Life! Conclusion

Cynthia and Bina did not only discuss fashion, movies, the economy and family issues, initially it appeared awkward bringing up Ade’s bad behaviour and making it a topic with his wife but Cynthia made it very easy.

“Hope you have been getting along with my boss?” that question came as a huge surprise to Bina and she was not ready with an answer. Her disposition gave her away which was followed by a hearty laughter from Cynthia.

She jokingly asked Bina what crime her husband had committed, it was like opening a tap, “your husband is weird”, “your husband is a big snub”, “your husband this, your husband that”. Bina wasn’t sure why Cynthia laughed at every single complaint and even helped her complete some stories. 

Then came the shocker, “Ade is legally blind” those words hit Bina like a bullet “what?!” Cynthia explained to Bina that her husband is visually impaired; he does not need aid in walking around especially where he is used to but is not able to see and recognise people except the person taps him or speaks loudly to him. He uses a hearing aid as well. Wow!

Ade had a stress induced stroke shortly after they had their twin girls in the UK, he was hospitalised for months and miraculously survived the sickness. After his recovery, it was discovered that his vision and hearing were affected and doctors feared that he could go completely blind.

It is a mystery that he still has some percentages of his vision and hearing which have not deteriorated any more than they already are.

Cynthia asked Bina to pardon her husband; Ade’s condition prevents him from socialising and engaging in many other activities including driving. He had to learn to use the Braille and still struggles with his hearing aid which he wasn't wearing on the day Bina said hello to him.  

Every driver he employs has to work every day and on Sundays his driver closes as soon as he drives his boss home from church.

He didn’t see Bina’s husband at the mall till he tapped and spoke to him, Ade has a way of covering his disabilities and rather keeps to himself than having to explain all the time. Cynthia let Bina in on several other issues regarding Ade’s condition and by the time she was done Bina could not contain herself. She shed tears like a baby and apologised to Cynthia for her poor judgement of the whole situation with Ade. How couldn’t she have noticed that there was a genuine reason why her neighbour acted the way that he did?

How often do we judge, discredit or write-off someone without a valid reason? A lot of us are as guilty as Bina, hate at first sight. I have heard words like “he is so irritating” “that woman has an annoying spirit” “I hate his guts” “I can’t stand him” and a lot more. We see everything wrong in others but nothing wrong in ourselves. We will never know what personal battles the next person is fighting and guess what? We will never know if we do not open up our hearts to accept people just as they are.

Bina has been trying to make up for all the wrongs she did to Ade especially locking him out of the compound that night. Ade slept in his driver’s apartment, got a few toiletries, freshened up and went to work from there the next day. He bears no grudges and is very good friends with Bina and her husband.

He still doesn’t talk much but is full of wisdom and has helped his new friends severally on work related matters. Bina insists on running errands for him even when he objects to it and she spent her last holiday in the UK in his lovely apartment with his family. 

Bina admits that this is a friendship that she cherishes and would fight to keep for the rest of her life.