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17
- LANGAA RPCIG
- Chapter
- Additional Information
119 17 couple of months after Achaga’s warning, Sam married Wanja. The night before his wedding, Sam barely slept. His mind was disarrayed and his heart in tumult. He knew he had a monstrous day ahead come morning. It was much grander than when he had left home for the first time to attend Bumbe Polytechnic. It was even much more monumental than when he was handed his expulsion papers from the Polytechnic. Certainly, he knew, after what had seemed like the longest two years of his life, he was going to make Wanja a respectable woman. Henceforth, every morning when the sun peaks up in the eastern hemisphere or sets on his tranquil suburb of Maraba, she would forever be by his side. Just the thought of it made his body puckered with goose bumps even though it was already eighty-five inside. Hope, anticipation, and anxiety were his culprit. By daybreak, when the sun had spread its orange glow over Maraba treetops, Sam woke-up to a fresh dawn. His long-awaited moment had dawned. Instead of hopping out of bed like a man who had plenty to do in his day, he slowly dragged his feet out of his covers and planted them on the floor. He scooted his bottom onto the edge of his bed and, with his hands crisscrossed; he sat there in deep thought. Nerves made his head throb in pain. Nervousness also made his stomach run. He scurried off to the bathroom, only to return to his bedroom moments later. He resumed his original posture—sitting at the edge of his bed with his feet firmly planted onto the floor. This time, his left hand was tucked under his right elbow with the palm of his right hand supporting his chin. Just for a twinkling, he contemplated calling the whole thing off. Then, he mulled over his present life. ‘Not bad at all for a man, who had no clear understanding of family,’ he mumbled to himself, as long as Wanja was in it. Then, his thoughts took flight to his formative years. That was a tumultuous time of his life, the loneliest period he had ever experienced. It was a past worth A 120 forgetting and forgetting he must if he wanted to forge a peaceful future. The words ‘To hell with it!’ softly seeped off his lips. ‘To hell with it!’ he said again. His body twitched violently at this thought. Convinced that a life with Wanja was all worth his while, he added, ‘She is all I need. Hadn’t she made me a happy man and whole? What more could I ask of another human being?’ He also reflected on what Achaga had told him not long ago. ‘Yes! Achaga made a lot of sense,’ he debated. ‘But was he right? Can one be wrong on such matters? What if he was wrong? What then?’ he pondered this issue for a while. He had to be sure. No woman wants to get married only to realize she made a mistake. No man either desires to have a failed marriage. The agitation of Sam’s inner struggle was justifiable. Though it was worth noting that he knew he could not stereotype people. Stereotyping was bad, no matter how one looked at. Wanja was sweet, humble, and honest. She was much more human than his own mother who had abandoned him in his formative years. She was much more human than his father who was the worst one among his sorry lot. So marrying Wanja felt right and bona fide. ‘Yes! I shall marry her today!’ he said it with astuteness. ‘She will be mine—Jane Wanja Adooli,’ he said with a smile, his eyes widening like dark coals and his mouth falling open. Having made his decision to marry, hope and anticipation swooped at him. By then, the sun was a blaze with reds, purples, pinks and orange—a gorgeous day. Hurriedly, Sam dashed into the bathroom for a quick wash. He got dressed expeditiously and dashed out of the house to find Wanja, who had spent a night at her parents’ home. There was no wasting time. When he arrived to her home, which was only a block from where he lived, she was ready. It was as though she had been anticipating him the entire morning. When his eyes fell upon her, yet again, and hers upon him, they blazed with a mad passion. There was a...