The sky looked gloomy, thick grey clouds. It kept rumbling like an angry deity. I just stepped out of the office and everywhere smelled of damp earth. A weird smell I loved inhaling. I kept sniffing the weird scent in the air as I quickened my step. Uyo weather was unpredictable. One minute, it was sunny, and the next, it was as if the heavens were letting down its wrath on the surface of the earth.
"I should have come with my umbrella," I grumbled.
I looked at my watch, It was 5:42 PM. I spent almost an hour after work. I tightened my grip on my laptop bag and merged into the busy plaza street. Cars honking, traders packing their wares, and locking up their shops. The wind howled, dust dancing in its wake. It was the usual chaos.
A street photographer yelled to me, "Oga, let me take your passport picture na." I waved him off wondering if he was serious at that point. Was he blind not to see the storm coming?
I shrugged my head and quickened my pace. I was positive I could beat the rain before t it beat me. Although with the way it was destroying things I knew it would require a miracle for me to get home before the rain.
"Lord, please." I made a quick prayer.
I got to the bus stop and spotted an empty tricycle driver yelling my location.
"Abak Road! Abak Road!"
Without bargaining, I jumped in. Luckily, I was the last passenger to fill the tricycle. The driver got in, and soon, he was revving like a madman in the streets of Uyo. I didn't bother, nor did any other passenger complain. I guess they all needed to get home before the rain caught up with them.
I braced myself, shutting my eyes at intervals to avoid dust from entering my eyes. From time to time, I would look up to the sky. Any moment from now the rain would come down hard on the earth.
It has gotten worse now, roaring and bending trees. Thunders cracked through the sky like a whip. Yet like magic, the rain held back. Like it was teasing the people of Uyo.
A lady beside me clutched her bag tightly. "This rain isn't normal," she muttered. "It's like it's waiting for something."
I smiled at her and replied. "Maybe it's waiting for us."
She laughed. "Are you a magician? Do you hold the rain?" She jokingly asked.
I chuckled and shook my head. "No Ma. But it won't fall yet."
"Okay o. I'm not even strong enough to be beaten by this rain. It might lead to me being hospitalized."
"Have faith," I replied and looked out to the streets.
People were running home by now
The tricycle finally reached my stop. I paid the driver and jumped down, dodging a reckless bike that zoomed past, nearly knocking me into a nearby gutter.
"Idiot!" The rider shouted after me.
I ignored him and turned to cross the road only to see the lady who sat beside me. She looked at me and smiled.
"Brother, it seems like we live on the same street." She said with a huge smile on her face.
"Seems like it does," I replied.
Together we crossed the busy road and trekked down our street. Quickening our pace. Conversing like we had known each other for long. The heavens were still pregnant with rain. My house gate was visible now.
Before I knew it the woman pointed to a gate by the right. "That's my house over there. I'll leave you now.*
I turned to see a big black gate with golden designs on it. "Mine is just up ahead." I nodded as I spoke, pointing to a brown gate just a few poles ahead. "I didn't even get your name," I asked
"It's Emem." She answered with a smile.
"Marriott," I replied.
"Goodbye Marriott. Hope to see you some other day"
"Same here," I replied and turned to leave.
Just a few steps ahead, I heard Emem call out to me.
"Hey Marriott, maybe you're a magician after all."
I looked up to the sky. The heavens were still holding back. Then I smiled.
"Maybe I am. Or maybe it's just a coincidence."
Emem smiled back. Then she turned and walked into her house. I quickened my pace, and Immediately I stepped through the gate and into the corridors of my apartment, the sky split open. First a drop, then another, and a million more. Within seconds, it was a downpour.
I exhaled. Looked up to the sky and said. "Thank you for waiting."
Like it heard me speak, the wind howled in response, and I swear, just for a moment, I heard laughter in the storm.
