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THE NIGERIAN GRADUATE EPISODE 1
Walking aimlessly through the street of Ado Ekiti has become my hobby, waking up like every other tenants in my lodge, getting dressed and hurrying to catch a cab in pretence of going to work was my everyday routine. I am Aderinola, a 24- year old graduate of Psychology from Ekiti State. I grew up in Ekiti but was lucky to have schooled in UNILAG.
I served in Kebbi State and if there was a profession I hated, it was teaching…. I had gotten a job to teach at a standard secondary school in Odo- Ado but being a big Unilag graduate, I could not stoop so low to teaching a group of readymade spoilt brat who were coming to school to get a WAEC certificate….
My parents were based in Ilawe Ekiti, father was a reknown and ” rich farmer” and mother was a trader… But to my friends except Fiwasaye, my father was a retired “rich” soldier and my mother, a businesswoman who was based in clothing’s… Yes now! My mother was a businesswoman or is there any difference between businesswoman and trader… Both r selling stuffs! And she was into clothing’s too because she was selling inner wears to some local market woman in Ilawe Ekiti. I hate to admit my parents were illiterates, but they were… Stark illiterates!! My dad could speak Yoruba fluently and he could communicate in English a little but my weird mother was prone to our native dialect, she could not speak fluent Yoruba and she was never afraid to speak it not even when she came to Lagos to visit me while I was in school.
After my graduation, being their only surviving and educated daughter, my parents wanted me home but I bluntly refused., not after tasting the sweet life of Lagos but after much pleas from within and without, I agreed to settle down in Ado Ekiti, the state capital of Ekiti State, the fountain of knowledge and the state with the highest number of professors…
Of the greatest “ule uyi,ule eye”.
My parents rented a “self-con” for me in Falegan, a serene street along Ilawe road. I lived a double life, to my co- tenants, they believed I’m a lucky rich girl who worked in ACCESSBANK but truthfully, I dressed to kill. I took my time taking my bath and wearing makeup.
Bet with me, I can name 10perfumes that worth #200 which had sweet scents…
I used Dallas perfume and pocket perf and a couple of sprays. I possessed one thousand and one suits, suits were my favourite, ranging from skirt to trouser suits… While in the university,I was being mistaken for a banking and finance student and it went on till my graduation.
Fiwasaye knew much about my second life, the pauper village girl, she was fond of calling me corporate omo oko or corporate ashewo.
My daily routine: I woke up before five every morning, pray,brush my teeth and have my bath. Making myself up was my morning duty, none of my neighbours had mistakenly seen my natural look, I concealed all blackspot and pimples, I was always looking fresh in my makeups and truthfully, most if not all of my hard earned money goes into my makeups, if I don’t, how will I get more money? I rocked ombre lips better than most pro n models… After these, I go knocking on doors as I woke other tenants up before sweeping my room and veranda. If I had something to cook, better and if not, I would either eat at Mama Sikira or at Fiwa’s place.. It depended on my pocket. I leave home exactly 6 in the morning alongside my neighbours if I had money and before 6 if I don’t…
Anyone who have ever been to Ado Ekiti will know Falegan is not far from Bank road, you don’t have to pass through Ola Oluwa school… There’s a shorter way of doing that*winks… I trekked down to Bank road and being a regular customer in most banks, I entered freely to check if there was any possible vacancy and sometimes to fetch customers
One fateful day, it was one of the unfortunate days I trekked down to bank road, I entered into Zenith bank and sat at the reception even when I had no business in the bank premises. I was lost in my own thought of how to handle my dangling debt coupled with the fact that my carowhite cream was finished, so was my loose powder and I needed to buy a fake Brazilian hair.
“Can you lend me your pen”
It sounded too angelic and I thought I was in heaven. I lifted my face to meet the gaze of a young looking handsome , oh no! guy… I won’t call that face that of a man. I starred straight into that eyes for some few seconds trying to fathom what planet they fell from.. The man shifted a bit and looked back trying to know if I was actually staring at something else.
The man shook me repeatedly after seeing how blankly I was staring at him and shouted..
“Hello miss, are you alright” my heart melt. It sounded rather romantic than been worried. I came back seconds later and adjusted vehemently in my seat.
