By: Raji Toheeb
Every disappointment is a blessing” proved its veracity in my life one Saturday morning in October 2023. As a linguistics student well-versed in semantics, where words must hold true meaning, I often struggled to grasp the authenticity of such aphorisms.
Prepared for an academic journey to the caliphate, I packed my bags the night before, ensuring a smooth departure. Saturday dawned peaceful and quiet, with the promise of a timely start to my journey. Excitement etched on my face, I arrived at the park to find the first bus unoccupied.
However, my joy turned to dismay when the bus coordinator, engrossed in registering names, paid me no attention despite my repeated attempts. Frustration led to harsh words, yet he remained unresponsive. A kind woman advised me to let it go, and reluctantly, I allowed my name to be added to the second bus.
An hour later, as the academic pilgrimage began, our complaints about the route led to an unexpected blessing. The driver, deviating from the customary stop at Mokwa, took us to an unfamiliar place with limited provisions. Initially displeased, we later realized our complaints had a silver lining.
Enduring a non-stop journey, we reached Sokoto, the seat of the caliphate. Entering the university, we were met with astonishment from those who knew our counterparts on the first bus. They revealed their arduous journey, marred by bus malfunctions and an unexpected day spent in the bush seeking solutions.
The delayed first bus arrived in Sokoto on Monday morning, a stark contrast to our timely arrival on Saturday night. It was then that the truth of “every disappointment is a blessing” became clear, and I couldn’t help but appreciate the unexpected turns that shaped my journey.