LOVE'S BLIND SIDE

LOVE’S BLIND SPOT

“Oh! My God! Sorry, I wasn’t seeing you coming” Apologised Naomi when she almost knocked down to ground a certain fairly looking boy, just few steps away from the main entrance of the common room. “Apology accepted” The boy replied back.

“What’s wrong with you?” Jannie fumed on Naomi. “Nothing is wrong, only that I was expecting at least a credit on Calculus during the mid-semester but the antithetical is what has just happed” She replied. “As long as you have passed, there is nothing to worry off, let’s concentrate of the forth coming exams please” Jannie pleaded.

“Never mind” Naomi cut the conversation and left her friend rooted.

Naomi had been exceptionally bright student from the day she started her higher-level education at Chancellor College. She was studying computer sciences just as her father had been daring her to venture into something which would be requiring great lenghts as far as studying was concerned. She was a daughter of an eminent business man who owned the freight of trucks and multiple house which were being rented by elite people from various aspects of life. You would not mention about trendy houses in all cities of Malawi without mentioning the Lingo’s. He had eye of an eagle, whenever he wanted to venture into a project, He was doing proper researches to make sure that his penny would be used for something productive, disregarding of when that outlay will begin paying back. Just as he was a successful man, he wanted all of his children to follow suit. “I might have high education as you would end up be, but it is my utmost inclination that both of you should outstrip me in everything” Lingo started one day during dinner. “The world has evolved so rapidly, those who are surviving now are those who have proper education, you should be exceptional, is it understood?” He continued. “Yes papa” Naomi replied. “Trevor!” He shouted. “Father, why is it that always you tend to shout on me?” Trevor started. “It is because you are the one who had been ragging behind your sister be it in class or any errands I assigns you to do” Mr Lingo replied him. “It is not like that father, it is because you want me to emulate your successful journey papa” He laughed. “Shut up!, can’t you for once agree to what your father is advising you?” Jessica fume on Trevor.

“I’m sorry mum” Trevor apologised.

“Naomi! Naomi!” Jannie shouted whilst shaking her to bestir her. “I must have turned in” She replied whilst picking her bible, readying herself for daily intercession which was starting at 21:00 hours every Wednesday evening. Normally, the prayer services were being carried out in schools’ chapel but since there were only few students who were intercessors, they chose to conduct them in Mariya’s room. She was a chairlady of the intercession team. Along the way a certain boy caught up with them. “Hey girls” He started. “Hey, how are you Dan?” Replied Jannie. “Oh! You again!” Naomi shouted. “Oh! Sorry for I didn’t properly introduced myself when we met, I’m Dan, a fourth year student of land survey” He replied, stretching his hand to greet Naomi. “It wasn’t necessary” Naomi laughed.

 The intercession took only an hour. “Thank you all for deciding to preside over today’s program” The chairlady started. “As it has been our routine to help those who are lacking some daily necessities at this college, it has come to my attention that one of our own member, brother Dan has something which he will mention it himself, brother Dan, can you come forward please?” She finished. “Alright, brothers and sisters, as our sister in Christ, Mariya have already said, I was on a full scholarship of our church in which my father was a pastor” He started. “Despite that the church ceased sponsoring students but since my father was a pastor, the board decided to pay for my education up to the end not as a scholarship any more but it was agreed that I would pay all the amount in full to the church once I finish the school and working” He continued. “But things took an awkward turn when my father died and a new pastor took over. They decided not to continue paying for my studies any more” Dan continued. “Now, I’m dumb founded as I am owing the school huge amount of money which is almost three million kwacha both for lodging and for the final examinations. ‘Today, I was called in principal’s office, whilst in there, I have been warned to leave the school campus by Saturday 19:00 hours on top of that my student portal will removed from school’s website as well” Tears were being seen on his cheeks as he was explaining. 

“I know it is a huge amount I’m owing the school but what I want from your hand in players as I will be seeking redress out of this plight, thank you” He finished.

‘Today, I was called in principal’s office, whilst in there, I have been prodded to leave the school campus by Saturday 19:00 hours on top of that my student account portal will removed from school’s website cocurently”

“Alright people, let us be in prayer for our brother Dan so that God should come to his aid, good night to all of you” Mariya finished.

