The First Attempt
"For every long lost road I went, led me to where you are.
Others who broke my heart, were like the northern stars,
guiding me on my way, in to your loving arms.This much I know is true and I pray that God bless the
broken roads that led me straight to you . Please be my
bride."
These were the exact words of Uche as he bent down with a
knee and brought out the diamond ring out proposing to
Mary. These happened in a restaurant at around past 8pm.
Uche had planned it all out in such a way that he had his best
friend Kunle there and three of Mary's friend to spice up the
whole scene.
"Awnn awnn, this is so so lovely" Mary's best friend Loveth
said.
"Oh My God, I never knew Uche can be this romantic oh. Mary
you are very lucky." Omoye, one of Mary's friend there said.
"Please Mary, say yes oh yes, yes" Titi, Mary's last friend said
as she gesticulated with her hands and smiled.
The atmosphere became tensed with love. Other customers
who were in the restaurant had soon join them and the place
became crowded and filled with expectant onlookers. A
couple in the crowd even held their hands, as they blushed
and prayed that she accepts.
All of these had happened within a few seconds from Uche's
first statementLove indeed spreads like wildfire. Everyone had become
expectant of Mary's decision since the ring was still hanging
in the air supported by Uche's hand.
She then couldn't help but blush a little. "This is so so lovely
Uche. The ring, the scene and everything, just beautiful. But
am sorry I can't accept it." She said as her face grew from
blush to straight .
"Ah, No nah . Please say yes" One of the onlookers in the
crowd spoke out aloud. At this she walked away quietly from
the scene putting her heads down. The onlookers started to
frown as they left one at a time disappointed.
"Why would she have declined the proposal after 3 years of
relationship? Something must be wrong somewhere." Kunle
finally spoke to Uche his friend. Meanwhile Uche just sat there
on the bare floor devastated.Love Birds
Mary locked herself in her room and took out some time to
cry out her heart until it felt as if she had done the right thing.
Declining Uche's proposal was a very difficult decision for her
to take. She however took it. This raised lots of surprises and
questions from many, even her friends.
While she felt there were just enough reasons for her to have
declined, on Uche's part and others there was not even a
single reason for her to have done that.
Three years ago they had started dating. Seeing the two love
birds hanging out together, you could almost mistake their
love for each other as divine.Their bond was stronger than that of Jack and Rose or even
Romeo and Juliet. They were inseparable.
"I love you the same way I learned to ride a bike. Though I
was frightened yet I was still reckless." Uche said to Mary as
he scooped a portion of the ice-cream moving it closer to her
mouth slowly.
As Mary opened her mouth in expectation of the chilled-
liquid, Uche took it back gently and gently until he drank all of
it and then smiled.
Both of them laughed together as they held each other’s
hand.
"Being in your warmth embrace gives me that kind of
confidence that makes me feel invincible. This is all I would
rather do morning, noon and night.I love you darling." Mary said to him.
Both birds continued in expressing words of love to each
other as Uche sang for her too. This inherent gift of his, was
one of the reasons Mary had fallen in love with him so
quickly at the expense of other potential lovers.
As it got so dark, Uche said "I think we should be going home
now Mary. Today’s gist is just enough for tonight. We would
possibly continue tomorrow dear"
Uche then opened the door of his vehicle as he waited for
Mary to walk in majestically. Soon enough they got to Mary's
house and it was time for her to go.
Still in the vehicle, both birds stared at each other for about
thirty seconds waiting for whom to make the first move. Guys
are always faster when it comes to this. Uche gently moved
closer to her as he kissed her softly. The kiss was so deep
and long, that she felt like it was her last minute on planet
earth.
They were just so happy together then, what could have
happened? What could have made Mary to decline his
proposal after all those escapades together?Of course Mary was madly in love with Uche. Perhaps, more
than Uche could ever know or fathom. However, the
possibility of not having a future together started to surface to
her after some unique incidences happened three months to
the proposal.
Prior to that incidence, they were single potentials waiting to
become joint reality. But just these incidences changed
Mary's perception of Uche . And made her to rethink if he is
really the one he wants to spend the rest of his life with.
First was when Mary began to notice how close Uche was to
his mum. To her, Uche seems to take the words of his mum
as law. Every other person's statement or contribution to an
issue at hand after his mum talks to him, becomes
secondary.
Mrs. Young, Uche's mother loved him so well. The reason for
this wasn’t farfetched. Mrs. Young had waited for eleven
years before having Uche. During this period, she was faced
with warnings and series of threat from her mother in-law to
get his son another wife.
After much patience of waiting to finally get to have Uche,
sickness later tried to show its own self too. Uche battled
with various ailments from when he was six months to when
he became five. All of these had made his Mum’s bond for
him that strong.
Even after she gave birth to Ngozi when Uche was seven, the
love for the two still had no comparison Somewhere deep down, she still had more affection for
Uche. While their Dad preferred Ngozi.
This Oedipus complexity between Uche and her mum
continued to exist, and was known to all. It was however not
so comfortable for Mary. Both ladies seems to be competing
for whose say Uche ultimately listens to. Often time than not,
Mrs.Young wins.Particularly, there was a time Uche and Mary had a group
date with a couple of other friends. This date was the boom
especially for the ladies. The eight of them looked forward to
it like the second coming of Jesus Christ.
