They Will Always Remember…
Disclaimer: I might sound discriminatory in this article but I hope you understand that women could be the loveliest things after chocolates, when they are caring actually.
As is my daily routine, I wake up and do my morning rituals and rush off to work. Please note the "rush off". There is this special emphasis tha comes with it.
So on this particular day, I had dressed up and was "on the run" as usual to beat time and avoid being surcharged at work, after all my salary is not even enough for me on a normal level how much more when it goes under the knife. Lol.
I got to the bus stop and hurriedly hopped into a tricycle popularly known as keke in our local parlance. Seated inside were two men and a lady, all looking so straight-faced and as serious as ghosts beaten heavily by the rain in a very cold day. I would have given lots of care on a normal day, but today like every other 'abnormal' day, I joined them hoping to get to the office at least a minute before the deadline before it would be feast time for late comers.
Did I meet that target? Well, I did my best and Yes yes, I did and nothing could be more exciting!
Beforw I digress, kindly note that this is not the major theme of this article. I was just giving a background for a better understanding. I hope I haven’t bored you out.
So in between a loud song bllasting from the driver’s loud speakers, and a set of quiet passengers, someone wanted to join us and he had a load (wares he sells to earn a living), and it required he would put them at the trunk of the tricycle. As he tried to put his goods, I felt a hand holding me gently and trying to shield me away from being hit by the goods. I looked and saw this beautiful soul, the woman sitting right beside me, she held me with all seriousness and without even saying a word, she didn’t know she was creating a memory — of love, of sisterhood, of care, of ingenuity and so much more.
It apparently was an involuntary action, but the genuineness hit me differently. She didn’t know how lovely she looked just for that singular act of sisterhood.
Right there, I began to feel so loved, like a small baby who received candies. I even folded my arms in reflex splits trying to relish the moment in my head. I felt so special. Not the kind of special you feel every other day.
Coming from a fellow woman, the special was indeed special. In fact, the special has a Harvard touch.
Wait, you think the day under review has ended yet. How wrong you are! Wait for it.
On my way back after the day’s stress, I decided to take a walk home after being stopped at the junction close to my house. It would usually take less than 5 minutes ride on a bike, but I opted to walk since bikes were so scarce. (I was secretly hoping to get a bike though), but that wouldn’t happen. Perhaps, the universe wanted to teach me yet another lesson and I thank my stars for the willingness I had to learn.
Along the way, I heard someone scream, Hey see her! See her! Jesus! Jesussss!! Chioma, Chinwe, Chi..., "I am Chidinma", I said trying to wonder who this person was in between, because coming from our part of the world, one has to be always wary as doing otherwise could be your greatest undoing. Yesssssss, Chidinma! You will not die young, God will continue to bless you... Just about then, I did remember who the lady was even though I couldn’t get myself to remember every detail but I’m sure she does.
While I was younger, I think in the University, during holidays, I used to manage my mum’s shop while she went to her teaching job. This woman usually came to stay with me and usually narrated how her husband constantly abused her and chased her with the kids away. I used the little money I had to buy things from my mum’s shop and added some others from the house just to help her quest for survival. I felt her pain. I felt bad anyone could go through such stress. I felt bad I wasn’t buoyant enough to take the pain away from her. I felt bad I couldn’t get her those things she needed to stay sane those days.
Well, I did the much I could within my means. So here is the crux, she turned out to be the one creating the drama. She hailed my figure and made a joke on how she would have flaunted it if she had same, we laughed about it and just when I thought it was all fun and games about my figure (which I personally have been complaining about lately), the lady quickly turned to the visibly excited lady next to her and told her how good a person I am and sang my praises for the next couple of minutes.
I’m certain that anyone in my shoes would feel as embarrassed as I did because somethings are better left unsaid yeah? The lady she was narrating the story to seemingly felt my plight and told her to let me go, that she was keeping me for too long. She retorted that she obviously didn’t understand what I did for her and how far we have come, because if she did, she would want to hear about me all day. That means I deserve a statue somewhere in Anambra state right? Lol.
It was a worthwhile reunion and I was so happy to see her and share a tight hug with her amidst the reminisces. I was also so excited to see that she is doing well for herself now. Way better than the shadow of herself she was when she ran to me and I gave my shoulder for her to pour her tears on. It ended in smiles. We all beamed and remember how smile is the greatest medicine, like a chicken soup to the soul.
Indeed, there is nothing as sexy as being caring when you can. Caring women are the sexiest. Showing care to the next person doesn’t take away anything from you. Do not ever render such care with the intention of reciprocity. That may never happen, but one thing is certain... they will always remember.