Meant To Be
By Olofunlola Adeola
Episode 1
Fridays were usually hectic at Opeki Market and this Friday being the last Friday in January was no exception. Ayo had gone home twice this same day to replenish her goods and now she was heading home, her tray empty of the earlier fresh fruits. She was just about to follow the turning after the market when a sleek Mercedes Benz slowed down next to her. She kept walking until the Benz owner st©pped the car, got down and called out,
“Hey Sister.” She turned to acknowledge the call only for her eyes to collide with an obviously expensively dressed man . The dumbfounding thing is that her five-year-old son, Itunu has similar jawline, nose and even dark eyes like this man. She stepped back in surprise and he took few steps towards her leaving a reasonable distance before he greeted,
“Good evening miss.”
“What can I do for you?” She asked, her voice dripping with confidence.
“Thank God you are learned; I have been trying to get someone who speaks English. Most of the people I met on the way here are speaking the dialect and I am not good with that.”
“Okay, what do you want?”
“I nee-d directions to Ipetu Village. I don’t un-derstand the route anymore.”
“That’s because the new government developed this whole area
. Anyway, there is no place like Ipetu anymore. Four villages were combined to form Opomulero Town but I want to believe where you are going is Modu Road.”
“Wow. I just want to get to the palace, that’s all. Nob©dy told me anything about the Ondo State Government developing the villages. Nice initiative though.”
“You can say that again. The palace is on Modu Road. Just take this road straight down, then take a left turn. You will get to a t-junction, take the left turn, that’s Modu Road, just be on the lookout for the palace.”
“Thank you so much.”
“You are welcome.” Ayo said and she started moving when he st©pped her,
“Wait.” She did, turning to look at him. “Why don’t you let me give you a ride down to wherever you are going?”
“Thank you but no.”
“plea-se. Let this be my thank you for the directions. plea-se.”
Ayo hesitated some seconds before walking to the pas-s£nger side of the car and he went around and opened the door for her, closed it and got in throu-gh the other door then off they went.
Ayo’s house was located on the first left turn and she told him when it was time to st©p.
“Thank you for the ride.”
“Thank you for the direction.” He said and she smiled, got down and he zoomed off.
Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ Δ
As soon as Ayo got into the house she lived with her grandmother and son, along with their tenants in the other p@rt of her grandmother’s house, her grandma bombarded her with questions, who was that? Who owns the car? Where did she meet him? Ayo sighed and hvgged Itunu who had come to hvg her as soon as she stepped inside, then she sat down and explained,
“Mama, I don’t know the man from Adam. I just met him on my way home asking for directions which I helped him with and he offered to bring me home which he did.”
“Okay.
. At least you are talking to a man now. Thank God.”
“Mama that’s not funny. Anyway, I observed something.”
“What is it?”
“The man resembles Itunu facially. It’s quite baffling.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am so sure. I was shocked when I first la-id my eyes on him.”
“You don’t have to start worrying your head about that okay? You know the popular saying is that humans are made in twos.”
“Yeah, that’s true but…”
“Ayodunmomi, no buts. Don’t re-ad too much into what is not. How were the sales today?”
“It was very good. All thanks to God.”
“Thank God then and well done.”
“Okay Ma. I nee-d to freshen up.”
“Yes, yes, go ahead. I just finished boiling Yam and it’s still very h0t. Take your bath and eat.”
“Thank you, Mama.” Ayo said and she went to freshen up.
Meant to Be
By Olufunlola Adeola
Episode 2
Knock. Knock. The sound c@m£ throu-gh the door and Ayo told Itunu to keep writing his homework while she goes to check who was at the door opened the door to see her two friends, Sade and Titi standing outside and she ushered them in. Sade works at the Local Government Office in their town as a secretary to the Local Government Chairman while Titi is a teacher at a secondary school. They all sat down in the sitting room and Ayo asked,
“How has been your day?”
Sade answered, “Fine . Nothing much to do at the office.”
Titi joined in, “Mine was stressful. Those students can be likened to stubborn goats, they just want to frustrate their mother, not me.”
“You will keep taking it easy. You know they are growing teenagers and teenagers are quite a handful.” Ayo advised.
“I un-derstand. Did the market treat you well today?” Titi asked,
Ayo replied, “Yes o. I c@m£ back twice to refill my tray to sell and I sold it all.”
“Thank God then.” Sade said.
“Yeah. What about Olumide?” Ayo asked Titi.
“He is fine o. He s£nds his greetings to the both of you, the last time we met
. You know he is out of town now.” Titi replied.
“Yeah that’s true.” Ayo confirmed.
