Angel In A Rickety Bus

Chapter 2

Since Ibadan wasn’t my final destination, I had to move on. I chattered a bike to “Express junction” where I boarded another bus going to Ake, my final destination. I got lucky this time as the vehicle was almost a new one aside the torn seats and a tipsy driver. I said my little prayer, sat back and hoped to enjoy the trip.

The rest of the trip went by almost peacefully aside the little argument I had with the “kondo”, a toutish  bus conductor, for not issuing my complete balance on time. I was back in my solitary state because the other two passengers sitting next to me were market women who don’t seem to have time for the stranger sitting next to them. All they talked about was how they would finish with their trades on time, usurp Iya Mayowa, a fellow market woman’s customer and head back home on time to make plans for the weekend’s “Association of Plantain Sellers” meeting. I needed not eavesdrop, as they were chatting raucously at the peak of their voice.

In the face of all these, loneliness was the last thing I felt  because I took solace in seeing my real angel, Modupe, in less than 3-hours time, if all things remained the same. She had earlier called to inform me that she will prepare my favorite meal of rice and stew lavishly decorated with meats of all sort.

 I couldn’t wait!!!

 The trip from Ibadan to Ake wasn’t suppose to take more than two hours if not for the extra thirty minutes wasted on changing of a flat tire somewhere along the dreadful highway. I slept off almost immediately the bus got fixed and moved - to ease the frustration of listening to these garrulous women who resumed their gossips almost immediately.

 I woke up due to a factor I couldn’t decipher and realized I was already in the city; just few yards away from the last bus stop. Seconds later, I yawned, stretched my now weak body and  stepped off the bus.

 A little step away from the vehicle, I flagged down a motorbike, described my destination to the okada man, negotiated and zoomed off. I was still feeling quite lethargic but the hope of "filling my belly" in less than half an hour kept me going without taking the risk of sleeping while the motorbike was moving.

 Home, they say, is where the heart is.

 Another extra minutes was again expended on an unnecessary argument which ensued when the bike-man decided to increase the fare to #100 against the #60 we earlier agreed on. The #40 difference will go a long way to buying soft drink to quench thirst on a seemingly hot day, so I couldn’t be too charitable to let it go and being the type who doesn’t take nonsense even when offered on a platter of gold. The scene became a little more theatrical when other bike men rallied round all in the name of loyalty, to support their comrade whom they thought I was about cheating – probably because they felt he’s a little younger than I am. The case got settled, thanks to few reasonable older ones who came around. I had to part with an extra twenty naira and he, the bike man, also took loss of the same amount. We moved on, both pretending to be happy with the final decision.

 Subconsciously, my pace increased as I approached her apartment. I exchanged pleasantries with some guys playing football in the compound and move past the ladies gossiping at the other corner of the house. I headed straight to Modupe's room. Getting to her room I needed not knock the wooden door extravagantly designed with stickers of all type, as she  was anxiously waiting in front of her room. She threw her body on me in form of a tight hug, rubbing her sumptuous breast against my muscular chest. For a moment, my heart beat increased as my heart was beating out of my chest.

 After relieving me off the burden of my luggage, she ushered me into the bathroom of her one-room self contained apartment and as quickly as I could, I splashed water on my body so as to fill my belly "sharply” with the mouth-watering food she already made. The aroma oozing out of the kitchen was hurriedly picked up by my nose and carefully discerned to contain crayfish, locust beans and assorted meat.