10 Awkward journey to Jacaranda Casino

She was minding her own business that Thursday six months ago. It was rainy season and she let her window down so she could get splashed by the light drizzle that had turned late evening in Abuja into night. The darkness was fast approaching jet black and yet the street lights were yet to switch on. Rabi realised she was a couple of minutes away from her sister's house and decided to pop in and say hello. She parked her car outside to avoid interrupting the mai-guard from his prayers letting herself in through the individual gate, and confidently strolled in the front door shouting her greetings. The tension in the living room suffocated her like a chokehold around her neck. It was her brother-in-law and he was at his wits end. Nabila had hidden his car keys and insisted that if it was a 'meeting' he was really heading out to she should be allowed to accompany him. They spoke at one another without raising their voices yet the undercurrent of anger and frustration was unmistakable. Rabi did not want to get in the middle of this and she stood really still while Jamal stormed past her out the door. Nabila did not remain downstairs for long either and ran upstairs embarrassed because regardless of how often she complained, she never wanted anyone to witness their arguments. Rabi walked out the door slowly and half-jogged back to her car shaking her head, she was heading out and drove past Jamal. Rabi was unsure of what her response was to be. Did he expect her to greet him?

"Should she offer him a lift?" she wondered. Rabi looked in her rear view mirror just as lightning streaked the sky

She could feel her conscience tugging and pecking at her to give in. Rabi reversed to the end of the street and poked her head out her window.

"Sanu- hello" she half-heartedly acknowledged him. "Can I offer you a ride?" Jamal looked at her with stern eyes

"No. The company driver will be here any moment to take me where I want to go." Rabi wanted to sigh "I was only trying to help." The street was empty, except for the falling of light rain on the asphalt, there was no car bearing the Federal Ministry of Works on its fender and certainly no company driver running towards them with a large umbrella shouting "Sir! I don come" Jamal Mujahid tall and proud with his nose in the air, wallahi- honestly, men and their overinflated egos. He'd rather drag a poor employee from the home he probably just returned to after a long day of driving "big men" around than accept a kind gesture. Jamal stood waiting for her to drive off.

He didn't have an umbrella either Rabi realised. Thunder boomed loudly, the situation was dire.

"I insist" Rabi said. "I'm going your way already" She didn't know if she was but it helped to say that. Jamal made a show of sighing and giving in before he walked in front of the car and slid in the passenger seat.

"Nagode Rabi"- thank you he said gratefully

Rabi put the car in drive and began the awkward journey to Jacaranda Casino. She had never been and squinted at road signs for direction. The rain had frenzied into a torrential downpour and her windshield wipers zig zagged back and forth energetically. She inwardly heaved a sigh of relief when Ladi Kwali Street came into view. It had so far been a tense 20minutes with neither party speaking.

"I would have called for a taxi but at this hour and in this weather..."

"It's not a problem" Rabi lied

"I couldn't call my friends to come pick me up" Jamal explained. "It would have been awkward" he said quietly

Rabi forced an understanding nod. What perfect timing for traffic to slow down. Just when she could spot the finish line! Whilst Rabi took refuge in the sound of the rain against her window it disturbed Jamal and he had hoped she would be the first to turn on the radio. If he reached for the knob it would be obvious that he felt vulnerable and exposed. It wasn't his fault. Sitting in the passenger side of his wife's old sister's car would do that to any man. Why doesn't she say something? She is usually such a talkative.