ShortStory I You're mine

YOU ARE MINE

       She was obviously sociable and accommodating, though too sociable for his liking. He wasn’t discouraged by the flaw, opining that he could moderate it if they became friends. How he would address the outpouring idiosyncrasy wasn’t his headache at the moment, rather how to approach the damsel and disclose the nurtured interest – a gesture which was long overdue.

       The 35-year-old Tayo had been secretly admiring the young maiden since six weeks back he packed into the street. They both resided a few yards apart. Ever since he moved in, there was no evening – after his daily office work – he wouldn’t sit quietly and patiently at his flat balcony situated upstairs to watch her exchange views and pleasantries, as might be the case, with her neighbours and passersby respectively.

        Being an old and lively resident in the area, the lady in question who could best be described as pretty and jovial was very famous that no dweller could pass without recognizing her, so Tayo took advantage of the scenario regarding the ongoing unending moment of distant admiration. Funnily enough, he was yet to know her real name; he only heard people – friends and neighbours – call her all sorts of sobriquets in line with her visible beauty and level of sociability. Perhaps he was awaiting the right time, which was seemingly not forthcoming, to strike the deal.

       Days passed, Tayo was still waiting hopefully, although was yet to make even a slight move. The period of silence lingered unabated not until a close co-tenant of his came to share some intriguing views with him.

      “It seems you like that girl?” Kunle teased as he walked to him.

        The lady in focus was at the moment in her yard amid her fellow tenants and few relatives.

       “Which girl?” Tayo said while seated, shocked.

         Little did he know that someone had been keenly observing him all along.

       “Surprised?” Kunle whispered cheerily, sat in one of the plastic chairs cited within.

       “You haven’t answered my question.” quoth Tayo. “Which girl are you referring to?”

       “That omoge, of course.” He replied, stylishly pointing at the lady.

        Tayo sighed in false pretence. “Why do you think so?” he said.

       “Oh, you thought I have not been watching you?”

       “I don’t know what you are talking about.” He denied.

       “Common guy, open up.” The 37-year-old Kunle urged. “Who knows, I could be of help.” He thought aloud.

        Tayo was struck by the last clause. “Be of help?” he inquired. “How?”

        Kunle was an old resident and a married man too, so he had no reason to doubt him.

        “Of course.” Kunle clarified. “But only if you involve me.”

        “I just like that girl, I don’t know why.” He confessed hesitantly, quickly glanced at her afar.

        Kunle smiled. “Now you are talking.” He appreciated. “Nneka is a happening girl, so that wouldn’t be a problem at all.” He added.

       “Nneka?’ quoth the secret admirer. “Is that her name?”

       “Yes.”

       “She’s an Igbo girl?”

         Kunle nodded.

       “So, what did you mean by she’s a happening girl?”

       “She’s sociable, so you shouldn’t be thinking of how to commence the deal.”

       “But, how do I get her attention?”

       “That one na small thing.”

       “How do you mean?”

       “She’s close to my wife,” Kunle informed. “So, I would ask her to invite her home.”

        “Oh, that would be nice.’ Tayo concurred. “Thank you.”

        “Don’t thank me yet till the deal is done.”

        “But wait, are you sure she’s not dating any guy around here?”

        “She’s a very beautiful lady, so she might have a guy in her life.” Kunle asserted. “But that shouldn’t discourage you if you are really serious.”

       “You are right.”

       “Though, I have not seen her with any guy since I know her.” Kunle added, stood up.

       “Are you going out?”

       “Yes,” responded Kunle. “I want to see a friend along the street.” He notified, walked towards the staircase.

        The following two days, the proposed arrangement worked as planned, thus Tayo got hooked up with Nneka who happened to be in her late twenties. Barely three weeks on, they became best of friends that she could not spend a whole day without visiting him. Many who lived within were marveled the pace at which the intimacy metamorphosed. The most amazing part was that she had never accepted a friendship proposal from any man in the street until Tayo came into the picture; in other words, the dude thwarted her long-lived policy. This was the prime reason that kept people talking.

        However, as the affair proceeded, one thing kept bothering her; it was nothing but the ethnic divide involved. She knew her parents would never accept any marriage proposal from Tayo if he decided to settle down with her as her mother had already warned her to steer clear of the dude, but she (Nneka) had longed for such proposal. She lived with her parents, and none was happy with the relationship, unknowingly to the lover boy.

        In six months time, the anticipated moment came calling. Nneka wept bitterly as soon as the proposal was tendered by Tayo right in his living room.

       “Baby, why are you crying?” he inquired, thinking it was tears of joy. “I thought we have all longed for a moment like this?”

       “This will not work.” She hinted as she stood on the tiled floor.

       “What are you talking about?” he said, standing close to her. “What will not work?”

       “The marriage.” She informed unequivocally.

       “Why?” Kunle screamed. “I thought we loved each other?”

       “It’s not about us.”

       “About who then?”

       “My parents…” she disclosed, sobbed profusely.

        At this point, Tayo became aware of the scenario. “I see..” he murmured, nodding. “I want you to know that you are mine, and nobody can take you away from me.” He said, passionately looking into her eyes.  

        Afterwards, Tayo shared the overwhelming experience with his parents who were resident in the same city but in a different locality. Having been convinced that they were truly in love after Nneka’s series of visits to the parents, the couple conscientized them to pray over it, letting them realize that there was nothing God could not do. They both heeded the advice, thus embarked on rigorous fasting and prayer with the assistance of their spiritual director.

        Amid the fast, Nneka’s father sent for Tayo. The dude’s residence was a stone’s throw from hers, so responding to the invitation didn’t take long. That was the first time he would be in her place since they started dating.

        “You said you love my daughter?” he asked as they were all seated in the parlour.

        “Yes sir.” Tayo replied, shivered.

        “Me and my wife here,” he said, tapping his wife who sat closely to him. “Have agreed to accept your proposal, wholeheartedly.” He landed hesitantly.

        “Oh, daddy..!” Nneka exclaimed joyfully, hurriedly walked to the parents and hugged them.

         She was actually taken by surprise. They never disclose the purpose of the meeting to her.

         Tayo on his part was so astonished and overwhelmed. Therein, he knelt down and appreciated the would-be in-laws, stood up and went to his fiancée and hugged her affectionately. “I told you, you are mine.” He reminded elatedly.

         The reminder gushed out tears of joy from her eyes as she held him tightly right before her parents.

         The following two weeks, they tied the long awaited knot traditionally. Travelling from Lagos to Abia State where she hailed from was indeed a long journey; it suffices to say that the trip lasted for days.

   
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