THERE comes a time in a woman’s life when she has to decide who to settle with and make a go for him. Laila was once briefly engaged to her childhood sweetheart who took off with one of her close friends. Now approaching 30, she’s been involved with Joseph, a photographer who runs his own studio. “He specialises in society events and sells photographs to most of these society magazines”, explained Laila.
“The wedding reception was straight out of the pages of a magazine. The bride wore an obviously expensive gown and the wedding train was not disappointing. ‘I could get used to this’, I thought, sipping a glass of cold wine. By the time the meals arrived, I was already charged up and chatting with a couple of men on my table. At first I didn’t notice Taofik who was seated at the table next to mine but as the evening wore on, we ended up sitting next to each other.
“I’d arranged to go home with one of my friends as Joseph would have to take some photographs to clients’ offices that very day. When Taofik asked if I had my own transport, I shook my head and he offered to give me a lift. But I told him I’d already arranged for transport. If he took me home, he would realise I was obviously beneath him. I was already regretting the half truth about what I did. After all I worked very hard and was earning an honest living.
“Then out of the blues, he wanted to know what I thought of marriage. Both of us weren’t getting younger, he said, and the earlier we set plans for a wedding rolling, the easier it would be for us to save for it. Part of me was walking on air, glad he thought we had a future together. But part of me panicked. From where would I get money for a fancy wedding? A few months later, he wanted to know how much rent I paid.