The beginning of a storm

The whole world seemed to have come to a stop, was it my imagination or was it the picture of reality?.

As the bus continues to move in perfect harmony and solitude, the trees waving as if it to mock me that it was good I was leaving. Drowning in my own thoughts, oblivious that tears was beginning to drip on my clothes, the only thing that awoke me from my bitter world was the sudden gush of cold air hitting my face reminding me of where I was. I realized my clothes was damp of my tears so I wore a huge sweater to cover the mess, as I was about to go back to my 'world' the sudden cry of a toddler makes me turn back.

"I am hungry, Mama"

The young child kept saying, the mother seemed to be clueless of what to do, she couldn't stop the bus just because she wanted to feed her son, could she?.

I grabbed a pack of biscuits from my bag which my mother had bought for me. I took three but later took four because it was believed in my tribe that it was bad luck to give someone 'three' things.

I stood up from my seat and handed it to the mother, at first she hesitated but when I said

"Do you have a choice?", She accepted it.

"Eshey, Modupe" she thanked me, the words meaning thank you, I am grateful.

As I walked back to my seat, a reminisce of my childhood replays itself.

THE YEAR 2015

"My mother said your mother is a prostitute that your father refused you at first sight saying you didn't look like his daughter"

Aisha said.

"Shut up, what are you saying?" I shouted.

"Really, jahman confirmed it too. He said that was what his mother said too"

"How dare you even say that to me, you are out of your mind! Ode" Ode means fool.

"You are only shouting like that because you feel guilty it's true"

"You idiot!!!"

That was the last word Aisha heard before I pounced on her and hit her with all my might.

'She doesn't know anything, how could she say such a thing about my mother. She doesn't deserve to be my friend'...I began to cry and scream whilst hitting her till I felt a familiar hand drag me off her, it was my mother.

First thing was a slap, then words of anger.

"Ade, I didn't teach you to be violent. How could you turn this way under my watch, I taught you everything a mother should and all you do is rebel"

My mother said amidst tears.

"Mama she was saying bad things about you, I corrected her but she kept saying it. I lost control for a while. I am sorry, Mama."

"For a while?, did you not think that that for a while will cost me a fortune. You know her parents will make a big deal about this, they will extort money from me, I am still trying to pay your school debt and here you are causing more trouble for me"

"Mama mi, Emabinu. E dariji mi, E jo mi o ni shẹ bẹ mọ" (My mother don't be angry, forgive me, I won't do it again)

"You didn't teach your daughter well and now you want to show the world what you are" The mother of Aisha said in anger, she was carrying her child like she was an egg.

"Mama Aisha, I am very sorry." My mother apologized making me feel guilty once more.

"Save it, I didn't expect less from the daughter of a prostitute anyway" Aisha's mother said.

I just couldn't bear it, her, talking to my mother like that.

"Was that why you left your first husband's child at your mother's place?" I said to her.

"Adele!!" My mother cautioned me but I didn't care. Aisha's mother who seems to be dumbstruck stared at me like she just saw a ghost.

"No, Mama let me talk. She isn't righteous but she taught her child to criticize us. She is always so busy attending gossip meetings that she hasn't noticed that two of her maids are pregnant.....with her husband's child,the so called Imam of the central mosque. I am as well not surprised as their religion supports more than a wife but knowing fully well that he didn't marry them in as wives, he committed adultery"

"What...wha...at are you talking about?, You are just saying things you heard!" Aisha's mother managed to say.

"Knowing fully well that all this happened under your nose shows how you neglect your duties as a wife and as a mother and here she was telling a mother that is like two parents that she didn't teach her child well. Think twice before you open your mouth again because what you have against me is a open secret and what I have against you is what no ears have heard before. I am sorry I injured your child, I will compensate you as soon as possible, Excuse Me."

Aisha's mother was beyond dumbstruck, she was heaven struck!. She dropped her child and tried to use the wall next to her as support, she didn't expect such disgrace, that too at an open place.

"I am very sorry my daughter is... well you know how kids are. I will send you some money as soon as possible"my mother apologized as she left to find me.

Well I survived my mum's nagging and ever since then Aisha's mother dare not face me again or insult us except behind our backs.

BACK TO PRESENT

"Welcome to Grooks Greenfield town, please ensure to check if your luggages are with you. Thank you for using Greenstone's Bus"

The voice of the auto message from the bus brought me back to reality as I alighted. I was greeted with a vast view of beautiful scenery.

"So I'm really here, It looks better than the picture, it looks like heaven. I welcome myself to another world of intense suffering"

Those were the words that rang in my mind as I made my way towards the town's gate.