The memory of that first day in his house stayed glued in her head,not even a jug of panadol could make it dissappear.
Jane knew that Jacob loved her,but what do yoruba people say about having a loving in-law was better than marrying a man whose family dislikes you.She hadn't met Jackie in person they had only spoken twice on the phone,she sounded soft on the phone,she must be a nice lady after all.
Aunt Lady had come to annouce her wedding date,when would Janet Odenuga annouce hers? When? She asked herself. A well known voice in her heart answered 'Never',she rebuked that voice,another voice whispered this time,this one was soft,it told her to take things step by step.
She preferred this other voice,anyway she still had her service year before her,maybe after that,things would have gotten better between Mrs Funmilayo Smith and the future Mrs J Smith.
'You're a joker' the first ugly voice laughed in her head.
'Mrs J Smith ko Madam J Smith ni' the voice continued laughing.
'How can you think of that,when he has not even proposed to you?' the voice went on. 'Haven't you heard about girls with class and money?' she shaked her head trying to stop the voice,but it grew loud and strong.'How much are you worth Mrs J Smith?'the voice mocked,'Who are your parents and what influence do they have in this country for you to consider yourself as a potential bride?'
Janet let the water flow in torrent,she touched her face,she couldn't feel any water,she gasped she was crying in her heart. 'I think you're worrying your poor head over nothing' the gentle voice spoke,the other voice kept quiet.She let the voices battle each other in her head as she thought about Saturday,whish was barely 12 hours away from now.
'Jane Jane Jane' someone shouted beside her,it was Biola.
Jane looked at Biola,her face was white,she looked afraid or so she thought.
'Jane,i have been calling your name,and you didn't seem to hear me' Biola moved closing feeling her forehead and arms.
'Mother,i am fine' she answered putting a fake smile on her face.
'Do you realise you've been rinsing that particular plate for ten full minutes Biola said awed.
'Well,i was just thinking.' she let out with a sigh.
Biola pulled her away to the sitting room, 'Sit down Jane,what are you worrying your poor self for' she asked holding her hands.
'Mother,i was only thinking of my life and that of yours' she lied to her.She had never told Biola of the drama that took place,the day she visited Jacob at home.
'You shouldn't worry about us,that is why you have me,let me do the worrying' Biola held her close. 'I just can't thank Jacob enough,he's doing so much for this family,i hope you won't let him down'
'Its okay mum,i'll try my best' Janet sobbed quietly. 'Am glad i have you,Hannah and Jacob'
Her mother did not cry,she only wiped Janets tears and kissed her like a lost but found daughter.
She had something important to tell her,but it could wait,till she was in a better mood to handle it.
Biola prayed that her daughters would still accept her,by the time she told them what she had been hiding from them.
Hannah stood up from the seat and walked away from the smoochers,she hurried out of the garden,walking fast into the hostel,ignoring greeting from friends.
Her feet took her inside her room,there was light and the others were cooking on an electric stove,but Rukayat was not in.
Something nice was cooking,she could perceive the aroma from Shade's covered pot.She had not prepared her own food,and she knew Shade was generous,she coughed and went over to her bed.
'Hmmm hmmm,i just hope that i'll not sleep hungry tonight.'she said looking at Shade.
'You and food sha,' Cynthia laughed. 'You're just lucky that no matter how much you eat it doesn't affect your size' she finished bending over the stove.
'Na you know,i wasn't even talking to you self' Hannah said.
'I just hope you'll be able to eat this,because i added sharwama to the rice o' Shade said,adding little water on the rice.
At the mention of Sharwama,Hannah's stomach became filled kiakia,she so much hate that fish called sawa.she switched to team Cynthia.
'Cynthia,abeg cook fast o' she teased her.
'I know you,at the mention of sawa every Hannah must run' the trio burst out laughing when the door swung open,Rukayat strolled in like someone who just won a visa lottery.
She opened the nylon in her hand and carefully brought out its content,like a doctor bringing out his instrument for an operation,she placed the bread by a tin of sardine,she went to cupboard,brot out tea and milk,she mixed everything and sat down ready to devour it.
Cynthia too dished out spaghetini and egg in two plates for herself and Hannah,who attacked the food like her life depended on it.
Finally,sister Shade sharwama also dished out her own food,everyone to her plate.
Hannah was planning in her head,how to drop the bombshell to her friends without getting burnt.
She watched as her friends concentrated on their food,she cleared her throat before speaking.
