I can swear I just heard him utter those words “Marry me, Tracy”. I stopped short in my tracks. I paused and looked at this Adonis of a man who has just professed his undying love to me. Those were the very words I had been yearning for weeks on end for him to say to me.

But I was frozen at the spot where I stood folding the clothes in my boutique. Lost in his gape…

Lost in time… Lost to the time when I met this tall, dark and handsome man.

It was Monday’s rush hour and I was late. Thankfully, I had just called Aba, my best friend and business partner to hurry up and open the boutique early.

All was well but for my sweaty dress. Come to think of it, I had really done a professional’s job on my appearance and was looking extra hot than usual.

But that morning, the sun decided to show its face early and took my hotness a notch higher . I was soaking wet when I got to the landing across my Boutique.

I took a final look at my watch without minding where I was going. Suddenly I lost my footing. Whoosh! I was waiting for that big fall. Out of nowhere came a hand to cut my fall.

I was gazing into the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen and the most beautiful Arabian man. “Are you okay?” he said in his accented baritone voice.

I stared at him, still in exact position and said calmly “Well, I will be, if you help me up”. It was at that moment he realized I was still in his arms.  He placed me on the pavement subtly; it was at that precise moment I realized my shoes were damaged. I took it off and clung to my shoe, still locked in his gaze.

We both knew what was going on and we certainly couldn’t help it.

He ushered me to a seat on the pavement and took away my shoes. And I remember vividly the very first thing I said to him after that “Dam It, those were my favorite shoes. It took me forever to find this pair”

“I am sure I can have this repaired for you” He said sympathetically.

“I really don’t think so, please forget it I was clumsy and I damaged my shoes” I replied. I did not realize that somehow we had found ourselves into my boutique.

We stalled and stalled for time, lost in ourselves. Moments later, his phone rung and He looked at me as if he wanted to ask for permission to take that “damned” call. I nodded slowly and he moved to a comfortable location to receive his call. He returned with a queer look on his face “Please, I have to go, how I can make this up to you”

“Really, the fact that you were a real gentleman to help me is enough, thanks Mr.…?” I responded with a sweet smile on my face.

“Nashir…my name is Nashir Ansari and you are? He added

“Tracy Koomson” I looked into those rare beautiful eyes one final time before he left my shop. Certainly, I was enthralled, captivated and enchanted by this handsome Asian man.

“It was truly my pleasure meeting you, Tracy” he said nobly as he left my boutique, leaving in its wake an empty void deep within me.

***
Apparently that wasn’t the last time I heard of Mr. Ansari. He bought me a gazillion pair of shoes to replace my damaged ones and he had my size right. This doesn’t happen every day, I thought to myself every time I was with him. This was not real. He subsequently asked me for breakfast, brunch, lunch and even dinner. Ours was a whirlwind romance. He swept me off my feet in no time. He even spoiled me with clothes, dinner at an Indian restaurant, spa treatments and private jet pickups.

For me, nothing really mattered but the fact that I loved this man. I wanted him to marry me and I wanted to have his babies, because am certain they will be as perfect as him. What even fascinated me the more about this man was the fact that he had every one at his beck and call.  Everywhere, he went he commanded respect. He was just perfect. He had been all over the world, spoke six different languages and owned the biggest mansion out of town and I was just…

…Just an “insignificant” boutique owner. This story wasn’t right. If it was a fairytale then it will be alright. But in the real world, the girl with the boutique shop gets the Chauffeur and the prince.

***

So when the Princess walked into my shop two weeks later, I knew that my fairytale had ended.

“Wow, you really out did yourself” I made small talk with the tall beautiful woman standing in front of my counter. She had practically taken the entire shop. I looked at the bags of clothes on my counter but I didn’t care, so long as I got all my money I was cool with her taking the entire shop.

“Yeah, I just love shopping” She smiled at me at the same time handing me her credit card. It was at that moment that I noticed the name Ansari?

“Indira Ansari? Wow, I know a Nashir Ansari, any chance you are related?”

“Oh, yes that’s my husband” She replied “How do you know Nashir”? I was no match for this beautiful Indian woman.

I looked at her calmly and said swiftly “Oh, he came into the store”. It was a really quick intervention and for a split second, there was awfulness in the room.

She looked steadily and scrutinized me“Well, he does love to shop too, thanks , have a good day!”

And then the awfulness was gone with the wind within a matter of time with her.

 

…I should have known the man was not perfect. I just wanted to have my quiet ordinary life and forget Nashir ever happened. Sometimes life is hard and sometimes we make it that way.

***

So when Nashir walked into my boutique that momentous day, those were the very thoughts that kept ringing through my head.

“There you are, you are not picking my calls” He said in his sexiest voice. He moved to my counter to steal a kiss from me. “Did something happen?”

I looked at him in disbelieve and snapped “Yeah, your wife happened?” As if he has been caught with his pants down he said “May I explain”.

“What’s to explain you have a wife…I knew you were too good to be true” I said;

“I do not have a wife” He said coolly, moving a step closer to me.

There was dead silence

“I have three. Islamic law allows a man to have up to four if he can afford them” He explained further.

“Well then I guess congratulations are in order…three times over” came my agitated response.

“I was going to tell you about all this but apparently now is the time” He continued

“So …I am a Prince, my cousin is the King. We are a small group of people in India”

I paused. I was losing my footing slowly.

“Three wives and… a Prince”. This was too hard to believe

He nodded, as I gawked at him “ Any other bombshells you might like to drop”

“Yes, I know this is sudden but …” He crossed  the room to my side and said  “ MARRY ME,TRACY”.

“MARRY ME AND BE MY FOURTH AND FINAL WIFE.”

I couldn’t have heard him right. I was immediately transported back into time. I had heard the man right. Did he realize I was a Christian who believed in monogamy? Three weeks ago, I would have honestly thrown myself into his arms and repeatedly said “Yes, yes I will marry you”. But here I was in the present, dazed with no answer to give the man I loved, the man who has just popped the question.

It is not as easy as it looks or as easy as it sounds. This is the reality many women (especially modern women) face today. Unfortunately, several women would meet this fate.

If it were you in my place what will you do?

GC Life 101 is a feature on GhanaCelebrities.Com. This looks at various life realities in short story forms as we try to entertain, educate and inform our readers on a variety of life experiences. Articles for GC Life 101 will be filed under Blog.

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