Cash or Credit 7.......Part 2

Part 1 can be found below and Part 6 can be found HERE!

11.00pm
Thursday evening 49 Bode-Thomas Street Surulere.

Osaze Oyakilhome angled the light of the lamp to the couch, stared at the flushed expression of his brother and the red face of the girl avoiding eye contact and knew exactly what he had interrupted. He was glad he decided to weather the storm and make his way home in the end…this should be an interesting evening.
“Aren’t you going to introduce us?” he asked with a cheeky grin
“I believe you are capable of introducing yourself” Esosa responded. Osaze smiled, his brother was still upset over their argument earlier today and so was he as a matter of fact, which is why he was going nowhere despite the looks Esosa threw at him.
“Hi I’m Osaze. Esosa’s younger brother. I live here as well” he said in his most charming voice
“J-Jennifer” the girl stuttered. He took her hand, felt the soft palms and wondered where his brother found this ajebota from. She didn’t look like she had ever known suffering. All three of them exchanged looks, the lamp casting shadows on their face making it appear they wore masks. Osaze simply hopped over and made himself comfortable. Snuggling right in and kicking his shoes off he lay facing them. Making it obvious he was staying put.
“Osaze” Esosa said in a serious tone
“Oh sorry broda” he replied and got up to place the shoes neatly by the door, returning back to his position and settling in with a “hmm”
“Perhaps we should turn on the gen” Esosa suggested
“Ah ah who are you trying to impress. Generator only comes on at weekends” Osaze said in their native tongue. Jen hid a smile
“Jen is from Benin” Esosa said, annoyed that she had to hear that
“Kóyò” Jen said greeting him hello
“Oops” Osaze said not looking embarrassed at all
“Whereabouts?” he enquired and Jen responded. “This is our sister now” he chuckled to Esosa who didn’t smile back. It appeared his brother still thought he’d be venturing out into the rain.
“Vbè ore 'nì rue?” Osaze asked
“Jennifer” Jen responded, hoping he wouldn’t ask for her Edo middle name so he could tease. Osaze shook his head and smiled
“érhá” he asked with a determined look, asking for her father’s name. Jen, for her full name- Jen volunteered thanking the Lord for the millionth time that her father wasn’t involved in politics.
Osaze looked like someone who was angry at the world, Jen was very observant and it appeared with every question he asked; however innocent- he was judging.
“Ób’ókhían” he greeted her
“Ù rú èsé” she replied
So far, from his charm it appeared she had passed, but still it was a little cute to see someone looking out for Esosa. Even if he didn’t appreciate it, sitting on the reading chair sulking like a boy who had been denied a treat.
She easily relaxed with Osaze, and forgot that a couple of minutes ago her bra was about to be unhooked by his brother on the very couch he now lay on.
“Have you been given a tour?” he asked
“I still say you got the better bed” Jen leaned in and whispered.
“Oh definitely” Osaze agreed patting a cushion of the couch
“If it wasn’t raining cats and dogs I’d have shown you the piece de resistance?”
“Oh Esosa’s shown me the balcony” Jen said with an inviting look to Esosa to join in the conversation
“Really! You are the only one to comeback alive then” Osaze teased
“What can I say? My chi is strong”
“You are from a good breed” Osaze mimicked a typical Benin man and Jen laughed her head off. He did a couple more and soon Jen was grabbing her stomach in stitches. Jen relaxed completely in his company and decided to leave Esosa to his own devices so he could cool down a bit.
Osaze couldn’t be anymore different from his older brother. He was blessed with charm right from the onset and Jen was enjoying his company like it was originally her plan to visit him. She could now correlate the restless explorer in him with the lead character of his favourite book. They spoke about Gulliver’s at length and Osaze confessed that he always wanted to travel the world. He told her he was studying English at UNILAG because it was his dream to be an English teacher in someplace foreign. Jen asked where? Osaze said it didn’t matter but he wouldn’t remain in any one place for longer than 18 months at the most. He probed Jen for where she’d been to and Jen replied not that many places. As comfortable as she was she was not as unbecoming as to play the role of middle-class baby and rattle off the countries on her passport. So she told a white lie- stating her only destinations as England where she schooled and next door Cardiff where she once vacationed.

Esosa stared at the pair of his brother and Jen already annoyed that he had to come interrupt. He watched Jen sway as Osaze reminded her of folk songs she had not heard sung since she was a child, they laughed over stupid things and Esosa just prayed for the rain to stop so he could kick his brother out. Osaze had always been easy around people, growing up he was always defended by his older siblings and had learnt to get by on his charm, and this unfortunately had rendered him lazy. So lazy that he had yet another carryover from one of modules at University this year. Again. Esosa couldn’t understand why the boy did not apply the same work ethic to his books that he did to forming friendships with people he just met. His truancy and repeated number of skipped class lectures had gotten them into an argument just this morning, Osaze wasn’t rude; he wouldn’t dare, but he still managed to come off as flippant before leaving on an errand that he claimed would take hours. Esosa merely assumed he would spend the night with a friend sending a text to say he would be home the next day. But here he was home early, and treading on a private moment between him and Jen just to fluster him. It was moments like this that made Esosa reflect. Esosa tired of playing the role of father and brother to him, it was difficult to be stern on one hand and then ask for privacy the next so he could spend some alone time with a girl, but he promised his stepmom- Osaze’s birth mother that he would care for her son and that is what he intended to do.

