Ben was summoned by Roshan, she got to his office hoping to be formal with him today and nothing more would surface.
He gestured to a seat, she sat down and tried to stay focused.
"What are your plans after service?" He simply asked, diverting all attention to her.
"Nothing yet." She replied him.
"You should have plans." He was surprised she said nothing.
"Maybe go back to Lagos for job hunting, other than that. I don't have any other plan." She told him.
"You're going back to Lagos?" He asked almost dejectedly.
"Yeah?" She nodded her head and looked at him, he had a gloomy countenance on.
"Are you interested in working for this company?"
"I work here, I wouldn't have worked here if I wasn't interested." She said.
"After NYSC, do you still want to work here?" He asked again.
"It's actually very nice
Ben was engrossed in the enormous file in front of her, her table was filled with piles of documents - ranging from contracts applications to promotion letters and all sorts of files to be typed and corrected by the director.So much work for a director's secretary.She glanced at the files carefully."Hello pretty." She recognised the voice but she wasn't sure yet, she slightly raised her head up to confirm her curiosity."Mr Jamil." She beamed upon seeing him, it's been a while they saw each other. "How have you been?" She purred."Very well and you?" He responded. "And thanks for last time, by the way." He added.Ben nodded her head, her lips turning into a small smile. "How's Aminat?" She remembered his wife and asked about her."She's good." He told her. "Is Roshan in?" He asked."Sure." She nodded her head and directed him i
She got to the venue he fixed at exactly seven thirty in the evening, she found a deserted chair at the park. She ambled towards it and sat down gently.She looked up and stared at space, the constellations formed bright colours of yellow or maybe light red- whichever it was, it was so beautiful- a beautiful view to stare at.She checked the time, it was close to the time he told her to meet him there. She heard a car pull up, she diverted her attention towards the direction and there he was, trying to park the car properly in a spot."Hey." He smiled at her, the star shone brightly upon him and she could see his bright smile. He wore a white shirt that hugged his masculine figure, a jean but she wasn't able to detect the colour due to the darkness that was taking over the day, and she was sure he was putting on slides. He looked casual, she had only seen him on suits - at work and kaftan - the day she followed him home.
Seconds turned into minutes, minutes turned into hours, hours turned into days, days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, months gradually turned into a year.Exactly one year she left for Kano to serve her fatherland, she didn't know if she was to be happy as she stood alongside other corp members in the camp ground.It was finally over, Ben was smiling brightly. Everyone held their certificates in their hands and took pictures of different kinds.Ben was in her uniform of a white T-shirt boldly scribbled on the shirt was NYSC in capital letters with a grey paint, grey khaki trousers and an orange colour boot with some black lines around it.She was satisfied, the year hadn't been easy. It was full of a lot of drama in her life, she met with amazing people in Kano. As she took pictures with Annie, she thought of her - she'd miss her so much.After the passing out parade, she'd prob
She could recollect it was POM estate but the house number was what she forgot, she tried to trail without getting lost. He told her number thirty three over the phone, she got to a gate and knocked, the gateman opened the gate."Who you be? (who are you)?" He asked rudely. Ben quickly recognized he wasn't the one that opened the gate when she followed Roshan home the last time."I am sorry but is this Roshan's house?" She asked, she checked the number again, it was thirty three."Yes, na oga Roshan house be this, wetin you want? (This is Mr Roshan's house, what do you want)?" His tone was harsh again."I'm here to see him." She told him, his eyes were burning fiercely like he was under the influence of hard drugs, he was trembling as he stood and Ben wondered if Roshan had ever seen him like this."You get appointment with him? ( Do you have an appointment with him?" He asked, slightly cl
Back to the busy streets of Lagos, everyone was busy with one thing or the other running helter skelter to make a living. As the vehicle moved round the street of Lagos, Ben felt alive, she was back to her home.They got to a shop, the blaring sound of Naira marley's song almost tore the speaker apart, she smiled. Lagosians are who they are - crazy but a whole vibe.The car halted in front of a house that stood alone in the outskirts of Ojuelegba, she alighted, picked her bag and paid the driver.Two guys suddenly rushed past her they came back to acknowledge her. "Mama ooh." They raised their hands up, dabbing and tapping their feet repeatedly on the ground, they hailed her. "Owo meji fun eni kan!" She understood they were indirectly asking her for money, she fumbled her hand into her bag and brought out a thousand naira note."E manage eleyii." She gave it to them, they hailed her again and left her hurr
