We were entering the second year of our relationship and life was just about starting for us. We had completed National service and waiting to get a job. My girlfriend, also my classmate was all I had. Since we were both unemployed, we had a lot of time to spend together. She would come to my house sometime and would spend the whole weekend with me.
One morning, she called me with worries in her voice. I asked, “What is the problem?” She said, “My dad. He’s on my neck again. Can we meet this evening? There is a whole lot we could talk about.”
That evening, we met at the place we usually meet. We met there often because they sold cheap pizza and drinks and it was all we could afford. She said, “Dad thinks I’m wasting my time with you. He has started introducing me to his friend’s son who is in abroad. I’ve told him I’m not interested but he thinks we are classmates and marriage between us would take so long to happen.”
That was the second time she had told me about his father’s doubt about us and it hit me like thunderbolt each time she said it. We had left the cheap pizza place and were walking home when it started to rain. We ran and stood under a tree for cover. The tree didn’t do much but it was better than nothing. I told her, “Your dad has a point. You are his only daughter and he wants the best for you. Yes, it takes time but trust me, I only need a job and this marriage thing would happen.
I had a job a year later. She also had a job. Two years after I’ve had a job, we got married on her 27th birthday. It was 24th December.
We are six years into our marriage now, two kids and stable jobs. We couldn’t have asked for more. Two years ago, I took her to the cheap pizza place on her birthday. We laughed while talking about our beginning. It was time to drive home. I held her hand and asked her to walk with me. When we got under the tree I said, “Too bad it isn’t raining today but nothing is lost.”
Looking at her face, she had no memory of what I was trying to do. I told her, “Many years ago before we were a thing, we stood here. You told me about your dad’s fears for our future. Here we are now. What do you say to your father?” She screamed “Aaaahhh, you still remember that? Well, as you told me, my dad had a point. I’m his only daughter. Maybe what he said made you work harder. I’m happy for how we turned out.”
She spoke no lie. Her father’s doubt for me—for us was the wind beneath my sail.
—Paa Kow
