Within these walls

Chapter 2

My biggest struggle is deciding what to wear to work. Although we don't have a formal dress code, I try to be casually smart, because you never know who your next client might be. The worst thing is to have to appear shabbily dressed in front of an intending client, it doesn't speak well of you, your skills and even your company.

Thirty minutes of going through my wardrobe I dressed up in a turquoise trouser and blazer like two-piece outfit, adorned a black turban, laced my sneakers and ran downstairs before my ride leaves me at home.

A few days ago my car refuse to start, that is the second time it was misbehaving in the last one month and I am exhausted. It is currently sitting at the mechanic's shop and I am toying with the idea of getting a new car.

Therefore, due to my car situation, my parent's drop me off at work. Mostly my dad sha, because we follow the same route.

"Good morning mummy," I greeted and dashed into the kitchen to make my green smoothie.

On this fit fam life, I try to be consistent but let's just say life is hard when there are so many tempting good food around. So, I try to alternate, one week of clean eating and the following week I pop whatever I feel like in my mouth. I try to box three days in a week, not always consistent but we move.

"Where is Daddy," I asked after coming out of the kitchen.

"He has a migraine, you know how intense his migraines get," mummy responded without looking up from her phone.

"O! let me go see him then," I made to walk to their room.

"He is sleeping, don't disturb him, you can see him later." She added.

"So will you drop me at work?" I tried making a puppy face.

"Nope, you can take his car."

"Well can Kabir at least drop me after he drops you?" I try to plead with her for the driver to drop me.

"Salima drive yourself to work." She said with a final tone.

There goes my short excitement of being driven around. I hate driving, I just do it because I don't have a choice. I can't wait to be rich, so I can employ a driver and stop participating in this nonsense called driving.

Windows up, radio turned on to catch up with the news, I zoomed off to work, It was almost 9:00 a.m. Officially work starts at 8:00 but no one cares when you get in. All Ak wants is do your job and don't miss a deadline.

Just as I was about to take a turn onto Aminu Kano crescent, Wuse 2, a taxi driver hit me. I know I said I hate driving but I am a careful driver, can't say the same for this Abuja taxi drivers though.

I took the turn, found a place to park, and quickly sent a message to the group about running late. I knew it was going to be a long morning.

So this mad man that ran into me, came out and started shouting.

"Madam you no dey see, all these women una go dey drive like children," he went on and on.

I was used to all that madness. All I know is that he was going to pay for that dent for being rude to me instead of apologizing.

"All these stupid Abuja girls sef, una go sleep with sugar daddies and make them buy big cars for you that you can't drive," he added.

That did it, I was initially sitting in the car as he went on. I came out and seized the car keys he was using to point at me.

"Oga, you will not speak to me that way. Were you blind? Any sane driver should know I had a right to that turn. If you were impatient to wait then you should have been careful. All bulk of you men know how to do is to feel intimidated by women and start slut-shaming us. Na today? Even I sleep with men, how that one take concern you, you will repair this car today or else sleep in the station," I was angry already and there was no going back.