Must Read: Rain (A Story By Gracile) - Season 1 - Episode 12

6 years ago

Must Read: Rain (A Story By Gracile) - Season 1 - Episode 12

The sky was clear blue and the smell of earth after a rainfall clung tentatively to the air.

Rains stared blankly outside the window of the moving vehicle, she was no longer crying but her face was stony with a mixture of anger and determination.

Cold breeze blew her cheeks from the half opened window of the front seat where she was seated, she was glad the car was move ng really fast as she felt as though she was running away from her gory past, the lies and betrayal. A sudden emptiness crawled into her chest and goosebumps ran across her skin and she recognized the feeling. It was loneliness. A severe one. The kind that drove people to commit suicide. But she wouldn't think of doing that, she was too full of ambition to take her own life now. Her Dad is out there, somewhere, saving lives maybe in an African country. He was her last hope for truth and she will find him.

They arrived akwanga in no time, and she went to the park to obtain a bus ticket. She checked her purse only to find out that the money inside was not enough for her transport fare. She returned the purse, a little embarrassed and asked for the nearest ATM machine. It was crowded but she had not other choice but to wait. Two ladies had been had their eyes fixed on her since she came and she could tell as she glanced from the corner of her eyes they were talking about her. The sun was beginning to come out fully as it gradually got to her turn. A young man came to stand beside her and she knew immediately his intention

"Sister, good afternoon o"

She checked her wristwatch it was barely 10:00am

"Good morning" she answered

He drew himself forward as if she couldn't hear him before. "Abeg, help me withdraw na I de travel go far place. He said in a loud whisper.
Rain tried her best not to close her nose to the putrid stench emanating from his mouth.

" Bring it " she said turning her head slightly to the other direction and extending her hands to collect the card.

"The number na.....

" Just write am and the amount you want you wan collect " she cuts in, trying to avoid any conversation.

He scrawled his pin and the amount he wanted to withdraw on a paper and gave it to her. She made the two withdrawals and left after giving the man his card and cash.

"Thank you eh fine girl, God go bless and give you better husband" he said smiling with a coloured teeth.

She smiled back and waved him off before returning to her frown. This man doesn't know husband is the last thing on my mind right now, she thought. Even her account balance was running low but she knew her pride won't let her ask her grandma or any other person for money. When she makes up her mind, it is hardly altered. She will just look for a job or something to sustain herself for the mean time, the thought sounded ridiculous to her. She got into the bus and went to sit at the last corner.
Usually she patronized the little girls
hawking 'okpa' 'awara' 'masa' or groundnuts but now she was in no mood to eat. An old beggar came singing by the window, she checked her purse and pulled out a fifty naira note and gave to him, since she had no music to block her ears like the guy putting on earphones in front of her.

The old man thanked her and left to the window on the other side of the car. She buried her head and slept only waking up when the bus started moving so she could check the time.

The warning strike was called off after a week and lectures began in full. There were bunch of assignments to do and practicals held everyday except on Fridays.

That morning, Rain dug yet another hole in her waist belt before it fitted. The stress of school activities was taking its toll on her. Feeding was also becoming difficult as she had to minimize her expenses for the scholarship allowance was barely enough. She couldn't bring herself low to ask for help from Meggy or grandma . Meggy's parents were obviously wealthy it was rumored that he owned chains of companies in and outside Lagos. Back home, Rain and Nana had a large farmland such that they often had to hire helping hands when cultivating and harvesting. Grandma grew a variety of beans, melon seeds and sweet potatoes which she sells in sackfuls to her customers most of which were Igbo merchants who transported the wares out in big trailers. She used it together with the pension allowance from Mr Clinton's Health and Missions foundation to augment her schooling back then in the expensive Bill Clifford's College.

"Hurry up we're getting late". Rain said impatiently to Meggy who was still battling with her makeup. It worried Rain how indecisive Meggy is when dressing. And it's not just dressing, Meggy is fickle about every other thing else even food. She had learned not to ever ask Meggy about what food they should eat, now she just went ahead and bought or cooked whatever was on her mind for them.

While it pained her to wait for Meggy whenever they were going for lecture, she knew deep down that if not for Meggy she wouldn't get seat and would have to stand through out the two hours lectures in the scruffy halls. Meggy was useful in that she had lots of friends or rather, she easily made friends and once she flashes those pearly teeth of hers, they (especially the guys) would readily offer her their seats or an empty one they probably kept for someone.

Rain jotted and paid rapt attention to the stout, bald lecturer, jaded with his profession. Every one else was either sleeping or making side talks yet the lecturer remained annoyingly indifferent about it, and went on talking in usual monotonous tone.

"That's why I like Dr. Olalekan, Bio101 lecturer. He's too disciplined to tolerate this and I respect him for that. He's not like this sissy" Rain speculated.

"Speak for yourself, Meggy added, I assure you he's very manly in other areas" she said stressing the words manly.

Rain turned to look at Meggy, who was applying lipstick to the already thick layer of fuschia pink lipstick and looking into a mirror. She smacked the pink plumpy pair of lips noisily and then offered the lipstick to Rain who declined.

"Can't you do this later? What if this lecturer points you out and embarrasses you?"

"Then mission accomplished!" She bragged grinning mischievously.

"Oh you think I don't know what I'm doing.. She laughed. You see, unlike you, I choose my outfits to be conspicuous to stand out. You know something girl, you need to change your perspective in life, starting with your dress sense in fact why haven't you changed your wardrobe? Infact you need to stop wearing clothes like this, she lifted the sleeves of Rain's brown polo T-shirt, they make you melt into the background.

"You're lucky you're beautiful and brilliant anyway, some of us are not so blessed so we have to use the other things we have to get what we want"

Rain didn't pretend not to know what her roommate meant for she was fully aware of Meggy's escapades with the lecturers. And whenever she suggested they go to read together, Meggy would evade by saying reading was not her thing.

"Why then did you choose to study medicine?"

"It's what Dad wants me to study. Her face slightly turning sour. I'd always wanted to become an actress, but he said he won't have that in his house".

Rain was about to say something but was stopped short by the excited uproar and noise from the students, signalling the end of the lecture.

They made their way out and began trudging towards the canteen. And while Meggy stopped to greet another student, Rain sensed a strange feeling of been watched or followed. She turned carefully to look around but saw no one in particular, just students going about their activities. She turned back to join Meggy and their new found friend as they headed for the canteen. After one more quick glance around, she decided to shrug off the feeling.