Been a while!

 Sup y’all? Been ages here. No leave, no transfer. Missed you guys like crazy. Tell me, what’s been happening? Any new gist? Fill me in..

WORD FOR TONIGHT

My opinion too! What's yours? Do you think your attitude should be tolerated and accepted for what they are?

The Vow.

Hey dearies, did you miss out  on the first read? Click on The Vow (Part 1) for catch up..

The Vow.
(Part 2)
We returned to Nigeria after the two weeks of total bliss. Everyone told me I was glowing, said marriage was good to me. It was indeed good to me. I had married my best friend, a skilled lover,and partner in crime. No, don't quirk your eyebrows -we weren't criminals. Hahaha. We were naughty sometimes,had the tendency to do some small bad things.. with and to each other. Fun lived with us and we so loved it.
 I recall my divine meeting with Okey exactly a year and two months ago in an eatery in the Ikeja axis of Lagos. There he was,standing right beside me on the queue. When our eyes locked I felt a tremor run down my spine and I quickly looked away. It wasn't exactly an unfamiliar feeling. I instinctively knew his type -young,handsome, classy and dangerous to the heart. At 29 I had had my fair share of men. Dated 3 and nearly married one. Story for another day.
 I found myself gazing at him that I did not hear the cashier holla,"Aunty,next!"
Embarrassment brought heat to my cheeks as I hurriedly reeled what I wanted.
"Please indulge me the pleasure.." I heard from behind. It was Mr handsome already dipping his hand into his pocket. I watched wordlessly as he paid for my food. My tongue glued to the roof of my mouth.
 He smiled and turned to place his own order. I watched on as the cashier giggled at something he must have said. Get a grip on your self woman, I chided myself and slowly turned on my heels.
 I was about getting in the car when I heard that deep voice again.
"Not so fast,lady. I didn't get a thank you."
"Cause I didn't give one!" I found my voice. At last. Thankfully.
He threw his head back and gave a hearty laugh. I found myself joining him.
"Thank you so much." I said with meaning,once we quietened. "Please forgive my manners. I just got..carried away."
"Same here. You are sooo beautiful."
I looked up and saw sincerity in those clear eyes. My heart missed a beat. I was falling for this one.
"My name is Okechukwu Mordi." he streched out his hand for a shake.
"I'm Gloria." I said,placing the small of my hands in his.
"Nice meeting you Gloria. I trust we shall see again?"
"Er..yes.".
"Have a glorious day Gloria." he said and walked away. I stared at his retreating back, somewhat angry now. Why would he walk away just like that?Didn't he feel what I was feeling? Didn't he know how he affected me so?
And then I directed the anger to me. What was wrong with me even? 29 and still behaving like a love struck adolescent?Why did I even care that he didn't further his advances? I got home that day with his thoughts on my mind. They just wouldn't go. They assailed me all through the night.
 I came to the conclusion he was married. With that thought of finality I shifted my thoughts to my job. I was a make up artist who enjoyed her job thoroughly and in no time I forgot about the encounter with him.
Or so I thought. I woke up thinking about him sometime during the week. Determinedly I shoved him off my mind. I was one strong woman deep inside. I mustered that deep seated strength and trudged on.
 Nothing prepared me for my second encounter with the assailant of my thoughts! I met Okey again. This time I was in control of my mushy feelings. He was picking some groceries off the shelf in a supermarket..
To be continued.
Written by Osarhieme Owen eze.

*yawn* sleep ooooo..Will surely continue tomorrow,okay?

The Vow.