Naomi barely talked to Jannie as they were walking to their room. “Are you alright Naomi?” Jannie asked. “I’m absolutely fine but we cannot just let our dear friend struggle himself whilst some of us has the potential of at least paying him even fifty thousand Malawi kwacha” She started. “What’s your suggestions?” Jannie asked her. “I will not allow him to be kicked out of the campus without trying something even if it means that I will fail” She continued. “I will persuade father if he could pay the amount aforementioned and Dan will pay him back once he found proper work” Naomi finished. “That’s hilarious, do you think that your father will buy that foolish idea?” Jannie started. “I will better try him than not, you just don’t know to which side of bread has been buttered,” Naomi finished.

As roommate, before going to bed, they used to argue and discuss some other vital issues but today was different because they all went to bed straightaway.

“Hello papa, I want to be picked up tomorrow at 13:00 hours, I have burning issue which needs your attention urgently” Naomi started when she was calling her father on the morning of the followed day. “I have been out of town since last Monday, I’m in the northern part of the country, how urgent is it that you can’t say it on phone?” Lingo asked. “Father, it is urgent, just tell me how I can get where you are now?” Naomi continued. “Alright, tonight, I’ll drive via lake shore to your school, just make sure to be awake because I’m not sure of what time I will reach Zomba, surely it will be very late for a father to daughter discussion but I can assure you, I will be there tonight” He finished. “Ok papa, I’m hanging up now” She cut the line. 

Minutes behaved like hours, Naomi failed to concentrate in all classes of that day devising on how she would convince her father on Dan’s issue. “I don’t know if it is just a mere pity or I have something I would benefit when father says yes to my request” She pondered. Whilst she was so absorbed in her thoughts, Dan appeared from the main hall entrance. “Dan! Come over here” She shouted. “Naomi! What’s the matter, you almost deafened me with your sharp and angelic voice?” Dan joked. “You flattered me, any positive progress on your issue now?” She shot. “Nay, I’m just waiting for my mum to arrange for transportation” said Dan. Naomi swung her arms across Dan’s shoulders and hugged him. “Don’t go” She whispered in his ears. Dan was dumb founded on Naomi’s sudden behavior. “But Naomi, you are drawing people’s attention” Said Dan when he was trying to loosening Naomi’s grip. “Naomi! You have a visitor waiting on a car park, hurry” Shouted Jannie who had been a spectator of a Romeo and Juliet scene for some minutes now but Naomi wouldn’t realize that she had been there. “Really, who is he?” She asked whilst loosening her grip. “Girl, I don’t know, he have been calling your phone, when I picked the call he just said ‘I’m on the car park, hurry’” She continued. “By the way, who is Lin-P?” Jannie asked. “Oh my God, you can’t be serious, that’s my father” She finished.

“Don’t go” She whispered in his ears. Dan was dumb founded on Naomi’s sudden behavior. “But Naomi, you are drawing people’s attention” Said Dan when he was trying to loosening Naomi’s grip.

“Papa! You will never cease to amaze me, you said you had been in north, how come you are here now, are you some sort of a time traveler or a ghost?” She joked. “No at all, I just wanted my visit to be a surprise one, there is a black carton on the back of the van, grab it and follow me to your room” He finished. “Travor!” She shouted when she saw her brother on a drive seat. “Father, no, so Travor have a driving licence isn’t it?” She questioned. “Chill up girl, I’m like papa’s chauffeur since the day I passed my driving examination, I cursed that day” Travor joked. “I knew it’ She replied.

“What is Naomi” Lingo started. “Papa, I need your financial help, we have a certain fourth year student who is about to be kicked out of the campus due to outstanding tuition balances” Naomi started. “What’s your relationship with the boy, because he must be someone of great importance to you seeing how urgently you wanted an audience with me” He continued. “But father!, he is just a friend but I think we should help him” Said Naomi. “Alright princess, how much is amount which is needed to square up the balance” Lingo asked. “Three million and six hundred thousand kwacha” She shot. “The amount you have mentioned is just too much to be given to a total stranger but never mind, there will not be an overseas holiday for you this year, alright?” Said Lingo whilst writing an open cheque of equivalent amount. “Yes papa” She acknowledged. 

After a routine shouting of several matters including her poor results on statistics, Lingo left with his newly chauffeur.

“The amount you have mentioned is just too much to be given to a total stranger but never mind, there will not be an overseas holiday for you this year, alright?” Said Lingo whilst writing an open cheque of equivalent amount.

