I'll be honest, I feel like my life has ended rather than it beginning.
As the bus continues to move in perfect solitary harmony, with the trees waving as if it to mock me that it was good I was leaving.
Drowning in my own thoughts, oblivious that tears were beginning to drip on my clothes, the only thing that awoke me from my daze was the sudden gush of cold air hitting my face reminding me of where I was.
I realized my clothes were damp from my tears so I wore a huge sweater to cover the mess. I was about to go back to my 'world' when the sudden cry of a toddler makes me look back.
"I am hungry, Mama"
The young child kept saying, the mother seemed to be clueless of what to do, she couldn't stop the bus just because she wanted to feed her son, could she?
I grabbed a pack of biscuits from my bag which my mother had bought for me. I took three but later took four because it was believed in my tribe that it was bad luck to give someone 'three' things.
I stood up from my seat and handed it to the mother, at first she hesitated but when I said
"Do you have a choice?" She accepted it.
"Eshey, Modupe" she thanked me, the words meaning thank you, I am grateful.
As I walked back to my seat, a reminisce of my childhood replays itself.
THE YEAR 2015
"My mother said your mother is a prostitute that your father refused you when he first saw you saying you didn't look like his daughter"
Aisha said.
"Shut up, what are you saying?" I shouted.
"Really, jahman confirmed it too. He said that that was what his mother said too"
"How dare you even say that to me, you are out of your mind! Ode" Ode meaning fool.
"You are only shouting like that because you feel guilty it's true"
"You idiot!!!"
That was the last word Aisha heard before I pounced on her and hit her with all my might.
'She doesn't know anything, how could she say such a thing about my mother. She doesn't deserve to be my friend'...I began to cry and scream whilst hitting her till I felt a familiar hand drag me off her, it was my mother.
First thing was a slap, then words of anger.
"Ade, I didn't teach you to be violent. How could you turn this way under my watch, I taught you everything a mother should and all you do is rebel"
My mother said amidst tears.
"Mama she was saying bad things about you, I corrected her but she kept saying it. I lost control for a while. I am sorry, Mama."
"For a while? did you not think that that for a while will cost me a fortune. You know her parents will make a big deal about this, they will extort money from me, I am still trying to pay your school debt and here you are causing more trouble for me"
"Mama mi, Emabinu. E dariji mi, E jo mi o ni shẹ bẹ mọ"
(My mother don't be angry, forgive me, I won't do it again)
"You didn't teach your daughter well and now you want to show the world that you did" The mother of Aisha said in anger, she was carrying her child like she was an egg.
"Mama Aisha, I am very sorry" My mother apologized making me feel guilty once more.
"Save it, I didn't expect less from the daughter of a prostitute anyway" Aisha's mother said.
I just couldn't bear it, her, talking to my mother like that.
"Mama Aisha that was very rude, I will not ask for your apology because it's obvious you won't give it but be careful of who you insult because you might end up getting more than what you bargained for" I said to her.
"Adele!!" My mother cautioned me but I didn't care. Aisha's mother who seems to be dumbstruck stared at me like she just saw a ghost.
"No, Mama let me talk. Even if you did anything wrong she shouldn't be opening her mouth to insult you as she pleases but let me tell you something you don't know, mama Aisha. I see everything you do, I see you in the night at the back of that market square…" my voice trailed off and she knew I had caught her.
She bit me first and now I'm going to bite back and never let go
"What...wha...at are you talking about?, You are just saying things you heard!" Aisha's mother managed to say.
"You wish" i paused then muffled "God knows if Aisha is even the imam's real daughter"
"What!" She screamed.
"So please enh, think twice before you open your mouth again because what you have against me is a open secret and what I have against you is what no ears have heard before. I am sorry I injured your child, I will compensate you as soon as possible, Excuse me" I said calmly and with confidence and left with my neck high.
Life might be cruel to me but I can be Cruella?
If you know you know.
Aisha's mother was beyond dumbstruck, she was heaven struck! She dropped her child and tried to use the wall next to her as support, she didn't expect such disgrace, that too at an open place.
"I am very sorry my daughter is... well you know how kids are. I will send you some money as soon as possible"my mother apologized as she left to find me.
Well I survived my mum's nagging and ever since then Aisha's mother dare not face me again or insult us except behind our backs.
BACK TO PRESENT
"Welcome to Grooks Greenfield town, please ensure to check if your luggages are with you. Thank you for using Greenstone's Bus"
The voice of the auto message from the bus brought me back to reality as I alighted. I was greeted with a vast view of beautiful scenery.
Looking at myself I realized I looked like dirt that was staining a white clothe, in this case the white clothe was Grooks town.
I don't know what I'm getting myself into but I will do my best and survive it all.
Those were the words that rang in my mind as I made my way towards the town's gate.