Bonah arrived at Murtala before the check-in counter for AWA flight from Lagos to Accra was opened. As she waited for check-in to start, she reflected on her 48 hours in Lagos. “It was a very enjoyable and productive 48 hours,” she remarked.
The first night was awesome. Dinner with Kwadwo at the KingFisher African Restaurant and having that excellent view of the lagoon was just perfect for a first night. She could still taste the grilled catfish and found herself smiling as she remembered her conversation with Kwadwo. The meetings with various stakeholders the next day were also fruitful, and the dinner with an old mate that evening was the icing. Throughout, she was always on the lookout for the handsome gentleman she didn’t get the chance to talk to both at Kotoka and Murtala. “If only he was also going back to Ghana today, but what are the odds, especially as he had two luggages?” Bonah wondered.
Check-in was smooth, and so were the immigration and security checks. Throughout all the processes, Bonah was constantly checking if she would spot NK. But there was no NK. After the security checks, she bought two items at one of the shops in the duty-free zone and made her way to the boarding gate. At the boarding gate, she scanned the area to locate the best spot to sit and wait for the flight. Here, too, she checked if any of the gentlemen was NK. There was no NK. “Give up already, Bonah,” she told herself as she sat down and put on her headphones.
Her phone rang. It was Darkoa.
“Hey B, are you at the airport?” Asked Darkoa.
“Yup! And no, he is not here.” Bonah responded.
Darkoa burst out laughing. “So, now I can not call my sister to wish her safe travels?”.
“Yeah, right! When was the last time you did?” Bonah replied. “But D, it’s serious ooo. I am looking around every second as though I am a bodyguard looking out for a potential threat. Just that in my case, I am on the lookout for a guy that I only saw at the airport, didn’t speak to him in person but spoke to him in my dreams, two nights in a row.
“And has been praying about him since.” Darkoa added.
They both burst into laughter. Darkoa continued to tease Bonah.
“Is this seat taken, please?” a gentleman interrupted Bonah. She lifted her head to answer, and standing in front of her was NK.
She blinked several times. “Ermmm, yes. I mean no.” Bonah fumbled. And with that, NK sat directly opposite to her.
“D, yes, the green dress will be perfect for tonight.” Bonah said as she returned to the call.
“OMG! Was that NK?” Darkoa excitedly asked.
“Yes, the green dress works. Believe me. ” Bonah responded in their coded language.
“DJ, please, I would like to request Believe me by Johnny Drille for Bonah.” Darkoa teased in response.
Darkoa proceeded to sing the song for her while Bonah could only smile at the other end of the phone.
“The smile!” NK whispered to himself. This was the smile that captivated me at Bole and got me dreaming and praying for a chance to meet and to speak to her.” NK, picked his phone and texted Elorm. “She’s here at the airport, and I am sitting directly opposite to her. She’s on a call. I am waiting for her to finish so I can speak to her. Prayer up.” Elorm replied. “Wow! Miracle no dey don taya Jesus. Your prayers have been answered.” After missing the chance to talk to Bonah when they arrived in Lagos, NK spent the last 48 hours observing an impromptu fast. His prayer to God was simple. “Dear God, please let your son find this daughter of yours.” Looking back, he nearly missed God’s answer to his prayers.
The meetings with clients and partners went very well, and there was a proposal for him to change his flight from Friday to next Tuesday. Strangely, flights to Accra, the following week days, were all fully booked. He couldn’t afford to be in Lagos until next Saturday, so it was agreed that he returned on the scheduled Friday flight. This meant that meetings had to be arranged late into Thursday nights and Friday mornings. He nearly missed his flight. In fact, he was the last person to be checked in. Only for him to get to the boarding gate and sitting in one of the corners was the lady, who prompted his fasting and prayers. “Wait! Was missing my flight last Tuesday, a divine orchestration to be on the same flight with her on that Wednesday?” NK wondered. “Dear God, who directs our path, thank You.”
NK heard her say goodbye to the other person, interrupting his thoughts. He looked up, hoping that she would be looking his way.
She was.
Their eyes met, and this time, they both smiled at each other.
The End.
Bole, I only saw your smile
But I did not see your eyes.
Kotoka, I only saw your eyes
But I did not see your smile.
Murtala, we saw each other’s eyes
Murtala, we returned each other’s smile.
So, please take my hand and let’s go miles
And, I promise never to let go of your hand.