Why my marriage failed

Part 7

By Henry

I managed to secure a chance at United States International University (USIU) as a senior lecturer at the School of Science and Technology.

I got my first degree, Bachelors of Science in Data Science and Analytics from the same institution and went to further my second degree, Masters in Data Science at New York University, America. Also, I managed to earn my Philosophical Doctorate in Data Science at Queensland University in Australia.

I came back to my motherland to proceed with my lecturing career, this was after the outbreak of Covid 19 globally. I told myself that; if I die early, let me die at home before this virus attacks me in a foreign land.

Back at home, my father was happy with my academic achievement but sad with my marriage's poor performance.

‘Son why can’t you get a woman of your choice and marry?’

‘Dad I will marry when the right time comes.’

‘No son, do something, get someone who is brilliant like you please.’

My mother left me under the care of dad and left to the market never to be seen or heard anymore. My father did not want to hear anything about my mum. By the time she left, I was two years old only.

Dad took it from there and promised not to marry again. He said that his youthful struggles would not allow him to see me suffer, that’s why he decided to educate me.

I did stay home for a long, after several applications attempt, I got a chance to teach at USIU. I was staying at Jacaranda Avenue, Lovington and my academic programs were flexible. Most of my classes were online.

I was doing my end month shopping at West Gate, Westlands, and met this beautiful lady. Her purse had fallen down. I decided to help her pick it. Our eyes got stuck on a slow-motion-like movie.

‘Excuse me…’

‘Sorry madam, let me help you to pick it…’

‘Mmmh…

‘Thanks, you are a gentleman…’

‘Thanks for your compliment. Here is my card. Call me whenever you are free.’

To cut the long story short, I started seeing Shanna . We meet at a high-end cafeteria around Nairobi city.  Two Rivers used to accommodate us every Sunday, mostly Carrefour Markets. We used to buy some apples, pineapples, and oranges. She was staying at Muthaiga with her mother.

She was the only daughter to her parent and I was also the only son to my father. Our stories on upkeep mostly were surrounded by the school. I decided to invite you to my house for dinner.  She was happy with my preparation of ugali and nyama fry. We also had a Sukuma Wiki and some Matunda that night. She spent that night in my place and it was a memorable night.

One day she invited me to Kempinski Hotel, Westlands. She ordered a blended mango juice, natural without additives. On my side, I had Fanta Orange. I was cool as usual, staring at this beauty in front of me.

‘Take your soda please, don’t steer at me like that. You make me look like a stranger in this place.’

‘Oh no! Don’t say like that. Am attracted to your beauty…’

‘Stop that, please. I need to share something with you.’

‘Go ahead my dear. Am listening.’

‘Okay. Am carrying your baby. It’s a boy child and this is the doctor’s report from Agha Khan Hospital…’

‘Oho my goodness. My dear, you have made me proud. Why have kept this secret for three months?’

I was very happy at that moment. Very happy and not just happy. Since there was a government restriction on traveling, we agreed to take care of the pregnancy than later on move to the upcountry to see my people.

Cultural I messed up by getting someone daughter's pregnant without first getting the parent's and elders' approval and blessing. But am a grown-up. I know, I will be given a fine for two bulls without blemish, a goat and chicken. I think this is bribery to the elders but it was my culture. Her mother didn’t have an issue with her daughter being in that condition. I promised the mother, I will take care of the pregnancy and I stood to that.

The little boy, Rar we named him was four months old now. Traveling restrictions were removed two months ago and we decided to visit my people in the village. I went with her then after four months, her people were to come on dowry negotiations.

My dad was hospitable when I came home with someone. He has never been so happy as today. He prepared uji for mother and child first. He believed that this was better than chai. He was in the kitchen with the help of her elder sisters. He informed them that I was coming home.

On a Friday evening, he called the village elders and some friends to come and help appease the gods for a crime done; impregnating a girl before getting blessings. This was done and it took almost three hours. I had everything needed for this function to be done successfully.

The second service was getting the girl's family history then finally get the elders' blessing of being husband and wife.

Shanna's time came of giving her family history. She understood her mother's lineage. I felt happy as she talked to elders and answering their questions step by step. It was very dark and the night creatures' sound had owned the darkness. I saw my father standing up, clicking and he even started crying. When I asked the elders what was happening here, their heads were facing the ground. My aunties covered their heads with leso.

‘Son, the mother to Shanna was my wife, your biological mother…

    Photo Courtesy: Google