Despite he told himself he should be driving to Atikah's house, he found himself driving to the hospital. He should not keep a lady waiting but at the moment, he had no choice. There was a nagging feeling in his guts that told him Osas needed him. She might have told him not to worry but he can't help the worry that intensified, making him restless. She had not sounded alright on the phone. Her voice had been hoarse. An evidence that she had been crying.

Atikah had been on his neck about when they will go out. He had no choice but to agree when she said she will be free on Wednesday night. He was dressing up for his outing with Atikah when his mind had drifted to Osas. He had not spoken to her that day because she had been busy. He just needed to hear her voice and know how she was doing but it turned out Esosa had started to convulse in the evening after Osas picked her up from school. He sensed the anxiety and fear in her voice. It was the fear of a mother who does not want to lose her daughter. A single mother who had been the only one catering and bringing the little girl up. Only Osas knew the challenges she was passing through in raising a child. She had to be both a mother and a father.

Now, he found himself walking down the corridor that led to the children's ward, following the nurse's direction. He found Osas sitting on the corridor, her mother next to her. The older woman held her daughter close, a comforting hand around her, as she whispered consoling words. They spoke in their dialect, Osas shaking her head and her mother's voice gentle.

"Osas" He called, not sure if he was interrupting their moment.

"Jay?" She got to her feet. His eyes met hers. There was something about her appearance that caused something to drop inside him. It depressed him. Her eyes were swollen from crying. There were lines of distress on her face. "What are you doing here? I told you not to come"

"I could not stay back while you guys are here. How is she?"

Osas looked back at a door. "She's asleep" He saw the tears that came into her eyes. "The doctor's said she is stable now. He said she will be better" Her lips trembled. He knew what was coming next.

"Hey" He ran a consoling hand through her arm. "She will be fine" He spoke in a soft voice.

"I just want to believe that" Water spilt out of her tear glands. "I was so scared. I have never seen her that way since I gave birth to her" Her quiet sobs filled his ears.

His eyes revealed the kind of tender concern her mother had shown her. Tentatively, he pulled her closer, not out of curiosity or obligation but because he felt it was what she needed, a soothing hug. An arm went around her. Osas dropped her head to his chest. Calming words left his lips. His voice held so much softness that she felt like she was enveloped in a soft blanket. His words soothes her.

They walked down the hallway that smelt of bleach, antiseptic and medication. The odours were concentrated in the air that Osas could taste medicine on her tongue. There was something about the hospitals. They always had that quiet air around. There were nurses, doctors, patients and visitors trooping in and out of wards, offices and the hospital's entrance.

"When Juwon left" She started when they got to the reception. The reception had metal chairs that were filled up with people. A television sat at the far corner, a movie playing on AIT. The nurses at the reception spoke while they work, most rude to whoever walked up to them. Jafar looked at her. Juwon? Who's Juwon? As though she had seen the question in his eyes, she said. "Esosa's father. It came as a shock. He made me believe it was me and me alone. He had promised, shown me I was the one he wanted and not his wife" Jafar's eyebrows went up. "He was a married man" She clarified as they stepped out of the hospital. "I knew. I could have left him when I found out but I had fallen deep for him. I was the side chick but I felt like I was the main. He never made me feel like I was the other woman. He spent more time with me than he did with his wife and children. I should have felt guilt. I should have let him go, be with his wife and children but I was selfish. I wanted him just for myself"

An ambulance drove in. Siren blared the air. When the ambulance stopped, the back door opened. Two paramedics came down with a man on a stretcher. A woman hopped out, wailing as she rushed into the hospital. A sense of Déjà vu hit Osasere. It was the way she had ran into the hospital some hours ago, Esosa in her hand while she cried and begged for the doctor. Her mother was beside her, doing the same thing but was calmer than she was.

They had stopped and she was oblivious to it. Jafar noticed. She gazed at the scene few meters away from them, her eyes far away and look thoughtful. He could see, through her eyes, that there were thoughts running through her eyes.

Tobe sighed then looked away. "His disappearance came as shock" She continued. "No message. No sign" They continued to walk. "No call that he was leaving me. Most men, when they don't want a woman, they start to give her attitude but he did not. There was no sign of it. He spent the weekend at my house. He left me pregnant and pained. I was broken. I was sad. I felt lost. I felt like a loser. You know why? Because I had the feeling inside me it was me he wanted and not his wife. I was the woman, his woman and his wife's just there because of the children they already had" She shook her head with a pitiful laugh.