When Okey looked me straight in the eye,with tiny droplets of tears glistening around the corners of his I vowed within to forever be his woman. So that even when the priest made me voice the revered litany synonymous with marriages it was just mere formality. The real union had already taken place in my heart; my vow solidly resident in the recess of my being. And when we kissed, I felt it. His heartbeat. My heartbeat. The togetherness. The fever, fervor,rhythm. In that rapturous moment I re affirmed my undying love for him,embracing the mutual flow of oneness and wallowing in his essence.          
  I didn't care that our kiss was stretching longer than a trifle appropriate. I didn't care that one lean hand had crept up to carress my cheek,the other propping me nearer. Still I didn't care a hoot that the "Uhssssss' and 'Ahsssssss' from the congregation were
becoming louder.
  I'm sure we pulled apart when the priest cleared his throat. I wouldn't take my eyes off my husband. Standing before me was the most handsome man ever. Strikingly tall,broad shouldered and an oozing charisma he was the epitome of charm. I was proud of him. I gloried in the fact that he was my man and I his wife. I was never ashamed to admit his handsomeness was the first attraction.
   Our wedding night was...bliss. We did not make love. I remember vividly that we talked most of the time. With our arms wrapped around each other, the room dimly lit by candles,the scent of flowers filling the air,he told me uncountable times how he loved me and would do anything to make me happy. He
told me some of his childhood adventures,escapades and a bit more about his future plans with me.
  It was the next morning we made love.
    It was slow,promising,and quite sensual until the gyration of our hips sparked the need to go faster. We became swift,desperate and frenzied. Together we reached for the stars,found those moments of indescribable joy and dissolved into tiny pieces of pure fulfilment.
Our honeymoon was spent in Paris. It was a fortnight of happiness. Honestly I had never been this happy..
To be continued..
Written by Osarhieme Owen eze.

*Hey peeps,hope you guys are going no where?Just gimme a second and i'll post the ensuing part. Okay? *side eye* who missed me?

DIARY OF AN OKADA RIDER (CONTINUATION OF JAJI AND THE OYIBO MAN)

(CONTINUATION of JAJI AND THE OYIBO MAN)

When Jaji's wristwatch confirmed it was 3.45pm he told his friend to hurriedly gulp his beer. Coral Island was more than a few minutes away and if they didn't leave now they wouldn't make it in good time. Matty swallowed his drink noisily,let out a more noisy belch and stood up.

 They decided to ride on Jaji's Okada. Matty parked his under the mango tree and beckoned on one of the  waiters. He said to him,"I beg put eye for ground for my motorcycle,You hear." He didn't hear the albino swear under his breath and even as they zoomed off,never saw the scowl that etched his features. At exactly 3.57pm they arrived at the gate of a massive building that oozed wealth and opulence .Both of them swallowed and looked at each other. Their eyes spoke. " We don hammer," Matty's eyes seemed to say. "Na so E look like o" Jaji responded and was about pressing the bell button when the gate pulled open to reveal a uniformed man who was obviously the janitor. "Who una dey find?"  He demanded,looking from one man to the other. " Oga Wila "Matty quickly replied. He was feeling jittery all of a sudden and a well composed Jaji wondered why.

" Oga Willy you mean," the Janitor amended with an air of superiority. "Ok,mek una com inside." He turned to Jaji again, seemed to hesitate somewhat and said almost inaudibly to him, " Oga Willy head dey shake small small o. If hin slap you no retaliate o. But one thing,salary good." Jaji wondered at the information and didn't know what to make of it. The Janitor led them to a beautiful,spacious living room,offered them seats and disappeared into one of the adjoining rooms. He rushed out almost immediately looking like a frightened rat,and scurried away.

What Jaji wasn't expecting to see was a sturdily built,bald headed Lebanese that was Oga Willy.He entered into the living room and wouldn't answer their greeting. Matty repeated," Good evening Sir". Small,beady grey eyes held his for a fraction longer than a moment. " You be Martin? Is you that is Martin,my former worker brother?" he asked instead. Matty nodded nervously. He broke eye contact with the lebanese. He didn't know why but he was feeling so intimidated.

" You no fit work for me."  said the Lebanese,shaking his head.

"But sir...."

"Do not Sir me. Willy say u cannot work for me,okay?you go wait in the visitors'lounge for your brother. Me think dis one can work for me," he said wrinkling his flared nostrils at Jaji. Matty got up slowly and moved like an automaton out the door. No sooner had Matty left the living room than the Lebanese started to cough. Deep spasms shook his sturdy frame as he coughed on. Tears began to run down his lean cheeks. "Sorry Sir," Jaji edged towards him but a hard shove sent him back on his chair. " I take care of myself, not you!"

Focus on the dollars,Jaji reiterated in his heart. Focus.

