Amorous Affair (Episode I)



Ikare-Akoko NYSC Orientation Camp, September 2003
Ajuwaya! Ajuwaya! Ajuwaya! Dave turns to see a guy dressed in complete corps members outfit; he was running towards him while he tried to see if he was someone he knew.

Ajuwaya to him was a new word; he has never heard it before coming to the orientation camp. The word means someone who jumps across a rope. It was usually used to refer to corps members because of the nature of drilling the go through at the NYSC orientation camp.

Dave arrived at the NYSC camp at about 6.30 pm on the day the camp opened; he arrived late to the camp because he first went to the NYSC National secretariat to receive a letter to cover him for the incorrect name which was written on the letter of invitation to camp he got from his university.

If he didn’t go for the cover letter he could have been harassed and probably even prevented from participating in the camping for fear of impersonation by the authority.

Students are made to serve the country for a period of twelve months after they graduate. Three weeks out of the twelve months is spent on camp with rigorous drilling and exercise before they are deployed to their places of primary assignment.

He had a very tough day first traveling from Kano to Abuja and then from Abuja to Ondo state at Ikare-Akoko where the NYSC orientation camp was situated in the state.

By the time he arrived the camp he was very tired but all he could pray for was that he should be allowed into the camp.

He entered the camp without much ado, unlike what people were made to believe that by a certain time the camp would be closed and those who haven’t arrived would not be admitted in.

That is one of the problems with country, you expect someone coming all the way from far north in a journey that will take hours and yet arrive before the day ended.

Most laws in the country are passed without putting into consideration those that will be affected.

Dave thought of a part of the National anthem that says, “To serve our father’s land, with love and strength and faith….. Faith! He thought, “One truly must have a lot of faith to believe in a country like Nigeria. A country where almost everything had gone wrong, corruption is in highest level, evil practices and immoralities was the order of the day.



Little did Dave know he was just beginning a new phase of his life!

There was a lot of story to tell about camp but even much more is after the camp.

One of the things he was quick to notice as he entered the camp was insecurity, even though there was presence of security personnel; soldiers, police, Man O’ War and other security people to ensure law and orderliness on the camp.

Many corps members complained of stolen items despite all the security provided by NYSC and government to secure the lives and properties of corps members.

Dave had often wondered at the kind of system where everything was wrong. His one joy was that he had graduated and at least he could start pursuing his goals in life.

One thing that always keeps him going is the dreams of becoming someone important in life. Without a university education that is one pipe dream in the country. Even if you are going to earn your living from the course you studied you must have at least a first degree to be able to do anything meaningful.

No! Something else keeps him going even more than that- Ann! Well Ann’s story is for another time!
At the entrance his bags were searched by the security people. They were searching to ensure that no one entered the camp with any dangerous weapon.

There was a reported case where members of a rivalry cult met on NYSC camp after graduating from their school and clashed. Some people were killed there and since then government had ensured that all bags of entrants to the camp must be thoroughly searched.

Dave was surprised at the number of corps members he saw, the entire camp was overcrowded, a total of one thousand five graduates were admitted while there were several soldiers, policemen, NYSC officials, hawkers and others which if added will be up to two thousand people.

There were different lineups about twelve or more queues with corps members lined up to get registered before they would be properly admitted into camp and given their kits.

Each corps member passed through at least twelve queues before they got their complete kits after several days of arrival at the camp.

The kits includes poorly sown khaki shirt and trouser, very poor quality canvass, one already slackened vest, a funny looking khaki cap and two baggy white shorts.

Whoever the tailor or designer that made those kits was or who was given the contract must either be a thief or a very unserious tailor. If any of those kits given by NYSC to corps members is placed in a boutique’s show glass no one in his or her right mind would pay for them.

Drilling exercises started almost a week into the orientation when all corps members have been fully registered. Training on different career line started after then, with different organizations coming to camp to promote their products and give a public awareness of what their NGOs are about. Most of those lectures are boring from the beginning to the end.

As for Dave it was a very rigorous exercise and none of it interested him. He had a glimpse of girls who passed by, but he was certain he wasn’t going to get involved with any of them. Most of the girls were beautiful but Dave had his mind on Ann all the time.

He thought of the stories he had heard of relationships that came to end when one or both of those involved went to serve.

He was sure that Ann wouldn’t leave him for another man for any reason on earth! He was sure too that he couldn’t for any reason leave Ann.

His commitment to the relationship was more than having a fling or a relation on a three week NYSC orientation camp.

How people manage to come to an orientation program of three weeks and get hooked up never cease to amaze him. He has heard of several girls that got pregnant right there on the NYSC orientation camp.

What motivates people to relationship or even sex? Is it loneliness, or the need for adventure, or youthful exuberant?

He once again looked at the ring he wore on the fourth finger of his left hand. That ring was always there, that was the symbol of his love and commitment for Ann. She also has hers.

The first day on the orientation camp was worse than any other day he could remember though it kind of ended on a good note.

After attending precisely three lines, there was a sudden hullabaloo, one corps member had deliberately caused it so that when the queue was scattered he could get to the front position.

There was struggling among the guys and the girls. Most girls did not care much about their breasts being squeezed in the process all they could think of was getting registered and settle down.

You can imagine how annoying it would be if you were on the third position or even first when the whole thing was scattered after moving from over a hundred to get there.

Soldiers and other security people tried to bring other and NYSC officials threatened to expel culprits from the camp.

Dave was unmoved; he was calm and stood where he was watching the whole thing. Though Dave likes getting things done as fast as possible but he was never caught up for struggling, especially in a crowd like that where you could get stampede.

He thought of the kind of people bred by universities and other higher institutions who would be joining the labor market sometime.

Some primary school pupils behaved better than some of these graduates. Even the girls didn’t mind being manhandled. Hmm, he couldn’t bear the thought of it.

He wondered what was happening with Ann in her own camp. He wished he was there to give her a helping hand. The thought of Ann undergoing what he was seeing made him sad and for the first time since he arrived camp, he missed her and wished they were on the same camp.

Someone tapped him on his shoulder, he turned slowly to see who it was, ... she was a dark-beautiful, about 5ft tall, full rounded breasts, you can feel the firmness from within her blouse, her hair was braided and packed to the back, she had on a tight fitted jeans that revealed her backside.

Contd.
 
Categories: Short Stories & Articles

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