The Little things (II)

Story so far...

Sammy and Dede have lovers since their undergraduate days at the University of Ghana, Legon, and have decided to tie the knots soon after graduation, but the harsh realities of life would not make their fantasies come to pass. After several years of struggling, ambitious Sammy landed a job far away from home; Dede, and that was the genesis of their nemesis… Read on.

Sammy stopped travelling down south because he gets so tired travelling to and from Accra to the hinterlands which was seven hours and Dede stopped asking to see him. She either went up north to visit or stayed over at home to attend to other things. Even though Sammy owed his allegiance to Dede and was not into any other relationship, the steam in the engine was lost. He was thinking of other things and why not? 

They stopped discussing marriage; at least Sammy was no more enthused about the idea of marrying that early. All he had on his mind was how to retain his job. He needs that job forever, and was determined to do anything to keep it, which requires that he upgraded himself. He wanted to further his education at the expense of the marriage they have been planning for the best part of five years.

He was not aborting the marriage, he was still in love with Dede, whatever that meant, but he only wanted to postpone it until he was assured that his employment slot was secured, and then they could marry and live happily ever after. That’s all. Too much to ask?

True to his word, he started a 4-semester course spanning between sixteen and eighteen months, which took the better part of his time and Dede also grew tired of convincing him, that, they could still get married while he attended school. Dede was what we referred to as a virtuous woman, the kind who understood what the ideal kind of love is, and the kind most men will be happy to have. She was supportive and loving but her biological clock was ticking. She was tired of wishing to cuddle. She was tired of desiring to be loved and cared for under the same roof. What she wanted was a legit man for a companion, a man to complement her, and she was tired of waiting.

Maybe their happiness was not tied to each other’s, that’s why he chose education over marriage when it was all they were looking forward to. It was the more reason why they prayed for the job, but if he has chosen to further his education at the expense of their marriage, then it was her turn to choose immediate self-gratification at the expense of the deferred happiness --- After all life is too short to spend it in limbo. Time and tide waits for no one and life is how you make it. 

As would be designed by fate, Sammy was engrossed in school work and could not call or stay on the phone for the long hours they were used to, which came to deepen the apathy Dede was having for the relationship. To her, the relationship was headed nowhere since they no longer shared the same dream. They now have individual dreams and are better off as individuals rather than, as couples. 

And all the while this warfare was going on in Dede’s mind; Sammy was working by the clock and turning things around to make it up to her. He has disappointed Dede, once too many times, but it was to ensure their sustained happiness and strong marriage foundation and from his perspective, it was only guaranteed when he was still in employment. It was only guaranteed if he remained the man in the relationship and from the part of the world, where he hailed, manhood was determined by how much you have.

Unknowingly to Sammy, Dede had decided that is was over between them, and she was not willing to actually invest in the relationship any longer, so she stopped picking most of his calls with all kind of excuses. She has all of a sudden become very busy without tangible explanations. Normal conversations were even becoming herculean; so awkward and sometimes, they even have nothing to talk about. 

One night, while he lay in his dormitory bed, Sammy reckoned he’s made a mistake by not going ahead to marry as soon as he made some money. His thought weakened his resolve, but there was nothing he could do. He could only wish time flies fast, so he can see his dream materialize as the proud husband of Dede. 

He recalled how they met in their second year after a three credit hour paper that messed up all of them. He even recalled how they met the following day as scheduled under the trees near the Athletic Oval, where their desire to date was sparked up and since then, they have never looked back. They were perfect couples if that word ever existed. Their feelings were mutual and they appeared to be the envy of most of their friends. He couldn’t have come this far only to lose her to someone who doesn’t deserve her and might probably not treat her like the Queen she is. He has to save the situation.