RUNNING

Chapter Twenty-one

"Every relationship in life is a gift, some are gift to break us so that we can learn a better way of life, some are gift to make us so that are put on the right path."

"Welcome ooo" the gateman greeted as Maraya drove into the compound, she smiles back gently and moves ahead to pack the car.
After parking the car, she picked up her handbag and the leathers containing the goodies she bought on the way for her family. Unlike her usual self she even bought a special bread for their gateman.
"Good afternoon to you oga." Maraya greeted smiling as she walks towards the gateman.
The gateman looks at the back hoping to see someone else Maraya is smiling with. It is not just strange but shocking that she will greet him and even smiles at him. It's been three years he has been working for the house but not for once has the lady of the house acknowledge him, he cannot even recall the time she had answered his greeting by words, all she use to do is nod and moves into the main house. The only time they ever talk was the time she insulted for speaking pidgin English when nobody is forcing him and everybody around speaks Yoruba language.
"How is work and family?"
"Thank you ma." The gateman responded still surprised at Maraya change of attitude.
"It's been a while." It feels awkward to give a gift to someone you have never spoken to and Maraya can also sense the man hesitation to relate with her so she is trying to make him comfortable.
"Yes aunty, how school now?" The gateman usually speaks pidgin English as he is not fluent in normal English language.
"School dey ooo my brother, we dey there dey manage am." Maraya smiles as she noticed the shock in the man's expression.
"You dey speak pidgin?" He asked not believing his ear. "I tink say you no like to dey speak bad English." Maraya just smiles and hand the bread to the gateman who opened the leather and brought out the bread.
"I got it on my way for you."
"Chai, this na 2-1-2 bread. E don te wey the bread dey hungry. God go bless you."
"Amen." She smiles and moves towards the house only to meet with the questioning face of Sa'ad.
"What just happened now?" This has to be someone else. Maraya he knows will never give such audience to an ordinary gateman.
"What are you talking about?" She feigns ignorance.
"Don't give me that face, you definitely know what I am talking about." He accused.
"God! You sound as if I committed a murder case." She smiles and pushes him slightly as they both lock the door behind them.
The gateman stood at the spot looking at Maraya.
Sa'ad collected his sisters' handbag and walks with her to her room, since she called that she will be coming back, he ensured that the maid keep her room cleaned like she always like to have it.
He was surprised to see the way his sister dressed when she stepped out of the car. She was wearing a long Caribbean skirt with a lilac long sleeve top with a wrap veil.
"Home sweet, home!" Maraya fell on her bed
"Welcome back dear. How was school?" Sa'ad said ad he rummage his sister's bag.
"I've never had it better?" Maraya smiles recalling her moments with Afnan.
"Tell me something I don't know?" He looked at his sister with much curiosity. Hr wonder what could be good enough to bring smile on her face at the memory of it. "Wait! I hope you have not been planning on contesting for some beauty award?" Sa'ad can't help but recalled how chaotic the house used to be when his sister is contesting for beauty award, she usually turn her wardrobe upside down and they all have to pay fortune while helping her get the wares and make up. Their mother used to be exceptionally busy as she play major role in her shopping and show. That was when she was in secondary school. Imagine what it's going to be like now that she is graduating university, he did not want to start imagining it.
"No." Maraya sharp voice brought him out of his reveries.
"Thank God" he finally exhale.
"What happened? You looked like all your blood were drained, what were you thinking?" She looked at her brother with concern.
"Forget it." He waves his hand, "I was just imagining what we will be going through if that is your plan."
"So you only think of me as a shallow minded person?" She asked pretending to be hurt. Well she wouldn't blame him, all her life nothing make her happier than flaunting her beauty and hoarding various awards in that title. That was some months ago, now that she is given second chance in life she is not going to waste it pursuing transient happiness rather she will make all efforts to earn Allah's pleasure by walking in His path.
"I don't mean it that way but you that I know...." He shakes his head and simultaneously bring out the book he had been feeling in Maraya's bag. He read the title and couldn't help but looked at his sister with his eyes wide open.
"Well, get ready for the most shocking experiences of your life brother." Maraya smiles as she removes her veil. "I need to get to that kitchen because I'm so famished."
Sa'ad blinks still not believing his eyes, he looked at the back view of his sister who just left to the kitchen. It is really shocking that Maraya will have Islamic book with her, not just any title but "the ideal Muslimah".
"I think I need some air". He said and walk out of her room and followed her to the kitchen. "I specially made it for you."
"I know my lovely brother." Maraya smiled as she unwrapped the pounded yam inside the breakable plate she set on the table and put the soup besides it.
"i guess that is what you will miss most among dishes since you can't possibly pound in school." Sa'ad continue as they both find a seat in the kitchen to enjoy the food.
"you are the best." She gave him thumb up.
"I know."
"there you go again. Being full of yourself." She scoff
"You are welcome."
"I never say thank you."
"You just said it now." He has his way of getting on her nerve. He has a lot to ask Maraya but he just don't think now is the right time.
She continue eating her food in silence thinking of how to break the news to her brother. She wonder what will be his reaction and how others in her family are going to take it.
"So what's the deal about Betty?"
"Pardon?" she was caught off guard with the question, it was the last thing she expected of him to ask her. She recalled that since the incidence, Habeeb never talked about it until he returns to Lagos and he as never ask her about it also. She guessed he must have asked Sa'ad hoping that she would have told him something since they are very close but suprisingly after recovering from her initial shock she seem not to be too dissapointed and she was glad everything ended the way it did.
"Habeeb was asking me sometimes ago if you tell me anything about you two having disagreement or so. What happened? And come to think of it this is the first time you will be coming home alone for vacation."
"it's is such a long and forgotten story that i don't want to talk about. But to keep the long story short. We are done."
"I don't get it. She has been your best friend for as long as i can remember, you can't just say nothing happened."
"I know we've been together for what seem like a lifetime, but all this while, i think i am the only one in the relationship. She never really care about me."
"Thank God you realised before she escort you to your grave." Sa'ad simply said without any sense of surprise and his reaction shock Maraya more.
"You don't seem surprise at all?" she asked in a shocking expression.
"well i am not." He simply stated.
"What?"
"When you have a friend that will go to any lenght to possess what you have and were only interested in wasting your resources, i don't see that as a friendship but a trip to downfall."
"So you knew this was going to happen to happen all along."
"I have no idea it is not going to happen this soon since you've always turned blind to all her misdeed and sees her as your idol."
"My idol?"
"You know one thing about you, when you love people you just want to do every possible thing to please them or impress them. You live your whole life dancing to their tune without minding the consequences, basically, that is who you are my dear sister."
She was silent for a moment, looking back at her life she really think Sa'ad is right, when she really love people she want to do everything for them, but them what is wrong in pleasing the one you love.
"I don't think there is anything wrong in pleasing the one we love, as long as we are not going against God's will to please and they care about us too.
"I never said something is wrong pleasing people we love, but when we love the wrong people or for the wrong reason we end up being mislead by them and in the end we are the one who are hurt the most. True friends are really a treasure to cherish but in this world full of deciet it is difficult to find true friend who will guide us to the right path and i strongly believed betty was never one to start with."
"You are right. Now i know there is more to friendship than wasting time together, and you know what?" she gave her brother a cunning smile
"What?"
"I think i found a friend to treasure."