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I was undergoing my mandatory National Youth Service in
Warri, Delta state, Nigeria in a law firm when my service was required at the
Department of Petroleum Resources, Warri zonal office in March 2012. Two months
before then, one of my relatives, Kemi told me about a very brilliant, quiet,
unassuming, reserved and warm lady in her university, the Igbinedion
University, Okada whom she said would make a good wife for me as a
sophisticated brainiac that I am but I shrugged it off because I hate referral
relationships. She said her name was Itunu in the College of Natural and
Biological Sciences. On assumption of office at DPR, I was in the same office
with one Dipo who was on industrial attachment to DPR and who is a family
friend of the same Itunu and her school mate.
Dipo and his other friends looked up to me and we became
quite close. He found out that I wasn't in any serious relationship third week
in March 2012 and he said similar things that Kemi said about a lady in her
school about Itunu. This coincidental twist of fate fascinated me and I decided
to take the plunge and meet this lady described in glowing words by two
unrelated people. I got her Blackberry pin from Dipo and sent her a BBM request
on 7th April, 2012. Much to my chagrin, she promptly accepted and we started
chatting and we exchanged numbers. Dipo made me promise not to tell her he was
the linksman as Itunu would have him for dinner! I had to play on words with
fear and a sense of humor regarding where I got her pin! I remember telling
her that her 'pin' was missing whilst I stumbled upon it, found it and helped
her pick it! This got her cracking whilst I lived each day with the fear that
she would one day delete me from her BBM if she runs out of patience with this
'jester' who has refused to at least be 'truthful' for once and tell her how he
got her pin.
Months rolled by and we became simply inseparable online
even though we had not met physically. The service year soon ended on Friday,
June 29th 2012 and we decided to meet in Akure en-route to my home state. The
Driver came to pick me and we stopped by to see the woman that had taken over
my heart. She drove down to our rendezvous and stepped out in her overflowing
sartorial blue native Senegalese garb looking radiant, modest, decent and
wifely! I knew there and then that she was for keeps. Within 20minutes of our
meeting, I was totally taken by her character and abundant air of grace. For
the first time, I was in love with a woman, not just because of a fine face and
shapely figure but a kind heart! We drove to Chicken Republic and she insisted
I get what we bought for ourselves for my driver- I was touched. She rejected
the money I gave her to buy fuel in her car and we parted ways after giving
each other a reassuring hug.
We remained good friends and I visited her a couple of times
in Akure whilst she was on her Industrial Attachment at Don Bosco health
centre. On one of such visits, I came to see her still asking her out. Notably,
I remained emotionally unambitious, deliberately unornate- not willing to
impress her and did not call as often as someone seeking a relationship should.
I still don't know how she became convinced of my seriousness. On my return
home on that fateful day in history, 8th day of July, 2012 she called me to
inform me that she was giving in to my dating request! I was enveloped with
great joy and I decided to give my all to make sure our relationship worked.
But then there was a temporary clog in the wheel of our love growth- I was
billed to resume studies for my Master's programme in Energy law at the
University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom. I swiftly informed her just weeks into
our dating and to my utmost surprise, she gave her support saying there was no
distance in the realm of true love! She ended it with a caveat- 'make sure you
return after your Master's programme' and I obliged.
I embarked on the trip to the United Kingdom on September
17, 2012 but kept in touch sustaining our love online with time and attention.
I visited Nigeria again July 23, 2013 to spend time with her and attend my
younger sister's wedding and returned to the UK on August 12, 2013. I stayed
back to work a bit after my Master's programme and I secured a PhD admission
with immediate commencement. I could not take it because of my promise to her
to return after the Master's programme and I returned to Nigeria on 25th day of
January, 2014. It was a happy day of reunion for both of us. She had then
graduated and began serving in my state of residence and it gave us time to be
together. I enjoyed every bit of my stay with her and had our first valentine
as lovers together on 14th February, 2014.
The next day, 15th February was her birthday. I took her, a
few friends and family to celebrate it at MicCom Golf Resort, Ada, Osun state.
We had fun, played table tennis, giggled together, held hands, took pictures,
danced by the pool side and returned to eat at their expansive restaurant. We
all ate our fill and were about leaving when I placed order for fried fish for
both of us. She complained that she was filled to the brim when they brought
the fish and I demanded that the waiter returned them and packed them as take
away which they did. She observed that the fish appeared solid and was curious
about the material used to pack them. She unwrapped one of them and found a
small beautiful box. Still confused, she opened it and found a petal necklace
with crystal balls inside. I collected it from her and fixed it firmly on her
neck. I then grabbed the second 'fish' opened it and brought out the £2100 Rox
platinum Diamond ring I had purchased in London and went on my knees and popped
the big question after reiterating my love and commitment for her and our
relationship: "Will you marry me?" and she said YES!!!...amidst
torrent of emotions and several snapshots, gliteratti and paparazzi . She was
simply dazed and surprised as there was no clue to my proposing on that day.
Unbeknown to her, I had sent those items to the resort the previous day with my
plans.
On the 7th day of June 2014, we had an elaborate
introduction ceremony at their expansive family compound. She had since
returned to the United Kingdom to obtain her Master's in Environmental Science
and Technology at Lancaster University, United Kingdom after her National Youth
service. We will tie the nuptials first weekend in December at an elaborate
wedding when she returns to Nigeria. This is our story...the story of love,
trust, commitment, fate and affection. God knows I love Itunu and I can't wait
for the first day of our lives together...
Aries usherettes Event wishes the both of you all the best
in life, and we look forward to the wedding.
