I casually strolled into a business mall in my locality on March 27th, 2010 to transact some business but pumped into an old school friend (while at the Polytechnic). Johnny was more of a Sunny sanguine and everybody loved him for that – he entered the room with his mouth first, was warm and friendly, outgoing and compassionate but not very productive then.
Seeing him after more than 10 years after leaving School was like out of here. So in 5 minutes, we reminisced the past 10 years in a flash and suddenly I saw the shine vanish from his face while we discussed and he got to know that I have been married for some years now.
In an attempt to find what the matter was, he told me this story:
“I had a beautiful young lady I had moved out with for many years now and I tell you ‘she was good’. She was beautifully crafted, elegant and soft spoken. We loved each other very well and went through the thick and thin together when I had no job to pay my bills. Her encouragements in all those days were the only reason why I woke up in the morning and felt motivated to go out there and show any employer of labour my worth.
In an attempt to find what the matter was, he told me this story:
“I had a beautiful young lady I had moved out with for many years now and I tell you ‘she was good’. She was beautifully crafted, elegant and soft spoken. We loved each other very well and went through the thick and thin together when I had no job to pay my bills. Her encouragements in all those days were the only reason why I woke up in the morning and felt motivated to go out there and show any employer of labour my worth.
We planned, organized, directed and controlled every single step that we both took together in all those years. And inside me I prayed very hard for the day the relationship will be solemnized so that I can prove to her (Sandra) that her labours were not in vain (if you have not seen true love, you will really not understand what I mean)”. My heart was pounding very hard by now because so many thoughts were running through my head:
a) Did she die?
b) Did my friend have a fight with his girl friend?
c) Could it be possible that they separated?
d) Questions, questions, questions …..
a) Did she die?
b) Did my friend have a fight with his girl friend?
c) Could it be possible that they separated?
d) Questions, questions, questions …..
While these questions were going on in my head, Johnny continued with his story but this time his face was very gloomy like a very sunny day suddenly overwhelmed by a heavy dark cloud. The bond between us progressively grew for the upward of 9 years and you will not believe it that within these time I got this job with a finance house. What a joy this brought to both Sandra and I (knowing that we can now start planning for the blissful future we have both dreamed of).
We had fun together considering that to an extent our bill could now be taken care of by the new job I secured. So our love blossomed afresh. We went shopping together and never bought anything glossary until we have debated its usefulness to us; cooked together at home (and sometimes I had to cut myself while trying to chop the vegetable – Sandra will almost cry at the sight of my blood. During one of such occasions, she also burnt the soup she was brewing while trying to nurse my wounds); we were always together as long as we were not both at work. The whole experience was just like a dream – and you know what I never wanted to wake up and realize that this dream will ever end or imagine the possibility of living for one day without Sandra in my Life.”
At this point, I knew Johnny was madly in love but what I could not place was why he had this gloominess all over him! But I decided to hear him out as he continued to pour out his soul: I dreamed of the day I will hold Sandra close to my chest and call her my wife, he said. I knew she also dreamt of this too because she always passionately spoke about our wedding day; she always said – how I will hold you so tight to herself and not let go of you forever. Reflecting over our relationship especially now that I had a steady source of income, I decided it was time to formalize the relationship; I mentioned it to Sandra after work on June 15, 2010 and she asked that I give her some time to think about it and speak with her relations. That was not a problem for me considering the fact that our culture permitted such discussions in order to get both families ready for the wedding proper.
While I waited for her reply, I got across to my Dad and Mum (who have always looked forward to the day I will bring a woman home for marriage). The day I scheduled to see my parents, my mummy who already knew why I was coming home made my favorite dish Egusi soup (with plenty of busy allowance) served with pounded yam. You can imagine the look on my daddy’s face when the food was served, in his characteristic way he decided to eat and enjoy the meal first before seeking to know the reason for the celebration. After the meal, I announced my intention of bringing my fiancée to them.
