Aaliyah to the World

35 | The Broke Life

Immediately I was done eating, I went out, hollered a taxi and left to my destination.

"Drive a bit faster." I commanded, forgetting that I was no longer leading the life of luxury that blessed me with a driver of my own.

"Oga the car get problem! I no go fit drive am like that." The driver screamed, making him sound like a deranged Lagos tout.

It irked me a bit because I wasn't used to people speaking to me in such a callous manner but I knew he meant no harm.

Thirty minutes later, I was at my destination. I got out of the car and shut the door noiselessly. I bent down to pick up my phone case that fell on the sandy floor and the man started shouting.

"Oga where my money? I been dey find money take chop food since morning. No come run with my money!"

I was embarrassed to say the least. Were people this shameless? I wouldn't even think to do this to someone that owed me money. Talk less of such a substantial amount.

"How much is it?"

"#500."

Barawo kawai! He was trying to exploit me.

"Isn't it #300?"

"No! Oga pity me. Fuel money don increase. Na this money I dey use feed my wife and pikin."

Out of pity, I begrudgingly pull out a single five hundred Naira note out of my almost empty wallet.

"Take it."

He collects it without showing an ounce of appreciation and drives away as he answers a phone call in the most disrespectful way I've ever seen.

I mean, who says 'you get my money?' the moment you answer a call?

He's all forgotten once I find my way into the premises of the NIPEC headquarters in Abuja.

I bump into Miss Folake the personal assistant to Mr Uchenna and she directs me to his office.

"Good morning Mr Uchenna."

"Mr Hamza! How are you?!" He beamed.

"I'm good. How is everything?"

"I'm quite fine. I see you're early. It's just 10:00am. I like that. An early bird, Good!"

"That's good to hear. Thank you!"

"So do you know why I called you here?"

"I'm not sure."

He nods in silence, "Well, your application that was sent to us from Alhaji Imran Babagana has been accepted. I'm excited to tell you that you've become one of us! You start work on Monday next week. An email will be sent to you with guidelines on how to go about your work."

"Thank you sir!" I blurted out of excitement.

Wow, sir! The word tastes foreign in my mouth. I used to be the 'sir' to everyone now I'm the one calling another man whom I'm supposed to consider my superior, 'sir'.

I was extremely elated to know that after a fruitless search that lasted half a month, I got a job. When you hear sabr is virtue, you'll know that patience and prayer is truly your only way out.

I almost gave up because the first two applications sent under my name were rejected. But, they say, the third time is always a charm! I just hope that with time I'll grow in the company to the point I can show my father that I've succeeded.

"Goodbye!" He smiles and I exit his office as a bubble of excitement causes butterflies to erupt in my stomach.

Once I'm outside the gates, I hail a cab. This driver was nicer than the first. He is Ebira. You can tell from the large and wide tribal marks that were etched onto his dark spotted face.

He looks like he bleaches.

He offered me a small leather bag with groundnuts as I sat down but I refused politely as I answered my favourite sister's call, Fadila on the phone.

"Yaya I'm missing you! Can't you beg baba to let you come back?"

"You know he doesn't go back on his words. I'll just have to stay like this till I've made it. I miss you too."

"How is Jabir?"

I could tell from the silence that she was blushing profusely. Jabir is her friends cousin whom she fell in love with during her Ss2 summer lesson. He came to pick Firdausi, her best friend up and then met Fadila with her.

Isn't that cute? Another beautiful couple with a two years relationship. I just hope it'll last to the point of nikah.

Look at me! I couldn't even keep one girl. Where's my Aaliyah?!

"He's fine!" She says too quickly, "So how was your meeting with the man today?"

"I got accepted!"

"Yayyy! That means you can come home."

"Baba said I have to make enough money to buy my own car and house before coming back. I'm just starting so I can't go back to him now. Just be patient Deedee."

"Alright no problem. But will you still be taking me out with my friends?"

"Yes! How can I leave my dear sister? Just let me get a car first."

"Ok then. Greet my future sister in-law." She teased.

"Which sister in-law?" I tried to feign ignorance.

"Aaliyah. You think I don't know?!" She laughed so hard she choked on whatever drink she was nursing at the moment.

"Are you ok?"

"Yes. I'm fine." I thought she forgot, but no, "Yes, Aaliyah. I know so much more than you think. I knew everything that was going on from the start. I just never snitched on you guys. I wanted to advice Zahra and Yusra to stop but I knew Yusra would just shout and ignore me while Zahra will shut me out. You know how she can be. We're very close but she tends to bottle up her feelings whenever she thinks she can fix it all by herself."

"Shit! Mehn I love you. But how come you're so clean?"

"Who says I'm clean?"

"What do you mean?"

"Jabir. I haven't done anything bad but I'm dating and that's bad enough for our parents. I'm praying that after uni he'll come to ask for my hand in marriage."

"I pray so too. I have to get to the house now because I want to visit Bilal."

"Goodbye Ya Hamza! I love you."

"I love you too."

We hang up at the same time and I put my phone inside my front pocket.

"Oga where you dey go?"

"Area 1."

"Ok sir."

I guess today was going to end well after all.
__________________________

This is the translation for those who aren't familiar with pidgin English.

I no go fit drive am like that-I can't drive it like that.

Oga where my money-Sir where is my money?

I been dey find money take chop food since morning-I have been trying to find money to eat since morning.

No come run with my money-Don't run with my money.

Oga pity me-Sir pity me.

Fuel money don increase-The price of fuel has increased.

Na this money I dey use feed my wife and pikin-It's this money I use to feed my wife and child.

Where you dey go-Where are you going to?

Barawo kawai-Just a thief (Hausa).

I hope you enjoyed it!

~Aisha Safiyanu🥀