BEFUDDLED BY LOVE

                                                        


                                    

BOOM!!!

That was not the sound of a gunshot! It was not the sound of a bomb blast either. It was the sound of Tunde's broken heart shattered by the only woman he ever loved. He heard it anytime he saw a lady he liked. He had been befuddled from his first and only love experience.

He had gotten into a relationship with Nimi on her 21st birthday after a year of a hot chase. She captured every man's attention at first sight. She was endowed with good body curves complimented with a tiny waist. She walked like the world rotated around her beauty. She had taste for exotic things that could make any man go bankrupt. Tunde did not mind, he was willing to spend all he had on her.  He loved her and he showed it in the way he looked at her, touched her, kissed her, and with the gifts, he showered on her.

'What is love without actions My World?' He often whispered in her ears.
'Oh, my T' she would blush. ' There is more'. She often added.

No matter the more, he always thought he could give anything she ever wanted until that faithful day.
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RATTA TATTA TATTA TATTA ...Tunde's phone vibrated, rattling up in the messy piles of files on the table, bucking and clacking up beside his keys. He was frustrated and the consistent vibrations of the phone irritated him. He was occupied with balancing the account of the company which he has been procrastinating for long. Failure to do so means he was going to get fired. He picked it to switch off but the caller ID made him stopped. It was Nimi. 

'My world, I'm sorry. Erm...I was busy...I me..a..n I am still busy' He stammered.
'Oh My T!' she whined. 'Too busy for me?' She asked
'Yes and No' He replied trying not to sound frustrated.

He was relieved when Nimi hanged up and even more relieved for the reason she called. She called to ask if he would be available for dinner at the Oriental Hotel, one of the best hostel on the Island in Lagos, after the close of work. The beautiful thing about it was that she was settling the bills. He had so much to do. He promised to check his dairy later to know what they were celebrating.
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He had barely taken a table in the restaurant at Oriental when he noticed all heads spinning to the entrance. He turned to see what facilitated the distraction, it was a lady dressed in an off-shoulder burgundy gown with glittering tiny silver stones. The gown was glued from her bust down to her knees and flared to her feet.  She wore a silver clutch and shoes to match. The hair on her head spoke hundred of thousands of naira as flipped them,  walking like a peacock. No doubt, she walked like the world rotated around her beauty. Even with the dim lights, you could tell she was beautiful and even in the darkness of all nights, Tunde would still recognize his love. THE LADY WAS HIS WORLD. He felt under-dressed in his grey trousers, blue shirt and burgundy tie. He waited for her to catch his glance and give approval before walking up to her.

'My World, you look stunning'  Tunde pecked her on both cheeks
 The scent of her body aroused him. He pecked her over and over her.
' Oh, My T' She whispered in his ears, her soft lips touching his ear lobe arousing him even more.
'You better stop now'. She laughed.
They both had set boundaries for sexual excitement until they are married.

They chuckled. Nimi led him to the table she ordered for reservations.  They were not oblivious of the eyes that followed them and the murmurings. Tunde was proud that His World was the Cynosure.  No doubt Nimi picked the best of tables, the best of the exotics. It was in a secluded area of the restaurant and they could see galaxies of stars up in the sky. They had a shrimps cocktail before their appetizer was served on a candlelit table for two. Tunde observed that throughout their appetizer, Nimi was unhappy. He held her hands warmly across the table.

'My World, you look sad, what is wrong?'  He asked.
'Why wouldn't be? She asked him. 'You keep forgetting our anniversary' She said with tears in her eye.

Just then, the waiter came with their main dish, White rice with Ofada stew and efo-riro.
'Are you okay Madam' The waiter asked with a Ghanaian accent.
'Are you sent here to serve or to be a busy body? Tunde thundered before Nimi could utter any word.
The waiter cringed.
'I a..am so...rr..y' He stammered.
He hurriedly served and ran away.
Immediately he left, Tunde looked at Nimi again.
'I am sorry' he said.
'I did not mean to shout at him, I didn't mean to forget our anniversary My World either, I was caught in deadlines. I'm sorry'. He added.

She released her hands from his.
 'Alright,' She waved her hands in the air. 'apology accepted'.  She took her fork and knife.
Tunde was happy. He told her about his day and how glad he was to beat the deadlines. He was disappointed that all she did was just nodding. He knew something was wrong. She had not even touched her food. She'd been playing with her fork and knife.

'What is wrong Nimi' He asked her.

He moved his chairs from across to beside her. He drew her to himself.
' Nimi, you know I will anything for you, tell me, what is wrong?'

Nimi eyes lit up in joy. She looked at him to be sure and Tunde nodded his head. There's nothing he could withhold from His World. Nimi gently pulled herself from his arms. She took her silver clutch purse and brought out a tiny box.

Tunde was in awe. He thought Nimi was pulling a trick, his mouth was opened.

'Will you marry me?' She asked.

Tunde understood. She was serious. He realized how long they have been dating, nine years and he never for once told her he would marry her at a certain time. Her frustrations and the pressure of marriage on her by her parents became glaring to him. He was not ready for marriage, his salary was barely enough to take care of Nimi needs not to talk about an exotic family.  He was angry suddenly that she stooped so low to ask him to marry her.

'HELL NO!!!' He thundered, 'Does a lady ask a man for marriage!!!' He screamed.

His voice echoed around the restaurant reaching the deafest ears. He did not plan to create a scene. He was angry at himself as some nosy dinners gathered to see the shameless woman who proposed to a man. Nimi cried in shame and ran out of the restaurant. He ran after her without much ado, but she was gone!!!

The news went viral that night and made it to the newspaper the next day and...
BOOM!!!
 THEN THE NEWS.

'Hope you are happy now, my daughter killed herself because of you' Nimi Mother announced to him on phone.

BOOM!!!
His heart was broken and filled with guilt. He knew right then that no woman would ever love him like she did, giving her all and her life. Tunde has been befuddled by love since then.

MUA!!!
THANK YOU FOR COMING AROUND TO READ THIS. A friend going through this told me that they don't eat Efo-riro in romance but this is Nigeria. We eat efo-riro even at proposals.

So what do you think? If you were in Nimi's shoes, what would you have done?