Life!

Illustrative Picture

Life is not always what it seems, I learnt this lesson a little while ago and my life has changed for the better.

This was what Bina said about her encounter with her neighbour Ade. She hated Ade as soon as she set eyes on him, he seemed pompous and acted like he never saw anyone. Ade is average looking and no doubt moves with a certain kind of confidence that would annoy anyone who struggles with self confidence. 

The only time he ever greeted was when they first moved in, he came and stood by the door, introduced himself, said welcome to them with a smile and left almost immediately. 

Ade acts like no one else exists but him; Bina tried to say hello once after their formal meeting but Ade snubbed her silly; he did not even look at her but walked right into his waiting vehicle. From that day, Bina declared a personal war on Ade, they shared a terrace house and so shared a lot of things in common but no matter how hard she tried to annoy Ade, he never noticed or acted so. Bina heard from the estate agent that Ade had lived in that compound and been a resident on that street for over five years yet had no known friend in the neighbourhood. 

The much people knew about Ade was that he had a family somewhere outside the shores of the country. He pays all his dues as and when due and when he attends the street meetings he agrees to every decision taken.

He leaves for work early in the morning and gets back home late at night, on Saturdays he plays very slow music all through the day and stays indoors most of the time. Bina often saw him leave early on Sunday mornings and it was obvious that he attended the first Mass or first service; she wasn’t even sure which church he attended and she termed him mean for making his driver work even on a Sunday.

Bina eventually told her hubby about her contempt for Ade and that when her husband told her of his own experience with Ade; he was at the stores on a certain Saturday evening and standing right behind him on the queue to pay was Ade but he never said hello till he touched him and they both exchanged pleasantries.

The story aggravated Bina’s already ill feelings towards Ade and she tried all she could to frustrate him. On one occasion, she sent the security man on an errand just about the time when Ade returned from work.  Ade spent over 30 minutes at the gate waiting to be let in; Bina had told the security man that she would get her maid to open the gate if Ade got back before him.

She conveniently ignored the sound of Ade’s horn; Ade’s driver drove out into the night and they both did not get back home till the following night. Bina was sure that the confrontation was going to happen after she saw the security man explaining to Ade who hardly stood to listen, he tapped him on the back and left for work. He never said anything and life continued as usual and this certainly infuriated Bina.

Fast forward to one year, on a particular evening Bina’s maid told her that a woman was in her living room waiting to see her with two young girls. Life springs up surprises that leave one in a state of confusion, sitting pretty in her home was a very beautiful woman who introduced herself as Ade’s wife and the two beautiful girls, his daughters. They came from England where they lived and she came to see and get acquainted with her husband’s new neighbours.

The two ladies got on like a house on fire and in a short time they were discussing like old friends, the girls were so polite and even knelt down to greet Bina in typical Yoruba culture as soon as she walked into the living room.

They had lunch which Ade’s wife Cynthia insisted on helping out with and by the time they left her home, Bina was not sure if that lovely woman actually introduced herself as Ade’s wife. How can? That pompous, arrogant and mean man cannot possibly be blessed with such a lovely family.

Guess why Ade acts the way he does…Life! find out as the story continues tomorrow.

All names used in this story are fictitious for privacy sake.