Some years ago, in the early 1980s, a young man at a secondary school in Arusha fell in love with a fellow student.
Initially, they began studying together and slowly got to know each other. This closeness led to a gradual love affair, with kissing and in due course, physical consummation for the two lovebirds.
Consequently, a few months later, the young lady became pregnant and naturally that was dangerous for both of them.
Fortunately, the girl’s parents decided to take charge of the situation and took steps to safeguard the future of the two lovebirds.
They transferred their daughter from the school and after she gave birth to a daughter, they re-enrolled her at another school while taking care of her baby.
The young girl performed well at her new school and went on to high school, after which she pursued further studies in Hungary, where she graduated in medicine.
On the other hand, the young man also went to high school, after which he joined the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education.
He later became a teacher at a Lutheran Church-run secondary school in Morogoro. He rose through the ranks and was soon promoted to the post of headmaster.
Meanwhile, the young lady returned from Hungary and was already working at one of the major hospitals in Arusha as a doctor.
Soon, the two reconnected and continued their relationship. They even had two more children in due course.
I was not privy to this interesting love story until many years later. One morning, a young man—the headmaster, who happens to be my cousin—appeared at my doorstep in Arusha.
He was a worried man and in a dilemma on how to handle a delicate situation facing him. He wanted me to assist him in formalising his informal marriage to the mother of his children.
Initially, he wanted to introduce himself to the parents of his ‘wife’. He was worried about how they would react to his arrival, given what had happened before. He requested my assistance as an ‘elder brother’.
I accepted the challenge and also sought the assistance of a close friend who knew the family well, as they came from the same village on the slopes of the majestic Mount Meru.
A few days later, my friend came back with feedback. The parents, he said, were willing to meet me and receive my message—but only after our family presented them with a cow as an apology for all that had taken place before.
Sure enough, a week or so later, my friend and I were seen on the streets of Arusha herding a cow to the parents of my cousin’s ‘wife’. It was indeed a scene to behold.
To cut a long story short, the mission was a success and a week later my cousin was warmly welcomed to his in-laws’ homestead and formally introduced to the family. A month or so later, the ‘Headmaster’ and the ‘Doctor’ held a formal wedding.
Fast forward to two weeks ago, I had the privilege of visiting the couple at their beautiful home in the Coast Region. Both are now retired, and their grown-up children have already completed college.
This is a love story with a happy ending. I wish them all the best in their retirement.