" Okay Sir." Jaji threw him a dashing smile which of course the lebanese ignored. Stupid man,Jaji seethed inwardly,still keeping the plastered smile... and then the worst happened! Oh dear,the Lebanese coughed deeply this time and threw the slimey spittle on the tiled floor of the living room!

 Jaji gasped. This-was-stinking.

" Me been treating dis cough for ages now but cough go nowhere.Doctor say it's Tb.. tuberculosis but I treat it well well..."

 Jaji's heart sank. Tuberculosis? The dollar picture began to fade fast!

"I treat treat,cough stubborn!" His body shook with spasms of cough again and on the floor the thick,yellowy substance went again.

" you sabi drive? Drive motor well well? You experience?" The Lebanese asked afterwards.

"No. I dey learn " Jaji answered.

"W-w-what?! Why you come here to find work when you know you no sabi drive motor well well?!" he bit out angrily,standing up. His beady eyes shone in fury.

"The last driver work wey I work,i get accident. My oga die...."

"You say wetin?!" the Lebanese cut in,shock,terror,anger and series of other emotions creasing his forehead. " Now get out of my house,you killer man,out!" He yelled like a wounded lion. Jaji hid an amused smile and sauntered out the room. He found Matty by the gate with the Janitor. "Your own don better ooo!" Matty exclaimed excitedly.

"My health better pass dollars o. Na who dey life dey chop dollars. Tuberculosis? God forbid!"

"Wetin be all this wey you dey yarn so?" His friend was confused here.

Jaji threw his head back and laughed heartily. He narrated all that had transpired between them as they rode back to Mama Jimoh's Restaurant and Bar.

DIARY OF AN OKADA RIDER.

 The day had begun well. Jaji often times regarded a day as perfect if a passenger graced the seat of his Okada soon as he rode out his compound.The passenger was a wiry looking old man that was too eager to pay any amount. Under his breathe he'd  mumbled something about a running stomach and hurriedly jumped on the Okada.After Jaji dropped him off he picked a woman. She too wouldn't haggle over price;in fact she left him with the balance change after she alighted.

  Before 12pm his jeans trouser was visibly swollen with crumpled naira notes -another telltale sign of a perfect day. He decided to visit Mama Jimoh's place 

for a stick of cigarette and a cold bottle of star and if 

she had that delicious fried meat ready,he would 

munch on it. In a few minutes he arrived there.He 

parked his okada under a mango tree for shade.He strode into the restaurant,his eyes scanning for an 

empty table. He found one and gestured at the

 waiter to come take his orders.No sooner had he sat 

than he felt a hand tap his shoulder.

 He looked up and exclaimed,'Matty!'

 Matty happened to be a childhood friend back in the days when his own father had been transfered to Osun state as a manager of a Tv station before death had rudely cut him off. Though he was a grown man now, he still possessed that mischievous smile and penetrating eyes.They shook hands,hugged,laughed at some unspoken joke and finally had a lot to talk about. Jaji was a bit taken aback when Matty told him he was an Okada rider as well. Matty's dad had been a multimillionaire and his mum,even wealthier.Matty seemed to read his exact thought.He smiled lopsidely and said softly,"Life no easy my broda." Jaji agreed.

 "But EVERY EVERY wan change now! I get appointment with one oyibo around 4pm dis evening and he even say mek i com with any reliable broda wey i get!' One of Jaji's eyebrows lifted quizzically.Matty went on to tell him about the white man and the 'God sent' passenger who had connected them.

 'Na just God  touch me mek i give the man hin handset wey fall from hin back pocket after i drop am yesterday. I be wan use one leg pin am down but....i just sorry for am give am. Hin com say for this good wey i do hin go connect me to hin former oga wey dey find driver. Na hin we reach there but Oyibo no fit see us.Hin busy so hin send message com down say make i com today with my broda wey dey ready to work too.'

 jaji scratched his head. He was thinking now..The idea seemed very promising..The first salary he received would give him a decent two rooms apartment where he could bring Lara to. He would be so pleased to tell Mama Kotun and her tenants a final goodbye as he moved out. He agreed to accompany Matty by 4pm,his mind on the

Solve if you are a genius. *Grin*

..and the answer is?

Why would a man cheat on his partner regardless of how pretty she is?

