Disqualified – Part 4     

After returning from work the following evening, Afrakoma and Beesiwa were having supper when there was a knock on the door. She went to open it, and Beesiwa’s parents entered.

They moved awkwardly to the dining table and after a moment’s of hesitation, they both knelt down.  ‘Beesiwa and Afrakoma, we have come to beg you. We are not asking for forgiveness.

 Beesiwa, we are begging you to find it in your heart to come home, because it will look very disgraceful that our only daughter is living with her friend when her parents are only a few metres away. We beg you in the name of God. Please come home. We will not interfere in any part of your life, going forward. We beg you, Beesiwa’.                                                                                                                     ‘Daddy and Mummy’, Afrakoma said, ‘you are here begging her to come back home, to avoid disgrace. But do you realize what Sammy has done to her, thanks to your lust for money? Beesiwa was keeping her innocence for the man God has prepared for her.

She made it clear that she was not happy with this man. And he clearly showed his character when he came to your house on both times drunk. You pressurized her to go with him, because you had been taken monies from him. What did you need the money for?

Please allow her to put herself together. Give her some days, then she will take a decision’. The two parents got up and walked away.                                                ‘Many thanks, Afrakoma’, Beesiwa said after they left. ‘You echoed my very thoughts. I don’t know how I can go and live with them again, even though they are my parents.

And Afrakoma, it will take me a very long time before I consider the idea of a relationship with a guy, let along marriage’.                                                                                                                                               ‘I understand you, Beesiwa. But just relax for now. Leave it to God. He will wipe away your tears, and give you a fresh start. Your experience has been horrible, but you will overcome’.

After several discussions which involved elders of the Presbyterian Church and Afrakoma’s parents, it was agreed that Beesiwa would spend her time with Afrakoma and her parents.

Beesiwa took a six month leave without pay from work, and opened a shop selling items for catering events: take-away containers and cutlery, disposable napkins and several other things.

She only made a modest profit, but it offered her a peaceful means of overcoming the trauma she had experienced at the hands of Sammy. She went to church on Sundays, but she avoided any interaction with young ladies and young men.

She firmly rejected any advances from men in the neighbourhood. So when they returned from church one Sunday, three years after the unfortunate event with Sammy Abrokwa, Afrakoma decided to act.

After they had enjoyed Beesiwa’s favourite Fante kenkey and garden egg stew, Afrakoma gently introduced the subject. ‘Beesiwa, you and I are more than sisters. It’s been three years since the unfortunate incident with Sam Abrokwa.

I have been praying, and I think it is time for you to put those unfortunate incident before you, and move forward. You are certainly a very beautiful girl, with a beautiful character.

Many decent young guys would be happy to have you for a partner, and I think you should give someone a chance. You need to get a decent job, and I believe in the process, you will meet a decent young man to marry. ’.                                                                                 ‘Afrakoma, I certainly appreciate what you and your husband Mark have done for me. I agree that it is time I opened up.

I will start exploring job opportunities, and open up to people who show up with enough indication that they are genuine. I am not particularly concerned with wealth, but I would like to meet a genuine person who is husband material. A few guys have approached me, but I am taking my time’.                                                                                  

‘I’m very glad to hear this. But Beesiwa, your own uncle Wofa Kwame came to discuss something with me. He works with a young engineer who is in estate development.

He is quite wealthy and hardworking, but according to Wofa Kwame, he is a very humble person, extremely funny, and he is suggesting that you meet him. He is called Kakraba Forson, and interestingly Wofa Yaw heard him mention that he would like to employ a personal assistant. He runs a small but successful property and Project Company’                                                                            

‘Well, Afrakoma, I don’t have any problem meeting him. I respect Wofa Yaw, so I know he means well for me. So how do I meet him?’                                                                                       ‘Let’s speak to Wofa Kwame. I’m sure he will arrange a meeting.