“They don’t seem particularly healthy, do they?” she asked as she studied the stunted, pest-infested and shrunken rice crops on either side of the highway.
“One of the consequences of the greenhouse effect,” he quipped casually.
“Greenhouse effect? How do you mean?”
“Haven’t you heard of the ozone depletion?”
“You mean global warming and all that stuff?” she returned carelessly.
“Don’t dismiss it like that,” he chided her. “Scientists fear of soaring world temperatures is real.”
“Don’t tell me you believe all that stuff they predict could happen?”
“This is more than mere speculation and prediction. It is about our relationship with mother nature, it’s about reality.”
“Well, I don’t believe the crap.”
“What crap?”
“I mean the shit about melting polar ice caps, over flooding rivers, shrinking crops and all that about a warming trend that could precipitate an unprecedented disruption in the world’s environment. You don’t believe that would happen, do you?”
“Why? I mean, why shouldn’t I take the warning seriously? The theory is as simple as ABC,” he paused and looked at her briefly. 
“How?”
“Ozone regulates heat in the stratosphere, doesn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“So when these natural protectors from the sun’s deadly ultraviolet rays are destroyed by man-made gases, what do we get?”
“A disruption in the natural sequence.”
“Exactly, so as these man-made gases build up in the atmosphere, they form a layer which traps within, the heat of infra-red radiation from the sun. Scientists warn that this could lead to a drastic change in the world’s climate, sea levels, and precipitation patterns,” he explained as he pulled into a petrol station for a refill.
“Where are we now?”
“Ankara. Care for a bite?”
“No, thanks.”
After refueling, he went into the supermarket and bought some snacks.
“So how long have we got to go?” she asked as they hit the road again.
“2 hours. We are almost there.”
The way he used the word ‘we’ sent a shiver down her spine. It means he has a long-term plan for them. It was comforting and encouraging.
“So, as I was saying,” he resumed from where he left off. “Increase in average world temperature from 16 degrees centigrade to 3 degrees Fahrenheit, i.e., 13 degrees centigrade to 8 degrees Fahrenheit could eventually lead to over flooding, crop damage and disruption of the world’s ecosystem.”
“What gases contribute to the greenhouse effect?” she asked. Despite her initial airs, she was beginning to get interested.
He tapped the steering wheel. “By-products of mechanical and industrial activities such as carbon dioxide created from the burning of fossil fuels, chlorine from CFC, nitrous oxide emitted from automobiles, etc.” 
She was awestruck. She has never met a more intelligent, yet charming personality. “Okay,” she nodded.
“No other environmental problem has as much potential for destruction as this one because it affects the world’s climate,” he paused again for her to assimilate what he said.
“Phew,” she blew out her cheeks. “We’ve got a problem then,” she said thoughtfully.
“A real problem exists, my angel. You see, no one knows what the consequences of such changes would be. Global warming could result in mass flooding from thermal expansion of oceans and the melting of polar ice caps. Some regions, especially, in the middle latitude, would experience greater temperature increase. It is conceivable that shifts in temperature might benefit the growing seasons of some northern latitude countries like Canada while devastating the farm belts of other countries like the U.S,” he paused again. She nodded to show she was following “Global warming could also have an insidious effect on human health. A warmer climate would permit disease-carrying mosquitoes, ticks and fleas to migrate to higher latitudes. This will invariably increase the incidence of malaria, dengue fever, Lyme disease, rocky mountain, spotted fever and viral encephalitis throughout the entire northern hemisphere. Climate change could also increase deaths from such infectious diseases as influenza, pneumonia, TB, diphtheria, typhus, and polio in developing countries that lack adequate immunization programs.”
“Oh my God!” she cried. “How … how do you…how do you know all …all these things? Well, never mind. Go on.” She was stunned beyond words and wished she could record it and play it all back.
“Ironically, while ozone is beneficial in the upper stratosphere, it can be harmful to both human and plant life when found in large concentration at ground level. Ozone in the lower atmosphere-often associated with hazy air pollution-is a product of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides (usually from automobiles). Ground level ozone causes an estimated one to five billion dollars in losses to US soybean, corn, peanut and cotton crops.”
Her eyes narrowed. “How?”
“Ozone stunts plant growth and makes crops more susceptible to pests. That’s the reason why those rice and cottons were all looking like that.”
“I see.”
“Physicians have also reported that ozone can inflame and scar tissues in the lungs, cause dizziness and place at risk those with heart and respiratory ailments.”
“A real problem exists,” she agreed.
They drove on in silence for a long time while she digested all he said.
“We’ll soon be at the Niger Bridge,” he said as he searched the road. “There it is,” he exclaimed and pointed ahead. 