Hi peeps. How every?
Something happened yesterday to prompt this post. Something very embarrassing,yet very interesting in fact. Okay,lemme break it down. I stopped by the Salon to make my hair. A few minutes later, this Bobo walked in with this stunning beauty. It was obvious they were lovers, judging by the giggling, necking, winking and 'touch touch' here and there. *sigh* They seemed so in love o. And then I noticed their wedding bands. Okay, newly married couple I thought. E still dey shack. Lol.
 The Bobo had come for a pedicure. His wife sat by him. They were gisting away,laughing and enjoying themselves.
Just then this other chic walks in. Almost missed her steps as she sighted this Bobo o!
It happened that this Bobo was her boyfriend! And she was speechless when she found out he was married. No be small fight. It took more than a few persons to stop the fight. Bobo was so embarrassed as the two ladies began to rain blows on his head,hahahahaha!!! At some point, the wife turned to the chic and they began to have it hot too! The guy had to run to the car.
 My point is this : the chic no fine sef! No front,no back, no nothing! Looks class-less even! O ga o. Now, what was the attraction? Why would a man cheat on his partner regardless of how pretty she is?
 I had some readers send in their opinions. Some hilarious, some strange..and some... *sigh*
Check them out :-

*Gentle Phil.
Monotony , adventure and curiosity. These are the driving force behind a man cheating despite having a pretty wife..

*Sola / Ekiti state.
Pretty on the outside but ugly on the inside.Yes now I will cheat jor .

*Ochuwa/Benin city.
Cheating is a choice. A man who has decided to cheat will do so regardless of how good, beautiful or loving his partner is. Many people think a woman can cause a man to cheat but I don't believe that as I know that everyone is responsible for their deeds. If your partner treats you badly and you feel you have done your all to make things work, yet there's no change, the right thing to do is end things not cheat.

*BABA/Carlifornia,USA.
When man Don too chop one soup he go miss the other type of soups !! Even if that particular soup is served or prepared in different ways. But the minute he tastes another soup outside he will now start missing his usual!
You wives should allow us enjoy once in a while=p =-d =d =))
When daddy comes home and is all over you after a business trip,Trust me he truly missed you!

*Segun/Lagos state.
Beauty is not what drives a man to keep a relationship. There are other factors like, understanding, kind and soothing words, ability to connect with the guy mentally, etc

*Ben/South Africa.
He probably wanna try if he still got game going.Cheating is flirting gone wrong ...Or probably he wants to hit something with a little more action .... getting all dirty and nasty ...
Something yu won't wanna try with yoir partner but with a total stranger. It spices the sex up!

*Kehinde Olaniyi/Lagos state.
Men will always be men jare.I don't bother myself with all that cheating stuff.

*Faith/Benin city.
Dem swear for dem nah.Any girl I catch with my guy her own done finish.

*Sassy girl/BIU,Benin city.
It's the fault of the woman.She probably isn't giving him T.L.C!Get wild in bed,it will hook him.

.. and so the story goes!
Lemme hear from you dearies.

DIARY OF AN OKADA RIDER.

 A CLOSE SHAVE.

(CONTINUATION)

 Jaji swallowed painfully. In his mind's eye he saw his painful end  -a sharp knife slicing through flesh and bone,the wriggling of his helpless frail body and the final gasp of breathe. A tear rolled down one cheek.

"Crying won't help you son." the bald headed priest smiled gently.

"..w-what will?" Jaji whispered. Each passing second was pure agony. So he was going to die? Just like that? He nearly choked.

The priest eyed him thoughtfully and said,"Do you have your bible with you?"

 Jaji's forehead furrowed in confusion. Bible? For Christ sake he'd just been kidnapped on his way from Mama Jimoh's,how could he have been one?But wisdom nudged him to be silent.

"You anger me!" the priest cried suddenly and punched him hard on the face.