“Will you join us?” Jen asked Esosa pointing at the ludo game Osaze had unearthed. He shook his head no and waved them on with a smile
“Oh come on” Jen coaxed
“I’ll referee” Esosa said
“It’s because he always wins” Osaze told Jen
“How? It’s a game of luck”
“Not when you are the brilliant Esosa its not” Osaze replied
“Well not me, I’m horrible” Jen confessed
“Thank God me too. Tell you what; we each get a chance to cheat twice” Osaze propositioned
“It’s a done deal” Jen said and they shook hands on it.
The divided up the primary colours that marked up the starting squares, Jen took blue and green which displayed the pictures of Fela and Tupac and Osaze took on red and yellow- Michael Jackson and Oliver de Coque- and they began to race their token of selected colours from start to finish by rolling the dice. It took them both ages to roll sixes and they laughed at their sad luck.
“Ye evban” Osaze would occasionally tell Jen. Pointing at a square he wished her to send her token, which would place it in his path so he might overtake and win
“You wish” Jen would roll her eyes
The game lasted for over thirty minutes and when Osaze attempted to cheat a third time Jen called him out on it, soliciting the designated referee for back up. Esosa merely waved them on and Jen got annoyed with his determination to pursue his sulking. When the game ended with Osaze the clear winner they hoped to roll again but the light of the electric lamp began to wane. Esosa called to his brother to bring out the spare behind the bar but Osaze confessed to not charging it.
“But when I asked you…”
“I know broda I’m sorry”
“Typical”
“Laho” Osaze apologised. Esosa grunted
“Laho Esosa” the minute Jen said that she regretted it. The annoyed look that crossed Esosa’s face indicated she had taken his younger brother’s side for more than just a rechargeable lamp issue.
“Khue Osaze” he said and reaching behind the table lamp for a torch light attempted to make his way up the stairs. Jen didn’t know if that was to be a joke, but she didn’t find it funny. In a voice employed by her mother when she intended to scold Jen stood up and bid Osaze goodnight while climbing up the stairs to Esosa’s bedroom.
“What was that all about?” she asked “Telling me to pursue your brother”
“Oh you didn’t find it funny?” Esosa said as he sat on his bed
“I am waiting for you to make your point” Jen said with her hands on her waist, she was sick of his petulant behaviour. She was enjoying the kissing too, but there was nothing to do for it. Osaze lived here as well and it was pouring outside; she made the best of the situation, why can’t he?
“You shouldn’t encourage him. He’s lazy and when you jump to his defence like that you give him license to act cheeky” Esosa told her
“I wasn’t. I am sorry I didn’t mean to interfere” Jen apologised
“Osaze is used to having things slightly easier than my siblings and I”
“Isn’t that the way it should be? He’s the youngest”
“Yes. You’re right” Esosa left it at that but Jen looked at him so he continued
“He’s not doing well in school and I don’t understand the problem. Its not girls or drugs, those I can deal with, he’s just unserious. I don’t know how to get him to focus. Take school seriously”
“He wants to travel, not school”
“I am not helping with his school fees so he can go gallivanting the world”
“If you stop being so stern you will see that there are other ways to reach him than scolding”
“He’s a child”
“He’s only two years younger than I am” Jen said
“Well its different for you isn’t it”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jen blinked
“It doesn’t mean what you think it does Jen” Esosa said to pacify
“Really because what I meant was stimulating him with something else; perhaps, by encouraging him to look for a job during his holidays as a flight attendant. That way he can experience travelling and earn some money as well, that should help Osaze re-focus plus it will show you support him.”
Esosa looked humiliated after Jen explained
“You obviously meant the fact that I had my father pay for everything when I was in Uni” Jen looked at him
“I am sorry, it just came out. It was a stupid remark. It was in no way a personal attack or reflection of you. You already know I think you’re a wonderful person”
Jen looked at him upset and declared
“I’m going downstairs to make sure I have everything I came with, I wouldn’t want to disturb Osaze when he’s sleeping in the morning” and she turned on her heel and climbed back down; making out the shapes in the darkness with her hands, upset that she didn’t think to grab the torch off the bed before marching out. Well she couldn’t go back now could she? Osaze was putting away the board game and didn’t appear startled to see her materialise out of the darkness.
“Sorry to disturb you” Jen said
“No not at all. Can I help with something?” he asked looking for Esosa behind her
“Just making sure I didn’t leave anything behind”
As Osaze helped look around for foreign belongings Jen saw a bag of unopened plantain chips
“Oh can I have some?”
“You eat that? Posh girl like you”
“Meaning what?” Jen laughed
“Meaning I thought u only snacked on Pringles or Walkers crisps” Osaze said, there was no laughter in his voice
“Ah ah why would you think that” Jen said wondering at his change in tone
“You’re madam money bags now. Madam international passport” he jeered
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jen said for the second time that night
“Why are you here?” Osaze stopped searching behind cushions to stare at her. Jen looked at him confused
“Really you think you’re fooling me” Osaze said with a low laugh
Jen was confused, wasn’t this boy the one she just played ludo and sang with?
“All these rich girls who want to see what’s its like on the other side, abi? Squat in a one bedroom at the opposite end of town for the experience of ‘managing.’ Before running home to air-conditioned houses and housegirls and maiguards.
“In what position are you to judge me like that…?” Jen felt like she was talking to a different person
“Do you even like my brother?” or is he just a game to you? Something fun”
“My relations to your brother involve only your brother” Jen responded
“Esosa does not mate for fun. So if this is some sort of social experiment to you, then just leave now”
“Where are you getting all this from?” she enquired
“Oooh I know ur type all too well…sophisticated girls but lacking in substance, drive round in expensive cars and wear expensive clothes but pretend to understand the life of a common man because you spare a couple of minutes to chat. You think that makes you emphatic to their suffering?”
Esosa was right Jen thought. Osaze is a child; still angry at the world for what happened to their father. Not in the noble way that Esosa was by refusing to work for the people who disappointed his family but in a selfish way. All Osaze knows is that one minute they lived on the Shell estate with a driver and the next he was being placed in public school. He feels the whole of Nigeria owes him an apology.
“Your fight is not with me…” Jen began “but everyone who made you feel inferior for having less Osaze, and let me tell you now, that until you are proud of what u have achieved, u will never be content. Your brother is and he doesn’t apologise for it. That’s why I’m here, because he works hard and has the confidence of a man who built everything himself and hence has something to say.”
“Yeah whatever material girl” Osaze hissed in her direction
Esosa thundered down the stairs then, to check on Jen and before her very eyes Jen watched Osaze transform to his charming self, handing her phone and bidding them both a goodnight. Appears he was only nice to be respectful to his brother, he didn’t care for her, and Jen didn’t know what she had done but guess you can’t win them all. Can you.
She climbed back up to Esosa and when they reached the landing he apologised again and Jen told him not to sweat it. In his bedroom he had created a makeshift sleeping area on the floor for himself and left her the bed with the covers on. He also offered one of his shirts to sleep in and handed her the torch so she could make her way to change in the bathroom. Jen returned and climbed in uttering a quiet good night, she heard Esosa turn on his side severally so she wasn’t surprised when he started talking into the darkness.
“My mother died when I was young, I don’t remember how old and my father re-married shortly after. All my early memories are of íyé are Osaze’s mother. She loved me like I was her own and though she bore six more children- four girls and Osaze- she never stopped caring for me. After my father got a bad back that pushed him into early retirement, things got hard. We never knew when the pension would come or how much so we struggled to make ends meet.” Esosa took a deep breathe he wasn’t used to pouring his heart out
Jen kept really still lest she frighten him
“My parents were adamant that Osaze try to live the way we were intended to” Esosa continued “that meant no manual labour for him, just school. Lots of it. We didn’t mind, if anything we were glad to raise the baby of the house as middle-class as we could afford. Just look what’s it’s done to him now. He’s gotten so used to everyone toiling on his behalf that he doesn’t listen to advice anymore. I will not always be there to fix everything; I just wish he would take responsibility instead of having his head in the clouds.” Esosa exhaled and continued
“Jen its not that I don’t support him, I don’t want you to think that I will ever be that cold, I am only looking out for him”
“I know” Jen whispered “It was not my place to tell you how to raise him”
“Raising Osaze” Esosa frowned in the dark “my father would have known what to do”
“I’m sure he’s proud of you”
“He died shortly after I returned from Ghana. He never even got to see me move from my uncle’s couch into my own place”
“I’m sure he’s proud of you” Jen said with certainty
“Osaze isn’t a bad kid. He just resorts to truancy because he wants attention. You’re a tough act to follow you know. Maybe he just feels that because he can never excel academically like you did, he might as well not try. “Jen gasped “I apologise I’m doing it again aren’t I? Psycho analysing”
“No please” Esosa said “It takes a woman to know these things”
“Your brother loves you. He’s very protective of you” Jen said
“And I of him” Esosa said with such resolve that Jen smiled into the darkness
“Good night Jen”
“Good night Esosa” she replied and when he fell asleep leaving only his gentle snoring for company Jen knew for certain she had fallen for him; because she had seen the sort of person he could have let himself become: bitter and resentful. She understood him more and with each layer she peeled back she liked what she discovered. Esosa the Economist. Esosa the friend. Esosa the First Son. Esosa the Lover? Jen rolled on the bed till she leaned over the edge looking at Esosa sleeping on the floor, his hands underneath his head and the steady rise and fall of his chest. She wished she could study him in better light but that would mean shining the torch in his face, Jen smiled when she realised that she would enjoy watching him sleep.


She had fallen for Esosa Oyakilhome.




By S.B

Cash or Credit 7.........Part 1

Cash or Credit 6 can be found HERE!

7.10pm

Friday evening, 44 Glover Road Ikoyi.

Halima Dansabe did not claim to know a lot of things but what she did know was hard facts.
She was beautiful and Kabir loved her.
These are the simple certainties that Halima wore atop her head like a crown. It morphed the steps she walked, formed the words her lips uttered as she bowed her head in prayer five times a day and ultimately dictated the rest of her life. She was in her early twenties and yet to discover her shortcomings. She didn’t have any, it was that simple. Schooling abroad she had encountered other girls, mostly non-Hausa and non-Muslim, who thought it weird that she hung on to beliefs and did not “experiment”. They harboured pre-conceived notions of northern girls and would stare at her half-expecting tears and tales of how subdued her lifestyle was. She never complained. What was there to complain about? She did not know “want”- never had. Her every wish was and always had been granted. She had also never felt inferior- to whom? Her father was the richest man in Northern Nigeria- she was royalty. Eventually she grew accustomed to the looks of envy she received from such girls. The looks they pretended to coat in pity. Hating the fact that she wore her long skirts and hair scarves with a confidence their skin tight dresses couldn’t give them. Girls who claimed to be sexually liberal but fucked around hoping to find the love Halima was handed as she walked late into her Math class at age 15 angering the head boy who turned to scold her but instead smiled and introduced himself as Kabir. Girls, who claimed to be adventurous- with clothes, hairstyles and face paint- tried in vain to coax fake hair down to shoulders, like hers naturally did. Girls who pierced or tattooed certain parts to enhance their appeal, Halima only adorned herself with colourful waist beads fragrant in sandalwood that jiggled when she hurried by. Girls who tried desperately to twist their tongues into a dialect foreign to their mouths in ridiculous “fone” barely speaking one or the other, Halima voiced in Hausa, Kanuri and Arabic. Her skin was kissed by northern sun, her features blessed by her mothers Kanuri heritage, and her irises sparkled like that of a woman who was properly loved by the man of her dreams. So, yes Halima Dansabe didn’t know a lot, but she knew that the most inner desires of a woman lay in beauty and love. She was beautiful and she was loved.

Lately, one of the two things she knew stopped seeming so certain. Kabir was different. She could not place it nor could she label the feeling as woman intuition for she never chanced upon an opportunity to develop that trait. She knew Kabir, trusted him and she loved him. There was never any need to doubt him. He was romantic, charming and devoted. She loved him. It was just that lately…
Some things had been missing of late from their relationship; they laughed less but kissed more. It shouldn’t seem weird for an engaged couple but she missed their conversations on Politics, Religion and Travel that lasted long into the night. On her return from Kano, he picked her up at the airport and as expected kissed her like a man possessed but there was something…
Last night as she lay in his arms, she pushed the thought aside. Stop being silly she scolded herself. Afterwards they watched for the new moon, having a late dinner on his lawn as they stared at the starry sky for the glimpse of the crescent moon that would indicate the start of the Holy month. The kissing began again in earnest when she brought up his lack of interest in the wedding plans, although he had already apologised profusely for his tone with her the other day over the phone. Her brain turned to mush and her tongue forgot what it was trying to articulate. “Anga wata” she finally managed to say winning the contest by being the first to spot the silvery outline behind rain clouds. With a kiss on his cheek she left his townhouse returning to the apartment she shared with her sister Jummai in Victoria Island.
That was the early hours of this morning but presently they sat on his carpet in his expanse of a living room staring at the television awaiting the first call of Maghrib that would signal the end of the working day and the end of the fast. Kabir had a far away look that Halima had seen once before. Halima had laid the rug for the Iftar meal and she stared at the food on show. Had she displeased him? There were bowls of dates and a glass of ice water to soothe his parched thirst. Two glass bowls held generous portions of fruit salad, a covered cooler housed kosai and the flask contained akamu. There was kunu and zobo in the fridge and she planned to heat up the tuwo shinkafi and kuka for later. How had all this upset him? By now they would be exchanging stories of temptation from the day. Friends and colleagues who mistakenly; or in Femi’s case knowingly; kept offering food and drink throughout the work day. There would be laughter…but instead the only sound was the drone of the TV as it displayed a large clock, ticking its way towards 7.20pm when the call to the evening prayer would be broadcast. She glanced at him once more in his sweats as he lay on his leather couch lost in thought. An awful gnawing in the pit of her stomach…now she knew something was wrong.

Kabir sank to his plush dark purple carpet feeling more like a stranger than the man of the house. He caught her stare and made his muscles relax enough to smile; rubbing his belly and hoping that she would take his silence for hunger.
“Mai ka damun ka?” she asked with a concerned look.
“Nothing.” Kabir said “nothing is wrong”
“Kariya ne” Halima stated
“I am not lying” Kabir said slowly
“Kariya” she repeated. Kabir sighed she seemed ready for a fight. He reached out and stroked her face to soothe her. “Ba komai” he said with a strained smile. She turned into his touch and smiled into his palm and in that instant Kabir felt cheap. He felt his lips form the words before his brain had time to give permission.
“I’m not happy” he said.


