Necessary loses

Chapter Four-Nostalgia and Perigrination

Bridget's Point of View

I was very sad today. Naturally, sadness is part of human life, and as human as I am, I would have to taste every flavour of life, whether good or bad, tragedy or comedy. The happily ever after life which everyone is craving for is just a myth, an end to an uncompleted story.

I was back again to my empty room, the same old place, in between my table and chair, quietly recalling everything.

I wondered how my life got so monotonous and mundane as opposed to the tranquillity that I used to have. Two weeks of being in the company of my new friends made me so sick of my boring life.

I wish that I could unconsciously slip into narcolepsy and relish in it's many benefits, creating my dreams, and living in them. As I sat calmly fixed in my chair self-examining the decisions I had previously taken, I saw that I had a long way to go.

Mum was not home at the moment, so I was home alone. To ward off the sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach, I decided to do something else. I had a very good idea.

I jolted from my thoughts and resolved to shake the negativity away. I recalled all the numerous times I had seen highlighted in a magazine, book, or on the phone. The Best Ways To Live A Happy Life and tried to practice all that I could think of; from motivational quotes to watching movies... but frankly speaking, they all didn't seem to work.

Then suddenly, the epiphany struck me. Mavis had given me a card the first time we met. It contained her contact details, maybe we could hang out this weekend if I gave it a try. After all we are engaging with the world and not hiding from it, and besides we could exchange one or two ideas from our respective course of study.

I reluctantly went to my bedroom and picked the old telephone that was passed down from my grandfather to my mum. I took in a deep breath and braced myself up for disappointment. It wasn't something new to me. I dialed the number and pressed the call button.

"Hello" I heard someone say after the third ring

"Hi" I nervously replied. "May I please speak to Mavis? "

"Sure, but who is this? " Came the light voice of a kid.

"This is Bridget, a friend from school " I said simply

"Mavis!!" Her tiny voice screamed irritating my eardrum.

"Hi Bridget" She said more of a question than a statement.

"Yeah it's me" I confirmed "I was wondering if we could hang out this weekend"

"Why not? I would be studying with some of my friends" She urged. "You can come over at my house and besides..."

"Location" I inquired not needing any more explanations.

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The Same Day
In A Cab (Uber)

The ride to her house seemed lengthy for me, perhaps it was because that was my first time visiting a friend unaccompanied. All I had to do to mum mum was to tidy up the room, lock the doors, and leave behind a note, entrusting it's safekeeping with my favourite old study table in the study room. There was no need to hide my keys somewhere, she always keeps a bunch of spare keys with her.

Although I didn't hail a cab like I usually do when I'm destined for a familiar location, the silence was not eerie at all, neither did it feel like eons. Throughout the journey, all I could think of was the cool breeze  and how wonderful nature was. I kept my eyes rooted on the slightly opened louvres, absorbing all the positive energy from the surroundings; from the trees which unintentionally fenced the one-way road, the bustling commotion between traders, and passer-bys to the excitement of watching  people moving to and fro. The amusement of watching all these people fuss, hustle, hassle, and bustle about repleted me with a feeling more euphoric than ambrosia.

Precisely when I supposed everything  was alright and my glum facial expression begun to dissipate,I anticipated something  very emotional .

The driver was at a stop in a thick traffic around a very busy town, I can't pinpoint which town exactly. I just saw a sign board of a hospital  which couldn't be essential in the emplacement of the area.There was this hawker and she was a woman with a mediocre stature, even at close scrutinity, I couldn't detect whether she was a middle aged woman, in her twenties or more than that. She simply wasn't one of those people ,whose age could be detected   by a gaze, much less a glance. She looked very ambitious, determined   and zealous. A shred of  cloth was fastened to a little child behind her, while she tried despairingly to equilibrise a tray of goods on her head. The most surprising thing was that she had one of her legs  amputated and so she was desperately trying to balance the goods with just a hand, while the other held onto her clutch in a jam of human and car traffic.

I muffled what sounded like a cry under my palm since I couldn't take my eyes off her, while she swiftly moved to the calls of  buyers in the busy streets.

Life is so questionable and ironic isn't it? While this lady tried to work as hard as she could, there was a  long queue of disabled persons not far away from the streets, begging for alms.

Astonishingly, I was not the only one who had seen her. I could see from the corner of my eye the gasps and awkward stares she was receiving from the pedestrians, some of the hawkers, the drivers, the drivers' mates, passengers among others.

A passenger on board called to her and she quickly run with her goods at the instructions of the man. I was so proud that for the first time ever, I didn't hear anyone call her a witch or  shun her away, rather, their faces were filled with hope...and they looked ready-to-help. The African society was advancing rapidly.

The Uber Driver, who had been quiet all this while mumbled something like "Yes, these are the kind of people we should help" I nodded in ecstasy too bewildered to speak and feigning absent mindedness.

Practically speaking, nobody seemed  oblivious to the presence of this daring lady. Even as the car sped off, I continued to think of her till she made me happy, gave me a sense of hope...of accomplishment and I resolved to make the most of every opportunity.

The only thing I regretted was not getting a chance to help her and purchase anything, even though at a glance, I got all I needed without losing a dime.

When I reached the said destination, the driver checked the time machine, read to me the amount I owned, took from me the payment, and sped off with not so much as a goodbye, leaving me alone in front of the apartment gate.

A/N: Don't forget to vote, comment,  and share.
Sorry if you found this chapter boring, but I've had enough of shwarmas, pizzas and burgers.
Take a trip down memory lane and comment.