SAD: MY LAPTOP WAS STOLEN

An image of a devastated man

What a painful lost!!!

I had just left my room when one of my neighbours broke the news of his stolen laptop. The above-capitalized words made up the actual statement he used in revealing the theft. However, something was wrong with his facial expression—it was indifferent. It didn't look like the face of one who had suffered a loss. In a bid to avoid being a doubtful Thomas which could irk him, I consoled him and asked if there was any way the laptop could be traced. Unfortunately, his answer was negative. Knowing the laptop is worth 400,000 Naira, I became overly empathic. Yet his countenance didn't change; it's as though I was the owner of the stolen laptop.

“My laptop was stolen, but I caught the thief. I was about to raise an alarm when he bribed me with a one-thousand Naira note. I collected it, and let him go afterwards.” He announced. I didn't type his words verbatim though. 

With an air of disgust, I attacked him with a series of questions: “Are you normal? You collected a bribe from someone who stole your laptop? What if he comes another day to steal a more valuable item? This isn't making sense, Segun” 

When he couldn't withstand the sultriness of my questions, he giggled and pleaded I calm down.

“Guy, my laptop is inside my room. It was not stolen. I was only joking. Come and beat me, I am inside my room” He pouted and ran into his room. 

The rest is history. Now, imagine this story is factual. Don't say it's not feasible. My dear, it could happen. Crazier things are happening. After you have accepted the possibility of a story like this, I can proceed with my analogy. 

This story is no different from what you experience every electioneering period. You know a candidate isn't eligible. You know his track record in the public sector has been about fraudulent activities like embezzlement, yet you cast your vote for him/her because (s)he had given you a wad of miserable notes. Shortly after (s)he's elected, you begin to see him/her come for a more valuable item which pushes your future to the brink of failure. 

The story is no different from what happens to some single ladies. Because they don't want to be left out on Valentine's Day, they jump at guys without proper evaluation. Sometimes, the ladies know these guys aren't good for them, but they don't want to spend Valentine's Day in their father's house or their house. They want to be taken to Ikeja City Mall and many other beautiful places, so they jump without looking. The ephemeral ecstasy they wish to get on Valentine's Day is the bribe given to them. Soon, they begin to realize that they had jumped at. 

It's a pity that some of you are blinded by temporal pleasures that you outright forget about what really matter, which should be the all-important—the future!

What do you think??

Read: EXPOSED: WHO ARE YOUR FRIENDS?

About the Author

Ifenaike Ifedapo Ayomipo is a Nigerian writer whose works have been published or are forthcoming on The Quills, The Transit Lit Magazine, Naija Mad Hotstars, Kalahari Review, IceFloe Press, CovidHQ Africa, Shallow Tales Review, Institutionalized Review, Whetstone Magazine and elsewhere. Also, he's a promising Educationist and public speaker.