Must Read: Taking Chances

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: Taking Chances

Jide woke up earlier than usual this morning. He hadn’t slept a thing the night before. To his irritation and annoyance, he found out that thoughts of Daisy assailed his dreams. In the dreams, he saw daisy
laughing at him with scorn and hatred, dressed in that pink gown of hers. At other times, he saw himself drowning in a baseless depth, one he couldn’t quite fathom or imagine, even though he hadn’t been frightened.
Then at those times when his eyes simply refused to close, his heart, to his irritation, seemed to have a mind of its own, analyzing the events of Sunday night which they should have known better to push aside.
Jide could not explain why he was suddenly feeling like somethings were missing in his life, like his heart was in a form of pain. Jide really wished the feelings would go, even if only for that night. He wanted to be angry again so he could return to his complacent state, willing that his anger would become the defense shield he needed to fight whatever it
was that threatened to engulf him now, but he couldn’t seem to keep aflame that part of him, especially when it concerned Daisy. Jide feared that they were the signs of deep affection developing towards his wife
and he so wanted to deny it.
And at the end, he gave up the fight of trying to stay awake. Having sat most of the morning on his unappealing bed, which seemed to have grown
larger to him now. Jide felt it would suddenly swallow him, and he sighed at such foolishness.



Jide found himself wishing that somehow, he could be in another room, on another bed with a certain someone, doing some certain things… But then, he mused, if wishes were horses, beggars would get a pleasurable
ride on it. But the Daisy he had experienced last night was a
transformed one. One that was far from obliging him a ride any time
soon. Not that that was what he only craved for anyways.
Seeing that his attempts at returning back to sleep were proving futile, Jide decided to use the opportunity to clear up his desk and rid it off unwanted documents and papers. Atleast his wake keep wouldn’t amount to
nothing, he reasoned.
At the end of his self imposed chore, his study became a pool of papers and debris but Jide cared less, certain that he would not return home to the mess, courtesy of Okon.


Much later, at around 7am when Jide entered the parlor all set for work, he still wasn’t feeling any better, nothing was able to change the fact that he had woken up on the wrong side of the bed. He just cast a
distasteful glance towards the dining table, half expecting it to be empty, it wasn’t. Still he had no appetite whatsoever. He simply grabbed his car keys on the table and made for the door. He couldn’t see Daisy anywhere.



Out in the compound, as he made for his car. He sighted Daisy swimming with abandon in the pool. He found himself exhaling in relief, maybe because he had subconsciously nurtured a unknown fear. Whatever it was,
Jide didn’t deliberate further on it. He just Entered his car, without
another glance towards the swimming form of Daisy. However, he paused for a while at the gate and peered undecidedly at the fluttered form of Adamu, who was holding the gate in a bid to restrain it from closing while his employer left.



Adamu wondered why his Oga should,
uncharacteristic of him, stop at the gate to stare at him. Was it
something he did or said?
But few seconds later, Jide honked once and zoomed off. He had
successfully fought down the momentary urge he had of telling Adamu to notify him through calls if Daisy happened to leave the compound later on.


Later, as he caught up with the morning traffic Lagos had to offer. Jide rejoiced at the insight and self control he had exhibited then, thanking his stars that he had not allowed his insane emotions over rule his better judgment and make him do something he would never ever have imagined himself doing. Stalking a woman, nevertheless she was his wife! Then discussing his personal affairs with loud-mouthed Adamu. The shame of it!
‘Daisy…’ he said calmly to himself then, ‘…see what you would have made me do’
********

‘Dee come quick, it’s about to start!’ Brenda excitedly called out.
‘just a sec please’ Daisy replied from the kitchen.
The girls had been warming up all morning to see a movie which had gathered so much hype on Mnet ever since. When Brenda came in later on, Daisy had let her in on the gig and together they waited in anticipation for it. And now, it was about to start.
‘oh my God! Daisy screamed at a name displayed on the screen, she was holding a tray containing popcorn and juice. Then Settling it on a table, she hurried to go sit on her favourite place directly opposite the television.