However, the expected happened. Mrs. Young had restrained
Uche from not joining the group. She hinged it on a religious
belief that something dangerous was to happen and that Uche
should not go.
This was irrespective of the fact that Uche was already 28
and stays in his own apartment. Yet mum still dictates for
him from time to time.
Long story cut short. Everyone showed up that night for the
group date save Uche. Mary had thought Uche will come
irrespective of the shallow excuse given by Mrs. Young.
However, Uche didn't.
Eventually, nothing dangerous happened that night, except for
the fact that Mary was now boo-less throughout the chats and
discussions that night.
Uche was just still a baby to his mum but Mary wanted to
marry a man, not a child."Babe, am sorry for last night. You know mum can be a bit
too over-protective. Am going to make last night up to you.
Don’t worry" Uche said in a bid to appease Mary for the
previous night.
Mary had allowed this to slide under the carpet even though it
was quite painful. Two months down the line, It happened
again. This time bigger and more painful.
Mary's birthday was just around the corner . Uche had
promised to make it a memorable one for her.
"I am going to so spoil you that day ehn . Believe me, you
won't forget this memory we are going to have in a hurry"
Uche said to Mary as they were making plans for the deal
day. Apparently, Uche had plans of making up fot the group
date he missed since two months ago using this outing.
"I just want us to be alone as we have always done. We
should go far from any other person as far as we can go. All I
want to see is you – Nobody else." Mary replied to Uche as
they made the plans.
"Awnn awnn. That sounds romantic. I can't wait to take you
there. Am sure we are going to enjoy ourselves. I will give you a nice treat." Uche said as he was very
optimistic.
"You will sing for me too oh Prepare that voice of yours to be in its perfect tone oh. Don't
go and eat Eba and ogbonor Soup that day and end up not
been able to sing for me oh." Mary said as she teased him.
They both laughed together as they ended the conversation
for that night. It was a day that they kept on looking forward
to.
On the deal day of Mary's birthday, Uche was nowhere to be
found again. His phone was dead and Mary kept on waiting
for him. Gradually the sun had set and day even got dark, yet
there was no sign of Uche. He didn't even give a call.
All the treats promised, plans made and adventures that they
were looking forward to, were all in vain. Uche had done it
again. And as usual by the morning he came to explain, Mrs.
Young also had a hand in it. It was frustrating.Uche's mum had insisted that he come along with him to see
Beatrice and her parent. Beatrice's parents had a long history
with Uche's parents. So as it was Beatrice's convocation
celebration in their family house, it was customary for the
Young's family with such a long history to be there to
celebrate with them.
Mr. Young was still in his long business trip as usual.This particular trip was to last for the next three months as
he was working on a huge project for the firm he works for.
Mrs. Young had thus insisted that Uche come along with him
to represent his father. But of course she had other intentions
too.
Uche had known Beatrice for the period of time that their
parent have known each other, which was over fifteen years
now. They had even gone to same secondary school, though
Uche was three years ahead of her in class.
Pursuit of a university degree seems to have been the reason
for their separation. Although they were not dating then, but
they were however quite close. It would be a thing of joy for Mrs. Young to see them get
married to further unite both families' bond.
While Uche had studied here in Nigeria where he meant Mary,
Beatrice had gone to the UK to study. Coming back after
graduation, Mrs. Young saw this as an opportunity to get the
folks hooked up once more. But she had hinged Uche's
coming on family representation. He had to stand in, for his
Father.
Uche had followed the mum without that knowledge of his
mum's plan. Mum has always had his way, this might not just
take exception.Finally, Uche got the opportunity to explain to Mary while he
couldn't come as planned, as he went to represent his dad in
a cogent function.
"To the extent that you couldn’t call? What nonsense! This is
the second time you are dishonoring our date and it always
have something to do with your mum. You better do and
marry her" Mary said to Uche angrily.
"My love, I will make this up to you this time . I promise. Am
really sorry" Uche said.
"Make up what? The date you just missed now was supposed
to be a make up for the last you missed. Am sure your next
makeup will be another disappointment. Spare me those
stories that touch. I am not interested in your makeup stories
any more" Mary said.
At this Uche drew closer to her, held her right hand with his
left and said softly "Love, am sorry.Believe me this time around"
"Look what I bought for you for the birthday." He said as he
brought out a package from a bag with him. The package
contained a small box.
"So you want to bribe me now abi ?" Mary said as he was
already falling for him again as his soft hands caressed her
softly.
"Bribe, definitely not dear. This is your birthday gift. I can't remember to have gotten you any yet." Uche said as
he smiled, knowing the gift was working.
Afterwards, he took the small black box, opened it and took
out the necklace out in it. It was made of silver and was
shining like the armour of a Britain Knight in 1800's.
He took it and walked straight to her back. Putting his hands
across her neck, he took the necklace and fixed it on her.
Then he whispered on her ears, "you look gorgeous in it" then
bit her gently in that particular ear.
Taking up his phone, he gave it to her to use as mirror to see
it. As she saw how good it was on her, she blushed and said
"This is beautiful Uche. I love it. Thank you"
At this she fell completely in his arms, and they had a very
deep hug. For Mary, her birthday was still not complete and
perfect. They had just made up alone.