The Delivery

Oh no, you don't have to

Sunlight streamed in from the cracks in the window, covering the room in golden hues, giving it an ethereal feel. Oma stepped out of the shower just as her phone began to ring, she cursed silently and rushed to pick it, she thought about ignoring the call but knew better. Fumbling with her towel as she slid her thumb hastily across the screen to answer the call.

"Hello. Yes yes. I know, I'm already on my way; I'll be there in ten minutes give or take. Yeah I understand. See you soon. Bye" she said in a rush, hung up and let out a breath.

Ever since she started her Carrot and Aleo Vera oil business six months ago, things have been really looking up for her. Especially now that her product was known around the campus, demands have increased and sales have been good. She was supposed to have been on her way already to go deliver a batch of carrot oil to a customer, and she would have very well been on the road by now if she hadn't overslept.

Even though she needed the rest; she couldn't afford to lose any customer right now because of fatigue. It was better to be late than not deliver at all. She searched through her wardrobe and hastily put on a black jean and yellow t-shirt; which was slightly rumpled-- okay maybe a lot rumpled but hey no one was watching right?

She opened the small fancy white polythene bag to double check her customer's order. Once satisfied, grabbed the bag, her phone, a pair of sandals, and her keys and made a dash out of the room. And in no time was jogging down the street in search for a bike, all the while trying to get her sandals on. Yes, she knew she looked all sorts of crazy at the moment, especially with her natural hair having a field day in the hot afternoon breeze. On that thought, she lifted her left hand and combed through her hair, trying and failing to look sane. Finally she saw a bike and immediately waved and the bike man stopped. "Zetzy."

"250" the bike man replied.

"Ehn! 250 for wetin? Oga na 100 naira abeg." (What? 250 for what? Sir, it's 100naira)

"100 naira since when? na 250, 200 last" (100Naira since when? It's always been 250, 200 Naira lowest price)

Oma couldn't believe what she was hearing right now. She was already beyond late, and had lied on top on it and now this?

"Abeg na. (Please) I have only 100 naira" she lied, because she could not imagine paying a fare that expensive when it could be way less.

"Aunty na 200 last o." (Aunty it is 200 Naira take it or leave it) 

He reeved his bike engine in an attempt to take off but paused and said, "Oya enter. Na only because sey you fine o. But na 250 be the original price, I just dey do this one for you" (Okay, get on. I'm just doing this because you're very pretty. But the original price is 250, I'm just doing this for you)

Oma mentally rolled her eyes, gave the bike man a fake smile, a fake 'thank you' and climbed onto the bike.

In ten minutes, they were parked in front of Zetzy Eatery and she all but ran inside after paying the bike man off. Her phone rang again for the third time since she left the house, and she didn't waste any time in picking up the call this time.

"Hello. I know and I'm so sorry. But I'm here now, where are you? Okay, you'll see me now" she hung up and made her way up the short wooden spiral stairs to where her customer was waiting. She spotted her customer sitting with a guy in a grey sweatshirt and black jean.

"Hi. I'm so sorry I'm late, the traffic was bad today" she said as soon as she got to the table. The lady forced a smile and said, "I'm just glad you're finally here."

Oma sat down and placed the bag on the table and her phone beside it, she slid the bag across to the lady and said, "So here is your order, total amount is 5k." The guy in the grey sweats didn't say a word, he just sat there watching the whole exchange and the lady didn't bother to make an introduction.