Tales of a Keke Passenger From Opolo to Ekeki by Victor Oroyi – Episode 6 | Ironic Ride With a Respectful Passenger
Tales of a Keke Passenger From Opolo to Ekeki by Victor Oroyi – Episode 6 | Ironic Ride With a Respectful Passenger
Forty-five minutes to noon, on a midweek’s morning; barely seven more days to the end of the first month of the year.
The intensed colour hue and scotching effect of the sun without a time piece would suggest it’s two hours after noon. The dry heat is discomforting, and unbearable on human lives; the atmospheric condition has became unpredictable and undefined lately. Abuja residents will relate to this condition and will not jealous their counterparts in Yenagoa. Is this due to climate change?
As I lighted, and gave the rider, the 1k note, he gave me N800 as my change, I asked where dey N50, looking straight to his eyes and holding on to his keke.
I no get N50, taking his eyes off me, to pick the naira notes in the pigeon hole where riders usually keep their money, replying me. Raising his face, he looks at the lady’s face and my face.
I am unmindful of the Lady seated with me at the back. All I need is my N50; nothing else matters. Like the unpredictable and undefined climatic condition, so is the unpredictable nature of humans.
Walking away from this rider with his deceitful look, I thought over the scenario, ‘Why is he not giving me my N50 change’, because he said he has change when I asked him earlier; every kobo matters with the present economy condition.
*****
Stepping out, thinking on what season of the year this is, the first three keke riders decline to give me a ride. They don’t have change when I pointed out to them that I have 1k note; they all had full passengers at the back seat and that is the reason, why I wanted to join them. Yet they don’t have change of N850 for a fourth passenger alighting at Ekeki with a miracle N1000 note somewhere in his work dairy.
This rider stops, just as the fifth one is accelerating off in front of me, looking into my eyes, I ask, ‘Ekeki, 1k dey my hand, you get change‘.
‘Yes, I get change‘, without hesitation, he replies holding the tip of the key as his engine goes off.
Contrary to my expectation, an empty keke has change for me. I entered confidently, with this wandering thought but didn’t consider the sign. My concern, I don’t want to be standing on the road, while he stands and look for change from his fellow riders wasting the time of other passengers. Or, a scenario, where he would shout at me saying ‘why you no tell me say you hold 1k before you enter‘. It can be embarrassing and these riders are unmannered in such situations.
*****
I got pissed as I walked away to miss my N50 change; the N50 shortchange will affect my financial health for the day just as the unexpected climatic condition is having adverse effect on human health in Yenagoa.
I pinched myself of the earliest sign when the engine of the keke went off immediately gave me that deceitful reply. He gets off the keke to use the hand start which begins after four trials. I never considered it for a negative omen.
******
You know this look, innocent but mischievous expression, now, I can tell, he knows that he didn’t have the change. The rider thought, I would feel embarrassed for asking; he turns around looking at the female passenger naively as though he wanted to ask a question but faces me with an helpless look in his mind saying ‘guy leave this thing, I no get N50′.
****
Her voice echoed ‘good morning, sir’, and brought me to reality from my wandering thoughts. This female passenger entered in front of the former NEPA office at Opolo, she greets and sits at the rear end; we were the only passengers.
‘Are there babes still respectful and full of courtesy’, I said that in my mind as I scan her from what she is wearing against how plain I looked. The lady is on a branded-black T-shirt and rugged-loosed blue jean on the knee area. Her nails were well filed with paintings that were catchy. The purple and white coloured design on her foot nails are attractive. Same for her finger nails except for the thumbs. The white strips across the purple coloured background comes out as a budding flower. This detailed design is done with so much artistic and creative prowess by the nail technician.
Her white-flat-slippers is Turkish made but yet, she comes to the public space with so much courteous mannerism.
The dry breeze has nothing on her. She glows in this ebony-smoothen and soften skin texture from her head, hands and toes; same texture, same tone and same softness. Her simple cornrow hairstyle that brought out her oval facial-shape with a light make-up enhanced her beauty in the order of the woman in Proverbs chapter thirty-one.
The lady appears to me, she sells wares as past-time hustle while having a stable job. We have them here in good number, others are on payrolls, yet, abroad studying until their retirement age. Luckily, this one is here. She is carrying a white paper-bag with wares that she holds very close to herself after settling in for the ride. It was a lone ride with this respectful passenger.
****
After, I alighted and had few minutes back-and-forth with rider, she continues her ride to her destination, and I didn’t take note of her destination. It is not my business and I was in deep thought, when she greeted.
This is an ironic ride from the begining to end for me. I will share my thoughts with you but don’t tell me what you think.
Apart from the attitude of the rider, this lady appeared differently too. Thinking… ‘why didn’t she market her wares to me, maybe she deals on women wares or is she thinking, I don’t have any women in my life I would want to surprise?’
Just like the rider, I hope this female passenger is true to the public perception I created? For now, I have perceived her to be respectful, resourceful and reasonable. Anyway, you know we are not going to meet again, it is first impression ‘syndrome’.
Just like the climatic condition; the rider nodded in the affirmative but acts contrary within 15 minutes and went away with my N50. She entered with so much courtesy, yet didn’t find me a potential client to buy her wares for my woman. What is she thinking?
Life is indeed unpredictable. It gives you what you expect but not at your time or terms; keep an open mind in your prediction and principles for creating perceptions about people especially people you are meeting for the first time. So, guide your principles in the art of perception-building and ‘perceiving’ of persons around you before defining them.
If she was selling wares, she should have seen me as a potential client on the 15-minute ride. I guess, am wrong to see her as that. I may perceive her in positive light with my principles; she too has her perception based on same principles.
We don’t have control over the weather conditions, we only adapt to it. Through observation, we tell what season of the year we find ourselves; and over a period of time we make predictions based on those experiences. As we meet people both formal and informal, we should learn to observe, adapt, and live with them in mutual respect. Most importantly, live and let others live.
read more:
