„Alright, tell her we‟re coming,‟ Naomi answered.
We suspended the game.
„That Madam Aleshi can talk,‟ I said.
Naomi smiled. „She‟s very friendly and nice.‟
We went to meet the woman.
„Ah, ah, Naomi, this love dey shark you o,‟ Madam Aleshi said as soon as we got to her sitting room. „You and your man just stay put in your apartment without bothering to come and relax with Madam Aleshi.‟
„Oya, two of you, sit down. Relax with me.‟
We sat next to each other.
„You‟re going to make a wonderful couple,‟ she said. „Yes, I can see that. God must have designed Ola for you, Naomi. That‟s why you‟ve been waiting all this while.‟
We smiled. „I pray God will make everything to work out well,‟ Naomi said.
„Things will work out well,‟ Madam Aleshi said, as if she was a prophetess. „There may be some challenges, but things would work out well.‟
„Amen,‟ Naomi said.
Madam Aleshi regaled us with the tale of how she met her husband many years ago in England and how they had married and had three children over there. Later, they had relocated to Nigeria. According to her, up till the time her husband died about three years ago, the love between them was as strong as ever.
Later, the house maid served us lunch. We remained with Madam Aleshi until about seven p.m. when we returned to my apartment. I could not but agree that Madam Aleshi was nice and friendly.
Later that night, while we lay on bed, we held each other‟s hands and stared into each other‟s eyes.
„How many children will you like to have?‟ she asked.
„Two should be okay. Plus Ella, making three.‟
She smiled. „Yes, that number is reasonable.‟
We chatted into the long hours of the night, until we slept off.
She was the one that woke me up Sunday morning with a kiss.
„Good morning, darling,‟ I greeted.
„Morning.‟ She smiled.
„How was your night?
„With you, it was wonderful.‟
I was delighted to hear that.
„Today is Sunday,‟ I said. „I will look for a good church around here where I‟ll be worshipping.‟
„Good idea,‟ she said.
Minutes later, I went to have my bath. I then decided to iron the clothes I would wear to church.
„You can bring your clothes for ironing too,‟ I offered.
She brought a well-designed Ankara wear for ironing. We took bread and fried eggs for breakfast
before we left for the church which was a stone throw away. Her Ankara wear was beautiful while I looked good in my well-starched, sky blue Guinea brocade kaftan. When we returned from the church, I brought my phone out.
„Let me take your pictures, honey. You look so sweet,‟ I said.
„You look sweet too,‟ she said.
I took her pictures in different postures, and she took mine. We also took many together.
„I‟ll paste them on my Facebook and Instagram,‟ she said.
When it was time for her to return to Surulere, I drove her there.
„Thanks for coming around and making my weekend worthwhile,‟ I told her as I drove the car.
„Thanks for giving me a warm welcome,‟ she replied.
When we got to Ojuelegba, she asked if we could drive straight to Masha so that she could pick Ella.
„Why not,‟ I replied.
She directed me to the place.
„You will know that my aunt today. I will have to introduce you to her, but we‟ll still tell her that we‟ll be coming to properly greet her on Saturday.'
„With all pleasure,‟ I answered.
The aunt turned out to be a sturdy woman in her late forties. She welcomed me jovially and kept smiling at me. She and Naomi spoke in a mixture of English and Itshekiri, but I could still pick some words from the Itshekiri.
„Auntie, be expecting us on Saturday,‟ Naomi said. We departed from there. I drove to Abina.
„Come, I want to show you something,‟ Naomi said. We went to her bedroom.
I was curious about what she wanted to show me.
„I was thinking that to ease your moving around,‟ she said, „I‟ll like to hand over my second car, the Honda Accord, to you.‟
„No, you won‟t do that,‟ I said quickly.‟No.‟
„Why not?‟
I shook my head. „If I take it, people will read meanings to it. People will say my reason for choosing you is gold-digging.‟
She smiled wryly. „I thought you‟re a man of independent opinions.‟
„Yes, I am.‟
„So, why is it that people will now be the one to decide what you will accept or not from me?‟
She got me there. I pandered.
