Apartment 7 (11)

ARISHA 



The recorder stops playing and Mr. Sunday pulls it towards him.

"Seems like the case is being swept under the rug."

"I think so too."

"We can run this story tomorrow."

I smile, feeling accomplished and quite pleased with myself. My story is going to be in the papers.

"Okay sir."

"I am thinking of putting you on another assignment before your week here with us comes to an end," Mr. Sunday says, sifting through the papers on his desk for something.

I nod and wait for whatever Mr. Sunday is looking for but he comes out of his search, shaking his head, a befuddled expression on his face.

"Where did I leave those papers?" He asks, pushing his glasses up to the top of his head, and bending over in his chair until his head disappears under his desk.

"What papers sir?"

Mr. Sunday's head pops up beside the desk, his glasses hanging precariously on the bridge of his nose now.

"The ones about the mint bribery case."

"I have some of the papers."

Mr. Sunday pulls the rest of his body out from under the table and sits back in his chair.

"You do?"

I nod. "Yes sir. You gave me some days back to study."

"Good," Mr. Sunday says, adjusting his glasses. "I need you to follow that case to the best of your ability."

I remember the facts of the case and shake my head slowly.

"But isn't the case a complicated one?"

"They are all complicated my dear. You just have to resourceful as an investigative journalist."

"Trying to get to the INEC headquarters in Maitama was difficult..."

"I don't expect you to get into the mint," Mr. Sunday says with a kind smile. "The gates are manned by some serious looking soldiers. I am sure you will not be allowed entrance without an appointment from anyone there."

"So how am I supposed to investigate the case without going there?"

"Read those papers I gave you again. There are other players in the case. Find a few of them and learn whatever you can learn about them."

I narrow my eyes at the smile on Mr. Sunday's face.

"Am I the only one on this case?"

"No," Mr. Sunday says, shaking his head. "The paper has other journalists working on the case. I am just giving you an opportunity to prove yourself one more time."

"Okay sir."

"How many weeks do you have left?"

"Three."

"Hmm," Mr. Sundays says with a nod. "Just see what you can do in just one week...next week preferably."

Mr. Sunday dismisses me when he gets a call from his wife and I leave the compatriot, happy to be free from any more tasks for the day. I find a taxi at the gate and head to Lydia's place. I am halfway into the journey to Garki when my phone rings with Hannah's call.

"Hello."

"Only a few weeks and you have already forgotten me."

"No, that's not true," I protest loudly, calling the attention of the young driver with a punk hairstyle reminiscent of the 80s who looks into the rear view mirror at me. I give him an apologetic smile and go back to giving Hannah excuses for my lack of communication with her."

"How is Abuja?"

"Cold at the moment."

Hannah wants to know when I am coming back to Lagos. I am about to tell her three weeks but I remember Ladi, and realize that I am not sure about anything anymore.

"I don't know."

"Yay!!" Hannah screams into the phone, surprising me. "Arisha has gotten a job as a senator. I better start packing up to go and meet her in Abuja."

I laugh loudly, earning myself another curious stare from the taxi driver again.

"Yeah right."

"Okay, my usual clowning aside, why don't you know when you will be returning back to Lagos?"

"I am urm...just started seeing someone."

"You have a boyfriend already?" Hannah asks, sounding surprised. "That was fast."

I look out of the window, unable to find any response for my best friend.

"So who is he?"

"You don't know him."

"Is it the guy you are staying with?"

"Yes?"

"Your answer sounds like a question."

I clear my throat and repeat my answer without the inflection this time.

"What!? Are you serious?"

"Yes. And we even...we even..." I stop just in time to catch a pair of eyes watching me from the rearview mirror. "You know what? I will end the call, send you a text and then we can continue with this conversation."

Hannah's okay is confused but immediate. I type quickly, my confession short and straight to the point.

We had sex.

I call Hannah back and she is silent for some time.

"Okay," Hannah says with a sigh. "First of all, I want to know why it was so easy to break your vow of celibacy."

"I think I am in love with him."

"Maybe. Maybe not."

"I really like him Hannah and when it happened, it felt...just right."

"Hmm...okay."

"Don't worry Arisha. I have my reservations but miracles happen, so I am just going to hope for the best."

