The Efes: Met at a ‘buka’ while seeking shelter from heavy downpour in Warri, now they’re husband and wife

We can all claim this life is unscripted but some things happen and you begin to wonder how it does if there was no multi award winning movie director somewhere plotting our next moves and eventual outcome.

If not, how do you explain Mr A and B leaving their separate houses at different time with different motives only to end up at seat partners moments later on the only available table and chair at a local food restaurant (also called buka in local parlance) after a heavy downpour forced them to seek refuge there?

Both had no idea of their existence before that day. But here they are sitting opposite each other and occasionally stealing glazes at each other till they were forced to actually strike some conversation.

From knowing nothing about each other, the emergency buka ‘refugees’ ended up knowing sizeable information about themselves and even having each others contact! Oh, what a beautiful evening downpour of romantic conversation, on-the-spot friendship and ……. you can fill in the gap🥰

When that divinely orchestrated situation happened some eight years back, nobody knew it was to unofficially announce and join two single loving souls together. What happened thereafter were the usual formalities. It’s been six years of waking up next to each other and repeatedly saying ‘I do’ every single day.

You wanna hear the full gist? Come with me please!

 

1. Can you take us back to how your love story started?

Mr Efe: We met at a small buka in Warri. It was raining heavily that evening, and we both rushed inside to wait for the rain to reduce. There was only one empty table, so we ended up sitting together.

Mrs Efe: I was actually annoyed because I was hungry and the rain was delaying me. He made a funny comment about how the rain had turned everyone into prisoners, and I laughed. That was how we started talking.

Mr Efe: We spoke about work, family and where we were from. Before we left, I asked for her number. I wasn’t expecting anything serious at first, but I was happy I met her.

 

2. What was the moment you knew “this is the one”?

Mr Efe: I knew when I saw how she handled money. She was careful with what she had and didn’t try to impress people. I liked that about her.

Mrs Efe: I knew when I noticed that he was very intentional about keeping his word. Even when it was something small, if he said he would do it, he did it.

 

3. How many years have you been together?

Mr Efe: We have been together for 8 years.

Mrs Efe: We have been married for 6 years.

 

4. What has been your secret to keeping the spark alive all these years, especially after the arrival of kids?

Mr Efe: We try to enjoy each other, not just manage the house together. Sometimes we sit outside in the evening and just talk.

Mrs Efe: We also give each other breaks when we are tired.

 

5. How do you both make each other feel special, even in small ways? What fun habits have stayed with you throughout your marriage?

Mr Efe: She knows I like early morning tea, so if she wakes up before me, she sometimes prepares it and leaves it for me.

Mrs Efe: He likes sending me pictures of random things he sees during the day because he knows I will have something to say about them. We also have a habit of rating the food whenever we eat somewhere new.

 

6. How do you handle disagreements or tough moments now, compared to your early years?

Mr Efe: We don’t involve other people in every disagreement anymore. We try to settle things between ourselves first.

Mrs Efe: We have learned that you don’t have to finish every argument before going to sleep. Sometimes you just need to calm down and continue the conversation the next day.

 

7. What’s one thing your partner still does that melts your heart?

Mr Efe: She always notices when I am worried, even when I don’t say anything. She may not ask too many questions, but she knows how to make me feel better.

Mrs Efe: He remembers the things that matter to me. Even after six years of marriage, he can surprise me with something I mentioned months ago.

 

8. What was one of the biggest challenges you faced together, and how did you overcome it?

Mr Efe: Moving to a new area after our marriage was difficult. We had to start building our lives again and adjust to many new things.

Mrs Efe: We just took it one step at a time. We talked about what we wanted, planned together and supported each other when things became difficult.

 

9. What advice would you give to younger couples hoping for a lasting marriage?

Mr Efe: Don’t rush to prove that your marriage is perfect. Every couple has difficult days.

Mrs Efe: Don’t stop dating each other after marriage. You may have children and responsibilities, but you are still husband and wife.

 

10. If you could sum up your marriage in one word or sentence, what would it be?

Mr Efe: Home.

Mrs Efe: It started with us hiding from the rain, and somehow we became each other’s shelter.