Eka’s story - Season 1 - Episode 47

Episode 4 years ago

Eka’s story - Season 1 - Episode 47

BREATHTAKING

The preaching didn’t take too long. Eka and Dr. Gerry had convinced him to make his sermon brief. While he delivered his tailor-made sermon, in-between, he studied the couple whom he was about to pronounce man and wife. He could tell the both of them could not wait to have the nuptial cord tied as man and wife. He had not seen a couple who were that much into each other on their wedding day. He had seen many about-to-wed-couples; they usually were focused on whether the plans for the day were going as planned. However the two who sat before him were engrossed in each other. He had not seen that before, they almost distracted him from his sermon. They smacked of couples from fairy tales. They should have been looking at the preacher while he preached, but they were busy looking at each other. He watched Dr. Gerry as his eyes followed every contour on Eka’s sublime sexy body, which her fitted wedding gown did well to amplify.


Eka on her part was doing her best to keep her racing mind quiet. Dr. Gerry’s suit accentuated his figure and made him look like a mini hunk. He could tell Eka was admiring his chest and so he pushed it out for her to get a good look. His biceps seemed to pulsate under his tight fitted suit. Though they were in the church, their thoughts however had strayed far away. Eka pouted her lips and blew him a kiss. Dr. Gerry returned it with a louder kiss to the air. The preacher had to cough loudly to get their attention. For a moment their minds readjusted to the church scene. If any one of them had been asked what the preacher said on that day, they would not have been able to volunteer a word. They just couldn’t wait to exchange wedding vows and slip the wedding rings on their fingers.

“I haven’t seen a couple who are more interested in each other than in their wedding plans as this two before me are. I guess we just have to get them wedded; clearly we are wasting their time. If I was as in love as they are with each other, I might feel the same,” said the preacher. As rounds of laughter and hand claps followed the preacher’s observation, Eka t----t her fist forward and said. “Yes!!” Finally the moment they had been waiting for had come. Eka did not expect the feeling which overtook her. As she stood before Dr. Gerry for his vows and wedding ring, her heart began to beat fast. Without her consent, her eyes moistened. When the preacher asked for them to exchange vows, Dr. tried to speak but felt a lump in his throat. They just could not believe their luck that they were getting married to each other.

Expectantly, the congregation waited for the flustered couple to pull themselves together and exchange their wedding vows. Eka and Dr. Gerry were airborne; especially Eka. She was overwhelmed at the prospect of receiving the wedding ring from the man of her dream. She tried to hold back her tears but could not. She had to let it all out. Simbi was expected to rush forward and provide her with a handkerchief to wipe her tears but she had her head bowed and wipping tears of her own. Somehow all she could see at that moment was the Eka who was thrown out naked into the street on that rainy day. Dr. Gerry’s mother shot herself forward and gladly wiped Eka’s tears. She was meant to give them some space to exchange their vows but she would not budge the moment she came close. The preacher had to persuade her to give them some space. Grudgingly she took a few steps backward. In the front pews, Eka’s parents were in tears with their heads bowed. They were having a tough time trying to forgive themselves.

The both of them having regained their composure, Dr. Gerry made his vows known to Eka, “ When I met you in need, helpless and abandoned in that hospital, I did not know you will come to seal my heart this much. You are my best friend and one true love. There is still a part of me today that cannot believe that I’m the one who gets to marry you. I see these vows not as promises but as privileges: I get to laugh with you and cry with you; care for you and share with you. I get to run with you and walk with you; build with you and live with you. I promise to love and care for you, and I will try in every way to be worthy of your love. I will always be honest with you, kind, patient and forgiving. But most of all, I promise to be a true and loyal friend to you. I love you Ekaette .”

While Dr. Gerry read out his vows to Eka, tears flowed and she made no effort to wipe them. Done with his vow, Dr. Gerry waited for Eka’s vows. His eyes were teary, and he fixed them on the drop-dead beauty which would become his wife in minutes. His words were true; he still could not believe he was the one who got to marry Eka. Eka stepped closer and took his hand in hers. The touch of her hand made him quiver. With her eyes fixed on his, she said, “ On this day, I give you my heart, my promise; that I will walk with you hand in hand wherever our journey leads us. Living, learning and loving each other together forever. I am glad to give you my life today. You found it when it seemed worthless, when everyone rejected me; you valued me and preserved me. Now I lay my life on this altar as yours. I take you to be my husband and lover for life. I promise above all else to live in truth with you and to communicate fully and lovingly. I give you my body and my heart as a sanctuary of warmth and peace; and pledge my love, devotion, faith and honor as I join my life to yours .”

Having said their vows the preacher led them to exchange wedding rings. The moment Dr. Gerry slipped the ring on Eka’s finger, she vibrated. Her mother in-law took a step forward, but the preacher motioned for her to stay back. That was not the time to kiss, but Eka felt drawn to kiss him at that point.


