Hadiza in Lagos(Unedited)

CHAPTER 18

Hadiza's Pov
 
  
       By the time we entered the mainland,it was already 5:30pm because the newscaster said the time before she started broadcasting.

"What is the name of the street again?",Mr Shemiu asked as he made a U-turn.

"Unity street sir".

"We are about to enter Obalende now that's why I am asking".

"Ohh ok sir".

I started having second thoughts about the address because what if what I guessed wasnt right.

"Check the houses on your right while I check the ones on my left for the house numbers to make it easier to know the exact house we are looking for",he said.

"Ok".

As we approached the house that had a 10 on it.I knew we were close to my aunty's house.

We located the house finally as the No 15 written on it was fading off already.I got down to check if it was the right house.Mr Shemiu parked well and opened the boot for me to carry my bags out.

"Do you want me to come in with you?",he asked as he handed over my small bag.

"No it's fine ,I don't want to bother you further and besides it's getting late".

"Ok then,I will give you my number and address in case you need my help".

He grabbed a small note and biro and wrote it down for me.

"Thank you very much for all you have done and I pray you find mercy wherever you go,I thanked and prayed for him looking down".

"You are welcome ,Ameen,what is your full name?",he asked.

"Hadiza Abu".

"Ok I will keep that in my left hand,bye for now Hadiza".

"Bye Mr Shemiu,drive safe".

He got in the car and drove off.I knocked after he left but no one answered for like 20 minutes.

"Who be that",a male voice answered from the other end.

"It's me Hadiza".

"Ehnehn who you dey find",he asked as he opened the gate to check.

"Good evening,I am looking for Aunty Aminat".

"Evening why you dey find am".

"She's my aunty and I came from Kano to see her".

"Ehnehn if na who I think you dey find,she no dey here oo because sey after dem don sell this house to the new owner..all the people wey dey live here don move commot",he said in pidgin english.

"Ehhh where did she move to?"

"I no know that one oo but the woman wey dey sell some thing for that corner go sabi because e be like say she dey close to the people wey dey live here before",he said as he pointed to the woman's shop.

"Yee I am in trouble",I said out loud.

"You better quick close before she close maybe she go fit help you",he said before shutting the gate on me.

I spoke to my feet and walked as fast as I could to the woman's shop who I later learnt was Iya Dele was already packing her wares when I got closer and the shop came in view.

"Good evening ma",I greeted her as she was about closing the shop.

"Good evening oo,do you want to buy something?",Iya Dele asked.

"No ma,I am looking for someone and when I got to the house she used to stay..the gateman said you knew where she lives".

"Let me close my shop first before I can answer you".

"Ok ma",I said.

She locked the shop with padlock and dragged the table to the front of it.As she was closing the shop,she muttered something under her breath.

"Ehnehn so who is the person you are looking for and hope there is no problem?"

"No problem at all o".
Aunty Aminat..she used to stay in No 15,unity before.I am her niece from the north.

"We are used to hearing stories and they end up being thieves",she said looking at me suspiciously.

"Ahh I am not a thief oo.."

"Before nko what will you say?,Anyways Aminat..Aminat ahh I know who you are looking for.She was my very good customer when she used to live here oo.....".

I was getting impatient as she kept talking and talking,when she finally stopped I just asked for my aunty's new address.

"I have closed my shop already ke,the last time she came here I wrote the address somewhere in the shop so maybe you should come tomorrow so that I will give you".

"So I can't get the address this night?",I asked.

"No oo till tomorrow and I would have given you her number but I lost my phone the last time I went to the market".

"Ok I will come back tomorrow ma".

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