I came from a place where the closest thing to a quiet place when you are far gone into the dream world. It's so noisy that even when you scream, it sounds like a hawker calling out for customers.
I had learned how to master such environment, to an extent when I want to read, I use a special sound that helps my ahut out from the outside noise.
Just like using a better noise to stop an annoying noise. I plug and close my two ears with an ear piece and play my sound.
The sounds of ocean wave and thunderstorm, with a soothing stroke of the keys on the piano.
Even by 12am in the morning, some clubs will be on high alert and party to dawn, then in the day time, bus drivers, street vendors, market women and honks for distant vehicles are in a truce to steal silence away from the inhabitants of the territory around.
The classes I attended were also quite noisy because lecturers didn't really care if you paid attention. I mean they were teaching close to five hundred students. I guess they didn't have the energy to keep everyone quiet. They just focused on what they taught, and really didn't care if you understood or not.
"Obinna, I want to go read now." Nkem said as he packed his backs about leaving the room.
Obinna rolled his eyes because he knew everywhere was the same as their room; noisy.
"Where are you going to read?" He asked.
"At the library." Nkem responded. "I read there yesterday and for once in my life since I entered this school, I felt silence." He sat down at the edge of his bed. "Infact, the sound of my breathe was almost noisy in that place, added to the fact that it has both an air conditioner and free Wifi." He added.
"Such a place exist in this country?" Obinna asked in disbelief.
Nkem almost felt irritated with the doubt from Obinna. "You can lie there and live in doubt or you can put on some clothes and come and see for yourself."
He said as he continued packing his bags to leave for the library. Obinna still in doubt had to give it a try. He stood up and wore his favorite lecture corporate wear.
An oxblood shirt with a black trouser and a pair of shoe he bought at okirika market.
Nkem and Obinna walked to the library. The noise outside was quite loud and it suddenly changed when they were within the walls of the library. All strange sounds ceased to exist.
Obinna couldn't believe his eyes. He found a spot to sit and finally settled down. It felt like he left the country. He finally understood Nkem wasn't lying about the airconditioner. The cool air kissed his face in a chill greeting.
So far everything Nkem had told him were true. The quiet environment that would make even your breathe seem noisy, the air conditioner that made the place feel so cool that you could forget you came to read and start sleeping.
Finally, the last step was the Wifi. Obinna was about to check. He took his phone and turned on his hotspot. Obviously it was pasworded. So he passed his phone to Nkem, who then inputed the password.
"How do you know the password?" Obinna whispered.
Nkem just smiled. "I have my ways." He replied.
The wifi was the craziest part of the whole thing. It wasn't too fast given the fact other students at the library were also connected to it.
Obinna spent the first one hour of his time scanning the room. Watching people enter and leave the library as they please. Everyone who entered the library was so careful to not make a sound because a single sound from you is considered noise. Everyone in the room will turn heads towards you.
Obinna stayed in that quiet place without his ear piece. He read till 7pm and when he raised his head from his book, he discovered that everyone had left the library.
The people at the circulation desk were already announcing that everyone should leave the library because they were closed for the day.
Obinna didn't realize that Nkem had left three hours ago.
Finally, I found my spot.
He left the library so happy and was already planning how he would spend the next day from morning to night at the library.
My quiet place.
Thanks for stopping by❤️❤️.
