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I looked directly at the group of men discussing me for the first time. They were about four, including the man who had found a wife. Then I saw him – William. We recognized each other almost immediately. William noted “hey, is that you Clara. How come I never knew you speak Talen?” I smiled. William and I attended a six weeks course together. We saw each other five days a week for the duration of the programme. And we usually sat directly opposite each other. I knew William was Talensi. But there was no need for me to speak Talen with him. So I never did. We communicated in English – that was the lingua franca. You see, I was generally not in the habit of impressing on what language I speak. That way, I got to be amused by people talking about me in my presence with the belief that I did not understand whatever they said. I had spoken Talen only twice to two different people. The third person I spoke Talen to was the man with the charming eyes who had found a wife.
The first person I spoke Talen to was a man I met in Holland – Sibeik. You know how it is when you travel and you are missing home. There were times I could go three or more days without seeing another black face. It made me homesick. And lonely. So I was always happy to link up with other Ghanaians. My friends and I always informed one another if we met a Ghanaian and we would usually link up. That was how I met Sibeik. During the conversation, I got to know he was Talensi, and so I spoke Talen with me. He was so very happy – to meet someone who speaks his mother tongue. I on the other hand was surprised at how “impeccable” my Talen was. Growing up, I had friends who were Talensi. Mama and Bea. Mama, Bea and I however, never ever spoke Talen amongst ourselves. We spoke Gurune. So although I knew I had picked up Talen from Mama and Bea, (because I realized I understood everything that their parents told them in Talen), I had never had the occasion to speak the language. So I was surprised at the quality of Talen that emanated from my mouth when I started to speak it to Sibeik. At that time, I could not imagine that the paths of myself and Sebeik would cross again in Ghana in the most incredible way.
The second person I spoke Talen to was a teacher that I had met in a village. The thing that drew me to this teacher was his relationship with his girlfriend. The two of them were so much in love that you saw the sun in their eyes, the moon in their smiles, and felt pure chemistry in their presence. They loved each other dearly, and they were a beauty to behold. I became friends with them, although I was much younger than they were. Anytime they were together, I found an excuse to be with them, just to see the beauty around them. Love is beautiful you know. And so is seeing two people who genuinely loved each other. I spent as much time as I could with them, and they enjoyed my company greatly, especially when they realized I speak Talen. They were Nathaniel and Selina.
One day, I went to town. On my way back home, Selina boarded the Troski that I was in. I was of course happy to see her, knowing I would get to spend the time with her and Nathaniel once more. Selina however alighted on the way – she did not go to the village with me. I was surprised that she was alighting, so I asked her if she had an errand to run before coming home, and she responded in the affirmative. I was disappointed that we were not going home together, but I knew she would soon come. So when I got home, I hurriedly went to give Nathanial the good news – Selina would be coming. This is what transpired between Nathaniel and me:
Nat: did you say you were in the same Troski with Selina?
Me: yes
Nat: so why are you here and she is not?
Me: she alighted at K-Junction, she has an errand to run before coming.
Nathaniel: Did you say K-Junction?
Me: yes.
Nathaniel: (his face changes and looks like racing dark clouds that precede a storm. I had never seen him in such of rage). He fumed his words, “She definitely is going to see that stupid boy!”
I quickly countered – “I am sure she is not going to see any boy, she is running an errand”. I interrupt, tears welling up in my eyes. What had I done? I wondered. He looks at me, kindness in his eyes in spite of the rage and he tells me – “there is a boy, Yemi, who lives around K-Junction. He is Selina’s classmate, and Selina is dating him.” I start to apologise, blaming myself, for coming to give him information that I ought not to have. He tried to assure me it was not my fault. But that was not how I saw it. As far as I was aware, it was my fault that a beautiful relationship was coming to ruins, and, I could not forgive myself for it. And that was how that beautiful relationship ended.
Selina would later seek me out. I was angry with her for not at least telling me not to tell Nat that we boarded the same Troski. I told her she ought to have known I would tell Nat about her on getting home. She tried to persuade me that I had nothing to do with their relationship ending because it was bound to happen. She took full responsibility for it. I was however not persuaded. Selina introduced me to Yemi. But I did not like Yemi. At all. And I did not like her relationship with Yemi either. There was no chemistry between her and Yemi. There was no sun in their eyes. There was no moon in their smiles. I didn’t like Yemi. And I let both Selina and Yemi see that. I tried to convince Selina to get back with Nat, but that didn’t happen. I would leave that village and lose contact with both Selina and Yemi. There were no mobile phones then.
I would meet Selina a few years later – at a church programme in a different town. She was married to Yemi and they had two kids. She did not look happy. There was no twinkle in her eye, and there was no laughter in her voice. I told her what I thought. I asked about Nat. She told me Nat was also married, but separated. She lamented that Nat did not seem to be holding it together. What a shame. I told her that I did not think any man would ever love her the way Nat did, and I believed deep down she still loved Nat. She only smiled. Sometimes, I wonder whether both she and Nat would not have been better off if Nat had forgiven her and they got back together. And for a long time, I wondered if they would have ended up married if I had not rushed to Nat with the “good news”. What could have been.
So Nat and Selina were the only other people I had spoken Talen to. Up to this point, neither Mama nor Bea knew I spoke Talen. I digressed. Back to my story.
As soon as William made me out, he went straight for my luggage and started to put it in his car, amidst my fervent protestations. The other men took a cue from William and started to put my luggage in William’s car, with me protesting and trying to take the luggage back. William insisted they were either going to drop me off at my destination, or we could spend the entire day and the next with them packing my things into his car, and me taking the things out. He meant it. When I realized William meant every word of what he said, I gave up. So I joined William’s car. Mr. Charmer reappeared when we were driving off, and he joined the “convoy”. When we got close to a taxi rank near where I was heading, I asked them to drop me off at the taxi station. I was determined that they would not know where I lived. William insisted they would not drop me, but would take me home. It was my turn to tell them they were either dropping me at the Taxi station, or we would spend the entire day and the next driving in circles because I was not going to let them drop me off at home. When they saw I meant it, they gave up, and dropped me off at the Taxi station. We had agreed to meet the following day, Sunday for lunch after church service. William already had my phone number. So they would call me after church, and I would meet them at the very taxi rank we were at. I waited till I was sure they were really gone, before I boarded a taxi. I found myself thinking about the man who had found a wife. I liked his eyes. And, in spite of myself, I looked forward to lunch the following day.
By Clara Beeri, Lawyer and Lecturer at GIMPA