'Hmmm......hmmmm...hmmmm' she coughed.
'Bless you' cynthia and Shade said in unison.
Rukayat,ate on,like she didn't hear anyone cough,pressing her phone,probably pinging,Hannah guessed.
'Eh....eh..hmmmm' she started like a real amebo.
Cynthia and Shade looked at then continued their meal.
'I saw something o' Hannah said drinking water from a glass.
'What did you see madam' Shade asked,the amebo spirit in her had woken up.
'Well,it happened in G3 garden,some minutes ago' she said putting them in suspense.
'Abeg talk now,which one is this now' Shade said.
Hannah carefully explained all that she saw in the garden,leaving out the names of the smoochers.
'So,na who and who com act this ogbonge drama,wey you just talk' Cynthia asked scooping a spoon of rice in her mouth.
Na assignment jare,go find out' Hannah told her two listeners.
'Who and who now' Shade asked again.
'Why don't you guess' Hannah knew she was putting them on the edge of their seat.
'Na Rotimi and Pwettyolly.' Cynthia said laughing.
'Wrong answer,think hard jare'
'Rotimi and you' Hannah eyed her, 'You no dey think?'
'Okay we no know,spit am' Cynthia said getting impatient.
'If i tell you guys,promise you wont tell somebody else' Hannah said.
'Promise'
'Promise na promise o' she told them.
'See as Shade wan fall from her bed,becos she wan do amebo' Hannah said taking her time.
Rukayat,had finished her dinner of bread&Sardine,she was stepping it down with a cup of tea,pressing her Bb with so much seriousness,she pretended as if she wasn't listening when her two ears are wide open.She would have joined in the amebo section but for the quarel they had some hours ago.
'Hannah talk now,after allowing me to waste my energy,i just hope those names go make sense o' Cynthia quipped,she had finished her food now.
'Don't form names o,this one that you're taking time to mention their name'Shade added,eating her rice.
'And their names are..' She paused 'Babes relax,no go get Bp because of this tory o'
Cynthia hissed,while Shade flung a pillow at her.
'At the count of ten,if you no talk,we go beat you o' Cynthia said 'Shade you be effiwe now,abeg count for her' She picked a broom from the corner of the room,while Shade picked the turning stick.
Rukayat was looking at them from the corner of her eye,she was enjoying their little drama.
They both faced her,Shade locked the door,and counted. '1,2,3,4,5,6,.....7..............8..................9.............' she prolong the 9 very well.
Hannah knew she had been cornered,'Don't count 10 o,ah ah,u want beat me before ni'
knowing they could follow up their threat.
'Now you're talking,good girl,and their names are.....?' cynthia asked raising up the broom.
'Okay,i actually saw Pweetyolly and Habeeb in the Garden' she said like a hen drenched in the rain.
The clock stopped ticking,there was a grave silence in the room,they could hear each others breath.
Cynthia and Shade dropped their weapon noiselessly.
The four girls stared at each other.
Rukayat stared at Hannah in disbelief,she didn't know when her phone dropped on the bed,
She looked at the other girls for support. 'Is this some kind of Joke' She asked dazed.
'I thought you were not listening to us,oh oh sorry,you were eavesdropping abi?' Hannah said.
'We have to work as a team now,this is not the time for apportioning of wrongs' Cynthia said perceiving another fight.
'Which Habeeb are you talking about self' Rukayat asked concerned.
'Oh,in case i left out their surname,am talking of no other person than the president of Muslim Student Society,Habeeb Aladejobi' Hannah said smiling.
Habeeb Aladejobi is the MSS president on campus,he's a famous guy,and decent one too,he's okay in terms of money.
It was funny how he overlooked all the Hijab sisters and professed his love for Rukayat who hardly attended their meetings except on Fridays.The matter had raised so much dust among the executive before it finally died down.
'Am trying not to believe you' Rukayat said fighting the pain behind those words.
'You don't have to believe,if you don't want to.' Hannah said.
'Who is pweetyolly by the way?'
'Don't you know those ugly girls,who live by strange names,her real name is Olamide,but being a ugly babe,she decided to add swagger to it now.' Shade explained,'Such names abound now,Pweety cherry,bisi berry,queenly this,Diva that and much more.'
The girls burst out laughing except Rukayat.
'Enough of the laughter jare,lets help a friend in pain' Cynthia said
'So,what do you girls suggest we do?' Hannah asked genuiely
'As of now,this place is blank' Shade said pointing to her head 'Lets sleep over it,tomorrow morning,we'll come up with ideas.'