 A startled Jaji screamed and fell back on the floor. The priest gave that gentle smile again and produced a bible from underneath his red garment. "You should be with your bible at all times." He eyed Jaji for a moment and began to flip through the pages of the battered bible. "The wages of sin is death." he read aloud. Jaji could hear his own heart beat so audibly in the semi dark room. His face tingled. Jeez,Jeez.. so this was how men earmarked for ritual killing felt before being slaughtered? Damn,this was worse than death itself!       He watched the priest do the sign of the cross and place the bible gingerly on a table. His eyes were getting accustomed to the dark now. He noticed a rugged vertical mark run down one gaunt cheek,and shivered uncontrollably. The priest looked anything but human,an eerie creature in the dark.

" I'll have Bosco bring food for you. You'll eat and stay strong for me." He said,then moved slowly to the door. " No escape for you son." was his parting remark. The door was firmly bolted from outside. Jaji quickly scanned the dimly lit room,no window seemed to be visible,the ceiling high so that even if he'd thought to climb ,hope was squashed now. He began to chew at his lower lip,the growing feeling of trepidation washed over him.

 Bosco turned out to be a giant that reminded him of Goliath in the bible. He came in a few minutes later holding a tray of food. Wordlessly he placed the tray on the table without so much as sparing a glance at him.
  He left the room afterwards. Out of curiosity Jaji uncovered the dish and peeked. He couldn't make out if the brown lump was a piece of yam or if the brown,stale substance was soup! He turned his head away,heart sinking deeper with each passing moment.

 He must have fallen asleep for he was jabbed into consciousness by the giant. He quickly got to his feet. Bosco held him by the collar and pulled him out and preceded him through a tiny passage that led to the backyard - a bushy expanse of land that reeked of decomposing human flesh. Jaji turned to the giant,and the priest,and now there was another man  standing close to the priest. May be he was the executioner. He must be! Uncontrollable tears began to roll down his cheeks. "Please... " he squeaked. A certain strange feeling of impending death settled in the pit of his stomach. "Please sir,let me go.." He trailed off when he saw the shinning dagger in the Giant's hand. Oh dear....his limbs buckled.

 "Hold on." came the still voice of the third man. "Don't I know you?"

 "Yes you do! " Jaji hurriedly put in,scrambling to his feet. Was this the tiny flicker of hope people often spoke about? He held the man by the hem of his flowing robe and wouldn't let go.

"Get it over and done with! Now!" the priest
commanded the giant ,who was obviously awaiting a more superior order from the man.

"You are the Okada rider who returned my money when it fell from my pocket,aren't you?I told you about the white man's job too."

 Jaji instantly remembered him. "Yes sir! Yes sir I remember you!"  That particular afternoon's incident flashed in his mind. The kind gesture. The appreciation. The job offer. The slightly crazy lebanese. Everything.

 "Don't kill me please.." Jaji's teary eyes looked up at him.

Then it happened so fast :The priest suddenly drew out
a knife from a sheath strapped to his leg side and lunged towards the man. He plunged the sharp knife right into his arm. " Kill him!" the priest bellowed at the giant.
  "Kill him." came the soft command of the man,to the giant. The giant chose to obey the man who obviously was master and shoved the dagger into the priest's chest,and dragged till vital organs ripped out. Blood oozed from the convulsing body of the dying priest. "It is well with my soul.." he muttered under his breathe,and convulsed on to death.

 "Master,you're hurt." The giant said,rushing to him, but the man seemed to be more concerned about the Okada rider. "Now take your leave. Bosco,see him to the highway where he can pick a cab -"

"No sir,i can find my way!" Jaji interjected. The giant still looked mean.

"Hahahaha," the man laughed," Bosco will do as I say. He won't hurt you."

 Jaji thanked him profusely as Bosco the giant led him away. All through the narrow walk to the highway he kept mute. He only said "goodbye" when a cab came and Jaji got seated on the passenger side.

 "Oga wetin? Na so so hmmmmm hmmmm u dey do since,I beg mek I hear word!" the driver rebuked as he sighed an umpteenth time.

"You will never know..." Jaji inwardly thought. He took a deep breathe. He was glad to be alive.

DIARY OF AN OKADA RIDER

A CLOSE SHAVE.