The harmattan that came with the month of January always made one parky, getting up from bed every morning becomes difficult cos of fear of having to take a cold morning bath.Ben was already used to getting up very early in the morning when she was in Kano, just a night she arrived back at Lagos, she was feeling too lazy to wake up early and the harmattan breeze that blew didn't help it sent her back to bed.She curled up in bed, covering herself up with her duvet. The cold was killing her and she wasn't ready to get out of bed yet.Then, her phone beeped. It was a call Roshan, she beamed - she's been expecting the call since the previous day."Roshan, I was worried." She groaned."I'm sorry, I was busy." He told her, she knew being busy would be his excuse. She sighed and didn't nag further about it. "Did you sleep well?" He asked."Not at all." She replied, flickering h
In the evening of that day, her father arrived. Ben was seated on her favorite couch in the living room - placed at the window side, she loved it there.She was seeing a soap opera when her father barged into the house, she stood up and quickly went on her knees to greet him.He acknowledged her and went into the room, her mother also came in after her father did."Welcome mom, did you guys plan it?" She smiled at her mother."Plan what?" She looked befuddled."Dad just came in and you did too." She said and her mother smiled."Good, where is Ademide. Has she eaten yet?" Her mother asked."She hasn't come out of that room since you left for work in the morning." Ben told her.Her mother sighed deeply, she dropped her bag and flopped tiredly on the couch. "I've tried, I even transfered her to a boarding school so she could mix with other ch
After the church service on Sunday afternoon.The Olayiwolas were back to their house.Ben and Ademide were busy in the kitchen - about to prepare a meal of fried rice and chicken, they were back to how they used to be - all grudges buried, lost love found.Ademide laughed as Ben told her about the Hausa people and how it was difficult for them to pronounce some words. - words like People, the, and how they used the letter 'F' in place of 'P'."Oh my God! That's hilarious." She laughed harder. "I didn't know that stuff was true." She said - she had heard people complain about the Hausa people's intonation but she felt it was just a normal talk to criticize them."They are good people though, very good and hardworking." Ben said."Do you like any of them?" Ademide asked teasingly, Ben looked at her sister and smiled.She had really gro
Two months later, "My best! I can't believe you're getting married today." Esther kissed Ben and sat close to her, her baby was with David. "I don't believe it either, but it's happening." Ben sighed, she touched her head and the crown stood firmly on her head. "Are you done?" She asked the make-up artist. "Just the final touchings, and it's over." She responded to Ben. "Alright. I'm so nervous, I have seen you and Annie get married, I saw how nervous you both were on your wedding day, now is my turn." She laughed. "I can't wait to see Roshan, have you seen him, what does he look like?" She was eager. "Common, you will see him very soon. And Annie, where is she?" Esther noticed she wasn't around.
Two weeks later,After Roshan ignored Ben for almost a week, she was able to explain things to him, and they made up.Daniel apologised to Ben and promised to let go of her, everyone was on good terms again.Ben was discussing with Samiat about her school when Roshan's call came in, he asked her to meet him somewhere.She told Samiat and hurried to dress up. When she was done, she left the house and went to meet Roshan.She got to the restaurant, and he was already waiting for her. Ben beamed with a smile when she saw Roshan where he was seated, staring at his watch —he must be checking the time to see if she was late."Hey," she kissed his cheeks and sat close to him.
Ben was working on the file on her table, her full attention directed to it, she was trying to get the main point of rejecting the proposal Roshan sent out to Johreeb company.It was well written with reasonable points, what else did they need?She kept the file and took something else to work on."Ben?" She heard her name and looked up, she scoffed and went back to what she was doing, she didn't want to speak to him."You don't want to talk to me right?" He drew out the chair and sat on it."I haven't given you the permission to sit down." She stared at him with a bloodshot red eyes."I can sit right?" He grinned at her. "Why didn't you pick up your calls?" He asked her but she pretended not to hear him talking to you."And I choose not to answer, what the hell do you want from me Daniel?" She banged the table and yell on top of her voice. "What do you want?" She glared at him."You don't have to do that." He felt embarrassed.