She smiled again and opened her wardrobe from where she brought a large envelop out. „All the car documents are in there,‟ she said. She dangled the keys. „Here are the keys.‟
„But …‟
She hushed me with a short kiss. „Don‟t be so proud, my dear.‟
I sighed and took the keys and envelope from her.
„Thank you so much my darling for this kind and magnanimous gesture. I really appreciate it.‟
„You‟re welcome.‟
'I still warmed the engine as at yesterday morning,' she said.
I nodded and started the car. After listening to the working for just a minute. I was convinced it was in a very good condition.
'The engine is okay, ' I said.
I thanked her again for her magnanimity, gave her a good bye kiss, hugged Ella and drove to my place. I could not but marvelled at my luck. I thanked God for making Naomi to come my way. The car was close to Majidun when Joyce's call came through.
„This is not the way to treat a person you call your friend,‟ she said. „How could you relocate from the house without informing me? Not even a call.‟
I shook my head. „I‟m sorry, Joyce. I guess things happened in a frenzy way.‟
„But you could have just call me to let me know. It‟s not fair the way you‟re treating me, Ola.‟
„I‟m sorry, Joyce. Truly, I‟m sorry. How was school?‟
„Not bad. Uncle said it‟s your new lady that helped you to get the place. Na wa o.‟
„Na so we see am. She‟s instrumental to my getting the place.‟
„Hmn, hmn. You people are really serious. Are you going to marry her?‟
„Well, yes, that‟s the plan.‟
„Ha, wonderful.‟
I tried to think of how to digress from the topic. „When are you finishing your exams?‟
„I‟m true already. When can we come and say hello to you in your new place?‟
A red light went up in my brain. I must be careful about Joyce. „Anytime, but don‟t come on weekends. I‟m busy on weekends for now.‟
„Okay, o. So, when are you planning to marry her?‟
I laughed shortly. „We‟ve not fixed a date. We‟re still in courtship. In any case, she‟s yet to know my people and I‟m yet to truly know hers. First thing first.‟
„Interesting. Congratulations in advance.‟
I was surprised to hear her say this. „Thank you, Joyce.‟
„Alright, goodnight for now.‟
„Thanks for calling. Good night.‟
I whistled softly to myself. I hoped Joyce truly meant what she said about the congratulation. I
truly hoped so.
The following morning around five, I decided to call Naomi.
„Good morning, my love,‟ I stated. „Did I wake you up?‟
„Yes. Good morning.‟
„Sorry about that. I just want to say I love you.‟
„Oh, that is sweet of you.‟
„I also want to thank you for your generosity. Believe me, I appreciate all you‟re doing a lot.‟
„Oh, theses are wonderful words from you. Thank you, too.‟
„How‟s Ella?‟
„She‟s fine. I will soon wake her up to start preparing for school.‟
„I wish you a wonderful day, my darling.‟
„Thanks. I wish you the same.‟
I decided not to drive the car to work, yet. From my new residence, I could easily take an „Okada‟ to work with no stress. After closing from work, that day, I decided to buy a 45 inches Samsung flat screen and an antennae. I would still have to buy a decoder, but not right away. As soon as I got home, I fixed the antennae and switched on the t.v. I liked the sharp HD pictures.
Not long after I got home, Madam Aleshi sent for me.
„Good evening, mummy,‟ I greeted her.
„Good evening, Ola. I want to let you know that I‟ll be traveling tomorrow.‟
„Oh, that‟s good, ma.‟
„Remember, you‟re like the care taker of the house, now.‟
„Yes, ma. I won‟t forget that.‟
„Above all, remember to treat Naomi well. You may not realize it, but she‟s a big asset.‟
„I‟ve realized that, ma,‟ I replied.
„Good. Let me have you number, so that I can be calling you from time to time.‟
„That will be no problem, ma.‟ I gave her my number.
„I wish you a safe trip, ma.‟
„Thank you.‟
No comments:
Post a Comment