How long I have waited fulfilling this
purpose, that I can actually begin my sales on clothes! My hope had a renewal
in fulfilling things in this life as I woke up from my bed. It was not tough in
choosing the best location to get the needed materials that will suit quality
and enhance profit for my sale, Lagos state was my first and final conclusion.
I got dressed up and began my journey. On getting to the bus stop, the air was
filled with calls for different destination and my ears filtered in search, Eko!
Eko! Eko! The conductor kept calling for passengers, and soon enough the bus
was filled. We began our journey and checking my watch, it was a good time to
have a quick return, all things beings equal. It was quite throughout the
journey and no road suprises. I thanked God for my safe journey along that thin
road where big trailers will by-pass us like we will be blown off the road. It
was quite a relieve getting down finally, I met with my boy friend who had
waited for me at the Lagos bus stop. We both went straight to the market as he
guided me into buying my materials appropriately. It was some minutes past
five, evening time as we returned back to the bus stop; I decided to head back
to Abeokuta instead of going back to the school institution I was attending. We
both agreed on my reasons to do so and bid ourselves goodbye with our lovely
smiles and the bus driver drove off.
In a short distance, the bus began with
strange and slow movement which most of passengers noticed, we complained to
him on common ground, with various voices giving several suggestions, oga
driver! Stop this bus now! take us into another bus o! if you know this bus
won’t take us to our destination. He remained adamant to his will; he kept
driving like all is safe. Soon enough, we began to experience the bus moving in
a reverse direction as we climbed up the hill, the bus couldn’t accelerate.
Drop us! Drop us o! some passengers lament, in minutes smoke filled the whole
bus, I began to hear Arabic citation behind me like the woman is praying for
God’s protection, the bus kept moving back. I couldn’t move out, I was not sure
of what to do. A man sitting behind me had jumped out through the window, only
to ask for his son to be thrown out after ensuring his own safety. Sir! Please let
me excuse me, I was possibly thinking of jumping down, but the man’s response
was odd, when he entered I saw him with some mechanic tools, like he knew what
was going on, he kept mute, unshaked. He told me to fill relaxed. I couldn’t
hold on, almost everyone had gone down the bus one way or the other. Please
sir! Excuse me, he consented and as I was about to find my way down with my
linen materials, I felt a hot liquid splash to my face, oh shit! My mind cut
up. Don’t touch it, and don’t scratch it were the voices all around me.
Finally, the bus stopped and I got down with my eyes luckily okay. Quickly, I
went to the conductor, holding him, give me my money! My money now! Like he
knew fresh trouble was coming he handed to me quick. I need a new bus to my
final destination; it’s getting late and dark now.
Abeokuta! Abeo-ku- taa! another bus
conductor called out, I got into the bus, I was becoming stressed, headache, my
eyes was aching, I thought of my glasses, oh! I need my glasses. Now it’s
getting darker, colder, a journey of approximately one hour thirty minutes
going to over three hours, lament cuddle with my pain as we kept driving into
the dark night, I closed my eye to site relieve to the pains after receiving a
call from my parent. I began to hear various rumbling, voices, complains from
passengers, let me get down, I opened my eyes, I watched the bus conductor
block the exit, pushing one another, let me get down o! people from behind
began to rant curses as they got prevented from alighting the bus. It was worse
the time again, same problem as the first, the bus decelerate but now it was in
a wrong direction, probably into the long hollow along the road if we had a
drunkard as a driver, finally the bus found a stance, I couldn’t believe my
eyes. Everyone rush down, now its past nine on a lone road, how can I get a bus
from here, oh! My phone! With low bar! At this stage I had to switch off my
phone’s network. Like a lucky charm, this bus came on. I went in with other
passengers. The pain increased more, I went straight in and slept off in soothe
relieve. I began to feel small taps like someone calling me from a far
distance, it kept on until I woke up, the woman in her yoruba native attire
gave me a signal, talking silently to me, this is not the time to sleep, sit
straight, as she showed me a way to sit demonstrating like I am the only one
who can understand. I recalled various scenario people have told me of,
experiencing kidnappings, rape, I concur to her talk, I was feeling a relieve
to my eye pain at this time.
Eventually, I got to Abeokuta, got a car
to my final destination. The whole street was dark, silent. I walked slowly on
the street as I move towards the gate of my house, coming into the compound, I
checked the time, it was 12:00 midnight, I looked up to see my parent still
awake, I promised myself within never to trouble my parent with worries this
much. I went in so tired, I couldn’t take my bath or eat, my glasses to my
eyes, went to my bed and slept off.
[MICHAEL SEUNOLUWA]
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