Hell School

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

The following morning, I found my way to her village

Getting to her place it was as if they have been expecting me.

I saw Oby blushing like a new bride the moment I arrived.

Mazi Azuka was a nice learned man. He welcomed me with kola and palm wine after I was ushered into the small sitting room with only wooden chair and table no cushion or television.

There was an old looking radio lying by the side of the wall.

There was an oil lamp with a breakable glass in another side of the wall, beside it was a hand made mat.

Despite how small and scanty the sitting room looks it was very neat.

I thanked Mazi for the kola and palm wine he offered.

I don't fancy palmy due to its sour taste but I accepted it with smile and the moment I placed it to my mouth it smells all fresh and inviting.

I took a sip followed by another sip.

It was freshly made and taste great.

I complimented the drink and he smiled and said that he bought it that morning as the palm wine taper was returning from his morning business.

The next second I saw Oby, her Mom and younger siblings carrying different plates

They placed the plates which has covers in front of me. I guess they don't have a tray.

I wasn't expecting that but all I did was to smile and looked up at Oby's Mom with questions in my eyes.

She understood and said

"We made our local delicacy for you...is oha soup with stock fish and bush meat. And this other plate is well prepared fufu. I made it by myself, which goes perfectly well with the soup..." 

I did not know what to say because I was not expecting such welcoming.

"Have a taste of our meal, this is how we treat our visitors. Is a normal thing over here... even if you don't like the food just eat the bush meat and if your mind isn't at rest I can come and taste it first..." Mazi said.

I quickly told him that tasting it isn't necessary and I was still speechless when Mazi asked for a spoon and it was brought to him in a plastic plate.

He moved closer to me, bent over the plate and took some of the soup and some stockfish into his plate.

He went back to his seat and began eating the soup with the spoon.

"You see, there's no need to be afraid. Our visitors are respected and cared for over here. We can't hurt you...so, go ahead and enjoy. If you need anything else just mention it, if is something I can afford it will be yours..." Mazi said.

I was not only in love with Oby, I have also falling in love with the entire family.

I haven't eaten that morning except for a cup of tea offered to me in the hotel that I lodged. I wasn't planning to go on strong food but I had to eat what was presented to me.

The combination was actually odd. I don't eat " fufu" cassava meal and I haven't eaten it before but I will have to please everyone.

I bent my head after washing my hands

Said few word prayers and began to eat.

The soup was great, the stockfish was soft and delicious and the bush meat also nice.

There were three wraps of the fufu which was way too much for one person or maybe too much for me.

I managed to eat few balls, ate few of the things in the soup before washing my hands.

Mazi urged me to eat more but I told him with smile that I was filled already

I can't go further than that.

I thanked them kindly and his wife too as they came to clear the plates.

Oby looked at me and smile and I smiled back as I also thanked her for the sumptuous meal.

I got ready to present what exactly brought me but suddenly my stomach started behaving funny.

could it be from the sweet palm wine which I'm not used to taking or from just eaten meal of oha soup with bush meat complimented with the fufu that I have also not taking before.

Oh God, what is this now? 

My stomach can't can't do this to me at this critical stage.

I sat on one side of the chair as I try to raise one part of my buttocks but all the tricks wasn't helping me.

Sweat broke out of my forehead, I was not listening to the government or politician talk that Mazi was trying to engage me in.

He was only trying to engage me in a conversation while waiting for me to say what brought me.

That was the part I failed to do in the beginning.

 If I have presented the reason I traveled all the way down to meet him before the entertainment or feasting, all of this happening wouldn't have been because the moment I sense my system has changed I will get up and be on my way back to my hotel room.

I have eaten all that was presented yet I have not said the reason for my coming.

"Are you alright... Do you need anything? Mazi asked when he noticed I kept changing styles of my sitting.

"Yes sir... I'm alright. 

I managed to say.

He went back to his previous conversation on politics which I was not interested but I was grinning making him feel the whole talk was interesting me.

When I couldn't bear it anymore I spoke up.

"Sorry to interrupt you sir, please I need to use the toilet...my stomach is in serious war... please..."

I stood immediately because sitting down seems to be worsening my predicament.

He called Oby and she came, he asked her to take me to the toilet.

I was already walking ahead of Oby before she can finish receiving the instructions from her father I was moving towards an unknown door that looks rough.

