Ha! Bride sad on wedding day after she's forced to wed a teacher by president of Tajikistan

A bride looked visibly miserable  after she was given just a few days notice that she was to marry an impoverished history teacher.

The match between bride Marjona Hudoidodova and Saidsho Asrorov, 23, was arranged by Tajikistani's all-powerful dictator Emomali Rahmon.

But while the groom appears thrilled with the match , 22-year-old Marjona did not smile at all during the ceremony.

Arranged marriages are common in Muslim Tajikistan, although it is rare for the president to order them.

A "matchmaking committee", run by a local apparatchik in charge of ideology, was formed to find Saidsho a bride.

President Rahmon stepped in after the teacher read a sycophantic poem at a gathering attended by the Tajik strongman who has ruled the ex-Soviet republic for a quarter of a century.

In the poem that won him a bride, Saidsho praised the president for his role in "supporting education and the upbringing of the young generation" in Tajikistan.

Saidsho told Radio Free Europe:

"The president asked me about my life and family. He asked if I was married. I answered 'no.'

"Then he instructed the district leadership to decide on my marriage."

Anxious to appease the 64-year-old leader, Marjona was nominated as Saidsho's bride after the committee spoke to her parents.Ten days later the couple were married.

During the ceremony Marjona avoided eye-contact with her new husband.

"The matchmakers communicated with my parents," she said. "My parents agreed to allow me to marry the man on the condition that I am allowed to continue to work.

"I want to continue working as a nurse in a hospital. My groom agreed that I would continue working."

Eya...

But the guy is not bad looking at all.

She could even love him later.

Yes. It happens all the time. 
Oh well, it was more rampant in the days of our parents.

Truth is,  "I love you, I love you, let's get married because our hearts beat one million kilometres per hour when our eyes meet" naim dey lead to quick marriage and quick divorce; 
I mean, after the heart reverts to it's normal rhythm, most people just can't cope with that. They run out seeking for that fleeting thrill.

Back in the day, when arrangee was the norm, more often than not, mutual respect morphed into love... or something close to love. But it worked well.

Who knows? This bride may smile in the future and thank the dictator for hooking her up.

Then again, I could be very wrong.
Wetin I know sef?

 Daily Telegraph