TWO
The bus conductor was reeking of alcohol. The number of years he had spent smoking could be read from his dark lips and skin. He wore a faded red- flowered shirt over a dirty folded black trousers that all lent him a shabby look.
His fingernails buried under black musks of engine oil.He jumped down from his bus after he had cursed angrily and paced closer to Nkiru twitching his lips in fury.
Nkiru was waiting in her Toyota Camry sweating and hissing under her breath, hoping she could make it to office before eight. He came closer and ducked his head to see who had suddenly overtook him, causing him to lose a passenger who suddenly jumped into another bus.
” Madam waiting you chop belle full. You no see say I wan pack. Mumu” He raged, an offensive odour that had a mixture cigarette and alcohol oozed from his mouth. Nkiru could only give him a sidelong glance. When he got no response, he hissed and went away dragging his falling trousers along that exposed a dirty blue-striped boxers.
Nkiru shoved a laugh at the sight before started her car, taking another bent that was free. She raced off, finally enjoying the cool breeze of Lagos that had suddenly become rare and choking of dust and heat .
Her bank was the Lead-city bank, a popular bank in the heart of Lagos. It was a storey building, stretching about 100 metres wide, painted in white and often gleaming in the faint sun. A stretch of colourful flowers rimmed it round, often dancing in the cool sweep of morning breezes.
Nkiru drove in and wheezed the car to a halt. She ducked gently out and gave her blazers a pat here and there. Her face glowing under a patch of morning powder. She gave Adamu the security man a good morning smile and hurriedly capered off.
Adamu swept her an erotic look as her bum shook in protest of being in a tight- fitted skirt that irritably gave out the outline of her pant from behind.
Adamu smacked his lips and shook his head in regret as he realized dating such a pretty woman in his life wasn’t within any reach.
Nkiru ran into Judith, a colleague who clutched a file as she hurried in.
“Good morning Judith” Nkiru smiled.
“Morning Nkiru” Judith smiled back. Nonso has asked if you are around. He wants to see you. He said it is urgent.”
“This guy again! Haaaa!” Nkiru sighed ” His name keeps popping up every time I am here like a bad coin”
“You are really in, baby girl. You just have to go and see him.” Judith hurried off while Nkiru was rooted on the spot, confused.
**********
Nonso was the bank manager. A tall athletic man in his forties. He was 5.7 feet tall with broad shoulders. He had often carried a quantity of beards that he could have made him pass for a Santa claus if painted white.
He had a body that often made any shirt sit quite well on him. His fair skin had also been the fancy of the ladies and he had kept it glowing by using the latest cream in town. He wore a starched-white that morning that sat quite well on his shoulders with a red-flowered tie, fastened round the collar.
He was rocking his arm- chair and staring at his computer when some knocks suddenly rattled at the door. He knew it was Nkiru. He adjusted his tie, gave his shirt a pat then cleared his voice.
The door creaked open before he had said come in. Nkiru looked worried as she shut the door behind her. She was probably tired of Nonso’s frequent calls. And they were unofficial. Even if they were official sense should have told him that such frequent calls could break a man down. Nkiru thought angrily.
“I was told you wanted to see me.” Nkiru spoke with a voice that had an edge of tiredness.
“You came late today again.” Nonso spoke before wheeling his chair round to stare at Nkiru. His face suddenly broke into a smile.
“You know Lagos and traffic, Nonso”
“That’s what you say everytime. And you are not the only person in this Lagos experiencing the so called gridlocks.”
“I am sorry, Nonso” Nkiru apologized with a tired voice
“See the only reason why you have been keeping this job is because I love you and I want to be with you. Is it the frequent loans you collect from the bank that you haven’t thought of paying or your persistent lateness? All these could have made you lose your job.”
Nkiru sighed in defeat. Nonso stood up and came closer to her, leaning on his table.
” I don’t know why you choose to spend the rest of your life with that nuisance from that tribe.”
“Kola is not a nuisance. I won’t watch you insult my husband Nonso”
“Whatever you call him!” He waved a hand in disregard “I don’t just know why you married him”
“I married him because I love him”
“You talk so much about love like it exists. It doesn’t exist anywhere bae. What we have around us are all lies. You will soon realize that” Nonso nodded his head as if he just disclosed a secret.
Nkiru nodded her head as well in a fake appreciation and turned to leave. She walked to the door and turned the knob quietly and hurried off.
“Good riddance again” she cursed happily under her breath and capered away to begin the day’s work.
To be continued……
ยฉEmmanuel Erondu,