The unspeakable pain rested in her eyes.

"I was mad. I was mad at myself for being so naïve and stupid. I was mad at him because he lied to me. Throughout the rest of my pregnancy, I could barely get myself. What I did most was cry. I was about ending my life when I went into labour. It's like Esosa saved me. It was not easy. I had not wanted to see Esosa. My mother and shouted and scolded me. She told me how can I go through nine months of uneasiness and painful labour then I will not want to see what beauty I have brought to the world. She told the nurse to bring Esosa then forced me to look at her" Osas kicked a stone. Jafar threaded beside her at the same pace. He had nothing to say. He just wanted to listen to her.

"And there she was, little and beautiful. I never knew I had such beautiful human growing inside me. Her eyes were closed and she was soft and delicate. That moment, I knew I had a reason to live again. I can't lose myself to the past because in my hand, I held my future" Osas said nothing again. They walked in silence, both lost in their thoughts. As if she remembered something, the edges of her lips crinkled up. They stopped next to his car before she looked up at him. "I can't cry anymore whenever I remember him. I have cried so much that those tears won't come anymore"

"But you are pained. The pain is still there" Were the first words he uttered for the past few minutes.

"Yes, it is but not as painful as it used to be" Wind blew and it slapped through them, leaving them somewhat chilly.

Jafar had gotten to his car before he remembered he had not called Atikah to inform her he won't make it. He saw eight missed call on his phone and three messages, all from Atikah. He had forgotten about her. The whole outing stuff had flown out of his head when he saw Osas. Slightly remorseful, he messaged her that he won't be able to make it. I had something personal to attend to, his message said.

"Is everything alright? Hope it's nothing serious. I was so worried. No problem. We can always reschedule it" Was her reply.

This message came from a woman who loved him. A woman he knew had always loved him. A woman who could do so much for him, who had always wanted his company but he can't reciprocate any of what she offered him. He can't just like her the way she hoped he would. He always saw the brightness in her eyes when she spoke to him. There was need for him, the will to have him. But he looked at another woman. A woman who was not from is ethnic group or his religion and to worsen it, a single mother. But there was something he does not know that pulled her to him. Maybe it was the will to continue from where they stopped few years ago.

Tonight, Osas had shown a part of herself to him. The mother she is and the young girl she was when she met Juwon. She had opened a page in her past, told him about a man she will never forget. And he was grateful he knew another side of her.

-----

The ride to Isale-Eko in the danfo bus was one of the worst rides of Lola's life. It was tight, uncomfortable with the conductor shouting many times. He even flirted with her, teased her and said lustful things about her which she disliked. Joshua had told him to stop by speaking to him in the similar tone which was like speaking with a weed voice and some slangs she barely understood. The conductor had fought over change with people. The driver did not help matters. He drove like he was in a car race. People shouted from time to time arguing with both the conductor and driver. Her head spun and she felt nauseous. The man who sat next to her was fat, reeked of sweat that smelt like skunk. Please, someone should not tell her this was someone's everyday routine, riding in this rickety buses.

When they were to get down at their destination, people squeezed her and pushed her from behind and in front. The thick odour of perspiration choked her. She felt slimy, rubbing bodies with those who barely bath or those whose sweats smelt like a drain.

"You push them back. Act tough even though you are an ajebo" Joshua whispered. "Don't let go of my hand"

She looked up and her eyes had gone wide with mouth slackened at the sight before her. The place buzzed with people which was electrifying. Businesses were still going on as if it was still during the day. She could not tell what were being sold but people sold different sort of delicacies and late night snacks. Those who moved around were not of her class but of middle class and lower and with the way they moved, it seemed like they were used to the place and they enjoyed it. They were on the go with no care of the world at the moment.

Shouts came from those guys called agbero. The agberos shouted, slapping the back of buses, some held stick and they spoke to the drivers. Anyone could tell with the way they were that they were violent. There was no light so the generators that gave ear-piercing noises with thick black smoke and kerosene lanterns were the only sources of light people got.

"Push them back. Forget the apologies" he continued.

"Josh, this place disgusts me"

"Speak Yoruba. Stop speaking English like an alakowe (A learned person). Your mixture of Nigerian and American accent will make them know you are not made of tough skin" Joshua saw the little annoyance in her eyes.

"Are you making fun of me now?"

"No? Just stating the fact"

"Fact?" she nearly barked.

