In Cold Blood

Chapter One: A Fresh Start

On a sunny day in the month of January 2015, the ever busy Iyare park in Benin was filled with passengers clustering around buying tickets. The voices of drivers shouting Lagos Ikeja, Lagos Ebute Meta, Lagos Surulere reverberated in the air. The park was a beehive of activities with recharge card, and pos stands alongside passengers making withdrawals, and buying various networks.
Buses were lined in a horizontal manner with their booths wide open as drivers arranged the suitcases and bags of various passengers.
Children ran wild in excitement as their mothers called after them for protection. In about half an hour, an eighteen seater bus was ready for take off to Lagos.As the driver hit the road, a man on black suit committed the journey into God's hands. The prayer ended with the man covering the journey with the blood of Jesus. The passengers began to talk about various issues troubling the nation.
At the extreme end of the bus sat Funke, a lady in her mid thirties. She wasn't much of a talker, but highly intelligent and a stunning beauty. She was on board to Lagos for a fresh start. As she looked out of the window, flashes of her turbulent relationship with Lanre occupied her thoughts. She closed her eyes to make them go away, but it was futile.While Iost in thoughts, the humming from a woman that sat beside her, aroused her attention. She looked at the woman who also starred at her. The woman was beautiful and about the same age with Funke. Funke turned and was about to get a novel from her bag, when the woman said;
" Lagos is a nice place you know."
"I have heard of its commercial activities, recreational centers, and night life" Funke simply nodded undecided on what to say. But the woman persisted and Funke knew it was futile reading a novel.
" Where are you from? The woman asked.
" I'm from Ondo State, but I reside in Benin." Funke replied quickly, trying hard not to get into a conversation with the woman.
"Oh that's interesting." I'm from Osun State, and I also reside in Benin."
" I had my primary, secondary, and University Education in Benin." I served in an oil company in PortHacourt and I returned back to Benin after service. I'm going to Lagos to join my husband."
"Hmm... Marriage life is sweet oh. " Don't you think so?"
Funke simply nodded her head
wondering about this loquacious woman she just met, and how expressive and open she had been in just a short time.
The woman ranted away doing most of the talking, until they got to Lagos.
As they alighted from the bus, the woman asked Funke
"Where are you heading?"
"We may be going to the same direction you know".
"I don't think so" Funke replied quickly.
"Are you sure?"Asked the woman
"I am". Replied Funke boldly with a Stern look.
Realising she could not have any other conversation with Funke, the woman bid Funke good bye. Funke looked at the woman as she walked away limping on one foot.

As she looked at the opposite direction, she saw Yinka her cousin who came to pick her up. Yinka was Funke's cousin who lives in Lagos with her husband. She was not as reserved as Funke. She was boisterous and lively. She wasn't a stunning beauty like Funke, but she knew how to make herself look good. Her chubby and lively face always made Funke smile.
" How are you my dear?" Yinka asked holding Funke's hand as she led her to a Toyota Corolla parked in the opposite direction.
"I'm fine" Funke replied.
As Yinka drove, there was silence for a while, breaking the silence Yinka said;
"Lagos is a beautiful place to live in. "Its restaurants are endless."
"Is it the Z kitchen, Lagoon restaurant or the RSVP restaurant".
"Infact Victoria Island is second to none".
She looked at Funke who was starring out of the window lost in thoughts. She parted Funke's shoulders and said;
"I know you have been through a rough path, but you will get over it soon".
Funke looked at her lively face and smiled. Yinka continued with her description of Victoria Island.
At about 5 0 clock in the evening, they got to Victoria Island. Victoria Island is an affluent area for the well to do. As Yinka drove, Funke could see how beautiful the neighbourhood was. Its stylish night clubs and bars with colourful dazzling lights, were getting ready for the night life. Beautiful shopping malls created a beautiful atmosphere.
In about half an hour, they got to Macaulay close the residence of Yinka and Tolu. Funke saw a luxurious duplex four houses away from Yinka's apartment.
"Whose house is thàt?"
Asked Funke curiously.
"Oh that belongs to Ajayi Richard the oil worker".
"Really the house looks so unreal, like it was planted there and not built."
"Oh Funke you can be funny sometimes." Of course it was built, but with exquisite materials you know".
"Wow I can't imagine what the house looks like from within." Funke reacted to what Yinka said.
"You haven't seen anything yet, wait until you see Richard's wife .
" She owns a boutique, and goes on a shopping spree to Dubai regularly."
"Infact I like her dress sense, it shows she is married to a wealthy man."
"Hmm, she is really something to behold". Replied Funke.
As Yinka drove into their residence, Tolu stood at the balcony of their apartment with his hands akimbo, smiling at his wife like a new born baby. Yinka alighted from the vehicle, and ran straight to the warm embrace of her husband.
"How was your journey?" Tolu asked Funke.
"It was fine" Funke replied looking around taking note of every detail. The apartment was a three bedroom flat with a red roof which blended with the colour of the entire building.
"You are the only occupants in this compound?" Asked Funke starring.
"Yes we are". And as Tolu was about to say something else, Yinka cut in saying.
"Yes we live here alone."
"Some people think we own the property, but the owner is Tolu's uncle who lives in the United States".
"Who knows we may own a house like the Ajayi's some day."
Tolu smiled and looked at his wife who loves to dream big.
"Let's get Funke's luggage inside" Tolu said referring to Yinka.
"Oh that's true". Yinka said as she opened the booth of the car.
The apartment was cozy, and had a colourful setee that was arranged in a circular manner, with a glass table in the middle. Colourful Lacy curtains hung beautifully covering the sliding windows .
Funke's luggage was taken to a colourful bedroom. The bed wore a colourful bedsheet, and blanket which blended with the colour of the pillow case.
One interesting thing about the apartment was that each colour, matched with other colours.
As Funke relaxed in the sitting room, Tolu got her fruit juice.
"So what do you think? Asked Yinka.
"About what?" Not sure of what Yinka was referring to.
"About our home my dear"
"It is cool, cozy, and lovely." Funke replied. There was silence for some time, which Funke was secretly enjoying. But knowing Yinka for who she is, another question was asked.
"Have you thought of what you want to do while you are here?"
"I mean you graduated with a second class upper degree in Accounting, you could get a job in one of the banks in Victoria Island".
"At least with that, you can get over Lanre".
When Funke heard this, she went pale all of a sudden, and her heart began to beat heavily.
Seeing the impact, Tolu cut in saying
"Would you like to watch a movie?"
"I have a collection of crime movies your favourite."
Funke smiled with relief and said
"Sure I will love to."
"Oh can't we watch something else, other than crime movies?"
Yinka said placing her hands on Tolu's shoulders. But Tolu insisted saying;
"You know your cousin likes crime movies, besides she is our guest and we must ensure she is comfortable."
Unrelentless, Yinka said
"Funke I have some Philipino, Mexican and Nigerian home videos that are intruiging."
"If you watch them, you will stop watching those crime movies."
"Oh Yinka let your cousin be, let her watch what she likes."
"But no she can watch something else."
Seeing that an argument was about to ensue, Funke said
"Maybe I should just retire for the night."
"I could watch movies some other time."
"But.... Yinka was about to say more, when Tolu beckoned on her to let her cousin be. And she declined.
At about 9. pm Funke lay on the bed She could hear Yinka and Tolu laughing. The name Lanre occupied her thoughts, and the fact that Yinka mentioned it earlier, brought back bad memories. This made Funke wonder whether her stay here will be fruitful. She tossed and turned on the bed, until nature eventually took its course.