Following his direction, she caught sight of the legendary bridge, seemingly suspended over the river in a semi-circle like a half moon. It was a piece of beauty. “My God!” she enthused. “This is beautiful.”
“The bridge has never ceased to thrill visitors in the over 50 years that it was built,” he said.
“It’s amazing.”
“Yes, it is,” he concurred and pulled up at the foot of the bridge. “It was designed by an Italian and built by the Germans. It was meant to last for 500 years, at least, but it is already sinking.”
“Sinking? Why?”
“Overuse, of course. It’s the only bridge that links the East to the rest of the country.”
“Are you serious?”
The photo session over, they hit the road again. Another one hour’s drive, the weather changed and the once bright, sunny sky became cloudy.
“Looks like it is going to rain,” she observed.
“At last,” he said. “Thank God.”
“What do you mean by that? Do you want it to rain? Why?” she thought of the sogginess of it all, the wet ground and probably ruining her new pair of shoes.
“Yes, of course. The plants need the rain too.”
“Oh, that!” she sighed. Always thinking of his damned plants, she thought.
They have left the major road and were now driving through a narrow, untarred road, driving deeper and deeper into the forest. On either side of the road were hundreds of acres of well-trimmed palm trees. They stood stately in rows, extending as far as the eyes could see. She could also see a couple of workers, in red overalls, working in the plantations.
“Is …is this a government plantation?”
“No,” he said nonchalantly. She expected him to say more, but he didn’t, so she kept quiet. After another 20 minutes, he pulled up outside a massive gate with high walls. “Home at last,” he said and tapped the horn lightly.
She looked around curiously. The entire neighborhood was covered with palm trees and not a single house was in sight. How could he live alone in this bush? She was still wondering when the big gate swung open and uniformed gatemen ushered them in.
“Welcome, sir,” they chorused.
He rolled down the glass as they drove past and said, “Thank you.”
The compound itself was too amazing and beautiful to be real. The landscaping and the sheer display of different varieties of exotic flowers were too extravagant. Talipot palms, their trunks beautifully covered with interlocking branches; dotted either side of the 200 or so meters drive to the main building. 
She admired the talipot palms. “This is simply magnificent.” 
Following her gaze, he said, “Giginyan.”
“What’s that?”
“Local name for talipot palms. Its origin is linked to Katsina state.”
Another 3 minutes drive brought them to the main building which was covered with a plethora of trees, shrubs, hedges, orchids, etc. She shook her head in wonder at the wide array of flowers on display. She was particularly captivated by the flamboyant display of colors and fragrances given only to flora. The flora, represented in a kaleidoscope of harmonious colors, nurtured by nature, pervaded the atmosphere with their sweet smelling fragrance of sheer delightfulness.
She admired the flowers lovingly. “This is amazing. Where did you get all these varieties of flowers from?”
His face lit up and a tiny smile broke out from the corners of his mouth. “Everywhere all over the country - from private gardens to open landmass.”
“Oh my God!” she was still stunned by the sheer magnificence of the flowers when he brought the car to a stop in front of the main building. He led her through a short passage covered with beautiful daisies to the main door.
“These are daisies, aren’t they?” she paused briefly to touch one of the brightly colored flowers.
“Yes, beautiful things, aren’t they? They are used at the base of our National Coat of Arms. It reflects the beauty of the country.”
“Wait a minute, do you mean that the flowers at the base of our National Coat of Arm are daisies?”
“Yes.” 
The four feet tall sunflowers caught her attention. Following her gaze, he said. “You know, we extract oil from the seeds?” 
“Really? I didn’t know that.”
Even the flower beds at the terrace were filled with different types of flowers- red roses, bloody lilies, carnation, canna lilies – name them. Their beautifully colored petals, in many shades and sizes, added alluring and aesthetic beauty to the otherwise bushy surrounding. 
He extracted a key from his pocket, opened the front door and stood aside to let her in. “Welcome home.” 
She gaped at the big living room with wall to wall windows and nodded her appreciation. “This is nice.”
“Do you like it?” he asked, searching her face.
“Yeah, I like it. It’s big,” she said airily. “How many rooms have you got here?”
“10.”
“10 rooms?” she was surprised. What does he want 10 rooms for? She wondered. Does he intend to fill the whole rooms with kids one day? She thought but kept her reservations to herself.
“Come. I will show you to your room.”
“You seem to like flowers a lot,” she observed as she admired the red carnation and Rose flowers growing in window boxes along the passage.
“I do. What about you?”
She nodded. “Is that why you filled the whole place up with flowers?”
“I don’t know, but I am simply captivated by the flamboyant display of color and fragrance given only to flora. It is my hope that visitors to my house will one day come to appreciate the beauty and forms of plants and flowers found in this country.”