'I agree with that,am already feeling sleepy self,tomorrow,we'll trash it out.' Cynthia moved to Rukayat who was crying. 'You don't have to cry over this,okay?'
'We're in this together,and we'll support you all the way,try and sleep.' Hannah joined in.
The girls lay quietly on their bed,each to her thought.Rukayat sobbed quietly letting the tears flow freely.
Adetoun watched as the figure came into the kitchen,she almost froze,behind the cupboard.
Her eyes almost popped out of her head when she saw that it was Adeola,and not Biyisi.
Adeola carefully opened the pot and began eating the fish from the stew,so it was Adeola who was always eating the meat at night.
And the girl will watch her mother beat Adetoun every time meat or chicken dissappeared from the pot of soup.Her knees were paining her already as she squeezed herself in the little space.
As she crouched down,something fell from the cupboard,both girls froze.It was a spoon.
Adeola switched on the light,to see a crouching Adetoun behind the cupboard.'I caught you Toun' she said.
Adetoun laughed,'Look at the oil in your hands,you thief,i'll report you to mummy.' she stood up from her hideout.
'But....but,i wasn't....'Adeola stammered.
'You were not doing what? Little thief' Adetoun continued.
'Anyway she won't believe you,am sure you're coming from Priye's house' she eyed her sister.
'I have a proof.' Adetoun said
'Proof? What proof?'
'Well,lets wait till morning,when i give it to Biyisi.' She grinned like a baby who just found a new toy.
'And how are you going to explain what you were doing in the kitchen at this time' Adeola asked.
'I'll simply tell her i came for a glass of water.' Adeola looked defeated.
'How about,we strike a deal' Adetoun suggested.
'What deal?'
'Well,you'll have to abide by my rules.' Adetoun said smiling wicked.
This was time for revenge no going back.
'So,what are your terms?'
'1.You'll help me with the chores,each time i call you
2.You'll stop stealing meat from the soup.
3.You'll keep queit about all that happened tonight.
'Thats not fair now,all that?.' Adeola asked about to cry.
'You'd better be quiet,if anyone comes in,you're in soup' Adeola wiped her tears.
'Do we have a deal?'
'Yes'
'Now,to your room,nothing happened here o.'
They both tiptoed to their room,Adetoun pulled on her night gown and slumped on the bed.
She had no proof,she had only said that to make the silly girl afraid.
Was this how she was going to continue her life?
Sneaking? Running?hiding? For how long? For how long will i bear this flogging?
The work load was too much for her,she had no choice.
How about running away?
Thats not a good idea,she never liked that idea.where would she run to?she erased that completely from her mind.
As she turn on her sides,she felt the pain of this afternoon flogging,she removed her bible under the pillow and prayed to God,she wept till she slept off,tomorrow was another day,only God could dictate the happenings of her life.
Only if she knew what was in store for her,she would have prayed to God to take her life this night.
May we never experience sorrow beyond our understanding....Amen
SaTurDay
The incessant hitting of hammer on nail,sounded from away,the hitting caused so much noise that she had to open her eyes,there was no carpenter in the room.
The hammering continued,she could feel it in her head,she realised it was an headache.
She climbed out of bed,into the bathroom to ease herself,she got some paracetamol tablets and downed it with a glass of water.
She was about to sit down when her phone vibrated,she picked it.
'Good morning darling' Jacob drawled over the phone.
'Hi Jay' She said to him.
'How was your night?' he asked.
'Cool as ever' she smiled over the phone.
'I want to remind of our date today' Funny! How could one forget that,she mused.
'You don't have to,i know' she laughed.
'Thats good,let me know when you're ready,i want my driver to pick you'
'Thats not a problem'
'Don't keep me waiting dear' Jacob said at his end.
Jane dropped her phone,when she heard the buzzing of the intercom.
Who could be at the gate,it was just 7:30 by the wall clock.
She still had her night robe on,she tied a towel over her body and went to the gate,she saw the strange looking fat man who came the other time through the peep hole.
She opened the gate, 'Good morning' the man said with a smile on his face.
'Good morning' Jane said asking the man in.
'This came in for you Miss Jane' he sais bringing out a box and a book.'You're to sign here'
Jane signed and collected the box from the man, 'Thank you' she said closing the gate.
To be continued tomorrow at 11am.
