Lilies in the Sahara - for V

Happy Birthday V

Lilies in the Sahara - for V on her Birthday

Tonight marks a fortnight since I left NYSC camp, I lay in the cozy embrace of my bed, yet feeling restive. My thought strays to Violet Oli, a former schoolmate and if I dare say, course mate back in the university.

Violet is a tall, beautiful and by all means enchanting young lady. She had won the crown for the most beautiful girl in the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and circumstances saw her retain that crown for three years running. Her ascension to such a high office is by no means questionable, especially as she possesses everything it takes and more to wear the highly coveted crown.

As I lay on my bed, restless, my mind scattered on a series of reflections, my thoughts perch on the subject of V as I later preferred to call her.

Back then in school, I and V barely spoke to one another, in-fact we only spoke to each other once throughout those four eventful years in the university and till today I have never forgotten that day. Although it was quite a normal “hi-hey” routine, yet by some stroke of absurdity, I have never forgotten her handing me a pair of wipes after the pleasantries had been exchanged in class that fateful day.

From the foregoing, anyone who is really open to presumptuous thoughts would have arrived at the conclusion that I held V in very high esteem. Yes! In my mind’s eye and indeed in my physical gaze, she was a bright star up there in the sky, glowing so bright that it dimmed the brightness of other stars. Yes! Unlike many other girls whom I had one grudge or the other against their personae, all I saw in V was a form of fragile perfection, the form of perfection which should only be admired from a distance, like a museum’s artifacts; never to be touched nor tampered with.

I don’t know how such a perfect image of her ever came to inhabit my heart, but all I know is that one day, I just woke up to realize that I already had a crush, no! An Idol that I had been admiring carefully for a long time. In contrast, I never saw the need to befriend her; these feelings were just my natural inclination towards her.

Flashback to that first day in Jigawa NYSC orientation camp. That fateful morning, by seven the sun was already blazing away as if it was midday. We all stood beside our bags, several hundred corps members on a very lengthy queue which terminated at the hands of security officials who were routinely searching through our bags, partly for contrabands and partly as part of their job description for that day.

Somewhere in between strolling around and looking for a way to jump the annoyingly long queue, I ran into V several spots ahead of me. It was partly shocking and partly unbelievable. How could my picture of perfection among all places be in the same camp with me in Jigawa State. Nope! This must be a dream.

I soon realized that it was not, because for someone who wasn’t really a friend of mine in school, immediately she spotted me, she screamed in awe and I think she also fell into my arms, although I can’t quite remember the rest of the discussion, for once she flashed her smile at me, my mind went blank.

In between my semi-consciousness and a shallow daylight reverie, I also shook hands with a friend of hers whom she introduced to me as Val. Consequently, Val was to become a very good friend of mine. Wait! Did I mention how exquisitely beautiful and light-skinned Val was?

Tonight, my thoughts caress the camp memories of I and V in all fondness. The numerous nights I ran into both ladies at the Mami market, the times we spent together, mostly joking and laughing. Even though I can’t say exactly what reaction I expected of her, but I found her actions and speeches quite unraveling, like a goddess undressing before mortals, each passing day, the high walls of mystery that had hitherto surrounded her began to fall apart. In less than no time, I learnt that her best hobby was joking and her better gift was laughing. Always as cheerful and hearty as ever. On the last day of camp, I stood at a distance and starred at her once again, this time not with the mysterious admiration of a stranger, but with the knowing fondness of a friend.

You may also check: 11 reasons why you have few followers on instagram