The Puzzle
Episode 3
WIFEY’S BACKGROUND
Roseline on the other hand is from a totally different background. Her parents are literates and averagely rich. Her family is the direct opposite of David’s. Roseline is used to the kind of home where love is openly shown and both parents are so ro-mantic. They went on family picnic almost every weekend. Birthdays are celebr@ted in special ways . Her parents never missed celebr@ting their wedding anniversaries during which the children give to their parents beautiful gifts… It is a crime to forget birthdays in Roseline’s family. No, it never happened! They all bore each other’s birthday on mind…
There was one of such that Roseline would never forget, her 21st birthday. That very day was the day she wrote her final paper in the University. She alre-ady thought all she would receive was just calls and text messages from her dear family. But to her utmost surprise and amazement, her family alre-ady planned a secret p@rty for her, despite the fact that she was to write an examination that day. Being the only girl and the last child, she was the favourite of her Dad.
She stepped out of the examination hall around 3:00 pm, glad to be done with her first degree at last. All her colleagues were alre-ady jubilating and celebr@ting their success
. She just walked slowly to her hostel after taking some pictures with some of her friends. She missed her family. Such a day as this, a p@rty would be thrown no matter how little, depending on how buoyant her parents were at the period.
She got to her hostel only to see her Dad’s car parked nearby. She caught sight of her two elder brothers too, gisting near the car. She increa-sed her strides, a br@nd new excitement enveloped her. She ran into her father’s arms. “Happy birthday,” they all chorused. “Wow Dad, thanks, I am so happy!” She skrie-ked excitedly. “Where is Mum?” she asked.
“Your mum is busy with arrangements back home. We have only come to pick you princess. So get into your room, take whatever you will nee-d for the weekend and let’s zoom off.” Okay Dad! She screamed as she galloped to her hostel.
“Hey sis, we didn’t come to pick you oh,” her brothers whispered as she walked past them. “We are here for more serious business than some silly birthday celebr@nt, Alex the eldest continued. How far about Dorcas? The lady I met when I c@m£ for your fellowsh!preunion last time, you promised to talk to her didn’t you?”
“Big bro, free me oh! It’s my birthday today, plea-se try again later, will be right back.” She said and off she went without waiting for a reply.
“I told you she won’t cooperate, Raymond, the younger one addressed his brother, “she doesn’t know anything more than birthdays and cakes…” They both laughed.
Within an hour, they were back at home. Their big sitting room was filled with a small crowd, mostly family friends and relatives. Her childhood friend, Paulina was there too. They were all engrossed in their chitchat when the family entered. Roseline stole a quic-k glance around the room, the whole place was decorated with pink, her favourite colour. A large portrait of her best picture had been made and placed strategically where everyone who entered the room could easily sp©t it. She looked breathtaking in the picture, courtesy her Dad, she was very sure.
. She was filled with so much joy and awe when she saw her birthday cake, a two step white and pink cake which had a little image of her at the t©p, so beautiful a cake! The cheers from the little crowd in the room jo-lted her out of her reverie. “Happy birthday Rose!” They all chorused.
“Thank you, thank you,” she replied excitedly, tears of joy forming in her eyes. Paulina gave her a warm hvg while they both entered Rose’s room where another plea-sant surprise awaited her. Right on her be-d was the most beautiful go-wn she had ever seen. It was a long pink go-wn with beautiful silver designs on it. “Wow!” She screamed and hvgged Paulina again. “I am jealous of you oh,” Paulina replied smiling.
Just then her Mum entered. “Thank you mummy! I know you got the dress” Roseline shouted, jumping up and down like a toddler before hvgging her mother.
“Yes daughter, you deserve it, you are a good girl and congratulations on the completion of your first degree examination, your celebr@tion is double, glory to Jesus!”
“Thanks mum, you are the best,” she hvgged her mother again. Roseline was very happy, it was one of the happiest days of her life aside her wedding day. She looked like an angel in the dress and kept on taking pictures until she got tired…
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The Puzzle
By Moyoso-re Teniola
Episode 4
THEIR COURTSh!p
Rose met David at the wedding ceremony of a colleague of hers. It was exactly two years after she graduated from the University. David being one of the groom’s friend was asked to take the toast for the couple. He spoke so eloquently, backing up most of his points with scriptural references. This got Rose’s attention . She had a flair for men who are close to God. From the way David spoke and from his gestures, she believed he must be a God fearing and responsible young man.
p@rt of the reasons why Rose was yet to have a relationsh!pwas because most of her proposals had come from men whom she had rated below her godly standards. She believed that as a devoted child of God that she is, she mustn’t get married to an ungodly man. She concluded that it is better to wait for her de-sired man, a man who wouldn’t cheat on her or go violent, one who has the fear of God…
When David later sat down after the toast, Roseline went to him and pas-sed a compliment. “That was a nice speech,” she said.