Hannah's subdued reaction to my tryst with Ladi dampens my mood. She senses this and tries to liven our conversation with a few jokes. I enjoy them but when the call ends, I go back to weighing in on my new status as Ladi's girlfriend. Did I make a mistake?



                                                **************************



"What?! Are you mad?" Lydia exclaims, stopping to blow her nose into the wad of tissue paper in her hand. "Make what mistake? He asked to date you."

"Yes, but -"

"No buts," Lydia says, wagging her finger at me. "It is too early to start having pessimistic thoughts."

"Yeah, he did."

Lydia dumps the tissue paper on the small stood beside her and break off a new wad from the roll on the same stool.

"How was it?"

I stare at Lydia, tongue tied.

"Yes," she says with a loud unhibited laugh. "It. Was it good?"

"It was okay," I tell her with a short laugh.

"Okay?"

I nod, surprised by Lydi's look of horror.

"It is not supposed to be just okay. If it is just okay, then you can back out of the relationship now."

"It was...good."

"Tell me what you guys did."

"God, Lydia, you ask too many intimate things."

"Aww...Arisha is shy."

"No, I am not."

"You are not sexually liberated," Lydia says, shaking her head. "You need to remove the restrictions from your mind."

"I don't have restrictions in my mind."

"Let me just say this," Lydia begins, wiping at her nose. "Your heart is what is more important. If it is in a good place, then you don't have to fear whatever life throws at you."

I nod at the wisdom in Lydia's words.

"You are right. I just didn't want to be intimate anymore until marriage."

"You didn't know you were going to meet someone you fancied," Lydia says with a mischievous smile.

"What happens when my course ends and I have to go back to Lagos?"

Tissue wadded to a ball in her hand, Lydia falls into deep thought. I look away from her and focus on the framed picture of a man in traditional Igbo attire above the window. Turning to Lydia, I begin to ask if the man is her father, but my phone rings out from my bag. I lift the bag from the floor to my lap and bring out the phone. The name on the screen causes me to smile.

"Hi."

"Hey."

A delicious heat begins in my lower belly and spreads to other parts at the sound of Ladi's voice.

"Are you done with your day?"

"Almost."

"Okay. I just called to check up on you."

"I will be at the apartment soon."

"Great. See you then."

Lydia is full of smiles when the call ends.

"Was that your new boyfriend?"

My smile is awkward and I give an almost embarrassed nod, but Lydia wipes her runny nose with the tissue in her hand, sniffs for the umpteenth time and says,

"Su-weet!!!"



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LADI



My cousins sit slouched on the sofas, watching me with eyes full of questions. Aisha is buried into Baba's side as usual, and like the others, she is watching me.

"Who was that?"

"Someone," I answer Dipo, shrugging and sitting down beside Joseph.

"Raina?"

I shake my head at Baba. "No."

"You are wasting your time," Joseph tells Dipo. "Ladi likes keeping things to himself."

"Na woman sha."

I smile at Baba. "Yes, you are right."

"Arisha," Aisha says simply, a wide smile on her face.

The boys turn to her and then turn to me with surprised eyes. Dipo is the one to speak first.

"You were speaking to your flat mate that way?"

"She is my guest actually."

"Still the same," Joseph insists, crossing his arms against his chest and inclining his head to study me. "You sound like you are already sticking it in her."

"Hey, mind your language," Baba says, clamping his hands over Aisha's ears. "You want to spoil my girlfriend abi?"

Aisha laughs and slaps away Baba's hands from her ears. "So erm..." She says, turning to me. "Are you guys an item now?"

"Yes."

"I knew you liked that girl," Baba says with a smirk. "It was written all over you, even when you were walking around with a frown on your face."

"Ladi only likes her because they have done the dirty jor," Dipo says, a playful snarl on his face.

"You are wrong," I tell Dipo with a shake of head.

"So, when did you start liking her then?"

"I can't remember."

"Guys, stop bothering Ladi with crazy questions," Baba says, coming to my defence. "They are now together and that is all that matters."

"So what about Raina? What happens to her?"

"We are friends now," I tell Dipo with a shrug.

"How safe is that?"

"How safe is what?"

"Your friendship with Raina," Baba says, frowning thoughtfully at me. "You guys have broken up for how long...three months?"

"Five months."