       Jaji always looked forward to evening time; Today was no exception. The moment it was 7pm sharp he  quickly left for home to change into yellow T shirt and a pair of jeans. He chose to wear on his feet the new sandals he purchased a day before -a light shade of brown that matched well with his pant.  He hesitated somewhat,not sure whether to wear a fez cap..then he decided against it. He reached for his wallet and carefully counted the neatly arranged naira notes in it. N1200 was good an amount to spare for the night. It could give him some bottles of cold harp,a plate of fish pepper soup and if he felt like it -buy one or two drinks for a pretty lady who caught his fancy.
 He checked that his windows were properly locked before he closed the door behind him. As he positioned on his Okada to turn the ignition he saw his Landlady walk towards him with a radiant smile on her face. It was quite unbelievable! Never had he seen Mama Kotun smile in all the two years he lived in her compound. He blinked his eyes,but there she was,the huge smile broadening as she moved closer towards him.
"Good evening Mama Kotun." He greeted,unable to take his eyes off her.
" Jaji evening." she responded and came to stand right in front of him. " where you dey go? See as you fine!"
 Jaji stilled. W-w-what?! Mama Kotun? Waves of shock coursed through his body.
" why you dey surprise? You nor know say you fine before?Abi you nor know say if you don begin dey chop money you go fine well well? See as dis your T-shirt gum your body well." Jaji looked around to see if any neighbour was close by. Fortunately there was none in sight. Tongue tied,he managed a tremulous smile and quickly got on his Okada. He didn't see her stare at his retreating back,didn't see the sigh escape her lips.
 He soon forgot about the incident on getting to  Mama Jimoh's bar. Loud music boomed in the air,scantily dressed ladies paraded themselves from one end of the bar to the other with their flirtatious laughter that rang like a thousand metallic clanks. He watched the men ogle them as he sipped his cold beer. After the glass got empty,he beckoned on the waiter for another beer which he finished in two large gulps. Before 9pm he was tipsy and had thoroughly enjoyed himself. No woman had caught his fancy and so the money was used to order for another bottle of harp instead.
 He called it a day when two drunken men started to 
yell at each other. Jaji staggered to his feet,picked up his keys and left the bar. He got on his Okada and rode away. A few minutes on the road,he felt the urge to empty his bladder. He slowed down,turned off the ignition and alighted. Quickly he unzipped his trouser and was yet  urinating when he felt a cold object press ever so closely against his arm. "W-w-who you be...." Jaji turned to query the intruder and then the words hung in his throat. Right behind him stood three fierce looking men,all armed. Mean eyes flashed at him in the dark and immediately he recognised danger. These men were a terrible lot. "Oh no!" Jaji exclaimed under his breathe before a heavy fist landed on his chin.
"If you move,we shoot ya head!" one of them uttered,infact he appeared the meanest of the trio.
 "Please....." Another blow momentarily silenced him, and then he began to whimper like a frightened mouse,afraid to even cry out. This wasn't happening,he thought to himself as he was roughly pulled into an engine revving black Honda.
 Jaji passed out.
 He woke up some minutes later in a room illuminated with a single stick of candle light. He looked around him and then slowly remembered what had happened! He had been kidnapped by those three mean looking men! Panic accelerated his heartbeat. Just then then the door creaked open and a smallish,bald headed man entered. Jaji squinted his eyes in the dark to see him clearly and saw he was dressed as a priest! He was wearing a flowing red regalia. Jaji's saliva dried instantly. The first thing that came to mind was "Money ritual"
 "Please man of God.. please sir.. I beg you in the name of God,let me go please.." Jaji began to plead earnestly,
"Sshhh son. You've be chosen," the priest smiled gently and patted his head. Instantly Jaji thought to 
escape. Before the thoughts could form vividly in his mind,the bald headed priest laughed and rasped,"There's no way of escape my son. My servants guard this place and they are all well armed. One wrong move will make things very messy for you. Be good and the sacrifice will be quick and painless!"

    To be continued...
Written by Osarhieme Okungbowa.

*Hey readers. I hope you enjoyed the story? 
I'm not seeing anyone yet mutter a prayer for Jaji . Lol
Tell me whatcha think,okay?
Kisses,Meme.

DIARY OF AN OKADA RIDER.

JAJI & THE RASTAFARIAN.

When a large drop of rain landed on Jaji's cheek he turned to look at the sky. Dark clouds had formed with the promise of rain. The air was changing;