FLAMING HEART

NINE - STRONG BOND

"Baby, you're beautiful. Better start believing it." — Woman.

★ ★ ★

It was a bright Monday morning and Obioma woke up highly energetic with a broad smile on her face. She had spent the whole of the Sunday with Sharon as they had both gone to church and her beauty salon. Sharon owned a beauty salon where she styled people's hair and fixed their appearance.

Obioma glanced at the wall clock and got up from her bed; heading to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. To her greatest surprise, Uloma and Chiamaka were already fully dressed.

"Good morning,Uloma, Good morning Chiamaka!" She greeted.

"Good morning,Oby!" Chiamaka greeted back.

"How are you doing?" Uloma asked.

"I'm fine. Are you people going somewhere?"

"Yes of course, it's Monday and we're going to work." Uloma replied.

"Oh! I didn't know. I was about preparing something for morning food."

"Don't worry, dear. We will grab something to eat on our way to work." Chiamaka replied.

Just then, Uju and Evelyn came down the stairs in their pyjamas.

"Are you girls going already?" Uju's deep voice echoed in the air.

"Yes o. We're not like you and Sharon that can go to work anytime you please." Uloma retorted playfully; buttoning her shirt. She looked really smart in her stripped shirt and black skirt. Chiamaka was dressed smartly also in a white shirt and black skirt.

"Neither are we like Evelyn that has nothing to do than eat, drink and sleep." Chiamaka added and they all roared in laughter except Obioma who shook her head in disbelief at Evelyn's behavior. She couldn't believe Evelyn had the guts to laugh at something she should be ashamed of.

"Okay, we're off!" Uloma announced as walked to the door with Chiamaka tagging along.

Obioma carried their handbags for them and when they had gotten into their respective car, she ran to open the gate.

Sharon was in the living room when Obioma returned.

"So Obioma, what's for breakfast?" Uju asked; sitting on a sofa and folding her arms.

"I saw some akamu in the freezer. I want to do them."

"Great idea!" Sharon replied. "Let's go and make it. Hope that delicious beans of yours is still remaining. We're going to be needing it."

"Yes." Obioma smiled at her as they both walked into the kitchen; clinging closely to each other.

Uju rolled her large eyes at them

"Two Teletubbies!" Evelyn muttered making Uju laugh; throwing her head back.

After their meal, Uju and Sharon retired to their room to dress up the day's work. Obioma had once heard Uju talking about her big restaurant. 'Uju's domot', she had named it.

Chiamaka worked at a bank while Uloma worked at a petrol company. Obioma was told they both came home late.

Obioma shook her head disapprovingly at Evelyn who had already taken a position on the sofa; watching a movie whose storyline had to do with strange men performing ablution. Obioma wondered why Uloma would accept her she had someone like Evelyn who was fit for the job. All she did was eat and watch different movies. It was a surprise to Obioma how she memorized the time each movie would be shown. She had a collection of Korean, Indian, Philippine, and American movies. Little wonder why she knew many actors by name.

Just as Obioma finished washing the dishes in the kitchen, Sharon walked up to her.

"I'm going." She informed.

"Okay. I will come later. Let me clean the sitting room and bathe."

"Okay, I'll be waiting for you. Hope you still remember the way to my shop?" Sharon asked with concern in her eyes.

"Yes. I can never forget. Don't worry, I won't lost. Even if I lost, I'll find my way back." Obioma told her and they both chuckled.

"Let me get going before Uju eats me raw."

"Why?" Obioma asked puzzled.

"She's dropping me at the salon. She takes the same route to her restaurant." Sharon explained and Obioma nodded.

"Okay, let me get going. Bye, I'll be expecting you."

Obioma nodded again and waved her goodbye. The house felt so empty when Sharon and Uju left except for the noise coming out of the sitting room and Evelyn's annoying laughter. Obioma sighed; taking big steps to the sitting room. The last thing she wanted was to spend the rest of the day with Evelyn. She walked to the television set and began dusting it.

