WHO IS YOUR NEXT OF KIN?

Lately I have had to fill a lot of forms and whenever you are doing all this stuff, the issue of next of kin always comes up so I thought to write something about it.

It’s one issue I know can cause problems in a family, if not handled right. I mean we all know that a next of kin should be the closest living relative to a person i.e. spouse or child because they often inherit the personal property of the person in a case of death but many of us don’t really take it seriously. Most of us just fill in anything that comes to mind at the point of documentation or account opening, forgetting that whatever we fill is what would be used in an event of death or emergency.

Nobody knows the time when death will come and although we can only pray against untimely death it’s very essential to put things in order. I don’t even want to go into the issue of having a will because most of us Nigerians have the mindset that only people that have money yanfu yanfu need that.

Back to the next of kin issue, some people argue that it depends on what the documentation is for and the circumstances. Like some people use their spouse for some and then their children for some. I just think it’s essential to protect the interest of your immediate family if you are married. I also think it’s important to update your next of kin as your status changes. For example, when you were single you might have used your mum or siblings as your next of kin but when you get married I think it’s important to change all that.
Although people who have trust issues with their spouses might not fully agree with this, I just feel you should have the interest of those who matter and make sure they are covered.

On several occasions I have seen men who would rather have their brothers as their next of kin instead of their wife or child. Chai! After the woman would have suffered with the man for years, he will now put his brother as next of kin. What would you do if that happened to you? Odikwa very risky! The man go hear am!

For some they even go as far as doing a will and leaving it all to their siblings. This could lead to a huge family crisis when such people die.

I think it’s important for people to know the implication of the choices they make.

So before you complete that account opening or fill out that very important document be sure that you are putting in the right information in the next of kin section….You don’t want your wife or children fighting you over your choice of next of kin if for any reason they find out. It could lead to a mini third world war in your home oooh…so to avoid gbege problems please be guided.

A/N: What would you do if you find out your spouse chose his sibling as next of kin instead of you or your children?

Please share your views by dropping your comments.

Thanks for reading and please share this post it could help someone out there make better choices.

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Till i write you again,
xoxo

TALES OF THE SIDE CHIC LIFE-6

CHIVALROUS JACKASS

He got up and walked towards a lonely tree to receive his call. I just sat there on the sand watching him as he walked away his voice in a whisper as he spoke with her.

He is such a douche bag, how can he do this to me after I told him all I had been through before meeting him. Jackass, how did I fall in love with him anyway? I cursed under my breath clenching my fists with sand in them.

Just then he turned around and winked at me, and I gave him a fake smile. Wondering how he could be talking to some other girl over the phone telling her sweet nothings and using his charm on another at the same time.

He ended his call and picked me off the ground before I could even protest, he carried me all the way to the hut we were seated before. He noticed I was quiet again; he looked at me intensely trying to figure out the reason for the sudden switch to my previous mood.

‘Awele, a penny for your thoughts’, he said smiling mischievously.

‘There’s really nothing on my mind’. I lied. ‘You look like you saw a ghost’, he chuckled’ trying to ease the tension in the air. ‘You are the only ghost I can see here, are you even real?’ I countered jokingly but semi-serious.

‘What’s going on? Did I do something wrong?’ he asked with utmost sincerity

‘In a way’ I replied rolling my eyes.

‘Tell me’, he teased pulling my stool forward so that our knees brushed each other. Goose bumps appeared on that spot. I prayed solemnly that he shouldn’t see that.

‘We’ve been together for a while now and you still can’t take your calls around me’ I asked pouting and looking at my feet not sure I wanted to look at his face if he lied to me.

‘Is that what you think? He asked. ‘I’m sorry you see it that way’ he said placing a finger under my chin tilting it so that I could look at him

‘Okay so who is Matilda?’ I asked in a whisper

‘Oh is that what this is about? He laughed out loud almost falling off his stool. ‘C’mon, Awele I find it gratifying to know you would get like this over me. He teased.

‘Answer the question Elo, I smirked not amused by his playful drama.

‘Matilda is my step-sister Awele, but we are very close. She ran into problems at work and I have been there for her all the while but since I left Port-harcourt nobody at home has been supportive.’ He rushed to explain.

‘I see’, I replied not fully convinced. I was a bit tempted to ask him about Lade and the kids but I didn’t want him knowing I was eavesdropping on the conversation with his friend the other day or that I had been snooping around checking his phones.

‘Don’t get yourself all worked up, honey. I’m with you because I want you for real. Let’s go get a drink now, c’mon’ he pulled me up and guided me out of the hut.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
2 weeks passed and I still hadn’t found out the real story behind Lade and the kids. Those children were a spitting image of Elo, I was determined to find out what exactly he was hiding from me but with every passing day our relationship blossomed. He had a way of making my doubts disappear whenever we were together.

Gist had started flying round church that we were getting married soon and it killed me to think that as much as I wanted that to be true, it was never going to happen if Elo was actually married.

My birthday was in 3 weeks and I wanted to celebrate it, my friends had started teasing me and saying stuff like Elo would propose. If only they knew, I couldn’t tell anyone not even Tunmise and Lola who are my best friends. I mean I wanted to be sure first.

I was at home one Wednesday afternoon which is my usual rest day, a little bored coz Elo was super busy on site hence no mid-day chats. I was flipping through TV channels when my phone rang. It was Lola my co-entrepreneur, friend and gist buddy.

‘Awele, what’s up? I need to see you like right now. I know you are free today meet me at my salon ASAP’ she said apprehensively.

‘Are you okay? Did anything happen? I asked with the phone pressed to my ear with my shoulder as I pulled my jeans up and put on flip flops ready to stroll over to Lola’s Salon two streets away from my house.

‘There’s a lady here with Elo’s picture as her wallpaper, I’m very sure I’m not mistaken. Hurry up she would leave soon’, she said in a whisper.

I planned to walk before but that piece of information made me rush like my butt was on fire into my bedroom to pick my car keys, I got into the car and sped off to Lola’s PLACE.

Maybe I am just one step away from finding Elo’s wife or lover.

Author’s Note; Hi Loves, hope you are still following Awele’s story.
Any ideas who the lady at the salon could be?

Thanks for reading, kindly share on your social media. I appreciate y'all.