Taxi Tales: Marriage in a taxi

It was the first thing anyone saw as soon as they entered the wedding reception area. It was impossible to miss. There was a taxi parked next to the high table.

Everybody kept asking, “Why is there a taxi next to the high table with the bride and groom?” Murmuring in bewilderment as they settled down into their seats. The newly marrieds only beamed down at their guests and said nothing.

But I did not have to be told why the taxi was there. I was only stunned that the groom had actually managed to get the very taxi we always used on our route.

I wanted to answer the wondering guests, “No, no, he is not giving a taxi as a wedding present to his father-in-law. No, it is not true that the taxi is off the road because it has not cleared its road fees. It is most definitely not true that the taxi is a prize he won in a gambling bet. I know for a fact he does not gamble.”

I wanted to tell them the real reason why the taxi was there. Because I was there when it all started. It had all started in that very taxi parked next to them.

I was a friend of the groom and the driver of the taxi. We had used that taxi for years, sitting next to each other. Every time we happened to leave our offices at the same time. It was a routine. Most times, we met up at the Esso corner stage in time.

Then one day I came slightly late, found my seat occupied, by the woman now at the high table. She would not have been at the high table but for that taxi. That Friday evening ride, when after initial hesitation, she decided to respond to his prodding to say more than just hi.

I was in the seat behind them, in the corner, watching it all unfold. Amused at first. As he battled against her Kampala chic attitude. Every time she turned to look at him when he said something. Like he was the source of an irritating stench.

Maybe that is what made him reach in his pocket for his red P.K gum. She had never seen red P.K gum and she was curious. Then they really started talking. I thought for a short while. To my incredulity, he got off our taxi at her stage. Left me in the taxi. Now here we were at their wedding.

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