Samiat entered into the house with ecstasy written all over her face —something good must have happened to her, no doubts."Welcome aunty." She hollered, finding it hard to contain the joy she felt inside of her."Welcome dear, how're you? I got back from work and didn't meet you at home, where have you been?" She asked her."Been at the cafe, was trying to load my information and the network was really bad." That smile was still visible on her face."So, were you able to do it?" Ben sat up."Yes and I just can't thank you enough for the support. I checked my admission status and I..." She stopped and tears flowed down her cheeks."It's okay if you don't get what you want, we are here..." Ben stood up to console her."I got it aunty! I got it! I got the admission to study law in the university. Oh my! I can't believe this." She went down very weak and wept. She had never had any intention to study law but the circumstances that
Six months later."Oh my God, this movie is so great." Ben hollered as they walked into the cinema, it was a new movie by one of her favorite actors and she just couldn't to see it with Roshan. "You saw the trailer right? It was so mad that I promise to see it as soon as it comes out. Thanks for coming here with me." She intertwined their fingers and led him on. She took a seat at the middle roll and beamed with satisfaction.They waited for the movie to start."I'm so excited about this." Ben said to Roshan. "You know my favorite Nigerian actress is the main character and she's just so good." She told him and he nodded his head. "Don't you like her?" Ben asked him."I don't even know who you are talking about." He shook his head and stared at her."To think that I hardly sit down and see a moviw, you've influenced me so much and I just can't imagine how much." He told her and she smi
The building was gigantic and all painted white. Ademide had been in there two days ago —a day after the day they arrived in China.The day scheduled for her surgery was the next day, Ben and her grandmother were outside the hospital, checking out the tall buildings as Ben had begged her to stay that she wanted to take pictures of them.Ademide's grandmother clutched her bag to her chest and stared around in wonder, she had never seen such a high building in her life. When Ben was done taking the pictures, she went to the old woman."I'm sorry for keeping you waiting but I had to do that for documentary purposes." She smiled at her."It's fine, do you still remember the way to the doctor's office? I don't think I do." She asked Ben."Sure." They entered the building and walked in slowly. It was different, few white patients were seated at reception, they were young doctors around att
Ben changed to a long red gown that stopped at her feet, she wore low heels to compliment and again, sprayed that killer perfume Roshan gave to herThey arrived at his place and he quickly got out of the car to hold her hands, he led her inside after closing the door to the car."Take each step gently." He said and she walked slowly.Her heart raised, her mind was set on Roshan doing something that will surprise her, maybe a proposal she thought as she walked into his large living room."Welcome to your soon to be home." He sat by her side and kissed her."Did you plan out something for me?" She chuckled."Don't be in a hurry. First and foremost, I want to say a happy birthday to you from the deepest part of my heart that beats for only you." He said and she smiled. "I love you so much and today means so much to me, thanks for coming into my life." He brought out a box of necklace and gave it to her. "Happy birthday." He whispered.Be
Samiat was the first to start the surprise, she decorated the living room before Ben got out of bed, she prepared different kinds of delicacies and baked a big cake for the surprise.Ben staggered on her feet to the living room and the whole place was dark, the day wasn't bright yet, but she wanted to wake up on time to prepare for the journey, she and Roshan had ahead of them.The lights were off and she knew it was a surprise, it was very evident. She turned on the lights and what she saw amazed her —she expected a surprise from Samiat but not that huge."Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you." Samiat sang lovingly.Ben gaped, she expected a surprise but not that huge one."Sammy." She was shocked. "This is too much, my love.""Nothing is too much for everything, you've done for me." She hugged her. "Thank you for everything sis, I appreciate you. You've been so good and I
Annie was dressed in her traditional attire of red beaded material like cloth, she tied a red wrapper around her chest and her neck was adorned with bridal beads, she wore a beaded crown over her head too and a beaded slippers fitted her feet, she was putting on a simple make up that was applied by Ben and she looked extremely beautiful."Oh my God! How can anyone be this pretty? You should arrested for being beautiful." Ben joked as she did the final touchings of the make up —she had a knowledge of it before, and going around with Aisha to help people with their make up also added to her skills."I need the mirror." Annie told Samiat, Ben didn't let her use the mirror while she applied the make up on her face. She had claimed that she wanted to give her a surprise end. "Wow." Annie's mouth was wide opened in surprise, she almost didn't recognise herself. Ben did a perfect job and that was how she wanted it. "This is so beautiful." She smiled and Ben quickly took