“Oh thanks, David responded with a full smile. ” He’s so handsome!” Rose thought…
“By the way, I am Roseline Edwards, she said offering a handshake. ” David Evans” he responded still smiling, while receiving the handshake and added, “it’s nice meeting you.”
“Same here,” Rose enthused, glad that the man is also friendly.
He offered her a seat next to his and she gladly sat down
. They talked about a lot of things and at the end exchanged contacts. And that was it. They started a friendsh!p, and later got dee-per. David told her that he was willing to marry her and he believed God had led them to each other. Roseline who had been praying on her own and had received confirmations from God, accepted his proposal right away. So, they started their courtsh!p, four months after they met.
Though, David was still working as a sto-rekeeper at a Pharmaceutical firm at the period, with a meagre salary of #35,000 per month and was staying in a single room ap@rtment, (‘face me face trouble house’), Roseline still agreed to marry him. She loved him a lot and she told him that she believed in the days of little beginning. This increa-sed the love and respect David had for her.
During their courtsh!p, they visited each other on weekends. Either David went visiting at her place or she c@m£ over to David’s place on Saturday morning and leave on evening of same day. They never spent a single night in each other’s ap@rtment. They both agreed to del@ytheir S-xual enjoyment till when they were married and thus, they had a short courtsh!pof only 7 months in order for them not to fall into temptations.
Roseline noticed during their courtsh!pthat David was an indoor kind of guy. He ha-rd ly went out on picnics or any social events except if it was inevitable. Rose, judging from her own background likes going out a lot, so she personally facilitated some of their weekend outings when they courted.
Although, David enjoyed them but it had never been a p@rt of him to embark on such trips voluntarily.
The first outing they had was at a beach in Badagry. They sat un-der one of the trees, enjoying the cool of the evening. The breeze coming from the sea and the nearby trees was so soothing. They chatted for several minutes, eating one sandwich after the other, then they later rose to pl@yaround on the warm sand.
After a while, they sat down again watching other love birds. After a while, Rose spoke, “I love nature a whole lot, I feel so relaxed and happy when I come to places like this often.” “Yeah, I love nature too” David replied gazing at a bu-tterfly perched on the sand nearby.
“But you do not like outings David” Rose accused him, “Why do you prefer to stay indoor always?”
“Well, it had never been a p@rt of me,” David replied truthfully. “Okay, but I hope you will get used to it when we get married, I like going on outings a lot, Roseline replied holding David’s hands, “do you promise me to do so Dave? ” Okay, I will try, David answered, I’ll do anything for you my Rose.” “Oh thanks baby, that’s why I love you,” Rose replied, blu-shing.
David concluded in his heart that he would try to improve in that area, or so he thought…
A few months down the line, they walked down the aisle, they had a beautiful and glorious wedding. It’s 8 years now, David had successfully built a business empire, he ha-rd ly had time for Roseline and their daughter. Almost all his weekends were fixed for one business trip or the other.
. Rose felt so lonely, she missed the man she fell in love with. David tried a lot to make some adjustment but his business is so demanding. Though, if he was really determined to spend some quality time with his family, he could have squee-zed out sometime despite his busy schedule but the issue still remains the fact that he was never used to such kind of life. He believes the ideal model of a perfect husband is the one who can provide conveniently for his family, no matter how busy he may be, just as he had watched his father in his growing years.
It’s such a pity. They both didn’t know how wi-de ap@rt they have grown over the years in their marriage each of them pursuing his or her career. The crack in the wall of their marriage was not noticeable until something happened…
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Dear re-aders, whenever you notice a loophole in the life of a potential spouse, don’t pretend as if it isn’t there. In marriage, trivial issues can become so big and unmanageable. Ask yourself, ‘if this man or woman doesn’t adjust, will I be able to cope?’ Your answer will go a long way in determining if you will be able to forge ahead or not. It’s either you manage that weakness if you can or allow the person to go if you can’t. Little issues in courtsh!pgrow bigger in marriage.
Tbc