ShortStory I Misplaced Priority

MISPLACED PRIORITY

       Sunday is indeed a great and special day in the Gregorian calendar. Little wonder it is not only observed by the Christendom but anyone that lives under the Sun. Hence, Ifeoma was not exempted from this reality. The moment the 38-year-old bachelorette returned from her church service, she was deeply filled with ecstasy that wasn’t unconnected with the extensive sermon she got awhile ago. It seemed the cleric deliberately dedicated the gospel to the unmarried congregants, particularly the female folks. So, as she arrived home, she couldn’t help but kept recalling every bit of the gospel as she graciously sat on one of the white settees in her lounge room.

       ‘Ify’ - as she was fondly called by friends and kin - a media entrepreneur who was very successful in her career lived alone in her mansion, thus the loneliness that accompanied the arena abruptly brought the other side of the said sermon. To this end, she was beclouded by mixed feelings.

       In his speech, the cleric took his time to let the singles comprehend that life wasn’t a competitive ground, hence, they needn’t judge their progress with that of others when it called for tying the nuptial knots. He admonished those who had despaired by asking them to desist from such ‘evil thought’. According to him, everyone had his/her own time to grab what he/she so desired. However, he went further to ask them, especially the spinsters, to step down their taste as they search for their missing ribs having acknowledged that most of them nurtured uncalled and inconsequential wishes. They were made to note that some qualities could be compromised, or better still, they could help their partner or would-be-spouse to acquire the features they desire. This was what prompted the ‘mixed feelings’ felt by the classy Ifeoma.

       As she soberly sat on the seat in her white suit alongside its skirts, she laid her right leg on the left one, remained thoughtful and looked too serious. Few minutes later, she leaned on the seat, maintaining her posture and countenance. Subsequently, she glanced at her wristwatch – it was 1:15pm.

       “Ikenna said he would be here by two.” She thought, hurriedly stood up and walked into her bedroom to undress.

       Ikenna was the gentleman in her life. Or, would I say, one of the men in her life. They have been together for over two years. The 40-year-old Ikenna had sought her hand in marriage but she trivialized the proposal, pledging to think about it. From the look of things, he was not the kind of man she wished to settle down with. She wanted a man who had made it financially; a man who could command money. Though he wasn’t successful as expected, Ikenna was a very promising young man, and industrious too.

        The response he awaited regarding the marriage proposal had taken too long, and was not seemingly forthcoming either. The suspense was really telling on him that he didn’t know what next to do. And enormous pressure was being mounted on him by his parents to settle down. He loved her to the core that he couldn’t imagine searching for someone else. He had called her the previous day to inform that he would be at her place the following day being Sunday by 2:00pm.

       At two O’clock, she returned to the living room in a casual and sexy dress, looking forward to having Ikenna’s presence. She waited till 2:30pm, still not any form of his image was found within neither was any knock heard at the door. Unlike her whom hardly got disappointed whenever he couldn’t keep a date with her, she became so jittery and depressed.

        It appeared the gospel she received few hours back had brought a change in her life unannounced. After all, human beings remained dynamic and could transform to something else at anytime. This is one natural idiosyncrasy no mortal can run away from, and she was not any inch away from such trait. 

        At 2:50pm, Ikenna’s absence was still felt. Hence, she thought it wise to put across a phone call.

       “Hello Ify!” Ikenna said as he took the call.

       “Are you okay?” she enquired tenderly.

       “Yes, I am fine.”

       “So, what is keeping you?”

       “I am sorry, dear,” he responded. “I can’t make it again.”

       “You can’t what?”

       “I am really sorry.”

       “You can’t be serious.” she said. “Are you?”

       “Like I said,” quoth Ikenna. “I am sorry.” He clarified, cut the call.

        She was shocked. “Did he actually cut the call on me?” she verified rhetorically, couldn’t fathom the scenario.

        She attempted to dial the number again but thought otherwise. Thus, she stood up, walked into her bedroom, quickly got dressed, and dashed out of the house. The moment she got to her garage, she fiercely instructed her gateman afar to keep the gates open, hopped into one of her cars and drove out. No doubt, she was headed for Ikenna’s residence, which was situated about twelve kilometers (12km) away.

        While on her way, she drove recklessly like one who just received the news of her mother’s eternal demise. As she frantically handled the steering, she could not predict what her fate entailed. In the process, she applied the throttle and brake indiscriminately never minded that the car possessed a clutch, even when its need was highly required. In less than five minutes, she was on the premises of Ikenna’s humble abode. As soon as she off the ignition having applied the brakes, she dashed out forgetting to close the car door, and walked furiously towards the entrance to his parlour.

        The look on her face could showcase that her emotions were really boiling. The black jeans trousers, pink T-shirt coupled with the white leather slippers she wore could equally feel the tension. Her conspicuous beauty had ostensibly faded. Even though she came in a car, she was sweating and appeared very exhausted.

        When she got to the entrance to the two-bedroom flat, she never bothered knocking, thus she harshly opened the door only to see what she would had preferred to see only in her dreams. Therein, in the sitting room, Ikenna was seriously having a good time with a certain lady whose head that bore plaited hairs lay on his laps as the former was seated on his 3-in-1 cushion chair alongside the latter who chose to lie; they were cuddling each other to Ifeoma’s utmost surprise.

        They immediately looked up to observe who walked into the parlour on hearing the strange sound, and got profoundly shocked the moment they caught the sight of Ifeoma. The lady quickly detached her head from his laps and sat uprightly; although she was yet to know who Ifeoma was, she apparently needn’t be told that she (Ifeoma) was her rival. Ikenna never imagined Ifeoma would consider coming to his place because she had never reacted in such manner before since over two years he had known her, thus her presence wasn’t just shocking but so alarming.

      What transpired thereafter ought to be a story for another day, so keep a date with us. Or, any counter reaction? Think about it!

Follow me: @mediambassador       

 http://facebook.com/fred4nwaozor