Halima’s head jerked up. Kabir looked at her for a long time after that. So this is it he thought. He convinced himself that he could love her; he had done it for 8 years happily. After Jen became someone he did not understand, he told himself that Halima would always remain the same: beautiful and uncomplicated. She knew that he meant the best for her, even if he sometimes phrased it as a command rather than a suggestion, she would base his feelings for her in how he treated her and not how polite he was to people who weren’t involved in their relationship. She knew him. Explanations weren’t necessary because she understood his moods. Without raising her voice she made her point clear, not having to resort to name-calling, she would never jump out of the car in the middle of traffic. She was not Jen. Kabir sighed; that exactly was the problem: she was not Jen. Halima latched on to his fingers; she was still staring at him waiting for him to continue.
“D” she called him by his pet name “Abinchi ne?”
“No it’s not the food” Kabir assured her
“Then what?” she reverted to English
Kabir wanted to tell her that he did not want to be loved by her anymore. That he wished she wasn’t such a good person, that she didn’t look at him like her entire happiness rested on his shoulders. He wanted to tell her that he really honestly tried to get things back to the way they used to be. He swore he would make up for his infidelity and devote himself to her. So he kissed her every opportunity he had, became more involved in the wedding and was willing to marry her to make her happy because she deserved to be happy. He wanted to tell her that he told himself that his life would be directed by her dreams. Then he couldn’t think of what they were, all he came up with was her unwavering support for his. His aspirations and his goals, and he realised that he’d been a bad boyfriend because he couldn’t remember the last independent decision he allowed her to make. He didn’t remember if she was capable of a decision that didn’t involve him anymore. He wanted to tell her that in the dark of the night he realised that everything Jen said about him was true. He realised that he wasn’t the perfect catch he thought he was. He wanted to say that before this moment he was going to love her Halima like she deserved, but with the fast weakening his resolve he forgot to play the part of doting boyfriend, his body was adjusting to the first day of Ramadan, his stomach contracted and his throat sore from thirst and he forgot he was on a stage performing. Kabir wanted to say all this but he didn’t know how he would start.
Halima was still staring at him and Kabir could only voice “you know how I feel about you. How I’ve always felt”
“Yes” she whispered but Kabir couldn’t go on. He tried to get the words straight but everything he thought of sounded wrong. His wordsmith abilities escaped him and he was dumbfounded.
“Why don’t your eyes sparkle anymore?” Halima asked
“What?” Kabir stared at her
“Your eyes, the gold in them is gone”
“Err…” Kabir couldn’t speak, alas for all his acting, Halima wasn’t convinced
“What took it away?”
“Nothing”
“Who took it away?” Halima’s voice shook. Kabir ran his fingers through her thick hair. Her scarf hung around her shoulders and her hair dark as ink fell in light waves to her shoulders. She was so beautiful and she loved him. What was he doing?
“Ba ke bane” he said close to her mouth
“I didn’t ask if I caused it. I asked who did” Halima replied sternly. Kabir didn’t answer. He met her gaze and it was friendship that made him speak, because she was his best friend and he wanted to be honest with her. A flurry of words came tumbling out and he didn’t pay attention to the fact that the series of events weren’t properly arranged or the fact that they didn’t make much sense, he just kept talking. Halima’s face went through a variety of expressions and Kabir lost count to how many times her eyes filled and spilled over. He hoped his disjointed words conveyed the fact that he loved her but he was no longer in love with her, he hoped the words expressed how much better than him she could do.
They didn’t hear the call to prayer even with the surround sound so when Halima used shaky hands to raise a glass of water to her lips, Kabir did the same. They ate in silence, Kabir had no more to say and Halima had grown tired of asking “why?”
There was tension but they ate because they had too. They did not pick off each others plate for “ladah” they simply chewed and swallowed, tasting nothing.
“Barka da shan ruwa” Kabir greeted her on breaking her fast. She did not answer, he got up to take the dishes away and Halima continued to stare at the space between them. It was over.

Halima jumped up when he returned from the kitchen, he looked at her afraid of what she might do. Before him, Halima knelt down and begged him to love her. She had never knelt before anyone but her pride was broken and she needed him to know that she would beg, steal and serve for this love. Kabir pleaded with her to rise, but she couldn’t, her heart kept her there. “Tell me what to do” “Teach me how to better love you” she recited over and over again hopping between English and Hausa till her voice went hoarse. She wasn’t in denial, she could fix this…it had to work. It just had to. An hour later Kabir grew tired of trying to force Halima to her feet so instead sank to the floor and listened to her weep. Why does he keep hurting the people he loves? As exhaustion washed over her, Halima began to sway and Kabir caught her in time before she slumped to the floor. She had not eaten enough since she broke her fast and Kabir laid her on the couch as she slept. He did not know what to do; he also knew that when she awoke his face would be the last she’d want to see. He called Jummai to his house and on her arrival, he helped load Halima into her car; replying her every enquiry with “Your sister will tell you”. As he closed the passenger door of her BMW quietly, Jummai hugged him in the familiar manner whispering “Sai anjima” Kabir bid her farewell knowing that would be the last time she would ever speak to him that kindly.
The next morning Kabir was bombarded with insults from the Dansabe sisters: Jummai, Samira and youngest sibling Aisha. They called to speak to him and on realisation that he meant the break-up told him about himself. It appeared everybody thought he was a jerk, but Kabir knew it was early days yet. The family was yet to be informed; it was then that it would really hit the fan. By Monday, Kabir ached to see Halima, the friend in him wanted to console her, make sure she was alright but he knew he couldn’t dare approach within at least 50 yards of the house without fear of death. He planned his entry like an assassination, bribing the security guard at the entry gate, to alert him to Jummai’s departure. On reaching the apartment door later that night he opened the door with the spare key Halima had made for him a year ago and let himself in. The room was dark and unventilated and Kabir called her name silently, Halima appeared from under the covers on the couch and involuntarily smiled at him- remnants from couple dom- before adjusting to a scowl. He squatted besides her staring into her red swollen eyes and asked how she was. Had she eaten? What could he do? To each she replied what do you want? Why are you here if you don’t love me? Kabir told her she was his rock and not marrying her did not mean he no longer cared. She told him that his platonic love confused her, told him to get out and screamed until he did. Kabir returned the next day, and the next till Halima went from denying the break-up to hating him. She spewed words at him, the kind he had never seen. Every misdemeanour from their relationship was hacked and brought to light in the stillness of her apartment. Kabir hunched in a corner and said nothing. He deserved it and was not leaving till he had fully explained the situation to her, she needed to know and until she was strong enough to ask the question he would take her stabs.
It was in the second week of Ramadan that his mother called crying down the phone. Did he know what he had done to the family? She sobbed to him. All the years of familial relations down the drain. Old classmates, mutual friends and everybody else and their uncle called and visited to know if he was insane. To each enquiry of Halima’s misgivings Kabir replied “she is perfect. I just don’t love her the way I used to”. The two families back north pointed fingers and called names, ties were severed and allegiance retracted. Such a messy affair, after so long it was hard to remember what belonged to whom, drawing boundaries, building up walls and forever erasing traces of the Tijani-Dansabe association. It was civilised anarchy between their households and Kabir would have sold his soul to shoulder the blame alone. Halima hid from the brunt of shame in her flat, she had stopped going to work and spent her days fasting and praying. Praying to heal. Kabir did not end his visits and she was tired of trying to break him. Even with the added advantage of knowing where to hit, reminding him of his every falter and failure. He merely stared at her and apologised, told her how wonderful she was and how lucky he had been to have her for the time he did. He stuck the knife in himself mentioning short comings she had never seen in him and asking how she had put up with it. The arrogance and self-assurance in him was gone and Halima saw that the boy she fell in love with was no more. As he sat with hunched shoulders on the chair after a particular gruelling round of “I hate you” from her, Halima got tired.
“I am not going to make this easy for you” she stated. He didn’t look up.
“Coming here every evening and letting me tear into you will not make me forgive you” Still he said nothing.
“What do you want from me Kabir?” she asked “you will not be here if you didn’t want something”. Kabir still kept silent.
“Answer me” she ordered.
“I want you to get better” he whispered
“Better. BETTER” she shrieked. “I am not sick Kabir. You dumped me.” Does this- she pointed to the rumpled up tissues that littered the base of her couch- “look like medicine to you”
“No.” Kabir did not need to follow her gaze to see what she was referring to. At one point she had a nose bleed and her blood stained handkerchief was clutched in her palm.
“I love you and if hurting me makes you feel better…”
“You are no longer allowed to say those words to me. Ever” Halima warned. Kabir conceded and apologised
“When did you stop loving me?” she asked. Kabir looked up and saw the determination in her eyes. She had detached herself from the situation. She was gone past denial and through the anger, she had accepted it and now she could ask.
“Four months ago. It was a Thursday” Kabir replied truthfully,
“You know this for certain”
“It was the day I met Jennifer” Kabir said
“Jennifer?” Halima asked. She was sure he mentioned the name last Friday but she couldn’t recall the events that led to the loss of her marriage. “Tell me” she commanded and he did. Everything. Every single detail was explained, his every whereabouts’ accounted for and Halima cried into more tissues over the course of the three hour confession.
“And you love this Jennifer more than me” Halima slurred over the name causing the fire in his eyes to blaze for the first time in weeks; that was her reply. Kabir’s unconscious jump to the girl’s defence was Halima’s reply. Halima was silent for a while as she gathered her thoughts, then a bitter laugh sounded. Kabir looked at her like she was crazy
“Are you with her now?”
“No”
“Does she want to be with you?”
“No”
“Then why tell me? Why not return to me and spare me this humiliation and pain”
“I tried to but even on my best pretence you could tell something was wrong. I couldn’t carry it on forever”. They both fell silent again then Halima asked him to leave.

