LOVE OVER A TREMBLING HEART - PART 1

LOVE OVER A TREMBING HEART

Professor Loath has been in the lecture halls of the University of Ghana, taking students through psychology year after year for more than thirty eight years. As a fan of the works of Wole Soyinka of Nigeria, any old man with lots of grey hair and an enormous sense of wisdom is to me a replica of my favorite African writer. He is a handsome old man who always keeps a smile and say hello in a rocky low tone whenever he sees his students. I admire him for who he is and the philosophy he represents. He walked into the lecture hall today but in a very different mood. He wore very unusual shirt and for the first time, a suit. What happened to this old man today? I asked Kwame. I am as surprised as you are; he replied.

Even though this was our first class with him, we have heard a lot about him and for that matter, we had high expectations.  Professor Loath carries two things with him anytime he walks into the lecture hall; his old hat and a bosom smile. Unfortunately, these things were absent that day when he walked in. We kept staring at each other. It was as if we could read each other’s mind. Everyone was definitely sensing something wrong. Finally, the professor broke the silence and said; I am going to tell you a story. This is a story of two innocent souls, caught in the tentacles of love, promises of happiness and yet, disappointed by the reality of nature, time and shattered hearts.

Even though I am a fan of love stories, I was more than eager to hear this one, and so was everybody else. We were not expecting a happy story as the facial expression of the story teller said it all. What is so important in this story that is making this old man compromise psycho 101? He must have a damn good reason for this; Kwame complained.

Prof. loath continued; a long, long time ago; the thirst for success became very aggressive when nations and states lost the sense of mercy for the weak and vulnerable. Young people looking for ways to achieve their illicit dreams by all means available. Circumstances made both the male and female to go outside their natural development process to become men, and not just any men, but men who were aggressive like the wounded jaguar looking for her little ones. This was a period that made people like Yaw Kranteng Jnr very eager to succeed in life.

The High School stage is considered an important stage of a person’s educational development. It is at this stage that academic sorting takes place. The faith of one’s academic development is determined by the number of A’s he or she manages to secure at the end of his or her O level exams. This was the easiest part for Yaw Kranteng as he was an extremely brilliant student. However, the focus of his social development is what makes his story worth narrating.

At this point, he gave a brief pause, whiles looking outside the window. It wasn’t clear what he was looking out for, but it was obvious he was not expecting anyone. He then cleared his throat and continued. 

His father, Mr. Yaw Kranteng was a visionary man. He was very smart and intelligent. He gave his son the very best of fatherly love, care, guidance and protection. Despite all these, he failed in his fatherly responsibilities to direct the social life of his son. He gave him very strict rules when it comes to dealing with his friends; especially that of the opposite sex. None of his friends ever visited him at home like others do, he never went out to play in the garden like others do as well. The worst of all, he was denied the ownership and access to any cell phone in the house till he was in the university. This made Kranteng Jnr. Live in complete segregation, darkness and an outburst of loneliness. This has always been the case for such a fine young man. As a result, Kranteng Jnr rarely talks, smile nor approach anyone because he doesn’t know how to. He was completely a man living on an island alone. He was always lonely despite the number of people constituting the crowd. He never attended any fun activity program on campus not to talk of going outside the school. His father had contacts of all his teachers, the head of his department, security and the headmistress. If Yaw Kranteng ever commits an offence, his father would always be the first to know even before most students and teachers. Even though he was a good boy and was never willing to break any school rules, his father still had reports of him not attending numerous social activities organized by the school, except the District Science and Math quiz. His father wanted him to be a medical doctor and so, he forced him to study Science. Yaw Kranteng wanted to be a writer and a Motivational speaker. He wanted to study general arts, with options under literature English and French. He would then proceed with psychology and linguistics in the University. He also planned of gaining two masters degrees in philosophy and English language literature. This is a dream that became a mirage right before him. It was obvious he was never going to be the writer and a motivational speaker that he had dreamed of becoming all his life. His father took pleasure in predetermining measures and steps to take at every stage of his academic development towards becoming a renowned neurosurgeon.

Yaw Kranteng represented his school in the District Science and Math’s Quiz for the first time. This is an annual quiz competition that brought together representatives of several senior high schools in the New Juabeng district to test the development and appreciation of Science and Math amongst participating schools in the district. This was an amazing initiative by the District Chief Executive to promote the development of Science and Math in the district. It was a very well received program by the people in the district. Parents took pride in seeing their wards show what they have learnt to an audience of not less than a thousand; constituting both residents of the district and neighboring ones as well.