"And she came to Abuja with the hope of getting you back..."

"Well, that is not happening and we are cool with being just friends now."

"You don't need to be friends with her Ladi. Just let go."

I raise my eyebrow at Baba. "You don't like her very much, do you?"

"I like her," Baba answers with a nod. "I just don't see the point in your decision to be friends with her now."

I promise to do something about my friendship with Raina, and before Baba can continue with the conversation, the cook comes in to announce dinner. Looking at my wristwatch, I tell my cousins I have to return back to the apartment.

“You are not staying for dinner?”

I pick up my suit jacket from the sofa, and shake my head at Dipo.

“I had a late lunch.”

My cousins exchange knowing looks and smile at each other. I ignore them, choosing instead to nod at Aisha.

“Goodnight.”

I leave the house in Maitama, thoughts of Raina on my mind. Since that call at the mint, I have not heard from her. She had sounded genuinely concerned about Arisha, but like Baba pointed out, she had come to Abuja with the hope of getting me back. Maybe it is wrong to trust her.

“I should stop encouraging her,” I say to myself, stopping before a red light.

What if she is right about Arisha?

“What if she is wrong?” I ask my inner voice. Thankfully, it falls silent.


                                     

                                     *******************************



ARISHA



I turn as someone calls my name. A figure steps out from the shadows around the perimeter of the fence as I hand money over to the taxi driver. Raina.

“Hello Raina.”

Raina is lovely in black jeans and a long sleeved floral print top. There is a faint sparkle of gloss on her lips as she smiles at me.

“I have been waiting for you,” she says, drawing to a stop before me and giving me a friendly appraisal.

“Okay,” I nod and begin to turn to the gate. “Will you like to come in?”

Raina steps back and shakes her head. “No.”

I switch my bag from my right hand to my left hand as she looks at the road for some seconds. She soon asks if I will like a drink at a bar down the road.

“I am not too sure,” I tell her, wearing a tired look. “I am a little worn out at the moment.”

Grabbing my hand in a move that surprises me, Raina begs me to come along with her to the bar. Suffering from guilt and a need to please, I give in to her demand and let her lead me in the opposite direction of the apartment.

“I won’t stay long though.”

Raina gives me a kind smile. “Don’t worry; we will be out of there in no time. I just think it will be nice to hang out with you before heading back to my cousin’s place.”

I nod, throwing one long look at the tall cream coloured building behind me, wondering if Ladi has returned back to the apartment.



                                       *******************************



LADI



Arisha is not at the apartment when I return. I decide to use the opportunity to talk to Mr. Uchendu who had called me earlier while I was at Maitama. I had been in the middle of a discussion with my uncle and could not receive his call.

“Sorry I missed your call earlier. I was kind of busy.”

Mr. Uchendu acknowledges my apology and tells me he was calling to talk about his friend’s progress with the investigation at Va Rue.

“He says he has no idea why your uncle’s company was indicted, but that it appears that the guys in Australia mentioned doing business with your uncle.”

“Interesting.”

“I think something can still be done to clear your uncle’s name from the scandal. At the party at Jabi Lake this Saturday, there will be a couple of highly placed friends we can talk to on your uncle’s behalf.”

I try not to sigh at the tempting morsel Mr. Uchendu dangles before me. I was cornered. Even though Uncle Hassan is doing his best to get out of the unpleasant situation he has found himself, I feel inclined to help the man I consider my second father. I will be attending Mr. Uchendu’s party.

“I will be there.”

I can hear the smile in Mr. Uchendu’s voice when he says, “fantastic.”

I start to pull the phone away from my ear but Mr. Uchendu is saying something.

“I am sorry I missed that. What did you say?”

“Oh...okay. I was just saying it will be a lot better if you came alone to the party.”

Deciding that a 360 degree turn was bad for my business relationship with Mr. Uchendu, I make the promise to turn up at his party alone and he is a happy man when he ends the call.

Free of any more obligations for the day, I switch off my blackberry and walk to the bathroom to wash away the stress and disappointment of the day. In the hot steaming shower, I try not to think of the fact that the apartment feels empty without Arisha.