That night as she sat on her praying mat for taraweeh- a long recital of the Qur’an- she had an epiphany. Her eyes adjusted and she felt her heart stilled for a moment. Why was she here? In Lagos? Halima couldn’t recall ever wanting to venture south. Surely there must have been a reason… Oh she remembered…for him. That’s why she was here, for Love, because that’s what you did when you loved someone, you made sacrifices. She left behind her life. She left behind attending functions with her mother, lunching with her friends, tending to her fathers estate and debating politics with her uncles so he could apply for a job and embark on a new chapter. So she applied for employment in the same establishment and told herself she would love it.
She hadnt fallen in love with Lagos

She hated the crowds and the noise. Daily commute bombarded with sticky humidity. She missed the easy appreciative pace of the north, not this rush that was always abounding in Lagos especially the claustrophobic feel. She longed for the arid plains of her home, the acres of land that stretched out with cattle grazing on the soil. The cattle herders wore floppy hats and chewed on long blades of grass. Mallams speaking in her native tongue as they bid her good day, the call to prayers from Gidan Makama mosque echoed around the town. She longed for fresh fura bought from Fulani milk maids, danwake and proper masa and suya not the oily tough version sold over here. She missed the make-shift shops that sold woven baskets along with kuturn yaji, barkono, tonka and other kayan miya. She missed the open celebration of Eid, the horse men in Sallah Durbar festival. She missed gossiping with her cousins under shaded mango trees their palms darkened with henna and fingers sticky from Hwanke dipped in honey or smothered in Man shanu. She missed Kano.
When Kabir returned the next evening her sister gleefully told him Halima had left, that she was presently handing in her resignation at Holloway. Kabir raced to the office but missed her; Halima had left without warning and as suddenly as he had broken off their engagement. He was in no moral position to feel hurt but he did, he would have liked a chance to say goodbye. Ramadan ended five days later.






Enjoy
By S.B

Cash or Credit 6.......UPDATED

Cash or Credit 5 can be found HERE!

We adjusted Part 6 and so this is the new one! Enjoy!

8.00pm

Thursday evening 49 Bode-Thomas Street Surulere.

The grey Peugeot pulled up the pattern imprinted driveway and Jen hopped out of the backseat with a wave goodbye at Mr and Mrs John. Turning 360 degrees, Jen surveyed her surroundings; they say you can tell a lot about a person from their home so maybe this centre hall plan brick house with double porches could tell her about“You are all mine now” Esosa interrupted her thoughts with an evil laugh.Jen suppressed a laugh and continued to study her whereabouts.

The rectangular planned building with the symmetrically placed window openings and centred entrance seemed to rise from the curved driveway. The door was plain wood illuminated by sidelights and the windows were likewise without ornamentation, having only a sill of wood in the same tone around the edges. The only decorative elements were at the cornice on the roof where the bricks were set at an angle in a corbelled effect.

“Jennifer come here” Esosa said speaking slowly and gesturing into the house.

“Your roof is very pointed” Jen said not moving an inch

“Into the house Jen” Esosa repeated

“No dog barking. I thought you'd have a dog”

Esosa marched down and placing his hands on both her shoulders dragged her into his home. “Shouldn’t you have brought me flowers?” he enquired taking her sweater and placing it at the back of the only sofa in the room.

“Wow u used bricks for your dwelling inside as well” Jen continued to look round“You know what happened to the pigs who built theirs out of hay and straw” Esosa said with a knowing look. Jen smiled and pretended to huff and puff.The red stone tiles laid on the floor stretched out from the welcome mat at the door and down the hall, marking out the entire living area. On one side of the hallway a large corner dark blue sofa that looked comfortable enough to sit at least six dominated the area facing the large TV squarely. Jen found that surprising as she didn’t think Esosa watched a lot of television. Adjacent to the television was a reclining reading chair with foot stool and two dark wood bookshelves which bore heavy hardcopies of titles ranging from Dumas's Three Musketeers to Soyinka’s The Interpreters. Ah now this is what she expected to see. Jen ran her fingers along the titles counting the ones she'd heard of: Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, Shakespeare, Mazuri, Achebe, Chinodya, Defoe, Fitzgerald, Amadi, Bronte, Dickens, Twain, Wilde…Jen’s finger stalled at Austen raising an eyebrow, Esosa calmly placed his copy of Pride & Prejudice underneath a copy of Rich Dad, Poor Dad

“You did not see that” he said softly.

Jen carried on shaking her head; as she continued to roam, her finger had gathered no dust all through its travels. Esosa read everything from politics- Social Statistics by Spencer & White’s Utopia- to sociology- Understanding Classical Sociology by Marx.

“Where is your Harry Potter?” Jen said half-jokingly

“Upstairs with the rest of my books” Esosa responded seriously

“The rest of them…?” Jen looked at the books on display

“The books I have already read and enjoyed are the ones you see here. These ones on the top shelf are those I am yet to read.”

Jen looked through the titles on the top shelf, The Thing Around Your Neck, Book Thief and Time Traveler’s Wife.Jen understood that, Esosa was a man who surrounded himself with memories and things that mattered to him. She already knew that the flowery blue material on the lamp shade on the side-table was sewn by his step-mother, probably the light blue covers for the throw pillows scattered on his sofa as well.

“So if you enjoy it then you place it here, to be read again later but if you don’t…?” she asked

“I donate it to the library”

Jen gave all titles another quick glance, “you only have the tragedies of Shakespeare.”“He writes much better about the sad stuff”“That's disturbing Esosa”

Jen said“A redeeming factor” Jen picked up the copy of Gulliver’s Travels from atop a cushion. The pages were dog-eared and the cover worn. It had obviously been read a 1001 times.

“So you want to meet the Lilliputians” she asked with a sweet smile. Esosa looked confused for a while then he followed Jen's gaze

“No that’s for my brother Osaze. I swear he’s read it 20 times”

Seeing as Esosa didn’t exaggerate Jen believed him. She was also interested to meet the person whose favourite book involved meeting tiny people.

“Where is your brother? Is he here?”

“Want to see the rest of the house?” Esosa jumped up agilely ignoring her question.On the opposite side of the hallway was the wet bar and stairs which led upstairs. The wide distressed mirror reflected the wine and whiskey glasses that hung in wooden rafters above a clear table top. The air conditioner hoisted was on the wall beside it. The table top was cool to touch and transparent, Jen walked over and looked through to see drinks sitting on ice. Esosa reached in and grabbed her Maltina taking the top off in the inbuilt bottle-opener at the bottom. He offered a straw but she refused. Jen could see him doing this most nights after work proceeding to his reading chair and switching on the lamp to immerse himself in a book.Jen followed Esosa down the hall; the first door was a pantry lit by an exposed bulb. It was narrow as a broom cupboard and as tall as she was; but it housed tubers of yam and sacks of potato and rice. Clear nylons displayed egusi seeds and beans, stored with pepper to preserve the freshness. The final door was the kitchen; long room which had wooden drawers and a wide white porcelain sink. Behind the gas hob was exposed brick work adding character to the room. The net door at the other end led out into the backyard and Jen could see Esosa’s AYGO parked safely.
Doubling back Esosa led Jen up the wooden staircase to reveal yet another long hallway with doors at opposite ends. Esosa pointed down the right as his room and towards his left as the bedroom. Looks like Osaze slept on the couch.

Jen walked in the direction of his bedroom with Esosa muttering “I don't know what you are hoping to find”.

He switched on the low ceiling lights as she walked through the door and the twisted iron wrought headboard gave the Queen sized bed an impressive stance. It was centred as the focus point and covered in sky blue sheets with four fluffy pillows. The built in glass sliding wardrobes also doubled as a mirror but she was sure Esosa put it in merely to reflect the light coming from his window. It had no curtains but merely two shutters, one for shade and ventilation and the other for complete black-out. Jen looked at his view of the commercial street, the street lamps shone on cyber cafes, bars and coffee joints. Down the street she could see the bus depot as well.

“I can see your whole day in my head” Jen said from the window

“Good.” Esosa said “Let’s hear it”

“You get up pretty early, stretch by the foot of the bed here” Jen pointed to the right side of the bed “kneel and pray here…”

“Pray?” Esosa asked.

In response Jen pointed to the Bible that poked out from under his pillows.

“Walk down the hall to brush your teeth, telling your brother to get up while leaning on the banister.”

“So far so good” Esosa encouraged

“Get dressed while Osaze makes breakfast and drop him off at the bus depot. You probably pick him up too on your way back from work, and then afterwards he watches TV while you read by your lamp. You each take turns getting the drinks”

“Wow sounds pretty boring”

“Sounds stable” Jen reassured

“Ok Madam detective, dinner” Esosa called from the doorway with an amused smile.He led her further down the hall and through a narrow archway, which Jen hadn’t seen as they climbed the stairs, and into an open flat space. Esosa stepped out first. It hung by the side of the house as a sort of extension to the building. Jen gave Esosa a look“Its safe” he reassured. Jen didn’t move from the archway“See” Esosa demonstrated by jumping up and down on the concrete floor, supported by steel beams. Jen summoned up the courage and walked onto it.
The balcony was a large space- almost as large as the whole lounge downstairs. Tall metal railings ran along the edges, doubling as a protective barrier and a seating area. The space was bare apart from a circular wooden table and two chairs. The white tablecloth that was draped across the table lifted in the wind and two dark blue coolers rested heavily to stop it soaring away. It was much cooler out here and Jen wished she held on to her sweater.

“This is why the roof top is so pointed” Esosa said pulling out a chair. As she sat, Esosa said “Oh the drinks. Please wait here” He rushed through the archway and Jen heard his feet on the stairs. Standing up she walked to the edge to better examine the view from all sides and saw a large plot of land with an uncompleted building and a kiln. Neighbours she thought, it’s a shame that Esosa won't have this 360 view for long but on the upside this terrace provided an even greater view of the commercial district. Jen people watched as Lagosians bought suya and grooved to the music drifting out of the joint.

“Be careful” Esosa warned as he returned with two bottles of red wine and her sweater. Sometimes Jen thought he was telepathic. Jen tugged on her sweater and sat back down as he once again pulled out her chair and laid the drinks carefully on the table.

