The Painful Pleasure (TPP)
EPISODE 5
Since we lived in the outskirts of Ibadan, i had to board two different taxis to get to Iwo-Road (like the extreme end of the city, where you get buses going to other parts of the country). My mum followed me to Apata where i took a taxi going to challenge, she waved at me and smiled with tears (who does that). I waved at her and i rememberd the ‘ranti omo eni to nse’ speech. This means: remember the son of whom you are.
You guys know what I’m talking about, there is no one in Nigeria that won’t hear this speech from either or both parents when going to the university. These includes stuffs like:
1. Koju mowe e o: face your studies
2. Ma ko egbe kegbe o: Don’t keep bad company
3. Ma kobirin o: Don’t follow girls e.t.c.
But since my mum knew me to be someone that doesn’t really like ladies, since i don’t talk to girls in the area, only 1 and 2 above was applicable to me.
To cut the long story short, i got to Iwo road, and i gave a small boy 100 Naira to carry my load for me with his wheel barrow. I could have carried it myself, but i just felt that if everyone should think that way, how will the poor boy get his means of livelihood? “At least he is better than those guys with no physical disabilities who beg around.” I said to myself.
I went to the Bus, and seeing my load, the driver said briskly “E maaa sanwo eru o.” Which means i will have to pay extra for my luggage. I nodded my head in agreement, and asked him how much that was, he said 200 Naira, after so much bargaining, and so much chastisement by the other passengers, he agreed to take 100 Naira, so with 400 fare, that will be 500 all together. “Its not that bad.” I. said to myself.
So we were waiting for the bus to get filled. You know those guys now, they won’t move an inch until the bus is full. I sat at the third row as the bus has five rows. I would have sat at the second row but the driver had told us that three people will sit on a row, except the second row where four people will sit. Why he said that i didn’t know, and i don’t want to know. Because i wasn’t really used to traveling, i wouldn’t want anything that would cause me inconvenience.
On my row there was just one space left as we waited patiently. One baba with bald head was already on my left, “who will be my right hand traveling partner” I wondered. . . There she comes, my sitting partner. As i saw her, i knew she was also going to resume in OAU. . .
The Painful Pleasure
EPISODE 6
“Sorry, can you please shift a bit” the voice of this young lady brought me back to the scene, because i was lost in thought, as the sight of her made me wonder if she was a student to be on OAU campus or not. I adjusted my back-pack closer to me, giving her enough space to sit comfortably. Another man came, and in no time, the bus was filled up. “E sanwo o” A man came to the window, telling us to pay, and we did, I just gave him 500, since that will save me the stress of waiting for change.
The bus was ready to move, and it did move. I looked at my left, i saw ‘baba apari’ (bald old man), i looked at my right, i saw a damsel. “Should i start a conversation with this beautiful lady or just keep mute “I thought to myself, and concluded i was going to do the later. So i just minded my own business, as i gently brought out the story book ‘Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare’ out of my backpack. I loved this story so much, though I’ve red it thrice already, i don’t mind reading it again. As the sound of hooting vehicles and that of moving cars provided the ‘sound effect’ for my reading, I just focused, ignoring all other things.
“So guys read this too?” I couldn’t believe it was the girl i wanted to form for that finally broke the silence. Well, whether i believe or not, It’s true, and i had to reply her. “It’s not for girls only, so i see no reason why i can’t read it.” I answered. “So you are also going to resume in OAU?” She asked, When i heard the word ‘also’, i knew i can not be more correct in my thoughts.
Me: Yes you?
The girl: Same here. With this your love for literature, you must be in the arts and humanities
Me: At all, I’m in the sciences, in fact, I’m going in for microbiology.
The girl: Are you serious? I’m going in for microbiology too.
Me: So, i just met my first departmental friend (I said looking straight into her cat eyes), so whats the name of my FDF?
The girl: What’s FDF?
Me: First departmental friend of course!
The girl: You are so funny. Anyways, the name is Moji and you are. . .
Me: Dapo
Moji: Really? That’s my younger brothers name.
Me: That’s great! Anyway, its nice meeting you
Moji: Same here. . .
We continued the conversation, and we were just choosing topics at random. We talked about politics, the country, the music industry and lots of stuffs. I’ve discovered that when you have someone to talk to, journey seems to be faster.
That was how i met my second mate, and my first departmental friend. “But wait o, how come i haven’t met any guy?” I said to myself. Well, at the cafe, there were four guys waiting to do registration, it was only the girl i talked to and made friends with. “I have not even entered campus and I’m already behaving like a girl-freak, if i enter campus, what will happen? When did i become like this? I wasn’t like this before!” I thought to myself.
