picture generated by me using MetaAI
The rain showed no signs of stopping. The streets of Lagos were flooded. Puddles of water were everywhere, but it still didn't kill the busy life in the city. Vibrant colours of yellow buses filled the road.
Cars screeched and honked, reckless drivers splashing water on pedestrians. Everyone was talking at the top of their voices. Even with the rain, the soul of Lagos City was still alive
And there was Amaka who was rushing through the crowd, her umbrella at hand as she fought with the wind. She jumped through puddles of water, the dirty water splattering on her shoes. In all these, she didn't care, all she cared about was getting to her interview in time
"Lekki phase 1, one chance" a yellow bus conductor yelled.
That was Amaka's destination. She waved, yelled and ran after the bus shouting
"Wait!"
But before she could catch up with the bus. Femi, a tall, innocent-looking man, jumped in and sat at the only remaining spot.
"But oga, na me first call you? (But I was the first to call you)" Frustrated, she complained to the bus conductor.
"Madam, that one no concern me. My own be say whoever enter should hold change o. (That's none of my business. Whoever entered should have my exact fare o)" the bus conductor said, looking from Femi to Amaka.
Amaka stared at Femi with pain in her eyes. She was going to be late for her interview.
"Maybe we can squeeze in", Femi, out of pity, said, shifting a bit to make a small space for her. He had a little sketchpad in his hands.
Without thinking twice, Amaka squeezed into the tiny space Femi made for her, shoulders bumping into each other at the same time, thankful for the kind gesture. She tried keeping a positive attitude. She wasn't going to stand in the rain and get drenched and also miss her interview. The driver quickly revved the bus, leaving the passenger unaware and grabbing onto seats for balance.
Femi pulled out his sketch pad and started sketching something on it, his eyes darting left and right to catch a quick glimpse of the city before returning to his sketch pad. It was like he was turning the city's morning chaos into something beautiful.
Everything was going smoothly until the driver swerved into an unfamiliar street, which every passenger knew to be the wrong route. Immediately everyone began talking at the top of their voices.
"Driver, where you dey go na? (Driver, where are you going to?)" Amaka yelled from her tiny spot, dragging the conductor who was hanging at the door by the shirt.
Femi shut his sketch pad and banged at the car metal "Oga wetin na? (Driver what going on?)"
"Ná ritualist ọ! (They're ritualist!)" A lady at the back with her small kid exclaimed, sending the whole bus into a frenzy.
But neither the driver nor the conductor said anything. Instead, he kept revving the bus deep into the unknown street.
Amaka felt her heart racing, she brought out her inhaler and sucked on it. Her mind flashed back to the story her cousin told her last night about her encounter with a ritualist. At first, she didn't believe it, but now it felt like it was unfolding before her eyes.
She glanced over her should to Femi who sat there calm
"Why are you not panicking? They could be ...." She asked in between tears.
"Kidnappers? Ritualist? I know all that, and I'm panicking. I'm just trying not to let it cloud my thinking until I figure out what is going on". He replied in a calm tone.
Amaka thought his idea was stupid. How can he be trying to think in such a situation? Out of fear, she didn't know when she stretched her hands to hold him tightly and shut her eyes.
Femi, on the other hand, held her safe, taking deep breaths at intervals.
Finally, the driver came to a halt, and the noise faded immediately. Just loud, audible breathing could be heard on the bus.
"Na here I dey stop. (I'll stop here). Up ahead is Lekki phase 1, I took that route to cut off with the heavy traffic on the regular route" he announced
The conductor quickly jumped down and opened the bus.
"Hold your change o (Your exact fare, please)", the conductor announced in a gruff voice, motioning them to alight.
Immediately, there was chaos in the bus as everyone cursed at the driver and his partner. Some were confused, while some kept muttering short prayers of thanks, relieved to be safe
And in a single file, they all alighted from the bus. Amaka, realising she still held onto Femi even as they alighted, quickly withdrew her hands. They paid the conductor, and side by side, they walked up ahead to their destination in silence.
The rain, by now, was over, making way for sunshine.
"What a crazy morning", Amaka said, breaking the silence.
Femi gave a short laugh "Very crazy morning", he replied, avoiding Amaka's gaze.
There was silence again. Amaka noticed he wasn't much of a talker and was shy, too.
"So what brings you to Lekki?" She asked trying to keep the conversation flowing and also thankful for letting her squeeze in with him and holding her hands in the chaos
"I have a client's deadline by tomorrow. He needed a sketch of the streets of Lagos. That was why I boarded the bus to get inspiration from the streets while it moved." He stared at his sketch pad. "But that driver and his cohort just ruined my chances with their chaos". He added.
"So sorry. What will you do now? " Amaka asked.
"Well, my mind is already messed up with what just happened. So maybe I'll go home and try again tomorrow" taking a deep breath. "How about you?" He asked.
“I have an interview, which I'm already late for", Amaka said, staring at her wristwatch.
They got to the junction and just as the driver said. They were in the heart of Lekki.
"So, since you couldn't get your sketch. How about I take you somewhere you can get a nice glimpse of the streets of Lagos for your sketch?" she offered with a smile.
"I'd appreciate that," Femi replied, still avoiding her gaze.
Quickly Amaka pulled out a piece of paper from her bag and scribbled her number down. "Call me early tomorrow," she said, handing him the paper before walking away.
"Thank you," Femi yelled as he watched her walk away.