To fully understand and enjoy this story, read this first: Karma Is Real And So Is Love.
It was surreal, this man on his knees, offering me a rare diamond.
I had just spent hours in a queue, waiting for trotro. And when the rickety mercedes van finally arrived and packed passengers, it couldn’t move for whatever reason. Some of the male passengers as well as other drivers and drivers’ mates at the bus station had to push the car a while before it would start. And to top it off, in April heat, and in Accra traffic, the window by my seat was jammed and wouldn’t open. I sat there enduring the heat and the misery of slow moving traffic, as well as a fellow passenger who wouldn’t stop farting. When I reached my destination and made for the car’s exit, it caught and ripped a good portion of my dress off. I don’t know if it was the sheer frustration of it all or the oohs and aahs from fellow passengers, tears streamed down my cheeks.
“What kind of life is this?” I asked myself.
It had been almost five years since graduating from the university, and I had nothing to show for it. I could hardly afford to feed myself. I cried as I walked the short distance home, clutching my torn dress to keep my underwear from showing.
And yet a few hours later, here I was, a glistening, expensive ring in my palm. That ring could singularly change my family’s fortunes, and I found it wickedly humorous that I, the girl who couldn’t afford taxis, was about to own a pink diamond.
I had taken the ring from my Mama and shooed her away. I looked at the man who over the past few months had become my friend and confidante, uncertainty and expectation were written all over his face. I squatted in front of him so I could make eye contact, and I looked into his eyes, hoping to get a glimpse of his soul, just to be sure. I was happy Brian felt that way about me, there was something about him that made me feel safe, and gave me butterflies. But at the same time, I’d been burned before, and those scars were a constant reminder to me of how love was a risky business.
“I might need to get off these knees soon, Nadi, say something,” He said.
“Are you sure Brian?” I asked, fighting back tears.
“You aren’t?” He asked in mock hurt but his smile gave him away.
I gave the ring back to him. And put out my ring finger. He slipped the ring on my finger, and pulled me into a hug, “I love you Nadi. And I will protect you. I promise.”
I stayed there, in the safety of his embrace and let the tears fall. In between sobs, I said, “I love you too Brian, and I am happy.”
“Well communicate that happiness to your tears Nadi, stop crying.” He said, holding me tighter, crying his own happy tears.
Brian has a wit about him, and a sense of humor that can be both cute and annoying. He has something smart to say in every situation.
We stood up, still hugging. I did not want to let him go, this man who had swooped in to mend my broken heart. I held on to him, I wanted to savor every second of the moment. Me Nadia, had a kind, loving considerate man and a pink diamond. I couldn’t believe it.
Mama’s loud voice cut through our reverie, “Kelewele for everybody!!!”
On Sunday I took him to church. And on his insistence we went by my good ole, faithful trotro. He wanted a feel of it, and the one we took gave him a little more than he cared to experience; I think the driver was high on something. When we alighted, Brian said, “Nadi, I love you, and I will do anything for you, but I will not be getting on one of those for you ever!”
“Why not Brian?” I asked in mock surprise, because I had seen his reaction the whole time on the drive.
“Well to begin with you didn’t tell me there are no seatbelts, and also that they drive and stop like lunatics,” He replied.
I found it amusing indeed that little exchange, it told me how different our life experiences were, and how much work we had to do to relate well.
Three months later, I rode in a Rolls Royce with Brain to the remote coastal town of Exmouth to meet his parents. It was on that trip that I realized Brian had been very economical with the truth about himself, especially his economic situation. I watched with interest how the chauffeur greeted him, and as we drove to his parents’ home, I couldn’t help but notice how the small houses faded away and gave way to huge mansions dotted between rows of palm trees and acres of manicured lawns. As we drove up lush, green, rolling hills in what was very obviously an exclusive suburb, I turned to him and said, “ Did you forget to tell me something?”
I met his parents in their beautiful, very well decorated home. It wasn’t as huge as the other houses around them , but my, oh my, it was exquisite! It was practical for an older couple with a wandering son. And it faced the ocean. It looked like something out of a romantic movie.