"That's not the toilet, that's our bedroom. Please follow me..." 

I turned from the door and followed her shamelessly.

My situation made me so shameless that as we walk out into the main compound and began going towards a tiny part at the back of the building I couldn't take it anymore.

"Oby, where exactly are we going to...I said I seriously need to use the toilet. I mean where you go to excrete, poo, urinate and the rest of it...

" I know what toilet is... that's where we're going. We don't build toilets close to the main building to avoid odd smell. We take it a bit far from the house. I'm sorry...but is just over there. That house built with aluminum zink and palm leaves...

I rushed ahead of her because I couldn't cat walk behind her again.

Since i can see where the small zink leavy house is there was no need to waste further time.

I ran ahead with my shameless self before I embarrass myself.

I opened the small door and big flies greeted me excitedly.

It was a pit toilet. Oh my God, what have I gotten myself into.

Well, I don't really have a choice

The place was neat but I can't overlook the environment.

It was all locally made, and no matter how neat it was it was still a pit hole.

Oby said something but I wasn't listening, she later stretched out her hand and they were filled with torn written note sheets.

I collected it but I don't know what I'm supposed to do with it.

Could it be a love note which she secretly wants me to read in private.

I began going through it but it appears as an old worn out junior class mathematics and English. It was soft and moist.

But what am I supposed to do with it

After I was done with my private business I started looking around for either tissue but saw none.

"Oby, are you still there... please can I get tissue paper? that's... ehmmm toilet roll..." I shouted out to her.

"I'm sorry but we don't have any. That's why I gave you the sheets, if the paper won't be enough I can run down and get more for you... We also have news papers for that..." Oby replied.

I told her not to worry that it will be enough.

Well, I don't have any choice than to use what was given.

I came out and she was still standing and waiting patiently.

"Are you feeling better now...or do we need to get you some drugs? The drugs store is not far from here. My parents are worried... maybe your stomach did not accept all that you took in...

She looked so worried because of me.

Oby was indeed meant for me, she was everything and more.

She later led me back to the house, gave me soap and water to wash my hands.

Her mother came to apologise for the stomach upset.

I told her it wasn't her fault, that I ate too much due to the sweetness of the whole meal.

 I went back to join Mazi, he also rendered his own apology for the whole ordeal.

I equally apologies for breaching our conversation.

He gave me a liquid content in a small shot to gulp down, that it will relief me of whatever but I know better that I need to be very careful with whatever I take in.

I told him with apology that I feel very alright and wouldn't want my stomach to react again because it can be unpredictable.

He didn't take offense which I was glad

I was not going to take any more chances.

before another stomach rumbling will begin let me present the matter that brought me here.

Before I start, Mazi and his wife were seated.

"Thank you again sir for welcoming me into your home and for all the entertainment..." I paused and smile while Mazi and his wife went on grinning.

I guess our thoughts ran into the same lane.

I introduced myself, what I do for a living, also about my parents and every other necessary thing about me.

After then I continued.

"... without wasting further time, my main reason for traveling all the way from Abuja to this place is because of your daughter...Oby. well, I met Oby few months ago and she really got my attention, after few enquiry I realized she was a daughter of a noble man. Mazi you and your wife did a great job in raising her well. I'm impressed with her character and behavior...and she is only eighteen years of age. I don't want to beat around the bush. I'm interested in your daughter sir...I wish to make her my wife...

I paused to feel the atmosphere but it was still warm.

Mazi spoke first

"Well, my daughter told us about you but we waited for your arrival first to know exactly what was your intentions towards her. Oby is not too young for marriage, I got married to my wife when she was around seventeen years and I was twenty five...a young elementary school teacher back then. Chukwu okike, the God of creation in heaven blessed us with four children. Three girls and the last is a boy. Also, Oby must have told you about furthering her studies which made me put up one of the largest plot of land I have for sale so that I can send her to school. I want her to go to the university so that she can get a better job thereafter to assist in training her siblings...I want her to be somebody out there because this world we live in is changing day by day. Some people may not value education but I can boldly say that education is one of the key to a successful life. I stopped my education as an Ssce holder, I went for teachers training for almost two years before becoming a teacher that's why I want to strive to make sure one or two of my children continue from where I stopped and finish well..."