“You have a great view. I’m jealous” Jen sulked

“Thank you” Esosa smiled “You enjoy people watching more than I do anyway”. He lifted the covers and the aroma of jollof rice wafted into the air. Handing Jen the serving spoon, he also gestured to the smaller cooler revealing thickly cut pieces of meat in a sauce garnished with farm vegetables. The carrots, peas, runner beans, red and green peppers looked so good that Jen’s tummy rumbled like it had not been fed just an hour ago. She dove in and served herself while Esosa poured the wine into their glasses. The pitcher of water that stood on the table beside the coolers was ignored and with each breeze the ice cubes and lemon pieces swirled lonely in the water. As usual the conversation came light and easy, Jen praised his food and he begged her to admit that he was a better cook than she was. They laughed a lot and after scraping her plate- no need to front- Jen and Esosa sat on a red woven mat close to the edge of the balcony to spy on unsuspecting Lagosians. Giggling like naughty teenagers they formulated stories for everyone that passed by: secret chocoholic, in love with the girl next door, planning a nuclear attack on Switzerland, hates cheese, loves cookies…They laughed so loudly that a tipsy bald man looked up at the roof and in his drunken haze invited them both to his mansion. “No thank you” they chorused as the man danced to D’banj singing the lyrics of Fall in Love to Jennifer. She sang back to him as Esosa negotiated a price on her head, they got all the way to ₦6000 when the first drops of rain started to fall.

The lightning in the distance streaked powerfully across the sky, indicating they won't be able to weather the storm and hurriedly they got up rolling the mat and packing up empty coolers and plates downstairs. True to Lagos, the downpour got heavy quickly as the heavens blessed the land with a month of rain at once. Esosa insisted Jen remain downstairs while he brought down the table and chairs. Jen stubbornly climbed up halfway before deciding she didn’t want a lecture and veered off into the bathroom.

Turning on the light she gazed around the room. The bathroom was a good size and the bathroom fixtures gleamed. The white linear pedestal basin, back to wall WC and overhead sliding mirror unit shone as the illuminated mirror brought her face into sharp focus.Jen thought she would look like crap...for lack of a better word; she had not touched up her make-up since she first put it on this morning, her sweater was two sizes larger than she was and she was sure she smelt like the traffic she was stuck in on her way home. It didn’t matter to Jen; she was coming to see Esosa after all so there was no need for fuss; another difference between tonight and her date with Kabir where she had spent hours preening. Also, despite being as quick as they could retreating from the balcony as nature took Jen still got partly drenched in the rain, so it was a complete shock when the reflection in the mirror was almost beautiful in its messiness. Her hair was damp and had turned partly wavy in its wetness, the curls bounced off her cheeks- which shone- and the strands dripped water on the tiled floor. The now soggy sweater clung to her breasts in a way Jen had never seen it do before and her lips kissed by the first rain for months looked wet and inviting. Her long ago applied rosy lip balm had sprung to life once again and Jen ran her tongue over her lower lip, causing something or the shadow of something to stir in her belly. Jen didn’t want to admit it but since the Kabir incident she had stopped viewing herself as anything but someone who worked at Holloway Grove. Yes, she got dressed but lost her self-confidence, she certainly no longer thought of herself as pretty…till now...Staring at her reflection in the bathroom in Esosa's house she felt absolutely gorgeous even with her mascara not exactly in place. Maybe it’s because its Esosa's mirror a little voice said.
Jen pushed it aside when she heard his voice at the door “You can’t hide in there forever”“Yes I can” Jen replied opening the door and smiling. Esosa pulled her out gently “Seriously with the rate this rain is going the electricity will give out soon. I want you where I can see you”“I want you where I can see you” Jen repeated in a bad imitation of his voice. He nudged her playfully as they walked downstairs turning on the light. Jen sat on one end of the sofa comfortably as he switched on the reading lamp in the room casting the shelves in spotlight; Jen and Esosa exchanged a look as the rain begins to thunder heavily on the roof- really heavily.

“What time did you planning on leaving because this looks like it might go on for a while? First rain of the season” Esosa said. Jen looks at her watch- 10.00pm- she should be leaving around now to be honest but as the thunder boomed loudly Jen didn’t see how that was going to be possible. Esosa lay on the opposite end of the sofa looking happily at her. He looked smug.

Jen calls her mom and manages through the sketchy reception to make out her warnings to stay put.“They are saying it will flood” her mom yells down the receiver“This country is never prepared for anything” her dad complains. Jen assumed she must be on speaker phone.“I am just saying I might make it home late” Jen enunciated her words“No please stay where you are. If the rain stops fine but if it doesn’t we’ll just see you in the morning” her mom said and her dad agreed. Jen hangs up and meets Esosa’s look“Okay, your parents are very liberal” he said

“My mom thinks I’m over at Meg’s” Jen answered not meeting his gaze“So you lied” Esosa said slowly

“Yes” Jen answered softly

“Interesting”

Jen throws a pillow at him, he throws it back at her, so she fires two at once, he dodges them both like a pro and pulls her foot sliding her across the couch. Screaming Jen grabs onto the arm rest with her fingernails and springboards on his abs, aiming she lunges the last throw pillow in her arsenal square into his face. Esosa takes the hit and grabbing onto her bare feet slides her even further down, laughing Jen bumps into him and Esosa tickles her till she’s out of breath. Gasping Jen takes stock of her position, her legs were pinned down with his knee and his right hand imprisoned both her palms. They were both wet and panting; Esosa’s eyes locked on her mouth and Jen thought right about now would be a good time to move away, so she did.
Esosa let her go immediately perhaps sensing her hesitation, as soon as she was released Jen started to think that maybe being in bondage would be great. Her body enjoyed the uncomfortable position it had been twisted in. She locked eyes with him not saying a word and Esosa fastened her knees in the position it had previously been in, Jen made no noises as with a gentle jerk Esosa brought her to him, his knees around her back. Jen did not uncross her arms or stop frowning; they were playing a game now; Esosa uncrossed her arms and laid her palms on his chest one after the other. Bringing his head to hers, he laid his fore-head on her hair, breathing in the scent of rain. Stylishly giving her time to refuse, Jen did not move- this was a night of possibilities right?

Give us your best shot Oyakilhome.Esosa as if hearing her thoughts bit her lower lip, Jen sighed. This was different, she thought he would be gentle but he was manhandling her instead. It felt good Jen craved the friction; his lips abused hers and continued to lay havoc as her forgotten hormones awoke with a jolt.As his mouth became rough on hers and her breathing quickened the lights went out with a pop!

Shouts of NEPA from passersby were yelled up and down the avenue and in his living room was darkness so thick that Jen could barely make out his features although her lips were still pressed to his and his nose was against her cheek .This should be awkward she thought and waited for her palms to get sweaty as she became self-conscious but instead a giggle escaped her lips, Jen tried to stall it but it grew more frantic and a second later Esosa chuckled alongside. They laughed in the darkness at the sheer silliness of the situation and Jen’s shoulders rose and fell with laughter till she felt his mouth against hers once more; she gasped his tongue slid in. Jen marvelled at the yoga dance they got into. Her brain was not completely shut off but her body had a mind of its own and it curved into his chest with her arms interlocking around his neck. Jen could hear his heart thudding away at rapid speed as if begging to be set free, his calloused palms slid under her sweater, under her shirt and up her back, her skin bucked at his touch and Jen kissed more furiously tasting wine and spices on his tongue. Now it was his turn to be surprised and her lips felt beginnings of a smile tug the corners of his mouth. It became heated, the rain poured even harder around the house, the wind rushing in from the only slightly ajar window but the lounge suddenly became very steamy. They were going to be here awhile, there was no rush and take their time ripping each other apart with enraging desire. If it would go farther than kissing and groping on the sofa Jen wasn’t sure. Maybe they weren’t ready, but for now Jen pushed herself harder against Esosa almost moulding herself to him, his lips taking from her as his hands cautiously crept up her flat stomach towards her bra.......

“Why is it so dark in here?” a voice from the doorway. Jen and Esosa bump heads as they are surprised by the interruption. They lay still for a second, panting and trying to get a bearing on their surroundings. Jen quietly untangles herself from Esosa and hurriedly readjusts her attire, patting her hair into place. Esosa takes deep breaths to calm himself down.

“My God it’s pouring outside” a voice came from directly behind them just as the front door shut and the emergency electric lamp was switched on bringing the face into focus.Osaze was home.

By S.B

CASH OR CREDIT 5.....

The wait from Part 4 is over, and trust me your patience was well worth it........

Enjoy xxx

8.45am
Monday morning at the wrought iron entry gates of Holloway Grove, Kabir shielded his eyes from the sun and adjusted his footing; he never came to work this early.

He glanced over at the security guard as he listened to the traffic report on his portable radio, engrossed like it was the stock market. Kabir had been standing for twenty minutes, his cream chinos lightly dusted by gusts of wind and his loafers didn't resemble what they used to. Standing still for so long, Kabir finally gave in and decided to indulge the old man in conversation; more than the perfunctory nod he gave him each morning.
“Good morning” Kabir said in his best English accent; just because the man was Hausa didn’t mean they had to converse in it
“You too” Musa replied surprised Kabir had grown manners. Kabir looked around for something to ask the man about, the weather? Darn, sometimes he was so British. Then he heard the gate creak open and his heart beat a little faster. Jennifer walked in briskly. The gust blew against her black cropped pants and red wrap shirt. Her hair was held back with a black Alice band and she was wearing the friendship bracelet Kabir knew was given to her on her 12th birthday by her best friend. Her heels clicked ever loudly towards the glass doors and Kabir felt his tummy do flips, Jen ignored him like he was furniture; Jen knelt before Musa who greeted her warmly as he received the outstretched apple she offered like it was the seed of life and Jen blushed as he thanked her.
Kabir swallowed through the razor sharp pain in his throat when her smile glazed over him.
Kabir had not hoped for acknowledgement as he planned his ambush, he never would have had the guts to approach her in this manner after three months of a cold front but it seemed there was a breakthrough in Abuja. Jen hadn't told him to go to hell, not verbally.
“Good morning Jennifer”
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Jen asked flatly
“I was hoping I could invite you to spend lunch with me” Kabir tried to peer through her sunglasses, her eyes were strikingly honest
“You think that would be a good idea?”
“I would love it if you thought so”
“I wouldn't have much time to spare” Jen warned
“I’ll bring it to your office; you don't even have to leave your desk” Kabir said
“Ok” Jen shrugged her shoulders and walked into the building
“Oh by the way, Good morning Kabir” she smiled a little and slid into the lobby
Kabir tried to pretend that was not the best news he'd heard in months. Kabir restrained himself from following her in, he heard her walk to the elevator- as an Architect he knew the distance in feet and yards- and decided to give Jen couple more minutes to get to her floor; there is a thin line between a cute ambush and stalking.. His feet moved awkwardly as he felt the old man's stare, he knew how service providers liked to gossip and did not need noses in his business. He turned to the old man and saw as his lips formed a question; Kabir did not intend to stay around for its completion and turning quickly, he walked into the lobby. He would rather stare at the glass sculpture than stand outside chatting idly with the security guard.