His parents were very warm and kind towards me, it was obvious Brian had prepared them for my arrival. We had a pleasant dinner, and I could feel his mother trying to look through me. Throughout dinner, Brian kept bumping my leg with his, reassuring me whenever he felt me get nervous; that gesture reminded me of how he had promised to protect me. And it made me feel safe enough to calm down.
After dinner his Mama requested her own private audience with me. Brian protested, citing I needed to rest after a long journey, but I assured him it was fine. She took me into her study and closed the door.
“First things first, I know you both have probably slept together numerous times, but in my home, you will have separate bedrooms,” She said.
“Yes Ma’am,” I replied.
And then she launched into questions about my background, education, beliefs, economic situation and many more. I answered them all truthfully and proudly. Brian had warned me his mom would try to intimidate me, so I was prepared.
Then she said, “Let’s cut to the chase, what do you want with my son?”
“I don’t think I will follow,” I said.
“Brian speaks highly of you. But I’m curious, what does a vibrant young woman like you want with a man in cancer recovery, is it love or something else? Are you looking for Australian citizenship?”
“Excuse me, I am offended by that. You don’t think your son is worthy of a woman’s love because he’s been sick?” I replied, meeting her gaze.
She sized me up, as I did her. Two women who loved the same man in their own unique ways.
“Nadia if you love him, then why have you not had him change his treatment plan?” she asked.
“I don’t understand. What treatment plan? He said he beat the cancer.” I replied.
“Well he did, but in a few weeks we will confirm whether it could come back or not. And Brian has had it documented that if the cancer does come back, he doesn’t want to repeat the treatment. He doesn’t even want to be resuscitated should his heart fail…”
My jaw dropped. And I think my reaction gave her the answer she sought.
“You really didn’t know? What have you two been talking about?” she said, her countenance had changed, she was being pleasant again, “Talk him out of that nonsense Nadia, because God knows I’ve tried. And I suppose he didn’t tell you he co-owns a small diamond mine with his father. Let him take you shopping tomorrow,” She said looking at my Ghana-made slippers and tie-dye dress.
I gave his ring back to him, “If you plan on dying, then what’s the point?” I was in tears.
“Nadi, don’t cry. I will change my health plan on my next appointment.” He said, slipping the ring back on.
“And when did you plan on telling me about your mines and your businesses? I thought you were a geologist? I asked.
“I am Nadia. I am a geologist whose father happens to have a diamond mine that he’s entrusted me with. I wasn’t lying, I just didn’t want to brag.”
At the doctor’s appointment, Brian clutched my hand. He loved to hold hands and take walks, but this was a different kind of handholding. I could see he was afraid of what the doctor would say about his bloodwork. I closed my eyes and prayed silently, “God please do not take this man too away from me.”
The oncologist was all smiles when he delivered the news. Brian was still cancer free, and he was taken off some of the chemo meds he took.
In the weeks that followed, I had the best time of my life. I made the family Ghanaian meals and bonded with his parents and other extended family who visited. And we took long walks along the beach, holding hands and giggling like school children. And we snuck off to places where we didn’t have to have separate bedrooms; I was in love and loving it!
Brian roped me into his lifestyle, and patiently helped me adjust to having wealth. He taught me to drive and to ride a bike. His patience with me is a marvel. I now tell my friends to find themselves a man who has seen something in life, best if they have come close to death, because those people have an appreciation for life that the ordinary person doesn’t.
A year to the day we met, we were married in a small intimate ceremony in a small church his parents belonged to. My parents and siblings were in attendance. I pinched myself many times that day; December 2016.
In 2019, we visited Ghana. Having been off his chemo meds, Brian was no longer lanky, he was bulky, and he had hair. He had transformed into an Adonis before my eyes. My Mama couldn’t believe it was him. And of course he had his favorite for dinner, rice balls and palm soup.
I had planned it for a long time; to visit hospitals in our vicinity and pay off bills for those who couldn’t afford it. My parents had moved to Tema, so I started from there. It was my way of giving back love, for the love and good fortune I had received. My younger sister had set everything up for me; so I went to my first hospital to speak with the senior physician in charge, Brain in tow. He advised me to pay the bills for babies delivered that day. And then he told me about a couple who were in dire need of financial assistance to save their two day old child. The child had been born with a closed anus and needed surgery.