“Can we have a privacy please” Dan said to Jannie when entering into the room later that day. “Privacy, privacy!” Said Jannie closing the door behind her. “What is it you are hiding on your back Dan?” Naomi asked curiously. “Naomi, I think I’m madly in love with you, have these flowers” Sai Dan whilst giving Naomi rose flowers. Naomi kissed him gentle on cheek. “Dan, take this cheque and pay the outstanding balances, use the remainder for up keeps” Naomi started. Dan could not believe his eyes when he saw such huge amount. He nearly busted into tears. “Thank your Naomi, thanks so much” Said Dan. “Dan please, just concentrate on your studies and please pass with distinction that’s the least you can do to say thank you okay?” She said. “I will, thank you once again” Dan said.

It’s been three years since the Dan graduated from the college and is now working in department of disaster management as a chief planning engineer. Their relationship with Naomi had been on and off since the day he graduated and the rumor had already been started spreading that Naomi was forcing herself into Dan’s life. “Off course, I asked papa to pay for his outstanding balances some years ago, but that wasn’t the basic of our relationship, Dan and I had been in love for three years now, who are you to accuse me of wanting to snatch a husband, aren’t you the one who is trying to do that?” Naomi replied to a certain unknown caller who was accusing her of trying to snatch a husband from her. “Listen to me, you might be a daughter of a prominent rich man but that shouldn’t include stealing peoples’ husbands, we have been in marriage for six years now” The call continued. “If you want a proof, ask him who is Teddie” The call continued. “Just end the call Naomi” Jannie pleaded with her. 

“I think we should pay Dan a visit tonight, how about that?” Naomi started when she cut the line. “If you insist but I don’t think it is a bright idea, what will you do if what the caller have said is the truth about Dan?” Jannie continued. “Hold on, Dan is calling” Said Naomi when picking the call. 

“Listen to me, you might be a daughter of a successful rich man but it shouldn’t include stealing husbands’ We have been in marriage for six years now” The call continued. “If you want a proof, ask him as to who is Teddie”

“Hello, who is Teddie?” Naomi asked Dan. “Is my son, what it has to do with you?” Dan replied rudely. “Dan, I trusted you all these years and you pay me like this today, really?” Said Naomi. “If you want any sort of payment I can arrange that, be it as a cheque just you did or in cash, bye, oh! I forgot, don’t ever call this number again’ I will transfer the amount to your account right away” The call ended. 

Since the phone was on loud speaker, Jannie was able to hear whatever the ingrate Dan was saying. After few minutes, Naomi received a bank notification that three million and six hundred thousand Malawi kwacha have been transferred to her account. “So all of these years I was being used?” Naomi started. “I can’t even understand Dan, but he must have taken advantage of your kindness for granted” Jannie started. “Girl, we have the whole future waiting to be explored by us, let’s burry the hatched” Jannie finished. “Surely, if it wasn’t meant for you, it won’t be for..” You.. They finished the line in unison.

Naomi completely paid no heed of Dan’s memories in her life and moved on with her studies.

On the morning of the day of their graduation, their department of computer sciences decided to donate some of repaired computer boxes to one of the nearest prison. Naomi was so astonished to see Dan amongst prisoners. “Hey sir, can I talk to one of the visitors?” Pleaded Dan to one of prison warder. “Make it quick” He replied. 

“Naomi, my dear” He started. “Hold on! Who are you calling your dear? Naomi fumed. “Whatever you have to say, make it quick, I may be late for graduation ceremony” She continued. “I lost my job followed by arrest for funds mismanagement, I’m serving a seven years jerry term” He continued. “What that it has to do with me?” Naomi replied. “Be it good are bad deeds but we’ll pay for the consequences someday, guards, I’m done with this prisoner” She called the prison warden to take Dan away whilst leaving the place.

“Are you alright?” Jannie asked her. “As happy as a clam, in fact I’m relieved to see him in that state. “That’s Naomi I know, you’re done living in life of chains” Jannie finished.

Just as her father had been desiring, Naomi graduated with a degree in computer sciences, distinction to be precise. 

“Jannie, hello! I have sent you my wedding card, check your email box” Said Naomi when calling Jannie. “Girl, I have seen only that I was absorbed into work, say hello to my dearest in law , Johnny” She continued. “Please Jannie, I will be disheartened if you fails to come on my wedding day” Naomi echoed in her office. “I will come, surely” Continued Jannie. “okay, bye” She hanged up.

              ………………………… Richards Ronnie Malunga