She had to stop herself. When her turn came and the preacher’s voice echoed, “Bride, as you place the ring on Groom’s finger, please repeat after me…” Eka inched closer to Dr. Gerry and repeated the words of the preacher. Behind them people wiped their tears away; those who really knew their story, especially that of Eka, cried rivers of joyful tears.

With the wave of the preacher’s hand, Dr. Gerry took Eka in his hands and kissed her passionately. Eka wrapped herself around him for the length of the kiss. For some time it seemed the preacher would not stop them; he just smiled and clapped his hands.

There was no music playing, but Dr. Gerry’s mother was busy dancing. Ema, Christy, their husbands, Sammy, Simbi, the bridal train and the groomsmen were all up on their feet clapping.While Eka and Dr. Gerry held each other in a kiss, there was an uninvited guest who slipped into the church auditorium.

She was expected to be serving her term in the prison. Quietly she sat at the back of the hall and watched the couple for a moment. Quite unlike her, she stood to her feet and joined the congregation in clapping and cheering on the couple as they kissed each other. Uncharacteristic of her, there were a few tears in her eyes. She had to remove an handkerchief from her purse and dabbed the corners of her eyes. Her name was NK.

When events shifted outside and the couple began to take pictures with guests; NK emerged from the crowd, sq££zed herself in-between Eka and Dr. Gerry and shouted, “Cheese!” with tears in her eyes as multiple camera shutters clicked, snapping them. Ema and Christy did not see that coming. NK’s change of heart was a blast from the blue. When Ema and Christy came closer to her, all she could say was, “I am sorry! I am very sorry!” as she shook and sobbed soulfully. The two sisters put their hands around her and led her away. Eka and Dr. Gerry stood speechless looking at each other in disbelief. Perhaps their arch enemy must have broke out of jail just to attend their wedding.


The reception was a show stopper. The ceiling of the reception hall was draped with brightly colored fabrics. In-between the fabrics, flowers in intricate raffia baskets were suspended in lush arrangements a few feet above guests’ tables. The floor of the hall which had polished hardwood heightened the beauty of the flowers and the fabrics hanging from the ceiling. For table numbers and labeling, Dr. Gerry and Eka chose to use the name of fruits; a reference to the days when Eka sold fruits in the streets. So they had ‘Apple’, ‘Orange’, ‘watermelon’ etc tables. The table names were written in stylishly designed cards which were set on each table. They had a lounge area in their reception space with some rented furniture, and had them covered with their favorite patterned fabrics. There was also a stunning focal point that doubled as a photo backdrop. It had layers of different colors, shapes and elements made for guests to marvel at. It was made with materials like tissue paper tassels, balloons, and paper flowers.
Eka brimmed with joy and happiness; there was no way some other person in the whole wide world was happier than she was that day. When it was time to dance, she had Dr. Gerry swept off his feet with her brand new moves. Simbi had seen to it that she got her dance moves polished. For Dr. Gerry he did not care who won the dance or what went on in the reception hall. He just could not wait to take his wife home. Amid her joy, Eka forgot that a surprise was coming her way. When the after-wedding party was over, Dr. Gerry and Eka left home to pack their stuffs for honeymoon, and Eka remembered the surprise Dr. Gerry had promised her. “Baby what happened to the nasty surprise you had in stock for me?” “I had to call it off during the wedding reception. Simbi told me what you had to go through in the church when I was held up in traffic. Besides her threatening me, I could not find it in my heart to go through with it. I am really sorry for that delay; it was never part of my plan.” Both of them were on the bed, and so Eka rolled on top of him and kissed him for very long time. After she broke from the kiss, she asked, “What did Simbi tell you she would do if you stuck to going ahead with your surprise?”

“She folded her fingers into gun shape, pointed it on my forehead and told me she would shoot me if I put you through another round of harrowing experience. The way she sounded I think she meant it. That girl sure knows how to protect you.” “I love Simbi with all my life. I am where I am today because of her. I will never be able to repay her.” Changing the topic she asked, “What was the surprise you had in store for me?” “I was going to play dead this night. Sammy was meant to find me dead in our hotel room.” Eka gave him two punches to the chest and said, “Who told you I would give you the chance to play that trick on me?” “We had it all planned out.Simbi was going to take you away for us to set it up.” “What!!! Was Simbi part of it?!” “She knew what was coming your way that was the reason she told me not to do it.” “I am going to kill her when I get back from my honeymoon.” Sitting on top of Dr. Gerry, Eka landed a few more punches on his chest. “Are you aware that would have killed me if you had done that?” “I am glad I did not go ahead with it.” Standing to her feet, Eka turned her back to Dr. Gerry and asked him to help her get out of her after-wedding dress. Dr. Gerry’s hand shook and his heart raced as he began to remove her clothes.


THE END