Ajira

Among all the foods set on the dining table was a greenish spicy food, decorated with assorted meat. Its aroma barged into Ajira’s room like a robber. Her two legs were so faster than her body, walking to the dining table with Ann her friend in her hand. Ann could’ve made her realized that her food will not run from her on the table but it a pity, her mouth was a knitted one with cotton, and it whole body with wool. “Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! happy birthday to you Ajira…. happy birthday to you!!!” The melodious birthday song was sang by her father, Dr. Adigun. It has become habitual of him to sing for his daughter annually during her birthdays. He is always her first wisher on her birthdays, he had once come to check her in her room but she was busy in the toilet. ”Good morning Papa, hope you had a peaceful night?” She greeted her dad with her teeth opened to show how excited she was. “Morning to you my one and only daughter, may this birthday brings you immense wisdom and knowledge to overcome life trials, may all you dreams come through in Jesus name”. “AMEN!!!” The thunderous Amen was said by a thinning voice that hanged behind the cotton that demarcates the dining table from the living room to interrupt the prayer warrior. The voice was possessed by a radiant young woman in her early 40s. Her black skin color was the actual definition of African beauty. “Husband and wife, I know you won’t let us rest today, where are we going to party today?” Asked jokingly by the radiant woman “Darling, come and join us, we are planning on going to the airport” said Dr. Adigun. “No no no Papa, we are not going there again this year” Ajira declined to airport because she and her parent visited there last year when she turned 17. To her the airport is obsolete, not even on her 18th birthday, a day she had been waiting for in all her entire life. To her, turning 18 is the real meaning of independent and freedom from her mama’s excessive nagging. Not only that, she is also excited because her franchise right would not be denied anymore, she now has the right to vote and be voted for. Ajira was a girl bless with height, she had once wanted to go for voters card registration, but she was reprimanded by her father. “Okay okay my daughter, tell me, where should we go?” Asked her father calmly “I would love to visit the park” said boastfully by Ajira “Okay! done” “Are you not going to take me along?” Asked Mrs. Adigun “You would go with us on a condition” said Ajira. “what’s the condition” asked her mother. “On the condition that you won’t meddle with me and Papa” muttered Ajira. “Okay o my husband’s wife” Agreed jokingly with a grin on her face. The rain of warm water that fell on Ajira summoned her from the past to the present, realizing that she had only been taken aback by her thought to the days of her delicious beginning, she opened her eyes slowly, her hands she noticed inside the kitchen zinc restored her to state, realizing that she is in her uncle’s house and she had been washing plates since noon till the evening. “What’s all these nonsense Ajira? Are you out of your mind? Oh my God! What have you done Ajira?” Asked Ajoke, her sister inlaw. Ajira looked at the direction Ajoke pointed to, she opened her mouth in disbelief of what she saw.