“The queue at the
filling station is so long; when will this fuel scarcity of a thing end na ehn
this kind government I never see oh,” I say into the phone and my mother at the
other end of the line gives a grunt of disapproval.
“This our yeye
government my dear this country needs serious prayers; eh en don’t forget to buy
beans when you’re coming back o, that is what your father would eat this
night.” she says
I agree to buy the
beans and we say our goodbyes then I cut the call.
The line is still
moving ever so slowly, so I bring out my phone to continue with my candy crush
adventure just to kill time I finally make it to level 198 and just as I am
about to start the level I look up and I see a familiar face standing about
fifteen feet from my car.
“Hmmmn where do I know
that face from?” I ask myself and then it hits me.
“Oh my God that’s
Nnanna Orji,” I say to myself
Looking at him now he
seems so different, so much more muscular. Back in school Nnanna was quite
handsome facially but very lanky and he was always scraggy looking. Even though
I used to make fun and tease him a lot back then he was one of my closest
friends. Now I just look on in admiration as I eat my words.
Seeing as the line is
not moving I get out of my car and make my way to where he is standing and from
behind I cover his eyes with my hands.
“Look who is all grown
up ehn,” I whisper into his ear jokingly.
He gives a little laugh
and asks, “Who is this?”
He sound different too
his voice is deeper than it used to be.
“Ahn Ahn so you can’t
recognise my voice after all our history ehn” I say
This time he laughs out
loud and people start staring at us.
“Ok this is crazy, I
really don’t know who this is.” he answers
I ask him to guess and
then I give him a peck on the cheek.
“ Honey what’s going on
here?” I hear a lady ask.
I turn around to get a
better view of who is talking and I see a pregnant lady staring at me covering
Nnanna’s eyes with disbelief on her face.
“Who is she?,” the
pregnant lady asks.
She looks at Nnanna
while she is talking and then I realize that she must be talking to him. With my
hands still on his face I look at his hands and see a wedding ring on his
finger and I get confused last I heard Nnanna wasn’t married and if he was I would
have known about it. Alarm bells ring in my head; I slowly take my hands off
his face and he turns to look at me.
Uh-oh this is not Nnanna
Orji. The man whose face I have been holding for the last two minutes is a
complete stranger.
“Bayo I asked you a
question.” By now the pregnant lady is already shouting.
“I have no idea who she
is, she just walked up to me and closed my eyes.” He answers shakily.
They both turn a little
to stare at me. While he is looking at me with a mixture of fear, surprise and
confusion on his face, she looks at me like she wants to torture me with
boiling oil and acid.
“I’m sorry it was a
mistake really I thought you were someone else you look like a friend of mine I’m
really sorry.” I say this in a state of mild panic as I notice that people are
now staring at us and someone is actually videoing our scene.
The pregnant lady
starts crying.
“Bayo she is your
mistress right? She is the one you have been cheating with abi? After three
kids Bayo, why are you doing this to me?” the pregnant lady is crying her eyes
out.
I almost offered her a
tissue but I’m so shocked I can’t move I’m not even sure the whole scenario is
real. As I get a hold of myself I try to console the lady.
“Madam please nothing
is going on here. It was just a mistake I thought he was someone else.” I say.
The murderous look on
her face sends me into silence. The man apparently called Bayo looks at me and
says
“Can you just get out
of here and leave me alone.”
I cringe visibly and I just
quickly turn around and hurry back to my car and then I see that everyone is
looking at the three of us and we make quite a spectacle.
On my way to my car I hear
whispers and from the whispers I hear one very audible Ashawo, husband snatcher
I just move along pretending not to hear as I move along I pass a red Toyota camry;
the lady in the car winds down, spits on me and calls me a home wrecker and
winds her windows back up.
I’m stunned all I can
do is just stand and stare when she sees me staring she gives me the finger.
I finally reach my car
and once I’m inside I lock the dock and windows. As I settle I down I replay
the events of the last few minutes in my head and without warning I just start
laughing uncontrollably. I laugh and laugh until finally laughter turns to
tears.
The queue starts to
move; I buy 30 liters of fuel as I’m leaving I see the attendants talking and
whispering and pointing at me. I just bone my face and leave the station.
Two buildings from the
market I see a beans seller and I stop to buy beans. As I’m pricing the beans
someone taps me on the shoulder and I turn around to see Nnann---- sorry Bayo
smiling down at me.
“Hmmnn you are very
beautiful and I like your style, please don’t mind my wife jare this is my card
call me up and let me take you to lunch sometime.” He tells me.
I take the card then he
plants a kiss on my cheek and winks at me.
As he turns to walk
away I call him back
“Urmm……… its Bayo
right?” I ask
He nods in response
“Ok this beans is 4k
oh! Can you take care of it for me?”
Later that day my Dad
commends me on my very delicious beans porridge I just smile and say thank you.
If only he knew……………….