                                                 ******************************



ARISHA



I close the door gently, and feel myself come alive at the sight of Ladi’s car keys on the dining table. I pause at his door for a minute and turn back to the guest room. I needed some space to clear my head and wash away the unpleasant smell of cigarette from my body. On my way to the bathroom, I stand and survey the room. After staying in Ladi’s room for two straight nights, the room was beginning to look empty.

“Maybe I should stay here tonight,” I tell myself, remembering my short conversation with Raina. “I need to clear my head.”

I spend fifteen minutes in the shower debating my decision. When I finally step out of shower, I change into a mint green sleeveless night shirt, and leave the guest room for Ladi’s room, phone in hand.



                                         *******************************



LADI



I am tugging the hem of my shirt over my body, eye on the iPhone in my hand when I hear the door open and turn towards it. Arisha floats towards me, fresh faced and wearing a small smile on her face. She is in a sleeveless sleep wear with a heart shaped lace trim in front of it that exposes much of her chest.

I drop the phone on the bed stand and pull my shirt down to meet the waist band of my shorts. Arisha stops before me and leans on a tip toe to offer me her lips. I wrap my arms around her and kiss her deeply.

“You came back quite late,” I tell her when I pull back at the end of the kiss.

Arisha gives me a searching look before talking about a late meeting with her mentor at the compatriot. Her halting speech does not convince me and I wonder what she is trying to hide from me.

“Come,” I say, pulling her down to the bed. “You look like you have a lot on your mind. Do you want to talk about it?”

Arisha shakes her head slowly. “No.”

“You are quiet this evening.”

“Sorry,” Arisha says, leaning over to drop a kiss on my chin. I narrow my eyes at her, feeling a surge of emotion sweep through me. I lean to trace the outline of her lips.

“You have a nice way of kissing me in odd places.”

A smug smile lights up Arisha’s face, “Really?”

“Yes,” I tell Arisha with a smile of my own, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere. Pulling back the covers, I invite Arisha in for a cuddle, and she slips in beside me, wrapping her arms around my middle.

“Ladi?”

“Yeah?”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“Are you working for a company called Hassan and Sons?”

Completely taken by surprise with the question Arisha has just thrown at me, my mind goes blank for a minute. It is the feel of Arisha’s hands travelling down to the waist band of my shorts that forces back my flow of thoughts again. I capture her hand and lace my fingers through her own.

“Why?”

“I just want to know,” Arisha says, moving her head back from my chest to look up at me. There is no escape from the earnest eyes boring into my own.

“Yes.”

“Hmm,” Arisha says, trying to wriggle her fingers free of my grasp. I release her hand and she smiles gratefully at me before resuming her exploration, a frown of seriousness on her face. “Is that why you asked to see the papers I brought from the compatriot last week?”

I sigh and nod at Arisha, half expecting her to storm out of my room in anger, but she merely shakes her head.

“You didn’t have to pretend about it.”

“Sorry.”

A long silence follows her soft rebuke and my apology. Finally, she wants to know if I had dinner. I tell her I am not hungry. She presses her body against my own and asks what I want I do.

“A lot.”

Giving me smile that says she can read my mind, Arisha sits up to slip the night shirt over her head. Lying back down on the bed, she reaches out a hand to pull me towards her. I go willingly.



                                            ***************************



ARISHA



Ladi is an expert lover as usual, and I manage to forget for the duration of our lovemaking that our future together hangs in the balance. Finding his release minutes after I find my own, he rolls over to his back, keeping one arm around me. I stare at the ceiling, hearing Raina’s words as if she stands over the bed whispering them.

Do you like him? We talked about you some days back....He finds it hard to commit...be careful...I hope he is not using you.

I feel Ladi stirring beside me and turn to him. He is on his side now and his eyes are guarded as he looks at me.

“You have something on your mind. Do you want to talk about it?”

I attempt a smile. “It is nothing.”

“Talk about it Arisha.”

I decide to share only one of my fears.

“I am just thinking about the fact that I will be leaving back to Lagos in a few weeks from now.”

“We are dating now, there should be no talks of returning back to Lagos,” Ladi tells me, his face softening as he leans to kiss me. I give him a reassuring smile and slip my arms around him.

“Okay.”

Later that night, I watch the rise and fall of Ladi’s chest as he sleeps. I know that I have fallen in love with him, but I also know that there are difficult days ahead.