Two years after praying for a job, I had a call one morning from an organization I’d had an interview with. The Woman told me I’d been offered the job but they needed me as soon as possible because the job couldn’t wait. This was far from home and it was difficult for me to find a place to live so I called a friend. I pleaded with her to give me some space to perch for a while and look for a place of my own. She said, “You can come tomorrow, I live here alone.”

A week later I was with her and within that same week, I started working. On Saturdays and Sundays, I walked around looking for a place to rent since I couldn’t afford an estate agent. For two months, I walked far and near looking for a place to live but it didn’t work out. Unbeknownst to me, the friend I was living with had only one month on her tenancy and she was preparing to vacate the place. I won’t blame her for telling me late. She also didn’t think I would live with her for that long. All of a sudden I had one month to vacate her place.

My friend suggested her agent to me. She said his charges were moderate and was able to find accommodation in no time. I didn’t have the money and I didn’t have the luxury of time too. Time is money but I didn’t have both. How poor could a girl be?

I spoke to the agent and he agreed to take me around to see the properties he had. He called and asked me to meet him. He was in a taxi with another guy who was also looking for a place. I sat next to the guy at the back of the taxi while the agent was in front. Every property we visited was a bomb. It either didn’t fit the description or wasn’t in a location we desired. The guy was impatient and was blasting the agent from left to right. It was my first time with him. I had to be patient.

For over five hours, this agent roamed with us through the thick traffic of Accra and dungeons you wouldn’t believe people lived there. At our final destination, the guy leaned into me and said, “This guy is a waste of time. Don’t believe him.”

According to him, he had been with the agent for a month and nothing had come out of it. On our way back, we laughed at the agent. We called him a waste of time. We called him the father of village accommodations. We questioned his professionalism. Surprisingly, he wasn’t angry. He had the last laugh when he told us, “This is Accra. You get what you can pay for. Show me you can pay GHC3,000 a month and I’ll get you a place tomorrow.”

Before we parted, this guy took my number and told me his name; “I’m Collins. I will call you when something comes up.”

He called me that same evening when nothing had come up. We shared our stories. I told him how desperate I needed a place. He wasn’t desperate. He didn’t like the place he was living and needed to move somewhere else. He told me he would get a new agent the next day and add my specs to his search.

I didn’t hear from him again until a week later when I was overly frustrated. Agents were eating into the money I’d saved for rent and I was scared I might not be able to pay rent even if I got a place. On the phone, collins told me, “There’s a nice apartment here. I think you’ll love it. Let me put you on a video so you see it.”

READ ALSO: We Met Online A Year Ago And Fell In Love But He’s Scared To Meet Me

Immediately I saw the surroundings I knew I couldn’t afford but I didn’t tell him. He took me on a virtual tour, showing me each room, toilet, kitchen and other accessories. He was like, “You’ll love it. This is better than everything that guy ever showed us and it’s affordable too.”

The location was good. One car would take me to my workplace but the rent was GHC750 for a single room self-contained. My budget was GHC350-GHC400. Collins was saying it was affordable but I told him the truth; “It’s beyond my budget. I’m a small girl. I started working not too long ago. Maybe someday I can but not today.”

He paid for his and moved in. We were still talking. I was still telling him about the struggles I was going through. My friend started packing while I didn’t know where to pack. I talked to a colleague at work who I knew might be of help because she had been a friend since I started working there. She was surprised I didn’t tell her all that while. She gave me the green light to move in with her. I breathed a sigh of relief while packing my things to her place.

Becky loved my presence in her life and was happy for me to live with her but I knew better to make hay while the sun was sun shining. I was still looking for accommodation when Collins asked for a date and proposed that night. I told him, “I need to sort my life out before I will look at a relationship. I can’t have a man while living with a friend.”

A week later he told me, “There are two single rooms self-contained here. Soon they’ll be gone. Bring whatever you have. I’ll top it up for you to have one.”

I told him he didn’t have to do that to win my love. He said, “Since that’s a stumbling block, let’s get it out of the way.”

I discussed it with Becky. She was concerned that I would live in the same place with a guy I might end up in a relationship with. “When it doesn’t end well, you’ll still see him and see his new girlfriend. You’ll never heal.” I said in my head, “What if it ends well?”

I took the offer and went to live in a place I could call my own. Becky came to live with me for a week later. I knew she wanted to see Collins so I introduced them. When Collins left she said, “He looks cool. I think you can trust him but you should be careful too.”

After I said yes to Collins’ proposal, I didn’t need to live in my room for a day. Six months later he said I should move in with him so we could rent my place out and get the money. I told him, “If I move in with you, I’ll look like a wife. Naaa, let’s wait for a while.”

“Are you not my wife? What do married couples do that we are not doing?”

“Then let’s make it official. It’s easy that way, don’t you think so?”

He nodded his head while looking at my face. He didn’t say a word so I was unsure what was behind the nod but gradually and slowly his nods faded and the next scene was us standing in church exchanging those vows that are as old as time. Becky was my maid of honour. She couldn’t stop telling me she trusted Collins. I couldn’t stop nodding my head and smiling in consent.

It’s a fresh marriage and a fresh relationship. We wake up each day learning new things about each other. Some of the things we learn make us say “Awwnn.” Some of the things make us say, “Eiii, is that how you are?” Sometimes we also say, “No, you can’t do that. I won’t allow this to happen.” It’s a learning curve. Steep sometimes but a man with a teachable heart and a woman who’s ready to learn and adapt can go a long way.

We are looking for a new place to rent. This place all of a sudden looks small for us. It means we need a new agent but we can’t help it but think we should call our first agent and tell him who he helped us become. We think of it and we laugh. My husband said, “We are no longer who we used to be so it’s probable that he’s no longer an agent.” I responded, “Let’s find out. Let’s look for his number and call him.”

—Mimi

If you have a compelling story to share with us, you can email it to us at [email protected] or send us a voice note on WhatsApp number 0593290182.

#SB