Must Read: The Rich Kids Of Lagos (16+)

7 years ago

Must Read: The Rich Kids Of Lagos (16+)

‘Haaa!’ Aunty mi, Kilowade?! Why this? You do not need to show your annoyance like this, in front of our in-law. Let’s all take it easy and have breakfast as suggested by Alhaji.’
Aunty Tokunboh’s beady eyes had already feasted upon the well-appointed quarters and knew that at last, her labour of love for Aduke was about to pay serious dividends. She had never really cared for that Peter boy, so she was firmly on Alhaji’s side on this.
She had always suspected that Aduke could get a better suitor but she hadn’t thought it possible that Addy would strike gold like this. She had to ensure that Mama Aduke did not mess this up!
‘Ehhh, Alhaji,’ she started ‘hope I can call you this?’ she asked him with a smile.
‘This is fine’ he responded with a corresponding smile of his, one that did not reach his eyes.
Addy could read him very well now. She was certain that there was trouble brewing in that head of his. Her mind was also not at rest. Would Gabbo recognise Peter’s name? If he did, would Peter be in trouble? She had to play it really cool right now. Her mind was in turmoil as she prayed that her mother’s unguarded utterances would not put an innocent boy in trouble. As her thoughts roamed freely, her aunty’s voice cut through her reverie.
‘Don’t mind Mama Aduke, Alhaji. She’s just upset that you have circumvented our traditions. Anyway, all of that can be easily resolved’ said Tokunboh, unaware of the signs that Aduke had already seen in the Alhaji’s eyes. ‘Anyway, let us do as you have said, Alhaji. Let us all cool down over breakfast’

The party of four moved from the bedroom to the dining area where Bassey, the cook, had outdone himself. It was a buffet fit for a king and Aunty Tokunboh, impervious of the moods around her, piled her plate full of food. As Addy looked at her Aunty’s plate, she felt something akin to shame. Her hitherto worldly-wise Aunty Tokunboh was acting like a buffoon!
Aunty had put sliced yam, with moi-moi and pasta all on one plate! What the hell was wrong with her? Aduke suspected that her aunt had also been hit by the Gabbo charm which, in all honesty was not really turned on today. Perhaps, it wasn’t the charm, maybe it was the obvious display of affluence that was getting to her aunty.
‘So Alhaji’, how is business these days?’ asked Aunty Tokunboh who must have thought she looked cool by chatting confidently with the rich industrialist. Addy shook her head because there was no way anyone could look cool with a string of pasta dangling down the side of her overloaded plate. As she drowned out the conversation, she turned her attention to her mother, who stood resolutely by the table refusing to eat.

‘Maami, won’t you eat?’ asked Aduke
‘No, Madam. Thank you ma’ was the sarcastic response. ‘You know me, Aduke’ she continued ‘I am a straight forward person. I don’t play games. Remember that the only step remaining for you and Peter to get married was for him to bring his people to us which you had both planned to do once you concluded your courses. It is this same Peter who paid for those courses with his hard earned money oo!’ said Addy’s mum.
‘Ewo wa tun l’eleyi? Which one is this one? Have you been carried away by the luxury? Do you not know it is better to start off from scratch with a man than marry a ready-made one?’ asked her mother with passion, tears gathering in her eyes at the unfairness Aduke had meted to her former lover.

‘Maami, it is not what you think. The thing with Peter is that…..’ began Aduke
‘What about Peter?’ asked Gabbo, who apparently had finished his conversation with Aunty Toks and had walked over to the mother and daughter, with the aim of convincing them to eat something.

He stood close to Aduke and lightly put his arm around her shoulder. To any casual observer, this was a genial posture, one that could be expected from two lovers, but Addy knew better. ‘So, who is this Peter? Is this the same Peter Owhoko that works with us or another one?’ he asked softly
‘Ha! Mo daran! Aduke! This girl has killed me!

So, you dumped your fiancé for his boss? Have you no heart? Do you want to kill this boy or do you want the boy to get into trouble? Do you want God to punish us all? Have you no conscience?’ asked her mother in rapid succession. Shocked by her daughter’s callousness, Aduke’s mum decided to leave. ‘Tokunboh! Tokunboh! Fi ounje yen s’ile nisi yi! Leave that food right now, let us go!’ she ordered
She faced her daughter again, ‘Aduke, I am so disappointed. We raised you better than this. I hope you do not regret your greedy actions someday soon’ said her mum who began to walk towards to front door briskly.

Gabbo immediately left Addy’s side and tried to catch up with the elderly woman whose long strides had carried her to the front door.
‘Mama, please permit me to say something.

Today, I have seen in you something that I thought our people had lost – integrity. You have by your words and reactions reassured me that indeed Aduke is from a good home and that she has a very good mother. Whatever failings she might have as a human being did not emanate from you. Madam, you did your job well. I see traces of you in her everyday and I can only hope that one day, she becomes half of the woman that you are today. She will join you later today. I promise you’ the sincerity in his voice and eyes were very convincing.

Aduke’s mum paused and looked into Alhaji’s face, as though unsure if this was a ruse. Her heart told her it wasn’t, so she acknowledged all he said with a nod. This nod was the first sign that Aduke’s mother acknowledged him as a human being worthy of being talked to. Gabbo breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn’t believe that he had wanted her approval so badly.

As Bassey magically appeared to open the front doors, Gabbo turned back with his arm firmly around Aduke’s shoulder and steered her into the living area. He didn’t want her getting any funny ideas. He was still going to teach this chit a lesson or two.
‘So, you and Peter already had me figured out and set me up right?’ This was not a question, it was a statement. Gabbo had flipped again. Gone was the sensitive kind man who had spoken to her mum and back, was the evil industrialist.
‘No. Our meeting that first day was coincidental’ responded Addy
‘Which first day exactly?’ he asked with a soft voice. Soft enough to send ripples of fear down her spine.
‘At the white house’ she said. Suddenly scared that he wasn’t blowing up in her face
‘Anyway, don’t worry dear child, relax your head. No need to cook up additional lies. You will hear from Peter soon.’ he said ominously as he slowly walked away
Aduke’s mind began to race and she decided to warn Peter but as she brought out her phone, she realised Gabbo’s signal jammers were still working, so, no dice. ‘Damn you Gabbo!’ she was very scared for Peter.