11.45am
Eighth floor Holloway Grove Kabir sat staring at his watch; the Rolex appeared to mock him as the bronze wave diamond set dial refused to move any closer to 12.00. He held the watch with his fingers and played with the oyster case back. The Rolex diamond and white gold wristwatch had been a gift from Halima to him on his graduation day in Cambridge. Diamond and white gold- that’s what they were called; he and Halima.
From secondary school as they danced their first waltz- Prom King and Queen- on the night he walked the gardens of the hotel the school had rented for prom, Kabir swung her Chanel heels in his free hand and the other arm linked with hers. In his tuxedo beside Halima in her white dress, white gold bracelet and bare feet. Kabir had given her his grandmothers’ ring then, a little diamond, certain he would never be happier. She had laughed at him and told him to calm down but she wore it anyway. Kabir still wore the watch and his ring was now a second piercing on Halima’s left ear. Diamonds and white gold; their special little joke.

The sapphire crystals on the face of the watch danced on the plastered wall as the light from the window played on the surface; he glanced at the watch from his fiancée to be punctual to meet his girlfriend, the irony was not lost on Kabir.
“Bros K, you get me now” Alaye said
Kabir looked up at his colleague; he had completely tuned out and had no idea what he would be agreeing to. Recognising the beady look in Alaye’s eye as he adjusted his white agbada, Kabir merely replied “No, I think that’s disgusting” applause broke out in the office with shouts off “I told you that’s not the age of consent”
“I pray for you Alaye” Rita said as she peeled her tangerine. “To think K will be on your side” she shook her head and her polka dot earrings swung from side to side. Kabir had known Rita for three years and she always had polka dots in her attire: jumpers or jewellery, skirts, scarves or shoes. They played a game and each day he would point them out, Kabir knew he had spoken to Rita this morning but he couldn't recall if they had their routine.
“Earrings” he said to her
“I could tell you weren’t in the mood today” Rita replied affectionately. Kabir saw her dimples peek out and said fruitlessly “How old are you Rita?” She merely shook her head and responded with the usual “If I told you, I’d have to kill you”
“We will never give up” Femi added "For all we know you could be as young as Alaye's date last night"
“Ah no” Rita exclaimed “I can assure you i'm not…” Kabir tuned out before she’d even finished, 11.50am the dial said. What is this torture?
“Who are you waiting to see Kabir?” Femi asked beside his ear
“Jennifer” Kabir responded without thinking
The office took a momentary pause, even Alaye stopped describing nipples to stare at Kabir; and then they all seemed to speak at the same time
“I thought you had left this thing” Femi said
“Hey shooo, the babe has been withholding the goods since then” Alaye said
“You need to leave that nice girl alone, you can't offer her anything” Rita sighed
“But…”
“But nothing" Rita interjected. “You did not see her when she came to look for you that day, as she ran out of the office basically in tears”
Kabir felt it cut deep as he remembered the fateful day he witnessed heartbreak firsthand “but I love her” he protested
“You barely even know her” Femi continued “You know Halima” he added quietly
“I know all I need to” Kabir concluded and he pushed his chair back and stretched his tense muscles. Rita shook her head disapprovingly as he walked to the elevator.

Kabir arrived at the fifth floor still with minutes to spare and saw Jen furiously typing at her desk. He had never been to her office and took a minute to ponder the stares he was receiving, he smiled politely and pointed at Jen and a lady almost hurt herself trying to get out of her chair fast enough to jab Jen and indicate for her to turn around.
Jen greeted him with as much warmth as the Arctic and returned to her screen.
“You look really beautiful today” Kabir said. Jen snorted
“I especially like the powder sugar on the nose touch”
Jen’s finger flew to her nose and sure enough the stupid doughnuts had left their mark. Kabir laughed and said “Don't ruin it. Or else it won't go with the pencil in your hair”
Jen looked him in the eye “You’ve got to be kidding me” but sure enough the HB pencil she had been twirling earlier was right there behind her left ear. Jen had to laugh at herself and Kabir shut his eyes for a moment to bask in the sound of it.
“So I have a treat planned for lunch” He said while he still had her attention
“I thought you were bringing a tray up from the lunch room”
“Oh… yeah… that” Kabir answered distracted as he fiddled with his phone
“What are you doing?” In answer to her question the elevator opened and a tray was wheeled in by Sandra. The plates were covered but the napkins bore the name of the Thai restaurant they had been to. Kabir thanked Sandra with one of his smiles and she giggled her way out. Jen rolled her eyes “Isn’t this a little over the top for lunch?”
“It wouldn’t have to be this way if I was guaranteed dinner” Kabir responded. He watched Jen lift the cover with a blank expression and stare at the spiced noodles she had ordered that night.
“What’s this called? I don’t remember the name” she asked
“Jen's special”
“Your lines get cornier and cornier”
“I am a little out of practice, that’s all”
She laid the napkin on her lap and they ate in polite company. Kabir restrained himself from touching her and made sure the conversation stayed on course avoiding the invisible landmines; they spoke about work, family and travel. Kabir laid out the chocolate fudge cake dessert as Jen stood up to bring them both coffee, as she proceeded down the hall Kabir heard her gasp and looking up quickly he noticed the room had become empty. During their meal, slowly the room had been evacuated but they were so immersed in their world even with the new boundaries that they never noticed the lack of company. Till now.

Their eyes met across the office space and he saw mild panic reflected in hers. For a second, he became elated; if Jen was so nervous about being alone with him that must mean she was still attracted to him. He still had a shot at winning her back; completely. Jen’s eyes began to dart from the elevator to the vacant desks and back again, lips in silent prayer wishing for interruption. The elation died down and Kabir was upset at her reaction. He wasn’t a thug; nothing will happen that Jen didn’t consent to. Playing the game subtlety Kabir stood up, looked at his watch in an exaggerated fashion and said “I think I’ll skip the coffee today”
Jen shot him a look of relief but her lips countered with “Are you sure?”
“Yes” Kabir said definitively. He pretended to ignore Jen wiping her palms on her shirt. Could she be anymore nervous?
“Oh ok” Jen sighed silently. Kabir pretended to ignore that as well
“Thank you for lunch” Jen said with the first genuine warmth she had radiated in his direction
“The receptionist will come up in a minute to take the trolley away”
“Oh I’ll take it down” Jen offered
“No, she will do it” Kabir said “Don’t worry about it.” He turned around and walked into the elevator. As the doors shut, he thought he heard Jen collapse into a chair.

Back on the eighth floor, Kabir stalled in the elevator, he did not feel much like work anyway. He hit the big red button and signals from the ground floor and subsequent floors above were blocked as the elevator’s rolling steel ropes grinded to a halt over the pulley. He stared at the ceiling, Jen was afraid of him. Kabir could not bring himself to understand that. Perhaps ambushing was not the way to go seeing as she no longer trusted him. If he ever hoped to see Jen again, at her will that is – he was going to have to be gentle. Forewarning her would be a good place to start because as long as he lived Kabir never wanted to see Jen’s eyes cloud over with fear as a result of him just being there. Desire yes, Fear no. He also never wanted the tone of her voice pitchy with uncertainty. Low and sultry yes, high and squeaky no. Kabir bit the bullet and sent Jen a text message:

Jen thank you for lunch, it was special, as are you. Perhaps we could have it again; same time, same desk. If you are ever in need of company. Kabir


He waited with breath bated for a reply he was unsure would ever arrive. A minute later his phone beeped:

D,
"Kwana biyu, been a minute. If I don’t hear from you soon I might start thinking you were serious about eloping with Megan Fox…lol. Please get back to me about the band soon or we might lose them. I really want Maroon 5 hint hint. Love you. Halima xxx
P.S- tell Femi I found the perfect date to accompany him. He owes me one. "

Kabir sighed. He didn’t even want to start with wedding plans. How was he going to tell her? More importantly what was he going to tell her? Halima was in Kano with her parents, after which she would go visit his relatives in Adamawa bearing gifts on his behalf. Just as he had done when she had to work and couldn’t make it a few months ago. His family and her family were one strong bond. So many entanglements; he lived with her second cousin before the lease on his apartment in Cambridge came through during his university days, regularly plays golf with her Godfather, went apartment hunting with her younger sister last time he was in London…His phone beeped once more, jolting him from his thoughts.

Next Monday, same time, same desk. P.S- You were right, your lines are less corny already. Practice does make perfect. : ) Jen

Kabir re-read the text several times over and stared at her name in his inbox, he hung his head to hide his smile from himself. Nineteen words and he was a teenager again and Femi wonders why he is so in love with this girl.

So it was every Monday that month, Kabir nestled his way into Jen’s office with lunch.
Second Monday he brought over Chinese, they filled up on spicy spring rolls before Sandra had even wheeled in the beef in black bean sauce and side of rice. Kabir exchanged his Singapore fried rice for Jen egg fried rice because the lady at the restaurant forgot to exclude pork from his dish. This led to a light hearted debate about who owned which fortune cookie. Jennifer’s palm got sore from hitting her desk so much in “objection” to Kabir’s arguments. Lunch ended with sore cheeks on both sides as they laughed their way into an old, familiar rhythm.

