She has never been the same again
since their paths crossed that busy morning in the elevator. They were both
headed to their various offices which were situated in the same building but on
different floors and for different companies. She had to exit from the moving
cubicle on the 8th floor and did not know where her crash was headed
to, on a 16 floor tower, which added to the anxiety that was building up on
sighting the guy when he stepped in.
Her enthusiasm to find out who the guy was and how to nail him has just made life beautiful. It has given her something to live for apart from the busy corporate life she led. Life to her has taken a dramatic turn for good and she was going to bask in it. She was going to allow absolutely nothing, not even her negative emotions to come between her and her new object of happiness.
Jemila has been a single lady for
the best part of three years even though she accepted and went on a couple of
dates with men from all walks, but the farthest any of them went was a hug when
they managed to drop her at home. For those who did not pass her virtual test,
they never got the chance to even escort her home. She was paying the price for bitterness from
her previous relationship.
She has now by twist of fate
discovered how to spend her days other than poring into her work all day and
making deadlines, which is to find happiness. She began coming out of her
office from time to time to monitor the elevator and sometimes frequenting the
eatery on the ground floor just to bump into her new object of fascination. At
home, she carried out all her chores with gaiety and some renewed energy and at
night she becomes sleepless.
Even though it was only two days,
it felt like years, so she changed her strategy by rearranging her office, so
she could directly be watching the car park through the window blinds. That was
sure to work and it did work after the sixth day which brought her self-torment
to an end.
She came earlier the next morning
and waited around the car park until her Superman arrived. Even though, she
thought it intrusive and falling over the cliff, she approached him, extended a
hand and introduced herself. If there
was anything that worked for him about women, it was the air of confidence they
exude. He took the extended hand of friendship, smiled and spoke for the first
time.
“Safo is my name. I work for
Gemini Consults as a lawyer. I resumed last week” he revealed and managed a coy
smile as they headed towards the main building.
They chit-chatted their way up
and even managed to book a lunch date before parting to their various offices. With a beaming smile, elated
Jemila pumped a fist in the air as soon as she came out of the elevator and
started humming an old tune she’s never heard herself sing in a very long
while. But, how could she sing a love song when she was at loggerheads with
love? She swung joyously to the office, knowing that everything was alright.
Maybe everything was not alright
because anytime she was this close to her dreams, something goes wrong but she
caught herself before her thoughts derailed further into negativity. “No, this
is the guy of my dreams, the one I’m going to give my unconditional love to and
I am going to do everything to have him. Period” as she settled in to
contribute her day’s quota.
Before long, it was lunch-break
and everything came to pass as she envisaged. Lunch with the perfect gentleman also
turned out to be the first time she was seen in the company of a man at the
canteen.
Love is a good thing.
Their first date turned out well
which warranted another one in the evening. It was Tea or Ice cream and a movie
afterwards, to be decided two hours before the date. And while Safo was taking
everything easy and considering Jemila, a very good distraction from his
marriage which was on the verge of collapse, Jemila was on cloud nine waiting
to climb higher.
Well, she is on the threshold
now.
Whereas Safo was talking to her
wife’s lawyer and some family members from both divides all afternoon to save
his marriage, Jemila was busy picking out clothes from her wardrobe in her
mind’s eye. She changed into several clothes, applied assorted lipsticks and
ear rings to match, until she got the perfect dress and accessories for the
night. She was also scripting in her mind how she was going to break the news
without sounding unnecessarily desperate.
What if she was desperate? Well,
she couldn’t come home tonight without telling him somehow, lest she will
explode into tiny fragments and that would be the end of her existence. What
happened to the old motivational, “go for what you want”?
“I hate to push my luck but I
would like to state that, it’s nice being friends with you. I can’t believe we
are already having good times like some old friends. I feel at home already and
wouldn’t mind having a repeated dose of this every time” she broke the ice.
“How do you mean”, he enquired firmly
“Please, I have never been good
with words and hope you understand me” she explained further
“That will be a little difficult
since I don’t know what you talking about”
“I love you” she declared and
waited for some time to pass and continued
“It’s unconditional and I knew it
the very first time we met. I would have waited for your feelings for me to
mature, but I’m sure I couldn’t have made it through this night without letting
you know”
Safo just smiled, shifted his
chair back, beckoned to an attendant within sight and adjusted well, so he
could reach out for his wallet at the back of his pants to pay the bill.
“Jemila, its nice knowing you and
I think you are and will be a nice company but no one can love anyone
unconditionally, not even God. We all love with conditions attached and I
refuse to continue this meeting. Good evening”
Touché!
Jemila just sat there dumbfounded
and could not come to terms, but one thing was clear as she sat in the shades
the lights threw at her and that was at least she could love again. Yes, she
will love again only this time, it will be conditional.
3 comments:
Waoooo great and nice piece well crafted. But i need to read the continuation oh
Their story as an item ended that nite. They are gone on separate paths to search for love. thanks.
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