There lived a lady in the heart of Lagos that I fell in love with at a first glance. I was not stingy with money so I made sure to lavish my money on her. Oh! did I tell you that she gave me a tough time while wooing her. I will never forget the furnace and humiliation I passed through before she accepted me. Well not until I showed her my true colour sha oh! I am a fan of Indian and Korean series. I practically dig them. The way they paint the word 'love' as though it were all beautiful and blissful. The first time I saw her was at a restaurant opposite my workplace. Not me! I don't patronize there, I was too big for that. What actually stole my gaze to itself was the scene she was creating. Her voice, character and carriage as she threw the curses at the waitress was not much of a concern to me now, her beauty was. God! She is beautiful. I stood there transfixed and bemused at her contrastive figure. There was an overwhelming juxtaposition in character and appearance. There was no semblance what so ever. It was like an angel spilling the devils stool. I never bothered like I earlier mentioned, my olfactory lobes were not performing its function as at that time all I could conjure were probable schemas of me and her holding hands and singing the Punjabi hit track, 'Jolin ta im', with reckless abandon shunning out the whole world; not bothered with anything and anyone but ourselves as we let our hearts travel wherever it chooses to take us. "Bukandin, you da mad? Boss has been looking at you all these while. If you don't want to loose your job get your ass down here" he teased. That was my friend, Fredo, he always looks for any available opportunity to taunt me. But I know too well to fall for his tricks. Fatai is his actual name but I called him Fredo after seeing 'Dezebel". I told you I was obsessed with those movies. He never complained, in fact he preferred it to Fatai and even uses it with his numerous baes. To compensate me for my deserving gesture he in turns calls me Bukandi. " Are you serious! I am scared already" I feigned " No be say we gader da here da look am ni" I yelled at his back. 'wait make I catch you now. Why you da run?" I threatened mildly. The beautiful beast was the focal of our discussion for the whole day. 'I never knew such girls can be so sassy. Look at how elegantly she disgraced herself. Na wa oh!" 'Aba! don't judge a book by its cover' I was quick to counter, "she is like Dezebel who has seen hell from Lucia and was giving it back to her" I summarised. "wait! This wan way you suddenly turn justice league so, come da defend her like say she be your family members self. I been day suspect you small small' "I was just being realistic. Where is the document I gave you to vet" I digressed flipping the mind of the discussant. I made sure to find her location and before night fall I located her abode somewhere in the ruins of Ajegunle. I never knew it was this devastating. I only read about the precarious state the area was in in 'The song of Ajegunle' by Niyi Osundare. Believe me I thought it was just fictional work, that no place could be as damned as he described it to be. But here I was viewing the whole scene in clear and vociferous 3D orientation. I got home that night and took a thorough bath. I swear I almost peeled off my skin before I crashed in. I started trailing her and I observed she works as an hair stylist and was a chronic pauper. That didn't deter me. There it was my opportunity to act a film I once saw. I left my car at home, gave my key to my house keeper, took 2months leave and moved into Ajegunle. The first month was enthralling and challenging but I weathered through the storms and hurdles that greeted me everyday. We began talking and became close friends. I was running out of time so on one of our routine walks I told her about my intentions. But surprisingly she showed that other side I saw at the restaurant 'I dan die! Na me be this.. You dan see fine girl way you wan da yanch abi!? I can't date a poor and hroke dude like you. Let this be the first and the last time you will say this to me" she threatened and walked on. I advanced and held her hand to explain my undying love for her, but a striking strike of the hand on my soft cheeks dispelled my speech and hands from hers. My eyes saw a cancellation of stars and a dancing whitish and sparkling firmament. I was shocked to the bones and could not utter a word as she moved with her steady gait. Is she not Beautiful.. Beautiful... I repeated When I tried to no avail. I then used my hidden card for all its worth. I drove in my new Rolls Royce Phantom (2015) edition parked at the front of her house and dialed her number. 'I have told you not to call my number any more' 'Aba I want to see you for the last time before I go' 'I don't have your time' she bangs the phone. I dialed her number again but she wasn't picking up. I called at a boy passing by and gave him one thousand naira note to help me call her out for me, but to my greatest surprise the small boy wanted an increase so I gave him five thousand naira note after much haggling. He went and before long came out with her. I am sure from the way she was startled that she was shocked. Before I could tell her to reconsider me for the last time, she had begun to apologise that she was only trying to play a hard to get game that she indeed loves me. I immediately forgot the slaps and humiliation and embraced her passionately. Truly love was blind, even though she was in for my money it never bothered me. Some months later she moved into my apartment at Ikoyi. I showered her with all the goodness money could afford. I bought her a new car and also a house. Money was not my problem after all. She refuses to cook which I perfectly understand. We often go out to Chinese restaurants to eat. I spend nothing less then twenty thousand naira in cash everyday to feed us both. I was happy because I loved her and was making arrangements for our marriage. Then the table turned... To be continued....