MY TREASURED DESIRE

CHAPTER EIGHT: Reese's Heart's Musings!

Ndidi’s Place at the Igwe’s Palace, Nri City.

Ndidi’s Point of View.

I don’t like being suggestively match-made. I do not like this wealth watch stories, and the grandstanding it carries, for it makes people who were made wealthy by divine grace become so vain... And why should I fall in “fantasia” love with anyone now? Reese and I are only 21 years of age, with so many responsibilities. I finally completed my statement, for which Reese was in suspense: “I only meet guys on platonic levels – and I have no time to play with my emotions now. Maybe because of my immediate elder Sister’s experience before she elected to stay permanently in the UK... That’s a story about my sister… My eldest Brother is my cool Mentor. That wise guy guides me a lot.”

I kept updating Reese’s story in my heart, and I can never be wrong to say that what happened in the Diplomatic Centre yesterday is the icing on the cake. Since she got so close to my brother three years ago, she had always blushed whenever I mentioned a word about Alex Junior. So, not wanting to miss her first love to someone else, she grabbed the opportunity of the gala event with both hands. The only gentleman I ever got strange heartbeat for… could not come. Perhaps for a complex that I can never imagine. But here Reese enquires from me:

“Tell me a bit about that very handsome Caucasian guy with sparkling, brown eyes. He made himself so scarce since he came to receive me on arrival. He likes to make such a huge impact on someone, and tactically withdraw his interest... so that the lass would not be able to stop dreaming about him... I hope he has no excuse to miss this gala?”

“Baby Girl, Caucasian, you said - He’s half African and half European. Call him what you like: He calls himself a Black African,” I teased her as I playfully moved my long eyelashes at her puzzled sight, smiling. My joke has no choice but to be dry on this matter. She wanted me to break my principles, and I would not. True love will find its way, not by matchmaking… So, I added: “More seriously speaking, you had your masters’ degree, studying together at Harvard three years ago. Both of you shared a prize when you both got the First-Class... I invited you to come and celebrate your flying-colour success at maternal Grandpa’s place in England. He came to pick you up at the London Heathrow... You mean you never warmed up to him for all those years?” I went the whole hug, offering the best help I could render. I cherish love-marriages, not infatuations and interferences. My attitude drew the confessions out of her…

“I must confess that I had maintained my crush on him since we met again three years ago when we studied for our Masters'. We studied together but only shared his African jokes... That glued me to him in my heart. And he gave me my first kiss at your mum’s magnificently amorous Cosmetics & Beauty Secretariat (ACCU) Office in England: It was unforgettable... The next day I met him was at the airport... He was leaving me in England.” Reese chose to open up: “Everything about him is so uniquely fit for a monarch – Yeah, I know he would, one day, be a King. But he is so insightful and lovable that I think about him till it hurts... Yet, he has not been known to be tempted by girls that flock around him. He will watch them as if he admires them – and that is all. Allow a digression - I heard your grandpa saying that he's next in line to be king after your dad...” She paused for a while, expecting me to talk. But I kept mute. What Reese found out is the normal tradition – Nothing is special about ascendancy to the throne.

I took a thoughtful look at my best friend. I had always seen her fantasizing about Alex… Just a crush! I hope she has now fallen in love with Dr. Alex Junior because she had been making efforts to avoid betraying her pride as a Princess. Truly, Alex is a charming guy – but an enigma! My Brother is not a player – Never… He is a practicing Christian, but knowledgeable enough about these fantasies of the fun-seekers. He won’t fall for what he had not seriously weighed out! I believe that they would always have time to spend their leisure together on this trip. Thanks to God, they worked everything out on their own, as there is no need for any undue assistance in a love that should stand the test of time and challenges.

My brother is still that no-nonsense Medical Practitioner who moved from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital while his expertise was highly honoured, to join our Grandpa’s Foundation’s initiative as a volunteer – without being prompted. No wonder the Prof was so happy at his foresight. He now works at our renowned General Specialist Hospital, under his former lecturer at Harvard, Prof. Floyd George-Orji – the GSH’s Group Medical Director. I knew that it won’t be shocking if Alex Junior had a surprise for her. I only prayed, and now thank God for the fulfilment that I believe should be good for the love birds.

I am glad for my best young couple yet. I can now see the reason why Reese had always turned down every suitor. Though I chide her for being fond of expressing that she gets deeply hurt when Alex does not express what he feels for her, we have that coy-mistress stuff - in common. Alex must be the object of her own desire: She has obviously prepared her gorgeous “assets” for my beloved brother, and she has overcome at last! For me, no man will take advantage of me - or get my heart so taken away - until we are espoused to be married. No way! I smiled as my mind replayed Reese’s soliloquy in the limousine as we moved on the tours, before alighting here at the Igwe’s Palace Mansion.

