DIARY OF AN OKADA RIDER

      (   ....AND HELL LET LOOSE!)
8th of Oct' 2013

The day dragged on like an overfed rat; Perhaps it was that time of the year when you had longer days and shorter nights..?Jaji didn't know what to think. He'd woken to a bright,promising day. The first few hours of the day had him convey many passengers to their various destinations.. untill it clocked 12noon and time seemed to stand still.
 As he made it down to Mama Jimoh's,he had his mind on hot pounded yam with Okra soup.Just thinking of it now made his mouth water as he marched harder on the accelerator. What was life without good food?He rhetorically mused. And if one could afford it,why not? The last passenger had been an elderly man who hadn't remembered to ask for his balance money after he'd paid..and the one before that left her balance money for him.
At the restaurant he'd barely sat at a particular spot he'd a soft spot for, when an Angel walked in elegantly. The angel was a very tall,dark skinned beauty. Literally she took his breath away,made him speechless for many seconds. Jeez,she-was-BEAUTY epitomized! He couldn't help but stare..stare..stare..and just then,Angel caught his eyes and smiled. He nearly fainted. He smiled back tremulously. This wasn't him! Anxious,agitated,and almost incapacitated over a woman -oh sorry -an angel?! He continued to gaze at her as she pulled out a chair close to his. She sat gingerly,her head bent over the menue on the table.
 He thought of going to her. He shrugged off the uncanny feeling of intimidation. He'd always been bold,so what was holding him back now? He found himself getting up. He found himself asking if he could join her and also found himself hiding a triumphant smile when she obliged him. Few minutes later they were chatting away with Ada laughing uncontrollably at some joke he threw. Yeah,Ada was the angel's name. She said she lived with her mum and three siblings,schooled at the University of Jos but was around because Of the Asuu strike.
 "How old are you?" Jaji asked gently,smitten by her beauty. She looked so fragile..an ethereal creature he instantly wanted to protect and keep. But he was an Okada rider,some mocking voice whispered in his head. Oh dear..could his meagre income cater to her needs?
Ada lowered her eyelids demurely and responded," twenty three."
" you look younger!" Jaji exclaimed,unconsciously reaching for her rosy cheeks.
"Yeah,i know" she smiled. Jaji smiled back. He'd ordered for a drink for her after she muttered she wasn't hungry. Now his own meal arrived. The sweet smelling savour of the soup made him lick his lips. Ada lowered her eyes again. "Please Jaj,dont do that..." she whispered.
Hmmm,he loved the "Jaj" part of his name! No one had ever called him that.
"Do what?". He asked,frowning slightly.
"Lick your lips. U have such beautiful lips I must say."
Jaji's heartbeat sumersaulted. He was loving this girl already. She was so sweet -young,intelligent,beautiful,and had this touch of vulnerability. Jaji licked his lips again and amusedly watched her stare at them before she looked away shyly. Jaji in no time finished his meal. Now what next? What would be her reaction if she found he was an Okada rider who lived in one room apartment in Mama Kotun's barrack-like compound?
"I'll ride with you." she said quietly. Jaji's eyes rounded in shock.
"I saw u park your motorcycle outside. I was on the other side of the road," she explained. Jaji's face lit with joy;a joy so profound that he didn't know when he grabbed and lifted her off her feet. She twirled in the air amidst the glare and glee of onlookers. Mama Jimoh was looking at them from the adjoining bar,a big smile plastered on her face. Her customer was smitten. Unlike the Jaji she knew who was hard,and had this nonchalant air about him,this one was quite the opposite. She gulped down her throat the remaining cold Harp from her glass cup.
 Jaji lowered his Okada when they got outside,and Ada sat astride behind him. He asked if she was comfortable. She nodded in the affirmative as Jaji turned on the ignition.
 They rode for a few hours and suddenly the day was getting dark. The thought of Ada leaving him tugged painfully at his heart. Again she seemed to read his mind and said,"I'm missing you so much already..like I've known you for ages. I'll come with you."
