The Man Who Married A Mosquito

The wedding card invitations were sent. People saw it on television. People read it in the newspaper , they read it again and again but couldn't believe what they had read . Everything announced became the talk of the town . In busses , in restaurants , in schools and in synagogues everyone talked about the wedding , the date of the wedding 17 March between a man and a mosquito . The wedding cards read , " You are cordially invited to the wedding of Mr and Mrs Banda's second born son Gabriel Banda who is getting married to the family of mosquitoes , Gabriel is wedding the one year old mosquito they met on River Ruvuma last month . After the officiating ceremony the couple will be cerebrating at Comesa Hall ." The card read like that . The tv advertisement said like that . The radio announcement was heard like that . As days drew closer to 17th March everyone including those that had no interests in attending weddings vowed to see this wedding . Samuel Phiri a 49 year old carpenter was reading page four of the Daily Times and his eyes saw it then he motioned his right hand beckoning his wife to come and see , " I think this man is trying to make fool of everyone, how can he marry a mosquito ? ." Samuel's wife joined the chorus , " for heaven's sake , where is this world heading to ? How on earth can someone do that ? " They both shook heads staring at each other in awe . Just before Samuel closed the page there came a group of people passing by and talking about the same wedding . " These are signs that the world has gone mad ." One passersby said. On 17th March the roads leading to the wedding hall were blocked by crowds of people . Thousands of people travelled from all over the country to hear about this wedding . Animal rights' protesters were marching against this wedding . Bill boards read , " Gabriel Banda , Get A Proper Wife Leave Our Mosquitoes Alone." Across ten kilometres the roads were full , everyone wanted to see. When about 9.00am in the morning there came the limousine , the man of the day Gabriel dressed in brown suit with a hat and glasses . He stepped out of the limousine his shiny shoes as if he was a prince . Music band from most famous band of the country was playing . The procession entered the church , crowds gathered inside the church looking with anticipation to see the lucky mosquito . There came the man walking majestically on his left hand holding a test tube . People had never seen this madness . At the front bench the Reverend Bishop Kwacha Tichezenawo asked Gabriel some questions." Gabriel do you agree to love mosquito as your wife , in health and in sickness ? " Gabriel's happily said , " Yes I do .' Bishop Kwacha Tichezenawo asked , " Gabriel , do you swear that you and mosquito from today on you will be one body ? " Gabriel smiled , " Yes I do ." One person at the back shouted , " Gabriel, you are insane! ." The crowd murmured and whispered to each other with shock , " The poor boy is mad , the police must deal with this madness." After the exchange of vows Gabriel hugged the test tube and the mosquito was visibly flying up and down . In the afternoon , it was time for the wedding party . The journalists from all over the country took turns taking photos . How on earth a man spends a million kwacha wedding a mosquito was utterly foolishness , thought one reporter from the BBC Africa . It was time for snacks and speeches . The man held the test tube where the mosquito was and heads of people shook left and right as he stood up to speak . " I will tell you about my sweet heart mosquito. My sweet heart is suffering from a condition known as Agorafobia which means she gets very ill and loses breaths when she comes in contact with the crowd . " The crowd laughed at his speech . A man and a wife said loudly , " Now his lover the mosquito is shy to see people , you see darling how madness has rained today .' Some people swore at the Bishop who blessed the wedding , " You are as mad as the mosquito lover ." The man Gabriel turned to the crowd , " I want to show you something. ' Everyone became quiet , the lights went off and suddenly on the board it was like watching a movie . Everyone saw an angelic face of a girl called Titha . She looked about twenty five. Titha's face beamed and she said , " Hello I am the lucky girl getting married today . The reason he nicknamed me the mosquito its because I have a lean body , beautiful like the anospheles mosquito but my problem is agoraphobia , whenever I see people I lose breaths and get panic attacks . Please join us cerebrating this big day , Gabriel will see me home in the evening . I love you . God bless you ." Everyone in the hall , outside the hall shed a tear for Gabriel . Gabriel's story became a true love story of the year , a man prepared to be ridiculed , to be insulted on his biggest day just to make the woman of his life happy on their wedding day .