He pulled her hand and walked into a street. The first thing that welcomed her was the strong smell from the ditch. She gagged slamming a hand over her nose. The road was infested with potholes but the ditches were full with black eye sickening contents.

"Please don't tell me this was where you grew up?" she said, her voice muffled.

"I grew up here" he pulled her to his side away from a keke napep that drove by. He turned to his right into a street. Her eyes scanned the area. There were lots of rickety buildings barely ventilated, road untarred. The buildings were aged and distressed. The place begged for renovation. The buildings were cramped. She could not believe people have a life here.

"Do not stare at people, Lola. I can't begin a fight tonight and I am sure you do not want to see a rugged side of me"

Rugged side? She huffed mentally.

A noise came from some guys seating in front of a stall. They shouted, cigarette decorated their lips with dry gin in their hands. They argued. Two of them had gotten up to get violent. There were pot holes on the sandy narrow road that cars could barely pass. People jammed into her and she tried pushing through them as her husband had said. They passed in front of a place. Some ladies sat there, skimpily dressed with weird looking makeup.

"Why are we here?" She asked with the urge to go back home. Riding in that rickety bus was one torture. This was worse.

"To see my people and a part of my life" he replied.

"I want to leave"

"No, you will enjoy it. You will get an experience you will take pleasure in" he assured giving her a glance with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Joshua told her before they left home that the place does not spring to live until around midnight. She had protested telling him she can't leave home near midnight because of the danger outside. He tried to persuade her and succeeded. Dressing was another problem. He told her not to dress like she was a jewellery stall and should dress simple. They halted by a building. Joshua took her in between a cramped pathway and turned to take the step but what welcomed her made her heart skip, sent dread through her and made her moved behind him for protection.

On the narrow stairway that seemed like it was rising to the sky, men sat on it taking pleasure from smoking and drinking as they gambled. Some had women with them while some ladies stood at the pavement.

"Alaye" Joshua spoke. She watched his smile reach his eyes as he looked at those he had known for over a decade, those that became family at one point.

He got their attention. The first guy's eyes went wide with recognition and surprise.

"Babaly" he shouted jumping to his feet.

That was how it begun, the greetings. Other had the same happy expression when they saw him and Lola stood, lost and feeling out of place. Josh shook their hand in a way she felt was abnormal. They would slap the back of their hands against one another, do the same thing with their palms, shake then fold in their three middle fingers and stomp the pinkie and thumb against one another, grab their hands again and hit their shoulders. She wondered what sort of the greeting that was. She heard weird names like La po, Ijaya, Ogbara. The one who called her husband babaly was La po.

"You just come leave like that. You no come see us again. Na so we just they wonder wetin happen. Where he come go? (You just left like that. You did not bother to come and visit us. We were now wondering what's wrong with this guy. Where did he go to?)" One called Skido said after shaking Joshua. All of them had their trousers hanging loosely around their hips. They called him babaly and she needed to ask why.

"Who be the frosho?" One of them finally noticed her.

"Ogbara" Joshua stepped in front of him pulling her closer with a hand held out to stop the guy. Silence came as Ogbara and Joshua stared into one another's eyes.

"Twale!" Ogbara shouted accompanied by raising two of his hands and a leg. "Baba, e mu oju lo si oja. Omo yi fine pa"

It was merriment for them to see him there. She felt the love they had for him even though this people were not normal in any way. The ladies around had weird looking synthetic wigs with their makeup so out of place. Their eyebrows looked like they wanted to fly with lipsticks that did not fit them. She had watched one of them, fat like a buffalo with a scary look come forward and hug Joshua.

"Mama the mama! Mama the mama!" Joshua hailed.

"Babaly!" She hailed back and they did that funny handshake.

They took them up the staircase into an apartment. From upstairs, she had a better view of the area. She was taken into a house that was cramped like a coffin. Inside was barely neat. It was disarranged, a self-contain. The seat they were given was so deep and soft. Just as she sat, another guy emerged from outside.

"Babaly" he shouted.

"Tobacco!" Joshua jumped to his feet. They shouted exchanging pleasantries in that same way.

Joshua and the guy sat and they talked like the good old friends they were. Lola watched, fascinated by everything around her. A boy maybe fifteen years of age, came in few minutes later.

"Babaly" he hailed. "E gba eja (Take this marijuana)" he gave Joshua something.