Korle-Bu was booked weeks in advance, and the doctor didn’t think the child would survive that long. The parents needed to fly to South Africa as soon as possible. But they just couldn’t afford it.
Before he could finish explaining, Brain said, “We will pay, can we meet the baby?”
The doctor went to get the child and her mother.
Brian and I sat in the doctor’s office, discussing the poor baby, as always, he held my hand and kept kissing the back of it. I was all tingly and smiling, three years of marriage and I was still smitten.
The doctor returned, with a mother and baby behind him. The mother gave me the baby, and knelt down between Brian and I, holding our legs as she sobbed and thanked us loudly. Just then a nurse interrupted and said the baby’s father had arrived.
A few seconds later, in walked a man I once loved, who once broke my heart and bullied me online about it to boot. When our eyes met, he froze. And the scene couldn’t be more pathetic, his wife was kneeling before me, crying tears of gratitude, and I was holding his sick child.
“Bentum?” I blurted out.
“Oh, is he the Bentum?” Brian asked
I nodded, “Yes.”
My husband’s eyes lit up. I knew he was about to be naughty. Have I told you how he is witty and wisecracks about everything? I knew he was going to take jabs, so I squeezed his hand that held mine, in a bid to say, “Behave!”
“Do you guys know each other?” The doctor asked.
“Oh yes, my wife knows him. This guy is the reason a white boy like me is able to get a queen like this to marry me, so all is good. We’re happy to help.” Brian said, his voice dripping with wicked sarcasm.
Have I told you my husband takes his duty to provide and protect very seriously?
Bentum got down to get his wife. She was as stunned as he was. Who would have thought that the woman whose boyfriend she had taken would be the one to save her child?
I took my checkbook and signed a big fat check to cover travel and medical expenses, and I handed it to Mrs. Bentum. She knelt down again, and this time Bentum didn’t try to get her up. His head was too bent to see anything.
“I had the impression you both had great jobs from what My Queen told me, what happened?” Brian asked after everyone had calmed down.
“The government dissolved our bank and we both lost our jobs, and they put liens on all the savings we had with the bank. And to top off we had lost huge sums to the Mensgold scam.” Mrs. Bentum told us.
And I felt sorry for her, this “polished woman, boss chick” who had probably been lied to about me. And for the upteenth time, I thanked God for the heartbreak that led me on the path I was on.
“We will pay you back as soon as they release our funds to us,” Bentum blurted out, in a bid to save face, his voice was shaking. I don’t know if it was shame or anger he felt.
“No, you won’t. We really can afford to give you this check for free and you need it!” Brian retorted.
I squeezed his hand again. He kissed my cheek.
When we got back in our car, Brian said, “ Karma set that up real neat for you Nadi, this is a sign the universe is on your side.”
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At MissKorang we strive to bring you life stories that teach timeless life lessons and, some of those stories, like this one, are real life stories submitted by our readers and shared with their permission. Identifying attributes are edited out to protect our contributors’ privacy.Can you leave your thoughts with these kind people in the comments? If you want to send us your experience, email us at submissions@misskorang.com. Or submit using this anonymous form. Please do not reproduce any part of this content without permission from us. Our stories contain affiliate links. When you click and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Help keep my stories free! Do you shop on AliExpress? Kindly Click here to support me. I am an AliExpress Associate so when you click my link and shop, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. And that is how I keep my stories free.
At MissKorang we strive to bring you life stories that teach timeless life lessons and, some of those stories, like this one, are real life stories submitted by our readers and shared with their permission. Identifying attributes are edited out to protect our contributors’ privacy.Can you leave your thoughts with these kind people in the comments? If you want to send us your experience, email us at submissions@misskorang.com. Or submit using this anonymous form. Please do not reproduce any part of this content without permission from us. Our stories contain affiliate links. When you click and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
At MissKorang we strive to bring you life stories that teach timeless life lessons and, some of those stories, like this one, are real life stories submitted by our readers and shared with their permission. Identifying attributes are edited out to protect our contributors’ privacy.Can you leave your thoughts with these kind people in the comments? If you want to send us your experience, email us at submissions@misskorang.com. Or submit using this anonymous form. Please do not reproduce any part of this content without permission from us. Our stories contain affiliate links. When you click and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