Sade asked, “Girls, have you heard?”
“Heard what?” Titi asked in return.
“The younger son of Kabiesi is back in town.” Sade informed.
“Hmm. Amebo Business Center. When did you hear that one again?” Ayo asked,
“Ah ha, this evening. He just c@m£ back today. And from what I heard, he is single and handsome.”
Titi laughed, “So, what are you driving at?”
“Well, who knows if he will choose a maiden before going back to the city. I even heard he just c@m£ back from the States, so, maybe he will take the maiden back to the States. Now, just imagine it happens to be me.” Sade said and her friends gave her unbelievable look.
Ayo asked, “Madam, where will you put Goke?”
Sade answered, “He will find another girl jo. Na money we dey yarn so. Money and Clas-s.”
“Sade, you nee-d deliverance.”
“Don’t mind her, just let Goke hear you all this nons-en-se you are spouting, you will see yourself without a mirror in hand.”
“I don’t even know what’s special about these men you go on and on about.”
“Madam Nun, do not even bring your sadistic view into this. I keep telling you, you nee-d a man to oil your rig but you are just too pigheaded.”
“Thank you, I am not interested and my rig does not nee-d oiling or is it your rig?”
“Sade, I thought we c@m£ here for something else, huh?”
“That’s true o. Oya, where is your contribution? We nee-d to review something together.” Sade said and they started talking about the main issue that brou-ght them, then an hour later, they left.
********************
Two days later, the ladies met at Titi’s house and were on their way to get Suya from the Aboki at Olude road not very far from each of them houses. They took a path that was normally the way to the stream and as they were going, they met two guys who were checking lands. Olude is a new p@rt of their town and it is just developing. As they walked past the guys, carried away with their own conversation, they were suddenly brou-ght to a st©p by one of the guys.
“Ladies.” They turned back to see who it was and it happened to be the man Ayo helped with directions two days ago. Her friends were checking him out as he said to her,
“I know you.”
“Yeah, I remember you too.”
“Can I have a word?”
“Well…”
“Of course.” Sade cut in, pushing Ayo forward and Ayo moved closer to him but not before giving Sade the stink eye.
“So?” Ayo asked nonchalantly
“We didn’t get to do the introductions, I am Adekorede Adetiloye. You can call me Kore.”
“Are you related to the royal family?”
“Yeah, just some small detail. Not a big deal. You are yet to tell me your name.”
“Ayodunmomi Bankole.”
“It’s nice to finally put a name to the face. Can we be friends?”
“Friends? What kind of friends?”
“Come on, don’t be like that. Just friends. I have noticed that we all can’t move so ahead in this life if we don’t form connections. Who knows what you will do for me tomorrow?”
“Okay, if you put it that way, then no problem.”
“As friends, don’t you think we should have each other’s contact?”
“Hmm… Is this how you get ladies’ numbers?”
“First, I don’t even have the time to start talking to ladies talk more of collecting their numbers. What am I? A telephone directory?”
“Okay. Here is my number.”
“Just a minute.” He said, bringing out his phone which was evidently an iPhone and probably one of the latest. He swiped a few times then nodded for her to call her number which she did.
“Thank you for your number and your time.”
“You are welcome.”
“Okay. Bye for now.
. Have a nice evening, Ladies.” Kore called out loud and the ladies wished him the same as Ayo joined them.
They had not walked much distance when Sade squealed in excitement,
“What is it?”
“That is the prince I have been talking about.”
“No jokes?” Ayo asked st©pping in her tracks as she remembered how Kore waved off the fact that he was related to the Royal Family.
“I am darn serious. How did you know him?”
“Well, I directed him to the palace two days ago.”
“And I can see he alre-ady has your number.”
“That’s not a criterion that anything is going to happen.”
“Babe, you nee-d a man in your life.”
“I second that.”
“I am happy with my current status. Thank you.”
“Ayodunmomi, I don’t have money to give you but I will tell you this, if we say we should close our eyes so that the bad person will pas-s by, we might miss the good person.”
“Exactly, Sade. When you say because of what happened you will no longer as-sociate with men, it’s more like you are punishing yourself as well as Itunu because every boy nee-ds a responsible father figure in his life. You are young, live a little. Fall in love, get your heart broken and fall in love again. That’s what makes life what it is. The pain and the plea-sure.” Titi said,
“Girls, I have heard you. Thank you.”
“St©p thanking us and just change.”
“Okay. Let’s hurry up so we can get the fresh p@rt of the Suya.”
“All right. So…” Titi continued the discussion on another matter.
Tbc