FILE PHOTO
From a reader:
I don’t know if this section is the right place to post this. But I gotta let it out. Admins can do the needful.
I was on my way to work this morning, just a few distance between my street and the bus stop, I saw a lady (which I assumed lives in the same street with me) loading items into her car boot.
Then I saw smoke coming out of the car engine area. She didn’t notice because her view was covered by the boot cover and she was busy arranging items at the back. I signaled to her telling her that smoke was coming out of her car, she looked at me and didn’t respond and continued what she was doing.
I thought maybe she didn’t hear me. I moved close and passionately brought her attention to the impending danger, she gave me a wicked look, letting me know she is not deaf. I felt really bad, I said “meeeeen some lady’s are born snubs, why is she snubbing me”.
I jejely kept walking to avoid more embarrassment. Lo and behold, before I took 3 steps, we heard a banging sound. Now that got her attention she closed her boot door to see what’s going on, I also turned back to see what just happened.
The front was now engulfed in live flames. Toyotal muzzle for God’s sake. She started making efforts, she reached for her fire extinguisher, she could not open her engine because it was burning.
What did I do? I stood there watching her like a movie. She struggled like 10 minutes alone. Then suddenly I saw some vulcanizers operating at the end of the street running to come and help her. They were too late. The came with buckets, sand. They did all they could do, but later gave up. We were told to move back that the car may explode.
Everyone stood by while the car burns thoroughly.
At first, she was behaving as if it’s a small thing. She is not pained. Shebi it’s just a car. Then a guy walked out of my street. And wrapped his hands on his head and dramatically gave this “I am finished look”. That’s when I realized the guy must be her husband or boyfriend. When she saw how her guy was acting, she started crying.
That was when I started feeling bad. I could have done something to help her before it boomerang. At the earlier stage, ordinary fire extinguisher would have solved the problem if I had helped her open the engine. But because I was angry with her for her attitude and my selfishness, I did nothing. I was neatly dressed up in my white shirt prepared for a software presentation. I didn’t want anything to spoil my fine boy. That’s selfishness.
I hate myself for what I did. My conscience is hunting me.
