He didn't look married
I checked
I checked his fingers
They were ring free
He was wearing a pair of jeans and a shirt
He looked young, (single young) not married you
I stepped closer to him
Trying to smell his perfume
I know perfumes very well
I know what a man would buy himself

I also know what a woman would buy for a man
His perfume was strong, very masculine and real
I taped in on the shoulder
He looked my way and smiled, his body language was open, relaxed, he was undisturbed about offering me his attention in a public place
"Can I see you later?"

I asked
He looked somewhat puzzled but nodded
He didn't say a word
We were on a queue in the bank
I was standing right behind him
His turn came, he went to the cashier and transacted his business
Then it was my turn, it took some time to resolve the issue I had
But it was done

I steeled myself from looking around for him
If he waited because I asked him to
That was a very good sign
If he couldn't or didn't
That was also a good sign
I liked him but not if he was married
When I stepped out of the banking hall
He was waiting for me in the parking lot

Out in the open
He smiled and asked me what I wanted him to do for me
Even though I drove and had my car in the parking lot of the bank
I asked him for a ride
He obliged me immediately
He was a man of very few words
He asked me where I was going and I told him
He drove silently

I asked him why he was running errands for a stranger
Was it an habit?
He said no!
Why was he helping me?
He said because I asked
Are you married? I asked him
He looked at me and drove on
I didn't know what the look meant
Was he saying yes or no?
I introduced myself
He smiled

He got me to my destination
I asked him if he could wait for me
I wanted to pick up some things
He said fine
I didn't keep him waiting
When I got back to the car
I told him I will like to buy him breakfast
He smiled and said he was fasting
He was a Christian
God fearing
Wow!

He drove me back to the bank
We exchanged phone numbers
I told him I wanted to talk to somebody
I had been back in Nigeria from Australia for weeks and I had not had a decent conversation with anybody apart from some of my family members
All my friends were abroad
I was lonely!

I didn't tell him I was lonely
It was inferred
I needed the time I spent with him
It made me feel like a woman
Made me feel I can still attract or arrest the attention of a man
I travelled out of Nigeria at 19
I returned at 29
And I felt like a total stranger in my own country

He didn't call
I desperately wanted him to
How else would a woman tell a man she was available?
Unless he was married...
Or gay...
Or in a relationship...
Or fasting..
I settled for the fasting thing
My ego couldn't take any other excuse
I waited three days
Then I sent him a text

I thanked him for his time and patience
I suggested that I would like to reciprocate
I have two movie tickets
Would he like to hang out?
He didn't respond
After two weeks, I gave up
One morning, my phone rang!
It was his phone number
I picked the call
It was a female voice

She said "Please who are you and why are you calling my boyfriend? Why are you sending him messages and trying to lure him to come to the cinemas with you?
You are a prostitute
Keep away from my man
Go and get your own man!
She called me names and cut the call
I loved it!
Wow!

He wasn't married
His babe is the jealous type
They were the easiest to dethrone
I was already slipping into depression!
I was bored and couldn't land a job yet
I needed a purpose, something to do!
Her call was a lifeline
She gave me a glimmer of hope
Things are not so bad...

I tried his phone number on Facebook
I got all the details needed
His office and her picture
I could have done the research earlier
But I didnt want to get into someone I cannot have that way
Later that day he called
He said he was scrolling through his phone and saw the call

He obviously knew his girlfriend
He knew she was a troublemaker
I milked the situation
I acted hurt
He apologised
He came to see me the next day
I was careful not to overplay the victim thing
He was grateful I was so mature
His girlfriend opened the door
I graciously stepped in

He started calling me more often
I am a very likable person
I really liked him
We had no official 'this is where we are going' talk
We just loafed
Somehow, nature won
Familiarity led to touches and deep conversations
He told me he was praying about his relationship when we met

He wanted to know if his girlfriend was the one to take the next step with or not
Apparently he met me during the fast
Apparently God has spoken
Three months after his girlfriend called me
We kissed
It was a very good kiss
Oh my God!
The tension had been building
We just erupted!

He met my folks
I met his folks
His girlfriend realised she had spoken my relationship with her man into being
She came after me
I baited her, goaded her, ignored her
She got to her breaking point
She snapped!
She came for me in front of his church
Gave me a very dirty slap

He broke up with her after that
Like I said
The jealous ones are the easiest to get out of the way
He introduced me to his pastor and his church
We picked a wedding date
Started marriage counselling
One of our counsellors was very impressed with me
He got me a very good job!

I married him a year later
Today we have two children and I keep a very good home!
There was something about him from the moment I laid my eyes on him
Perhaps it was the fast he was observing or fate
I am sure of one thing! Without a doubt, he was my husband and i am his wife!