“What does Alex love so affectionately... I got some gifts for him. But he would only see it after this holiday is done... I don’t think I can face him after the gifts.” She had kept quiet again to search my heart with her lovely eyes...

Sorry, I had said nothing in response. Then, I heard her lamentations:

“Why does he take my breath away when he teasingly comes near me? He makes my heart skip a bit when I see him – Now we are in Africa together and I cannot muster the courage to say a word to him... He talks so cool, calls me a snob as other boys do, even when I had never snubbed him. But he always had something interesting to cook up to make me weirdly comfortable...” She then took a thoughtful pause, her eyes shining with tears that may eventually pour. Her sparkling white handkerchief has a job to do. This time, she must have convinced herself that I won't say a word. So, she became tough...

“See, it would be so unfair and heart-breaking if he should put me in a Friends' or Sisters’ Zone, EnDee – You are his sister. But, come... he doesn't touch me as friends do to their platonic friends of the opposite s*x! How does he f*cking know so many things (which my best friend does not even know) about me – and he never cared a hoot to tell me about himself?”

Then, I adjusted my sitting position in the Limo and muttered to Reese: “Be calm. Things have a way of evolving naturally... Dr. Alex Junior is 25, but full of Old People's wisdom.”

Reese wiped her teary face, took a deep breath, and braced up to free her inquisitive mind again. She knew that she had squeezed enough honey out of that Rock who is her best friend. So, she changed the topic: “How large are this Palace and its constituents?”

I heard that question being answered by my dad a long time ago – a while before the State’s Political Campaign began… before he was elected as our State’s Governor. Then, I was barely 11 years of age. But I still remember that line, and I repeated it to my best friend: “The entire plots of gardens, paved lawns, heaped rocks, look-alike Mansions, the Main Palace, Convenience Stores, Diplomatic Centre, Offices, Sports Arena, Leisure Fantasia Arcade, Children’s Haven, natural waterfalls and streams – with their divinely tamed animals in their enhanced habitat - cover an estimated 5 hectares of royal land... However, no hunting is allowed, as the animals – even the so-called wild ones – have such affinity to whoever is on the Royal Land with pure intents and would never hurt them. But if you carry a weapon, you won’t know how you are hit!”

Reese looked shocked. “Incredible,” she said firmly… “And you all feel safe with them roaming about the place? And you think that animals would keep a gentleman’s pact with humans?”

I took a long, emotionless look at my friend, and said: “We’ll find out tonight!”

At that time the convoy had parked in a queue. And members of our Security Personnel have already taken their positions at the Cars’ Doors. They were all clad in their expensive custom-made suits, with the taxidermal heads of carnivorous animals draped on their left shoulders... depending on their ranks. The well-preserved wildcats’ yellowish-grey, black-striped feline heads, and skins, of Northern Africa, were draped on the shoulders of the heavily built bouncers, while Cheetah or Tiger heads were for the Service Chiefs. The King came out with the taxidermal Lion head with its sparkling blend of fiery yellow and amber eyes and skin draping on his shoulders… The Queen-Mother – when she is not wearing a crown, spots the white lioness’ taxidermal drapes – the blue eye of the lioness is a beautiful sight. Ladies do not wear the taxidermal drapes unless they are professional warriors, according to their ranks, and those ones are not necessarily differentiated from their male counterparts. Some of the Traditional Palace Chiefs’ suits bore Hyena heads and the skins run down the left breast side. They look so trendy and gracious... The friendly bouncers opened the doors and some curvy, smooth-skinned ànkárá-clad beautiful maidens – bearing rose petals – took their positions by all the doors. (Ankara is a type of 100% cotton cloth with unique African Prints that could be made into any fashionable dress, shirt, or suit.) The tradition is that the beautiful African ladies will courteously pour the Rose petals on the floor and gracefully swing their (usually wide) hips and walk away – a type of Red-Carpet Welcome… But immediately all the Guests Step on the rose petals, they are motioned to stand still. Music would be played by the standby Orchestra…

After the classical welcome music, a very huge man with brownish skin, chiselled but smooth face with a taxidermal bear head and skin on his left shoulders – the Chief of Defence – will stand ahead. He would be seen from everywhere since he would always be standing on high ground ahead of the parking lot. His voice would be loud and flawless. This Security Chief's English Language diction was impeccable as he announced: “On behalf of the Unquestionable King of the East of the Niger - His Royal Majesty, Igwe (Sir) Okoro George-Orji, KBE - I welcome you all to the ancient City of Nri, and to Africa: The Natural Haven of Hospitality, Safety, and Respect!”

The Special Guests would then be ushered into the Diplomatic Centre of the Palace for short Welcome Formalities before each of them is properly checked into their allotted accommodation, each with their mansion’s special hospitality team.