a revenge for his door been broken, he poured kerosene on her 5 bags but was pinned down by neighbors not to burn it.
From what she said, she was with him for 16years. She stopped school for him, she cooked with her money he never gave her a dime, she paid the rent, bought her clothes herself and she never got a thank you from him, all she got were insults from him, but because she has stayed with him for 16years, she refused to go expecting he respects her by paying her dowry, but NO..
What did he do? He furthered his education(masters)
Oh! She was maaaaaad. She said he never loved her, if he did, he would not have brought shame to her.
Well, by the time she was done packing what was left of her stuffs, the room was empty, because she bought EVERYTHING IN THAT HOUSE.
‪#‎sighs‬.
At first, I supported her, yes. I'm female and I have to support her.
16years?? What for?
Why do people date this long? I don't understand.
She's a good woman. He didn't treat her right, I wasn't happy.
So that means all the public display of affection she did was fake. She was hurting inside.
Now, the part I got interested in, was when I heard the story from the man.
He said the reason why he stayed for 16years without paying her dowry was because of her mum.
Anytime he goes for introduction, he gets turned back.
Why?
Her elder sister is NOT married. And its against their TRADITION for the younger sister to get married BEFORE the older sister.
He said it wasn't his fault, since he has to wait for her elder sister to get married, he made up his mind to go for his masters believing when he's done, she must have found herself a husband.
Oh, when I heard this..
I died!!!
First, while I think its bad, very bad, and very very bad for people to date that long, I must also say, what an absurd tradition that is.
The kinda traditions you hear, you just want to kill whoever made it.
From everything, the lady lost, she's in her late 30's, though looking like a sweet 16.
I like to think that, if a guy is serious about you, he won't date for 5years to get you wedded, having no money is no excuse.
A lot of women are unmarried because one tradition says they can't get married before their older sisters.
Everyone's destiny aint same.
Who knows this sister might find her husband in her sister's wedding?
Who knows???