Subdued (18+)✔️ [A Nigerian Romance]

20~Home

Usman shifted in his seat as he waited for Miss Aria to say something. After he'd said his name and who he worked for, she'd kept mute. He removed the phone from his ear and checked if she'd hung up, and she hadn't.

"Hello? Miss Zariah?"

"Good morning, please I can't talk right now," she sighed in response.

"It will be short. Mr. Onyekachi wants me to let you know to call this number when you decide. He'd also like you to meet him tomorrow evening."

"Why are you calling me and not him? Does he not own a phone?"

"Uh—"

"I'm not going to call him or see him tomorrow evening," she cut him off. "please don't call this number again."

Usman stared at the phone for a few seconds after she hung up. He wondered what she had discussed with Mr. Onyekachi to make her this pissed. He was also curious about her. He'd never met a woman who didn't jump at the opportunity to spend time with his boss.

"What did she say?" Kachi asked and Usman jumped in his seat. He'd forgotten the man was behind him and it also made him wonder why he'd not called her himself.

"That she's not going to call or see you tomorrow. Also she said not to call her number again." Usman waited for the rage to come but Kachi only rolled his eyes.

"Get the car ready, today's a busy day."

   ***

Aria cursed Kachi and his assistant or whatever the man was. How could he make someone call her that early in the morning? If he was determined to be a pest in her life, he could at least do it himself. She refused to admit part of her had hoped to hear his voice.

She sighed as the bus hit yet another pothole and it was not enough for the driver to slow down. Any other day, she'd have asked him to take it easy, but at the moment she wished the bus could go even faster.

"Fine girl," someone behind her called and when she didn't turn they tapped her shoulder.

"Good afternoon," she greeted as she turned. The man looked to be in his early fifties or late forties and was already sporting a few gray hairs.

He smiled widely, showing off teeth stained brown by tobacco. "Where in Delta are you going to?"

"Asaba. Hope no problem?"

"No. I'm going to Asaba too and it would be wonderful if we could get to know each other on the way."

Aria was in no mood for chit chat. Her head was full with worries for her mother and confusion for Kachi. There was no room for getting to know this old man.

"Sorry, I want to sleep," she replied.

"Okay. Let me have your number then, we can hang out in town later tonight." He stretched out his phone.

Knowing he wouldn't give up till she answered, she entered her number and hoped he'd leave her alone for the rest of the trip.

***

The gates were messed up with one totally off and the other barely hanging on. Aria gasped as she dropped her bag and covered her mouth with her hands. If this was the outside, she could only imagine what they did to the inside and how scared her mother must have been.

"Mommy!" She ran inside, pulling her bag in with her. "Mother!" Still no answer.

The front windows were all broken and the door too. She nimbly picked her way to avoid being cut as she entered the house proper. Some of the glass pieces had showered the couch closest to the window. She looked around, noting the damage and what it would cost to repair. Her heart beat loudly in her chest as she did.

"She's sleeping," Mama Peter said as she exited the kitchen. "How was your journey?"

"Good evening ma. It was okay, thank God. How's mumsi?"

"She was a little shaken but I'm glad she finally slept. She wanted to stay up to greet you."

Aria dropped into a chair that was without glass and sighed. She ran her fingers through her braids and tried to stay calm.

"Have you had dinner?"

"Not yet ma. I want to clean this place up first."

"Just leave it. Nkiru will come in the morning to help out. You should eat and sleep so you don't wear yourself out. Tomorrow is going to be stressful." Mama Peter went back into the kitchen and she followed.

The smells of home warmed her and brought tears to her eyes. She wished she hadn't moved out. Maybe if she had been here all these wouldn't have happened. She didn't know what she could have possibly done to stop the debtors, but her mind wouldn't stop tearing into her.

"I made pepper soup to help her calm down and there's egusi if you'd prefer that."

"I'll serve myself," she replied and reached for the serving spoon. Mama Peter swatted her hand away and then went to grab bowls.

"Sit down, child. This is the only thing calming me down and taking my mind off things. Talk to me about Peter, how's he doing?"

Aria sighed again but too a seat at the lone table in the far corner of the kitchen. "I'll take the pepper soup." Mama Peter nodded and began dishing the food. "Peter is fine. I didn't tell him about what happened or he would have come back with me."

"What of Yinka? Are they still together?"

"You know how it is with them," Aria laughed, glad of the distraction their conversation brought on. "Today they're good, tomorrow they're fighting. Right now they're not speaking."

"I told this boy to come home let me fix him with one fine Igbo girl that can cook good food for him. He said no, it's pepper he wants to be eating."

She couldn't stop laughing. Each conversation with this woman was always a vibe. "Ma, what has tribe got to do with cooking good food. Yinka makes the best egusi soup oh."

Mama Peter placed the bowl of soup and fufu in front of her then snorted. "at least he should bring her home so I can access her myself. Or are they not serious about the relationship?" She dropped a bowl of water on the table then sat opposite Aria.

"I'm sure when he's ready, he'll bring her to see you."

***

I miss home a little and my mom can be quite fussy like Pete's mom.

What's your favorite food? I'm curious.

Thanks for reading, please let me know what you think about this chapter. Votes are always welcome ❤️