Tekyiwa was the very definition of the word gorgeous. Tall and plump, a very pretty face and a majestic walk. She was very pleasant, but not overly friendly. They were year mates, offering different combinations of business subjects. They sat in some syndicate economics groups so they knew each other.
Like many others, Kakraba had a crush on her, but never dared to make a move. She dressed modestly but very tastefully, and she was often seen in a chauffeur driven car. And Kakraba was certainly not from a wealthy home. In any case, girls in the university scarcely got involved with their year mates.
After National Service, Kakraba was able to enter an MBA Finance programme thanks to what he believed was divine intervention. A wealthy man who had forcefully taken two plots of land belonging to his dad suddenly died.
He had built on one, and was about to start work on the other. Although his dad had all the paperwork, all his efforts at seeking redress through the law were frustrated. His dad went to court again after the man died, and this time he was given permission to take over the property. He sold the land, and Kakraba found himself back in school, studying full time.
They met after lectures the third week. ‘Hello Tekyiwa’, he said cautiously, not sure what response to expect. ‘Hello Kakraba. What a surprise. So we meet again’. ‘Yes, indeed. Are you still working with the estate developer’. ‘Well, yes and no’.
The company belongs to my sister and her husband. I did the National Service with them. Before applying for the course, I had a chat with them, and they said they would want me to spend any spare time looking at their accounts. What about you. Who is sponsoring you?’
‘Hmmm, nobody o. I call it divine intervention. You know, my dad is a retired teacher. It was enough of a struggle paying my undergrad bills. This man seized two plots of my dad’s land and built on one, and he died three months ago.
He had frustrated all legal attempts at getting justice. Then he died, and my dad went to court and won. So we have a rather nice house, built for free. My dad sold the other piece of land for a tidy sum, and that’s why I’m here chatting with you. Someone would call it poetic justice’.
‘Thanks be to God. So what about the National Service job? Will you stay there?’ ‘Officially no. But it’s a big accounting firm. They always have jobs ongoing. So I will keep in regular touch, and take any short term jobs that are on offer’.
‘I’m going to town. Can I drop you somewhere?’ ‘I will join you to town. Many thanks’.
Over the next hour or so, they chatted excitedly about school life. They discussed their expectations of the new course, and agreed to share information and ideas.
From then, they spent quite some time together at school. They sat next to each other at lectures and went to either of the two joints close to the Faculty for lunch or snacks. Kakraba couldn’t help renewing his affections for her, but at the same time he placed a reality check on himself. Even in their undergrad days Tekyiwa was way beyond his reach, and even though they were spending time together as course mates, he wasn’t going to make a fool of himself.
She had become even more beautiful and he didn’t need to be told that her ‘market value’ had risen substantially. Indeed, as he was to realise quite early in the day, a few of their course mates had noticed her, and were looking for ways to ‘pounce’.
Several of their course mates were senior corporate executives who drove very fine cars, and some had already introduced themselves to Tekyiwa and even given her their call cards. Kakraba wasn’t bothered at all. He enjoyed their times together, and Tekyiwa seemed to like being with him, shortening his name to ‘Kay’ and bringing him pastries from home every now and then. But things took a rather nasty turn, all of a sudden.
After a morning lecture, Tekyiwa turned to him, with a grave expression on her face.
‘Can I have a word with you outside, please’. She led him beyond the car park, stopped and turned to him. ‘I hear you’ve been boasting about your exploits with me all over the place, going into some nasty details about the things you’ve been doing to me.
Listen, I thought that since we were mates in the early days we could be friends and help each other. Obviously you have other intentions. Well, I want you to know that I am not going to be associated with people like you, especially after what I’ve heard.
I knew you as a regular, friendly person, but I’ve reliably learned that I would be better off staying out of your way. So please, keep well out of my way from now’. She moved past him and walked to her car. Kakraba stood for a while, not believing what he was hearing.
But reality set in a few moments later and he smiled as he walked to the cafeteria. That was a big shocker, he thought. But it was obviously the age old ‘takashi’ or ‘communist inferior tactics’, popular among young university students, that was playing itself out again.
Some idiot wanted Tekyiwa rather badly and thought that the only way to get her was to destroy the obvious threat. Well, good luck to him.

By Ekow de Heer