He started developing feel­ings for her, even be­fore meeting her. He was driving from Takoradi to Accra when she first called. ‘Good Morning Martin. This is Maureen. My cousin Alice said she spoke to you about me’. ‘Yes, indeed, Maureen. Nice to meet you. Let’s arrange a time to meet in the next few days to discuss what you are planning to do, and how I will be able to assist you’. ‘I’m available anytime. Is tomorrow okay with you?’ ‘Yes, tomorrow, lunch time. I can meet you at Alice’s place’. ‘That would be fine with me. Thank you very much’. Wow, he said to himself. Such a sweet, soft voice. Would be really nice to meet her, and nicer to work with her. She would like to start her own fruit processing joint. Sounds very interesting.

They came out to meet him when his car stopped in front of Alice’s shop. He hugged Alice, and moved towards her. She also stretched out her arms and they hugged. ‘So’, Al­ice said, ‘you’ve already met brief­ly. Let’s sit. So, where do we start?’ ‘I guess Maureen will start by tell­ing us what she wants to do, so that I know how I may be able to help’. ‘Okay. I have been doing fruit juic­es on order for parties and other social functions, for about two years. It’s been quite okay, so I now want to process the juices in plastic containers and bottles. I’m think­ing of ordering a small processing machine. I’ve already located man­ufacturers of bottles and plastic containers, and bottle tops.

That’s where I am’. ‘You are showing a lot of initia­tive’, Martin said, ‘and that’s really commendable. I need to ask a few questions, but let me first make some initial comments. You must be thinking now about what fruits you will be processing. You might want to do various combinations, like pineapple and ginger, orange and pineapple. Water melon and ginger, etc. Of course, this decision will be based on supply. Can you get sup­plies of raw material in the quanti­ties you are seeking to process?

Then you must also think about the location for your processing factory, and obtaining the necessary permits. Before you start, you must get FDA approval for the products you will be selling, meaning you will have to give them samples’.

‘I have covered some of the ground you mentioned. The location is a-two-acre fami­ly land at Nsawam. My brother has been working on the per­mits. I am yet to submit samples to FDA. I will start working on that, hopefully with your help’. ‘You can count on my help for sure. I have covered some of that ground, not too long ago. I assisted several people to establish pro­duction plants, all of which are doing well. And they are doing well because they planned well. That’s all you need to do. So let’s meet and start work, as soon as it’s okay with you’.

‘I’m ready to start, even today. You are going some­where now, I believe?’ I’m going for lunch, and you are going with me!’ Alice broke into the best smile Martin had ever seen, as she got up to follow him’.

So, that’s how it started. About three days in the week, Martin took care of his consulting business all morning, then he picked her and they either went to the factory site or did errands. He was really impressed by her passion to get the project going.

She seemed to have saved up some money from the jobs she did for event organisers, and he respected that. And they built up some natural chemistry without even trying. They started going out in the evenings, and as they learnt more about each other, love seemed to grow naturally. Maureen liked to eat out, and she preferred western dishes.

Although Martin was more into traditional dishes not too interested in outdoor eating, he was willing to indulge her. All seemed to be going well but there was a small problem. Esaaba.

Esaaba and Martin had been what the Americans call high school sweethearts. She was two years Martin’s junior at Senior Secondary School, and she went to study Me­chanical Engineering at Tech whilst Martin went to Legon to study Pro­duction Engineering.

They grew up in Takoradi, and their parents were not only neigh­bours but also friends. They had kept their friendship through their university years, and their families were hoping that they would end up getting married. Everything seemed to be pointing in that direction until Alice introduced Maureen.

Although he carried a casual disposition, Martin was very good looking and serious with his busi­ness. Esaaba was a big, elegant girl who, in spite of being professionally minded, was also family oriented. She loved cooking and hoped to settle down in marriage soon. She made no secret of her feelings for Martin. So, she was not amused when Maureen appeared on the scene, suddenly.

BY EKOW DE HEER