"Get out of my front!" Evelyn yelled. "Can't you see I'm watching something?"

"Sorry. Don't be angry, but I have to clean the television. It's dusty."

"I don't care! Just get out!" She yelled again.

"Okay. Will you clean it after you're done watching your film?"

"Is that my job?"

"Then let me who owns the job carry out my task without any problem." Obioma snapped as she turned back to the television and continued dusting it. She was already fed up with Evelyn's saucy attitude. She heard Evelyn hiss and she halted for a while; just as angry to hiss back but fought the urge to do so. She deemed it was wiser to ignore.

After tidying up the sitting room, she stormed into the bathroom; taking a quick bath. She threw on her green dress which her sister had presented as a gift and walked into the sitting room.

"I'm going to stay with Sharon." She informed but Evelyn didn't bulge; her eyes were fixated to the screen like she had not heard anything. Obioma sighed heavily as she walked out of the house without another word. Though Sharon had given her some money to board a cab, she decided to walk; taking slow steps.

Sharon was plaiting the hair of a middle aged woman when she finally got to the salon.

"Good morning ma. Sharon, good morning!" She greeted. While the middle aged woman nodded at her, Sharon replied:

"Oby! you are here."

"Yes."

"Have a seat there." Sharon pointed to a fancy chair facing the huge mirror on the wall.

"This is the girl I was telling you about. She just came to the city from the village." Sharon informed the woman.

"Oh! How are you dear?" The middle aged woman smiled at Obioma.

"I'm fine, ma" Obioma replied; wondering why she was a topic to be discussed.

"How are you enjoying the city?" The woman continued.

"The city is a good place to live and I'm learning a lot here." Obioma replied and the woman smiled sweetly at her. She turned to Sharon afterward; nodding her head as she spoke.

"She's such a pretty girl."

Sharon nodded in approval. "Yes, she is but she would never accept that she is." Sharon eyed Obioma playfully and the woman chuckled.

"Baby, you're very beautiful. Better start believing it before boys start calling you." The woman teased as she joined Sharon in laughter. Obioma who was already embarrassed, bowed her head slightly; trying to conceal her face.

"So Oby, this is Mama Lily. She's my regular customer." Sharon introduced.

"Welcome ma." Obioma smiled at her.

"Thank you my dear." She replied. .

More customers trooped in after Mama Lily's departure and Obioma offered to help out with some works. After any hours of styling hairs, Obioma asked to go back home to get something they could both eat but Sharon declined; informing that there was a canteen opposite the salon where food of all sorts were sold. They purchased food in a disposable pack despite Obioma's defiance - she had insisted on preparing something herself instead of purchasing food but Sharon had refused.

A woman walked in with a little girl immediately they finished with their meal. Through the discussion between the woman and Sharon, Obioma discovered that she would like her daughter's hair to be plaited.

"I'll come back for her later." The woman pronounced before leaving.

With nothing to do, Obioma sat on the pavement of the salon; staring at vehicles of various size drive past with great speed. With awe, she watched the street get busier and busier with people moving here and there, going about their business. She wondered if roads in the city ever got empty of people and vehicles. Back in the village, roads were mostly void of people and cars.

"What are you thinking about?" Sharon touched Obioma's shoulders slightly; startling her in the process. Obioma flinched.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." Sharon apologized.

"No problem. Have you finished plaiting her hair?"

"Yes, I'm waiting for her mother to return."

"Oh!" Obioma muttered.

"So what were you thinking about?" Sharon asked as she held Obioma's hand.

"Nothing. It's just that the city is so so busy."

"Yes, the city is very busy. No one has time to waste."

"The village isn't like that."

"Yes, that's because it's a village." Sharon yawned. "I'm so tired. I need workers here. The job is getting so strenuous and I can't do it alone."

"I'd help anytime I'm free." Obioma offered and Sharon smiled; giving her a peck on her cheek.