My mum pretending not to have previous knowledge of what I was talking about, threw question at me from all sides but my dad slowed her down and said "Johnny is old enough to make his decisions on marital issues". However, Dad asked critical questions about my fiancée and the family she comes from. Satisfied with the answers I gave to him, he turned to my mum and looked her in the face for a while and said ‘woman don’t ever plot this kind of coup d’état in my house again’. My mum laughed and without consciously knowing it my dad and I saw ourselves laughing too. That night my parents and I talked late into the night before they retired to bed and forced me to go to sleep considering that I will be traveling back to the city the next morning.
Back in the city, Sandra and I (like love birds) continued in our love nest and by October 2010, we had agreed the first stage of the traditional wedding will be holding in December same year. I informed my dad and had him invite his friends that will accompany him to the home of my in laws. And by the first week of November 2010, it had been determined that the event will hold on December 30th, 2010. With the date determined, my dad got back to his friends and had them schedule that date so that they will not have clashes in their Day Planner (I also did same with the few friends I want to witness the ceremony).
Click to continue reading and to LIKE our Facebook page
We had fun together considering that to an extent our bill could now be taken care of by the new job I secured. So our love blossomed afresh. We went shopping together and never bought anything glossary until we have debated its usefulness to us; cooked together at home (and sometimes I had to cut myself while trying to chop the vegetable – Sandra will almost cry at the sight of my blood. During one of such occasions, she also burnt the soup she was brewing while trying to nurse my wounds); we were always together as long as we were not both at work. The whole experience was just like a dream – and you know what I never wanted to wake up and realize that this dream will ever end or imagine the possibility of living for one day without Sandra in my Life.”
At this point, I knew Johnny was madly in love but what I could not place was why he had this gloominess all over him! But I decided to hear him out as he continued to pour out his soul: I dreamed of the day I will hold Sandra close to my chest and call her my wife, he said. I knew she also dreamt of this too because she always passionately spoke about our wedding day; she always said – how I will hold you so tight to herself and not let go of you forever. Reflecting over our relationship especially now that I had a steady source of income, I decided it was time to formalize the relationship; I mentioned it to Sandra after work on June 15, 2010 and she asked that I give her some time to think about it and speak with her relations. That was not a problem for me considering the fact that our culture permitted such discussions in order to get both families ready for the wedding proper.
While I waited for her reply, I got across to my Dad and Mum (who have always looked forward to the day I will bring a woman home for marriage). The day I scheduled to see my parents, my mummy who already knew why I was coming home made my favorite dish Egusi soup (with plenty of busy allowance) served with pounded yam. You can imagine the look on my daddy’s face when the food was served, in his characteristic way he decided to eat and enjoy the meal first before seeking to know the reason for the celebration. After the meal, I announced my intention of bringing my fiancée to them.
My mum pretending not to have previous knowledge of what I was talking about, threw question at me from all sides but my dad slowed her down and said "Johnny is old enough to make his decisions on marital issues". However, Dad asked critical questions about my fiancée and the family she comes from. Satisfied with the answers I gave to him, he turned to my mum and looked her in the face for a while and said ‘woman don’t ever plot this kind of coup d’état in my house again’. My mum laughed and without consciously knowing it my dad and I saw ourselves laughing too. That night my parents and I talked late into the night before they retired to bed and forced me to go to sleep considering that I will be traveling back to the city the next morning.
Back in the city, Sandra and I (like love birds) continued in our love nest and by October 2010, we had agreed the first stage of the traditional wedding will be holding in December same year. I informed my dad and had him invite his friends that will accompany him to the home of my in laws. And by the first week of November 2010, it had been determined that the event will hold on December 30th, 2010. With the date determined, my dad got back to his friends and had them schedule that date so that they will not have clashes in their Day Planner (I also did same with the few friends I want to witness the ceremony).
Click to continue reading and to LIKE our Facebook page
No comments:
Post a Comment