"y-y-you say?"
"You heard me Jaj. I'll come along. Let me get to know your place and then you'll drop me off later." Her words were almost inaudible,her expression sad,hesitant.
"Will love that!" Jaji beamed. He whistled merrily as he rode home. Kotun,his Landlady's eldest daughter was sitting outside splitting melon when they alighted from the Okada. Her eyes spat venom upon seeing Jaji with a woman,and an angel at that. She wouldn't salute him and even when he did,she hissed and turned her face away.
" Ada,you're welcome to my place. Please sit down." She did. He offered her a drink. She declined. She just sat there with that soft,vulnerable smile. Jaji cursed Mike the Electrician who wouldn't repair his C.D player since three weeks now ; they would have been listening to nice music. Music kind of livened the air. He sat by her and somehow the conversation started. He realized Ardent was a rapt listener when he spoke.. and a good talker when he listened. The evening was going smoothly, enjoyably...and Jeez, a peek at the wallclock confirmed 11pm! Jaji gasped. "I didn't realize...." he was cut short by a finger across his lips. "Shhhh dear. It's okay. Please take me home."
 "Thanks for understanding. Honestly I didn't know time had flown this fast!" He reached for her. He meant to tell her good night but the words locked in his throat. He was missing her already. The hug was tight and expressed his emotions. Ada responded by burying her head on his shoulder,her hands wrapped around his neck. And they started to kiss! It was happening so fast. Two hungry lips locked in sensuous frenzy. Jaji kissed her eyes,nose,lips,her neck.. she pulled back slightly but Jaji wouldn't allow that. He began to stroke her arms with deft hands,moved them to perky mounds of soft breasts.. Ada moaned. By the time he lowered her to the mattress on the floor,she was ready for him. Her thighs parted as he plunged deep into her.
They made love over and over and Ada soon forgot about home.
 The next morning Jaji felt a jab on his ribs. He yawned and sat upright. It was Ada,already dressed up and glowering. " Good Morning my Angel..." Jaji was rudely interrupted -"Which morning good?!" Ada bellowed furiously. "Abeg wake proper mek you pay me my money!"
 Jaji blinked. He wasn't sure he heard right.. "w-w-what???"
" I say mek you do,pay me my money wey you tek handle me last night till this morning! If not,i go shout o! You know say dis ya house na barrack,now now dem go sorround you and na shame E go be for you!"
 Jaji stuttered,"A-A-Ada! Is this you?"
" No,na Caroline! Abeg giv me TDB money mek I comot ya. Angel my bottom!" she hissed,her voice a fraction louder now.
"What's TDB? " Jaji asked. Now it was obvious she was a prostitute and it hurt and irked him that he had fallen  for her stupid,cheap lies! How could he not have known? The shy look,her the brazen compliments on his lips,the self invitation to come with him..oh,and to think he had started to habour strong feelings for her?
" before I count 1 -5,if you no give me my five thousand,na for news dem go carry us!"
"I no get five thousand." Jaji said.
"Okay nah! Why you come dey form surprised?! You see girl for bar,you dey form love. You carry am come house,u bulalah am,and you no wan pay?"
"Hmmm," Jaji quirked his lips lipsidedly," I go give you three thousand, if you no take.........."
" you dey craze!" she screamed. Jaji quickly closed her mouth with his left palm. "Okay,okay,mek you dey go. I go give you four thousand!"
" mek am 4,500 so dat I go jejely comot,if not compound people go tanda here now now!"
 Jaji promptly agreed. He counted the 4,500 Naira from underneath the mattress. He handed the money to Her. "Thank you Ada -"
 "-who be Ada? My name na Mabel!!!". She laughed heartily. She didn't care that Jaji's eyes had gone icily cold,or that his jaw clenched in undiluted fury. " Next time you see woman for bar,no love am!" she said as she walked out the door.
 Jaji stared at the closed door for sometime and burst into laughter. What a way to begin the day!