"Rosa, what are we going to do about our parents? They don't want to see us together because of tribalism", Tobi expressed his concern to Rosa, his fiancée.
"Tobi, I don't know what to do again, my parents, especially my dad, keep hammering it into my ears that I must marry a Urhobo man who's from the same tribe. Our love is being put to the test", Rosa lamented.
The same way your parents are kicking against our relationship, so are my parents, but I can still talk to them, and I know they will reason with me, but what about your parents?", Tobi explained.
"We'll keep trying, we won't give up on us", Rosa said with a broad smile.
A week later, Tobi visited Rosa's parents to make his intention of marrying their daughter known but he was disappointed at their response.
Just as Tobi was about to stand up to leave, a young man knocked on the door and he was welcomed warmly. "This is Vincent, Rosa's fiancé, I'm so glad you met, now I'm sure you know your stand", Rosa's father explained.
"Mavo Omote mi(welcome my dear child)", Rosa's mother said with a smile, hugging Vincent, and immediately, Tobi left, sad and disappointed.
Later that day, Tobi explained all that transpired between him and her parent to Rosas. Rosa apologised and encouraged him to stay strong as she would be returning the following week.
Unfortunately, Rosa's father pulled some strings, and Rosa was transferred from her place of work in Lagos to Delta State, which happened to be Vincent's workplace and residence. Rosa was to resume immediately as there was accommodation readily made available for her. She couldn't come back to Lagos to pack her things. Her parents helped her pack her luggage, which was conveyed through Vincent.
This was sad news for Tobi; he was dumbfounded, and he didn't know what to say or do again. He knew Rosa's parents intentionally worked for her transfer to Delta State. He was hoping and being optimistic that they would keep up with the distance since their love was strong but he was wrong. He couldn't travel at will because of his work which makes seeing each other a thug of war in their relationship. Suddenly communication began to fade, as Rosa began complaining of being busy with work even on weekends.
Tobi never knew that Vincent resided in Delta State. Things began to change, and Tobi's hope of marrying Rosa began to fade away as there was nothing fun about their relationship anymore. They don't communicate as before, nor do they see each other physically. Rosa began to give different excuses as to why she couldn't pick up Tobi's video calls or chat with him like before. At first, Tobi was being understanding because he thought the new location might be uncomfortable for Rosa, and adaptability might take longer, but that was not the case.
One afternoon, while Tobi was thinking it all through, he said, "Is it true that out of sight is out of mind?" Is this the same Rosa I fell in love with? The one who promised me that, come what may, we will fight this and end up together? What's wrong?" he said calmly with a drop tone, feeling so sad and disappointed.
A year passed and their relationship didn't yield any good results. Rosa had moved on with Vincent, forgotten all about Tobi. She does not chat or receive Tobi's calls. This caused Tobi to stop messaging and calling her. It wasn't easy for Tobi to let go. Every time he decided to think it through, it always took him back to the good memories with Rosa, and that hurt him so badly.
Three years had passed, and Tobi was sent to a conference with a colleague in Delta State. This was his first time visiting Delta, he knew nowhere but the hotel where they were lodged. The conference took place in the hall of the hotel premises. On the first day, Tobi dressed nicely in a black suit, with black shoes, smelling lovely with his spectacles. He and his colleague walked in majestically to find their seat number as they settled in.
After the program had started, the seat to the left of Tobi was still empty, while he was jotting on his tablet and talking with his colleague, he perceived a familiar perfume which caught his attention to look up and see who was wearing such a familiar perfume. Just as he looked left, to his surprise it was Rosa, dressed in a beautiful bubu gown to cover her baby bump. Tobi was shocked, and he felt cold down his spine. "His lost lover is now pregnant with another man's child?" That was the only thought in his head.
Rosa looked up and their eyes met, she was surprised too, and all she could ask silently, more like a whisper, was, "What are you doing here?".
"Tobi smiled as he continued with what he was doing on his tablet. Though he was in shock at what he just saw, he sat calmly, smiling in between and nodding his head. Rosa was looking at all of his body language, feeling guilty but couldn't bring herself to talk with Tobi. Immediately the conference ended, Tobi tapped his colleague and they stormed out. Before Rosa could gather the courage to speak with Tobi, he had left.
The next day, Tobi attended the conference again because it was for three days. He was eager, hoping to see Rosa again but she was absent. Some part of him still wants to hear her out and give her a warm hug. He kept looking to his side to see if Rosa would come, but she was absent for the second day.
On the third day, Tobi wore a nice navy blue suit and sat calmly in his seat. When he perceived the familiar perfume, he smiled but refused to raise his head. This time, the program hadn't begun as there was a technical issue. Rosa sat calmly but couldn't raise her head to look at Tobi. Suddenly, a voice spoke out calmly, "It's nice to see you". It was like heaven opened for Rosa; it was Tobi's voice.
"I...I....I....I", Rosa clears her throat.
"Come on, speak up, I know you to be confident and outspoken." It's just me, same me", Tobi said with a smile.
"I'm sorry Tobi, I had no choice", finally, Rosa let the words out.
"Hmmm, we all have a choice though. I'm happy for you. How's family?" Tobi asked, extending his hand for a handshake.
Rosa accepted the gesture forcing a smile out. "I believe you've been well?", Rosa asked.
"Well, well, well, I can't take the grace of life and sound health for granted." Just then, the program started, and after the program, Tobi left.
Rosa wished she spoke with him more, but Tobi didn't leave a chance for that. The two moved on, and Tobi later got married to Grace, a colleague he met at work.