“Marriage is a Private Affair,” begins with Nene asking Nnaemeka if he has told his father, Okeke, about their big news. Though Nnaemeka thinks it would be better to have the conversation with his father in six weeks when he goes to visit his village, Nene encourages him to write to Okeke and tell him sooner. She is sure that Okeke will be happy—who wouldn’t be delighted that their son is getting married?—but Nnaemeka has to remind her that things are more complicated because the rural community that he is from is much different from Lagos, the city where Nene has lived all her life. He explains that in his community, it is customary for a father to choose a spouse for his children, and that said spouse must be Ibo. Although this is difficult for Nene to grasp, she realizes for the first time that Okeke might be displeased by their decision to get married. She nevertheless remains positive that Okeke will forgive Nnaemeka and subsequently continues to encourage him to send a letter to his father. Before returning to his place, Nnaemeka is able to finally convince Nene that it will be better for him to tell his father in person.
Later, Nnaemeka thinks about the letter his father sent him recently and smiles. In the letter, Okeke details the merits of a woman named Ugoye, particularly her “Christian upbringing,” and communicates his desire to begin marriage negotiations between Nnaemeka and Ugoye in December.
During the second night of Nnaemeka’s visit to his village, he asks his father for forgiveness before refusing to marry Ugoye, claiming that he doesn’t love her. Okeke is shocked by Nnaemeka’s refusal and is surprised that his son thinks he has to love Ugoye to marry her. Although Okeke tries to change his son’s mind, Nnaemeka won’t budge. Instead, Nnaemeka tells Okeke more about Nene, particularly her Christian faith and her job as a teacher. This makes Okeke even more furious, as he does not believe Christian women should teach, but his anger reaches its height when he realizes that Nene is not Ibo. Nnaemeka remains steadfast, however, and insists that Nene will be his future wife. Okeke walks away from the conversation and refuses to eat dinner that night.
The next day, Okeke again tries to convince his son to change course, but is unsuccessful, leading him to characterize his son’s decision as “Satan’s work.” Nnaemeka, however, continues to hope that Okeke will change his mind, though Okeke promises that he will never accept or even meet Nene.
The rest of the village takes Okeke’s side and share in his disappointment that Nnaemeka has chosen to marry “a woman who spoke a different tongue.” Some take Nnaemeka’s behavior as a sign of the “beginning of the end.” One person in the village, Madubogwu, eventually suggests that Okeke consult a native doctor and get medicine to cure his son. Okeke refuses, citing Ms. Ochuba’s mistakes as the reason he will not consult a native doctor to help his son “kill himself.”
Six months pass and Okeke still has not come around. He even sends back the wedding picture Nnaemeka and Nene sent to him, with Nene cut out of the picture, with a letter describing how little interest he has in the couple. Nnaemeka consoles Nene after they read the letter. Eight more years pass and Okeke still refuses to see his son or have him in his house.
Nene also faces hardship within the Ibo community in Lagos, but the community eventually comes around accepts her. News of Nene and Nnaemeka’s happy marriage travel to Okeke’s village, but Okeke remains aloof. He uses his energy to push his son out of his mind, almost killing himself in the process.
One day, however, Okeke receives a letter from Nene. In the letter, Nene reveals that she and Nnaemeka have two sons, and explains that the boys would like to know their grandfather. For the first time since shunning Nnaemeka, Okeke feels overcome with guilt. Though he tries to fight it and attempts to stuff down his feelings, the raging storm outside pushes him to think about the consequences of his actions, his estrangement from his son and grandsons, and what it will mean for his family. He is unable to sleep peacefully that night because of his fear that he will never atone for his behavior.
