A stranger paid our bill when he proposed

BRIDE: Lucy Wanjiku

GROOM: Patrick Wang’ombe

DATE: December 5, 2015

GUESTS: 700

VENUE: St Benedict Kiamuiru Catholic Church

BUDGET: Sh1 million

FIRST DATE

PATRICK: I first laid eyes on her early last year during the family gathering of a mutual friend in Nyeri. Her dazzling beauty and the zeal with which she served the guests hogged my attention throughout. Little did I know that she had also spotted me.

LUCY: I caught him more than once stealing glances at me. At one time, he tried talking to me but I was too busy and well, shy, to give him audience. Later that night, I received his call.

PATRICK: Prior to that, I had wangled a way to get her phone number. However, when I contacted her that evening, she got a little hostile and brusquely demanded to know how I got her number before she hung up.

LUCY: I was extremely tired and getting a call from a strange number late at night was the last thing I expected. But despite dismissing him offhandedly, he called me again the next day and sweetly complimented me for my contribution at the family gathering. He really has a way with words.

PATRICK: In the next few weeks, I called her more often and eventually expressed my love for her. From her reaction, it was obvious she had reservations about getting into a romantic relationship.

LUCY: It reached a point when I thought he was going too fast probably because I was still a college student in Nyeri. The potent love and affection with which he constantly showered me made me start losing concentration in class. I feared for my academic performance.

PATRICK: As a result, I had to slow down but nevertheless visited her every Sunday during which we attended church and later spent time together. I would leave in the evening for Nairobi where I worked and come again the following week.

THE PROPOSAL

LUCY: One Sunday afternoon, we were enjoying lunch at a Nyeri hotel when he abruptly changed the subject and started heaping a plethora of praises on my character and beauty. Though I did not show it, I savored what came from his mouth.

PATRICK: Unknown to her, I was just prepping her up for the marriage proposal. I still recall how surprised she was when I suddenly went down on my knee, the ring in my hand.

LUCY: The entire hotel went silent as everyone fixed their eyes on us before they broke into song and cheered me on. I reflexively extended my ring finger to him amid tears of joy.

PATRICK: The moment was so captivating that one person volunteered to foot our entire bill.

THE DRAMA

LUCY: The people who turned up during dowry payment were over 500, a number that took me and my family by surprise. We had to ration the food and also accommodate tens of curious neighbors who turned up to find out what was happening.

PATRICK: Some of the people to whom I delegated wedding preparations due to my tight schedule overstepped their mandate and budgeted for more expensive items.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

LUCY: When time came to kiss the bride, the officiating priest literally closed his eyes. The video and camera crew, “unsatisfied” with the first kiss demanded for a repeat prompting the congregation to request for a third kiss.

PATRICK: The number of people who showed up at our wedding was staggering. To me, that was an overwhelming, classic demonstration of their honor and love for us.

WITH HINDSIGHT

PATRICK: When God blesses you with your dream woman, treasure her with all your heart and make your union official.

LUCY: Marriage is a noble institution which should be honored by all. The “come we stay” unions are not so good.

WORDS: DENNIS MBAE

PHOTOS: WAWERU MURAGE