After speaking to Juliet that day, we continue speaking on social media. I kept inquiring after her, and after some time, I went to visit Agogo because it had been a while since I had visited him. I told him about Juliet, and that we were speaking on social media.

“In this age of social media, texting and emailing, we have we forgotten the significance of talking,” Agogo responded. “You can always write something to her, thinking about what you will write and what you will leave out. Sometimes you may lie, and she may lie too. It will be difficult for you to lie during a face-to-face conversation, though. It is at that time when you may bring to light your feelings and emotions, and then you will be truthful, faithful, and straight.

“My son, avoid sending messages to your fiancée through social media,” he continued. “But try reaching her and having a face-to-face conversation with her. It is not good seeing that many people nowadays have forgotten to have face-to-face conversations. For other people, the only way to chat with their spouses is through electronic messages and emails. That is why it is senseless for me when a prospective man and woman who are about to be married are sharing their feelings and emotions through electronic text messages. Nothing will replace having a very good conversation where you listen to each other’s voices and feelings, while surrounded by one-to-one talk, mostly between people near you.”

“Ok, my grandpa Agogo,” I responded. “Thank you very much for this advice. Another issue is that I do not have enough money, and do you think that we will be happy even without enough money?”

“Oh Jack,” Agogo responded. “Never think that welfare is based upon your richness. You can have everything in this world and continue to be unhappy and miserable. Welfare depends on your behaviour, and upon your point of view of your marriage. Let us clean our heart from anything negative. Be satisfied with the things that you have. The best welfare is the good fitness that you should have, and it is avoiding anger and conflict with people. Nothing is greater than peace. It is peace that ensures the good health.”

I knew that Agogo was right.

**********

After some time, during Juliet and my wedding ceremony, Agogo was the happiest person there, and he was dancing with rhythmic movements of pleasure. Before bringing Juliet to our wedding night, Ba Matou called Juliet. He was her father, and he gave his opinions and recommendations to her.

I was listening to them as they spoke.

“My daughter,” he said. “You are starting your new life. You are now someone’s wife, so be a good wife to him. That is your new life, my daughter. That is your present life and your future. Your father and your mother are now part to your past. I am not asking you to forget them because they will never forget you, but I am asking you to love your husband and to be happy with him. My daughter, I want you to understand this, a clever child listens when there is noise.

“Never make known your family secrets to everybody,” he continued. “Respect your husband, submit yourself to him, and appreciate him. I know you will meet many difficulties, but never display or show your family issues for others to see.”

“Thank you daddy,” she responded. “I am grateful to you.”

“Thanks,” her father said.

After the wedding, Juliet and I started our long journey home because our house was very far from where the wedding ceremony was. When we got to the place, before anything, I recalled what Agogo had told me to tell her.

“My wife,” I started. “Everybody has gone back, and the composed rhythmical sound has ceased. Our wedding ceremony was nice, but it is in the past. It is now time for us to build our family. What we will be tomorrow begins tonight. Do not be tough with me, I promise I will not be stubborn and headstrong towards you. Sometimes I may sicken you, but I promise I will bring solutions to every problem we have.”

“My husband, I have heard you,” she responded. “I make an affirmation to you that, even in my old age, I will be truthful towards you. Keep this, my husband. My outlook and my view is to have a strong affection towards you and to care deeply about you. We shall refer back to our nice past events, talking about our unsuccessful periods. We shall talk about our planned endeavours, their success, and, mostly, about our failures, and that is what will beautify our lives. We shall talk to future generations, and that will be the way to our success. Today will lead us to the light and help us avoid our wandering.”

That is how our wedding night passed.

Tell us: Do you think money is important in a relationship?