Hello, dear reader, I am Teobarde Titus, and I want to share a gripping tale that unfolded one unforgettable night in Windhoek. I was just an 18-year-old (now 20), full of dreams and ambitions when my pursuit of higher education led me to the University of Namibia (Unam). 

Back then, my life revolved around lectures and textbooks, fuelled by an insatiable thirst for knowledge. The university campus was about 10 kilometres from my home, a distance I saw as a challenge to overcome.

Let me take you back to that evening – a day spent at the university, my mind brimming with knowledge from the library. As darkness fell over Windhoek, exhaustion set in, signalling the end of a long day. 

I needed a ride home and hopped into a taxi, hoping for a quick journey. It is important to note that I attended the Unam main campus in Academia, a suburb on the city’s outskirts. 

However, the night took an unexpected turn. As the taxi continued its route through well-lit city streets, we reached a railway bridge near Eros airport. This is where everything changed. The taxi came to an abrupt halt, foreshadowing a twist of fate.

My fellow passengers transformed in an instant. They were no longer ordinary passengers but individuals with dark intentions hidden beneath a veil of secrecy. They swiftly gained control over me, overpowering my resistance with surprising strength. I was dragged away from the bridge onto a deserted railway track.

The setting was surreal, a canvas painted in darkness as nightfall descended over Windhoek. A chilling story began to unfold in this isolated place. Driven by greed, the thieves systematically inspected my belongings, taking away prized possessions. Among them was a brand-new HP laptop, representing my academic dreams and my trusty phone – a companion in my studies. 

However, a twist emerged from the narrative. Among my belongings was a card from the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), a symbol of hope for students facing financial constraints. But the funds had not arrived yet, and the card was a mere promise of future support.

The assailants misunderstood the card, thinking it meant immediate wealth. Their misunderstanding led to demands for an electronic funds transfer, a request fraught with uncertainty, given that the funds had not yet arrived.

The atmosphere grew tense, charged with the weight of impending decisions. My reluctance to comply intensified their impatience, escalating the situation. A knife became the focal point of their threats, glinting in the dim light, accompanied by a menacing voice. Those ominous words hung in the air, a reminder of my perilous situation. 

Fear paralysed me as tears mixed with the blood on my arms and face. The physical pain was only surpassed by the gravity of a decision hanging in the balance. My family’s struggles and dreams echoed in my mind, emphasising the importance of the funds entangled in this ordeal. 

But within the bleakness, a spark of hope remained, a testament to human resilience. Observing the assailant’s hand resting on the railway track, I found unexpected determination. A simple pen became my weapon, striking with desperate force. The assailant’s grip faltered, a moment of opportunity emerging. 

Seizing this chance, I climbed up from the bridge, escaping the darkness. Windhoek’s streets stretched before me, shrouded in the deepening night. I ran, guided by instinct until I believed I had distanced myself from the menacing pursuit.

The city centre became my refuge, but without a phone or money, I was stranded. With determination, I embarked on a treacherous journey home, navigating the labyrinthine paths with uncertainty. 

In a twist of fate, a streetwise companion emerged from the shadows, guiding me through the dark night to Khomasdal, where I lived. The gratitude I felt toward this unexpected saviour remains etched in my heart, a reminder that even in the darkest hours, a glimmer of light can break through.

Upon my return, my brother’s concern mirrored my own. His reproach carried a valuable lesson, emphasising that life’s preservation surpasses material acquisition. Windhoek, like any metropolis, holds perils and uncertainties. 

This chilling tale speaks to the resilience of the human spirit, reminding us that even in the abyss, determination can lead to salvation. As Windhoek’s stars glittered overhead, my harrowing journey underscored the eternal truth that life’s most precious treasures defy theft, a lesson engraved in scars and eternally etched into my heart. 

*Teobarde T. Titus is a student at the University of Namibia, currently studying for a degree in occupational therapy.