Joshua laughed before saying "I no dey take am again (I don't take it anymore)"

"Eh, babaly you?" the guy said as if surprised.

"Leave" Joshua push the stuff away. The boy turned to leave.

"Come back" Tobacco said in a commanding tone. He collected the stuff from the guy and turned back to Joshua whom he continued his conversation with.

"Na real human hair you put for head? (Do you have real human hair on your head)" a girl from nowhere asked.

"Ehm...ehm...me?" Lola pointed a finger at herself.

The girl had a skimpy dress on. Her hair, a gold synthetic wig that did not complement her brown skin was shaggy. Her makeup was good except the brows that were thin and drawn with black pencil making her look like a village girl.

"Na you I dey talk to (I am talking to you)"

Lola was not sure whether she should answer in English, Yoruba or pidgin "Yes, it is" Lola smoothed a hand over her sleek hair.

"You be olosho? (Are you a prostitute?)" The girl asked. Lola, taken back, swirled to look at her.

"What?"

"Where you see the money wey you use buy am? (Where did you get the money to buy it?)" Annoyance crawled through Lola's veins at the question. Does she look like some low life to the girl?

"I used my money to get it" She spat.

"Oh. You be rich woman? (Are you rich?)"

"Yes!"

"I no see Ijapa. Where hin dey? (I can't find ijapa. Where is he?)" Joshua asked Tobacco looking over at his wife across the room. She had a girl he had never seen with her. The girl should be new.

"Ijapa! Na Ijapa you call like that! Alaye, Ijapa go repete na so popo come carry am. Hin dey prison now (Ijapa! It is Ijapa that you speak of that way. Alaye, Ijapa went to dull himself and core staffs took him away. He is in prison now)"

"Chanel nko? (What about Chanel?)" He asked about one of the popular runs girl in the area.

"Chanel?" Tobacco hissed. "Chanel dey yaba left. Na only God sabi wetin one yahoo boy wey carry am use am do (Chanel is in yaba left. Only God knows what the Yahoo boy she was dating used her for)"

"Many things don change for the place o (Many things have changed in this place)"

"Elewe go soon take over. After you japa, na so things change o. Awon omo aiye no get anyone wey dem go fear again. Babaly, abegi e pa da wa (Elewe will soon take over. After you left, things changed. The aiyes knew there was no one to be scared of again. Babaly, please come back)" he begged.

"Things no easy again o (Things are not easy like they used to be)" Joshua chuckled "You know say my life don different. I don chnage. (You know my life has taken a different turn)"

"Here na where life dey. You sef sabi that (This place is where life is. You also know that)"

"I won't disagree"

"Alaye fi ebo si le joor (Alaye, please stop speaking English)" Tobacco threw his hands.

"This guy nko? Semiu?"

"Semiu? Semiu wey go le'run for Osupa. Na so osupa give am signature and tap wine from Lateefat side. (Semiu that decided to prove stubborn to Osupa. Osupa gave him signature and tapped wine from Lateefat side)"

Their chat lasted long. Lola had not believed she would be able to blend well with the people around until mama came to her and indulged her in a conversation. People flitted in and out of the room from time to time. It was stuffy making her sweat. She needed a good bath when she get home.

They all decided to leave for a spot where that can have delicious pepper soup. At the pepper soup joint, a band was playing and people were dancing while some ate. The place was a container situated in a corner but outside, plastic chairs and tables had been arranged for customers to eat. The owner a Calabar woman had come out to greet Joshua and the woman hailed him until he gave her two five hundred naira note. The woman begged for two more figo. Lola had wondered what she meant until Joshua pulled out two five hundred naira notes again. She said whatever they have for the night was on her and the group with her husband hailed the woman.

The place sprung to life like every other place. Music went on and people danced. The night began. A night that begun badly turned out to be good. She enjoyed the ambiance and the way it was full of life. Joshua gave her the yoyo he told her about. It was a fish dipped in seasoned flour and fried in hot oil. She was scared of food poisoning and had refused to it until Joshua forced it into her mouth. She ate grudgingly even though it was delicious, scared for her stomach.

The buzz around was thrilling. People crawled in later. A guy came in so neat and clean but dressed ruggedly. He greeted Joshua with respected. Drinks were on her husband. She had begun to enjoy herself wishing she had not missed the part of Lagos and grateful she was able to witness it. The only distress were the mosquitoes that chose her flawless skin to feast on. Each time, she had to slap her skin or swat her hand to chase what she can't see away. It became a disadvantage to her that she was outing in jean trousers and tiny strap crop top.

