Why I’m no longer buying watermelon and cucumber together.

In recent times, I've been making a deliberate effort to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into my diet. In order to actualize this, I visit the fruit and vegetable stalls after Jummah prayer every Friday. This means that I get to buy enough to last me till the following Friday. Knowing how much the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم liked cucumber, I decided to make it a constant on my list. Sometimes, I'd get just cucumbers. Other times, I'd get bananas, apples and cucumbers. On my last visit I wanted to try other alternatives so I asked for the prices of their watermelons.

"We have 10 cedis and 15 cedis," a young lady in the stall responded.

"Okay, ma me 10 cedis de3 baako 3ne cucumber 4 cedis," I retorted in Twi asking for a melon and some cucumbers.

Upon hearing my demand, the stall owner rushed in to attend to me.

"Go get a polythene bag while I select the best for him," she ordered the young lady and the latter left begrudgingly.

After packaging my purchase, she said, " Bra, y3 wc ginger so wc ha o! Me hw3 s3ne3 w'apacke watermelon 3ne cucumber yi a, me aa me tu mi hu nea 33kcso". She intimated that I was searching for an aphrodisiacal escapade and cautioned me for leaving out ginger.

Feeling shy at this point, I quizzed, "so how much do you sell your ginger?"

"Any price you want to buy. I can even give you some for free because I want you to be able to do the job well," she said wittingly.

All the people around burst out laughing and I wished the Earth would crack open and swallow me.
The walk back to my hostel after this encounter had the heaviest steps I've ever taken.

This, I will never forget.