KEHINDE

Chapter 5

    Tobi jumps up on sighting the clean car that sped into the compound, He stands at the corridor trying to figure out who was driving the car for some time, When he couldn't he makes his way out of the corridor, As soon as the driver's door gets opened he sights a fair-skinned woman getting out of the car.

She didn't look old though he thought wondering who she was but becomes alert when he sights a fair-skinned girl coming out of the passenger's seat, He needed no prophet to tell him that she was the lady's daughter, They looked alike, He smiled while he checked her out, She was really slim but her a*s just killed it, it was really big plus the hips which he watched her sway from left to right but realizes himself when he hears his mother's voice.

"Ahan Aburo Mi," Iya Meji says in a loud voice while she hurriedly walked towards the lady and her daughter, Tobi didn't need a soothsayer to tell they where related.

"Ekale Ma," Mrs. Adebayo says while kneeling down meanwhile Kehinde rolls her eyes in disgust, She just had to behave like her mum told her to.

"Good afternoon ma," Kehinde greets

"Is this Kehinde? Iya Ibeji asks her sister looking amazed, She is now a big girl," Iya ibeji says remembering the last time she saw her niece, She was still a baby meanwhile Kehinde couldn't help but notice there was no trace of Yoruba in her accent and lets out a smile.

"Ah, Tobi come over here," Iya meji beckons at Tobi meanwhile Kehinde couldn't help but direct her gaze on the boy who was approaching them, He looked her age and wasn't looking bad she noted while she looked at him.

"Mummy," Tobi says while he approached his mum.

"So this is Tobi? He is now a big boy" Mrs Adebayo says.

"Good afternoon ma," Tobi says trying to be formal.

"Ba wo ni?" Mrs Adebayo asks her nephew.

"Fine ma," Tobi responds.

"Tobi that's your cousin," Mrs. Adebayo says turning to Kehinde.

"Hi," Tobi says avoiding eye contact with his cousin, She was really beautiful, It was really silly of him to think of his cousin in such manner he thought while he released a smile.

"Hi," Kehinde says

" Tobi," he responds

"Jasmine," she reluctantly says

"Thought its Kehinde?" He asks meanwhile Kehinde releases a small smile.

"Nah, Jasmine" She responds.

"Children of now our days, Let's go inside jare," Iya meji says while ushering her sister and niece in. Tobi gets the bags she says to her son before going in with her sister and niece.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

" ki lo ru ko e?" Alhaja asks Kehinde who respond saying Jasmin with a smile

"Jasminu" Alhaja calls out, Tobi couldn't help but smile and Chuckle's cause of the way his grandma could easily turn and English name to a Yoruba name.

"Kehinde ma," Mrs. Adebayo says to Alhaja meanwhile Kehinde couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"Kehinde, Ba wo ni?" Alhaja asks

"Fine ma," Kehinde says with the utmost respect, She was really angry with her mum, cause she knew how much Kehinde hated been addressed by that name but told them.

While the women were discussing, Kehinde couldn't help but observe the yard, It wasn't really like the other houses she had seen.

She knew there were so many inhabitants because she had noticed few women troops in and out of the doors she saw.

"Ekale ma," She hears a gentle voice greet

"Ah Alfa, Ba wo ni?" Alhaja replies the person meanwhile Kehinde turns her head to see who it was, But only see's the person's back, due to the fact he was already opening his door, Since she couldn't get to see his face she turns her face from his direction and continues observing her new environment.

     The fact she wasn't really happy she was there was obvious but she had decided to be on her best behavior remembering it wasn't her father's house and the fact she was now staying with someone. If this place could help her forget her grief why not give it a shot she wonders when her eyes suddenly meets with that of Tobi who just let's out a small smile and she does same wondering why she felt okay with him been fully aware of the way she had been behaving towards guys lately, She comes to a conclusion that he was her cousin so why wouldn't she? She thought

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Kehinde sits on the bed meditating on what her mum said before she left that evening, She gave money for upkeep which she reluctantly accepted.

"Kehinde behave yourself and be on your best behavior" Mrs. Adebayo said looking grim meanwhile Kehinde wonders how cold-hearted her mum had become, She didn't feel anything dropping her or would she say dumping her here. She didn't even give her a hug or even comfort her before driving out.

She wonders if her mum really loved her while she sits on the bed and couldn't help but notice how big and spacious the room was, It had four big beds in it and they were all neatly arranged, The room wasn't richly furnished like hers but she looked at it with content. she smiles out when she noticed a girl walk in, Looking at the girl in front of her she wouldn't be more than twenty she guessed she was covering a black Hijab which was up to her knees and a big flay skirt which was sweeping the floor, She watched the girl stare at her startled.

It was obvious the girl didn't notice someone was in before she walked in. she studied the girls face for some time, She was really a black beauty. Her small face in the Hijab she thought while staring at the girl meanwhile the girl breaks the silence.

"Sorry didn't know someone was inside," She says meanwhile Kehinde stares at her, Seriously the girl didn't really have the Yoruba accent.

"Wow the people here wasn't as bad as she thought" she mutters but gets back to her senses when the girl introduces her self.

"I'm Istinjabat,"

"Jasmine," Kehinde responds.

"Jasmine," Istinjabat says meanwhile Kehinde stared at her shocked that she could pronounce it properly.

"Are those yours?" Istinjabat asked pointing at the boxes that were close to the bed.

" Yes," Kehinde responds

"Alright, come let me help you arrange them," Istinjabat says while walking to where the boxes were Meanwhile Kehinde just stares at her surprised at how welcoming she was.

   While they were busy arranging the clothes two girls walk into the room, Kehinde uses her eyes to study them, One was fair-skinned, She needed no preacher to tell her it was her cousin Tolani.

She hadn't really seen her before but she guessed, The resemblance was evident, She turned to the other girl who she also guessed was their age.

She was putting on a  hijab but it was on her shoulder level unlike Istinjabat she noted and didn't fail to notice that Tolani had none on her and her neatly braided shuku was packed and really fitted her so well, She was indeed beautiful.

"Omolola!" Istinjabat who just notices there presents calls out.

"I'm tired oh" Omolola says to no one in particular while she makes her self comfortable on a bed. She notices Kehinde and smiles at her with a lot of questions in her eyes meanwhile Tolani walks down to where she was sitting and lies on the bed, Still yet to notice her cousin.

"Istinjabat, Omolola!" Iya Istinjabat calls out from the yard.

"Kilode?" Omolola asks in a low tune and throws tantrums meanwhile Kehinde stares at her with a small smile playing on her lips. The girl was just acting childish she thought.

"Lola!" Istinjabat calls out"

"Be going jhoor I'm coming," Omolola says in rage.

"Better Istinjabat says and turns to Kehinde, I will be right back," she says.

"No problem," Kehinde responds with a weak smile while she watches both girls walk out living her all alone with Tolani, She quickly turns to Tolani who was facing the wall wondering if her cousin took notice of her, She's still lost in thought when she hears her name.

Translation

Bawoni - How are you

Ki lo ru ko e - How are you

Ekale- good evening