While booking that flight, Mr and Mrs Nwosu only wanted to arrive Lagos safely from Abuja. Nothing more, nothing less. But that was their own thought anyway – fate and indeed God have a different plan for them altogether.
While their first wish of arriving safely was granted and they were about going their separate ways waiting to pick up their bags, fate unveiled it’s own cleverly conceived plans.
Mr Nwosu had innocently picked a fellow passenger’s suitcase and was about finding his way inside the busy city when the actual owner ran up to him and demanded the release of her suitcase. Both were about causing a scene till when the second suitcase dropped from the conveyor belt, both looking so identical but the name tags did truly revealed Mr Nwosu had the wrong suitcase.
Of course both passengers couldn’t help but burst out into laughter. That moment birth the beginning of a beautiful friendship that would later move up to a relationship. It’s been 11 years of friendship and eight years of a blissful union for the Nwosus.
This goes on to confirm again what I’ve always said here that love could spring up anywhere. It doesn’t have a favourite place. People, particularly the single and searching should open up more and be expectant of a spontaneous conversation that could lead to genuine commitment in the shortest of time possible.
Come with me for the Nwosus:
1. Can you take us back to how your love story started?
Mr Nwosu: Our story started because of two identical black suitcases. We had both travelled from Abuja to Lagos for different reasons. At the baggage collection area, I mistakenly picked up her suitcase because it looked exactly like mine.
Mrs Nwosu: I noticed someone walking away with my bag and quickly ran after him. When I called out, he looked confused because his own suitcase was still coming on the conveyor belt.
Mr Nwosu: We laughed after checking the luggage tags. Since we were both waiting for our actual bags, we stood there talking. We discovered we were both Igbo. By the time we left the airport, we had exchanged numbers. It’s funny how one small mistake changed both our lives.
2. Whatwas the moment you knew “this is the one”?
Mr Nwosu: I noticed she always finish whatever she started. Whether it was work, family responsibilities or personal goals, she never gave up halfway. I told myself, “A woman like this will stand by her home too.”
3. How many years have you been together?
Mr Nwosu: We’ve known each other for 11 years.
Mrs Nwosu: We’ve been happily married for 8 years.
4. What has been your secret to keeping the spark alive all these years, especially after the arrival of kids?
Mr Nwosu: We’ve learned not to postpone happiness. If we have a reason to celebrate, even if it’s something small, we celebrate it.
Mrs Nwosu: We also protect our friendship. Some days we laugh more than we talk about responsibilities, and I think that’s important.
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 Nwosu: Whenever we’re travelling anywhere, I still tease her by asking, “Are you sure that’s your suitcase?” It has become our private joke.
Mrs Nwosu: Another habit we’ve kept is buying one small souvenir for each other whenever one of us travels.
6. How do you handle disagreements or tough moments now, compared to your early years?
Mr Nwosu: In our early years, we sometimes assumed we knew what the other person was thinking.
Mrs Nwosu: Now we ask more questions instead of making assumptions. It has saved us from many unnecessary arguments.
7. What’sone thing your partner still does that melts your heart?
Mr Nwosu: She still waits up for me whenever I’m returning home late, no matter how tired she is.
Mrs Nwosu: He introduces me proudly everywhere we go. After all these years, he never makes me feel ordinary.
8. What was one of the biggest challenges you faced together, and how did you overcome it?
Mr Nwosu: The biggest challenge was learning to balance demanding careers with raising young children.
Mrs Nwosu: We stopped trying to do everything alone. We learned to support each other instead of keeping score, and life became much easier.
9. What advice would you give to younger couples hoping for a lasting marriage?
Mr Nwosu: Marry someone you genuinely enjoy talking to. Beauty changes, but conversations will stay with you for life.
Mrs Nwosu: Don’t wait until there’s a problem before showing appreciation. Gratitude keeps love alive.
10. If you could sum up your marriage in one word or sentence, what would it be?
Mr Nwosu: Grace.
Mrs Nwosu: Two people who never expected to meet, but thank God every day that they did.