“Pardon my manners” I said in my best tone
“You look pale, what were you thinking of” he asked still looking worried.
“You asked for a pen” I said opening my bag searching for one.
I handed it over to him as I waited patiently for my Princecharming. He was not the best of all handsome men but damnit! His skin was radiant and his voice could soften a hardened stone. I waited patiently for two hours before my Princecharming appeared again.
“I was worried you would have left” He said stretching his hand in a bid to return my UBA inscribed pen..
I received it two years ago while serving in Kebbi. It was the pen the manager of the bank I opened gave me, he was my man friend.
“I am stranded” It slipped rather too fast that I could not control it.
My Princecharming stood rooted on a spot as he checked me out from head to toe…
“I thought you work here”
“No, I worked with ECOBANK”
“OH! The bank the Governor locked” he said out of pity.
“Yes”
“Let’s get out of here” He said
“Pardon!” It sounded more like, “let us go to my house”
“Do you wanna stay here like forever” he gave me a puzzled look.
I immediately stood up knowing fully well I had fumbled. This man was distracting me and I could not help it… I led and he followed closely. We got outside and I could see him more clearly, he was tall and well built…
My exact type of man, he was wearing a white shirt, a black pair of trousers, a wine blazer and the sun could not have shone the way his black shoes were shining.
“You stare a lot. Follow me to my car” he made to move and I follow closely behind.
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THE NIGERIAN GRADUATE EPISODE 2
☆☆☆☆
“You stare a lot. Follow me to my car” he made to move and I follow closely behind.
I followed him to his Car and we opted in, believe me, I knew I had hit a jackpot!
This man was driving a G-wagon in this part of Nigeria. I started reminiscing and calculating those I was owing, my makeup kits, and all other expenses .
I was lost in my thought that I did not noticed this guy had been talking to me.
“Are you alright” he shook me vehemently.
“Yes, I am” I shifted confortably and concentrated.
“Have been asking what your name is since and u were just staring at me blankly”
“Oh! I’m sorry. My name is Riri”.
” Is that an Igbo name?”
“Shortened form of Aderinola”
“Oh! I am Shina, Shinaayomi” he added quickly.
“Where do you stay”
“Falegan”
“My parents are based here in Ado but I’m based in lag even though I’m new in Nigeria”[/b] he explained calmly “I’ll be in town for some couple of months”
“Oh really” I said smiling.
“What are you doing in the bank” he asked
“Ehm…. Ehm… I actually came to withdraw” I stammered
“To withdraw? But you said you’re stranded” he said confusingly.
“Shina, it’s a long story. Two things brought me to the bank, to withdraw and search for work. My parents promised to send me some cash today.” I said soberly. That was one of the begging tactics I used on men.
“Eeya. Can I take you home”
“Home?” It was still some minutes to two and I am not expected to be home yet at least as a banker. I was lost in thought thinking of an excuse.
“You don’t want me to know your house, Aderin” He asked looking dejected.
“Why not, I stay in Falegan” I said quickly as the thought of losing that handsome man crossed my mind.
Shinaayomi eventually took me home and gave me fifteen thousand naira with the promise to check on me the next day. It was my happiest day.
I could not enter my house before I rushed down to Fiwasaye’s shop, I stopped and paid Mama Sikira my debt and also Bello. Bello was the mei tea at my junction.I would buy tea, noodles and bread and package it inside either Captain cook, Take away or chicken republic nylon. Don’t ask me where I got them, I could be lucky to eat lunch there once in few months but to my neighbours, I eat there everyday! Fake life was the best to me! A lot of people accorded me with respect because I knew how best to”package” myself.
On getting to Fiwa’s shop, I greeted her and handed her the sum of five thousand naira.
“Corporate Ashawo, wetin b dis”
“Stop calling me that! You have customers now” I replied angrily.
“No one is listening”
“Does that matters, walls have ears”
“Where you c money”
“How much am I owing”
” 3,765″
“Who’s spending #5 in this period”
“You still have 1,235”
“Keep the change” I replied feeling fly
“Riri, who have you money”
“Iwa, you won’t believe I’ll be getting married soon” pardon me readers, In the “packaging” business, there is something you must know how to do well, it’s “lying”… I, Aderinola can sell the whole Nigeria with lies. I’ was born,bred and buttered in ” LIES”. My father could lie and my mother was always his witness so as we, the children.
