Another day, another court sitting to attend.

After facing what had been an strange unexpected but expected barrage of questions, Kwesi and Shani, done with their case at one of the General Jurisdiction courts, exited the courtroom, the echoes of those out-of-left-field questions still ringing in their ears. The weight of the case they just handled lingered in the air, and they found a quiet corner outside the courtroom to discuss the proceedings.

Shani, adjusting his robe and taking his wig off, sighed. “Alhamdulillah! I’m so glad I did those checks on my own last night. I knew this judge would show some shakara this morning. If I had listened to Herman yesterday, anka no be small yawa e go pae for we.”

Kwesi nodded. “No kidding. I thought we were prepared, but some of those questions really caught me off guard. Ei, this woman really be wild.”

“Really wild. Herman diɛɛ, you should be careful when following that man. Ah, he go talk like as the info dey the affidavit inside, that be all. No need to say anything. I tell am sey this woman, I hear ein matter, so make we take some extra info go. He say naaa, ibi the affidavit matters pɛ we dey need. He dey worry too much. Every day, I’m an important human being coz I’m a lawyer, meanwhile you no dey do your work well. Hoh…”

As they continued to discuss the happenings in the court between themselves, Kwesi noticed a familiar figure approaching.

A familiar figure with a slowly emerging baby bump.

He grinned and looked as Kwentsiwa bustled down the courthouse corridor, a vibrant energy evident in her movement as she dragged a special suitcase for her books behind her. Shani, who knew her as one of his teaching assistants back in law before she became the youngest constitutional law lecturers around, smirked as he saw her approach. “Eish, Madam Kwentsiwa Fynn!” he chuckled. “Sharpest lawyer I know around.”

“No joke. She dey like the law pass!” Kwesi agreed, the grin still on his face.

“Mr. Kaakyire Amamfi and Mr. Shani Abdallah! Good morning ooo. How are you seasoned legal minds today?” Kwentsiwa greeted them with a warm smile as she passed by them.

“Ei, we are seasoned legal minds? Then you diɛɛ, you are more than legendary ooo, Mrs. Fynn,” Shani quipped, getting a shake of the head and a laugh from Kwentsiwa. “Please, we are doing fine. How about you?”

Kwentsiwa sighed and placed a hand on her slightly protruding belly. “What more can I say? Surviving the legal jungle and this little one’s acrobatics. It’s not easy, but we are managing by God’s grace.”

Kwesi snickered. “Oh, once it’s you diɛɛ, I know there’s nothing to worry about. Carrying a brief and a baby, it’s koko for you!”

Kwentsiwa rolled his eyes and shook her head. “The moment I saw that smirk on your face, I knew it was nothing but mischief that will come out of your mouth. You, eh.”

Kwesi laughed. “Oh, seniormost counsel! But it’s a compliment. It shows I believe you. And who wouldn’t? I mean, a whole Mensah-Sarbah recipient like you? A powerful pillar of the law like you? A strong, incredible, magnificent woman like you? Oh, Mrs. Fynn, you can handle it all with ease. I believe in you.”

Kwentsiwa folded her arms. “Counsel, these your shallow adulations diɛɛ, I take them with a pinch of salt.”

Kwesi turned to Shani, his mischievous grin still on. “Shani, I dey lie? Isn’t she a titan of the profession?”

“Oh, she is, she is. No doubt. Chale, TA wey dey quote authorities pass the main lecturer? Stop!”

“Thank you! And look at her. Isn’t she strong and incredible and magnificent?”

“In every sense of the word, my brother! Strong, sweet, beautiful, glorious, everything! Ah, Mrs. Fynn, your husband is most blessed!”

Kwentsiwa could only stand there, shaking her head. “Shani, please, you’re this troublemaker’s senior. Don’t let him be influencing you to misbehave ooo! Yoooo!”

They shared a hearty laugh, and she then excused herself, saying, “Chale, I’d love to stay and chat a bit more, but duty calls. See you guys later!”

As Kwentsiwa rushed off to her next court appearance, Shani grinned at Kwesi. “I no know sey you get that kind mind ooo. You really worry Mrs. Fynn.”

Kwesi chuckled. “Oh, me then am be cool for years now. Long before I start my LLB sef. She be really cool lady.”

“Oh yeah, no doubt about that. She be cool woman, and a very sharp lawyer. If she go bench diɛɛ, ibi no-brainer, she go go Supreme Court within a decade.”

“Of course. Wey if them no promote am within that decade, we go sue Judicial Council.”

The two laughed briefly.

“Anyway, I for head to the Labour Court for my next case. See you around!”

“Sure, chale. Good luck!”

