Fansa

Chapter 3

Few days after, Inna came her room ...again. She came to seek answers to her sudden lost of consciousness and how," powder " will be that "smell-less" and still be "used".

" Ina kwana Inna? Good morning "

Khadijah greeted, kneeling. She hasn't lost the respect she has for her grandma- or at least, so she made it seem.

"Good morning Sarauniya(Princess)"

Pet names. Inna was good at that. It isn't a fixed thing however. Her nicks are most times a reflection of her mood. When she praises you,it means she wants to see more of you. When she calls you with names,loving,she wants to pour rains of wisdom on your young and misguided heart. That mood she was in. Kd was an A student in the department of Inna studies. She knew what was coming and built defences to that effect.

"Eh,inna"

"Hope you slept well?"

"..yes I did"

"Did you wake up well?"

"Yes I did"

"Did you have any dream?"

"No,I didn't"

The questions went on. Inna has this belief that asking questions before admonishment brings the person's attention closer to you. Its more of a preparatory phase, a default of sort where you awake every strand of consciousness in the person. Kd knew all these...She built defences to that effect.

"I want to talk you."

"Okay Inna. I'm listening"

"Do you know I was in your room? I came face to face with how beautiful being untidy is. Your room was untidy. Clothes were floating around like fishermen assembled for Argungu. Rubbish from the Suya I bought you 2 weeks ago was under your bed. It was bad. What amused me was the fact that I've never known you to be lazy. So where did you get it from?"

"..I.....I..."  Kd stuttered. Inna had the power to make you feel good after doing nonsense when she is admonishing you. She felt good of herself and felt ashamed that a girl like her seeks comfort in a room full of garbage. That's the power Inna has-an ability to arouse two contrasting emotions in a human at the same time- during the admonishment.

"It won't happen again Inna..I'm sorry".

" Its okay my dear. I trust you to do the right thing. "

"Thank you.." She said looking down. She suspected. She knew the next thing to come. She knew it'll get to the point where she'll have to answer questions on the powder. Inna saw the mood she was in and decided against the fire and mortar approach she came with.

"The last time I came in,I saw traces of smoke in your room.."

She said looking at Kd intently. Kd wished the ground swallowed her. She was quacking in her boots.

"Is there something bothering you? Is there something you want to talk about? You can trust me you know."

Kd was quiet. It was evident that talking was the last thing she'd want to do. Inna noticed this and stood to leave the room. She said nothing. She stopped at the door,turned and looked at Kd saying..

"Whatever it is, soaking your room in smoke won't get you help".

She said nothing more. So did Kd The weight of Inna's words occupied every corner of her being.

The week moved quickly. Like a knot, she perfected the sequence of movement her vengeance will be. Her mind was fixated on what and how,when and where ,then and if then, when and the final " why ".  She put up her best behaviour, shielding her true emotions from the prying eyes of those in the house. A slight change in her pattern of living with give rise to different degrees of questioning something she was not ready for at this point. She wanted to do things her way for starters and answer questions after...

" danm the consequences.."  as she always tells  herself.

"Hello...Yeah,on my way" she said,rushing down. She was to go out with Amir. He called to notify her of his presence.
They went to a very posh restaurant in the most expensive part of the town. They placed identical orders and washed it down with a glass of eater. This was the moment she wanted. Her eyes switched from the cloak of pretense it had been in to something very scary. She held the fork she used in eating in her hand and used it to slightly beat the plate. Her eyes was fixated on the Amir who was rounding up work on the drumstick he has on his plate.

"Amir" she called out. Assuredly. He knew something was amiss as she never made the mistake of calling him by name.

"Yes?" He answered trying to remain calm. He could feel it That thing he had tried to hide done raised it's ugly head.

"You had the guts to see another girl. You had the guts to look at another woman. You had the temerity to cheat and still as me out on a date..!"

"Babe,I don't know what you're talking about"

"Don't give me that!" She shouted, drawing attention to where they were sitting "Don't you dare pretend not to know!"

He was dumbfounded. He was now the star cast of a movie he didn't want to or didn't know how he came to be in.

"Ladies and gentlemen,look at him! Amir! My so-called boyfriend!" She slapped his shoulder as tears came out. "Two abortions! And he decided to cheat on me! With my best friend!" She broke down for a bit, allowing the emotions to flow. Amir was too shock to talk. She stood up to face him,her voice very authoritative this time. The tears had dried up. The dramatic manner the switch happened was even scarier than the calmness it came with. The change was even scarier than the person.

"My tears isn't weakness,Amir. It isn't. Rather, it means that the next time it'll fall will be when I'm laughing my head off after having my revenge. Oh,Amir! I'll destroy you. I'll hit you in places you hold for strength. Your dad and I will share a bed. I'll make you cry. 10 times more than you've made me. In a fight,a tiger takes steps backwards. Not because it is scared of because it is timid. It is an act that evaluates the quickest way(s) of devouring the enemy. I'll charge at you like a tiger. I'll sink my fangs into your neck, suck your blood and sing your favourite song. You're a  player,that I don't dispute but know this ;there's a difference between a player who knows how to play and the one who knows how to win. That,you'll find out. I promise you...".

She snatched her bag and stormed out. Amir scratched him armpits. He raised his head when he heard someone saying.." Too bad brother. You're a dead meat...."