Third Monday was Indian takeaway, naan bread and samosas were abused on the fifth floor; as Jen and Kabir dipped into various sauces: yoghurt with cucumber and crushed mustard seeds, sweet and sour date sauce, spicy peach chutney and curry paste. He also felt brave enough to hold her hand for a second- just a second- as they fought over mints.
The arctic winds had turned and Jen permitted Kabir to stay for dessert, he delighted her with Alaye’s escapades over Gaajar Ka Halwa and a dollop of vanilla ice cream topped with sultanas and almonds.

The last Monday of the month Kabir strolled in confidently holding the large takeaway bag at 12.00pm.
Jen disliked the idea of the receptionist bringing it up and consistently disproved of it, Kabir didn’t know why after all it’s her job but now he had to haul it in himself. A lady in a jacket cooed to him but Kabir ignored her. Jen was not at her desk, turning around he transfixed a smile on his face and beckoned the lady forward. She half-jogged to his side and stuttered her way through a greeting, in response Kabir pointed at Jen’s empty desk
“Oh Jennifer abi? She had to drop off a file.”
“Where?”
“Aiya who will chill with you now” she crooned
“Where?” Kabir repeated with steely annoyance. At the last minute he cloaked it with a smile
“Oh!” Her eyes boring holes in his forehead and somehow she had decided to link her arms through his. Kabir wasn’t sure how to untangle himself so he left it there.
“She is at our associate’s place, the mobile company that we had a contract with.” The lady leaned into him “You are an architect abi?” she licked her lips
As she was already too close for comfort Kabir forcedly excused himself before she thought it a good idea to run her hands up his thigh. He dropped off the tapas- his now ruined Spanish fiesta on the desk of a woman he had seen Jen converse with once or twice. He did not care to recall the name, as the brown packaging hit the desk she looked up annoyed but grinned sheepishly when Kabir smiled at her. Declining her offer of something- he never paid attention, he walked out confused. Where had Jennifer gone?

At the end of the working day, Kabir had escorted Femi downstairs to score some suya and he saw Jen saunter in through the gates. The security guard laughed as she twirled across the gravel floor towards him humming a tune. She presented the pale pink bougainvillea flower behind her ear to him with a flourish as he applauded loudly. Her full pale pink skirt lifted as the ruffles played at her knees and her white lace blouse hugged her curves beautifully, taut against her flat stomach. The wide patent belt accentuated her unexplainably tiny waist. Femi next to him had stopped talking and was smiling widely. Jen had those effects on people- elders applaud her and young men drool after her. She stopped when she saw Kabir and he crossed the few feet to her, he heard Femi on his tail.
“Hey Kabir” Jen said a little out of breath
“We are in a good mood” Kabir stated the obvious
“Please share your secret” Femi added
“Its singing” Jen laughed “Where are you two off to?”
“Going to grab some late lunch” Femi answered for them both. He was still grinning from ear to ear.
“I didn’t know we cancelled lunch today” Kabir said ignoring the need to roll Femi’s tongue back into his mouth.
“Oh I am so sorry” Jen apologised “I volunteered to run an errand. I’ll make it up to you and treat you to lunch on Wednesday”
“How about I take you out to lunch this time? No takeaways”
“Err..” Jen hesitated
“I ate lunch all alone” Kabir sulked
“All alone” Femi moaned in unison
“Just there, in the corner. All by myself, dejected, discarded, disposed, abandoned…”
“Depressed, demoralised, cast aside, ousted, put away, flung out,” Femi added
“Ok ok” Jen conceded laughing. “We’ll go out Wednesday”
Fair slender calves and size 7 feet clicked away, Femi put his arm around Kabir and leaning in closely said “Ok now I get it. It doesn’t mean I approve, but I get it”

12.00pm
Wednesday morning, underground parking garage Holloway Grove, Kabir leaned against his titan grey Bentley Continental GT and tapped his keys against his thigh, Jen was taking awhile, and she had to ask her boss for an hour extra for lunch, just in case they ran late. She was certain traffic would be gridlock today. The elevator slid open and Jen stepped out in a stripped blue shirt dress, spotted him and waved. As she walked towards him, Kabir unlocked the passenger door and held it open; Jen slid in with a “Thank You” and fastened her seat belt. Jen raised an eyebrow as she settled in. “So this is your baby? She’s just as pretty as you said.” Portland hides on the leather seats, piano black veneer finish on the dashboard, chrome knuckle and beluga hide on the gear shift as well as an emblem foot pedal gave the interior a rich luxurious feel. “Yeah she’s real gorgeous” Kabir answered.

Kabir slowly pulled out and joined the queue of departing cars, most were going out to lunch, using his free hand popped open the glove compartment and pulled out his Police sunglasses. Jen rummaged in her bag for hers, as the sun flare hit the windscreen; high noon in Lagos.
“Kabir, do you mind if we stop over at Mama Cass? I need to grab lunch”
“I thought we were having lunch together?” Kabir stalled with his foot on the pedal
“It’s for Musa.”
“Who?”
“Musa.” Jen repeated loudly
“A colleague of yours?” Kabir had no idea who she was referring to
“No! Musa my friend at the entry gate, he’s only worked here for five years. You see him every morning” Jen looked aghast
“Oh the securities guard. I thought you meant someone important. We can’t. If we do, we’ll miss our lunch reservation” Kabir inched the car forward, they were second in line to pass through the toll gates.
“It’s important that I do. I promised Sandra I would get his lunch every Wednesday”
“Is that his daughter? Why doesn’t she do it then? The old man is her responsibility”
“Of course not. It’s Sandra at the front desk.”
“The receptionist? Of what concern is she to you?” The car passed the toll gate and cruised through the exit.
“What? She wheeled in lunch for you, directs your calls and hand delivers your mail and you don’t even know her name” Jen was gesticulating wildly
“Why should I?” Kabir replied with his eyes on the road as the car manoeuvred through the avenue
“Its important to know the people you work with. You can’t be this arrogant”
“I do not work with her. I do my job- as an Architect. She is a receptionist. A receptionist!! for heaven’s sake. What could we possibly have in common? Why do you feel the need to fraternise with these people, and even worse run their errands for them?”
Jen looked at Kabir like he had gone mad
“You are a pompous ass”
“They have nothing to offer you.” Kabir said ignoring her comment. “Build relationships with people who are beneficial to you. Lower management: cleaners, gardeners, security and all that is of no use. Do you understand?”
“Excuse me? Was that an order?” Jen turned fully to stare at him, her eyes wide.
“No. I am just telling you how you can better spend your time forming friendships” Kabir said calmly as he cruised through Victoria Island
“EXCUSE ME?” Jen shrieked
“Helping out these people might be good for your conscience now but your career is most important; soon you will have to discard your childish ways and face up to reality.”
“You think a career is what defines a person. Receptionist. Security guard. Junior Auditor.” Jen said. It wasn’t a question
“You are different” Kabir said. Taking note she mentioned her job last “If you would just do as I say, you could have so much potential”
“Do as you say” Jen repeated slowly
“Yes. It would be good for you; I know what I’m talking about”
Jen stared at him for a long time, her body perfectly still. Her eyes widened minutes later and she heaved her shoulders.
“There it is the chink in the armour.” Her voice concluded. “I see everything you’ve ever done differently now. The way you treated the waiter at the Thai restaurant, Temi and Tolu, Even Akpan remembered you- as the rude man who scolded him for being 10 minutes late.”
“The driver in Abuja was 10 minutes late, I like to be punctual. Sue me” Kabir looked away from the road slightly; Jen had a look on her face he did not recognise.
“You are an arrogant jerk Kabir. No one outside you narrow shallow world exists, you think that’s the way to live.”
“That makes no sense Jen, you had a privileged upbringing as well. You are in no position to judge me” Kabir’s voice was dangerously close to the edge. Jen had just insulted him a second time.
“I was taught to respect my elders and be courteous to everyone, regardless of their position in life. I thought that was a default setting in every Nigerian but apparently not. You spare no feeling for people outside your catchment you just throw one of your smiles and expect that to be penance enough”
“What are you saying?”
“I am saying, you are an arrogant jerk and a chauvinist pig.” Kabir could not believe it, a third time.
“Did u really just say that to me?” Kabir’s voice was low
“Pull over at that traffic light and unlock my door”
“Not until we work this out”
“NOW” Jen screamed. Kabir braked in shock and the cars behind began blaring as Jen hurriedly took off her seat belt and jumped out of her seat into the scorching heat. She raised an arm to hail a taxi, Kabir got out as well indicating for her to get back in the car. “What the hell is the matter with you?” he shouted. Jen got into the first cab that slowed down and making sure Kabir heard her, she said to the driver “Mama Cass please”