A lady came in. She was not slim nor fat but beautiful. The way she dressed was different from other ladies around. She dressed with sense like someone who knew the latest fashion trend. She had the eyes of many men especially the drunk ones whose eyes went wide. Her eyes scanned the place until her eyes fell on Joshua. An easy sultry smile formed over her face. Lola had not missed that.

The way the girl walked, swinging her hips made her rear dance. When the girl bent down, to her surprise to kiss Joshua's cheeks and placed hand on his shoulder in a flirty way. Lola had never felt what she had felt at that moment. She disliked the way the girl wrapped her hand over her husband. She averted her gaze enjoying the company of La po. Lola took pleasure in the mouth-watering fish pepper soup. She was dancing when Joshua came to pull her.

"We have to leave" he said.

"No" she whined. "I don't want to leave"

"Lola, it is nearly four in the morning"

"You have got to be kidding me" she gasped out still moving her body to the beat. "Let's leave"

They announced their farewell before they left. That same girl got up and hugged Joshua. As they left the spot, Ogbara and the boys got into motion. Some area boys walked in. Anyone could sense the feud between the two groups. Knowing a fight with blood shed will begin, some people prepared to leave. The first swing of the bottle of Gulder in Ogbara's hand made contact with the leader of the other group's bald head. A fight broke but Lola was oblivious to what she just left behind but Joshua knew.

-----

It turned out to be wonderful night but the events of the night could not be forgotten especially that of the girl who hugged her husband and pecked his cheeks until she left her lip gloss on his cheek. She had not even had the chance to do that. Not that she wanted to but seriously she would admit she was jealous. Was she? Why should she be?

She could not believe someone else gets happiness and life from that lifestyle. Those people she met were happy. There was life everywhere. It was different. They don't have luxury but they enjoyed what they have. She got her phone from the nightstand. Joshua had said she should not take it because there was possibility for anyone to take it. There was a missed call from Lolu. She scrolled through it until she got to her playlist and played FIA by Davido.

Joshua studied her from behind. Something had changed in her since they rode back home. She hardly spoke. He noticed the way her eyes narrowed as she moved around the room doing on thing or the other with her eyebrows together. She was disturbed. She walked into the closet and came back with makeup wipes then sat on the bed to wipe her makeup.

"Is something wrong?" Joshua asked sitting next to her.

"Why are you asking?" she swapped a wipe over her lips taking his eyes to the pair.

He deliberated for a second if they were as soft as they looked. He wondered what kind of lips they would be. He was not sure if her mouth would be good for a lover, hot, quick and passionate or soft and gentle. He would like to know.

"You look dull" he held her dull eyes.

"I am not" the corner of her lips went up. She folded the wipes to clean her eyebrows away.

"You can tell me" he spoke carefully.

She kept quiet. She wiped her makeup off with patience leaving him to mull over her. He was about to leave when she decided to speak.

"I have questions" she said before he could leave.

"I knew you would" he said seating back. She gave him her entire attention.

"Would you be truthful?"

"I can't promise" she sighed.

"Why do they call you babaly?"

"Because that's the nickname they have for me"

"They respect you. I am not fool to know you guys were some gang before"

"I agree. I used to be the leader" her chest compressed. It scares her to know this man might have been brutal at one point in his life.

"You used to have an intimate relationship with that girl right?"

"Which one?"

"The one who hugged you and pecked your cheeks. The one with a wig looking like a bed nest on her head" she hissed out. A little smile formed over his mouth. He saw the annoyance in her eyes and heard it in her voice. Was she jealous that a woman had pecked him?

"Yes. It was just for pleasure"

Lola's chest constricted. Her blood chilled. She fiddled with her hands. She realised she was acting different. Something was become more and more unusual. This guy making her feel something else. Pride kicked in and she straightened her spine.

"What was that stuff the guy gave you?" her voice became confident.

"Marijuana"

"What?" she went rigid.

"It was marijuana" He said carelessly like it was normal. "We call it eja. If you are wondering, I used to take drugs. I used to be in a gang"

"Who are you? Where did you come from?"

"I told you I grew up there. You don't expect me to be a saint"

"Alright" she got to her feet. "I enjoyed tonight though" she leaned in and planted a kiss on his cheek. His eyes went wide. She noticed which she smiled at before getting up.

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