With a renewed sense of purpose, Kwesi separated from his colleague and headed towards the Labour Court, his heart beginning to pound. Since the beginning of this new week, he had been looking forward to this: the unique atmosphere of the Labour Court, coming before the pleasant Justice Amankwah…

…and of course, finally seeing that enchanting clerk again. Maybe he could find out her name this time.

***

The familiar ambiance of the Labour Court greeted Kwesi as he stepped in front of its doors, his heartrate rapidly quickening with anticipation. Swallowing hard, he could feel the butterflies in his stomach, the thought of that beauty sending him into quite an excitement overdrive.

He took a deep breath. “Let’s do this,” he whispered to himself, then opened the door.

To his surprise, the only person seated was the enchanting clerk. No Maria, none of the typists… just her.

Her presence alone sent his nerves into a frenzy. He had been hoping to see her, but seeing her alone? He didn’t know whether to be super excited or extremely nervous.

She was busily writing, with earphones plugged in. That eye-catching beauty had not faded in any way; she was still quite a sight to behold.

Doing his best to mask his nervousness with a confident stride, Kwesi approached the clerk’s desk. She looked up, her eyes meeting his, and a warm but formal smile graced her face, causing quite the burn in his belly.

“Good morning, counsel.”

“Good morning. Erm… is-is Justice Amankwah in his chambers?” Kwesi inquired, attempting to sound composed.

The clerk shook her head. “I’m afraid not. The judge is not in today, so there won’t be any court proceedings.”

Kwesi grimaced, disappointed at the unexpected turn of events. Ugh, trust these inconveniences to pop up! There was nothing he hated more than rushing to court, only to discover that the judge was not around. However, he couldn’t help but appreciate the clerk’s friendly demeanor.

“Oh boy! I guess I came here for nothing then,” Kwesi remarked, trying to act a bit formal.

The clerk chuckled. “Yeah, sorry, counsel. It was one of those things. A little emergency at home, so he had to call in and cancel court this morning.”

Kwesi sighed. “Ah well, I guess it does happen. I wish I’d known about it earlier, though. So where are the others?”

“Oh, Maria and the others have gone to buy some food. I’m waiting for them to come before I go and get my lunch.”

“Oh, okay, okay. So, is it a gɔbɛ afternoon or a waakye afternoon?”

The clerk, with a friendly smile, responded, “Waakye. I’m not really into gɔbɛ like that.”

Kwesi raised an eyebrow, inwardly loving the ongoing conversation. “You’re not into gɔbɛ? Really? Why not?”

“I dunno,” she replied, shrugging. “I just don’t like it that much.”

Kwesi shook his head. “You’re probably buying it from the wrong seller. Trust me. Once you eat from the right seller, your life will change for the better!”

She laughed.

Kwesi could feel his stomach bouncing up and down inside as he watched her facial muscles contort with amusement. Goodness, how gorgeous this lady looked when she laughed!

Forcing a grin, he continued, “Anyways, that’s just for laughs. Since my Lord is absent, I’ll take a date, as usual.”

“Yes, yes, sure. The TransGlobal case, right?”

Kwesi nodded, watching her as she searched for the case file. His heart had not decreased its heartrate since entering the courtroom; standing before this exquisite lady was nerve-wracking, even if he had managed to lighten the atmosphere with that joke about food.

She then looked up at him. “Or you know what, Counsel, if you like, I can give you my number, and you can find out from me ahead of time if court will sit at the next date.”

Kwesi’s heartrate increased a little more at the unexpected offer. Just when he was about to gather the courage to ask her name, he was getting something more! He nodded. “That sounds like a good idea. I’d appreciate that.”

She reached for a notepad, jotting down her name and number on a small sheet and handing it to him. “I’m Nana Ayiba Mensah. Just give me a call or text, and I’ll let you know about the court schedule.”

Kwesi, grateful for the gesture, took the slip of paper. “Thank you, Nana. I’ll definitely be in touch. By the way, lovely name. Nana Ayiba Mensah.”

Nana Ayiba looked up and smiled. “Thank you, counsel.”

“You’re welcome. I’m Kwesi Amamfi.”

“Alright, Mr. Amamfi… so… is next week Thursday okay for you?”

***

As Kwesi left the Labour Court a few minutes later, he couldn’t have been more delighted at the unexpected turn of events.

To think that he would not only have the name of that beautiful clerk, but her number as well. Of course, it was totally on a professional level that she gave out her number, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that he had it.

Smiling as he walked on, he let the image of her laughing marinate in his mind. Such a sweet sight that was.

What a sweet woman. With a sweet name.

Nana Ayiba Mensah. Chale, I didn’t see that coming, but I’m so glad it did…

Definitely didn’t see that coming, although it was definitely on a professional level. What comes up next?