Yellow Tales of a Nigerian Housemaid (completed)

Chapter Fifty One

Deafening bangs on the door had me rattling like an embattled thief. I turned to aunt Onyi who had just finished bandaging my arm, she looked less worried, more like she's in total control.

The bang came on again accompanied by a thunderous roar. "I know you're in there Onyinyechi, open this door! Let Nneogo out here unless you want to face me!" Aunt Oby roared.

Aunt Onyi grabbed my arm and pulled me towards their room. Brushing the green curtain aside, she pushed me in, and then placed a finger on her lips, motioning at me to keep quiet. Grabbing the doorknob, she pulled the door shut and locked it from outside. I heard her short steps as she walked away, I guess to open the door for our roaring tiger.

I exhaled, taking a minute to inspect the room I was locked in. Their room was like aunt Agnes' except that theirs was covered in black tiles. The long cream curtains hung from almost the ceiling to the floor, covering the entire window. A huge bed sat below the window, with a finely polished wooden drawer standing beside it. By my right was their wardrobe hidden behind a flowered cream curtain, with three large boxes standing beside it's wall.  The wall opposite the bed housed a large mirror with a shoe rack standing just beside it. The smell of vanilla lingered in the room, thanks to the compact air freshener hanging on the mirror.

I walked to the bed and sat on its edge, shuffling my feet noiselessly on the floor. Feeling unsettled, I walked around the bed to the window; pushing it a bit open enough for my eyes to fit in. I peeped out, but saw nothing. All I saw was the closed gate, nothing more.

However, I heard groans and rants and was certain it was aunt Oby and aunt Onyi. For long moments, I couldn't really make out the actual words they said but at other times, aunt Oby's high pitched tone would let me hear her scream my name, each scream sending shivers down my spine.

I shut the window, walking back to the bed. I lowered myself on it, my head spinning in pains. My body was gradually responding to the earlier brawl, every part of it aching in response.

Then I heard the door to the sitting room push open and harsh foot steps walking towards the room I was in. I kept still and listened, aunty Oby was cursing all the way to the door. I watched as the doorknob twisted with a forceful push, but thankfully the door never gave way. She banged noisily on it, screaming."Nneogo, I know you're in there. It'll do you a lot of good if you quietly open this door and come out!"

I sat up from the bed, tiptoeing to the door. I squatted beside it, leaning on the warm wall. I wanted to hear every single word they said outside that door.

"Oby, mind how you bang on that door. That isn't your room!" I heard aunt Onyi shout back.

"You're very stupid Onyinyechi. Is it your room then?" Aunt Oby fired back. I'm certain she's ready for war.

Then she banged on the door again, twisting and pushing the knob angrily. My heart was melting underneath my skin, hot sweats falling off my face like rain drops.

"Nneogo, I'm warning you for the last time... "

My heart throbbed like a bumpy ride, each push and bang making me cringe more in fear. Aunt Oby's anger wasn't helping matters too, her voice sounded more like a raging storm revolting against a helpless a ship.

"I told you she isn't there Oby, you'll find my trouble if you defect that door in anyway" Aunt Onyi interrupted her, even though she was a bit calm.

"So I'm a fool Onyinyechi? Eh? If she isn't in your room, then where is she? And when did you start locking your door in the hot afternoon"

"You should ask your sister! Isn't she the one that locked her out after beating and tearing her clothes off? Rendering her almost naked in the presence of hundreds of people?" Aunt Onyi paused. "And whenever I choose to lock my room isn't your business!" She added angrily.