THE NAIJA HUSTLE

THE AWKWARD REUNION

You know that feeling you get when after so many years, you meet someone you had history with but didn't work out.

CHIDI

We turned around and saw no other person but Njideka, Chidi's girlfriend in secondary school. She looked totally different, unlike our secondary school days she had long braids now and she had become darker in complexion.

Out of shock she nearly dropped the tray of food she was holding but she quickly regained composure, smiled and dropped the tray on a small brown table infront of her.

The Landlord then introduced her as Belinda, he's third wife, the moment he said it, Emeka's expression changed instantly. The expression on his face was priceless. The Landlord then went close to her hugged and kissed her ( which honestly was very disturbing from my point of view).

I noticed that he introduced her as Belinda, which was strange because I'm very sure it wasn't her name, her English name is Stella, so why Belinda but I came to the conclusion that it isn't my business.

After that episode in the Landlords house, he took us to the back of the house and showed us the room he had for rent. The outside was the same color with the walls outside which was a grey (unpainted really) and then the interior of the room was painted green ( like Nigerian flag green), the walls were pealing off which of which gave the room a really dirty look. The tiles on the floor had a creamish colour.

I looked and and saw no bathroom in the room so I decided to ask the landlord and he told me it was outside the house.

***

The rest of day went really fast after we had settled down and by settling down I mean cleaning the room, bringing our bags inside the room and borrowing a mat from the Landlord since you didn't have a bed yet.

Every where was quiet, I noticed that there were other rooms but I hadn't seen the people living in them. The landlord had informed us that they went out for the day and will not be back till later on. I was bored, I needed something to do so I decided to take a walk whole Chidi and Chinedu slept.

I was about to open the gate when when a voice called my name from behind. I turned and walked towards Njideka who was standing at the door of the landlords house. "where are you going" she asked. I know I didn't have to answer but I decided to because as you know, are was an old friend. "I just want to walk around the area, so I will know my way around" I answered. She didn't say any thing at first which felt an awkward silence. She bent her head down and was fiddling with the hem of her skirt like she wanted to say something but couldn't.

"Did he say anything about me" she finally said. I looked at her for a moment before asking "who". "Emeka, did Emeka say anything about me after you people went to your room" she said. "No he didn't, why do you ask?" I asked. She didn't answer so I decided to change the topic and ask how she got here, everybody in the village thought thinks she is in Lagos.

She explaining her story started by saying "Emeka hmm, things have not been easy" (I noticed that she called me Emeka but I decided not to interrupt).

"Yes I was in Lagos but I couldn't cope. Things became too expensive for me. Then to make matters worse they increased our school fees, I couldn't face my father because I knew how hard it was for him to raise the one he sent". She sighed heavily, looked up at me and I could see the tears rolling down her face as she spoke. Then she continued " That was when I met Chief who promised to take care of me if I came his third wife". She paused again, I noticed she was still crying but now it seemed that the tears had increased. I felt like she was not telling me the complete story but I decided not to press.