“Who will marrying our Almighty corporate…”
“Shut it!”[/b] I shut her off
“Who is marrying our Riri” she asked rolling her eyes. She knew all my tactics, she was the torn in my flesh. She knew me better than my parents and she rolling her eyes meant one thing, She does not believe me.
I left Fiwa’s shop and took a bike to Chuks, my makeup customer at the market. I was owing him the total sum of #550 which I paid and bought my loose powder and some essentials.(if you will agree with me: as either a makeup artist, or a makeup lover,never take more than you’ve budgeted to a makeup shop/studio or else you end up spending more than you have? I got some foodstuffs and soup ingredients and when I got home that evening, I had less than #2000. I was nervous that I could not sleep all through the night expecting Shina’s cal which seems like a dream not coming true. I was home the next day after feigning sick to my neighbours.
I decided against calling Shina and the day ended without a call or visit from him.I was disappointed throughout the week not seeing Shina and after a whole week of mourning Shina, I chose to move on.
I dusted my CV and my trekking shoes and went back to the street. I was working down the street of GRA one hot Thursday afternoon lost in my own thoughts when a red car stopped by,at first I paid less attention to the car and walked passed it until the driver horned, I stopped to look at the driver but it was a tinted glass, knocked repeatedly but no response. I tried peeping through the tinted glass but all I could see is a couple arguing so I moved on,the car followed so I decided to pick a bike home. I had to borrow money from Mama Sikira to pay the biker rider. It was some minutes to 7 when a call came in and the caller asked to me to come outside. I was so eager to know who it was so I went so immediately
I saw a familiar red car outside my compound, it was the red car I saw in the afternoon. I was confused ,paused and was trying to fathom whom it was. I was lost in my own thoughts when I heard the car horn.I took grip of myself and went to where the car was parked. I knocked on the windscreen and it was wound down. Guess who?
It was my Princecharming!!! I screamed so loud that all my akproko neighbours rushed outside to see who it was. I felt embarrassed and entered into the car to avoid story that touched.
“Aderin”
“Shina”
“Can I talk to you?”
“Where have you been? No calls, no chats, no messages”
“I’ve been through alot these past few weeks”
“Like what and what?”
“I’m going back to the states”
“Why?”
“My parents, they don’t love me” he screamed. I was disappointed, devasted. I was quiet and every time I tried opening my mouth to talk… It was so dry and silky.
“Aderin, can I sleep here this night?”
“You mean…. My…my room?” I stammered
“Yea… I need somewhere to rest my head and cool my mind.”
“Hotel… There are five stars hotels around, why my room?” I regretted those words almost immediately.
“Are you trying to drive me away?” He asked disappointed.
“Why should I, Shina? I mean a man of your caliber and status…(I paused)… Moreso,we met once, we’re friends and… and… I don’t know your intentions” I looked up seeing Shina beaming with smiles.I felt foolish.
“So you have a dirty mind?” He asked laughing out so hard.
“Was it so funny?”
“Oh I’m sorry. I know all hotels around here but I just want someone to talk to. I need someone to lend me some listening ears. You fits into my demands, Riri. You are such an amazing woman.”
He poured out. I was quiet for a period of time because My room was a bit absorb. My unwashed pants were lying in my bed.
“Let us go inside” I opted out immediately and he locked his car and followed almost immediately. I was looking for the perfect lie concerning my unwashed p@anties but found none. As we got into my compounds, all my neighbours, I mean all my neighbours, my neighbours’ neighbours, my neighbours’ children,boyfriends,girlfriends and street members were hanging around all staring at my Princecharming. To be truthful,Shina smelt of riches, even though he was dressed in a joggers n tees, he was a head turner.
My head was so swollen that I could not help feeling on top of the world. I looked back and discovered everyone was greeting him,even some were trying to form familiarity. I took it as an opportunity to rushed into my room,I cleared my room and rushed out to pick Shina. On getting outside, what and who I saw shocked me.
To be Countinued