Ajira

Chapter 6

The sun has opened the door and fully ready to rest. The moon has also been jogging round the sky, fully ready to take over. But before the sun gone to rest, it captured the shadow of a young lady with lanky legs walking wackily towards the gate, she bent down and raised her head up and sent her hand to her hair to adjust it well before she opened the gate, it was Ajira, she opened the gate and walked in, she lifted up her eyebrow and glanced her problematic sister in-law sitting on the sofa. She was already at the door before she was stopped by Ajoke.

“What’s the time on that your nonsense phone?” asked Ajoke.

“It’s 6:30 ma” Ajira replied coldly

“Just imagine, 6:30, and you closed at 4 o, abi?”

“Yes, I was reading at the library, that’s why?

“Pele o Wole Soyinka daughter, see the plates are in the zinc waiting for your hand, and the cloths also are in the basket waiting.” said Ajoke pointing her hand to the kitchen direction.

The stressful day has swallowed words from her mouth, but her face expression showed her displeasure in what her sister in-law said. She proceeded to her room and sat on the bed, she stood up and walked around the room with furious face, she knelt down and looked up to heaven.

“My God, when will all this come to an end? I’ve tasted nothing but water since sunrise, Oh lord help me”. She rose on her knee and proceeded to the kitchen to do the chores.

Her hands had finished working in the zinc, the handkerchief on the kitchen door was eagerly ready for her hands, she cleaned her hands and left to check the food on fire. After she has observed the food, she opened the freezer and saw a cold bigi apple and loaves of bread.

“Even if this would be my last, I’m going to eat it” She said.

She opened the freezed apple juice, her mouth was impatient, she sent it to her dry throat through her hand. She sigh, she opened the bread and gob it like someone from the desert, she felt a cool breeze in her body after the last zip of the apple juice.

Oblivious to Ajira, her sister in-law was already at the kitchen door watching her.

“And that might eventually be your last as you said. I can’t believe it, you sat down there comfortably and ate my children tomorrow’s breakfast with that your mouth. You’re so wicked. Elebi omo oshi, alajenu”

“It is fine” replied Ajira.

She stood up and walked out angrily with tears on her beautiful face. She opened the gate and left for comfort zone. She sat on the floor, she looked into her hand and saw the remaining loaves of bread, she wanted to throw it into the bush beside her but she threw it in her mouth. She was about to begin her habitual conversation with the stars when she noticed a hand on her face from behind. She removed the hand and looked back.

“It’s you, how’re you doing?” she said with a smile

“I’m okay. What brings you here again? said Alex.

“Just to relieve myself, and you” said Ajira “Same here” replied Alex.

“Thanks for the other time, I’m also sorry for behaving like that” said Ajira

“Behaving like how?” asked Alex.

“For hugging you, it was so disgusting” Alex laughed with her teeth wide open.

“Ajira, I want to tell you something”

“What’s that?” asked Ajira.