Must Read: Ade

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: Ade

I have a saying that I still stand by till date, it
is, ”Of all God’s creatures, women are the
most wicked. They have a way of killing
your joy when it is in its highest.”

If you differ, please, that is my own opinion
due to my experience with the female folks.


It might not be the same with yours.


Immediately we got home from Shola’s
place beaming with laughter and joy, I
noticed a small brown envelope pinned to
the place where we put our NEPA bills. It
looked unofficial. Many thoughts ran
through my mind as I called Rotimi’s
attention to it. He also stared at it as if it
was a sort of bomb. I even thought it was a
letter from one of the numerous places we
had applied to. But they usually call us and
at times send us e-mails.

”Guy, abeg take this thing na.” I said to
Rotimi.


”Madman, see yaself, make I take my hand
take die abi? I go saunch you better knock
for that ya gbongbolo head na. Comot
make I enter house jo.” He said as he
opened the door. We were both baffled.


As we jostled for the door handle amidst
arguing who would take down the
envelope, my phone rang. The tone told me
it was my fiancée, Oluwadarasimi. I left
Rotimi who was always amused at my
countenance anytime ‘Dara’s calls came in.

I had always endeavour to do one or two
steps of Azonto before picking her calls.

That day was not left out.

”Hello love,” I said into the phone still
basking in the euphoria of the solved
problems.
”Hello Ade,” ‘Dara said. Immediately I heard
that, I knew problem was coming. She
never called me my first name except I had
offended or annoyed her. Her appellation
for me was ‘My Crown’. As I was
wondering what my latest crime was, she
said,
”I was at your place today and I didn’t
meet anybody.”
I explained that we had gone out from
school and had just entered the house.
”No problem. Did you see the envelope at
your door?” she asked. Relief washed over
me as the mystery of the envelope became
unravelled. I heaved a huge sigh and asked
her what it contained. She did not answer
but said I should check that she would call
back in thirty minutes. I accepted and she
ended the call.


I ran to remove the envelope and jogged to
sit on the bed to read the love letter written
to me by the love of my life. Rotimi was
making jest of me as he talked to his
Fiancée, ‘Ranti, on the phone. I paid him no
attention.


What I saw in the envelope made me began
sweating unknowingly. The enveloped
contained the ring with which I had
proposed to ‘Dara a little over two months
before then, an invitation to a wedding
ceremony which would take place a month
from that date and a one paged letter.


I was speechless and perplexed. Words
escaped me, tears of anguish flowed
ceaselessly from my eyes as I looked at the
eighteen carat gold ring I had bought for
twenty thousand naira from my first salary.


My eyes turned as I read the names on the
I. V- ‘Dara weds ‘Segun- my heart was more
than shattered.


I opened the letter to read why she had left
me. She wrote:
‘Ade,
I am sorry to write this but I couldn’t
muster enough courage to do it since last
month. Mum and dad had been
pressurising me to settle down for some
time now and Segun had also been on my
neck before your proposal last month. I
didn’t want you to feel bad that was why I
had accepted you but I found out that I
loved Segun more and that he was ready to
settle down as against you who is still
struggling to find your feet. The wedding
date was fixed last week but I just didn’t
have the nerves to tell you. I am sorry if this
hurt you but I know you will weather it
through. Segun had been there all along
and he had won my heart two weeks
before your proposal. As I said earlier, my
acceptance was just not to hurt you but
Ade, I can’t keep deceiving you. I am sorry
once again. I pray you find your right love
soon. In the envelope is your ring and an
invitation for you and Rotimi. Bye for now,
Darasimi.’

I just picked my phone and called my mum.


She picked at the first ring. I explained to
her what just happened and she consoled
me. She prayed for me and adviced me to
move on. How she loved ‘Dara!


Rotimi heard my conversation with my
mum and came over to where I was. He
took the letter and read it, he was furious.


He had adored ‘Dara and had said she was
the best girl I could ever have. ‘Dara was my
first love.

I cried my heart out and could not be
consoled. My phone rang again, it was
‘Dara. I picked it and she could hear that I
was distraught. She kept begging and
saying she was sorry and that she would
make it up to me. How? I asked, she said
she would find me another girl. I ended the
call changed her ringtone and switched off
my phone.

Suicide was on my mind as a mass choir
played an oratorio in my head. I reflected
on my journey with ‘Dara for some time
before I slept off.


Rotimi was pacing the room in anger,
confusion and sympathy. He knew how
much I loved her. He knew this was my first
heartbreak but he never knew I was
thinking of suicide…