Mr. Razak is the head of the Science department. He has he has responsibility of selecting who represents the school in any academic competition involving his department, and this case, the Science and Math quiz. Yaw Kranteng Jnr was informed a month before the set date for the competition just as the other two supporting representatives. He had just closed from the first science practical lesson for the term when he was called to the office of the head of department. When he walked into Mr. Razak’s office, he saw the other two students he later realized are going to be his supporting students. Sit down; Mr. Razak said to Yaw Kranteng. He said a little further from the other two students very close to the exit. It was obvious that he knew what the news was and he was not interested. But Mr. Razak was smart enough not to make an option to choose from, instead, he authoritatively informed them of representing the school in this year’s District Science and Math Quiz competition. You are one of the very best students we have, we want you to go out there and make me proud; bring the trophy. Mr. Razak said this whiles looking at Yaw Kranteng with a smile, unfortunately, he did not smile back.

Yaw Kranteng left the office almost before he was dismissed. He walked very briskly as if he was trying to avoid any pleasantries from his selected students as well as other students who anticipated the reason for the sermon. He was definitely not interested in this because he does not see it as his calling at all. As for Joseph Martey and Amakye; they were extremely happy and delighted. They hugged each other so many times whiles walking along the lawn back to their dormitory. It was a mini jubilation among their friends when they finally broke the news to all. Unfortunately, Yaw Kranteng was so much in a grief and very disappointed in himself. He keeps getting deeper and deeper involved in a profession he hated so much.

There was no need calling his parents to inform them like the other two, because he knew his father would already be aware.  He had very little to say when his father is involved in anything that he does. As a result, backing out was certainly not an option for him; instead of attempting to that that, he thought it wise to make good use of that very night to start his preparation for his first academic competition. Yaw Kranteng, despite his dislike for has field of study, had a personal philosophy of making sure he excel n everything that he does. And in this case, his target was to get the trophy for his school. He studied with the other team mates day and night. They took special lessons from their Science and Math teachers which they really took very seriously. This was the first time yaw Kranteng ever had the opportunity to work in a focus group that compelled him to interact and work in a team.

The day came when all that has been learnt has to be put to test. Seventy rounds, fourteen competitions, sixteen schools, the district math and science quiz competition promises to be entertaining, exciting and highly competitive. Let the games begin. The chairman of the New Juabeng educational committee of the District Assembly delivers an opening speech on the launch of the competition. All representatives of participating schools were present and that included Yaw Kranteng and his optimistic friends. The orientation was a moment of inspiration and motivation for the participants, teachers and parents, representatives of supporting organizations and government officials. The lead participant of the previous competition had just returned from a ten days relaxation trip from the United Kingdom as part of the first prize winning package.

The professor took a little pause and took a sip of cold juice. It was as if he needed it to continue what he was about to say. It looked as if the story was about to take a different turn to focus on the social life of Yaw Kranteng. It obviously seemed like it was going to be interesting, however, the facial expression of professor Loath actually proved that there was something to regret later. Then he continued;

To deliver the inaugural speech, the lead participant of the previous competition; Miss Nancy Abena Kumson. The thunderous round of applause that welcomed Miss Kumson to the podium was so strong to break lose an iron. A standing ovation was complimented with loud cheers; to loud as far as Yaw Kranteng was concerned. He placed is fingers in his ears to avoid what he saw as an unusual quantum of noise that could actually be substituted for a simple and a much more decent  applause. He never bothered to want to see who was so fortunate to receive that much appraisal worthy of putting him on his nerves. The loud noise of the crowd slowly began to fade out from the far end of the auditorium as the person to speak finally was behind the microphone. Just then, Yaw Kranteng rose his head to see his greatest nightmare, one that he wished he had for the rest of his life. I nightmare that never brought pain, regret or despair; only joy and happiness. He had never seen such a beautiful young lady full of so much lightening her face that made it almost impossible to stare at her.

He looked at her with his mouth half opened and eyes widely open. It was obvious that Yaw Kranteng had seen the beauty with his eyes, felt love with his heart and at that very moment, wishing to touch her with his hands. Her skin was dark but a lite lightened up. It looked very smooth and soft. Nevertheless, it was sparkling along with the huge spot lightening effects right above her that also contributed in the shiny black sparks that seem to sprinkling from her long hair anytime she swings them behind her. And throughout her speech she was smiling all along and looking at the people from time to time. This was a very strange, difficult yet confusing moment for Yaw Kranteng to take. As much as he wanted her to keep talking so as he could continue to admire the beauty of God’s creation and appreciate the emotional swing that was constantly changing in his mind and heart, he was desperate to meet up with right after the end of the program.