11.00am
Monday morning Etisalat offices in Oceanic Bank at 15, Itire Road, Surulere. Esosa scowled as his boss Mr. Adebayo once again took credit for fixing a leak in a big corporate account that Etisalat held with the UAE surrounding their Easy Starter pack.
“Don’t I get a round of applause?” the idiotic boss said. Whoever needs to ask the audience for one, clearly doesn’t deserve it. His colleagues reluctantly put hands together and the mumu had the guts to pretend to be embarrassed. Esosa tried to calm himself by crunching numbers and he eyed his neighbour’s workload enviously. He could not ask for anymore tasks- not under his name at least- because he was already maxed out on overtime. If he dared ask his boss for more work, he would be given something to “take a look at” and next thing the boss will be asking the office for a round of applause- for himself- on a job he has no recollection of.
“Well done” Tony said to Esosa. The whole office followed suit and spontaneous applause broke out on the floor. Esosa waved to everyone and said thank you.
“We know you actually did the work. Adebayo is just a figure head” Tony said once it died down
“When are you going to start your own company eh?” Nkiru asked “So I can come work for you”
Esosa laughed and asked Tony for a look at his workload. “No” he replied
“Any other day I would love to give you my work to do for me but you know HQ is having a reshuffle. I need my stats to be straight. “
“My friend pass it here” Esosa urged
“I said no now. Na by force…” Tony laughed “You blasted through yours now let me wade through mine”
“No its because he works like its his father’s company. If you were like us now and paced yourself” Imade said from behind his glasses. Esosa spread his five fingers wide in a locally known insult.
“It’s because he doesn’t have a girlfriend to keep him busy” Nkiru added waiting for general laughter but all eyes were in one direction.
Esosa looked up and saw Jen tip-toe in her pink skirt and lace blouse giving her the look of a 50’s screen goddess; he got up scraping his chair back loudly and stormed towards her.
“Jen” he said
“Esosa what a surprise” she said at the same time. Esosa raised an eyebrow
“I work here” he said
“Really? I didn’t know that” Jen said staring at the space behind him. Esosa looked at her and tried not to smile. She missed him.
“You missed me” he said
“No I didn’t. In case you didn’t notice this is a bank as well” Jen replied
“There are banks in VI, you didn’t have to come all the way to Surulere”
“I like this branch”
“The one in Adeola Odeku is larger”
“I happened to be in the area”
“Broad Street branch on the Island offers a wider choice”
“The staffs here are more helpful and I had questions to ask”
“This branch specialises in pensions for the over-65s. If that’s the case you look good for your age”
“I am here to meet someone actually”
“Who?”
“Mike…
“Mike?”
“Ola, Yemi something….”
“Ola? Yemi?”
“I was told to just come in and introduce myself and I would be directed to the person in question”
Esosa looked at her and held her gaze, he decided to let her have this one. He just couldn’t believe she was here. God does love him.
“Hey, since you’re here by coincidence. Do you want to have lunch?” Jen said trying to be nonchalant and failing. Esosa was quiet as he stared at her; he knew he had overdone the worship when Jen started hopping from one foot to the other.
“Yeah sure. I know a nice place up the street” he said
“I have somewhere in mind actually, on the Island” Jen said trying not to blush
“Wow! Someone is in a charitable mood” Esosa teased
“Yes, thanks to your early departure from Holloway, the money to fix the damage done to our foundations from your one month heavy marching stint has been confirmed as temporary repairs so my salary is intact. The acoustics of our building no longer echo your footsteps, we are safe from Big Foot” Jen flashed him a smile.
“Oh now I know why you’re here. Hang on let me grab you an application for Miss Nigeria.” Esosa pretended to look around for a file. “You have the fake smile and high pitch perfect, you are a natural.”
“Will you be stomping around there as well?”
“Only if you forget to say how much you love World Peace” Esosa countered

The bickering continued until they made it to Esosa’s car. The Cayman blue Toyota AYGO was parked under and shaded by a mango tree. It didn’t even look locked. Esosa saw the look on Jen’s face and said “No don’t worry I only park it here because John looks after it for me”
He pointed at an elderly man sipping from a metal cup in a nearby shop. He waved, Jen did likewise and the man nodded back. As they pulled out, Jen fiddled with the radio and Esosa drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. Just having her in his car made him ecstatic.
“I don’t think it will be a good idea to go to the island, there will be too much traffic getting back” Esosa said
“There will be no traffic. We will be back before then”
“Jennifer…”
“Oh you worry too much” she swatted him playfully. “Don’t you care about frown lines?” Esosa stared at Jen and found himself agreeing, as she smiled and told him of the new restaurant they were headed to, he knew it was completely worth it.
They made it to the restaurant in time and experienced the joy of cooking their own meat on slabs of stone. Esosa enjoyed it a lot more than he thought he would, although the first time Jen suggested it he christened it “homemade overpriced suya” to which she had laughed well naturedly. They also shared a table with a group of girls on holiday from schooling abroad who Jen naturally became best friends with. Lunch was full of laughter and wine. Sharing worst pick up lines and top ten things done in time of brokerage. Esosa was the envy of all the men in the restaurant as the only male on a table of giggly, tipsy girls. A silly guy actually gave him the thumbs up on his way out.
As they got into the car on their way back, they drove into a narrow territory and were caught in the worst traffic jam of history.
Esosa turned to Jen and said nothing. He did not need to.
“This is just a little traffic” Jen immediately said
Ten minutes later…
“Its just dragging a bit long, we’ll be speeding in no time” Jen said
Twenty minutes later
“Ok fine. I accept. You were right. Now stop with the look its driving me insane.”
Esosa smiled at her frustration. He wound up the windows and turned the AC on full blast. Jen laid her head back and enjoyed the cool air coming through the dents.
Esosa commented on her outfit “I like the vintage look you’re working, very nice”
“Oh thank you”
“Is it Virgos Lounge?” Esosa asked
“Yes, how did you know?”
“We handled their account a couple of months back. Those ladies are going to be HUGE”
“You have met them. Like the actual girls. As in Oye, Fioye and Nike? Jen was hyperventilating.
Jen hung on his every word. “What were they like?”
“Human” Esosa answered
“I can’t believe you’ve met them”
“That’s generally how it works Jen. It would be illegal if the client didn’t know. If you start breathing, I’ll tell you more”
“Ok absolutely.” Jen took deep breaths
“They want to expand especially with the website up and running and getting so many hits. The challenge was to narrow down where most of the sales were from and open a second flagship store there”
“Where? Where?” Jen jumped on her seat
“South Africa. Sun City to be precise. The floral and cocktail dresses for next season are amazing. We’ve handled fashion accounts before but theirs really stood out for me
Because it’s so feminine. All that lace and ruffles, it makes a guy want to buy flowers and open doors.” Esosa said
“So you like fashion.” Jen looked at him with a quirky smile
“What? Just because I’m a man I can’t have good taste”
Jen took in his blue shirt, blue tie and grey trousers.
“Err…yeah. I think I can see what you were trying to do” She was a horrible liar
“I think I’ll leave the looking beautiful to you” Esosa laughed
“I missed you Esosa” Jen said “Its so boring at work, not really, I mean things are quite nice but there’s no one to… you know…..” Jen looked at him “You’re not there”
Esosa looked at her “What took you so long to come find me?”
“I don’t know” Jen said “I don’t have an answer about what you said in Abuja, it doesn’t seem like I will anytime soon. I didn’t want to show up empty handed”
“Just show up.” Esosa squeezed her hand for a brief moment. “Leave the pining and confused feelings to me”
Jen laughed and he joined in.
As the car crawled by in the go-slow, Jen turned to Esosa to speak just as the radio played a Blast from the Past.
“AHHH” she shrieked “Its Casablanca. My favourite movie”
“Oh come on” Esosa shook his head. “Just when you were so cool…you had to go and say that”
Jen ignored him and started singing the lyrics to the timeless As Time Goes By
You must remember this
A kiss is still a kiss
A sigh is just a sigh
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by
Esosa rolled his eyes, and pretended not to hear her.
“Sing along with me” Jen urged
“What makes you think I know the words?”
“Because you are a man of surprisingly good taste and you know everything”
Jen took out her brush from her bag and crooned the second verse into it, her favourite part.
And when two lovers woo
They still say I love you
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by
Jen’s eyes pleaded with him and Esosa found himself humming quietly.
Moonlight and love songs- never out of date
Hearts full of passion- jealously and hate
Woman needs man -and man must have his mate
That no one can deny….
The car on the lane next to theirs honked his horn once, then the driver put his finger to his head and made small circles, yes perhaps they were crazy.
As the final verse was crooned out by Frank Sinatra which he admitted to being his favourite, Esosa knew he had too much red wine as he leaned his head against Jen and their voices harmonised as one
It’s still the same old story
A fight for love or glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by

Esosa was having the best day; he glanced across at Jen who was furiously drumming on his dashboard as he sang along to Sawana by Ghana boys. This girl made him sing in his car, at the top of his voice. She was simply amazing…it had been an hour and they only moved a couple of yards so as they settled for the slow drive back, Jen popped open the bottle of red from the restaurant and handed Esosa a fork as they ate left over fried meat from the takeaway bag- Jen found a pink flower in the bag and placed it behind her ear. Swigging from plastic cups- Esosa later had to switch to water if they hoped to arrive safely- they sung to every song on the radio, regardless of if they knew the words.
Esosa had to go by his office first, Jen wasn’t in a hurry to get back to Holloway so by the time he did drop her off, and it was well the end of the day. She got out of his car twirling in her skirt and humming to Sinatra, Esosa shook his head, and after she reassured him for the umpteenth time that Shaw wouldn’t be upset- hence no need for him to come up, Esosa asked that his regards to be sent to Musa, Sandra and Meg and drove off.

5.00pm

Wednesday HR Holloway Grove, Kabir walked in to find Jen sieving through some movies and conversing in paced Yoruba with one of the women. The lady in her office, who always touched him, said she would be here. He was confused and upset about what had happened earlier. Jen saw him and ran her eyes up and down his body as though wishing it to set on fire. Kabir walked up to her, ignoring the fat woman and asked that they speak outside. He knew Jen would not want to make a scene down here of all places so they walked into the hallway.
“What happened earlier?” Kabir said
“I realised that you are not the person I thought you were”
“I’m not even sure I know what we fought about” Kabir said
“That’s because you don’t listen Kab-”
His phone vibrated cutting her short, he answered without glancing at the caller ID
Yes
No
I don’t care
For heaven sake
I. DON’T. CARE
Do what I told you to
I’ll call you later…
Bye
“Is that how you speak to your fiancée?” Jen asked her eyes open
How did she know it was Halima? He didn’t even mention her name.
“You were saying something…” Kabir diverted the topic. Jen still stared at him.
“What do you want from me Jen? I speak to her this way because my feelings for you confuse me. I am upset at her for something she has nothing to do with. Lately everything I do upsets you as well. Tell me what you want me to change and I will.”
“It’s not that easy, Kabir”
Kabir looked at Jen and he couldn’t believe what he was seeing,
“Is there somebody else?” he had to ask
“Maybe but that has nothing to do with my reaction with you today”
“Are you really angry at me or are you projecting your feelings for me unto this new guy?”
“Don’t insult me Kabir. I can tell one from the other”
“Then tell me what the problem is”
“I am uncomfortable with the way you treat people under you and anyone who speaks to his fiancée in that manner can’t be too much of a gentleman”
“I am in love with you Jen but you confuse me. Three months ago I was perfect and romantic now I am an arrogant jerk and chauvinist pig. I think you need some time” with that Kabir did the hardest thing and walked away from Jen.

To be continued.....

By S.B