Whispers From The Painter
“Aunty!” Ify shrieked as she saw her aunty, Anita’s mother come to welcome them. “Asanwa! Omalicha! Ifeoma my daughter, how are you?” Anita’s mother asked Ify after praising her. “I’m fine ma!” Ify replied. “I can see that. Hope you enjoyed your flight?” She asked. Ify told her she did. Then the woman turned to Lanre, “My daughter, how are you?” The woman asked Lanre. “I’m fine! Good evening ma!” Lanre greeted. The woman smiled and answered Lanre.
“Mom, please let me show them to their room before you will start catching up on time with your niece”. Anita said.
“Ok! Please you ladies should freshen up and come have your dinner!” Anita’s mom said as Anita took both Lanre and Ify to show them to their room. Lanre mentally gasped at the size of the bedroom. You can only see this in movies she thought. “Do you like it?” Anita asked. “Yes, I love it!” Lanre answered. Ok! I will leave you here. I will go show Ify to hers even though she knows her room”. Anita said as she and Ify left Lanre alone in the spacious bedroom.
The first thing Lanre did was to touch the bed. She moved round the room touching the furniture, she noticed a painting in the wall. Oh, her love for paintings and music, novels and poems and anything that has to do with the art. She caressed it with her fingers. It was an abstract painting but so beautiful. She was fascinated at the perfect blend of the colour green and black. The two colours seem to be smearing into each other. Then the tiny touch of red in the middle that seemed like whispers from the painter. It reminds her of a country blessed with so many good things but has been encroached by so many corrupt leaders. And that red spotting’s to her are the blood of those whose voices has been choked by death, murdered in cold blood.
She moved away from the painting suddenly losing interest in it after relating it to that country. She moved towards the bathroom to go check it out. She loved the view. The was were tiles of blue like that of the sea. It gives you a refreshing feeling. “This is nice! I can stay your all day!” She said to herself. Then she went back to the bedroom and puts her bag into the wardrobe. She didn’t feel any need to unpack since they won’t be spending more than a week in the place. She felt like lying down and then put her headset over her ears listening to music as she stares at the room. That alone will act as food for her. But she can’t do that now. She recalls Anita’s mother telling them to freshen up and go downstairs to eat. If she does not do that, it will be disrespectful. So she took off her clothes then went into the bathroom to freshen up. After which she dressed up and went downstairs.