OUT OF COMFORT ZONE

Mom and I left home before my two brothers, Jasper and Yusuf, got home. Mom insisted on following me to the park as if I was a teenager, giving the excuse she wanted to get greens in Terminus. I had the feeling she wanted to make sure I wasn't going somewhere else from Lagos. 

We got into a tricycle at Fototech Junction, and I send a text to Eric telling him I was taking off that night and that he should pick me up the next morning. 

I got an instant reply: Great! See you tomorrow. 

I felt a tinge of uncertainty again and I wondered if I was doing the right thing. But the thought of Talatu and the doctor getting married ran across my mind and pushed every doubt out. This was the only hope I had left to counter the doctor from taking Talatu to the UK. 

Mom and I sat in silence like strangers while the tricycle sped toward Tafawa Balewa Street. 

'Did you pick your credentials?' mom asked. 

'Yes.'

We sat in another silence listening to the tricycle's engine until we got to the motor park.

'Get in and get your ticket,' Mom said as soon as we got down. 'I will catch up with you.' 

She pulled the fare out of her purse and gave it to me. I turned and walked into the park, hugging my bag closely. I ran into the park, avoiding cars and people. I was in luck; I got the second to the last ticket on the last bus going to Lagos. Mom met me and stayed with me until the last passenger came and boarded the bus. 

'I have to go,' I said. 'The bus is ready to leave.'

'Okay,' mom said. 'Have a safe journey and call me when you arrive tomorrow.'

'I will,' I said, and walked toward the bus. 

'Paul?' 

I turned. 'Yes?'

She hesitated. 'Be careful; Lagos is not like Jos.'

'Okay.'

'And you can return home if things don't work out.'

I nodded. 

I climbed into the bus and found my seat. I looked through the window; mom stood where I left her and remained in that position until the bus began to move. I waved at her, but couldn't tell if she saw me and waved back.

I sat back on my chair and belched. The smell of the beans I eat that rose up to my nose I hoped it didn't get to my neighbors. The bus crawled through the evening traffic, going like an old sick train, heading out of town. I relaxed on my seat, ready for the arduous twelve hours' journey. 

I looked to my left and to my right; the two guys sitting on either side of me had headphones clamped to their ears—a clear indication they didn't want to chitchat. This was okay with me since I didn't want to chat either. 

I pulled out my phone and looked at it for a long time. Then I dialed Talatu's number. Her phone rang but she did not answer. I tried again and again; she did not answer. I felt black despair walking around the muscles of my heart. The thought of the doctor holding her hands and... 

My phone began to ring. Talatu was calling back! A surge of warmth rushed through all parts of body and I sat straight.

'Hello,' I said.

'Hello,' a voice answered at the other end. A man's voice.

'Hello,' I said again. 'Who is this?'

'This is Talatu's fiancé, Doctor Agaba. Can I help you?'

I said nothing.

'I want you to stop calling this number or I will tell the police that you are harassing her.'

I still said nothing.

'Don't call her again or you will find yourself in a police case. Do you understand?'

I found my voice. 'Did Talatu tell you I am harassing her? Are you her mouth piece?'

This time the silence was on the other side.

'I've warned you,' Dr. Agaba said. 'From what I learnt, you don't have a job. If I were you, I will manage my life and not get into the trouble. I have the resources to make you stay in jail for a long time if you ever call this line again. Do you understand?' 

I heard the beep of the line cutting off before I thought of another reply. I left the phone stuck to my ear for close to a minute before I brought it down. I wished I had a gun and was in a lonely place with him...

I fixed the headphones to my ears. I scrolled through the music list until I got to Asa. I pressed the play button and closed my eyes, knowing my heart would get sicker but caring less. 

The bus jerked suddenly and I opened my eyes. There was another jerk, and it shook the entire bus and the passengers. The engine roared and came to a sudden stop, but the bus continued to roll for a couple of meters before it stopped. I pulled off the headphones from my ears.

'What's going on?' the guy sitting to my right asked. 

'I don't know,' I said. 'Can this bus get us to Lagos?'

'I hope so,' the guy to my left said. 'Otherwise they should return my fare and let me go back home while we are still in the city. I don't want to be stranded in the middle of nowhere.'

The engine started but stopped immediately. It started again, and this time it grunted and twanged, cranked and jerked, then roared back to life. The driver stepped on the gas pedal and the engine roared some more. Then the bus began to move, slowly at first, and then it picked up speed.

I looked through the windows; the houses lining the roads had lights on them and I could pick out the familiar streets as the bus sped away. The engine maintained a steady rhythm and my fears about the bus breaking down began to ebb away. 

I plugged the headphones back and closed my eyes again. I increased the volume on the phone, overriding the warning of the potential injury to my ears. It's a long way to Lagos and I allowed Asa to accompany me into my destiny.